Dream Star

"Kouta, do you like Austin Akari?"Takahiro asks.

"Maybe? I don't really get it myself."

It was clear the favour she was asking of him was troublesome, and yet he agreed to it, for god knows why. But, it's just,"She's more fragile than I thought she would be."

It's hard to say who he is referring to now though. If, Takahiro asked him before. He might have even said yes.

'Kou-kun, please ---'

'-please help ---'

But now..he recalls the warmth of the girl in his arms when he hugged her. That one is more fragile than he thought.

.

.

The last thing he expected was to see her again so soon. Seeing who she was with though, Kouta exhales deeply knowing. He must have found out and taken her away.

"Kouta-kun!"Lila cheerfully calls out to him.

Unlike earlier, she wore a beaming smile on her face. No trace of that gloomy expression from before.

"Hello."

"Good timing, I was just discussing with senpai. But what do you think?"

Seeing what she was holding, he blinks.

"Isn't that supposed to be.."

"Yumeko-chan told me I could do it this year. These days she seems pretty busy with something."

Is his sister actually refusing to design the class float? Since elementary school, that girl has been the only one doing it. Odd. He doesn't want to overthink it, maybe she's been practising in secret again. However, he can't shake this bad feeling of. It's fine, Yumeko's recovered a lot since that time.

"I'd get rid of these, or at least move them to a place that... "

"Hmm, I see."

"Since when were you two close?"

The girl who had just gotten grabbed laughs softly, "Were only friends dummy."

"Who says you can be friends with other men? What if they have strange intentions towards you?"

"D--don't be stupid."Lila stutters.

. ..Come to think of it, this is the first time he's properly seeing the two interact. So, this is how she acts around Karashima? It's different.

"Make the changes he said, and also."

"Ah!! I get it. En, I agree."

In the end, Kouta finds himself joining the two at the table. Seeing the scattered documents and laptop, he blinks. Oh, that's right. Even though it doesn't suit his playboy-like image. Karashima is wonderful at his work. He's busy, but he did not only go to pick her up. But he's even supervising her work.

"You look a bit better now."Kouta points out, as he picks up one of the sheets to examine the design.

"T--that.."

"I gave her some medicine, "Karashima stated flatly.

. . Well, that makes sense. Karashima has knowledge in that field. But, why is she so red? She really is a strange one.

_________________________________________________

Hearing the rumours, a deep sigh escapes his lips. Well, it would be strange if they could keep it a secret for much longer. Mother's clearly been showing signs of being pregnant for a while now. But even then, those signs can be brushed off as normal sickness. However, his gaze landed on his mother who was walking with a few female maids behind her.

"Not at the company today?"

"Hisame-san told me to show my face since I've been doing well."

"I see."

"Mother, I have something I need to confirm.."

The lilac hair older woman nodded, and she gazed at the female maids. After instructing them to wait in the distance, she slumps on the sofa he had been sitting on.

"The rumours.."

"I can't really hide it, so I'll come clean. Think you can be an older brother?"

"Maybe. Hoshiko really likes me."

His mother laughs, "Children have 6th senses. They know who is kind. Well, at least according to Sumire."

Kind huh?

"The kid's father."

"Eita."

She admitted it so easily.. Then again, mothers not the type to hide anything if she's confronted about it. The reason why nobody knows the truth yet is that nobody has the nerve to ask her directly.

. .... Really though, it's the old man? He wanted some sort of plot twist.

"Tell me, do you still dislike him? For what happened in the past."

. ...

He wasn't expecting her to ask him this.

Then again, it's been a long time since they've last had a proper chat. He does know though, that a few hours after Lila had gone, and he almost lost control. It was his mother who stopped him. Even though she's pregnant. How dangerous. He has to be careful, he doesn't want to affect those around him. Maybe he should answer her question, Mothers gone through a lot because of his foolishness, yet she's never complained even once. Before Kiryu could say any more there, the voices of the crowd drew their attention.

"Wow! Even Honjo-san came. "

"Of course he would. After all--"

At that comment, Mother immediately gets up. No sooner had she done so, someone was approaching them not too far away. This guy attracts too much attention for someone who is supposedly retired.

"Captain."

"It's been awhile Asuka-kun."

There are three types of people. Ones you get along with, your most beloved person and someone you're awful with. The last one doesn't have to be hate too, it probably just because you can't get along with them. That latter part applies to this person his mother is greeting. The Navy blue hair man's eyes meet his.

"Oh? Your son is here too."

"Lately he's been helping Hisame out a lot."

"Is that so?"