12 Kindness (6)

Following morning, (H Records)

Haruka had just finished attending a rather dull meeting. 'Damn, those guys are annoying,' he thought. They did that on purpose, bringing up Lila. He knew right now the girl's reputation isn't good. But to use it against him just so he could agree to their stupid proposal? They clearly don't know who they are messing around with. If they think, they can threaten him with Lila then... Just thinking about it irritated him. He already sent his people, however, to deal with those men. Tomorrow onwards he won't see them around, so there is no use wasting any more thoughts on them.

Instead, Haruka turned his attention to the conversation he had with Lila, that surprised him, Haruka didn't think she would suddenly do that. He sighed; he supposed that there are parts of her that he still doesn't understand very well. One second, she's blushing like crazy, and then the next second she has a serious and mysterious look on her face. His thoughts broke off when he heard familiar singing, and he followed the source to the practice rooms on the third floor.

It's quite early, who would be here at this time? As Haruka said that, the voice grew louder and Haruka recognized it. 'Ah, of course,' he made his way down the hallway and reached the room at the end. There he found her singing.

She's good, but that's expected from her.

However this song, it irritated him, "Sing another song, I don't like this one," Haruka spoke up. He makes his presence known, and Lila almost dropped the guitar. But she clumsily caught it.

"Um, but, weren't you Devil's producer at some point?"

"Yeah. But, this is not a song that I composed during my time with them."

Lila placed the guitar down and walked over; she extended her hand out to caressed his cheeks. "Tired?"

"Yeah. Sorry, for leaving early," Haruka apologized.

"No, it's okay."

It's okay? Didn't she say she didn't want him leaving her side? How contradictory. Haruka took something out from his pocket; it was something he was working on earlier during the meeting, "Sing this."

Lila's eyes lit up as she happily exclaimed, "New music!! Okay!!!"

He sits down on the couch, and she followed behind him. When he saw her so focused on the music, he chuckled softly. When it comes to music, she's dedicated, huh? Haruka realizes that she noticed his laughter since she smiled brightly at him. He averted his gaze. Damn. She knows how to mess up his pace.

Lila tilted her head in confusion and tugged on his arm, breaking his thoughts as she asked, "? Senpai, how do you pronounce this word?"

"It means I want to hold you."

The girl's cheek reddened. But, he tried nothing and instead continued focusing on her singing. Lila tried to sing parts of it, and he gave comments.

"Senpai, this song is different from what I usually sing."

"That's why."

Lila looked at the music sheets; uncertainty filled her eyes. "I wonder if I can do it..."

Haruka sighed, disappointed at her response, "If you can't sing a song diverse from your usual, then you may as well quit being a singer."

"I—I know."

"Are you nervous?" Haruka asked.

Lila nodded and explained, "Previously, I passed the preliminary screening for a music award. But I had to drop out due to certain circumstances."

"Will you do that now too?"

"N—no, I—I'm just uncertain, of my ability..."

"Do you doubt my eyes? Ari, you will become famous and make it big. I guarantee it. Trust my words. I've never heard singing like yours before."

Lila nodded embarrassed about the comment he gave her.

"I want to kiss you; will you let me?" Haruka suddenly asked her.

Lila shook her head, but Haruka kissed her anyway. A sensual kiss, he's done so many times. But with her, there's always been something different. When he first kissed her last year, he noticed it. Something different.

"T—time out." she murmured. He pulled back, "Senpai, you, um, keep using your..."

"My mouth?" he finished off the girl's sentence.

Lila nodded, "That's how you're supposed to kiss. Didn't your old boyfriend teach you?"

"I know. He d—taught me. But, he didn't have piercings ... and… uh… your tongue is long."

Is she complimenting him and hiding her embarrassment? His thoughts broke off when the girl's phone rings. She immediately got up and rushed out of the door.

If she wanted privacy, she could have said so.

Haruka walked over, careful that she didn't see him and leaned on the other side of the door. He caught a glimpse of her expression and dropped his cigarette.

"Present?!! For me? Really? Aha, un, I know."

Who is she talking too? She suddenly looked so happy. He's never, seen that expression when they are together.

........

A few hours later. (Light Academy, Base)

Who is this again?

Haruka reached out for his phone and scrolled through the calendar. Ah. Right.

"Nnghh, what are you doing?" the girl asked. It was a woman named 'Heather' from the class next door.

"Nothing," Haruka replied. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pushed her back down.

She giggled.

"You're so sudden ~."

Before he could proceed any further though, he caught a glimpse of blue hair through the window.

_____________________________________________

Light Academy (Back of the School)

She's heard about these situations in movies and dramas before. Also, something similar happened in elementary, but since then she has encountered nothing like this before, so she's a bit surprised. Before any more words or blows are exchanged though, auburn colored hair appeared before her.

"Ah, senpai," Lila said.

He took one look at her appearance and sighed.

"What are you girls doing? An artist of mine getting injured will reflect badly on me too."

She thought it would merely be an exchange of words.

So, when she got slammed across the wall, she was taken back. Lila was uncertain whether she ought to fight back. It's not as though, she doesn't understand where they are getting at.

"But, she's always hogging you."

"It's not fair. This girl doesn't know the rules, so we had to teach her a lesson."

To them, she's a random girl who just appeared beside their idol, the person they like. It's only natural for them to be hostile. Lila noticed how Haruka priorities were spending time with her, even when she doesn't have work.

These girls, some of them may seriously like Haruka. So, she understands it. Even though she didn't know what this was all about, a part of her may have understood inside, that this wouldn't turn out well. So, she let allowed herself to get hurt.

Her thoughts broke off when she felt Haruka's lips on hers, "Nnmmmfhghfhh!"

Wh—why? Why is he kissing her so suddenly? Is this, really the time to be doing this?

He's using his mouth…

Oh no, it feels too good.

Before, she could get into it, however. Haruka pulled away.

"I'm still seeing other girls. You have no reason to harass her." Haruka said.

"B—but, you treat her too specially."

"Right, right, even when you're with us. You're distracted."

Eh? What does that mean? She stared at him with wide eyes.

"All right, I'll say it directly. I'm interested in her, so…"

Silence followed before the girls burst into chatter.

Haruka doesn't bother hearing their reactions and grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her away.

He takes her to a place behind the main school building. Haruka tugged on her clothes, and her whole face is crimson red. Their eyes meet, "Sorry, it's not… what you're thinking. Though I want that, right now, I want to check if you're injured."

Oh, that's what he meant.

"Over here."

Ah.

Lila nodded and followed him inside. She didn't know there was a place like this in school. Thoroughly the dimly lit corridor, there, in the end, was a single door battered, and covered in graffiti.

Haruka murmured a few things on his phone and pulled her into his arms, thump. Thump. Hearing beeping, Lila realizes he hugged her so that she wouldn't see the passcode. This must be a secret meeting place, sure enough, once the sound was gone. He pulled her away.

"Sit on the couch. I'll grab a few things." Hatuka instructed.

Lila nodded.

Haruka, himself is still injured though. She could see him struggling to open cabinets. He eventually returned with a med kit.

.....

A few minutes later.

Even though she was acting so obviously nervous and jittery, nothing happened. It surprised her. When Haruka got up and left, Lila thought he went for a smoke break. It's okay, like this. Even if she's special to him, she can never treat him in the same manner. She's such a cruel person. What is she doing here? The more she stayed with him, the false hope she brought him.

As she was sitting on the couch waiting patiently, her phone rings. It's her Kiryu!!