Once she calmed down, she resumed the fireworks with the fireworks with her friend. She was embarrassed crying like that in front of another person. But her heart felt lighter. Talking with another person really helps.
Lila suddenly noticed blonde hair heading in their direction.
"Senpai?" she muttered, once he was in front of her.
"Here." Oujiro said.
Lila's eyes light up once her sparkler got relit.
"It's so pretty!"
"..Yeah."
There really is something beautiful about fireworks in the night.
Her thoughts broke off when Kotori-chan stood up, "Kotori-chan?"
"Well then, I won't be a third wheel."
Third wheel? Lila blinked puzzled but her friend was already walking away. That was weird. "What do you think she meant by..." she trailed off, seeing the expression on senpai's face.
"Wah, what silly things are you thinking?"
"N—nothing!" Oujiro stammered.
Lila laughed, "Senpai, you don't have to be so nervous."
"Dammn. Do you know what you look like right now?"
She recalled what happened earlier with Haruka on the deck, cheeks flushed as she realised. Even though she wore Haruka's jacket. To anyone else, her appearance would look alluring.
"D—don't look at me!" Lila said.
"I—I'm not."
How embarrassing. Kotori-chan should have said something. But more than that, she doesn't want senpai to see. Between senpai and Haruka, she chose Haruka last year didn't she? But between Kiryu and Haruka, she never really chose. It's unfair. Unfair.
"Tell me senpai, have you been doing well?"
Although he has been around for a while now, this was the first time Lila was asking this question.
"If well you mean, secretly watching over a careless girl, balancing my studies and work. Then yes I have been doing well."
"Secretly watching over makes you seem like a stalker."
"..."
Oujiro sighed, and she felt him flick her forehead again, "Ouch."
"You're rambling, what's wrong?"
He really does notice a lot of things about her.
"I was thinking senpai, I have to decide don't I? Otherwise, it's unfair. At the beginning, I could brush it off."
Oujiro nodded.
Lila continued, "But, it's already been two months. And in that time so much has happened. The love I have for Kiryu, the love since I was 4 has always been so very strong. It's never wavered once, even with all the conflict from last year. We even dated."
"Lila."
"I get it senpai, I know. Last year when I confessed to Kiryu, I was hesitant. I wasn't sure. I knew how much he loved me. But I was afraid, I could see how easily a third party could come onto our relationship and destroy things... Rosalia-senpai, despite her being that way, really cares and loves Kiryu. She would do anything for him. Despite loving Kiryu for so long, I've always prioritised other people over him."
"In middle school, you couldn't help it... You.."
Lila shook her head, "It was unfair, Kiryu was suffering. I should have done something. During that time period, Rosalia-senpai was there for him, she saw his pain and helped him. While her methods were questionable, she was there for him when I wasn't.."
That's the difference between them. This whole time she has always worried about it. Worried whether her love was as strong. Hearing senpai hum a familiar melody, she spoke up.
"Senpai?"
"Sing. Sing." He muttered quietly, "If you sing, you'll be able to conclude your thoughts right?"
Her gaze softened, she truly is surrounded by such gentle and kind people. Senpai, ever since their first meeting was surrounded in light. Everyone who she met in light academy. They are all surrounded by such a warm and beautiful light. As Kotori-chan said, she wants to talk to them a lot more. To rely upon and trust them.
_________________________________________________________
"Since you came all this way, shouldn't you say something to her? I think she could use your advice." Kyoko commented.
Ameno escaped his lips, "Is it a guarantee she will listen to me?"
"It is."
This person is Tachibana Ameno, a musical genius and someone whom her sister considered a dear friend. "When you left abruptly a few months prior, she wanted to cry, but she held back. You should have at least spoken to her before you left."
"If I told her, the lady would cry more. But well that's a trait of hers I've always liked. ,"
Kyoko sighed, "Too many strange guys like my sister. Even Oujiro-kun isn't normal."
"So you claim, but you're very interested in him still."
"Well, perhaps I'm just being paranoid. There's no doubt that Lila-chan already chose between Karashima Haruka and Oujiro. All that's left is for her to choose between Kiryu-kun and Karashima."
Ameno paused and took a few steps forward, "Lila-chan's choice. For now, it will be Karashima."
Kyoko noticed it immediately, 'for now.' He also thinks the same.
"Give me your honest opinion. How do you see Kiryu-kun and Lila-chan's relationship?"
"They got together too soon."
"..."
"While I'm not saying that's a bad thing, it wasn't good for them either. They not only ended up forcibly separated from each other. But it affected the relationships they cultivated with the surrounding people."
"That woman.."
"That woman is dangerous now. She always was, but at least we kept her in check." Ameno trailed off, "It's different now, she will surely make a move."
"Will you return to her side soon? She will need you."
Ameno nodded, "There are a few matters I still have to clear up. But I'll fly to her side once I'm done. I can't leave my precious student with a flock of wild beasts."
Kyoko chuckled, "There's a flock?" she paused and turned to look at her sister, "Your thoughts?"
"I'm biased towards her. Do you still want to hear?"
"I'm already used to it, you guys in SEVEN STARS treat her like a princess."
"Is that not what she is?"
"True, unlike me. The princess blood is actually stronger with her. It's just that, I've always avoided her getting too involved with eternal affairs. She's a princess, but I want it to be in name only."
"We can no longer shield the truth from her eyes. While I understand your concern, we can't keep this up any longer."
The truth, huh? Kyoko extended her hand out towards the night sky and closed her eyes. It would be better if Lila-chan never found out. If she could continue on a path of light if she could continue on the path she took upon realizing that she wanted to differ from mother. She never wanted her beloved sister to stain her hands, to go on this journey, knowing full well what it would do to her.