Sorry for the long wait! Here's chapter 15!~ It was somehow hard to think about confessions... but I tried my best~ This Fall 2013 has a lot of good anime, so I'll be slightly busy hehehe~ Along with my other anime fanfic which I'll be publishing soon after I finish this one. Well, enjoy~ :)
"I can't believe Ringo-sensei still made us dress as girls even after all the chaos..." said Ittoki who had a glum face on.
"It's all fair, after all, you guys didn't even join the contest."
"Ai-ai~ You looked pretty cute as Gokou Ruri out there~!"
"And my Neko was just stupid!" facepalmed Ranmaru.
"It's all for the fans."
"Camus, you don't say that after dressing as Heroine."
"Humph, I was forced to."
"It's weird, this feeling, considering Little Lamb was kidnapped yesterday."
"Does that mean you want her kidnapped?"
"No, in fact. I'm sort of happy Little Lamb is back."
"Ren's going to feeler mode."
"Masa, is your lovely sister fine? She seemed to be reluctant to say bye-bye to her 'onii-sama' "
"... Yes, she resumed family duties when she returned home. She'll be staying in Japan for about a week."
"Are you happy about it?"
"Perhaps, she's family after all. But having her here is like having a stalker."
"I suppose STARISH and QUARTET NIGHT have all been gathered~" It was Ringo-sensei, who was with a surprised Nanami. She seemed to be blushing, it might have a connection to why Ringo-sensei wanted STARISH and QUARTET NIGHT gathered in this very room.
"Everyone! We have another contest for today! Miss Nanami, please do the honors!"
"Etto... for this contest, y-you'll be c-c-c-c-c-"
"Honestly Haru-chan you're too slow~ You'll be confessing your love to me!"
"We're going to confess to Ringo-sensei?!"
"No I mean, this is a confession contest to Nanami."
"Easier said than done." Tokiya sighed.
"E-Eh? I'm not ready yet, this is too soon! My heart and body aren't prepared!"
"Ittoki, that sounds gross."
"Anyway, I'll be the judge, and trust me, I'm hard to convince. Good luck in making my heart flutter in your love confessions for Miss Nanami. Knowing Haruka-chan, she'll have a hard time choosing. Isn't that right? Haruka-chan?"
"Unfortunately... I like all of them, so it wouldn't be fair to say the feelings of one of them is better than the other."
"There you have it folks, oh and for the rules. You'll be shouting your love at that window." Ringo-sensei pointed to the window to their north. "Look outside, and you'll see how fun this could be."
Everyone gathered to the window, and they immediately knew this wasn't to be for granted.
"Geep. You don't say we shout our love in front of all those people down there?!"
"Y-You don't say we who have been kissed need to-"
"Of course you do, cause your feelings are still there right? But of course the ones who still have the spell need to go first."
"But won't this cause a fangirl rampage?"
"Oh, I have that taken care of. Anyone who plans to make a move shall be expelled, we have several traps around the academy too, in case that happens."
"Terrifying... is this really an idol academy?"
"Of course, idols need to prepare for everything, any trial put in front of them must be overcome."
"Sure hard to become a real idol, seriously..."
"Now, be sure not to look like idiots in front of your very fans! As for the order of contestants, we'll decide by this method." Ringo-sensei took out some cards.
"Gambling?"
"No, just pick a card. These are for the ones who haven't been kissed. The one who picks the Joker goes first~"
"I'm crossing my fingers." said Hijirikawa, and he really did.
"No use in putting faith in God now, maybe later, I'll rely on my luck."
"Luck doesn't always go the way you want it too."
"But that's what makes it interesting." Ringo-sensei shuffled the guards and the five picked cards.
"I got the King, that's the second to go right?" Tokiya stared at the card.
"I got Queen of Hearts, must be my lucky day." said Ren.
"I got Ace, that's last." Hijirikawa shrugged.
"Jack, not like I'm concerned." Ranmaru made a "tch" sound.
"Which leaves... Camus-senpai?" Cecil chuckled and they were like "WHAT".
"Humph, I have no problem of going first. Because I don't have anything to say."
"Oh? But the fans are waiting for you, your fans put a lot of faith in you."
"Well then, I'll start." Camus approached the window and he heard cheers.
~Camus's POV~
I had intention to not say anything, but if it's in front of the fans...
Fans could be considered my weakness. To be more specific, expectations.
As a count, I got used to giving off a different persona depending on the person in front of me, but I'm sure my heart if forever loyal to the kingdom, my kingdom, Perma-ice. Or that's what I thought at first.
I wasn't sure what this girl was capable of. Her music made Ai tap his feet and have emotions, even though he was supposed to be a robot, just through song. She even made that Ranmaru smile, she has the ability to make the world turn upside down.
I am a part of QUARTET NIGHT, a count, and a man.
"I have no feelings for this composer named Nanami Haruka, my heart is for the fans only, and nothing can change that. Not yet."
"Camus-sama~! We'll stay loyal to you!"
"Your Highness~! We're at your service!"
I somehow wanted a kingdom for myself where I could just be me, but I didn't notice it was already there.
~Narrator's POV~
"Wow, Camus-senpai is unexpectedly popular."
"What's that supposed to mean? Aijima."
"Nothing, hehehehehe~"
"Camus, disqualified! Totally not romantic!" Ringo-sensei pouted. "But," he added, "A real idol does work for the fans so... yeah. STILL DISQUALIFIED!"
"That was quick."
"Toki~ You're next~"
"Ichinose-san," Nanami nodded.
~Tokiya's POV~
My feelings for Nanami-san... What were they, really?
I know she's an important person to me but, a lot of people are important to me. It's honestly confusing. How do I express these feelings, when I don't know them myself? In this competition, Ringo-sensei might be after the words, but what's important is...
"I don't want to make this confession long, my feelings for Nanami are special, different, I don't need to use flattery. These are my simple feelings, I can't live without her."
"Tokiya-sama, in case your available! Be mine already, kyaa~!"
"YEAH!"
I'll find my answer, but I don't know when it'll come.
~Narrator's POV~
"Tokiya-kun, that was good. That simple confession, yeah it's okay. Next, Jinguji Ren."
"Ichinose-san," said Nanami, "It properly reached, your message."
"That's good."
"Well, it's my turn to charm the ladies. I just hope I don't break their hearts."
~Ren's POV~
Let's see... What did I first think of when I first met Little Lamb?
"She's the one, honestly what have I been doing for my whole life flirting with girls when there was one special girl right here?"
Or something like that. Next question, what did I like about Little Lamb?
"She was the one who gave me the motivation to move on I guess, she was the one who woke up my sleeping love for music."
Next, what can I add to my confession that won't hurt the fans?
"That I'm the Ren now thanks to Little Lamb."
Yes, that would do. Time to start.
"Hi, ladies and a few gentlemen out there. I would like to be frank, ever since we first met, I have fallen in love with Little Lamb. Without her, I wouldn't be the Ren I am now. However, that doesn't mean you don't have a chance, don't be disheartened, because my songs and all I do, is all for you."
"REN-SAMA~! It doesn't matter if you don't like me, 'cause I love you!"
"I've fallen in love!"
How cruel I am, to use the emotions of other people, I can't keep lying that much any longer. To myself and to Little Lamb, but I guess it isn't good to be a heartbreaker.
~Narrator's POV~
"Woah did you hear that?! Even a man fell in love with Ren! He was like: I've fallen in love! Or something." Syo was laughing out loud, and the others did too.
"Seriously, that's way over the limit! HAHAHAHAHAHA, Ren, you really should make more boys fall in love with you, BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"He was saying: 'kyaa~!' after that you know."
"Ren, I salute you." Ittoki did a salute.
"Looks like we have a winner even without the results."
"Not yet~ But well, as for the remaining contestants, it seems you have a formidable opponent! Can the two of you make men fall in love with you?" Ringo-sensei turned to Hijirikawa and Ranmaru.
"Heck no, that's just stupid." Ranmaru said.
"I'm speechless." Hijirikawa stared at Ren. "Are you sure you're my childhood friend?!"
"Who could I be, Masa?"
"An alien. A perverted alien."
"Aww... you don't have to put it that way. That's so sweet of you, Masa."
"I think Haru-chan got so red she fainted..." It was true, Nanami was so red she looked like she had a fever, but she was still conscious.
"Nanami? Are you alright?"
"... Etto... I don't know what to say... Jinguji-san, I misunderstood you, I'm sorry."
"It's not like that Little Lamb..."
"Aww... you made her think dirty things of you..."
"I-It's not like that! Just that... Jinguji-san, I didn't know you felt that way about me."
"Well, you know now."
"Enough of that, next is Kurosaki Ranmaru!"
"My turn? I'm sitting out on this one. I have a headache after all..."
"That's not a very good excuse..."
"No, seriously, I feel like I want to puke." He covered his mouth and breathed deep. Nanami approached him and touched his forehead.
"You're burning hot, you really should rest, Kurosaki-senpai."
"But earlier he was fine..."
"This is what happens when a man like Ran-ran sees a fanboy fall in love with a man hahahahaha!"
"That's not funny, Reiji..." Ranmaru sat on a chair and fell asleep.
"Kurosaki's face is unexpectedly cute when he falls asleep..." said Camus.
"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!" Ranmaru suddenly opened his eyes and gave Camus the evil stare.
"Oh? You were awake?"
"How could I sleep with all of you being so noisy?!"
"Let's just try to keep quiet... he might turn tsundere mode."
"Next then, Hijirikawa, you're next." Hijirikawa sighed, thinking of what to say.
~Hijrikawa's POV~
Well, I guess being serious about love isn't a problem once in a while...
It used to be a hindrance, but now it's the opposite. It was somehow something that changed my thinking of the world...
And the one who started it was Nanami.
It was simply like a diary being rewritten. My business-like life to a life filled with happiness, like the moments where you add a new likeable character in a book.
"Let's say it all started with once upon a time, and then the story starts there. My previous life story has ended, and a girl who came into the story started it all over again, that's what Nanami is like to me. All of the people here at this very moment are part of the story, so no one's alone. That's all."
"I want a story with only the two of us, Masato-sama!"
"I want you as my prince in my fairy tale!"
But there was always one question.
How would my life story in Saotome Academy end? Would it be with or without Nanami?
~Narrator's POV~
"Well that confession was pretty blunt, but blunt is good. We'll have the results later, for the meantime... we'll have the remaining ones to confess too! But don't worry, you won't be shouting out, a simple love note will do, hehe~ You have a limit of 30 words." Ringo-sensei took out 6 papers and gave them out.
"You have a time limit of one minute~ I have a timer, begin!"
"WHAT THE?! ONE MINUTE?!"
"Stop complaining and start writing."
-1 minute later-
"Let's see... Well, I told you to write your confessions, it would be too cruel to let your fans hear them too. I'll send them away now~" Ringo-sensei put the notes aside and shouted.
"Thank you for watching todays contest~ Due to the near start of classes, please return immediately." Surprisingly, the audience returned silently, although there were complaints and moans.
"Now... This is... Ittoki Otoya's."
"Waaaah! Ringo-sensei, don't read it!"
"I already did. It says: Nanami, I didn't mean to kiss you at the rooftop, but what I said was true. I love you. Wow, you kissed her at the rooftop?! This is a huge development everybody, Ittoki just boldly kissed a girl!"
"Ringo-sensei! You don't have to put it that way!"
"Nothing to be embarrassed about, Ittoki-kun, what's more embarrassing? Cosplaying as Shana or this?"
"This!"
"Next we have... Cecil! Our meeting must have been destiny spun by the muses, thank you for saving me from the curse, I owe my very being to you... Wow, that's romantic, it somehow has a transcends time and space feel to it."
"That's what I really feel for Haruka, or should I call her Nanami now? Haruka, you wouldn't mind would you?"
"Umm... no I guess?"
"Then it's settled, I'm calling you Nanami now nyan~"
"Next is... Natsuki. I'm sorry if Satsuki hurt you, thank you for accepting me for who I am, Haru-chan~ P.S. I think you might be cuter than Elizabeth~"
"Still comparison to a dog?!"
"Seriously Natsuki... is your dog really that cute?!"
"Yes~ The way he pleads with his puppy eyes is just sooooooooo cute~"
"Nanami's not a puppy you know..."
"I know, she's a special person to me." Natsuki smiled.
"Enough with the dog talk! Next we have... Mikaze Ai! Let's see... I don't know what love is, I have yet to know. It's not in my data, but apparently I know everything about you. Is that enough to be considered love? That's kinda sad... You'll know soon, Ai."
"Wow, that was exactly thirty words..."
"Ai, that's far from love..."
"I didn't know what I should have written. I wrote the truth, but the part about knowing everything about her is just in the outside and about personal background."
"Uwaa... as expected of a robot..."
"I'm still a being with emotions, don't forget that. I don't know my purpose at all, but what matters is that I'm here."
"Ai-ai~ Don't say that, you're still a part of QUARTET NIGHT, you're not alone~"
"This is turning sad talk, we'll move on. Ahem."
"Ringo-sensei, was that ahem necessary?"
"Urusai~! What I want to do is what I want to do. Anyway, next is, Syo Kurusu. It says... Nanami, as I am now I can't say I'm worthy of loving you, but I'm trying my best."
"Syo-chan~ You'll be fine, after all you're Syo-chan~"
"What's that supposed to mean, Natsuki?"
"Well, he's trying his best isn't he?"
"Well last is Kotobuki Reiji. Haruka-chan, you're a precious kouhai to me. I'm grateful to you, your music can make others happy. Including some of my members who really need happiness."
"Who could it be I wonder?" They all turned to Camus, Ai and Ranmaru.
"Humph... Reiji, say so for yourself."
"Well said for a commoner, you deserve to be called by name Reiji."
"You don't say that to a fellow idol do you?"
"It's Camus-senpai after all... I'm not surprised."
"Well, lastly, Haruka-chan, you have yet to confess your feelings to the 11 of them."
"... Minna-san, I accept all of your feelings, I couldn't possibly say you deserve better, because that would be rather rude. I thank you for making my days in Saotome Academy the best days of my life, all those happy days and sad days, bad days and good, I went through all of them with all of you by my side. For that I really am happy, but for some reason... it's hard to take our relationship to the next level. I have to admit, I really want to, but I'm thinking now's not the right time. In the near future, I'm sure we'll all be ready by then."
"That's kinda sad... Waiting is so hard."
"That's what Nanami wants, so it shall stay as that... for now."
"Nanami, we'll be waiting."
"Haru-chan~ We'll be here for you~"
"That's right, whenever you need us, just call us with a new song."
"Thank you everyone... really, I'm happy."
"The results are up! I think the winner is obvious already? We have Jinguji Ren, the girl and boy magnet~"
"I don't think the boy was necessary there..."
"Well, we know what happens next..."
"Kiss! Kiss!" It was Nagi.
"Why do you always pop up at the worst times? That timing couldn't be a coincidence..." Syo glared.
"Oh don't complain, shortie."
"You're shorter than me! MIKADO NAGI!"
"Oh well, I know where this is going. Nagi, now's not a good time, now, if you'll excuse us." Aaaaand, they were out the door.
"That shortie is so obedient when it comes to Ootori-san..."
"Syo, he's only 13 years old, that wasn't a valid argument..."
"Well, no use in waiting, I'm doing it with Little Lamb now."
"Have you no shame?!"
"No, because you kissed her already."
"At least do it privately!"
"If it's absolutely necessary... Little Lamb, what do you say?"
"... Perhaps it is better for it to be private."
-minutes later- -private room- -5 minutes before class starts-
~Nanami's POV~
Jinguji-san held me closer, I could feel his rhythm of breathing. This is making my heart pound, help!
"Jinguji-san..."
"Little Lamb, I'll try not to hurt you. I'll make this feel as good as possible."
EH? What's that supposed to mean?
His lips touched, it somehow felt chilly, with a warm after-effect, just like Jinguji-san's personality. Everytime this happened, whether it was with him or the others, it always felt like I was seeing things beyond what I see outside. Emotion, pain, happiness, everything about them. It was a window to their hearts, making myself a step closer, but as I said, I was reluctant to reach the top.
Because I don't want it to just end like that, when you reach the top, there will be no more forward, I don't know if I'm being greedy but, I want our relationship to last like this forever. No need for change, no need for over the top, just this sort of special friendship that would be enough happiness for one whole life.
"I guess that's enough for now..." Jinguji-san took a step back and the golden symbol appeared, he smiled his usual smile, a smile that somehow hides sadness.
"Jinguji-san... is something bothering you?"
"No... nothing for you to worry about, Little Lamb. Well, classes are about to start. We should go, if we're late, people will have suspicions..."
"Yes... Goodbye, Jinguji-san."
~Narrator's POV~
-Classes start- -Saotome's office-
"It seems it is starting, just as the prophecy said." Shining Saotome was browsing through some papers.
"President Saotome, are you really concerned about those children?"
"Yes, they are stubborn about Nanami Haruka. But, I don't want them to get hurt, because the prophecy refers to Nanami Haruka herself. They'll only get hurt in the end."
"The Dark Maestro? Her?" (Maestro: professional person in the musical category , maestro has no feminine equivalent, not maestra either)
"Yes, a day will come the Nanami Haruka we know will disappear. Their lives will change, by August 1, all will unfold. You'll see, Tsukimiya Ringo."
"Couldn't we at least try to stop it from happening?"
"We could, but that would cause problems. I have something to tell you, Tsukimiya Ringo, I trust you."
"Thank you for trusting me, but what's so serious when I already know the important details?"
"We have a time traveller in the premises, I have already seen evidence, and since he showed himself to me, personally showing me what he is capable of. He seems to be trapped in this current time and unable to return to the future, the cause is unknown, however he has no plan to return. In fact, he plans to turn back time, no matter how much it takes, he will turn back the day known as the Happy Pulse Revolution which I planned, which only turned to doom for the future. He plans to change everything, his determination is strong, we shall not get involved, it's interesting this way."
"...They can do it, after all it's them we're talking about, their power is shining, and I'm sure that will help them in the darkness to come."
"I hope so."
~Nanami's POV~
It seems that classes are almost done, after all that happened these past few days, I can't even focus. My mind is always thinking about other things. I tried my best not to sleep, if only something would happen that could at least wake me up from my state...
"Nanami Haruka, remember, what happened in August 1..." Eh? Was that just my imagination? It was a sad voice, a voice so dark that... it almost dragged me into a dream-like state. Besides, it's not yet even August 1...
"Remember, remember what you did that makes you fail as a composer..." Suddenly, images flashed in my mind. A dark stage, a single person standing in the spotlight, the screams of a thousand people not even rivalling the clarity of the voice of the person onstage. A sad melody... it was so beautiful, yet so dark and sad, it was agony and pain itself. To think that person was... me.
I though music was supposed to make people happy, but this is just-
"Miss Nanami Haruka? Focus on class."
"Y-yes, sensei..." I tried to get the thought out of my head, but... it was too hard to not remember the melody which seemed to be crying, like a kid shouting for help, like a wish never to be granted, like a dream never to be fulfilled.
Like a love never to be answered.
Well, I'm planning for a Hijirikawa chapter next, after that will be the long-awaited Tokiya chapter(s), stay tuned for more! And I plan to put extra chapters about Ranmaru and Camus's kiss (I can't believe I'm doing this...) and one chapter for Ai development. Stay tuned for more! ~ :)
-BerryBiss
