21st June 2035, 6:30 am.
"Everyone!"
The moment she rushed over though, she spotted a dark aura around Arata and immediately hid behind Oujiro, "Senpai, he's scary. Save me."
"You careless girl! Ryunosuke told me everything, what on earth have you been doing?"
"Err..." She wonders whether it's wise to ask which one he's referring too.
"Now calm down.." Ryunosuke said
"Right, we haven't met her in so long."
"In the first place, I was completely opposed to you coming here without an escort. You could at least have taken two people with you from the start, there were no rules about it."
Eh? Wait, seriously?
Arata immediately caught on, and asked, "...don't tell me you didn't know?"
...
She didn't. Soichiro mentioned nothing like that, he said to her that spending time in isolation will help her suppress the urges. Gah, that guy tricked her! She will definitely lecture him when she gets back.
"All that side for now." Arata walked over and patted her head, "Are you well, Lila?"
Sensing his tone, Lila smiled. "Ah-huh, I'm fine. I settled my feelings to a certain extent. But, there's still more settling left to do."
"I see, we will help you."
___________________________________________________________
"I kept Yumeko distracted," Mikami commented, as he entered the room. Haruka nodded. He watched as Mikami walked over to the window, "Not going to go with them?"
"She's only going to the other end of the island to film, at most, it will take two days."
"Two days without her, can you manage that? It's considered long you know? Especially since you've been together with her this entire time."
"Shut up."
He knows that. But, Haruka continued, "I can't interfere here. DEVIL has changed. There's no place for me in the DEVIL that has Ichinose Oujiro. While I helped them with this one song, I won't be able to do so in the future." From the start, their music differed from each other, and yet that selfish girl...
His thoughts broke off when he heard Mikami burst into laughter. "What are you laughing at?"
"You really underestimate your place in her heart."
What is he talking about? Before Haruka could ask, the doors burst open and revealed Lila. She happily rushed over to him.
"Haruka!"
"What?"
Lila looked at him puzzled, "What are you talking about? You're coming with me right?"
Huh? What?
"...Why do I..."
"Because you're my manager, but not only that. Your still DEVIL's producer."
But the present devil has Austin Kiryu taking the reigns, there's Ichinose to fill that spot he was once in. There's no place for him there. Lila's hand brushed against his cheek, "Am I wrong Haruka? You don't want to stay with me?"
Stupid, that last line could mean anything. What does that have to do with DEVIL?
"I'll go with you."
"En, very good."
.
.
Another end of the Island. 8:00 am.
It didn't take them long to reach here. Then again, Terashima Kyoko probably used her powers. He understands that even though Lila could get through that stage with nothing serious happening. One must still take precautions.
"What's the matter?" Haruka asked.
"No, I was thinking how gentle the wind is today."
"..."
The wind? Gentle? He doesn't get it. His thoughts broke off when he found the girl staring at him, "What?"
"Um, can you hold my hand?" Lila asked.
"..."
Even though he should be used to it already, he can't help but be speechless at the girl's actions.
"Don't be satisfied with just my hand."
"I'm sorry! But I really do just want to hold hands now." Lila quickly turned him down before he could make a move.
This was the first time she caught on so quickly, should he be glad she's slowly not becoming naive? Haruka sighed but extended his hand out, taking the girls hand in his, "Are we taking a walk?"
"Ah-huh! Let's go."
This girl, realizes it by now right? That she never lost her light. He wonders what sort of singing she will produce with that song. The stage she had with Terashima Kyoko made him realize that the present him still isn't good for her. He has to get stronger, stronger so he can remain by her side.
____________________________________________________________
Without Kiryu by her side, she's recalled how weak she was before they met. The world before she met Kiryu, she refrains from thinking about it too much. While she spent many peaceful days, there were just as many painful ones. It was a dire time for Mother. But after she met Kiryu, even those painful days became bright to her. After she met him, she saw the light in the darkness. For the first three years while she was not afraid of the darkness.
She didn't embrace it whole heartily as she made others believe. After she met him, she understood. There's light in the darkness, what she had been so indifferent to the whole time is so beautiful. Such a gentle and strong light. She closed her eyes as she recalled a conversation she had with Ameno-senpai a few months back.
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A few months ago 2035, (Universal S Academy Infirmary)
"You know what? Back then I thought it would be nice if I could continue meeting this person. Maybe one day we would become closer than just friends."
Ameno who applied the medicine stopped and tapped her shoulder, Lila nodded and fixed her clothes up. It still hurt but she felt slightly better.
"So it was something like that. A single meeting, an encounter can lead to such thoughts. But no matter how fond the memory was, you could forget quickly."
"Ah-huh, because Kiryu's more important."
Ameno gently pats her hair, "You know it in your heart already, who's the most important person to you. But, that doesn't mean you have to discard others who are important. It'll take time for him to do growing up on the matter. But I'm sure Kiryu understands it too, that he can't selfishly keep you to himself.."
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But she wanted him. She wanted Kiryu to continue thinking that way, selfishly kept her to himself, because that's exactly what she wanted too. However, like Ameno-senpai said that, was wrong. They can no longer live in just a world that revolves around just them. They both have others who are just as important. Growing up is difficult, if possible she wants to return to those days, where she could be by Kiryu's side with no complications. Lila shook her head and smiled, but Kiryu. He wouldn't want that anymore either.
They both, have something they really want to do. Whether that something is more important than their feelings for each other, she isn't sure. But it's just as important.