609 Rely on yourself

Uwaaah, this is the first time she's heard such compliments about Soichiro from Yori. Rather she really sounds like a girl in love. This really is the first time she's seen this. Up until now, Yori's love life had been a subject that they could not bring up a lot. She figured it was taboo since she mentioned no guys. What's more, because she had somebody else by her friends' side, she never really said anything.

"You two are staring at me way too much!!" Yori shifted about uncomfortably.

"No, I understand, Yori! We both have to do our best."

"In your case Lila, if you try your best. Make sure it's not overdone."

Yori nodded, wiping the last of her tears away. "If you go overboard, Karashima will attack you without holding back."

Haruka, attacking her without holding back. Without holding back? Lila didn't think it was possible. But, it seems like others believe Haruka holds back with her.

Lila explodes at the thought. "I wonder...what Kiryu will do if I ask him for it?"

Her two friends looked at each other and deeply sighed.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Right right. He'll do so without any second thought. Rather, if you do say that, please make sure you're ready. Haruka's always been gentle with you for a reason after all," Yori commented.

Yori's words made her recall something from not too long ago.

'Cause I'm precious?'

'Correct. Your precious, that's why I'm taking it slowly. But really, what can I do to convince you?'

Now that she thought about it, they had that kind of conversation before. To think she only just remembered it.

"Ne, ne, its because Haruka thinks I'm precious !!"

Yori pats her head, "At least you know the reason. If that's the case, you ought to think it through. Especially since he's so serious about you."

"Ah! Also, I'm his treasure !" Lila exclaimed.

"Yes, yes," Jae-hee nodded.

But I think I get it. Un, I'll think about it carefully. Since I love him."

Before any more words could be exchanged, though. Kotori returned. "Sorry about that, he ended up talking for too long...Did I miss something puri? Yori-chan, you're makeup--"

Yori laughs, "I'll fix it up in the car.."

"No, we're doing it right now. Appearance is important during a day like this," Kotori said.

They're both in love. A deep love that nobody else can obstruct. Does such a dream-like thing exist? On more than one occasion, Lila has questioned it. Rather than a deep love that no one else can overcome. It's more like even if there's someone else that obstructs it, in the end, the outcome will still be the same as it was before. Ren-san, you must have come to that conclusion even before those two did.

____

Star Cafe - 6:00PM

As girls grow up and become adults. They realize that the princes they've read about were all made up. The only person you can rely on is yourself.

"I had a feeling that you were going to do this, eventually. But to call me out after running of that last time without even so much as an apology. .."

"It's not that I'm breaking up with you. I just need space is all." Rikka said. This person sat opposite her is none other, her boyfriend and fiance. Due to recent events, their relationship hasn't exactly been the best; and with the fact that the upcoming fight is soon, and she's getting called on a lot by headquarters.

Rikka decided to take a break in their relationship.

It's true that this probably isn't the best way to go about it. She should have gone back after rushing of the last time and spent time with him for a while longer; before breaking the news. But she could no longer remain with him without feeling like shes beings suffocated.

"That's the same thing. Look just tell me upfront, what don't you like about me?"

Tsk, he isn't listening at all to her, is he? Why is this man so stubborn for? But if he's going to turn this into a fight so much, then so be it. Luke wanted to know what she doesn't like? There's plenty. "It's like going out with you in the first place was a mistake. Honestly, I did it just on the whim since we coincidentally kept seeing each other and we just fixed the differences we had in middle school. And then you act like hitting on girls and cheating on me are no big deal, it's like, are you stupid?"

Rikka would have liked to never found out. But not only did that ditz Setsu tell her, when the others mentioned it. Rikka knew she had to investigate the matter in her own hands; it didn't take her long before she figured it out. When she confronted Luke, he claimed that those girls were clients helping him with information for the upcoming fight.

At first, she let him off with it, not because she was naive. But more to do with the fact that she had been neglecting him for a while because she trusts him.

"Come on, that's just how I show my love for you. Why don't you get that?" Luke muttered.

"Haaah? How does cheating show you love me?"

"I only did it to make you jealous. After all your still not over Karashima. Rather where were you the other night? You didn't come back to your uncles at all. Ah, aren't you the one who's been cheating?"

Her eyes twitched in annoyance when she heard that. "I told you already I was in the hospital. .."

When she returned and heard from uncle that this man had been waiting for her all night, she called his cell immediately and explained the situation. Rikka thought he understood it since he seemed so calm on the phone. But it turns out that is not the case at all, huh.

"But you were with him."

Although he had gotten a little better and they even had that many disputes. His gaze still seemed dead, so she didn't want to leave him alone.

"That's right, I was. But we were in a hospital, and other people were there too."

"But those are all guys, right? With previous offenses."

"Even if they liked me, that's in the past already," Rikka was getting irritated. What is with this person? He's so annoying.

"Yet, they are still hanging out with you like flies."

Arguing with her against her decision aside, the second he starts insulting her friends that does it. Rikka stood up and grabbed her bag, "Talking to you is a waste of time. I'm leaving! Oh, and the break it's still on, so don't drop by my place."

As she left the restaurant, Rikka took out her phone. God, this sucks. Her friends were doing another gathering too, Rikka wonders if it would be too late to try and join them. She should call and ask. Her thoughts broke off when Rikka a hand clasped against her shoulder, to find that it belonged to Luke. It was clear as day that he was pissed.

"I'm not done talking to you."