Thank you for @rina18heartnet-san and @reijigirlforever2890-san for adding this story into your library. Hope you guys also enjoy this story!

And thank you for @ChiToNaru-san, @XHaquaX-san, @AngelLilica-san and @cool11girl-san for the votes and comments! :D

This chapter is also long. I don't know why but as I am typing when the inspiration finally hits me, I just typed nonstop until I realized it was.. wait! What am I rambling on so much about? I guess I was over excited for Haruka and that's why I wrote her love story with Tokiya this long. Nevertheless, hope you enjoy this chapter!  

CREDITS TO: UTA NO PRINCE SAMA

CHAPTER 17

"Since I lost my parents, I left Fukouka and moved to Tokyo in order to fulfill my dream. Unlike other trainees who have parents or at least someone to cheer them up, I didn't have anybody. I didn't have anyone who would drop by and bring me a delicious lunch box. Since I also didn't have friends during my training, I suppose my life had been peaceful because it didn't have unnecessary dramas. I don't have friends who claimed themselves as friends but ended up stabbing me in the back... I didn't even get any single Christmas present even I was a child because nobody even loved me enough to buy me one.."

"Why is his story getting sadder, though?" Syo furrowed his brows out of puzzlement.

"Not to mention he talked about it as if it's normal to not have your parents and work to support yourself. Heck, I couldn't even live for one second if my parents were not around," Cecil stated.

"But, if I am not mistaken, we asked him about his relationship with Lady, right? Why did it turn into this?" Ren glanced at Masato.

"Who knows..." Masato was busy pitying Tokiya who grew up lonesome during his childhood. "Poor Ichinose.."

"And my life continued like that until I met Haruka. Because of her, my simple life turned surreal dramatic."

Masato, Cecil and Ren just smirked in acknowledgement while the rest let out chuckles. That alone was enough to make them understood about what Tokiya tried to say.

He simply meant that his life suddenly became a story that was copied and pasted from countless romance movie scripts. It started with a girl, who appeared out of nowhere, claiming that she came from their future. She continued stalking him and when he interrogated her out of annoyance, she claimed that she is his future wife and so forth. He was dead from protecting her and she would do anything so that she could spend more time with him because she loves him so much. Just like what you watched or predicted, the male lead would eventually fall in love with her sincerity, beauty, determination et cetera.

Which turned out to be the exact same thing with Tokiya's life. He finally fell in love with the girl.

"Yeah. After Tokiya met Nanami, his peaceful life turned hilarious. They even accidentally created a scandal after the morning assembly," Otoya recollected the look Tokiya gave after he and Haruka were caught for being lovey-dovey in the midst of the crowd.

It looked like Tokiya was this close to punch Haruka in the face if it was not because she possesses a gender which the society respects and treasures affectionately called 'female'.

Tokiya nodded, seemingly deep in thought before remarking, "Yeah, Otoya is right. Even I was cast as a male lead a lot, I hate to deal with a dramatic life like them. But since I met Haruka, there is another think that I noticed lately."

"What is it?" Otoya asked.

"After we both started dating, I realized that everyone also started becoming dramatic."

"What do you mean by that? Did you speak in some old Japanese accent because apparently, I don't really catch what you are implying," Cecil remarked, impatiently.

"I don't think so, though.. My butler also speaks in old accent but I can understand him well," Masato refuted.

"In other words, Icchi's language is beyond our understanding as a Japanese speaker.." Ren added, caused the said blue head's angry nerve throbbed on his brow.

"What am I? An alien? I am speaking a standard Japanese of course," Tokiya rolled his eyes. "What I meant was.. One night, when I met her at our secret place.."

"Tokiya-kun, where are you? This place is so dark. Where are you?" Haruka mumbled anxiously as their secret rendezvous, a massive Sakura tree near the lake became darker.

Tokiya called her just now, saying that he would be a bit late due to his tight schedule. But, it was already 10 minutes since the rosette waited for him in patience yet...

He was not there yet and the fact that it was drizzling out of the blue, with the weird sounds of animals came out of nowhere could not assist her to overcome her panic.

So, she decided to go back to their dorm first when suddenly, she could hear a cracking sound from twigs.

What's with the sound? Who stepped on it? Was there anyone else around here beside her? Who was it, though?

Suddenly, she could catch a glimpse of a human-like shadow, dashed not far from her before disappeared.

Is it me or there is another person here? It couldn't be Tokiya-kun..

"Haruka..."

Her fair skin became creepily cold all of sudden as her ears caught the soft voice, calling her name.

"Who is it!?"

"It's me.."

"Who!? Please don't disturb me! I want to meet my boyfriend here. We want to have a fun date since he has been so busy lately but wait! Are you perhaps... a spirit here? A spirit that the principal hires so that there are no lovers here? Or perhaps.. You know.. A sad spirit who had a dark past with your relationship and after you died, you ended up bothering anyone who is in relationship. Look.. Whatever happened to you, I really empathize that. I understand that it must be hard for you and your lover but pleaseeee... don't ruin our short date. I have my own reason why I am in a relationship with my boyfriend. He's my future husband and I love him so much.. Aish, I can't even coax a ghost now because I am so scared and.."

"Haruka!" a touch on her shoulder sent her screaming at the top of her lungs. Her hand threw away to the sky and..

No. Correction. 'Throwing away to the sky' is a downright hyperbole because apparently, her wrist, which covered by the bracelet hit someone's face. Once the person screamed a bit, she immediately knew that she was just dramatic and hyper imaginative just now.

"Tokiya-kun, are you okay?" she cupped his slightly annoyed face. "Oh my God, the cut... I am so sorry.. You still have a schedule tonight but I.."

"It's okay. The camera would not catch it but please Haruka, for the heaven's sake, can you please stop being dramatic already? It's just me. What's the deal with coaxing a ghost?"

"You should state that you are Tokiya-kun instead," in the midst of panicky and embarrassment, she accidentally hit Tokiya's nose.. Again..

"Waaa, Tokiya-kun! I am sorry.. aaaa!" she leaned in to take a closer look at his poor nose but what happened next was unexpected.

They crouched just on the edge of a small hill, so when she leaned in...

She ended up pushing themselves, rolling to the lower ground.

"Oh. My. God," as Haruka lay on her back, she felt too embarrassed to look at Tokiya. She stared blankly at the dark sky, ridiculously offered herself to be a sacrifice to any entity so that Tokiya would have a better life and girlfriend.

"Tokiya-kun, are you okay?" instead of approaching him out of worry, she did not move an inch. She did not have a nerve to face her boyfriend.

"Yes, I am okay," he muffled.

"No, don't come any closer! Please don't!" she became desperate as she could hear Tokiya approaching her.

"Are you okay, Haruka?"

"Yes, yes! I am.. Insanely fine but please.. Don't come any closer! I will accidentally hit your nose again and I..."

"Hit me all you want but you can worry about that later."

"Eh?"

He scooped her small body into his arms. The next thing she knew, their faces were so close to each other, taking shelter under Tokiya's umbrella.

"Stay under this umbrella or you will catch a cold."

"Thank you.. And I am sorry..." she was about to cry, both from embarrassment and guilt.

"Such a clumsy girl you are," he sighed. "Oh my.. Our faces are so close."

"Why? You don't like it?" she turned confused. It was too dark for her to see Tokiya's face expression.

Which was a good thing apparently because the blue head did not want her to know how red his face was and how his heart thumped so fast when he saw her beauty up close.

"It's not that.." his attention was shattered as he saw a human-like shadow right behind Haruka. "Who is it?"

No answers of course. Instead, the shadow suddenly disappeared from his sight.

"What's wrong, Tokiya-kun?" she turned to her back but she could only see trees.

"I think I just saw someone over there."

"You too? I thought I saw it too just now."

For a few seconds nobody said anything. They somehow could guess that they were thinking about the same thing.

Could it be.. The guy with the mysterious black car?

"Haruka, let's change our rendezvous, shall we?"

"Woahhh, it's dramatically..." Ren commented with his eyes wide opened.

"Scary," Otoya added, gaining nods from his friends. Almost all of them folded their arms, feeling a sudden chill down their spines.

"What's the deal with the shadow though? Could it be.. our teacher?" Cecil threw a random guess.

"I don't think so. If it was one of our teachers, both Ichinose and Nanami would be punished on the spot," Masato suggested.

"Yeah, Hijirikawa is right. They will never let it slide," Syo agreed. "It will be dangerous for Nanami to wait for Tokiya alone."

"Yeah.. considering the owner of the black car is still missing, we have to be careful and that's why we decided to have a date at the city but again... a drama is being a drama."

"Am I.. could it be, I am lost?" the rosette looked around, totally panicky when she realized that the surrounding did not look familiar at all.

She could see a family restaurant which she never knew its existence, a big shopping mall and...

"Waaa, so stupid of me!. Even I am already an adult who returned to her past but I am still easily lost. What happen if Tokiya-kun cannot find me? Where is the police when I really need him?"

Haruka never realized that Tokiya was already nearby, with his disguised appearance; a baseball cap, a pair of glasses, hazel contact lens, a scarf around his neck and casual outfit, having fun to see her getting lost by herself.

Those guys are right. She doesn't have a sense of direction, Tokiya thought as he fixed his glasses from falling over his nose. He looked around, making sure that no souls could recognize that he is Hayato who could only daydream about wandering around the city without a perfect disguise.

"Where is Tokiya-kun?" she tried to call him but to no avail.

Did she try to call me? I forgot that I switched off the phone, Tokiya reached out his smart phone.

6 missed calls from Haruka.

I guess I should meet her now or she will cry, as Tokiya walked to her, a police who came out of nowhere suddenly grabbed his arm.

"You! Why did you keep peeking at the girl? Are you a stalker?" a buff-looking policeman with an intimidating moustache suddenly yelled at him, enough to attract unwanted attention from the passers-by.

What the...

"No. I'm.."

"Don't lie to me! Why are you covering your face? Do you plan to kidnap her? Because of a bastard like you, this town is not peaceful like it is used to be anymore and women also don't have their freedom to walk around without being assaulted!" as the policeman lectured him like an activist who fights for women's rights, other people also started to form a circle around both of them, much to Tokiya's shock.

If they knew this innocent and so-called bastard is Hayato, the celebrity, it would be a catastrophe. Not only him but Haruka would be finished as well.

"No. The truth is.. that girl is my girlfriend. I just want to surprise her.."

"For the God sake, young man.. If you think you can escape with such a lame ruse, I am sorry to say. There are too many perverts in this world who used the same tactic to.."

"But she is my girlfriend for real!" this time, Tokiya lashed out, did not give a damn if they recognized his voice by any chance. It was so hard for him to date with Haruka but when he finally had a chance..

He was distracted by a policeman who claimed him as a pervert.

"You are just in delusion! A pervert always sees his object of obsession as his girlfriend! Wake up, young man! Your future is still bright as long as you have something better to do!"

As the pavement had become an instant and free soup opera, more pedestrians made a circle around those duo, giving the most insulting look that a decent guy like Tokiya had ever received, which eventually attracted the so-called object of obsession, Nanami Haruka.

"What happened?" she sneaked into the circle before gasping loudly. She was already notified how Tokiya's disguise would look like so to see her boyfriend in such an absurd state is..

Absurd.

"Officer, why did you handcuff him? Just what happened.."

"Oh, it's you. This dude just stalked you and most probably he would do something bad for you so I just don't want that to happen," the man who was supposed to take a break from his job showed a sudden determination to send Tokiya to the prison at all costs.

"What!?" Haruka screamed as the absurdity hit her head, making everybody around her flinched.

"Haruka, please help me.. He doesn't believe me," Haruka knew just how mortified Tokiya felt right now.

But considering his suspicious appearance, anybody could somehow relate to the policeman. Apparently, he just fulfilled his duty.

"Officer, I think it is merely a misunderstanding. He is my boyfriend. Toki.. I mean.. I think Tomoya just followed me around because he just wanted to surprise me or something," Tokiya just nodded vigorously in order to convince the policeman or else, he would totally screw it up.

"Are you sure, Young Lady? This turtle is your boyfriend? How come you can recognize him when you cannot even see his face?"

"Please don't call him a turtle and yes, I recognized him. Please let him go and don't humiliate him in public like this.."

"Young Lady," the officer's fierce face expression suddenly turned ridiculously sympathetic. "It is useless if you want to protect your abuser. If your boyfriend is being abusive, just say it. I am afraid if you continue with.."

"No, no. That's not what I mean, officer.." she desperately waved her hands in order to deny the assumption since most probably, he just suspected her to be a potential Stockholm syndrome sufferer.

"Just tell me, young lady. Did he stalk you? Did he steal your money? Is he obsessive? And one more thing, why is he being like this, though? Covering up his face? Let me see.."

"I told you he's not!!" as the guy was this close to ruin Tokiya's disguise, Haruka screamed at the top of her lungs, did not care if she injured the others' eardrums instead.

Apparently, her sinister shout seemed working out the most because apparently, the policeman froze on his spot.

"He is my boyfriend! To define, he is the man whom I love so much because he's been protective, not abusive! He covers up his face because he has a skin disease. He was so nervous to show his face in public but he made it because he really wants to have a peaceful date with me! He only has two months to live so please, spare his life! I love him and he's not a PERVERT!!"

"And then, the others gave us a round of applause," Tokiya ended his story with a still in disbelief look.

"A skin disease with two months to live? That's so random but it worked out though. As expected from Haruka," Cecil exclaimed in awe with Haruka's ability to act like a wonder woman for the sake of Tokiya.

"What's with the officer, though? Honestly, he needs to do something with his imagination. It's way too absurd," Syo commented before gaining himself an 'I know right' look from Tokiya.

"Just like what you stated just now, as time goes by, your life slowly turned more dramatic, Ichinose," Masato remarked.

"Yeah, you are right," Tokiya chuckled. "Regardless of that, Haruka also has this clingy and cute side like you, Shinomiya-san..."

"Eh, me? I don't think I am cute, though. Everyone else is cute but not me," Natsuki replied, innocently.

"Yeah, that really sounds like Haruka. She calls me cute but she doesn't realize how cute she is," Tokiya suddenly scowled at Ren. "And she is also flirtatious like you, Ren."

"Is that bad?" Ren twitched his brows, stupidly being oblivious with the death stares he received from the others.

Today, I am Tomoya. A sweet pervert who stalked his own girlfriend and has a chronic skin disease with only two months to live, Tokiya thought out of disbelief as he chewed the yakisoba that Haruka fed him. His blue orbs wandered around the park, feeling relieved with the fact that it was less populated.

Unlike just now.. The idea of taking Haruka to a shopping mall was proved crazy.

He did not sure either it was their policy to treat customers way too friendly or something but just now, if it was not because of his sweet little rationality, he might just scold those salesgirls for poking their noses into the couple's date. Even he was a changed man but he still treasured his privacy the most.

And the privacy involved how he treated Haruka like a princess but he did not need any audience or witness for their lovey-dovey moments. Not only a few salesgirls were over excited to entertain them, every damn time, when he chose a few adorable outfits for Haruka, there were always squeaky voices exclaimed;

"Oh my God, her boyfriend chose a dress for her! So thoughtful!"

"I want a boyfriend like him too! Not only he is serious to buy her a dress but he also has a good fashion sense!"

"Oh my Lord! He even stroked her hair.. Kyaaa, he just said that she's cute!"

Their dramatic reactions suddenly made Tokiya wondering about the way a boyfriend normally treats his girlfriend.

Are they such a cheapskate that they don't even spend a penny for their girlfriend? Instead of stroking hair, do they kick their girlfriend if she looks cute? Maybe.. They reacted as if he is the only boyfriend in this universe who cossets his girlfriend.

"Do you want to try our limited edition couple shirts? We guarantee they will look great on cute couple like you guys! Please, just please give it a shot!"

Tokiya really wanted to refuse the salesgirl's offer. He did not want any dramatic intruders anymore but seeing how Haruka naively nodded with sparkling eyes, he quickly gave in.

But what happened next was also absurd.

As soon as Tokiya and Haruka got out from the fitting room and had to bear countless squeaky voices of those nosy salesgirls, complimenting how endearing they were;

"It was the gift from our department. You can take it for free!" one of the salesgirls announced ecstatically, much to the couple's puzzlement.

"What gift?" Tokiya asked. He could feel that he was this close to ask those girls to knock it off already.

"You are Tomoya-san, right? the boyfriend who only had two months to live because of a disease. The news circulated around just now and our manager asked us to just give the couple shirts as a cheer for you. He sent regards to you too."

"WHAT!!??" this time, Tokiya could not resist himself from exploding with rage while Haruka...

"I am sorry, Tokiya-kun.." she muttered in guilt.

No wonder all those annoying salesgirls swooned over them!

Tokiya stared at Haruka. She was currently in a maiden mode who just got excited from the thought of feeding her boyfriend with the bento she made after exploding to a policeman like a maniac.

"Wait a second," she suddenly stopped in whatever she was doing as she leaned closer to his face.

"Why?" he turned slightly panicky as she pulled down his scarf which covered his lower face before taking off his glasses. Not to mention that they were in public park where they had to be extra careful.

"Hm.." she pursed her lips as her fingers stroked his face. "Dark circles.." she stroked his dark circles softly. "Red eyes.. still lacking a rest I guess..." her attention turned to his eyelids as she stroked them as well. "A pale skin.. I guess I should find something that can make your skin look fresh again."

She pulled away yet when Tokiya thought that was enough, she suddenly leaned it again but this time, she even cupped his face.

"What's wrong?"

"Despite of that, you still looked sooo handsome. As expected from my Tokiya-kun, my prince!" she pecked his cheek, caused the idol blushed crazily.

"Eh? What's with that look, though?" Haruka pointed out as Tokiya glared at her. "Do you hate it when I called you a prince? Do you want me to call you my king instead?"

"No, thanks!" he retorted. "Instead, I wonder about this for a while but how come.. I mean.. how come you can just say out loud what do you think about me?"

"Because that's what I always think about you though," she scooped a spoon of yakisoba before feeding it to Tokiya.

"But in spite of that.. em, so delicious.. No, I mean.. How come you can say something cheesy like that boldly? As for me, it took me more than a week to prepare for my confession and.." he stopped again as another spoon of yakisoba was shoved into his mouth.

"How come, huh?" she pursed her lips as she pretended to think. "Maybe because my husband taught me how to be bold?"

'My husband' or Tokiya suddenly chocked, much to Haruka's amusement. That was bound to happen anyway. This Tokiya is the younger version of himself which meant he was totally a naïve when it comes to things like affection, unlike the Tokiya who was her husband.

"Tokiya-kun, are you okay? Drink this," Haruka gave him a glass of mango juice.

"Thank you.. wait! Did you really mean that I was the one who.."

"Yeah, who else though?" she replied nonchalantly.

"Suddenly I feel hot. Just what did I do with my life, though?" he fanned himself while his face grew redder.

"Are you embarrassed, Tokiya-kun?" she gave him a playful smile.

"No. Just feel the need to isolate myself in an abandoned island," he replied quickly as he did not have guts to meet her golden but mischievous orbs.

"Then, take me with you too!" she spread her arms childishly, expected him to carry her. "Oh my God, Ichinose Tokiya blushed again!"

"Stop it, Haruka!"

"Look who is talking! Just so you know, the adult you is much more mischievous than me. He is the one who taught me how to be upfront like this!"

"Dear Kami-sama, I don't know why but suddenly, I want to become a baby again," Tokiya murmured instantly, could not accept the fact that the adult Tokiya is himself.

"You are easily shy. How cute," Haruka pinched his cheek, sending the blue head to shoot her with his infamous glare.

"Don't even try that, Tokiya-kun. It doesn't work on me. In fact, you just made me wanting to squeeze your cheek more."

"Mattaku.." he breathed a heavy sigh. Never once in his life that he ever dreamed of being treated like a child because he was so used to act like an adult since he was twelve years old.

He was labeled as a Walking Ice with an intimidating glare. But now, in the eyes of his own girlfriend, he was no more than a cute child who could not even kill a fly.

Out of the blue, it was a serene silence as they fed each other until they emptied the lunch box. Then, they spent their times talking as apparently, taking a walk might cause an encounter with dramatic strangers again.

Haruka's eyes caught the sight of Tokiya's exhausted eyes. Her small hand which had a habit of stroking Tokiya's silky hair since they got married moved by itself, caressing his hair down to his chin.

"Are you sleepy?"

"A bit."

"Then, sleep here," she patted her lap. "I promise you will fall asleep right away."

"What? Did you just ask me to sleep on YOUR lap?" he pointed towards her pink skirt- covered lap, indirectly suggesting that she did not make any sense.

"Yes. The adult you used to sleep on my lap a lot when he couldn't sleep."

"Please stop with that adult me already! Geez.. Just how much do you want to tease me with.."

"No, honey. I am not teasing you. I swear," as her tone suddenly changed into the lovely one, the one he loves the most, she melted his heart instantly. "You don't look that good, Tokiya-kun. I don't want you to be sick again. You must be healthy to strive for your dream."

How beautiful, he exclaimed as her golden eyes stared softly at him.

"Well, if you insist.." Tokiya reluctantly lay on her lap. "But, what about you? If I am going to sleep.."

"It's okay. While I become a soft pillow for you, I will write a new song instead."

"A soft pillow? Such a confidence you have."

After a few seconds...

"He fall asleep way faster than the adult him, though," she muttered before pecking his forehead softly. "Oyasumi."

She carefully pulled her handbag closer, not wanting to wake Tokiya up from his sleep. She took out a music sheet book and a pencil before composing a new song for STARISH.

"Waaa, Haru-chan is so sweet!" Natsuki exclaimed as soon as Tokiya ended his story.

"Those salesgirls are really something," Ren chuckled. "And the same goes with their manager."

"But seriously, how come you fell asleep when you guys were supposed to have a nice date?" Syo commented sarcastically. "What an ignorant bastard!"

"Hey, it's not my fault! Her lap is so comfortable and if you guys don't believe me, you guys can.." Tokiya immediately stopped before he dug his own grave because to be honest..

What an insane boyfriend he would be if he just allowed other guys slept on his girlfriend's lap!

"We guys can.. what?" Otoya asked as he and his friends leaned in closer to Tokiya. It did not look like they would let it slide, though.

"Nothing."

"Did you just say we also can sleep on Lady's lap for free? Then I will.." Ren's cheeky remark was cut short with Masato's flying notebook which he reached conveniently from Tokiya's desk.

"Thank you, Hijirikawa-san.. even you just threw my precious notebook," Tokiya remarked.

"But how long did you sleep? What did Nanami do for the time being?" Otoya pointed out.

"Obviously she would write songs or just admiring her boyfriend's sleeping face. This guy is unbelievably sly, though. He slept in class after disappearing from her sight for two weeks. He fainted and slept again when Haruka took care of him. And now he even slept while they were dating. All he did was sleeping but he still can make Haruka loves him," Cecil commented sarcastically.

"Then, do you want to get punched again so that you will sleep and make some nice girls fall in love with you?"

"Guys, please don't fight!" Natsuki pushed their shoulders as Cecil and Tokiya were this close to launch a vendetta. "Whatever it is, I think that Haru-chan becomes upfront like that because of you, Tokiya-kun."

"Do you want to say that she happened to be bold like that because the adult me.."

"Yes but in a positive way," when he noticed that Tokiya was about to deny, Masato quickly cut him short. "Listen, Ichinose. I did hear from my butler that a wife reflects her husband. Which means.. The adult you somehow changed Nanami in a better way."

"What do you mean?"

"You changed her into a stronger person," Syo curved in a chummy smile while patting Tokiya's shoulder. "Nanami is used to be docile and passive, you know. She could not protect herself easily because she had a low self-esteem."

"Kurusu is right, Ichinose," Masato added. "Believe it or not, after she married you, your fans used to flame her, saying that she did not deserve you, she is just a composer and stuffs. She used to cry a lot because of that."

"And she even asked you for a divorce because she did think that she did not deserve you," Ren remarked, getting serious out of nowhere.

"What?"

"But of course you did not let her go. Instead, you comforted her while suing every single netizen who flamed her," Cecil added. "From that moment, we could see that Haruka was somehow influenced by you."

"And the next thing we knew, she turned into a completely intimidating girl to the point of if she is an anime character, people would say that she has become out of character," Otoya added.

I guess she was not really happy to be my wife, huh? Tokiya slowly lost in his deep thought. While his friends were in their own world, quarrelling, talking and playing, he planned something for Haruka.

"Here," Tokiya handed a bento to her girlfriend as they bumped into each other.

"What is this?" she held it curiously.

"It's a bento, my dear," Tokiya whispered the 'dear' word, rather softly. It was quite risky when you were in the 'love is forbidden' territory aka Saotome Academy.

"But why? I already made one for you. Why did you.."

"Then I will take it for the last time," Tokiya took the green bento from her. "But next time, if I am free enough, I will make it for you."

"But why?"

"It's a 'give and take' concept, dear. All those things that you have done for the sake of me, the least I can do is something like this, right? Just accept it."

But you already paid me with your life, though, she thought, rather sadly.

"Wait! What's wrong with your knee?" he pointed towards her knee with a plaster on it, much to her panic.

"Well, I just tripped over a twig. That's all," she answered, nervously.

"Are you sure?" he twitched his eyebrows as he studied her face.

Oh my.. the Tokiya that I know is not gullible. He knows when I lie or so forth.

"Yes. You know how clumsy am I, right? I trip a lot," she chuckled, still in nervousness.

But she could notice that Tokiya's face expression suddenly turned grim.

"Then, please be careful and enjoy your meal. I have to leave first," he patted her head before leaving her in daze.

"So, how do you feel?" Tomochika smirked as they were resting in their room. Obviously she did not need to give Haruka such a rhetorical question but to see the composer smiled so bright with her pinkish cheeks, it just amused her.

"I don't know," Haruka touched her cheeks before petting them softly. "I don't know what to feel, Tomo-chan."

"What do you mean you don't know? You returned to your past, you spent your time winning his heart and finally he confessed to you and proposed to date you. And now you are currently dating your late husband which is the chance that I bet all wives who lost their husbands yearn for it."

"I know. What I meant was I am so happy to the point of I don't know what to feel."

"Oh my.. that's complex. It's like I understand you but I don't think I understand you but whatever.." Tomochika gave up.

Haruka smiled sheepishly."When we started dating, he is such a naïve in adorable way. He easily blushed when I flattered him. I really want to squeeze the cute cheeks.." she clenched her fists in admiration as she recalled Tokiya's significant blushed face.

"You really want and you ended up really squeezing him, right?"

"Yeah," Haruka smiled with a half-arsed apology on her face before getting excited again. "He always blushed because this is the first time he dated someone so he thought that I was being too bold with him. Sometimes, he made me feeling like nursing an obedient and cute five years old kid. Ahh, suddenly I miss our son," she rubbed her stomach, sending Tomochika's grin to fade away. "If our son is still alive, I am sure he'll be just like his father. Hardworking, smart but cute."

Tomochika suddenly thought of something that bothered her mind since a few days ago which she quickly blurted out because she did not want Haruka to feel melancholic again. "Speaking of your knee, did he say anything after that?"

"No. He just asked me to be careful. Why?"

"Well..To tell you the truth, Ichinose-san already knew about the girls who pushed you."

"What!?" the rosette was shocked. "Like for real? How did he know?"

"He asked me. I don't know it will happen like this."

"Then when he asked me, did he mean.. He just wanted to know either I was lying or not?"

"I guess," Tomochika agreed, reluctantly.

"Oh my.."

So, that night, Haruka called him, apologizing.

"I am sorry."

"For what?" his voice sounded confused. Haruka could hear Otoya and Cecil were singing rubbish in the background.

"Tomo-chan told me that you already knew about my knee injury. I am sorry for lying."

It was a short silence before...

"No need to be sorry, though. In fact, it's your knee, right? Not mine. I don't lose anything if you ended up losing your whole legs or other parts of your body. In fact, I can ask the girl who pushed you to go out with me instead. How's that sound?"

Oh my.. he is mad. He sounded cold all of sudden.

"Tokiya-kun.."

"What?"

"I am sorry but I think everything is still under control. You don't have to.."

"Woww, my girlfriend said it is STILL under control," he repeated, rather sarcastically. "Then, do you want to wait for them to do something out of control to you then only you will inform me, Nanami Haruka?"

"Tokiya-kun.."

"Look. I am not trying to be over protective or something but the moment the guys said that you used to be flamed by my fans for being my wife.. I don't think I can just watch without doing anything. I need to do something for you."

"Those guys said that to you?"

"Yeah, THANK GOD, they told me! And also Shibuya-san.. she told me about those bullying that you encountered all this time when SOMEONE just told me that everything is still under control," Tokiya's soft voice got louder. She knows, he just wanted to make her feeling guilty. "Or else, I would spend the rest of my life innocently, thinking that all this time, marrying the adult me is the best thing that ever happened in your life."

"Of course it's the best thing ever! Do you think I wasn't happy with our marriage?" she retorted. She knew Tokiya did not mean it but it hurt her when he just made such assumption.

"But you used to ask for a divorce because somehow you were so stressed out and started to believe that you didn't deserve me, right?"

This time, he completely shut her up. Or to put it correctly..

She just gave up convincing him.

"I love you, Haruka."

Tokiya's voice suddenly turned softer and not only Haruka, anybody who listened to him could tell just how sincere it sounded.

Too sincere, enough for the composer to drop her tears.

"You know what it means when I say that I love you? I don't want you to feel painful because of me. But, if you still do, please rely on me as much as you want until you no longer feel the pain. I don't want you to bear the pain all by yourself. That's enough, Haruka."

Haruka wiped her tears but more drops streaming her soft cheeks.

"The girl who cheered me up when I felt like I wanted to give up being Hayato.. The girl who always saved me when I was struggling by myself.. The girl who took such a good care for me... and.." his voice trembled, much to her shock. "The girl who said that she loves me and she sees me as the blessing for her life.. I want to protect her at all costs. Is that too much to ask?"

This time, she cried again while Tokiya just stayed silent, giving her a chance to calm herself down. If it was not because of some circumstance, he would see and embrace her.

"I love you, Tokiya-kun."

"I know."

"Can I meet you tonight? All of sudden, I really want to hug you.."

"I am sorry but I have to refuse."

"Why?" She was dumbfounded with the sudden rejection and slight coldness in his voice.

"I really wish we can but if we meet, I am afraid there are cockroaches who will eavesdrop on us."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Wait a second," she could hear a screeching sound from a chair, suggesting that Tokiya was standing up from his chair before, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS DOING, HUH!!? IS EAVESDROPPING YOUR HOBBY NOW!? OI, COME BACK HERE!"

"Oh my God, he found out!" Haruka could hear Otoya exclaimed in panic.

"Let's save ourselves before Tokiya kills us!" Cecil encouraged, followed by heavy sounds which Haruka could assume that they were running away from Tokiya.

"Mattaku.. I will make sure Otoya will sleep outside tonight. Such a nosy parker," Tokiya's blabbers gained himself chuckles from Haruka. "Sorry, Haruka. Those children were just eavesdropping on us but heck! How the hell did I forget that they were HERE in our room?? I was so emotional just now and.. gahhh!" Tokiya let out a frustrated and embarrassed cry, much to the rosette's amusement.

Tokiya with his cuteness...

End of chapter 17! Tokiya started to be upfront as well so you can expect some developments from him. After this, you can expect him to take action like a hero instead of being level-headed all the time since yeah, a guy like him normally would be dangerous once you made him snapped. Feel free to let me know what you think about this chapter! Sayonara!