"Unngh...."

"H-H-Haruka?" Lila stammered.

"Can we do it?" Haruka asked impatience filled his tone. He tugged on the girl's clothing and murmured against her ear, "I want you..."

Lila appeared embarra.s.sed, but she shook her head.

"No.."

"Tsk." He drew back, irritated. Wait to spoil the mood. It's an improvement; she seemed to enjoy kissing him now. But traces of her stubbornness has not disappeared.

"Wait, um we can't but.. we can cuddle..."

Cuddle?

Haruka looked at her with a defeated expression but pulled her into his arms. Patience. He has to be patient with her. Austin Kiryu told him, didn't he?

'Lila isn't against it. But if you overdo it and jump on her without permission, you'll get her angry..'

To think he has to listen to advice from that guy of all people.

However, he ought to listen. He doesn't want to destroy his chances with Lila anymore.

"Are you tired? It's almost time for the 1st round.."

"No, I'm fine.."

He understands that first, he must regain her trust. Haruka picked her up.

"Haruka?" Lila said puzzled.

"It's more comfortable on the bed," Haruka told her.

Lila buried her face in his chest.

"Hey, I will do nothing..."

"Is that true?" she asked, unconvinced.

Well, it would be a lie to say he didn't intend to. Lila must have realized since she hits him lightly, "Liar, you said now you wanted to..."

"Sorry, but I can't help it." He muttered.

"Haruka, could you be patient with me? For a while more."

At that comment, he frowned. Oh, so he heard wrong. There's no way she would have broken up with Austin Kiryu, asking him to be patient like this confirmed it. He sighed; it shouldn't surprise him. Haruka nodded and brought to her to the bed.

He wanted to ask her, what did that exchange mean? Seeing how sleepy the girl looked, however, he pulled the surrounding blanket. "Sleep now."

"It's only 10 PM."

"Sleep early."

"Haruka too?"

Haruka nodded, "Yeah." Lately, he stayed with her a lot more. It's still unfamiliar to him, staying the night with a girl. But he's adapting himself to it. Lila's gaze brightened as she snuggled up to him.

"Okay, goodnight Haruka.."

..... She needs to stop doing this. Does she not know how dangerous it is to get so close? But, he doesn't have it in him to push her away, and what's more. Seeing the girl tremble he drew her closer; lately, she's often had more nightmares.

.

.

Following morning, 6:30 am

Haruka groggily got up; he couldn't sleep a wink. The whole night he struggled not to do anything, and on one occasion he almost lost control. He can't do anything. He made that promise with her during the dream stars audition round. Though quite some time has pa.s.sed since then, and he broke that promise a few times since. But Haruka knows better than to try again. He made his way down the stairs, only to find that Lila was in the entrance putting her shoes on.

"Leaving?" he asked.

"Ah yes, I have work to do at the company. I already informed the school I'd be late today. Haruka, go on ahead without me. I already made your breakfast, it's on the table, and your lunch is in the counter.."

As Lila explained this, Haruka was only half listening. He kept checking the girl out. Why does she look hot just putting shoes on? Not only that, those clothes. Before she could leave, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in for a deep kiss.

"Nnmmgh ... Nngh...."

For the next few minutes, the sound of kissing and small moans that pa.s.sed the girl's lips.

Haruka somehow pulled away, "Don't cause trouble.."

Lila hugged him from the back, "I won't. See you later."

No sooner had she left though, he put his shoes on and followed after her. Only a few minutes had pa.s.sed, so she was still at the gate, he hugged her. "Let me drive you.."

"Haruka..."

"Awhile. Just a while longer; let me be with you."

Lila laughed, "Okay."

Seeing her gentle gaze, he muttered to himself. d.a.m.n, he's become way too soft. He's gotten also used to this.

.

.

Bar.

Lately, this isn't fun anymore. Did he enjoy coming to these places before? He'd rather wait for her in school. But even over there, he would get bothered like this. Haruka exhaled ignoring the several women trying to talk and touch him. How dull, there's no excitement in this anymore. Why did he use to go to places like this before? It made little sense to him.

Still, he has no other place to go. He sighed and recalled the girls trembling figure and frowned. He didn't think much of it before. But earlier he realized that the girl's nightmares started, the night they got back a week ago. So, there's no doubt it is about Austin Kiryu.

Does she miss him that much? Even though he's here for her. He shook his head; there's no use bothering with comparisons. He should focus on trying to help her. But is he in the best state to do that?

Rain. She told him, it won't start till the afternoon. If he was honest, he was hesitant. Would he be okay? Not even he understood it. The trauma from back then? But during rainy days, he cannot control himself. The powers he suppressed this whole time end up leaking out.

His thoughts broke off upon spotting blue hair.

Huh? Haruka blinked once and then again, to make sure he didn't see things. But it was her.

Why is she here.