86 Just be Yourself (7) Edit)

After she saw Eita-san, Takeshi escorted her at the gate. It stopped at the gate since Haruka was there. He looked very troubled and she understood why. The events of earlier still lingered deeply in her mind, nothing happened. But he intended it. She has to remain vigilent and cautious from now on. So when she headed back to the base with him earlier, she ensured they didn't get particularly close anymore.

Lila exhaled deeply; she was in no mood for class. Though Takeshi still lingered by, he didn't stick to her right now. She was grateful for that. Right now, there are a lot of things she needs to think about.

-----

Earlier, in the base.

"It's cold so wear this, till you get back to your dorm room. I have somewhere to be." Haruka said as he wrapped his jacket around her. "I want to take you with me…"

"Haruka….I don't want you to go.."

Lila realised what she just said and covered her mouth. Haruka didn't get offended and just hugged her briefly, before pulling back.

"I'll come back."

Haruka said.

-----

...why did she say something like that?

The strange one is her; she should be angry after what he did to her.. How does she feel? She doesn't know. She trembled a lot. Does that mean she was afraid? And yet, she didn't want him to leave her. How contradictory. What is there to be confused about? She understood it full well. She's afraid. She's scared of that side of Haruka.

Haruka hides his hanyou side well. But Lila understands it full, what's between them now cannot be called love. On Haruka's side even if there is genuine feelings, it does not change the fact that he forced himself on her with no consideration of her feelings. The depravity one experiences when their beloved is not nearby is hard enough, let alone when they are so close. She understood that, but Lila couldn't excuse his actions.

The conversation they had too. He seemed so sincere then. Even though Lila ought to blame him, she can't. Lila knew a part of her is afraid of him and yet she can't blame him. Haruka really doesn't know what to do when it comes to her; she could see it in his eyes. That gives him no excuse and yet..

Her thoughts broke off when she spotted someone familiar. Ah.

"Yumeko-chan, what are you doing?"

Lila asked. The blonde hair girl was putting something on a board of some kind.

"Ah perfect timing Ari-chan, look! I call it, the chart of dreams.."

"The chart of dreams?"

"Right, it's for our class stall. I know we're doing a cafe. But I wanted to spice things up a bit. What do you think? It's a chart of different dreams people have! Of course, it's not something you can measure but .."

Soft laughter escaped her lips, "I think I get it."

Yumeko smiled before she suddenly exclaimed loudly.

Her friend took out her jacket and extended it towards her.

"Ari-chan, wear this instead..."

"Eh?"

"If those jealous fangirls see you wearing his clothes, they'll…" Yumeko didn't have to finish her sentence. Lila understood where her friend was coming from.

Ah. But, she felt comfortable wearing this...

"Ari-chan, do you want to accompany me jogging?"

Yumeko suddenly suggested.

.....

So that's how Lila found herself jogging around the school with the blonde hair girl. Even though she changed into her tracksuit, she still found herself wearing Haruka's jacket on top. Since that time, she's maintained going out and hogging. So her strong stamina gradually returned to her. Kiryu always said her endurance wasn't average. But considering how everyone else kept up with it before, she never took the warning seriously. However, her gaze landed on Yumeko-chan who appeared to struggle to keep up with her? Should she slow down?

As Lila thought this. Yumeko suddenly exclaimed loudly, "Ah, I can do this! My dream power increase."

Lila blinked in confusion before her lips broke into a smile, this girl is something.

...

So when Yumeko suggests they skip the rest of school, she didn't disagree. Lila wondered when was the last time, the last time she had

fun with another person like this. It felt like, ever since she came here. Endless problems have cropped up and plagued her into worry.

...

....

6:00 PM

Light Park

"Ah, that was fun!" Yumeko said as she stretched her arm, "We ended up completely skipping class though; brother will get so angry, " Yumeko suddenly bowed and clasped her hands, "Sorry."

Lila shook her head, "It's okay."

It was no secret that Kouta is avoiding her.

It's natural that Kouta-kun is avoiding her right now.

" . ..Ari-chan, you really are amazing aren't you?"

Lila blinked, eh? Where did that come from?

"Although I've thought this since we first met. Recently I can say so with more conviction. Ari-chan, you've changed a lot. You resemble that person, maybe that's what influenced this thought. But I can tell somehow that the present is completely different. "

"I've changed?" Lila repeated.

"That's right. When you first came here seemed like you were lost and confused. You were singing all the explosive emotions inside your heart; singing everything you couldn't convey. But at some point, you not only did that, but you started to shine together alongside everyone. At some point in your performances, you incorporated not only the feelings you want to get across to everyone. But their feelings alongside your own. " Yumeko paused, "Really you resemble her. But, I can also tell you're different from her."

Ah, that's right. At the start, it felt as though she was rushing recklessly ahead without any proper direction. If she sings, one day she would be able to reach mother and Ren-san. One day, all the hidden secrets buried in the dark can come to light. They can face the light although she overcame that when she first came here.

She reverted to rushing ahead aimlessly despite having a goal. But once again, at some point, she changed. How ironic. Even though she was the one who said she would never lose her way regarding this matter, even more so now that she's apart from everyone.

When she sings now, she doesn't want to only sing for her mother and Ren-san. She doesn't just sing for her Kiryu either. Sure those feelings are equally as important in her heart. But even more than that, there's something much more now. Even more important…

'Stay by my side.'

Thump.

Thump...

"Ah-huh, but Yumeko-chan your the same to aren't you? You're in love with music. "

Yumeko nodded, "That's true. I love music. Though to be honest, at first I didn't take being an idol seriously."

"Eh?"

The blonde hair girl laughed at her reaction, "Is it that surprising?"

Lila nodded. Since she first met the girl, she thought Yumeko was exactly like her. Someone who fell in love with music at the very beginning, so she is somewhat surprised about this.

"Ari-chan, you're 'serious' about winning aren't you? "

Lila nodded confidentiality, "That's right."

"During the stars of stars tournament last year, everyone was 'serious. ' I watched Lila-chan stage in particular very closely. The emotions in her performance were very powerful. I can still remember it quite clearly. Lila-chan is very cool. I asked her about it when I got the chance, and she told me it because she's serious... " Yumeko trailed off, "But even with that explanation, I couldn't understand. When I got to know Lila-chan, I really thought we were similar to each other. However, after she told me that, I realised we were different. Those competitive feelings, I don't understand it very well."

Oh...

"Is this why you don't really enter competitions.."

Yumeko nodded.

"Not being competitive, I never saw it as an issue before. I just want to stand on stage and convey my music. But at some point, I realized that alone isn't needed to be an idol. II lacksomething fundamental as an idol; that's why Haruka-kun gets angry at me whenever I sing."

Oh, now that Yumeko mentioned it... But Haruka-kun? The blonde hair girl didn't realise that she slipped up and continued, "Just having fun is a naive and childish thought. While I already lacked something fundamental as an idol, I gradually found I was missing more than I thought."

…..

That's right, the two of them are entirely different from each other. Even though they both have more dreams than most people. But that's exactly why...

______________________________________________________

"I don't think there's anything wrong with the present you."

Yumeko looked at the girl puzzled.

Ari nodded, "Yes, your missing something as an idol and you're lacking in so many areas. You probably ought to brush up your fundamental skills before entering a big tournament.."

Yumeko slumped on the ground, "Brutal.."

Though it's nothing, she hasn't heard about already.

"But, your songs are filled with light."

"Ari-chan?"

A tender smile appeared on her friend's face, "For a person like Yumeko-chan, who overcame many trials to reach this point. I can tell you genuinely love music, and you were always in love with it. But simply expressed it differently before."

Yumeko was going to protest, but Ari-chan grabbed hold of her hand. Wah.

"I can tell, someone whose hands are like this. And have dark circles, and always sleeping in class is a music-loving fool."

Her cheeks reddened, realising that Ari-chan figured her out.

Ari smiled, "There's nothing wrong with expressing those types of feelings in your performance. But what made you start thinking this way, I'd like to see it too."

What made her fall in love with music, it wasn't just Lila-chan. It was because of him.