Haruka called her over, and she joined him on the couch, his arms wrapped around her, "You smell good..."

"Y—yes..."

She smells good? She used the shampoo she had in her bag. She's glad she brought it...

The blonde hair man coughed.

"What were you saying?"

"Ahhgh, the dammed Austin family caught on. Can you believe it?"

Lila immediately reacted to the Austin family name. Thump. Thump. Thump. It still hurts Kiryu. She can't enter a relations.h.i.+p with Haruka. She never wanted to let go of Kiryu's hand.... these feelings for Haruka, would they not have just gone away, like the one she had for senpai in middle school?

"... Hey, I told you she was in there care. What made you think you could get her back with their protection?" Haruka said. The man, however, turned to her and ignored Haruka.

"Miss Teras.h.i.+ma Lila right? I'm Sakurai Mikado ~ Haruka's best friend."

So it's him.

"Yes. Um just now.."

"Oh now? You don't have to worry. I was only talking about getting my girlfriend back."

"Girlfriend?"

"Yeah, you've met her. Fujisaki Selia."

Selichan??!

"Ooh I know, perhaps you could help me..."

"Give it a rest Mikado. Austin Kiryu handles Fujisaki Selia's matter, the two broke up, so it's awkward right now."

Lila's eyes go wide at how casual he mentioned it. But rather than that, Selichan's affairs are personally handled by Kiryu?

.. In Kiryu's protection.

She wonders if the two are still living together. That girl, living in Kiryu's place. That place.

"Well, that sucks." Mikado trailed off, "But broke up.. Eh? Sorry, sorry, did I interrupt you two..."

"Oi."

"But you know if that's true.." Mikado slides up next to her, his hand on her legs. Wh-? What is he doing? His lips brushed against her ear, "Why not have some fun with me? I'm perfect."

Despite his vague terminology, Lila understood the meaning behind it. What's with this person?

Haruka pulled her into his arms, "Oi, I told you before. She's mine."

Mikado laughed, "Right, you said that. Sorry, sorry. I won't touch anyone who is your girl... "

At that comment of his, Lila understood. Ah so if she isn't Haruka's girlfriend. He would go after her.

....

No sooner had Mikado left, Haruka pushed her down onto the bed and kissed heavily. "UkUka.. we shouldn't..."

"Lila."

!

"Mikado will go after you..." he whispered in her ear, "So, think about it for real okay? I know you're strong, but that guy is ruthless. If he gets his hands on you, it would be bad."

"I... I don't want to..."

She doesn't want to enter a relations.h.i.+p with him because of this reason. "Think about it..." He repeated.

Is she only causing trouble for him?

How many times has Haruka warned and tried to protect her from these people?

Haruka, he's supposed to be her enemy too and yet.

_______________________________________________

Light Academy High School

"Yumeko, you seem depressed whenever it rains," Ruka commented.

Yumeko, however, was only half paying attention to her friend, as her gaze fell on the window. It's raining heavily, is he okay? Ari-chan isn't here either, maybe the two of them are together right now.

"Excuse me, is Kanehera Yumeko in here?"

Yumeko turned her attention towards the door and spotted grey hair. Ah.

.....

When the two were out in the hallway. Jaehee spoke up.

"A message from Haruka," Jae-hee said.

"Eh?"

"Don't go out too much when it's raining either. Have a car pick you up when going to work.."

Yumeko clenched her fist, "I know. I know.. What right does he have to tell me that though?" she yelled, Jaehee said nothing and Yumeko continued, "He has no right, to talk about this. Regarding that day and him.."

Jaehee extended her hand out and patted her shoulder, "Yumeko, isn't it enough? You two should move forward now. Several years have pa.s.sed already. I'm sure that guy would want you to be happy."

________________________________________________

Bar. One room upstairs.

It amused him to see her so curious about the many drinks he ordered. He didn't intend for her to drink, but he ordered light stuff, just in case she was interested. But who would have thought it would end up like this.

What a light drunk, she barely had--- Haruka paused seeing precisely what the girl drank.

That dammed Mikado.

He must have spiked the light drinks.

"Hot... so hot..." Lila murmured. "Haruka, take it off... I want.. I want you Haruka."

Haruka paused, what sort of things were in that drink?

Seeing the girl remove her s.h.i.+rt, he quickly wrapped the blanket back around her.

"No can do...I made a promise to your normal self.."

When he was sure Lila had fallen asleep, he exhaled deeply. This girl is testing his patience. But, it's true. He doesn't want to touch her again without her consent anymore. He doesn't want to experience her trembling in his arms ever again. After that time, just slight contact with him made her tremble. It took a long time before she could smile around him. That's why he wants to do this properly. While he did almost lose control in the morning, it was easy to regain it after she refused. He doesn't want to hurt her anymore.

.

.

Only an hour had gone past, and he was in the kitchen when he felt a pair of arms wrap around him from the back.

"Go back to sleep.."

"Nuh uh..." Lila murmured.

"..."

What's with her lately, isn't she too clingy? Not that he minds her being too clingy or anything. After a few minutes, he found that the girl had pulled away. Her cheeks were red, "Um..."

"Mikado spiked your drink. Wait, I'm making you some food now. So wait for a bit."

Though he was no master chef in the kitchen, and honestly back when he used to cook, he was terrible at it. But gradually he's started again, and for her sake. He wanted to be at least able to make light meals for her when she's sick. Dam, lately he's been acting out of character.

"Um, you're trying to make omelets ?"

Haruka nodded.

"Then you probably ought to.." Lila took the pan from him and stirred the egg.

Haruka realized just then, and Lila laughed softly, "Do you need help Haruka?"

"I admit defeat.," he muttered. He doesn't want Lila to eat lousy food.

Lila nodded happily.

Haruka brushes his lips against her neck, and Lila leaped back slightly. Cheeks red. "Um...?"

"Let me have some later." Haruka asked. He was referring to her blood. Now he's tasted it once. From time to time, he takes some from her. He supposes that's the only form of intimacy that happens between them now.

Lila laughed, "Okay!"

His gaze softened, he likes it. They are spending such peaceful days together. So peaceful, Haruka looked over at the window which was only half shut. He caught a glimpse of it and sighed. In a few days that day will come. Back then, he would never have thought that everything would fall apart so easily.