It was set after The Atmosphere (Ch 7) during the last month before Eli graduated. Umi had reviewed the time they had on their first and their last date as school idols. Umi reviewed and came to Eli with her homework that she had help with.

...

The Horizon

Chapter 9: The End

...

Hey, Umi. I'm just checking up on you. How goes the planning for the student council's work programme? Don't forget to pass on the tips I gave you. Anyway, have you had your dinner? I'm going to sleep soon, so tell me all about it tomorrow. Send my regards to Honoka and Kotori, okay? Good night, Umi. I miss you.

I was reading Eli's message that night for the countless time while I was already tucked in laying on my side, only my head and my hand with the phone on were uncovered. As I was reading the message I imagined Eli herself was singing me a lullaby. I could imagine her fair golden hair as clear and as shining as my phone screen. I could imagine her rich, smoothing golden voice as clear and as perceptible as the ticking of Honoka's clock. I could even guess which sleeping attire she was wearing that night – I had already memorised all of them.

With the image of a beautiful maiden watching over me while I sleep ended the night perfectly after I had, for the first time and finally, won the game of cards against Honoka and Kotori – Eli told me to close my eyes when it was their turn, she said it was not cheating. After all, I had already done a portion of my homework. They were both very helpful, although it was unacceptably embarrassing because of their 3-hour constant tease and questionings. More importantly, I was in better state of mind that I was the day before. Eli was right.

...

Then came Monday. I entered the stage then I stopped and took the centre position. I always admired when she was where I was. She was perfect and I always had followed and tried to be as close to be her as possible, so I tried to lead now as how she had always led this performance. Now, she was where I was, entering the stage after I had. She opened our dance, 'Excuse me, Umi. I understand you are a member of the student council.' That moment was very precious that I would always cherish. It was the closest as I could be to be her. I could feel how she felt waiting for me; always waited for me there.

'Ah, Eli-senpai. I am known to be the vice-president of the student council. To what do I owe this pleasure?' I had my Eli-look on while she had mine. Not a second after the curtain was closed behind her, we giggled and switched to our silly nature as if we were harmonics. 'That was fun, Umi!' She swayed and twirled on a pivot like her ballet of elegance, positioned herself behind me. 'So what are you doing? Hmm, I see. I'm not telling you what to do but this is what I would do.' She then took me by the hand and spun me around the podium while she showed me her easy yet rhythmical steps that polished the dance. It was like a tango – the most romantic duet.

We then resumed our performance across the platform as if the spotlight were only on us, but after a while we halted the show for the time being. 'Anyway,' the ballerina took the stand. 'I should be going. The rest could come through that door any time soon, again Kotori has been asking about you; I don't want them to think you're not doing your job. Bye, Umi. Увидимся.' Then she retreated from the podium as her golden and silky ponytail was the last one to leave.

She left me with the feeling of being forsaken and isolated on that stage. I knew it was what we rehearsed and she did it with a smile but the feeling was unintentional. It took them awhile for other members of the council to appear, but within that time I had a stage fright. The theatre felt empty yet I was sorrowful and pathetic. I had the thought to myself and an empty auditorium to think out loud. It was difficult to start as I was nervous. But suddenly a young girl appeared from where the golden haired ballerina exited earlier. She was wearing a leotard with the tutu that I found familiar. She stood by my side and lead the dance in which I soon followed.

...

"Take 3 days." And it was already on the third. "I want you to really think about it in that 3 days. One day with closest friends." I had and they made some really good points and I had to go with one decisive option. "And one day with yourself." I had, and she was skilful at ballet. "Tell me on the third day…"

Today.

I was packing my belongings from the student council room. Honoka and Kotori had finished earlier and everyone else had gone home. I was not done but Honoka and Kotori had already jumped from my sides to hug me. They squeezed me tightly I could not continue loading my bag, and I felt like they were crying. 'Umi-chan! We hope for the best!' Kotori gave her support and was followed by Honoka's.

'Yes! Whatever happens we're here!' We all took a minute of silence until they let go of me.

I had finished packing and was about to leave not long after Honoka and Kotori had, but quickly like running. I switched off the lights and locked the door behind me. Eli was only a few metres away leaning on the lockers, in the distance, Honoka and Kotori had just left a few seconds before disappearing. I approached Eli and noticed she already took off her tie and the first two buttons we opened, revealing the locket I had given her shining from afar, hanging from her neck and resting on her chest. She had her stare at the two leaving, and turned to see me, 'Hey, there you are, Umi. Are we ready to go?'

...

We then reached our favourite park to the very spot that had our names written on it, the bench that was facing the river and the skyscrapers across. The sky was already orange and we sat facing the beauty of the sunset with the sun almost touching the tips of the buildings. We put our bags on the opposite sides while there was not even an inch in between us. From here I could smell the whole summer summarised in her perfume.

'Listen, Eli,' I eventually broke our cheerful chat.

'Wait,' she halted like she did not want me to interrupt the conversation we were having. 'We still technically haven't reached the third day yet. Besides, I would like to enjoy this sunset together. Do you mind holding until the sun has gone?'

I understood perfectly what she meant, I too would want to relish this. Whatever came, a bad or a good, I would had this time spent with Eli. She held my hand right on my lap as the sun set, feeling colder every second. There was a gap between those buildings that let just a slight sunray through. It was another breath-taking view that I experienced with her.

But that brief light rapidly darkened just within seconds. My heartbeat raced faster than I had ever experienced every second even I could hear them thumping – so hard and so fast Eli might had heard it. Just 3 seconds before the sun finally set, I gripped firmly her smooth and slacken hand. I felt anxious and a little faint.

'I love you.'

I looked at Eli. Her hair was not as glowing as I hoped or even as usual. Her bangs were covering the top half of her face from where I sat – I saw a smile right from ear to ear. The leftover light shone on her was only from the bright orange sky and no longer from the sun, like she was only there to reflect. I suddenly noticed, I never sat or even been on Eli's left side before. It was as if I were sitting with a different person.

'I'm glad,' the queer queen with her golden crown expressed in a serene voice.

My heart suddenly stopped pumping and I could feel its effect throughout my body. It paused my breathing as well. For just that one tenth of a second it rushed heat through my body into my head. My faint was disappearing but I still could feel Eli's hand on mine without her moving a muscle, even after I squashed it. Then my heart continued to beat once more.

'Eli, I… I love you,' I clarified. 'I have thought about what you said. I came to Honoka and Kotori and I talked to myself about it. It was tough, but I've made up my mind. And I'm still going with it. I love you, Eli.'

The girl was still silent.

'And I would like to spend my time, rest of it for long as I can, with you, Eli Ayase.' I confessed. 'From what we've been through, I just think there's nothing I needed to say how special you meant to me. Then, would you…take me as your girlfriend, to call me your significant other?'

Eli finally made a sound, and that sound was her chuckle from a smile. 'I'm glad, Umi,' she repeated. 'I already knew that you were in love. You stick to your feelings and you finally confessed. You are a better person than I am... You know why I asked you to consult with your friends?' I thought that she already explained it but I guessed it was something different. 'I asked you to talk with them because I wanted them to give you their permission – they allowed you to meet me today so that means they had approved.'

I revisited the reason why I was in love with this girl. She was wise itself.

'You see, you're not the only one with homework in the past few days. I too had asked Nico and Nozomi about our relationship. Then I had a meetup with Rin, Hanayo, and Maki as well. I had asked them for opinions and an approval. The fact that I too made it to this day means seven members of µ's had already approved of this. And one of them confessed."

She began to stroke the back of my hand with her thumb back and forth. The movement was so gentle that it was soothing – reducing my heartbeat to its normal state. It was calming.

'Before I could answer your question, can I ask you something first, Umi?'

'Of course, Eli. Ask me anything.' I replied quickly as I was eager to find out her answer.

'How far would you go to get a 'yes' from me?'

I paused. No matter how rushed I was to get her answer, I had to remember what advise the others had left me. A word to the wise. 'I will venture to the end of the horizon, where the sky meets the ocean if I had to.'

Eli, whom was still at the gaping of the two buildings, finally tilted her head down pulling mand towards her chest, where the heart was. Her smile, which I thought could not be wider, was broaden. 'Good,' she exclaimed. 'Then waiting for 2 weeks or so, wouldn't be a problem, right?'

I turned my body towards Eli. I was contemplated by her and demanded more explanation, 'what do you mean? Are you saying no?' I did not like where this was going, but I had to respect her because after all, she was the one being confessed to. I began to feel her tightening her hands and turned them into a grip.

'It would not be right, for use to date. I mean to become a couple…It would be unethical and it would give a bad impression to our fans. Not to mention problematic with the Love Live! at The Dome if they knew a member of their last champion was in a relationship. Do you understand what I mean? If you don't, please understand. We're still school idols until the end of the month. It's a stupid rule, but it is also for the sake of our fanbase. If we don't care about it all, the rest of your names (of those remaining members), the µ's' name would be ruined for the future. Until then, until my graduation, we can't…we c-can't…date."

Suddenly there was a droplet on my hand that she was grasping. With the other hand I had to myself reached out towards her head slowly, trying to remove her bangs out of the way. I brushed her hair and tucked them behind her ear and revealed the other half of her face. The one that was tearing up; tears were collected at the bottom of her eyes with a river already flown through her cheek to the bottom of her jaw.

'Can you wait…for 2 weeks for my answer, Umi? I swear I'll give you the answer you are hoping for. Something that only you deserve.' She began to have a difficulty on speaking, as if she was trying to take some air where there was none. Almost bending she began to hurt me. 'Please?'

I removed my hand from her grip and put it around her, swinging my body to her until my hands met at her shoulder. I put my head where it was always comfortable and warm, right under her collar. On this side, I could feel her breathing and her beating heart. I closed my eyes and I began to synchronise my heartbeat with hers, as if bringing them together to.

'Yes,' I said. 'Yes, Eli. I would wait with every second of my life if I had to. Even if a second lasts a lifetime. As long as you needed, I will be waiting.' I began to dampen her school uniform.

'Thanks, Umi. Sorry to have rained on your parade. Sorry for making you come here to hear this, and going home without an answer.'

...

In a morning of a great time for us, I opened my eyes. It was already bright out as the curtains had been lifted and let the sun pierced through. I removed the cover and I quickly got ready, for shower and dressed. Already in my uniform, I picked up my green tie and headed downstairs. There I found a girl with her golden silk hair tied back, but not properly, with her back against me as she was packing a lunch in her kitchen.

'Good morning,' I saluted.

She turned around with the lunch pack tied to the knot, and a plate of breakfast on the other hand. 'Good morning, Umi. I heard you're coming. These are your food for today.'

We walked towards each other and met near the door to her apartment after she had placed the plate on the kitchen isle, while carrying the pack over. I fixed her hair before I accepted the lunch and excused myself. 'I don't feel like having breakfast, I'm running a little late and I have to go (to school) now. Do you have a lecture today?' I turned around to put on the show that was on the rack to my right.

'Not until evening,' she replied.

'Then I'll see you on the way. I'm going now.'

She then embraced me with both hands and gave me a kiss; her luscious lips were inviting as they touched mine. Her hug was delighting as she whispered into my ears, 'you be safe out there, and don't take too long, dear.'

...

END