Hai minna~ Sorry for the wait, this chapter has more on Ranmaru in a way. Oh and about the open area it's like a school area where students roam around to get a view of some shrubs, trees and etc. A Recreation place or something like that hehe J ~ Enjoy minna~


Haruka woke due to the noise of her alarm clock. It was July 8, the competition tomorrow. She recalled everything from last night.

"Let's see, I went out with Tomo-chan, we went to the park, she left, Cecil came, I slept. He carried me to the dormitory with the help of the dorm supervisor, I better thank him..."

Haruka got up and wore her clothes for class, after changing her clothes she took one last glimpse at the music she had been working on for songs on "that" concert. The Happy Pulse revolution concert featuring STARISH. Not only that, STARISH, Quartet Night and HEAVENS have been nominated for the "Elite Idol Group Award", and it may depend on how the Happy Pulse revolution concert will turn out to get STARISH permanent nomination. It was Shining Saotome's plan in the first place, Haruka was in charge of the songs as usual. She sighed and just continued on.

Classes were being held in the grand stage in the 4th floor, it was the first time for a mixed class with the other students on higher levels. She didn't take the elevator since one time she was stuck there and it took a looooong time until Haruka got out. Haruka walked up the flight of stairs only looking down at the steps, careful not to trip. That's when she bumped into.. guess who? Kurosaki Ranmaru was in front of her, he seemed to act calmly even though a girl was about to fall down the stairs. Haruka was about to trip and fall down backwards when Ranmaru pulled her up with his hand's forceful pull. Haruka maintained her balance and looked at Ranmaru in the face, by face I mean face to face.

"Ah, I'm sorry... Thank you for saving me. I'm really grateful." Haruka blushed but Ranmaru seemed to stay the same. Kurosaki Ranmaru seemed to be grumpy in a way. Judging how he walked as if something was offending him, as if he didn't care if he got in the way.

"Ah, composer. What are you doing here?"

"Uh... going to classes, I was about to ask you why you were going down the opposite direction when classes were up there. Also, you can call me Haruka."

"Humph, anyway come with me to the open space downstairs," said Ranmaru.

"But, classes are about to start..." Haruka was reluctant, not knowing what might happen. Well she did trust him in a way, but not in a whole.

"Haruka, what is your sense of time? You really should bring a watch, there's still an hour before class..."

Haruka clumsily got the time wrong, "Maybe I set my alarm in the wrong time..." Haruka thought.

"Okay if you say so... but don't tell me you're gonna do something... uh..." Haruka blushed again and wanted to run in embarrassment. She started to run up the stairs until Ranmaru pulled her down and caught her in his arms.

"Oh my, why do I have to be in a male's arms all the time?" Haruka kept her thoughts silent, it probably wouldn't turn out good when she said it aloud. "What am I thinking? He saved me, I should be grateful. Haruka, haruka, snap out of it!" Haruka was really regretting her habit of shying out.

"I'm just gonna talk to you, why are you so afraid? For God's sake what do you think of me?" Ranmaru sighed and asked Haruka to come again. Haruka couldn't refuse a kind offer... so she walked with Ranmaru to the open area in the ground floor. They tried to keep as much distance as possible (or at least Ranmaru did).

"Umm... I don't mind if you come nearer..." said Haruka. Ranmaru still kept his distance but this time he was much closer to Haruka.

-Time skip- - at the open area-

It was silent for a long time, there were only 25 minutes till class starts. The weird atmosphere was broken by Ranmaru. "Nanami Haruka, what is happiness?"

"For me happiness is when others are happy, when you get to see their happy smiles, when you know others are feeling happy and not cloudy. Yes, smiles like sunshine." Haruka smiled and it seemed to have some effect on Ranmaru, but he kept himself from smiling.

~Ranmaru's POV~

What's with this girl? It's the first time I found a girl like this... She's different from the people of the past, maybe the betrayal has affected me so much. Maybe there was still a chance to change, what spell made me like this girl? Maybe the world isn't fully cruel, maybe inside this cruel world, happiness still exists. To see her smile like this is... how do I say this? Breathtaking...

-Ranmaru POV end-

"I'm interested in you, you're different." Now Ranmaru's face was REALLY close to Haruka's, although not in direct contact. Haruka merely said, "Umm... How so?"

"Even your reactions are different from all the girls I know... "

'Is it bad to be different? Ranmaru-senpai, yes the world is cruel. I don't know what this world has done to you, but all I can say is that there is still happiness. It's only your choice, I don't think you're a bad person, senpai."

"Hmm... you pulled the trigger. Actually it was just my mere beliefs that heightened my hate for this world. Ever since that day..."

"That day? Senpai, I would like to know more about you. I only know the you others know, it's better to know a person in the inside too." She smiled again in a way that it was evident she didn't know what she was saying was actually very deep. Very deep that it somehow touched Ranmaru's heart, only for a second though. "A very faint light, a small warmth was in the form of a girl. She's worthy to shine with STARISH, no wonder this helped STARISH shine brighter," thought Ranmaru.

"Senpai, classes will start soon, may I excuse myself?" Haruka smiled and Ranmaru nodded, telling her to move on. Ranmaru leaned on one of the tree trunks in the open area. He stared at the foliage and at the clear sky, he was thinking about cutting classes for peace in this place but he had to maintain his reputation. There were still 15 minutes until class, so even for a short time Ranmaru wanted a peace of mind. He got it, but when he returned to class he received the usual greeting. some were frowns from other students, some were smiles from his fellow Quartet night members and STARISH, along with the girl named Nanami Haruka.

"Hey, Ran-ran over here!" Kotobuki Reiji was waving at him, Camus shrugged and Ai was... normal in a way. He still wore the same expression.

"They're as cheerful as ever, especially Reiji. Ai is a robot so I guess he doesn't feel anything, I don't know if he's lucky that way," Ranmaru thought. He sat with his fellow Quartet Night members and kept in silence. He couldn't help but smile when the class was filled with chatter, chatter and chatter. Reiji was one of the active ones as always.

"Ranmaru, you actually smiled..." Camus was slightly surprised.

"Ran-ran, are you okay? Do you have a fever?"

"You better go see a doctor, according to my data Kurosaki Ranmaru smiles once in a blue moon," said Ai.

"Guys, I'm a human too! It's not like I- I'm sick or anything." He looked at Haruka's direction and immediately avoided eye contact when Haruka was about to look in his direction.

"Ran-ran, don't tell me you have a crush in Haruka-chan..." teased Reiji.

"No nothing like that." Ranmaru seemed to be neutral about this.

Maybe he finally found someone to change him, "Oh lord the power of smiles."


Next chapter is the swimming competition~ It is a bit of a challenge but I'll take it~ Stay tuned for the next chapter~ I'll try to add some "OH YES FINALLY SOME DEVELOPMENT" moments, although it's hard since I don't know much about those kind of situations. I'll try my best~ Thanks for the faves and follows~ Reviews will be appreciated too J Since I'm not the best writer in the world, I need some opinions to judge this too~

-BerryBliss