It doesn't take him long as he returned with clothes for her, "I just got this across the road, I don't know your size. But it's better than what you're wearing now." Takahiro explained in a rush, as he handed the bag over to her. Lila puzzled accepted the parcel and returned to the other room.
When she re-emerged through the door wearing the new set of clothes, Takahiro blushed more than before. Lila wore a black ruffled tank-top in three layers; each layer has thickly applied purple glitter.
The sleeves and neck lined with raspberry lace. Sewn to the left strap are gold and purple butterfly. Included is a purple lace scrunchie bracelet with a gold butterfly sewn to it — purple denim shorts with the Ageha logo on the left leg. Stitched around the leg holes are black pieces of lace.
A single, grey button resides at the middle of the waist. Black booties covered in gold studs and grey soles. Sewn to the side of the cuff is a purple and gold butterfly charm, worn alongside a pair of black textured knee-socks with a purple lace cuff.
Did—did he chose those clothes for her?
Before he could get a word in edge-wise, he feels others in the room and sure enough when he turned to the doorway. Takahiro found his brothers were there.
"Woaaahhh, fathers right. He brought a girl back."
"Miss what do you like about this guy."
"You have bad taste."
Takahiro explained, "You guys! The two of us are only friends! "
But they merely continued with their teasing.
To his surprise, Lila-chan simply remained unmoved, seeing her present state. He kicked his brothers out. It was surprisingly easy, his brothers must have noticed too — the dead look in the girl's eyes.
Takahiro pulled out his guitar from the side and sat down on the ground.
He finds the girls gaze on him for a sec before it lingered on the guitar. Honestly, he doesn't understand what he's doing right now. He hears a shuffle and finds the girl edging closer to him, "Takahiro-kun," she spoke up.
"Y—yes?" Takahiro replied nervously.
Lila suddenly apologized, "I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
"I picked up the song you wrote."
"Ah..huh?!!!"
Wait for what. Come to think of it. "AHHH!" Takahiro exclaimed loudly.
Lila blinked and asked. "Anno, did you just realize it was missing?"
He did only realize now, even though he's been conscious if he doesn't have it around with him.
"I'm sorry, but I don't want to give it back yet."
...huh? Wait. What?
He looks at her for answers, but she seemed to be keeping her mouth shut again. Well, he supposes there's nothing wrong with her having the song. It's not like he can do much with it during its present state.
"Lila-chan, say..can I ask you something?"
She slowly nodded.
"Do you want to return?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied bluntly.
How blunt.
Well, he expected as much.
"Even though...something's happening with Karashima-senpai?"
"Does Takahiro-kun think that too? That something is going on between me and senpai?"
"...Well..."
"To be honest, uh-huh. Something's happening. We're definitely not just friends, even back when we first met. It was never like that. When we first met, I was already very self-conscious of him, and for some reason. For some reason, I couldn't leave him alone." Lila explained.
"...what do you mean by that?" Takahiro questioned. Weren't they just friends? From the very start?
"Did you know, he kissed me no sooner than 10 minutes after we first met?"Lila informed him.
"!!"
"It was in the parking lot when he gave me papers regarding the tournament. At the time, I didn't understand what was happening..."
Wait, rather than not understand what was happening. Isn't the normal reaction to being frightened? But she's acting like she's acting as though. "You weren't scared?"
Lila shook her head, "I wasn't scared. Truthfully, somehow I felt comfortable."
"..."
Laughter escapes her lips, "You're probably thinking I'm very weird. But, it was the case for me."
"...so err you..."
"I don't know whether I liked it; I was just surprised. But at the same time, I was thinking; I want to get closer to this person. I want to get closer, to know more about him. That sort of feeling has remained with me this whole time. Maybe because I'm not with Kiryu now, but those feelings have surfaced."
"You can't control it?"
"I want to."
"But you can't?"
Lila nodded, "I can't. It feels like eventually, it will completely take over me. When that happens, what will happen to Kiryu? I don't, want to leave him. I've always loved Kiryu."
Considering the girl was shaking, he pulled her closer.
"Takahiro-kun.." Lila murmured.
"I don't know what to do here. But I want you to understand. Your feelings for Karashima-senpai aren't wrong?"
"They aren't wrong?" Lila repeated.
"Yes."
"But towards Kiryu, even now I--"
Takahiro shook his head.
"Don't be assertive per se. You should agree with what your heart wants. I know Austin Kiryu is still important to you. However, you feel more for Karashima-san than you think. Isn't it fine to see where those feelings will go?"
"Where my feelings will go?" Lila repeated his words, almost in a daze. It was clear that she was still uncertain.
"Yes, I think its more valuable for you to focus on the present. The more you deny it, the more pain you feel."
"But what about my feelings for Kiryu?" Lila asked.
The girl's tone contained desperation, and he could see the panic in her eyes. "Lila-chan, tell me something. You didn't break up with Austin Kiryu?"
She shook her head.
"So you're still in a relationship?"
"...." Lila did not reply right away and paused. Huh? Shouldn't she answer immediately?
After a few minutes. "I um...I'm not sure..." Lila said at last.
Despite the girl's vague answers, Takahiro understood. So that's how it is Kiryu-san, he respects him a lot more now.
"There you have it."
"Eh?" Lila said, puzzled.
"The decision is up to you. Kiryu-San is respecting your feelings." Takahiro summed it up for her.
Lila repeated his words, tilting her head sideways in confusion, "Respecting my feelings?"
"Yes, I don't know what words he said to you before you parted ways. But those words could be interpreted as him leaving it up to you. If you still want to remain with him, then he will contact you. If you don't, you stop the contact."
At that comment, the girl froze.
"He's been...contacting you right," Takahiro asked.
She slowly nodded.
"And you've been replying?"
"Yes...and um..we met.."
"When you disappeared on your birthday?"
"Yes.."
So that's why ever since then, he's gotten this strange feeling around them. That's why there's something different. He doesn't get complicated things, and there's no doubt that this is a complicated matter. But that's precisely why, "Lila-chan, regarding this. I don't mind if you..."
His sentence fell short when he felt her extend her hand out to touch his hair, thump, thump. Wh--what is she doing?
"Strange.." she murmured.
"Uhh..." he looked at her uncertainty filled his features. Rather, why does she have to get close? This is bad for him.
"You're very strange you know?"
"Uh...strange..." he repeated.
Lila nodded and continued, "Somehow, I thought this last year. But you are an extraordinary no strange person..." Lila concluded.
"Uh...so if I'm strange, what are you. ?" Takahiro was puzzled where she was going with this. So he found himself asking.
Lila tilted her head in confusion, "That's right; I wonder what I am."
Seeing her give some serious thought to it, he doesn't know what to say. "Takahiro-kun, your heart is beating a lot."
He's pretty sure that's because your so close to him right now. Rather, Lila really is getting too close.
"Does Takahiro-kun think I'm pretty?" Lila asked.
"..."
"Does Takahiro-kun...like me?"
"..."
"If...if you do, maybe I'll..."
Oh. After hearing the girls next words, he understood full well what was going on with her. "Lila-chan, I'm not...Karashima-senpai. Aren't, aren't these the things you want to tell him?"