"Haruka…"
"I have a few errands to run. But I'll be here by lunch." Haruka informed her.
Lila nodded slowly, as she replied, "Ah-huh…"
She doesn't want to leave his side. She wants to be with him longer. Lately, these types of thoughts have been occupying her mind a lot. Why does she want to stay by his side so badly?
"Don't be reckless." Haruka told her, as he turned to someone, "I'll leave her to you."
It's then she spots Takeshi. He doesn't say anything but simply nodded...
"Haruka.."
He must have sensed her tone since he bends down and kissed her.
"It'll only be a little while alright?"
"Yes…"
He grabbed hold of her hands, "Be careful."
Lila nodded, and with those words said Haruka removed his hand from hers and walked away. Despite his initiative to hold her hand, he let go so easily. Despite his words of only loving her, he still sees other girls. It's true that they aren't in a relationship, and she has no right to tell him to stop. But it felt wrong to her. It's not the same as when Kiryu slept with Rosalia. There's something else about this that made her uncomfortable... Something, she doesn't understand.
"So Princess, this broad light affair is certainly amazing." Takeshi's sudden comment broke her thoughts.
"Wha-what!!" Lila exclaimed.
"No really, it's amazing."
"Quit joking around...we aren't like that."
Despite everything, the two of them aren't like that. "Jokes aside, is it serious?"
Lila paused, she wasn't expecting him to ask so bluntly. But she supposed he does have the right to know.
"I'm not really sure?" Lila replied.
"You love him?" Takeshi asked.
"That's not..it exactly."But she can't outright deny it either, "It's very complicated. But I do know, that I want to be by his side…"Lila paused, she was unsure if she should continue or not. Last time, she spoke about this with Yumeko-chan and she knew the girl concluded that she was in love with Haruka. It's not like that, but at the same time, she really can't deny it. After all that person really has become special to her.
She wanted to be with him all the time.
That sort of feeling, is it love?
It was the same for Kiryu. She wanted to be with him. But didn't those feelings come about, because they were always together before and she wasn't used to him leaving her side? It's different with Haruka. She wants to be beside him so much..but those sorts of feelings came out of nowhere. Perhaps that's why she's so uneasy because she doesn't know where it came from.
. . . . . .
They quickly met up with Yumeko-chan and the others. To her surprise, the guys in RAY were here too.
"Wahhh, you look so cute Ari-chan!"
"Thank you," Lila said with a slight smile.
Even though it was only a training session, it was implied that you would be meeting your future instructors as well as the judges. Thus, spurring on the contestants desire to dress up and look like an idol. To be perfectly honest, she never thought about such things before. She simply wanted to sing. She wanted nothing more than that. All that was on her mind was, singing, Kiryu, mother and Ren-san. Things like trying to impress anyone, or act like an idol, never crossed her mind even once. Nothing's changed, even now she thinks that but…
'This looks good on you, wear it..' She recalled the moment from this morning, and her cheeks flushed red, clearly embarrassed. He really is too accustomed to paying girls compliments.
Her thoughts broke off when she felt Kouta-Kun's gaze on her. Ah. . .. "Kout--"
"Mikami, what does the schedule look like?"
Mikami seemed to have noticed and yet continued, "From the morning…."
His words were lost to her, as Lila clenched her fist. Why...does he have to avoid her for? She heard from the others and the TV studio staff where Kouta-kun was working that day, that he was the one who was most worried about her. His reaction..she could picture it. They haven't known each other for long, but Lila could safely say he's the one other than, Haruka that she's closest with. She doesn't like this.
"But you know, getting dressed up like this when we have training in less than two hours is.."
Ruka said with a deep sigh.
"Maybe they'll test how we do well training such clothes."
Yumeko trailed off, but shook her head ad added. "Impossible."
........
The impossible quickly became a reality, as they were rushed into the dance studio with 9 other girls. Lila was surprised how small the amount was until she caught a glimpse of how many rooms the building has. This whole building must be reserved for the competition. Isn't 12 people per room strange though? As she was thinking this, she caught glimpse of three people staring at her from the corner. They were 3rd years, members of Haruka's group and if she recalls correctly. Friends with the girl that poured hose water on her.
. . . .This is pretty bad. Yumeko wasn't there at the time, so she shouldn't recognise them. However, if they do start something then she knows her friend will get mad for her sake. Thankfully, the dance instructor entered the room then. A woman with bubblegum pink curly hair and blue eyes. She looks pretty.
The woman flashed a wink at Yumeko's direction, and her friends face color turned pale. Do they know each other?
. . .
"Yumeee-chan!" Yuko exclaimed as she glomped on to her blonde hair friend.
Yumeko looked at the dance instructor with a face filled with disgust.
"Gahh stay away!"
"How cruel, we haven't met each other in so long…"
So they do know each other. Yumeko-chan's friends with really pretty people. But contrary to the woman's introduction, she seems to have quite the bubbly personality.
"Is that person really a man?"Ruka murmured beside her.
Ah?!! Ehh?
Ruka sees her reaction and whispered, "Sssh, this is something I heard from the online forums and people in school who have entered before. But that person is supposedly a guy. He debuted as a female though and nobody knew until last year. He debuted when he was 10 and now he's 29. He's clearly something being able to hide it for 18 years. Kisaragi Yuko, the number one cross dresser in the entertainment industry."
"..."
Lila is completely speechless, how on earth is she supposed to react to that? But this must be why Yumeko-chans acting this way, she seems to be distant from guys.
Maybe she isn't comfortable with them?
"Gahh, really, why is it you? There's plenty of other dance instructors they could have hired.."
"I was asked personally by Haru-kyun." Yuko said.
"Geh. He did it to spite me…"
"He did say he wanted to annoy you a little." Yuko commented.
"I knew it!" Yumeko exclaimed.
"But also…." Yuko trailed off, and let's go of Yumeko and walked over towards her, "Miss Kiku Ari-san?"
"Uh--Y--yes?" Lila stammered since she was caught slightly of guard.
He walked over slightly and whispered in her ear, "He asked me to look out for you."
Ah…
It must be regarding her identity. Even though she was aware of Haruka knowing. It's still a bit surprising. She supposed having the dance instructor look out for her, helps too.
Even if she does end up dancing to her real ability by mistake, he can gloss it over with a criticism. Haruka, he really has thought it through. It probably isn't just the dance instructor too. The reason why he's been working, even more, it's most likely because of her. She wants to thank him later.