-2 0.4: The Beginning Of A New Dream 4 Rewrite

Terashima Lila reminded him of the rain.

Like the rain, she would show up unexpectedly.

She would catch him off guard and yet disappear just as quickly.

Haruka ignored the sound of the constant messages on his phone. He already knew who was calling him persistently. 'He already told that guy not to call him.' The source of his annoyance is his best friend Sakurai Mikado was away on a business trip. But every single day the man called him constantly.

What does that guy get from all of this?

His thoughts broke off when he saw the grey skies. 'Huh?' The rain rapidly came down, and in seconds it was pouring heavily. The clear skies from a few minutes ago seemed like a lie.

Haruka immediately covered his head with his bag and sighed. Damn, the weather in this town is bipolar. 'Make your mind up.' Yesterday it was incredibly windy; earlier today, it was so hot. His gaze fell on his T-shirt that now clung to his body due to the rain. Give him a break already.

Haruka didn't know where he was rushing to, but he knew he had to escape this rain soon. Whenever it rains, he can't help but remember back then. Pain emerged in his heart. 'Even now, he can't move on from the events of the past.' How many years have passed since then?

His thoughts broke off when he collided against someone. He quickly helped her up and paused in the middle.

Huh? Familiar. This hand. It seems familiar. And when he looked up, his eyes widened.

Wow, how beautiful.

The girl he crashed into was tall around 175cm, with long gorgeous blue hair the same color as the midnight sky. But what stood out to him was her facial features. Haruka felt his heartbeat increase as he looked closely at the delicate girl in front of him.

\"Lila?\" Haruka murmured.

For a moment, he watched as the girl freeze - and for a split second, Haruka thought he found her at last. The girl who was supposedly missing, the number one idol. Terashima Lila.

Is it her? Has he found her at last? Haruka squeezed his hold on her hand. He wanted to hug her, but right now, he was in a complete daze.

\"Could you let go?\" the girl suddenly asked.

When he heard her reply, he frowned. 'It isn't Lila? But they look so similar.' Still dazed and confused. Haruka quickly composed himself and freed her hand. He ran his hands through his brunette locks and sighed.

\"Sorry my bad. You look...\" he paused, exactly like her.

How is it possible for two people to look exactly the same? He can't be wrong. Haruka took a quick glance at her. The girl's body proportions are slightly different. She's curvier and taller. Her hair is longer, .and Lila has black hair, not midnight blue like the night sky.

But that volume, shape of her face, eyes, noses, lips. It's a perfect fit. One glance is all anybody would need to put two and two together. However, if it's her, she wouldn't treat him this way.

Haruka sighed, how desperate has he become? Good thing nobody else is around to see this foolish mistake of his. A foolish mistake it maybe, but it won't do him any harm to double-check later.

\"Sir, are you a student here?\"

He couldn't miss the girl's gaze; she kept looking him up and down too. \"Huh? Yeah, a third-year, and you are....\" Haruka scanned the girl's uniform. A student here too, but doesn't know who he is.

He noticed her looking down at the ground, and Haruka spotted documents scattered on the sidewalk. 'So that's why she looked at him.' He bent down and started gathering the papers.

She also bent down, and Haruka couldn't help but look at her. He's never met anybody so beautiful and graceful before. The girls around him are gorgeous, but 'slutty' and 'superficial.' There was something about this girl that mesmerized Haruka. He watched her for a good few minutes and helped her gather the rest of the papers.

\"Sorry about this.\" Haruka apologized when he handed her the papers. \"Are those the new student papers? I will reprint it for you.\"

\"Ah? Is that alright?\"

Haruka nodded. \"Just tell me your name and class. I will have someone bring it over to you later.\" Haruka took his phone out of his bag and sent a quick message to one of his friends in the committee.

Right at that moment, a familiar voice called out.

\"Ari-chan, I've looked all over for you. So this is where you got to.\"

He glanced over and saw a man with spiky midnight blue hair. His kohai Hamano Mikami, also part of the male idol group 'Ray.' Haruka raised his eyebrows. \"You know her?\"

Mikami nodded, \"Yes, she is a transfer student.\"

\"I know that doofus,\" Haruka trailed off. \"If you were going to fetch her, you should have done so at the gate.\"

\"It wasn't my job.\" Mikami turned to the girl. \"Apologies, your new roommate was meant to fetch you.\"

The girl shook her head. \"I came a bit late too.\"

Haruka silently observed the two hoping to catch them out. He found it hard to believe that two people could look the same. Haruka already met Lila's siblings, too, so he knew it wasn't a relative. But judging from Mikami's behavior, this girl is a normal girl.

Haruka looked at Mikami suspiciously. His midnight blue hair kohai laughed. \"Now, now, senpai. I wonder what you're thinking.\"

Mikami hasn't touched another girl since he returned. Haruka knows well. Since he's been to see him numerous times. He's helping him suppress the urges. But, taking that many drugs aren't good for anyone even if they are medical drugs.

\"I thought she is too pretty to be your friend.\"

At that comment, Haruka couldn't miss the girl's reaction. Her entire face burned red. The contrast between her blue curls and red made her look even more lovely. Haruka felt his heart beating rapidly. 'Is he stupid? Why is he getting nervous for?'

\"I'm Kiku Ari, a second year.\" Ari suddenly introduced herself.

Haruka nodded, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say. But noticing her gaze, he quickly said. \"Karashima Haruka, a third-year.\"

It was an awkward introduction since Haruka had a hard time looking her in the eye. However, when he saw the leaf on the girl's hair, he extended his hand out to remove the leaf. Each second until he did, it felt like an eternity. When he eventually removed it, he kissed her locks.

____________________________________________

Let her introduce herself again; her name is Terashima Lila. Because of certain circumstances, she came to this town on a journey. However, because of her status as a number one idol, she had to undergo several disguise methods—one her hair color, two her name.

Using the name Kiku Ari, her new life begins here. Regardless, it does not change that she belongs to an elite family, considered a princess because of her status.

The Terashima family is well known in the music industry because of her mother and father being the Queen Of Music and God of Composers. What's more, she belongs to a rare lineage, a hanyou a half-human and half-demon.

No, this is not like the movies; one parent is not a demon and the other a human. Both her parents are humans, so how does this work? Nobody truly has an explanation. But research found traces of demon blood in both parent's side - and history suggests that humans and demon couples were the norm back then. Yet it slowly declined, resulting in only traces of demon blood left in one's body.

However, all this explanation can be saved for later. Starting now she begins her life as Kiku Ari. A fresh new start. But, she wasn't off to a good start. Not only did she wander off, now she's bumped into the one person she was avoiding meeting for a while.

Lila froze shocked, at Haruka's sudden actions. Wah—what-what—what? But Lila didn't have time to comprehend what was going on..since Haruka turned to speak with Hamano-kun. She looked at him, dumbfounded. 'Is this man serious? Don't do something that is bad for a person's heart!' Lila internally screamed.

But she quickly kept her composure when he suddenly turned back to her.

\"If you need anything, and Mikami's too busy. Ask for me.\"

An idea came to mind.

\"Will you send me the papers later?\" Lila asked.

She was in no rush to read it. However, she wanted an excuse to meet with him.

Haruka's lips curve to a smile, \"Give me your number. I will call you when I'm finished with them.\"

Lila nodded and took her phone out of her pocket. She felt his gaze on her, but she shook it off. Moments later, she hears a beep.

'Accept this number?'

She clicked the green yes button, and moments later, his name appeared in her contacts. It was like she thought. Haruka changed his number, no wonder those calls didn't go through. Lila tried several times to call him, but the call never reached him.

Haruka tossed something on her head. 'A towel?' \"I didn't use that, so dry yourself off with that.\"

After a few more words, Haruka immediately walked away. Lila waited until he was gone before she turned to Mikami. She didn't know when he placed the umbrella above her head, but Lila quickly dried herself off with the towel.

She wanted to say something, but her thoughts broke her back to Haruka. Lila didn't think; she would meet with Haruka so soon.

Karashima Haruka.

Lila didn't have time to ponder on that though since Hamano-kun immediately lectured her.

She immediately confessed to having strayed away. She didn't see the need to hide it.

\"How could you stray so far from the school?\" Mikami lectured.

\"I heard a beautiful melody, so...\" However, it misled her. The melody was in the school's direction. But it was windy earlier, and the sound reflected in the wrong direction.

\"Good grief seems like you'll be a handful. I promised Shichiro to take care of you, though.\" Mikami sighed.

\"Sorry for the trouble,\" Lila apologized.

\"There's been no trouble yet.\"

Lila looked down, understanding what he meant.

\"He figured it out. Though it's true, most people will. Only if they have met you personally.\"

Getting discovered didn't bother her at all. Lila recalled the strap she saw and asked, \"Hamano-kun, has Haruka-kun been using that strap the entire time?\"

\"Hmm? Oh, that phone strap?\"

Lila nodded.

\"Yeah, I thought it was weird. But since you're asking, did you give it to senpai?\"

\"I gave it to him,\" Lila mumbled. She didn't think he would continue using it.

….

It surprised Lila when she met her roommate. But it all worked out, 'This way she could keep an eye out on Yumeko-chan too.'

After settling into the forms, Lila returned to the school building and walked through the main building. Since it was class time, there were no students around. She only had one destination in mind. 'A library.'

Yumeko-chan told her that this school has many libraries. How the central one is always noisy and not peaceful, so if she wants to read, she ought to go to one of the less noisy ones. When Yumeko-chan left, that guy told her that there's a good one. That guy's words seemed strange. But, there is a library here, and there doesn't seem to be anyone around. Lila opened the large doors.

Upon entering, her eyes lit up. It's like what that guy said. This place isn't only quiet, but there's a peaceful atmosphere here. It almost reminds her of the personal Kiryu library back in Universal S. She should thank that guy when she sees him again. He's one of Yumeko-chan's friends, so she will probably see him again soon. Despite her worries, he seemed to be a decent person. Her thoughts broke of hearing sounds of heavy breathing and moaning.

Kiryu often told her as a joke that 'high school students have no self-control.' But Lila didn't think she would one day witness it herself. The one who told her about this library mentioned how it is the quietest place in the school.

____

It did not matter to him as long as he felt wanted by someone. But ever since he met Terashima Lila in star Town, everything has changed for him. Now, whenever he does stuff like this, he felt messed up, terrible, and empty. Is he betraying her by doing something like this? Haruka did not understand. But one thing is for sure; this no longer filled the loneliness in his heart.

Haruka angrily sends the girl away. She quickly scrambled off, confused. \"But today---\"

\"Go away.\" Haruka snapped. He does not have time to deal with people like this.

\"How could you? Did you find somebody else?\" The girl clearly did not want to obey and insisted on fighting. \"I know only two months have passed. But you said you would not consider anybody else?\"

\"Look, I am not in the mood right now.\"

Does she have to do this now? He has no time for this. Haruka didn't say anymore, and the girl used that chance to hit him. He could tell that the girl had never hit somebody in her entire life. It was a slap, but it did not hurt one bit. \"Are you satisfied now?\"

The girl did not say anymore, her eyes blazed in fury, and she hurried off.

For him, it was this simple. None of these girls meant anything to him. Haruka fixed his clothing up and sighed. He was about to take his cigarette out when he caught a glimpse of someone behind the bookshelf.

\"Who is there?\" Haruka called out.

A girl with long curly blue hair stepped out. He recognized her immediately. How could he forget her?

\"Ari-chan, is it? Need something?\" Haruka didn't hesitate to use her first name.

\"S-sorry, um I heard that you could get more books here,\" Ari said nervously.

\"I see. Did nobody tell you that only 3rd years can come up here?\"

\"I didn't know! I'm sorry.\" Ari apologized.

When he saw her flustered appearance, he blinked. 'Why is she--' Haruka paused in mid-thought, she heard and maybe saw. He supposed, to ordinary people, it's not normal. But, she's had a guy and isn't pure, he could tell that just from looking at her. So, he wondered why.

Come to think of it; he met someone like this before. 'Terashima Lila.' Now he got another look at her, Haruka confirmed his earlier thoughts.

He grabbed hold of her wrist. The girl seemed startled, but Haruka continued. \"You look exactly like her. Since earlier, I've thought that.\" Haruka muttered. Is he wrong?

\"Senpai?\" Ari mumbled.

\"As long as you have permission from a third year, you can keep coming here.\"

Ari seemed puzzled and kept repeating the words, \"Um, um.\"

Over and over. Haruka scanned her again for a few minutes before making his mind up.

\"I'll let you,\" Haruka said.

She seemed surprised but nodded.

\"Tt-thank...thank you, senpai.\" she stammered, cheeks flushed.

Haruka nodded, and let's go of her wrist.

...He wants to make sure. If it ends up being a wrong guess, then he can screw her like all the others. She's a beautiful girl. His thoughts broke off when she rummaged through her bag and handed him a towel. \"Thanks.\"

Ari took a seat and started reading. Haruka cleaned himself up and watched her from the corner of his eye. She's beautiful; he thought so when he briefly bumped into her. But, it's rare to find a beauty who isn't older than him or around his age, and yet she's younger. A young beauty, huh?

'That second-year girl he is currently seeing is getting too clingy.' Haruka no longer felt satisfied doing it with her. That person also said it was okay to stop seeing her. 'Kiku Ari...' Haruka can't deny his growing interest in her.

He took a seat beside her and examined every detail.

\"What are you doing?\" Ari questioned.

\"Hmm? Just watching you read.\" Haruka casually put his hand on her thighs and gave it a little squeeze. \"So, hey, do you have dinner plans?\"

\"Dinner?\"

Haruka nodded. \"Dinner, let me treat you.\" Then he could make some excuse to take her to his place. It's that simple. How many times have girls fallen for this technique?

\"What would you like to eat?\"

\"Ramen.\"

He blinked when he heard her response. 'Sure he likes ramen too.' But can't she take the hint? Is he not making it obvious enough? Haruka frowned and leaned forward. He brushed his lips against her ear.

\"Are you sure you only want ramen?\"

\"Mmm.\" The girl's reply was so simple, causing his gaze to darken even more.

Is she playing hard to get?

\"What about dessert?\"

Ari turned to him, \"Are you hitting on me?\"

\"That depends,\" he continued caressing her thighs. \"I'm not a pushy guy. If you don't want to take it further, then I won't do anything.\"

\"Senpai. Do you think I'm stupid? You're trying to trick me. Do you think I'm an easy woman?\"

\"Not at all.\" Haruka lied. He thought that. She turned red earlier when he kissed her hair. So she isn't easy, that's fine for him. \"I always get what I want.\"

And the one he wants now is her. Still, he doesn't want to frighten her too much. Haruka let's go of her and leaned on the chair. He took out his headphones and put them on.

\"Are you listening to music?\" Ari suddenly asked.

\"Mmm.\"

The girl said nothing else and continued reading. Haruka kept stealing glances at her, 'This girl isn't easy at all.' But maybe that's what he needs right now—a challenge.