Kotobuki Reiji yawned, glancing at his wristwatch. The sky was adorned with stars, completely devoid of clouds. It was almost midnight and they have just finished recording the making of the PV. Now, all the equipment were sorted out and removed. The staff and crew were politely bowing to each other, bidding their farewells as they head their way to their respective homes. The area was not quite as bustling as it used to an hour ago. In fact, only a number of people remained at the place once known as the set for this music video. The taping for the music video of NEVER∞EVER has finally wrapped up. And it was time finally time to go and take a rest.

"Kotobuki-san," A crew member called out to him. "Would you like me to call a taxi? It's pretty late and you look quite tired…"

Reiji forced a smile yet ended up yawning. "It's okay, I brought my car with me. I'll drive myself home. Thank you for your concern." With a sudden change of demeanor, he spoke with a lower voice that was his closest attempt to 'seduction'. "You should take care of yourself on your way home, Uemura-san. There are a lot of dangerous people out to get pretty girls like you!"

"Dangerous people just like you?" Uemura suggested.

"Yes! That's right!" Reiji agreed. "Just like—Wait, what? EEEEEEEEEEEEEH?! Do people honestly have such a bad opinion about me?!"

"Yes, yes we do." The crew gave him a thoughtful look before facing the person sitting right next to him. "How about you, Nanami-san?"

Nanami Haruka snapped out from her near-sleep and looked at the staff with tired eyes. Make-up was completely wiped out of her face, exhaustion more noticeable on her than usual. She has completely changed to her home clothes which consisted of a shirt that was too large for her (God forbid, that was Ran-Ran's shirt.)(He still hasn't forgiven that bastard.)(Though honestly he's sorry that he punched him.)(Sorry, Ran-Ran!) petite stature and a pair of shorts that showed much of her luscious pale thighs. If he wasn't so tired himself, he would've commented for her to cover up. It was distracting him.

"Yes, sorry, can you repeat that?" She covered her mouth just in time to hide an adorable yawn.

Reiji yawned again. Yawning is so contagious.

The crew gave a worried look. "Would you like me to call a taxi for you?" She kindly repeated. "Or would you rather I call someone from the agency to pick you up? I don't think it's suited for you to go home by yourself, especially at this time." She added, as an afterthought.

"I think I'll go with Kotobuki-senpai." Haruka answered softly. "I don't want to cause you nor the agency any trouble."

"You're not troubling me." Uemura assured.

"But you don't mind if you cause trouble to me?" Reiji teased.

"You don't mind, right?" She turned her head to the side, a curious look on her face.

"Of course not, rachacha~!" Reiji beamed. "It's an honor to take home a beautiful lady like you!"

"Are you sure about that?" Uemura addressed Haruka, giving the brunet a second glance. "I can call someone you know… Like, Ittoki-san for example. Oh, by the way, he came in a while ago."

"He did?" Haruka suddenly perked up, it was noticeable how fatigue disappeared from her face upon hearing the news.

"I'll drive her home." Reiji interrupted. "Look at her. Kouhai-chan's at this state of mind where she probably won't notice if the taxi driver or whoever was picking her up ended kidnapping her."

The crew frowned. "I'm scared you might kidnap her."

"Ehhhh~!" Reiji cried comically. "You're so mean, Uemura-san! Have more trust in me, will you?"

"I'm just joking, Kotobuki-san." But her expression says otherwise.

"Would you like me to take you home with me?" Reiji suggested with a wink, recovering from her words in a second.

"Thank you for the offer, Kotobuki-san. But my boyfriend is waiting for me." She answered without missing a beat.

"Rejected without a single moment of hesitation!"

Uemura merely laughed at his display of depression.

"So what did Ittoki-san say?" Haruka asked, refusing to give up on the topic.

"Um, he said he was passing by."

'That's utter bollocks,' Reiji thought. 'We're at the top of a mountain! One does not simply, 'pass by'!'

"Oh, and he also said to e-mail him when you're about to go home." She added.

"Why?" Reiji asked, his tone rather accusing.

"Why not?" Haruka frowned.

"No, I mean," He shook his head in frustration, "why are you obligated to e-mail him?"

"I'm not obligated. He's just worried about me." She shrugged. "You know how he is, Kotobuki-senpai."

"Why would he be worried about you? You're under my care!"

"Maybe because Nanami-san's under your care?" Uemura suggested.

Reiji was flabbergasted.

It was making him uneasy, her abnormal fixation on his other kouhai. Of course, it's not like he has anything against Otoyan checking up on Haruka… Why would he be? Shouldn't he be happy for the concern they're showing her? And, of course, he was. Reiji meant, it's not like he doesn't know how close-knitted of a family STARISH and their composer are! In fact, it made him so jealous that he urged his fellow groupmates to bond more like they do. As expected, he was blatantly denied. Anyway, he didn't hear about Masayan and Ren-Ren visiting her on set during her time with Ran-Ran! Is it because they trust Ran-Ran more than they trust him? Does everybody have such a low opinion about him?

"Anyway," Haruka said, "thank you for telling me, Uemura-san. Take care on your way home."

She smiled kindly at them and exited.

"Now I should…" Haruka fished out her phone from her purse, only for it to be snatched by Reiji. "Reiji-senpai! What are you—"

Too late. He already dialed and placed the cellular device to his ear.

"Why hello there, Otoyan." Reiji greeted in a menacing tone.

Haruka face-palmed.

β.β.β.

"Weren't you a bit too harsh?" Haruka said, resting her head on the car seat. "He just wanted to know if I'm going home."

The call lasted for a few minutes, and it consisted mainly of Reiji threatening his kouhai that he often adores most of the days. But not today, it seems. After that, they went to his car and drove home. Now, they're driving on a mountain trail on the way home. As expected, since they were out in the wilderness in the middle of the mountain, no cars can be seen. This would've been irksome to Reiji in most occasions, but now it was soothing because he could glance at Haruka's tired face from time to time without getting bothered that he might accidentally hit a stray child, the occasional number of street lights they passed through illuminating her beautiful features more than ever.

"So he can pick you up." Reiji continued, pressing the pedal as they moved slightly. "He wants to pick you up. It's like, he's doubting my capabilities of taking care of you. It hurts my senpai pride, you know!"

She turned to face the driver's seat, to face him, a mischievous look on her face.

"Is that all?"

"What do you mean, 'is that all?'" He huffed indignantly. "Of course, it is!"

"You sound jealous."

The car came to an abrupt halt, thank God there was no one behind them or else an accident would've ensued.

"Jesus Christ!" It was odd, hearing Haruka swear. "You almost gave me a heart attack!"

He continued driving without another word. The rosette shrugged and let the topic go.

After a while, he spoke.

"I am."

Haruka blinked, wondering for a moment if it was just her imagination that she heard something.

"What?" Just to make sure.

"I am jealous." He said. "I am."

She frowned. "Why?"

"Why not?"

"It's not like we're dating, Reiji-senpai." Haruka pointed out.

"We will be."

Haruka paused, her eyebrows furrowing to the point it looked like one straight line. This exchange was familiar. They said these words exactly while they were doing the making for the PV. "I thought you said that for the camera." She sounded exasperated.

"I don't just say things for the camera, Haruka."

She shook her head in dismissal, looking back at the window without another word.

"I am serious."

"Well," She snapped, "if you randomly say that to all the girls you meet, how can you honestly expect me to believe you?"

There was a long silence.

"Are you jealous?"

Haruka scoffed. "Preposterous."

"You sound jealous."

"I am merely stating facts, Reiji-senpai."

"I love you."

There was another long silence. She looked at him, eyes dilated and cheeks were slightly flushed red even through the dim-lighted car. It took her another moment before she managed to regain her composure. She shook her head once more, returning her gaze back at the view outside. There was nothing but trees and occasional street lights, but it was better than nothing. At least she has something to look at as she promised herself that this will be the last time she'll look away.

"There you go again." She whispered, mainly to herself.

"I am merely stating facts, Haruka."

And she failed. "Please stop that." Haruka said as she turned again to look at him, clenching her hands to a fist.

"Stop what?" Reiji feigned innocence.

"Stop throwing my words back at me."

"I hope you'll throw my words back at me."

"What?"

"I love you."

"…"

"I want you to say that to me."

Haruka covered her face with her hands, stifling her sobs. "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"You act like you're serious when you're with me but when you're with the others you're so—"

"Because I trust you enough to show my real self to you."

Haruka didn't notice when it happened but now they're parked on the side of the road. Reiji was cupping her face, looking at her with his light brown eyes. He was smiling serenely. It wasn't the teasing smile that was almost embedded on his face at this point. It was genuine kindness, and it was making her heart melt.

"I love you," He repeated. "You're the only person I've ever held so dearly in my life."

"Please stop this—" Haruka forced his hands away but he was a lot stronger that she was.

"Haruka," Reiji spoke with such seriousness in his voice that she automatically shut up. "If my words aren't enough to reach you… Then I want to write a song for you, about the things you do. A song that can convey my feelings to you, a song that's better than all of the songs STARISH and possibly QUARTET NIGHT has ever dedicated to you. Combined."

She turned bright red. "What—"

"You're the only thing that ever came close to 'happiness' to me in years, and I'm afraid, Haruka, that you'll be taken away from me as God's form of a joke. Like what He did to Aine."

"Reiji-senpai…" Haruka cried.

"Shh…" Reiji wiped the tears on her cheeks, leaning closer. "Don't cry, my love."

But she couldn't help the tears from flowing. Honestly, she shed possibly a liter of tears today.

β.β.β.

"Hey, Haruka, you don't mind if we side-tracked along the way, don't you?"

She didn't respond.

Reiji glanced at her, she peacefully asleep. He smiled before returning his eyes back at the road. Today has been a very hectic day. She looked quite tired before they departed from the set, and yet she kept on talking on their way home. She forced herself to make small talk with him and now it finally took a toll to her body. Haruka, she really was a force to be reckoned with.

Since the reply he was waiting for was virtually nonexistent, Reiji decided to head on with his plan. Thankfully, the place was relatively close to where they stopped so they arrived at their destination in a jiffy. As soon as the car came to a halt, a song close to his heart suddenly played in the radio. He could only stare at the view in front of him, forcing the tears not to flow at the familiarity of the song. Just hearing its intro sent shivers down his spine, emotions he repressed years ago were threatening to come back. He shook his head, got out of the car (Of course, he made sure that the car was locked and properly ventilated for Haruka's safety) before the singer could even say the first word of the lyrics.

Forcing the tears to dry up on their own, he marched closer to his destination. The strong scent of sea water entered his nostrils. The crashing of waves seemed like a sad song at the moment. The beach was isolated, not a trace of a single human being ever coming in contact to it can be seen. Of course, he thought. Since the last person who did apparently died in this area so people avoided this place like a plague, for fear of being hunted by a poor fallen idol's soul.

Reiji finally stopped, the crocodile skin of his leather shoes digging deeply on the white sandy beach. He looked at the scenery before him, giving it a very hard look, to make sure that it will forever be engraved in his mind. Just like what he does every year. But seriously though, how can a person forget the place where his best friend met his demise?

It was just like any other year, the view was never changing. For the past ten years, it didn't. The sand was white and clean, palm trees were everywhere, seagulls swooped in from time to time, the waves, oh, the waves, they looked so peaceful this year. Just like they always do. Who knew it was the same one that devoured his friend's body, never ever to return to the solid ground of the beach? Nothing changed. The only different thing in this year's visit is that it was already night time, the stars were gleaming brightly tonight. It was different to Reiji because he goes here every year at exactly six in the morning and leave this place when the day has fallen, so he felt disturbed to the fact that he changed his routine only once, in 10 years. Today, he came in a few minutes past his best friend's anniversary. It already was a new day, yet it felt like he was still trapped in time, trapped in that moment when he heard in the news that Aine disappeared.

Mustering courage from the wind,

"Yo, partner."

Reiji began.

"I'm sorry I only visited today, at this ungodly hour, nonetheless. I had work today, you see." He turned away, biting his lips. "Isn't that my excuse, too, ten years ago, when I couldn't pick up your call? I'm sorry that even if a decade has passed, it seemed like I've never truly become a responsible adult. I'm still the useless Reiji you know, even at the age of twenty-five. I'm sorry. You must've heard me say this for the millionth time, but no matter, I will say it again and again because I know that a billion more isn't enough to suffice for what I did to you.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't a good friend. I'm sorry I couldn't give you five minutes of my time. I'm sorry because I managed to reach the success you didn't get the chance to have even when we promised each other that we'll rise up together. Hey, Aine. I'm still doing what you suggested me to do, whenever I feel sad I force myself to smile so that I can fool my brain to think that I'm actually happy. But for the first time in a decade, it failed me. I guess, it also failed you that's why you came to this in the first place.

"Oh, by the way, Aine. I want to tell you about my kouhai. Not Tokki and Otoyan, but the composer of the group they're in. Her name is Nanami Haruka. She's a wonderful girl. I bet you'll love her if you meet her yourself." Reiji paused, he couldn't help but laugh. "Then again, we had the same taste in women so I'm absolutely sure that you'll be drawn to her the same as I am. Anyway, the reason why I'm bringing her up is because…"

He paused, hesitating.

"Haruka… said some interesting things. She said you were alive, I don't know where she got her basis from but she said you were. And… I'm afraid that I'm starting to believe. Why am I afraid? Because I remember feeling the same way when I first met Ai-Ai, you know, my group member in QUARTET NIGHT. He looked so much like you, as I've told you before. That time when he told me he doesn't know what I'm talking about and who you are, I was so devastated. That's why I don't get my hopes up again, I know I won't be able to bear the pain again.

"But for some reason, when Haruka said it, I can't help but take the chance. I want to believe that she's right. Because no matter how breakable my glass heart is, I want it to break for her. But I know, Aine, that she won't do that. She fills me with warmth whenever I'm with her. She's… my everything. Haruka taught me some important things in life and… I… I want to move on, Aine. I don't want to remain stranded in the past. I want to live with the present, I want to live now with her. And the only way that I'll be able to do that is if I grabbed the tiniest sliver of hope. The hope she brought. That's why, I—"

A frail pair of arms wrapped itself around him. Reiji gasped.

"I'll prove it to you."

"Kouhai-chan," He smiled, closing his eyes. "You're awake."

"I'll prove it to you that he's alive." Haruka insisted.

Reiji chuckled.

"I know you will."

β.β.β.

SUPOTTORAITO no moto de kagayaku sugata (A shining figure under the spotlight,)
demo hikaru basho ni wa (But in a place that brightly lit,)
kanarazu kage ga aru to shitteiru (I know there is always a shadow present)

namida o heraseba tsuyoku nareru no kamo to (If my tears abate, I may be able to grow stronger)
egao o fuyashite mo(Even if my smiles increase,)
kokoro umarazu ni (My heart will not be filled)

garasu no HĀTO wa itsudemo (Every time my glass heart)
fureau mono kizutsuketa(Touched anything, it was damaged)
osorezu gyutto idaku kimi wa (So when I hold you tightly without fear,)
naze, naze, naze(Why, why, why)
konna attakai no? (Is it this warm?)

ai no uta de tsutsumitai yo (I want to encircle you with this love song)
subete no uta kasumu kurai (So that it overshadows all other songs)
todokimasu ka? tsutawarimasu ka? (Will it reach you? Will it get through?)
kotoba de wa tarinai (These words are not enough)
boku no omoi yo itoshiki hito e (To express my feelings to my dearest person!)

doshaburi no hi ni wa (On days of heavy rain,)
kata o yoseai nagara (Our shoulders huddle together)
chiisana ai kasa ni (As under the same small umbrella,)
otagai ni hou o akarametari (Both our cheeks turn red)

shiawasette tama ni kami-sama no ijiwaru de (Occasionally through God's maliciousness, that happiness)
totsuzen me no mae de(Right before my eyes)
kienai ka kowakute (Might vanish is terrifying)

jikan wa zankoku da keredo (Though time is cruel,)
kako kara ima ga umareru(From the past, I now live in the present)
otona ni narikirenai kedo (Though I haven't fully become an adult,)
mou, mou, mou (No more, no more, no more)
mayoi wa shinai (Will I lose my way)

ai no uta yo kasaneatte (This love song is overlapping)
yume o tabane tondeyuke (With a bundle of dreams, and soars)
kanaimasu ka? hibikimasu ka? (Will it come true? Will it have an effect?)
kimi dake ni ikiyou (I'll live only for you)
chikai no koe o itoshiki hito e (The voice of this vow to my dearest person)

ai no uta de tsutsumitai yo (I want to encircle you with this love song)
subete no uta kasumu kurai (So that it overshadows all other songs)
todokimasu ka? tsutawarimasu ka? (Will it reach you? Will it get through?)
kotoba de wa tarinai (These words are not enough)
boku no omoi yo itoshiki hito e (To express my feelings to my dearest person!)

β.β.β.

Reiji placed his cup of coffee down, surfing the channel as he gallantly wasted his morning by absolutely doing nothing. Eyes peered up at the calendar. Three days have passed since the young rosette left his threshold. He assumed that it was her last day with Ai-Ai and at evening, she'll be staying at Myu-chan's place. He heard rumors that Myu-chan's house is in the woods… That weirdo.

Out-of-nowhere, his phone vibrated. He fished it up, and saw an e-mail from Haruka. Raising an eyebrow, he opened the mail. Eyes widened at what he saw, his whole world came to a halt for a few seconds. When he was finally sure that he wasn't dreaming, he pocketed his phone and wiped the tears off his eyes.

"You really did prove it to me, Kouhai-chan."

'Itoshiki Hito e'

(To My Dearest Person)

Chapter 10

Kotobuki Reiji: Day 3

Author's Notes:

As per usual, the translations came from Moonlight Sanctuary livejournal. I would post a link but you know how this site is. The song itself is an original by the makers of UtaPri, if this isn't obvious.

I apologize for the delay in posting this. For some reason, the document manager in ffdotnet isn't accepting my microsoft word files and it took me a while before I realized that I could use the copy-paste feature instead of uploading the file. *Sigh*

I don't know if it's because Reiji isn't so popular in this fandom, I'm losing touch with my works, or this fandom has fallen lower than I thought but lately I haven't been receiving reasonable reviews lately. No, 'I like this part, I hope you improve that part'. Constructive criticism. I mean, I do appreciate it when you say 'Please update soon' but I need feedback you know. And I do believe that the last three anon reviews are by the same person.

So for now, let's go back to hiatus. I'll wait until the release of season 4 or the movie or whatever it is so that I'll know I actually have a variety of readers. See you then.