It was the day after my graduation. Eisuke never did tell me why he looked so troubled. I couldn't stop feeling anxious thinking something terrible might be going on and I was left completely in the dark.

"Argh." I cried out in frustration and hit my bed with my fist, "Laying here all day won't solve anything. I know he doesn't seem willing to tell me but...I can't stay like this. I just have to know." With that in mind, I jumped off my bed, quickly fixed my appearance and hurried out of my room.

The gang was all gathered in the lounge room watching TV. Everyone but Eisuke that was. He was nowhere to be seen. I guess he must be locked up in his bedroom.

I let out a sigh of disappointment but then I had a thought, 'Maybe they know what's up. It doesn't hurt to ask.' I marched up to the couches they sat on and it seemed like they finally noticed me.

"Oh, Elli. Morning." Baba said with a cheery smile.

"Want to watch TV with us?" Ota asked.

They were watching cartoons together. I was usually at school at this time so I could never join in. But I didn't have time to sit back and relax with them. I had more pressing matters.

"Sorry, I can't right now." I gently let him down. Ota looked disappointed but quickly shrugged it off.

It was Soryu who next spoke, "Is something bothering you?" He stared at me intently, "You seem anxious." It was like he saw right through me.

I bit my lip in hesitation but finally moved to speak, "Is something going on with Eisuke? He's acting...different." At my words everyone went quiet and their faces turned to one of shock.

'Huh? What is going on?!' I was even more anxious than before after seeing everyone's reaction. No one even moved to speak. They looked lost on what to say or if they should even say anything.

The silence was unbearable.

"Guys…?" I weakly called out and at my voice Soryu let out a sigh and directed a firm gaze on me.

"That is not for us to say. If you want to know more you will need to ask him yourself." And that was also Soryu told me before looking away as if trying to escape my look of disappointment.

'It is just as I feared…' Something really is going on and by their reactions it's something big. I could feel the tightness growing in my chest, I felt like I was being suffocated, crushed under the weight of my anxiety.

Seeing as I'd get no more out of them, I turned on my heel and left towards his room. Though nervous and dreading what he might say, I had to talk to Eisuke. Whatever was bothering him, I had to know. I didn't want to be left out. ...After all, I thought I was one of them now. It's not fair that I am the only one left out. It may sound selfish of me but I just cared about him that much.

"Right. I can do this." I whispered and took in a deep breath.

I stood inches away from Eisuke's door. My whole body was trembling but I couldn't back out now. I had to know the truth. Just what was troubling Eisuke? I would find that out now. ...I hoped.

Finally, I reached out my hand to knock on his door but just as I was about to touch it the door suddenly opened.

"Ah…!" I cried out in surprise. My eyes were wide as saucers. I did not expect Eisuke to suddenly open the door on me.

"What are you doing standing here? You sure are noisy. I wondered how long it would take you to knock but you were taking so long I came out to check for myself." Eisuke said in his usual teasing tone, smirking like always. It was in complete contrast to how I saw him yesterday. It was like none of it ever happened.

And yet, when I looked into his eyes I could see a hidden pain concealed beneath. Was he still trying to hide it from me? Why is he persistent on keeping it a secret from me…

"S-Sorry. I was just a little nervous. I didn't know if you were busy or didn't want to be disturbed." I quickly mouthed that off in my embarrassment, keeping my gaze on the floor.

"You really are stupid." Eisuke said and then suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"What?!" I cried out in surprise but Eisuke didn't say anything more and pulled me into his room and closed the door behind us.

Eisuke made me sit down on his bed as he stood by his window and stared outside at nothing in particular.

'This is my first time in his room…' I was incredibly nervous being alone in Eisuke's bedroom. Just the two of us. Together.

My heart was racing a mile an hour. I cautiously looked around his room in my curiosity. His room was scattered with papers and different books. Those papers are probably filled with the songs he creates; it looks like he is very passionate about it and puts a lot of effort into them.

"There is something I need to tell you."

"Huh?"

Hearing his voice, my head automatically snapped back in his direction. He had been quiet for so long just staring out the window I wondered if he was ever going to talk at first.

Eisuke finally looked at me, I gasped a little when I saw the same gloomy expression I saw him wearing the night before was back. Whatever It was It must be really hard on him.

"I'm not even sure how to say this." Eisuke sighed heavily and rubbed his temple in frustration.

He bit his lip for a moment before speaking further, my eyes glued to him the whole time, "I...Have to go."

"Go? Go where?" I was utterly confused, my chest grew even tighter after hearing him say this. I felt terribly afraid. Where was he going?

Eisuke's eyes dropped to the floor, it looked hard for him to explain, "I am going back home. I don't know for how long. But my father has fallen seriously ill and with no one suitable at this time to manage the business I am needed to step in."

A sharp pain shot through my chest at that moment. I felt like my world was going dark. I couldn't believe it. Was Eisuke really leaving? What if...what if he is never able to come back and is forced to remain there? Would I never see him again? I couldn't bear it if that were to happen.

"No!" I suddenly screamed despite myself and jumped off the bed, "You can't go. I don't want you to go!" My voice was shaky as I begged him with all my might. But I already knew no matter how much I plead with him nothing would change.

Eisuke sighed as if he was expecting this. It was probably why he had such a hard time telling me in the first place.

"I'm sorry. There is nothing I can do." Eisuke looked deeply pained. He sounded defeated and as distraught as I did.

"But...but...what about the competition in two months?" Was he going to miss that too? That was going to be our big chance. We might finally realize our dreams there but was he going to throw all that away now? It was just so crushing…

"I know. I want to say I'll be here for it and that together we will win but…"

I knew from his expression he couldn't answer my question. He probably didn't even know where he would be at the time.

I could barely keep standing as my whole body trembled, I looked at him with a face wracked by grief, "Why...why is this happening. I thought this was my chance. I might finally find my sister…" I didn't even realize it as i was so distraught but my eyes had begun leaking and I couldn't stop the flow of tears.

"Elli…even if I can't be here, you can still win this." Eisuke said in what seemed like an attempt to cheer me up.

"How am I supposed to do that? I need you with me!" I suddenly shouted, surprising even myself, "Sorry…" I quickly apologized.

"I believe in you. Even without me I know you can carry us to victory. You can still achieve your dream." Eisuke's voice was strained, he looked at me with a bittersweet smile.

I looked up at him in displeasure, "You think too much of me. I can only sing as well as I do because I have you there with me. Without you I am nothing." And besides, what about his dream? I can't go off chasing my dreams if he is left behind. That's not fair… We are supposed to make others happy with the power of music as happy as it makes us. Finding my sister is only one part of that dream. I can't be happy if Eisuke isn't happy too and if my sister isn't here to be happy with me. I want us all to be happy. But maybe that's asking for too much…

"Believe what you will. But I know you can do it. I have seen your strength and all the challenges you have faced and overcome. Learn to believe in yourself just as I believe in you." Eisuke said, looking completely serious but his tone was also gentle and kind. It only made me cry more.

"Eisuke…" I was now a sobbing mess. He was really leaving. I didn't want to say goodbye. It was too painful…

"Elli… It's okay. I promise I will come back. We will see each other again." He said that but I couldn't tell if he truly meant those words or if they were just another attempt to make me feel better.

Either way, I would hold him to those words, "You better come back!" I said in raised tone and leapt at him, "I am going to miss you." I said, burying my face into his chest.

"Hey, you are going to get my shirt all messy." Eisuke said in a lighthearted tease. I heard a little sigh before he wrapped his arms around me; he really didn't mind at all that I was clinging to him.

"I'm sorry, Elli… I know this is hard on you but it's hard on me too. I don't want to be apart from the one I love…" Eisuke whispered to himself so I couldn't hear as he gently stroked my hair.

I could feel the strength in his grip, if was as if he was telling me he didn't want to let me go. This was going to be just as hard on him as it is on me. Neither of us wanted to be apart and yet by unfortunate circumstances we were being forcibly torn apart and there wasn't a thing we could do.