Catarina woke up after dawn and couldn't fall back asleep. So, she decided to go to the music room to play the piano.

It's too early to play the piano though. She thought as she walked past the lesson rooms.

" *pant....*pant..."

Hmm?

After hearing noises from one of the lesson rooms, the blonde slightly opened its door.

"That's good.Next up..."

Eiichi? He's practicing choreography this early?

Eiichi wipes off his sweat with a towel.

"Who's there?" The brunette suddenly turned around.

"Ack!I-It's just me!" Catarina entered the lesson room.

"Oh Catarina,it's just you. . .I thought it was dad."

"Your dad?"

"To check my progress...Although he hasn't made any moves lately, I can't help being aware."

"I see..."

Keeping the towel on his shoulder, he started drinking his water.

The female leaned against the wall. "A-anyways, I was surprised to see you working so early in the morning."

"Oh. I made it a part of my daily routine."

"Daily routine?"

"Yeah. With all the attention HEAVENS is getting now, I need to stay in top shape as the leader. This is the only time my schedule will allow me to train properly."

He does this everyday? Even though he's always so busy...He really is impressive..

"How long have you been training for?"

"One hour approximately."

"Are you taking proper care of yourself?" Catarina frowned when she thought he might be pushing him to his limits.

"I am," Eiichi answered while stretching his arms to avoid cramps.

"I might sound like a hypocrite but don't overwork yourself. Eiji is worried about you.You are swarmed with work these days."

"Don't worry, angel. And Eiji worries about the small things." He sighed when he said the last part.

"But that's what makes him cute."

Grinning back, the brunette replied, "You're right." He then looked at her curiously. "By the way, why are you up so early?"

"Oh,I couldn't fall back asleep after waking up once."

"Then why are you here?"

"I was thinking about playing the piano."

Chuckling,he questioned, "You really like music, don't you?"

"Yup!" She replied popping the 'p'. Realization struck her. "Ah! Am I interrupting your training?"

"No you're not.I was going to take a break anyways."

"Oh. . .Is there any way I can help?"

Eiichi thought for a moment. "I wanted to train my vocals. Can you lend me a hand?"

"Sure!" Catarina chirped.

And so, the pair headed for the music room where Catarina played songs and Eiichi practiced his singing.

.  .  .  .  .  .  .

"Good work out there." Catarina greeted the Otori brothers,Nagi and Yamato as they finished recording for the music show.

The boys nodded in acknowledgment.

"You three still have a night tv show, right?"

"Yes.We should head to the tv station too," Eiji replied looking at clock.

Before the female could say anything, Nagi spoke up. "Don't worry about us. Go home with Eiichi.You don't have to join us when it's getting late."

"But-"She wanted to be there if there was anything she could do to help them on set.

"Nagi's right. And ,didn't you say you have to go shopping?"

". . .I guess you are right." She agreed with Yamato.

"Then,let me help you in your shopping, Catarina," Eiichi offered.

"Eh? But what if someone recognized you?"

"I'll stay in disguise."

". . fine then."

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

I think this should be enough. Catarina looked at the cart and then at Eiichi. "Let's go."

The male pushed the cart to the paying area. As Catarina was in front of him, she didn't notice when Eiichi shook his head to dismiss the thought that they were acting like a couple.

After they exited the supermarket, Catarina suddenly cried out. "Crap. I forgot to buy whipped cream."

"If you need to buy it,go.I'll wait for you here."

"Thanks,Eiichi." With that she rushed back to the supermarket.

Where did he go? Catarina looked around once she returned to the place where she parted with Eiichi.

She started walking ahead while looking for him.

Maybe I should call him. Just as she was about to take out her phone, she got yanked by her arm inside a narrow empty alleyway.

!!!!

"Wh-mph!!" A big hand covered her mouth before she could make any sound.She got pushed against the wall; but surprisingly it didn't hurt. She couldn't see the person holding her properly due to the darkness.

"Shh, don't worry. It's me."A voice from above whispered.

Eiichi!?!?! Now that she adjusted her eyesight in the dark, it was clearly Eiichi.It definitely was Eiichi who pushed her against the wall, that is why it didn't hurt.

"A reporter recognized me." He whispered again. "He is bad news."

.....oh.

Eiichi turned his attention to the road to keep an eye on the man.Hopefully he will give up in finding the idol. Eiichi knew that getting caught in the street with Catarina will cause great problems; especially when that journalist is known for writing terrible scandals.

Catarina understood his situation. So, she decided to remain silent until the brunette said it was clear.

But that was when Catarina realized their positions.And realizing it didn't help her.

Eiichi still had his hand covering her mouth.While his other hand was on her waist;keeping her in place. She didn't have much space to move since her back was pressed against the wall. Without her noticing, somehow her hand was placed on his arm and on his chest. It must've happened when she was pushed.

!!!

Catarina became bright red. Their position was a little too intimate. She became frozen in her spot. She couldn't remove her hands even if she wanted to.

And the worst thing was. . . . .their closeness. They were really close to each other.Her heart started pounding harder when she felt his breath on her forehead. And the warmth of it just made her blush harder.

The faint scent of cologne from his clothes hit her nostrils. She thanked the heaven it was dark, so he couldn't see her boiling face.

The young woman looked at his face. She looked at Eiichi's eyes as the lavender pair was looking around the street cautiously. Then,her eyes went to his beauty mark. Even in the darkness, Eiichi looked handsome as ever. Her breath got caught in her throat.

She closed her eyes to calm herself.

It's no big deal.I'm used to such closeness. I've hugged everyone a thousand times. . . so please, just CALM DOWN HEART!!!

The blonde wondered if he could hear her frantically beating heartbeat, she only hoped he couldn't. She started to feel dizzy due to overheating. Even in the middle of winter, Catarina was burning. Her heart,body and mind felt like it were on fire.

Oh gosh!I feel like I'll faint right now...

"Looks like he's gone,"Eiichi whispered and sighed softly.

When he looked back at Catarina, his cheeks too got shades of pink. He grasped in what position they were. He immediately gave her personal space, as much as he could in the narrow place.

"Catarina. . .sorry,I uh..." Eiichi looked away.

"...L-let's just f-forget it!. . . .A-anyways, are we safe now?"The thumping of her heart still hadn't stopped.

Eiichi readjusted his glasses with his index and middle fingers. "Yeah. He's nowhere in sight. He probably gave up."

"I-I see...Then,let's head back.."

Those few minutes felt like hours to Catarina. She desperately tried to forget the memory and calm herself.

.  .  .  .  .  .  .

A few nights later, Catarina returned home with Van after the brunette was done his work.

"And then I took the chance and hid Ren-chan's hairpins."

The blonde giggled. "Really Van?" She wanted to know about Jinguji's reaction after Van hid those during a shoot for their movie, but a voice from behind called them.

"Catarina,Van."

They turned around to see another brunette and a raven.

"Eii-chan, Kira-chan!"

"You returned together?" The only female present,asked. At her question, Kira nodded. "We had a live show together. . .Then, my interview got postponned."

Van and Catarina shaped their mouths into an 'o'.

The four entered the elevator and reached their penthouse. The ride wasn't awkward. Catarina had managed to put that day's incident behind her. So did Eiichi.

"Oh yeah," Van looks at the raven when they entered the lounge area. "I accidentally got your bundle of fan letters too.It's in my room." Kira nodded and followed the eldest brunette to his room.

"Come to think of it, where's Nagi?" Catarina asked Eiichi once the other two were out of hearing range.

"Isn't he supposed to be home? He was off since afternoon." He asked back.

"Do you think he-" Catarina got interrupted by a high pitched scream.

"KYAAAAA!!!!"

The voice belonged to none other than Kiryuin Van. Eiichi and Catarina were caught off guard by the scream. They glanced at each other with wide eyes before running towards the source.

They found Kira and Van in front of the latter's room.

"Van!"

"What happened?" The bespectacled man asked Kira. The latter didn't answer and just pointed inside the room.

Catarina and Eiichi followed his finger and looked inside the room. Their jaws dropped.

What on heavens . . .

Orange. Everything was orange. Everything,from the wall to bedsheets,inside Van's room was orange, Van's stage colour. Meanwhile, Van was crying anime tears.

"Mission success!!" A young voice exclaimed.

The three who weren't whining turned to look at their youngest member.

"Nagi?" They comprehend the situation after watching the youngest laugh in victory and amusement.

"Don't tell me..." Catarina trailed off.

"One of my super cute prank!" Nagi grinned mischievously.

"Nagi. . ." A voice from behind Eiichi and Catarina whispered. The two slowly turned around to find the raven staring straight at the pinkette.
Van was still making an idiotic fuss.

"Ki-Kira!? I-I didn't know you were coming home now.."

Uh-oh...Nagi's got something coming. The blonde nervously grabbed Eiichi's arm and dragged him out of there.

"Rinna!Eiichi! Where are you going?" Nagi asked in panic.

"Eiichi, we have work to do right? Let's go then." She didn't reply and pulled the brunette downstairs with her.

Thus began Kira's scolding. He calmly but with the strictness of a mother, scolded Nagi.

"Why did you suddenly pull me?" Eiichi questioned curiously.

"I didn't wanna get involved in Kira's scolding.I also saved you. You should be grateful!" She pouted.

After chuckling, he pat her on the head, "Thank you then. But I don't know if leaving Nagi was alright."

"Oh,come on. He deserves this lecture. Painting the whole room is quite a prank....Ah! So all this time, he was hiding and waiting for Van's reaction. That's why we didn't see him."

"I see."

After a while, the two decided to check on the three who were still in Van's room.

They found Kira at the end of his lecture, a pouty Nagi hanging his head and a still whining Van.

"Don't enter...someone's room...as you please...Return everything...to normal." Kira ordered with his arms crossed.

The pouting boy nodded. The sight Eiichi and Catarina saw of the pinkhead was really cute , according to them.

                                      To Be Continued.