June 15th (Present).
Lila felt arms wrap around her from the back, and she stopped cooking. She dropped the large spoon in her hands into the not; as she felt his lips graze against her neck.
"-uka.." she murmured.
"Last night, you were beautiful…"
She doesn't respond.
"Hey, are you angry? Even though I said I wouldn't…"
She doesn't know what to say. Lately, things have been good between them. So she wasn't expecting him to kiss and drink her blood in that manner.
She clenched her fist. He broke his promise. Was making all those rules pointless then? Last night, when she came back, Haruka drank so much blood.
Since he seemed so calm as of late, she didn't think… How stupid. She really is too naïve when it came to these matters.
"Unmmmgh…Nnghmmm…"
"Haruka…" Lila muttered despite being out of breath.
"Are you nervous?"
"H—Ha-"
He chuckled lightly before he pulled back, "I probably shouldn't tease you so much."
"T—tease…" Is this guy serious? Does he not realize what he's done is wrong? She should get angry, before she could hit him, however, Haruka gently scooped her up into his arms.
"Haruka?"
"I want to see what you're thinking…" he murmured.
Lila shook her head. She can't let him drink her blood now. He would know. Also, she has to get mad. Lila took a deep breath to prepare herself but she felt Haruka gently caress her cheeks. ... He's so unfair.
.
.
She recalled Ryunosukes words and exhaled deeply. He's right. Even though he said those words to her last year. It still applies to the present situation. Haruka or senpai, Haruka or Kiryu. If she kept this up. They will all get hurt. But she cannot determine whether her thoughts are rational right now.
Should she tell Takahashi or Ritsuko? But these aren't the type of things they bother with. Besides, she already told Maika-san, and the girl offered her advice. The same one, other people would probably give her. There's no use telling anyone.
Singing senpai's songs, singing Kiryu's songs and singing Haruka's songs. Lila knows how different and distinct all three were. But if she were to put it all together? Lila's gaze fell on the half written score sheets. The other track "Alternative voice" was the one she wrote before she left.
It's supposed to be the main track of the album. However, seeing this. Lila isn't stupid. This should be the main song. When she wrote this song, she was thinking of senpai... If she were to incorporate all the feelings into one song…
Lila paused if she does that. Would it seem wishy-washy? Her songs, they've always been about her dreams, Kiryu, Mother, father and Ren-san. At some point in her life that slowly changed. Yes, just like her dreams. Even though it was fixed from the beginning, what she had to do. At some point, it changed. Her thoughts broke off hearing a knock on the door.
"Can I come in?" a familiar voice said.
"Senpai."
Lila nodded, and he entered the room. He sits down on the chair at the other end and said nothing. For the next few minutes, it was silent until he picked up her guitar and played. A beautiful and yet familiar melody filled the room. Her gaze softened.
"I'm sorry."
"No, that's my line. I was too abrupt when I asked you."
Lila shook her head, "You have every right to know."
"Because you know my feelings?"
"T—that's--"
Oujiro laughed, "Calm down if I was expecting something from you by now. Do you think I'd come here with the suggestion, that I think you should ask for Karashima's help with the song?"
At that comment her eyes widened, she wasn't surprised by his suggestion. Because she was also thinking the same. The moment her eyes landed on the score, she really thought. Ah, this song; is something Haruka could…
"Is it really okay to do that?"
"From the start, your relationship with Kiryu-San was anything but normal."
Lila sweat dropped, "Well, it's not like hanyou partner relationships are normal.."
"That's true too."
"Truly, last year. I wondered whether it was okay. Okay, for me to date Kiryu..." Lila trailed off, "Do you remember, when you asked me out in middle school?"
"How could I forget? For the first time, you told me about your feelings for Kiryu-san."
"Back then, I could only be honest with you, because I could tell that you genuinely loved me. If you showed me even the slightest bit of hesitation, I would have probably brutally turned you away."
Oujiro laughed, "I think it was already brutal, hearing your feelings for another guy."
Lila smiled, "Wasn't it what you were expecting?"
"That's true too. I don't know whether anyone other than me has tried. But you freaked out when you found out about my feelings…"
Other people tried, but she never reacted the same way. It was only because it was senpai. Stupid, he still doesn't get it? How important he is to her.
"I really love you. Despite my embarrassment, I didn't hesitate to voice it out then. Even though I knew what the outcome would be. Do you know why that was?"
"There was a reason?"
"Yeah. Wait, what did you think…"
Lila tilted her head as she thought about it before she replied. "I thought it was because you were stupid."
"You're the stupid one."
"Wah- that's not nice!"
"Says the one who called me stupid."
"But, senpai. Most of the time you'd act like an idiot around me."
"That was only because of me being nervous."
"It made me nervous," Lila said.
Realising what she said, Lila averted her gaze and Oujiro asked her to come over. She walked over until she was in front of him.
"You really are pushing your luck with me."
"Um, my luck?" Lila repeated puzzled.
"I came here to make a grand speech, about it being okay for you to like Karashima. But it somehow ended up like this…"
"Senpai…"
"Truthfully, there are many things I'd like to say. Now we've seen each other again. Before your departure. I didn't see you as much because I wanted to respect your wishes to be with Kiryu-san as much as possible. I sent Karashima a CD a while back, implying I'd come to meet you soon."
A CD?
She recalled something and paused. It must have been that one.
"I knew from his attitude, that unless you were in a slump. He would never use it. That's why, when I heard the song you sent in as an audition sample. It surprised me."
The song she sang as an audition sa — Lila froze realizing. Now it all made sense. That's why, when she sang that song. It felt like she could breathe. Oujiro took something out of his pocket and Lila recognised it immediately. She closed her eyes.
"My feelings regarding this matter hasn't changed either. Whether I'm competing with Kiryu-San or not. I want my songs to help you, see the light. To bask you in light, not darkness."
Yes, she knows. From the start, senpai has always said that.
Lila's thoughts broke off when she felt him kiss the eye patch, he had put on her eye.
"Wha--" she exclaimed, flustered, as she opened her eyes. Her cheeks were red, realizing how close he still was with her.
Oujiro stuck his tongue out, "Just because I'm doing this, doesn't mean I will stop liking you. For the meantime, I will not act, but I'll be back in the line in no time."
"B-bring, bring it on!"
He chuckled before he walked out of the room.
Lila slumped to the ground. How stupid… She placed her hand where he placed the eye patch he kissed moments ago. So stupid.