Like A Midnight Song (11)

"Kiryu's ...Kiryu is hurt?!!!"

"It happened two days before his birthday; he wanted to surprise you with another visit. Even Hisame-san approved of it. However, there was an ambush. Alongside his assistant, we were called to assist with a fight. But it turned out it was from the enemy side. Nobody noticed a thing because of the location; it was one of our territories." Ritsuko explained, "However on the 22nd, they finally dropped the act and.."

Lila froze, the color immediately drained from her face as she tried to process the girl's words.

"Right now... Kiryu.." Lila struggled to get the words out of her mouth.

Ritsuko shook her head, "He still hasn't woken up."

Her Kiryu, her Kiryu is. Lila felt her vision go blurry, her heartbeat increasing rapidly, her breathing becoming uneven. A swelling pain in her head. It hurts. It hurts. Kiryu, Kiryu, her Kiryu. Why did this have to happen to him?

"Lila-sama, calm down. Calm down."

"No... no.." Lila refused to listen to her.

What has she been doing? Why didn't she notice it? Is it because of Haruka? Because of Haruka because she keeps paying attention to him. Why wasn't she by Kiryu's side?

"Lila-sama, you should know better than anyone. He will wake up, and when he does, he will come back to you and if he doesn't." Ritsuko paused for a few minutes before she continued, "Before.. before it happened. He told me if anything happens to me. Tell Lila that it's okay for us to break up.."

"His feelings.. they changed?" Lila asked.

Ritsuko shook her head, "That's not it, he just didn't want you to wait around. If something bad happened."

Lila was having trouble processing all this information; she wasn't sure what to do. What does she do? Kiryu, her Kiryu is. He's hurt badly because of her because she told him to protect her family. What did she do? Why? She felt a pair of strong arms wrapped around her; her eyes widened recognizing whom it belonged too.

"Damn, this entrance isn't good."

"Se—senpai.."

Indeed, the person who was holding her in his arms now was none other than Ichinose Oujiro. Someone who had always held a special place in her heart. In the past, she may have even had feelings for him. No, she did. Ah, he's here. Senpai is here.

"Calm down. Take a deep breath and relax." He whispered as he placed a light kiss on her forehead.

Lila does as he instructed, and there was silence for a while.

Ah.

It's getting better, for some reason she's able to breathe now.

_____________________________________________

"He spoilt your entrance," Takeshi commented.

Ritsuko shook her head, "It's fine, like this it's fine. Because we're all here to act as Lila-sama's support."

"Is Kiryu-san...."

She nodded, her expression grim, "Right now, it looks bad. However, there is still hope.."

That's right; there's hope because...

Ritsuko added, "Today's stage, they made exceptions."

"They got rid of the barriers? The restrictions?" Takeshi asked.

Ritsuko nodded, "So Lila-sama can send her voice better.

"How selfish."

"Yes."

"But something tells me, that she won't need it anyway," Takeshi said.

Ritsuko smiled softly, "That's true. It worried me for a while when I saw that stage. But I realized that was only because I hadn't seen that side of Lila-sama before. It's different now though. Now I've seen it; I can say for sure that this change is a good thing."

Takeshi nodded but paused, "Think she will still sing for Kiryu-san?" he asked.

"Are you worried?"

"While Kiryu-san had his faults, he's a much better person than Karashima Haruka," Takeshi commented.

Ritsuko smiled softly, he's saying this now? The very guy who was so against him last year. "Yes, I agree there. However, the final decision is hers." she replied.

_____________________________________________

Out in the hallway.

"Senpai.," Lila called out.

"Y—yes?" he stammered.

Lila laughed at his reaction and Oujiro murmured idiot. He didn't think he could stop her tears, but she stopped after he told her to calm down.

"The snow globe. Thank you!." Lila said as she took something out her bag. His eyes widened, eh? Wait, she has it with her?

"Wa-wait, you carry that thing around with you?"

"Because it's important."

His cheeks reddened, is she an idiot?

"Senpai, um, why did you appear? Because I thought of you…"

"Quit messing around."

Lila laughed, "Okay, okay.."

She shouldn't joke about that stuff.

"I came because I was worried. Because everybody is worried about you."

Oujiro decided that there was no use white coating his words and just said it. For a split moment, there was silence, and he was worried that he shouldn't have stated it so bluntly. But Lila nodded.

"I know. I also think there's something wrong. It's gradually become better, but I haven't been able to sing properly…" Lila trailed off, "When I met Kiryu, I could sing."

"... You miss him a lot?"

"Not just him, I miss everybody. I miss home. I'm very lonely here. Even though I have people beside me here, everything is still foreign. That's why I rely on Haruka a lot. Last year, I didn't speak much with the guys in RAY, and they weren't around as long as Haruka. I can associate home and Haruka together, that's why I feel so comfortable.." She played with her fingers, "There's another reason, I know that too. Does senpai know what my mission is?"

"I'm not too certain on the details, but you're supposed to help him right?"

Lila nodded, "Something like that. But you see, I haven't been able to do anything at all.."

"That's not true you.."

She shook her head, "This entire time I've been by his side, and yet, my thoughts have always reverted back to Kiryu. I'm always thinking about Kiryu."

….

She really hasn't changed, huh?

_____________________________________________

"Is that really so bad?"

"Eh?"

Oujiro sighed deeply, and she felt him flick her forehead, "Ouch, what was that for?" Lila exclaimed.

"For that pathetic look."

"How rude!" Lila exclaimed. Why is he always so rude? Besides isn't he supposed to be comforting her right now?

"What's wrong with you thinking about Kiryu-san?"

When Lila heard senpai question, her gaze softened. What an idiot. "That's strangely contradictory coming from you."

He sighed, and she laughed, "I know, I get it senpai."

"It feels like you don't. You know Lila, I didn't tell you this before last year. But I think you ought to know."

Lila smiled, "Is it when Kiryu scolded you? Because he was jealous?"

"Huh?"

"Eijiro told me I ought to talk to Kiryu, so I figured that something happened then. Hey senpai, exactly what did Kiryu tell you?"

"He told me I was you're stumbling block. That even though I'm able to help you, I'm nothing more than a stepping stone.." Oujiro trailed off, "That part I have to agree with, I won't overestimate my own abilities. I know full well that there's a limit to the type of songs we could create together. Kiryu-san told me straight up. And then…"

Seeing him pause, Lila blinked. Maybe she shouldn't have asked him straight up? But since he brought up this topic, she figured she might as well.

"Ahghhh."

"Senpai?"

Oujiro exhaled deeply, "He told me that you're his only light in his dark world. He clarified that without you, he wouldn't have been able to escape the demons of his past and walk forward."

"That's so stupid.." Lila muttered.

"No, the stupid part comes after. These were Kiryu-san exact words, 'I wanted to wait until all the obstacles standing in our way are over. It's because of you I came this far; let's not only compose music together but stand on stage together.' If you two talk it out once, he wakes up, and I get kicked out. I'd completely understand."

Lila shook her head, "No, there's no need. Especially after hearing what you said."

"Lila?"

She laughed weakly, "You see senpai, it's true that for Kiryu he may have said those cruel words to you at the time because it upset him that you joined DEVIL before he got the chance to tell me how he felt. But that dream of his has already changed." Lila stood up and walked towards the window, "Kiryu's dream, my dream, even your dream has probably changed by now senpai."

"That's probably the case."

Lila nodded, "Yes. Our dreams have evolved since then. But for me, my dreams will always have Kiryu involved no matter what. I made a somewhat childlike promise with him, but I truly meant it, and that has become the center of my new dream. In this place that I'm unfamiliar with, I can only rely on Haruka. However, even then my thoughts, my feelings towards Kiryu are the strongest."

That's why no matter what happens between her and Haruka, Lila understands full well, where her feelings lay, who her heart belonged too. From the beginning, it's not her singing that's changed. It's her dream that has evolved. The promise she made with Kiryu.

"This is some way to get turned down again," Oujiro commented.

"Sorry." Lila apologized, but the blonde shook his head.

"No, I get it too. Do you get it now? You're singing, no matter what shape or form it takes now will always lead you back to Kiryu-san." Oujiro said

Lila laughed, "Ah-huh, sorry." she apologized, "Sorry for making you sort my thoughts out with me again."

"Lila, I…" Oujiro started, but she interrupted him.

"Yes, thank you. I'm grateful. I've made my mind up; I should have done this a long time ago. But I was afraid people would find out who I was. However, there's no need to hold back now. I'll let them hear loud and clearly." she declared. That's right; she should let them hear it. Her feelings for her most beloved person.

_____________________________________________

1 hour and 30 minutes later

"Number 2000, Kiku Ari."

At that comment, Haruka looked over at the doorway and watched Lila approach the steps.

"It's time," Clara said.

"Let's see how good she is."

His fellow judges were all making comments regarding Lila. However, his attention remained fixed on the girl. There's something different about her.

"Looking forward to it?" Itsuki said.

Haruka exhaled deeply, "Quiet."

"Now, now, I'm also looking forward to seeing it. Terashima Lila's stage."

"You knew?" Haruka wasn't at all surprised.

"Somebody had to confirm her entry. And you were busy at the time." Itsuki said.

Well, he figured that was the case. His gaze flickered back onto the stage. Her hands are still in a bad state, it will affect her playing. Seeing the girl approach the piano not the guitar, his eyes widened. What is she doing? Her fingers...

_____________________________________________

Her actions probably surprised Haruka.

He would be surprised.

But, she will tell him the details later. Her gaze fell on the piano, and she closed her eyes. Memories of Kiryu playing flashed through her mind. Kiryu, she made her mind up. She will sing for him. Like she used to do. She always sang for him before, but since it's been a while, she's nervous. Lila takes a deep breath; it will be okay.

Her feelings may have wavered slightly, but the one person whose hand she wants to hold the most. The one she can say the words ' I love you.' too is only one person.

Her beloved Kiryu.