It's been a while since I actually updated~ There were uh... certain circumstances... well, here's chapter 16!~ Enjoy~ This is the longest chapter yet, and I'm satisfied, for those wondering if this story will be long, it'll be ending soon after the Tokiya chapter(s), the Ranmaru and Camus chapters, and the so-called Happy Pulse Revolution~ Thank you for continuing to read this fanfic up till now~ Thank you for all the support, and oh, for those kuroko no basuke fans, I might make a fanfic~

~Nanami's POV~

I wonder who was calling out to me earlier... it sounded like all those negative emotions in the world. I just hope it was my imagination, it must be a bad dream, it has to be. Yes, I must be hallucinating.

"Nanami? Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing, Ittoki-kun... really. Just... I have been thinking about some things..."

"Say, where's Hijirikawa? We have a meeting about the concert right?"

The concert... I have to tell them, or else... something bad might happen.

"Everyone, actually-"

"It's pointless to ask for help, do you seriously think they'll believe you?"

"...Yes, after all, they're my... my..."

"Friends? Lovers? Well then, what if you become a different person, the complete opposite, will they still accept you?"

A different me... Didn't they fall for me because I am what I am now? If I lose them... I'll be all alone again... No...no...

"That's right Nanami Haruka, scream from the bottom of your heart, and bring forth the darkness in you."

"NO!" I screamed out loudly.

"Nanami-san!"

"Nanami! Are you alright?"

"Haruka-san..."

"Little Lamb, you seemed to have a bad dream..."

"Haru-chan, is something... scaring you?"

I wanted to tell them everything, but the pain followed anyway. My heart hurts... as if an ice dagger stabbed through it... I held it in, I have to show them I'm fine, I don't want to always depend on them, they have their own battles to face, so I must face mine.

"I'm alright... anyway... I forgot to tell all of you... Hijirikawa-san has a job on-going and he seems to have an important role in a movie."

"EH? Not again?"

"Now, let's hope Tokiya has to act like a girl again. Hehehehehe~"

"Humph. I don't think it'll be necessary any longer."

"Say, why don't we pay him a visit?"

"Everyone who agrees, say 'YEAH!' "

"YEAH!"

"Then it's settled."

"How do we go there if we don't even know where the filming is taking place?"

"It's not yet filming... They're only starting with rehearsals... The audition was yesterday I think... Rehearsal always starts directly after our dismissal..."

"Let's hope this doesn't last long..."

"Actually... They'll only do the filming when Hijirikawa-san does his job properly, or so he said..."

"So... if Masa doesn't act well... this'll last longer?"

"Yes, but I do not know what the problem is..."

"Wait, Nanami, why do you know all of this?"

"Ah, Hijirikawa-san told me yesterday..."

-Flashback-

"Nanami, I trust you, so please don't tell the rest of STARISH that I have qualified for another movie."

"Eh? Why?"

"... Because... just because. Anyway, you can but just not them."

"Hijirikawa-san, could you perhaps be embarrassed?"

"No, just... anyway I can't face all of you as I am now."

"Eh?"

-Flashback end-

"So... What could Hijirikawa have trouble with?"

"Last time, he had trouble with a hug right?"

"Sigh, if it's that again... I'm out."

"Tokiya, no escape." Ren shot him an evil smile, something that had evil intentions what he planned. It was obvious.

"Well, no use in that idea, have mercy on Tokiya already..."

"Tsk tsk tsk, no mercy in the idol world, people."

Meanwhile... Rehearsal venue

~Hijirikawa's POV~

It's not exactly a very good idea for them to put me in movies with these kinds of acts. In fact, it was the worst thing I could even handle.

Kissing. Just what exactly do people think of these days?!

"Aw c'mon Hijirikawa, kissing is no big deal." The director smiled.

No big deal?! It is a big deal! It is actually a scene in the middle of the movie, where the male lead kisses the heroine, but... for some reason this is different from hugging.

Should I ask for help or not? If only my self-esteem and pride weren't so high...

"Yo, Masa, time for training!" I hope it's just my imagination he's here.

"Hijirikawa-san, I heard you were having trouble, so we came here." I hope I'm just hallucinating, they weren't here, were they?

"What you don't want to happen will happen by the time you least want it to happen." Or let's say that's common logic!

"Ah, everyone... Perhaps I should first ask how you found out the rehearsals were here?"

"..." Everyone turned to look at Nanami-san, could it be?

"Nanami-san, I told you not to tell them..."

"Gomen, Hijirikawa-san, I figured you needed help so... We all came here to help you."

"I don't need your help..."

"No need to be embarrassed, Masa..."

"Humph, really..."

"It's late, Hijirikawa Masato, make sure to practice, at this rate we might need to change roles on short notice."

"Yes..." I turned to all of them and they nodded in response. Here we go again... practice with the kissing. Next time the director makes me practice with a picture... I'm out.

I know I'm giving up too easily, but I don't exactly know if it's the best for me.

Kissing wasn't to be underestimated, or no... is it just me who's behind the times... Hmm...

~Meanwhile, practice...~

"So... why the park?"

"There are less people here..."

"So.. what should I do?"

"Ren's training manual for kissing... First, imagination training. Stage 1, imagine that tree to be the girl you are going to be kissing with." I looked at the tall tree just beside Ittoki-kun which Ren was referring to.

"Stage 1? Seriously?"

"Masa, you lack imagination, imagine that girl to be the sexiest, most beautiful girl you could come up with. After that, your boy instincts will kick in." Boy instincts... I don't like the sound of that.

"But wait... if he imagines the tree as the girl, wouldn't he have to kiss the tree?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, oh no, I can't, can't stop laughing! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Hijirikawa-san, I know it's rude to laugh but... hehehehehe~" Even Nanami-san!

"Here's the movie, here's Hijirikawa, and here's the tree! Now kiss. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Best movie ever!"

"Let's get to business, so you want me to kiss that tree?"

"Exactly, but to make it easier, imagine it as a girl."

Hmm... Last time I imagined it as Nanami... so... will it work?

"The girl you love, it's Haruka isn't it?" Cecil's words were still in my head, snap out of it! Those were just the truth... the truth.

I have feelings for Nanami, but even if I can imagine that tree as Nanami, I still don't have feelings for the tree. I can't just fall in love with a tree can I? I approached the tree and closed my eyes.

I could picture the image in my mind... like Nanami confessing to me but... no this is crossing the boundary already! I can't imagine such thoughts! Concentrate... this is just practice... I was about to do it, but then I opened my eyes and saw the tree trunk, not Nanami's soft skin.

"Hijirikawa, shouldn't you just give up already?"

"No, I won't give in to a mere tree like this."

"Uwaaa, Hijirikawa, you sure are determined this time."

"Okay, okay okay... to make it easier...Let's try this..." Syo Kurusu took out a picture of Nanami-san from his pocket, it was Nanami-san... smiling.

"Syo, how the heck did you get that?"

"Oh, secret." He smirked.

"No use in hiding..."

"I have a collection all which I got from hardwork." He took out more pictures, Nanami eating, Nanami everything.

"Do you by any chance have a picture of Lady bathing?" Nanami seemed to blush at this.

"No way! That would be evil, an evil plan only Jinguji Ren could think about."

"Let's just stick that picture to the tree trunk... and we'll let Hijirikawa kiss it." Everyone seemed to agree, everyone but me. First a tree, now a picture, what's next?!

-Stage 1 cleared- (After like, 30 minutes)

"Stage 2... Imagination training... Imagine someone with the same gender as the girl you want to kiss, so... Masa, kiss me."

"Ack, no way hahahahahahaha!"

Soon, I'll become a laughingstock...

"Ren, I don't know what's going on in that mind of yours but... you'll pay for this..."

"STARISH yaoi starts now!"

"What's yaoi?" I asked. Was it really important that almost everybody knew about it

"Seriously... you don't know?"

"... I'm guessing it's something vulgar."

"Nothing of the sort, right everyone?"

"It's actually-" Tokiya prevented himself.

"Toki... No spoiling." Ittoki stopping Tokiya?! What's happening here?! What exactly is yaoi that even Ittoki knows it?!

"Aw come on Masa, this suffering is nothing to you, is it?"

I'm starting to think kissing is even worse than lying to myself and to others.

"Ren... you're not serious about this are you?"

"Well, not the lips of course, my lips are for the ladies. And besides... a real man knows how to kiss no matter what the conditions."

"I give up on being a real man then."

"...Aren't there other methods?"

"Everyone, meeting about how to make Hijirikawa Masato get over his kissing problem starts now! Oh, and Hijirikawa, no peeking or sneaky eavesdropping."

Not a problem, I don't even want to listen...

I knew I should have solved this on my own, without making others have to worry.

~Narrator's POV~

"So, what now?" They were all in a corner, talking together about how to make Hijirikawa Masato get over his trauma of... kissing.

"At least go easy on him, Ren..."

"Minna-san, actually... I think we should consider his feelings about this first."

"...Now that you mention it... we're going too fast."

"That's not what I meant... I mean... he seems to have mixed feelings about... kissing."

"Well, we'll try to change his thinking then."

"That won't be easy, remember Cecil's Agnadance?"

"Is there any need to mention it? As I said, I have already gotten over it."

"Prove it."

"Anyway... what I'm saying is that it's not easy to get rid of something which was hammered into the mind since childhood." Tokiya seemed to want to say something else though, something unnecessary.

"So... We have to find out what he thinks about kissing."

"Good idea, but how do we force it out of him?"

"I have a good idea... but I need everyone's approval."

"What now?"

"Simple actually... but first, Nanami, are you okay with another kiss?"

"Umm..." Nanami Haruka was counting how many kisses she'd gone through already, but she considered the situation. "I guess... it's okay if it's for this..."

"EH? NOT AGAIN?!" Everyone shouted a bit too loudly which made Hijirikawa stare their way.

"We all had our turn, so it's just fair, besides this benefits us because we have a concert on August 1..."

"Besides, this makes it fair for Hijirikawa."

"But... what about Tokiya? He'll be left out..." Everyone turned to look at Tokiya.

"...In this world, love is forbidden. I have no objections whatsoever, I think." Everyone knew what he meant, that eventually, the games would be over, and the real thing starts soon.

"Well, we have Plan A, we make Hijirikawa alone with Nanami, while we hide and peek. So simple, but... if something goes wrong..."

"Yeah, it'll all go to waste. So... we better make sure the air feels romantic."

"Well then, plan start!"

"Hijirikawa, I have a recording so I really need to go... can I?"

"No one said you couldn't."

"Aw, Masa, don't give us the cold shoulder..."

"Is it right for me to say this is a bother?" he sighed.

"Actually... I have a meeting with a person offering an offer... it starts in 15 minutes and it's quite far away so..."

"...Anyone who's going to go, just say so."

Everyone except Nanami then started spouting out random reasons on why they should go.

"Make sure you don't do anything to Nanami while we're gone."

"DETAILS ARE IMPORTANT too. Make sure to tell us everything."

"Why should I?" Masato thought to himself.

"Well, bye bye~ Masa-chan~" Natsuki seemed happy with the new nickname for Hijirikawa. Everyone except Nanami then walked away.

-After minutes of akward silence-

"Sigh... This is obviously a set-up..."

"Eh? Hijirikawa-san, you knew?"

"It's obvious actually... everyone just immediately wanted to leave after all of you were acting all hushy. How would I not know?"

"..." Nanami didn't seem to be surprised, in fact she seemed getting all fidgety and nervous.

"It's alright to be yourself once in a while, Hijirikawa-san."

"So, shall we go take a walk?"

"Eh? To where?"

"That would spoil what I prepared wouldn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose..."

Nanami was rather surprised when Hijirikawa Masato held her hand.

"U-Umm... It's the first time isn't it?"

"That what?"

"That we held hands together... Hijirikawa-san, your hand... it's warm..."

And so together, holding hands, they walked to what seemed like nowhere.

"Umm... Hijirikawa-san..."

"Don't worry, we're here."

It was a place in the city where you could clearly see the city. It was a beautiful sight for Nanami.

~Nanami's POV~

The city lights seemed like glittering stars, what seemed like the busy city looked like a starry sky from up here. It seemed like the stars were merging with the city, forming what seemed like a bright world. It was a sight which couldn't have been seen in the province which I lived, therefore making it the first time.

The city I used to be so afraid of seemed so peaceful up here, and I didn't forget the fact... this city was where I met everyone.

"Umm... Hijirikawa-san, thank you but... why here?"

"When I used to have problems with my family... I often came here to solve it all. I did realize I was running away from my problems, but it was here that I got peace of mind. I also thought that... someday I would bring the girl I love to this place. Something seems to be bothering you though..."

"U-Uh... It's nothing."

"If you hold it all to yourself, it won't solve anything."

"Mmm... Actually... I am haunted by a voice recently... a voice telling me that I will fail as a composer... and that you'll all leave me when the time comes. To be honest, I was somehow afraid, but spending time with all of you like this... it seemed enough to convince me it wasn't true, but I was wrong."

"I'll never leave you, no matter what." I'll stay by her side, no matter what people say.

I'm tired of having to listen to what people think of me and my life, it's something I want, and I'll try to get it. No.. I'll get it.

-Nearby corner- (STARISH eavesdropping)

"So that's why Nanami was troubled recently..."

"We should do something to help her."

"We won't leave her when the time comes, will we?"

"No, because..."

"We love Nanami."

"We'll sing her songs, and we'll save her with them."

"Anyway, I think Masa is doing a good job into charming Lady, if this keeps up..."

"Mission accomplished then."

"I hope we didn't walk all the way here just to make this fail..."

-Back to Hijirikawa and Nanami-

"We all have our own darkness, in fact, it's a necessity, without the darkness, we'll never learn, we'll stay as we are forever, without bothering to change."

"But... what if something bad happens when the change occurs?"

"Nanami-san... did you perhaps..."

"To be honest, I'm somehow scared of this... I don't know why, but I feel everything is happening because... I'm me, and that I just got everyone involved."

"It's not your fault, that I'm sure of. It's just that... this world has a lot in store for us."

"I appreciate it, Hijirikawa-san but I'm tired of having people lie for my sake, and... I don't want to lie to everyone anymore. To pretend I'm okay, to pretend that... I don't have feelings for everybody. It hurts...really... It's hard to even try to smile every day when... the tears were actually inside of me."

"I know what it's like, to hide your emotions, but I know you'll get through, because you're..."

"The woman I love." was what Hijirikawa Masato wanted to add, but he knew better that saying that would somehow at this moment, hurt Nanami.

"Nee, Hijirikawa-san... can you stay by my side? Just for now... at least till I close my eyes and.."

"I know, you don't have to say anything else." And before long, Nanami Haruka was asleep, leaning on Hijirikawa Masato's shoulder. The peaceful look on Nanami's face somehow made Hijirikawa Masato relieved. He did have an idea though, though he had actually no intention to do it.

~Hijirikawa's POV~

When I saw her sleeping face, I couldn't help but notice I felt something inside me.

It was somehow the feeling of everything which restricted me from doing anything to her broke, was I a bad person for it?

Thinking about these things... it isn't like me, to be honest. But what exactly is "me"? The heir to the Hijirikawa group or...

The person who has feelings for the girl named Nanami Haruka?

There were times when, because of my emotions, I couldn't seem to hold back anymore, when I just let everything out, but this was different. Love, it is a rather confusing thing indeed, in fact, it seems to be changing me into a different person.

Some part of me said this was my chance but some part of me said it was bad to do it. I was about to answer if anything was wrong about doing something unlike myself once in a while, because... if I stay like this, I'll never be able to be a man worthy of Nanami.

Before, what seemed to be my life was all controlled all because of the blood running through my veins, there were times when I wished I wasn't even part of the family I had right now. But...

That is the person I am now, and I accept it as a part of me, but there is a part of me no one knows about. In the end, it was just me being selfish and running away, but I'll face it right now.

It was something different I have never felt before, because... my emotions were actually in it. A kiss wasn't exactly an act where two lovers do it when their emotions are at the highest level, but it is a way of expressing your feelings, at least, that's what I felt right now. I am somehow unable to explain it by words, but I felt a bit closer to Nanami right now, was it because of the kiss?

I feel guilty, just because she was asleep... I took advantage of it I guess, and I need to apologize for that.

-STARISH eavesdropping-

"Hey,hey,hey, this is turning into some kind of development eh?"

"Nanami-san... so she really meant it, her feelings for us."

"I bet Nanami was trying to hide it from us because she didn't want us to get worried..."

"Little Lamb, she never fails to surprise us does she?"

"Stage 3 cleared for him, huh?"

"The only thing we can do for now... is to watch."

"I protest!"

"Syo-chan, you kissed her already, aren't you satisfied?" Syo just pouted in response.

"I'll grant them..." Cecil snapped his fingers and suddenly fireflies appeared, like little lights in the darkness.

"Hotaru-tachi, fly and light up the darkness, for a light with only... the two of them."

-Hijirikawa and Nanami- ~Narrator's POV~

The golden symbol appeared on Hijirikawa, and along with the fireflies, he seemed to shine brighter than ever.

But... no one knew, STARISH weren't the only ones watching from the shadows...

-Saotome and Hyuga Ryuya-

"Saotome..."

"Yes, it really is a sign. The Awakening starts soon, buuuuuuuuuuut it really is better if they don't know anything about it."

"Is this where we act?"

"No, and besides, whenever a person is at his or her brightest, that's when the darkness starts to become darker too. And, the darkness will absorb anything in its way."

"So... what do we do about that time traveller?"

"Hmm... he is quite difficult to deal with. Something tells me he has a very big role in the events up ahead, but of course he plans to use us, but he doesn't know... we're using him too."

"...Yes. But Saotome, are you not the only one who knows the traveller's name?"

"Then... do you want me to tell you? Don't regret it sooner or later, because once you know who he is, you'll find out he is quite powerful indeed, he has the right mind set for someone with that much power... However... his kindness might hurt him."

"And that person is..?"

"Oh, he's one of your previous students. He has extraordinary talent, but he doesn't use it. He shines brighter than most of your previous students but... he also emits a certain mysterious darkness. His name is... Asechi Kazuya."

"You mean..."

"Yes, he was a drop-out of the school, due to breaking the no-love rule... but he had the talent, his emotions just got in the way. But now... I doubt you'll find him naïve. He has matured, and so have these youngsters."

"Let's believe in them, they are... professionals now."

"The fate of the world known as the idol world is in your hands... STARISH and Nanami Haruka."

But no one knew... that Saotome himself was a victim of the pranks of time, for he was Saotome from the past sent to the future.

-Kazuya-

A certain boy, now a man, was counting the days left before the fated day known as August 1. Today was July 16, and he didn't exactly enjoy waiting. He knew everything that would happen, and it was up for those people known as STARISH, QUARTET NIGHT, HEAVENS, and Nanami Haruka to change everything. Not that he had that much faith in them, he knew better that things were hard to change, when something was done, it couldn't be undone, unless you had powers like him, a time traveller. He had already faced the feeling of not being able to do anything, and this time he wanted to make sure for it not to happen again. He'll use that slight 1 % rate of success that he had, and he'll try to change the future, to protect that composer that many hold so dear, perhaps you could say he felt something for Nanami Haruka too, however it wasn't you might think those feelings were. It wasn't of love nor hatred, he himself didn't know either.

He had a certain trump card that could trigger the events he planned, it was a certain girl who was rather close to Nanami Haruka. He wasn't exactly used to using people that much, nor did he even want to. He just had to, and "need" is different from "want".

His feelings were crushed two years ago, when he was just a high-schooler in Saotome Academy, he was a person who wanted to chase him dreams, but a certain feeling known as "love" was forbidden in that academy, he was happy with his feelings, but he didn't know his feelings were what led to his expulsion. He just noticed after he got rid of almost all the emotion he had, but there was still something inside him, making him more of a person rather than the person he is now.

"I won't let anything get in the way, to save the world I used to love, I'll use as much people as I can, even if... that person has feelings for me." He looked at the empty bed which was beside his, it belonged to his kouhai...

Shibuya Tomochika, who was Nanami Haruka's best friend.

Emotions were easily manipulated was what he thought, but... it was hard to manipulate emotions when the person manipulating himself doesn't know what he himself feels, and that's why he still had quite some doubt about his well-thought plans.

He didn't exactly rely only on his power and his knowledge, but also by his knowledge about people. However, he was never able to understand a certain person known as himself. And he wanted to find the answer, because that might be the answer to change the future, and the key to success to save the world known as music.

As I mentioned, Asechi Kazuya was Tomochika's crush and senior, he's an OC~ And I researched a bit on Saotome and then I learned he came from the past so... I figured... hehe~ Well, next will be the long-awaited Tokiya chapter~! I'll try not to make all of you disappointed. Stay tuned!

-BerryBliss