May 31st, 2035
(Haruka's apartment)
The next few days pass, fleeting like a dream. Simply being by each other's side asking random and mundane questions, and yet those days were peaceful.
….
Oh, he's fallen asleep. Lately, he falls asleep a lot. He must be tired. Lila extended her hand out; he has pretty eyelashes for a guy. She reached her hand out; however; she paused. Lila still couldn't bring herself to touch him. If she touched him back, then the barrier keeping them apart from each other will truly break. He looks exhausted.
The competition is officially tomorrow, and for the last few days, Haruka's been running back and forth. Is there something she can do. Maybe, it's okay to touch him this time? Just a little. Lila gently caressed his face. Is he eating properly? It's true that they meet every day, but Haruka only cuddles with her before falling asleep.
That's all he does with her, cuddle. But even then Lila remained vigilent. She knew she couldn't treat him in the same manner after his so called attempt. If she didn't stop him, he really would have done it.
When she woke up in the morning, Haruka is already too. She only wanted to make sure of something.
Her thoughts broke off when she noticed he was awake, "What?"
"Ah, um, have you been eating?" Lila asked.
"My usual meals," Haruka replied.
His usual, in other words, convenient store lunches. Lilas gaze flickered towards the surrounding areas, cup noodles. That's even worse than convenient store bentos. As she was thinking this, she felt Haruka's lips on her breast. He simply rested them there but she looked at him with caution.
."Um…"
"Hah. Why do you smell so good?"
"I'm wearing perfume…" She made sure to wear it whenever she meets with him.
"Mmm. Smells good."
Is it the perfume he's smells or is it the blood? He suddenly shuffled away.
"I wonder why you keep staying here," Haruka commented.
"Eh?" Lila said puzzled.
"You could just leave every time I fall asleep.."
That's true. Since Haruka falls asleep right away, Lila could use that time to leave. But for some reason, she couldn't leave him alone. Lila doesn't understand that. But ever since he opened up his weakness, she hasn't been able to leave.
She gently caressed his hair with her fingers, as she lightly brought up the topic of his meals. She knows full well how mad he gets if she takes her concern too far, "Your not getting any nutrition…"
"Will you cook for me then?" Haruka murmured.
"Ah, I can!" Lila exclaimed.
She proceeded to get up, but Haruka pulled her back down. "Breakfast later. Let's just sleep now."
Lila agreed, "Okay."
"Did you eat?"
Lila nodded. Before coming here, she made sure to eat dinner. After all, she knows Haruka isn't satisfied just doing it once. It's strange. She still trembles and cries whenever he holds her. But, she isn't exactly afraid of him. She is a weird one. He is forcing her and yet she doesn't hate this person.
"Haruka, is work tough?"
She asks, but she understood that the work Haruka does behind the scenes isn't easy. The ones who work hard for the idols behind the scenes, she's always appreciated them, but she could never relate with them.
"Well, it shouldn't be. But a man with a high position like mine has a lot of stuff to deal with. Did you know that even though there are judges picked out for certain cities during the competition, in the end, only five will be picked for the main tournament? We have to run a vote based on experience, success during the competition."
"Ah, does that mean you'll get kicked out?"
He flicked her forehead.
"Don't be cheeky; that position is mine by default."
Ah, of course. Haruka is talented and good at his job. Even though she caught a glimpse of it before, she only experienced it properly when he became her manager.
"What?"
"I was thinking; it doesn't suit your image."
"Kid, many things in this world don't suit peoples images. But, they end up with that career or particular specialty because that's just what fate decided for them."
"..."
"..What now?"
"Haruka, you believe in fate?" Lila asked.
"I didn't, that is until I fell in love."
That comment caught her off guard, and her cheeks burned red. How can he say that so casually? Is he not embarrassed? That was until he fell in love. The others told her that she's the one who changed Haruka. But she wasn't sure. The Haruka everyone sees on a daily is incomplete; they don't see the full picture.
He seemed satisfied with her reaction since he bends over and lightly kissed her lips before continuing, "And so the stuff with the judges aside. There's a lot of internal work to do regarding the participants. We have to conduct final background checks.." Haruka paused seeing her reaction, "Of course, I handled yours by myself."
Lila sighed a breath of relief she didn't know she was holding back until now.
"So during these checks, it's a hassle. There will be those who notice were prying. They either get mad or try to change the information. But either option one is a trap."
"A trap?"Lila repeated.
"Yes, a trap. Them getting mad is simply an excuse, during the time they voice out a complaint. They have already warned their family members and associates, so the information gets changed."
Oh, "Then, what do you do?"Lila asked. Haruka starts to explain the process to her. This is fun, just talking with him like this. It's comfortable.
........
1st June 2035 (Haruka's apartment)
On the morning of the competition, Haruka greets her with what he called a harmless kiss to her lips. His kisses have no regard to her feelings. Originally, that's
what she thought. But lately she thinks so otherwise.
"Morning." he trailed off, "What are you cooking?"
"Omelets. I wanted to make more, but there's not a lot in the fridge."
She wanted to run to the convenient store. But she knows Haruka doesn't like her leaving without saying a word, so she opted to wait.
"I'll send some people; what do you need?"
"Etto.." she listed out a few things and Haruka pulled out his phone and called someone.
In the next few minutes, she has all the ingredients she needed. It felt strange to her, this whole thing. She usually does her own shopping. But Haruka calls someone whenever either of them needs anything. If it weren't for his workload, then she wouldn't believe he was getting any exercise at all.
Noticing Haruka drawing closer to her face she called out his name, "Haruka?"
"Let's make out."
Kiss, "It's too early, and you have to eat." Lila insisted.
Haruka however quietly backed her against the wall, "What sort of nonsense are you saying, when we're already like this?"
N--nonsense? And they haven't been in this position long. He's so cocky and arrogant. Haruka's leaned down, "So, are you still going to refuse? Either way, your mine already."
These days, the words that leave Haruka's lips are possessive. She had always known him to be a kind person. But these days, she is starting to learn more about the shadows he has kept to himself this whole time. The shadows, the darkness influencing this sort of behavior.