Thanks for the vote, XHaquaX-san!

CREDITS TO: UTA NO PRINCE SAMA

CHAPTER 24

"What do you think, Tokiya?" the first question came from Cecil right after all STARISH members except Syo and Natsuki met in Tokiya and Otoya's shared bedroom, discussing about Natsuki.

"I don't know what to think anymore," Tokiya replied softly.

"Is it because you already forgave Satsuki?" Masato's sharp guess sent the others in shock. All of them looked at Tokiya, obviously seeking for a reasonable reason.

"You are as sharp as always, Hijirikawa-san."

"But, why, Tokiya? Satsuki killed you..." even with the Sunshine title on his head, Otoya still could not forgive Satsuki that easily.

"He just provided the cause of my death, Otoya. Guys, no matter how hard it is, in our life, we cannot escape from the fate and that was my fate. I will die early."

"Yeah, you will die early.." Cecil muttered in dissatisfaction but Tokiya just ignored it. It was not the right time for him to feel concerned about it.

"Well, Icchi is right. Shinomi is such a sweet guy. No matter how much he used to love Lady, he never wished for any of us to die in his hand," Ren commented, gaining himself strong nods from his friends.

"I think that Satsuki has a lot in his mind. He dealt with Shinomiya-san's feeling to Haruka, Shinomiya-san's frustration and how he finally loved Shibuya-san.. He also killed the future me because he also loves Haruka so much. He needed to deal all those inner conflicts which made him turned more violent. He is totally opposite with Shinomiya-san, remember? While Shinomiya-san is more rational when it comes to his anger issue, Satsuki believes that violence will settle everything real fast."

"Waaa, so sharp.." Otoya exclaimed.

"What's Shinomiya-san doing right now?" Tokiya met eyes with Syo.

"I don't know. He did not come back to our room for the whole night. This morning, he totally ignored me," Syo explained "That rang me a bell. Hey, Tokiya, you promised to Satsuki that you would never tell Natsuki about the murder but.. Why did you break it? Why did you still tell Natsuki?"

"It's because if we did not promise him something related to Shinomiya-san, he would never spare our life and who knows what he might do. If he sees it by himself how Shinomiya-san suffers because of him, somehow, Satsuki will most probably never show up again. Afterall, we have Shibuya-san here."

They nodded as they fathomed him.

"But this Satsuki guy sure is stupid, right? How come he could not think that whatever he did would effect Natsuki as well?" Otoya asked.

"Anyone can be stupid for the sake of the one he cares the most," as Cecil casually let out his words, there was someone felt like he was being slapped.

Touche, Tokiya mentally exclaimed.

"Tomo-chan, please don't be like this! Please don't leave me," on the spur of the moment, they could hear Haruka, pleading with Tomochika. They quickly left the room before stopping in the middle of the corridor.

"Ehh, Tomo-chan? Are you going back already?" Yachiyo asked as she just showed up from the kitchen .

"I am sorry, Haruka, obachan. I need to be alone so that..." the long-haired girl suddenly stopped talking as she bumped into Natsuki who was also in the same state as her, all properly dressed up with a luggage in their hand.

"Oi, Natsuki! Where the hell are you going!?" Syo was about to approach his roommate when suddenly, Tokiya pulled both him and Haruka closer to him.

"Oi, Tokiya! What the hell!? Let me go!"

"Ne, Tokiya-kun. Please let me go. I have to persuade Tomo-chan. She has been so sad about what Satsuki told us last night.." Haruka insisted.

"You guys really can't read the mood, can't you?" the blue head pointed at Natsuki and Tomochika who now stood opposite to each other, seemingly stammered.

Both of them had a hurt look in their eyes. Something that was new for everyone who knows them but anybody also could tell that...

They were deeply in love with each other. It was obvious that they truly refused to let the other person to leave them.

"You.. Tomo-chan, you also want to go back to your hometown?" Natsuki asked.

"Em.. yes.."

"Then, have a safe trip.. I wish you... all the best.."

Tomochika lifted her head to match Natsuki's eye level "Do you also want to..."

"Yes.. I think it's the best way for both of us.."

"Yes, I.. I do think that we should break up... afterall, people always say that we don't suit each other, right?" as she tried to light up the mood, tears started to stream down Tomochika's flawless cheeks, much to the other's shock.

Who would think that Natsuki and Tomochika who are always upbeat and optimistic could be this fragile when it comes to someone that they truly love?

"You guys do love each other, though. That's more important," Tokiya suddenly threw a blunt comment, much to the other souls' shock.

Everybody looked at him, indirectly suggesting that he was the one who could not read the mood.

"What? They are about to break up.What else are we waiting for?" Tokiya stubbornly and shamelessly stood for his opinion.

"Tokiya-kun, you guys.." Natsuki approached Tokiya yet he was too ashamed to meet his eyes. "I.. I am sorry for what I have done to you. I.. I will quit singing. I won't be part of STARISH anymore."

"Ehhhhhh??" they could not help but screaming dramatically.

"Natsuki, are you crazy!?" Otoya and Cecil suddenly became a twin, saying the same line in unison.

"Shinomi, we cannot just let you quit like that. You are part of us," Ren convinced as everybody would feel that it would not be the same without Natsuki.

"He's right, Shinomiya. What makes you think that leaving STARISH will make everything fine? It will be worse, you know," Masato added.

"Natsuki, even all this time, you are soooo annoying, forcing me to cross-dress, forcing me to come to your stupid Piyo-chan show, feeding me your sinister cookies but..." before anybody noticing, Syo was already crying even he tried so hard to act manly. "It'll be lonely without you, Natsuki! Please, don't leave us!"

Silence.

Even Natsuki also did not mutter 'Syo-chan' like the usual him.

"Oi, don't just be awkward like that! You guys are supposed to continue begging him to not leave us!"

"Er.." the others suddenly flinched at Syo's desperate shout.

"Yeah, you are right. We are supposed to plead with Shinomi, right?" it sounded like a stupid question came out from Ren's mouth but soon, Syo knew why.

"We are sorry, Syo. It's just that it was such a horror to hear that you literally begged Shinomiya-san to continue forcing you to cross-dress, watched Piyo-chan show with him and serve you his cooking... Do you want to commit a suicide that bad?" Tokiya commented, gaining himself a threatening glower from the shorter boy.

"That's not what I meant!"

"Yeah, yeah," Tokiya's cheeky face suddenly turned warm upon meeting Natsuki's eyes. "Do you hear them? We all need you, Shinomiya-san. STARISH will be TARISH without you and you know how terrible it sounds right?"

"But.. I still cannot forgive myself for what I have done to you..."

"You mean, for what Satsuki has done to me."

"But he did that because of me. I was the source of the problem. He did it because he knew just how frustrated I was when Haru-chan decided to choose you in the future.."

"But now you love Shibuya-san. She is the one who is important to you right now. Now, tell me why did you decide to break up with her?"

"It's because Sat-chan was right. Maybe I still held a grudge against you and Haru-chan, seeing that you guys are so happy together..."

"Then, I will help you. Put your hand on your chest like this," the blue head suddenly grabbed Natsuki's hand before sticking it to Natsuki's broad chest.

"Tokiya-kun, what are you.."

"Now, I will give you a bunch of questions about you and Shibuya-san. You don't need to answer me out loud. Just answer it in your head, okay?"

"Okay," the green eyes turned wider as he realized what was Tokiya planning to do.

As for Haruka, one of the most wonderful memories in her life crossed her mind out of the blue.

It was when Tokiya helped her choosing one person out of STARISH members to be her boyfriend.

Without having any idea that the chosen guy is him.

"Good. First question.. When you see her, do you feel like... ah, it is not about her adorableness that makes you feel warm but her presence alone is enough to make you think that whatever problems you go through, you think you can surpass it?"

Natsuki quickly turned to Tomochika while staring at her lovingly.

"Do you feel like. this girl.. I want to make her mine. I don't want to lose her to somebody else."

Yes. He really wants Tomochika to stay by his side.

"But at the same time, you feel like, this wonderful girl.. I don't deserve her. She deserves somebody better than me.. I am nothing compared to her.."

Yes, she deserves someone better than him. At least, someone who did not suffer from a split personality disorder like him.

"Next question, these days, you think that her happiness is your happiness. And to make her smiles, you will do anything to make her smiles because she used to say that your happiness is her happiness too. Am I right?"

Yes, that was what they said to each other.

"Your happiness is also my happiness."

Natsuki suddenly turned to Tomochika.

"I love you, Tomo-chan. Please stay by my side. Please don't leave me," he bowed to her sincerely. He really did not want to lose her.

Everyone stared at Tomochika, expecting a positive answer before she gradually smiled and nodded.

"I love you too, Natsuki."

And as dramatic as the others were, they gave a big hand like they were in the midst of party.

"Plus, minnasan! I have a good news for us!" Tokiya suddenly shouted while grinning. "Saotome-san... I mean our BELOVED principal contacted me this morning and with the opinions from other teachers, they decided to lift the love rule andd.. We can go back to school tomorrow!"

"Are you serious, Tokiya?" Otoya's crimson eyes looked brighter and Tokiya swore, it just made his eyes hurt due to the excessive sparkles.

"Otoya, stop emitting those weird sparkles! What are you? Ultraman?"

"Our hard work paid off!" Syo raised his fist.

"Yeayy, we are going to debut!" they almost shouted in unison while Tomochika, Haruka and Yachiyo could not control their thrilled smiles.

"Did you just say the principal wants us back, Ichinose?" for the first time in everyone's life, Masato reacted to something unexpected weirdly by showing his almost-cried look.

"Who are you?" Masato gained himself a horror-struck reaction from every single soul in the house including Yachiyo.

"I am sorry. It just that I can't believe that our hard work paid off.." out of nowhere, a drop of fake tear streamed down his pale-skinned cheek.

"Hijirikawa, being suddenly dramatic like that, you sure are the okachan of STARISH," Ren commented with a poker face but it still managed to get under Masato's skin.

"Shut up!"

"That made you returned to normal."

"But Tokiya-kun, I want to ask you something," Haruka suddenly put her hand up like an elementary school pupil.

"Sure. What is it?"

"This is just a hunch but is the reason why you were so brave in fighting against the rule is you already expected a good response from the principal?"

Silence.

"Yeah, come to think of it, Icchi is quite close with the principal. He sure knows more about the principal's tolerance," Ren's inference made the others glowered at Tokiya who suddenly felt guilty even he was positive that he has been heroic for being the first person to fight for idols' right so that they would be allowed to be in a relationship.

"Ahh, your kiss with Haruka! Now it did make sense why you did that right in front of the CCTV! You just wanted to prove to principal that you are being serious!" Cecil shouted so loud, totally forgetting that the last person that Haruka and Tokiya wanted her to know about the cheesy kissing scene aka Yachiyo was just there.

Especially when Yachiyo just witnessed the jumping scene last night, the couple just did not want her to be shocked any further.

"You jerk!" much to the blue head's surprise, before he could curse Cecil, he was the one who had been thrown with that particular swear.

"You said to me that after this, no more secret plan!" Syo had Tokiya in a headlock as his irritation got the best of him. "You cunning bastard!"

"Syo, I.. I can't breath!"

"Thank you, Tokiya-kun!! You are a lifesaver indeed! Let me hug you!" Natsuki turned to his idiotic mood again before trapping Tokiya into his hug.

"Waaa,Shinomiya-san! You have Shibuya-san already. Please hug her instead of me!"

"But you are the reason why we can finally debut and be in a relationship at the same time!"

In the midst of the chaos, almost everyone in the house thought about the same thing.

About how much Tokiya has changed into the most caring friend that they could ask.

Eventually, it was their debut night.

Somewhere in Hayato's former talent agency building...

"Tell Hayato.. I mean.. Tokiya that I said hello."

"Well.. you can be at ease.. He is doing very best."

"I'll see him soon.. at one of his concerts. Please reserve me a good seat."

"Aye-aye, sir!"

Seichiro smiled as he hung up. He believed in Shining Saotome. Seeing how Hayato or Tokiya was no longer the bright idol who is passionate about music once he was tortured by Megumi, the legendary singer knew that he had made the right decision to let go of Tokiya.

Meanwhile, back to STARISH...

"Even it was a second debut, I still feel nervous," Syo rubbed both his palms nervously.

"Just be cool, Ochibi-chan. Can you hear the crowd? They are cheering us so all we need to do is be chillax."

"Look who's talking. Your lips is all purple," Masato's nonchalant remark sent the others laughing.

"But seriously, I mean.. are you guys seriously nervous right now?" Tokiya asked carefully, considering his friends looked all over the place. Cecil and Otoya even started to dance to the Muse in the background, praying that their performance would be guided by the goddess of music.

"Of course, Tokiya-kun! This is our debut. Of course we are nervous," Natsuki tried to convince the blue head but it turned out vice versa.

"But this will be your second debut. You just made me ashamed of myself because I don't look as nervous as you guys right now."

"Yeah, you are right. You are supposed to be nervous too, Ichinose," Masato's stern look threatened his 'twin' to feel the nervousness.

"I am but at least, I don't do a random dance like certain person..."

"Hey, don't insult my way of praying!" Cecil remarked angrily.

"Ma, ma, don't fight again, guys. Instead, let's make a circle!" Otoya quickly pulled both Masato and Syo so that they would form a group hug.

A silence.

"What should we do next? Somebody, please say something already!" Syo demanded.

"Tokiya-kun, why don't you lead the cheer?" Natsuki suggested.

"Eh, me?"

The other six smiled at each other, much to Tokiya's bewilderment.

"You should be the one who sets the goals for us, Ichinose. After our debut, we will go through a lot of experiences.. a lot of things that we used to see as a dream.." Masato added.

"After all, this is also your second debut, right, Icchi? Finally you can debut as yourself so the honour is all yours," Ren remarked.

No words could describe how Tokiya was grateful to meet this dorkies..

And Haruka.

"You asked us why we are still nervous about the debut, right, Tokiya?" Otoya remarked. "It's because you are here."

Now, it suddenly turned dramatic... for the nth time.

"It feels like a dream, right? To be here again, on the same stage, seven of us.." Cecil added.

"Thanks, Aijima-san. If it's not because of you.."

"Yeah, Tokiya is right. Cecil is the major contributor despite of his dorkiness.."

"Oh, come on, Tokiya, Syo. Can you guys just praise me properly without scoffing?"

"It will be hard to do, though," the said members answered spontaneously.

"Then, Tokiya-kun, onegaishimasu," Natsuki patted the blue head's back.

"Okay. After debut, we will aim for UTAPRI award, Triple S opening artist andddd..

"Hollywood debut!! " they shouted together.

"We have strived so many things just to be here so no matter what happen, please bear in your mind that STARISH will win it together!"

A silence.

"It's too text book, right?" Ren casually voiced out everyone's thought.

"That's so lame, Tokiyaaaa," Otoya exclaimed.

"I am terrible with things like this so please don't put it that way, Otoya, Ren," Tokiya mumbled, struggling to not punch those two for being rudely blunt. "Okay, now, put your hands together... STARISH..

" Fighting!!"

Haruka was there, waiting for each of STARISH member to give a high five to her.

Tonight, they would sing Maji Love 1000% again.

As she could see a red head got nearer to her, the composer raised up her small hands.

Otoya... Masato... Ren.. Syo... Natsuki.... Cecil...

And lastly...

"I don't want a high-five."

"Eh?" Haruka titled her head in confusion as she heard his remark.

Instead, Tokiya, with his debut custom, trapping her in his embrace.

"Charging time."

She closed her eyes, enjoying his warmth until...

"Ne, Haruka.."

"Hm?"

"I had a talk with Kuppu... I mean, Aijima-san about our child."

"Eh?"

"The baby who was dead in your tummy on that day, you carried him when you are 28, right?"

"Yes. Why, Tokiya-kun?"

"He said that it was possible to make our child exists earlier and lives longer."

"Eh?"

End of chapter 24! Next chapter will be about them after ten years which will last for a few chapters before I officially end this story. As usual, please let me know what do you think about this story, okay? Matta ne!