271 We Still Share The Same Dream

Two days later - Dream Stars Training Center -

The last thing Lila expected was to run into Yumeko. Despite them entering the same competition, she seldom saw her around. Then again, with her so focused on the competition, her solo career, Haruka and her unit with Yori. It's only natural that she doesn't have time for anything else. A deep sigh passed her lips, honestly what is she doing?

Maybe she should go over now and apologize. Though the blonde hair girl was currently fast asleep, she sat down nearby and casually waited until she woke up — Lila shook her head. What's the use in apologizing over something she didn't understand?

Her thoughts broke off when she spotted somebody watches from behind a tree. When she caught a glimpse of who it was, Lila blinked. Her brother admitted to her that he would continue watching over Yumeko. But Lila didn't think he would resort to stalking her like this.

She frowned when she saw her brother place a blanket over the girl who fell asleep. Argh, how frustrating! Lila wanted Yumeko to wake up. Before Lila could make her way over, she spotted somebody else watching not too far from where she was. Isn't that Maika? Lila walked over until she stood directly behind the girl. She watched the grey hair girl for a few minutes before she tapped her shoulders.

"I wasn't spying or anything," Maika exclaimed.

Her sweat fell, so she admitted to spying?

"What's the matter?"

"Actually..."

...

"Eh? Yumeko keeps jogging till she's sick?" Lila said.

The two of them found a nearby bench and sat down while keeping an eye out on the situation. Maika knew nothing about Huan and Yumeko. But nor did she recognize her brother in his present disguise, so Lila reassured her that he was a friend.

"Can I ask? Exactly what happened with you two?"

Lila looked down on the ground when she thought about it now - it felt like the reason was too petty to get mad about. After all, it's a matter between Yumeko and Haruka. She has no right to get involved. But when she heard the exchange between the two, Lila felt very frustrated. Lila told Maika the events of that day, and the girl did not say a word and listened carefully. It was difficult explaining the situation without giving away Haruka's past. But Lila somehow did so.

"I see."

"I know it was stupid to get angry. But Haruka has gone through a lot, he also suffered."

Maika's gaze softened, "Despite how Yumeko put it, don't you think she only said those words because she was concerned?"

Lila looked at Maika confused.

She recalled Yumeko's words very well, and Lila couldn't detect any hint of concern in them.

"Yumeko acts childish when it concerns things she doesn't understand very well. She bottles up a lot of emotions because she can't bring herself to ask the questions she wants to. In doing so, that leads to her emotionally lashing out on the person she wants to protect."

Lila carefully listened to Maika's analysis; she can't argue with her there. She doesn't know Yumeko well enough to judge her. Other than from the time she got to know Yumeko last year in Universal S town, and the short times they hung out.

Everything she knew about the girl came from others. That made Lila feel quite sad. Part of the reason why she chose Light town was because of Yumeko. But she's hardly tried to get to know her and then there was that rat

"You seem to know a lot about Yumeko-chan," Lila said.

Maika averted her gaze before she deeply sighed, the girl rubbed the temple of her forehead with her hands and nodded, "That's correct. Kouta you see are childhood friends."

Her eyes lit up at that comment, "Childhood friends?" she didn't know this.

"Yes. Though even though I call us 'childhood friends', it wasn't anything special," sensing Maika's tone. Lila knew better than to pry any further, "Well because of it I got to know Yumeko a lot. Though I never actually spoke to her until I got into middle school, and the only reason we spoke anyway was and because she started to scout me."

When she heard those words, Lila brought up, "I heard Jae-hee turned you down," Lila murmured. It didn't surprise her. Jae-hee is a very ambitious person. Rather than cultivate bonds and a unit with another person, she would rather focus on her own abilities and not waste time on another person. It's natural for those with talent and ability to aim higher; it's natural for them to discard anything else for the sake of their dream.

Once upon a time she had been the same. But over the years Lila learned how equally essential friends are. She learned that without them she wouldn't have gotten this far.

"Yes. It's karma, isn't it? I turned Yumeko down cruelly and look what happened," Maika sighed, "I wonder if it's a natural reaction after getting rejected. But for a while now I can't stop thinking about Yumeko. It's not like the girl was mean to me, sure her asking me a lot was annoying. But she didn't harm me, " Maika shook her head, "Forget it, I know I'm acting very strange right now."

Lila chuckled and shook her head, "No, I do understand where you are coming from. You may have turned her down in a cruel manner, but the reality is nothing has changed right?" she trailed off when she saw the expression on Maika's face, "Even though Yumeko and I had a dispute with each other. The two of us still share the same dream, the promise we made that day. It hasn't changed even now."

"So.."

"Maybe when we get back. I want to settle my feelings on the matter more. I lashed out randomly and on the spur of the moment. But so did she," Lila nodded. It's not either person's fault. However, with the current state of things, she doubts Yumeko and her can have a proper talk.

Lila said this to Maika and implied she does the same.

Yumeko and her still share the same dream. Lila still wants to fulfill that promise. Lila is sure that no matter how different Yumeko and Maika are from each other, their dreams are the same too.