As the memory from a few months ago appeared in her head, Lila sighed deeply, "How could I forget. You really lectured me," Rather that was the first time Ryunosuke ever spoke to her harshly. Between him and Arata, he's always kind to her. Even when she's making silly decisions. However, because somebody who normally wouldn't say such harsh and direct words said them. Lila could face the situation more.
Ryunosuke chuckled before he replied. "More like, I gave you a push right?"
"That's true. I thought it was strange you were asking me such questions. But at the same time, I already knew. The fact that I couldn't answer, even though I'm normally so blunt and honest meant something was already changing."
"You didn't want to accept that change. But if you didn't, you would have broken down even further."
"Yes, I'm glad you told me much sooner," Lila mumbled. Even though he was blunt about it if he didn't say she would still remain oblivious to it.
"Is it still the same now?" he asked.
"Probably."
Even though she got closer with senpai when Haruka left since he even joined DEVIl. But, even then.. the feelings she has for Haruka aren't simple at all. "And things are progressing well over there?" he asked.
"I wonder, it feels like I'm getting too distracted with Haruka when there are other things I should be doing."
"Well, now that can't be helped."
"It can't?"
"In the first place, your main reason for coming there was because of him."
"Was I that transparent?" she wondered.
Ryunosuke mumbled something, but she heard him. So that's how things are. He spoke up, and replied, "Yes. For now, don't mind it too much. After today's conference, you won't be able to ignore other things and solely focus on Karashima."
"Is everyone.." Lila trailed off, understanding where he was coming from.
"Us aside. The members of the Goddess4 and God5 have been ready for a while now."
"I know. I keep up to date. Everyone's doing so well, they're amazing." In contrast, she hasn't been able to show anything.
"Your husband says though, that he likes it when you do everything at your own adorable pace. Since it means you'll be cuter on stage."
Lila had already lost her composure at the word "husband." But hearing Kiryu's compliments she found her whole face had turned red, and she was exploding. She heard laughter at the other end.
"Haha," Ryunosuke laughed, "Well, this is good to hear."
"Wah, it's not funny," Lila exclaimed. It wasn't funny at all, but for the next few minutes Ryunosuke kept on laughing.
Ryunosuke eventually stopped and commented, "Must be why he was so happy when he returned from seeing you."
"Kiryu was happy?" Lila repeated.
"Yeah, he was in a good mood but annoying Takano a lot since he kept talking about how cute you are and how he wanted to kidnap you for real..."
Ryunosuke seemed assumed at the thought, and Lila thinks back to when she last saw him. Come to think of it, he really didn't want to let her go. Then again, it was the same for her. Ryunosuke interrupted her thoughts and said, "Whether it's Kiryu or the other prince, you're still ..."
Lila cuts him off, "That's true. I won't be able to hold myself back. That's why it's probably best if I don't meet with prince number two now."
".. You know, I don't think it's wrong for you to rely on Oujiro."
"But.." Lila protested.
"Your Darling said it too. He trusts Oujiro to look after you and be your support since he isn't always in the best state to do so."
Not always in the best state? She recalled the last time they met. Kiryu hid it very well, but Lila could tell that his condition had degraded, "That's so selfish, did I ask for that? I only wanted him," Lila exclaimed. She only wanted Kiryu, in her eyes - for the longest time her world only revolved around him.
"Calm down," Ryunosuke said, "Don't you understand it? Kiryu may be selfish. But, there's no doubt that he really cares about you."
She understands that, understands that Kiryu has always prioritised her even before his own family. But, "I wish he didn't let me go here," Lila said faintly, "I wanted to stay with him, but he let me go."
"Did you tell him that?"
"I did. And Kiryu understands it too, we spoke about it countless times. What I've always been afraid of is being separated from him. I've always felt like Kiryu only loved me because we were always together, so if we got separated--" Lila didn't even want to finish her sentence.
"I think it was the same for Oujiro too."
Ryunosuke reminded her of senpai, causing her to pause for a few minutes, "Say Ryunosuke," Lila drawled, " I.. it's not like I never liked senpai."
"Yeah."
"But, I never thought to ask him out. Why do you think that was?"
"Why?" Ryunosuke questioned.
Lila paused before she said, "Because I understood something," If she didn't understand then she wouldn't have come to this conclusion. But if she didn't understand, then both Kiryu and Senpai would end up hurt.
"And that is?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I liked senpai. But the feelings I had for Kiryu were a lot stronger. I tried not to compare them. But, even I could see that if someone placed me in a situation where it involved saving one person, I'd save Kiryu only. When I realized that I understood, my feelings for senpai only belonged to the first layer. It was a silly crush, I was attracted to him and he treated me kindly. But it could never be any more than that."
"That's true. Anyone could see it. However, you never let it go any further. It could have easily advanced to something, but you would never let it. Why?"
Lila answered immediately, "Because I listened to my heart."
"Your heart?" Ryunosuke repeated.
"It told me, who I had to be with. Who I wanted it to be. Perhaps I willed it that way. But, Kiryu was always going to be more important to me than senpai," Lila explained. Her heart told her, it was Kiryu over senpai. Her feelings for Kiryu are the strongest. She wishes she could apply the same knowledge for this situation too with Haruka. But her heart is a mess now, "That's why it was easy to end the triangle there."
"I wonder if you two rehearsed this." Ryunosuke murmured.
"Eh?" Lila said, confused.
"Well, I was just talking to him the other day. And he said something along the same lines. That he could never even see another woman because of the same reasoning. Well, he added extras like, 'in the first place Lila's so cute and adorable. Why would I even register anyone else in my eyes?'"
When she heard Ryunosuke's words, Lila could picture her Kiryu say those words and her cheeks turned red.
"I used to think the relationship you had with Austin Kiryu was terrible," he commented. Ehh? Bad? Ryuosuke, however, did not wait for her reply, as he continued, "Well, for one it always felt like you were more attached to him than him. But it wasn't like that. I'm starting to think you're both equally obsessed with each other."
"Obsessed!" Lila exclaimed happily.
"You sound way too happy about that."
"Ah-huh, say is Kiryu okay?"
"He sings every day saying he's going to give you a thousand love songs upon your return.."
Lila laughed softly, "Aha, he's being silly."
"But, 'I'm worried about Karashima. She actually liked him differently than Ichinose. What do I do if I were to lose her? But I can't complain.. it's all up to her.."
Kiryu's very foolish.
Normally one wouldn't be so lenient and yet...
'I love you but I won't overly interfere with your life.' They respected and understood each other... That's the type of relationship they have. Even though he gets jealous easily. He still respected every decision she makes in her life, even those regarding the guys in her life. On that department, he should say more and yet he never says a word. She wondered why he does that. Is there a particular reason for it?
Either way, "Please tell him not to worry. I love him so much, why would that suddenly change?" Lila asked.
"I'll pass it on. The emperor is getting angry, so it's time to go."
"Ah-huh, thank you for checking up on me," Lila thanked him. Hearing the call end after a final goodbye, she exhaled deeply. She wanted to ask..something else. If things have progressed between Rosalia-chan and Kiryu. Or maybe that assistant girl? She really has been very worried about it. But at the same time, her thoughts have swayed.
'I need you..'
Those three words Haruka said constantly replay on her mind.
She really doesn't understand anymore.