Akari's POV

"Ooo, this is so cool!"

"I wonder how they even did this."

"Ah, here, come look, this one's mine!"

All the students were chattering in the halls, talking about the artworks happily. Our usual club room was now crowded with students who came to take a look at the exhibition. It was also break time so more people were here. Normally, we would only have a couple of students when classes were going on. The art club members also got permission from the principal to leave class early or to come in late.

The members of our club took turns to stand outside and keep watch of the place, in case anything goes wrong.

After a while, I heard a beeping sound from my watch. 'Ah, my shift is over' I thought as I walked back to our resting room. Since our actual club room was occupied, we stayed in the empty room next to our club room. Everyone was there in the room when I got back.

"Oh! It's time for my shift," Ryouta got up from his seat. "I'll be going!"

"Okay!" Mari smiled and turned to me, "Good work, Akari-chan." I nodded as I went towards the table. "Ah, isn't it a bit humid? Should I open the window?"

"Yes! It's hottt!" Natsumi complained. Mari stood up and opened the two windows. Then she came back to her seat and continued reading a book. But she'd constantly look away to think of something. Maybe about the exhibition going on. She actually wanted to stay outside most of the time but we tried to convince her that everyone will equally take turns.

Shou was just dozing off. Ken and Yumi were talking a bit as they were on their phones. Natsumi was reading a manga and tried to tell Mari to not over think or worry about anything.

Just then, I heard the sound of constant chirping. I look outside the window, the weather was great today, a calm breeze was blowing. The birds must be happy too. Then as I continued to gaze outside, I saw a bird on the window sill. It was a small, plump, bird with brown and grey on it's feather, with a short tail, a sparrow.It stayed still in the same place, and it's wings kept flinching. Suddenly it started to fly inside the room.

Natsumi noticed the bird and started screaming, "T-There's a bird in the room!!" Because of Natsumi's loud statement, the bird startled and started to fly weakly, around the room. As if it could drop any moment. It flew among us as Natsumi started to panic. Yumi noticed the bird and squeak as she clinged onto Ken.

'Why are they panicking over a small bird, if it's anything the bird's the one who's scared of us.' I followed the bird to help it but Shou got a hold of the bird before me. He held the bird gently between his palms and caressed the bird's back. Everyone went silent and watched Shou as he cared for the sparrow. The bird's wings flickered. "It's left wing is hurt," Shou stated as he inspected the bird's left wing.

Then Ken approached us with Yumi behind her. "We'll go get some medicine." Then they left the room.

It was just Shou, Natsumi, Mari, and I in the club room now. We were waiting for Ken and Yumi to come back from getting the medicine, both of them didn't need to go. Why did they go together? Not that I care.

Then Mari caught my eyes, she was slowly dozing off, her body swayed side to side on the chair as she collapsed. "Hey! Mari?! Mari!!"

Mari's POV

Ken and Yumi left the room to go get some medicine for the injured bird. Akari was looking out the door since Ken and Yumi left. 'Heheh..she must be jealous.'

Just then a sudden pain struck my head, and I started to feel dizzy. Everything became a blur and started to spin. My body begins to weaken and gave up the strength that was remaining.

"Hey! Mari?! Mari!!" Akari-chan's voice echoed as she calls my name, repeatedly. Soon, everything blacked out.

'Huh? What just happened?' I slowly opened my eyes adjusting to my surrounding. 'The club room? Oh right, it's the room next to it.'

"Mari?!? Are you okay?" I was lying on the floor and Akari-chan was sitting beside me, she looks very worried. Natsumi and Shou were also behind.

"What happened...?" I slowly got up. Natsumi supported me from beside.

"You fainted. Probably because you overworked. Have you been sleeping enough??" Akari-chan explained.

"Ah....not really," I smiled sheepishly. "Um, how long was I out?"

"For around 2-3 minutes," Shou answered.

"Yeah! We were so shocked and Shou was just about to carry you to the infirmary," Natsumi added.

"Ah, is that so? Thanks, I'm fine now," I chuckled. Eh? I'm not even sure if I actually laughed. I even noticed that my voice sounds tired.

"No, you're not. You should go to the infirmary and get some rest. You said it yourself right? You haven't gotten enough sleep," Akari-chan insisted.

"But--"

"Not buts, go rest now, Mari," Akari-chan said stubbornly. Ahah, she even reminds me of my mom. There'll be no use arguing with her.

"Okay okay, I will," I giggled, "I'll be back soon so I'll leave you in charge, Akari-chan!"

She sighed, "Yeah, just leave it to us," she gave a small smile.

"Yup! And make sure to rest well!! If you need anything just call us!" Natsumi offered.

"Ahah, okay," I said as I slowly walked outside.

I went to the infirmary by myself, Akari and Natsumi insisted on coming along with me but I didn't want to bother them so I went by myself. Ken and Yumi must be there right? They haven't returned yet, so they must still be there. I opened the infirmary door, hoping to see them but no one was inside. Maybe I missed them? I searched for a medicine that helps with headache in the cabinet.

"Found it!" I took some medicines as I went over to one of the beds and lied down. The curtains were already down."I shouldn't worry others like this. I have no time to be sleeping while they're all taking shifts and making sure the exhibition is going alright," I sighed. "But since they told me to sleep I should right? I'll get scolded if I went back anyway." I took a small nap and then suddenly I heard the door opened.

"I can't believe you took the wrong medicine," someone sighed. It kinda sounds like Ken.

"Aheh, well it kinda looks like the medicine so I thought it was it and took it!" A girl's voice. Yumi-chan?

"What did I expect. You were always clumsy like this."

"I'm not clumsy!!!"

"Remember the time when we were going back home on a rainy day and a cat suddenly appeared out of nowhere? You squeaked like you just did back in the room and fell into the mud. You were all wet."

I opened the curtain slightly and peeked out. It was Ken and Yumi-chan. Just as I predicted! I closed the curtain immediately and went back to bed. I hope they didn't notice me.

Suddenly I heard a small noise. Ken sighed, "Seriously...tripping over your foot. You're lucky I caught you."

"Ahaha sorry. Thanks, Ken," Yumi giggled. I slowly took a peek again.

Ken let go of Yumi and looked at her blonde locks that swept through his hands. "Your hair..."

"Hm?"

"It got longer," Ken said softly. His expression looked sad, maybe he was remembering something. I turned back and laid on my back.

"Ah, yeah, my hair was only around my shoulders when I last saw you two years ag-...." Yumi's voice died down as she said the last part. Could it possibly be about their past?

"Yumi, don't you think it's time to tell me what happened?" Ken sounded serious.

"Eh? What are you talking about?"

"If you're gonna play innocent then I'll just ask. You only told me that it's because of your parents that you came back, but why exactly? Tell me, Yumi."

"Ken...there might be people here," Yumi said weakly.

"Don't worry, there's no one here. We already checked the first time we came here right? We didn't even take that long coming back," Ken assured.

'Thank god they didn't check. I don't wanna be seen eavesdropping. I know it's bad but they're the ones who're talking without knowing that I'm here. And I guess they didn't notice that I wasn't in the room.'

"So?" Ken continued.

"I-It's hard to say all of the sudden," Yumi sounded nervous.

"Then I'll ask," Ken said. "What happened with your parents?"

"Umm..."

"Yumi," Ken said sternly.

"They were trying to use me... our agency is actually losing its business since most of the models quitted. So Mom and Dad are making me hang out with the CEO's son from another famous agency!" Yumi cried.

"Oh...and? Is that why you came to Japan?"

"What? N-no! W-well... it's because...I've been really stressed lately and I don't know what to do anymore. Things have been hard, Ken. My head's jumbled with all these things and I realized that I can't even rely on anyone. There's no one there for me. But then I realized that you are here. So I came back to you," I think Yumi's really crying right now. I heard her sobs. But I didn't hear anything from Ken. Is he confronting her?

I started to feel bad for Yumi. I feel like I'm hearing what I'm supposed to not hear right now. Maybe I should just get up and get out of the room, if they ask, I'll just pretend that I was asleep. Nah, it's too obvious that I'm lying. I should just stay quiet. Akari-chan, Natsumi-chan....SAVE ME!!!

"You came back to me because you don't know what to do?"

"Please Ken, I need your help," Yumi begged.

"What can I even do to help you, comfort you? Saying it's going to be alright? Will it actually comfort you and make you feel better? Even if it did, that's temporary. It's not like saying 'it's going to be alright' means that it will actually be alright and you know that. It's your problem and you should start solving it instead of running away. The only thing I'll be able to do is to listen, but never mind... I don't wanna hear it if all you're gonna do is complain," his words sounded like ice and it even sends a chill through my spine.

Why is he being so mean to her? Poor Yumi. But I kind of understand what he means. He could've been less mean to her though.

"K-Ken...." Yumi sniffed. How could he do that to her? "But you're the only person I can rely on-"

"What are you even saying. We're not even friends Yumi."

"What?"

"Look, ever since you came back, you've been acting weird. You don't answer when I ask you why you came or when I say that we are not dating. You even claimed to be my girlfriend yesterday. We've been over since a long time ago. Get a grip Yumi."

"What? W-what're you saying..." Yumi's voice was trembling. She also sounded as if she just heard something very shocking. "Ken, don't you still like me?"

"At first, I felt sorry for you so I stayed by your side but this is getting too far. I thought I also have a bit of feeling left for you but I just realized that it's just me not wanting to let go of my past. But I'm over that. So you have to move on too, Yumi."

"Ken...," she said his name once more. But this time, it was weaker and almost impossible to hear.

"I'll leave ahead," Ken said. I slowly peeked out again and saw Ken leave with a first-aid kid in his hand. When the door shut, Yumi collapsed on her knees and started crying her eyes out for awhile.

I wanted to give Yumi a hug right now. It's probably what she needs right now. When is she leaving?? I need her to leave first so that I can leave. Then I heard a small beep sound from a phone. I checked my phone to see if it was mind but it wasn't. It was Yumi's. She opened her phone, it seems like she got a message. She stood up quickly and rushed out of the room. What happened now? I decided to go back to where everyone was, I shouldn't meddle in someone else's business. Yumi wasn't back yet, but Ken was.

"Maa-chan! You're finally back! Are you okay now?" Natsumi exclaimed as she pulled me into a hug.

"M-Mari-chan....were you perhaps at the infirmary too...?" Ken asked.

"N-" as I was about to answer Natsumi interrupted.

"Yeah! She went there to get some rest!" Natsumi talked in my stead. What are you doing Natsumi!! Shut up!!! I can't let him find out that I was there too.

"Actually, I just went to the bathroom to wash my face and my hands to freshen myself up!" I quickly gave an explanation.

"Eh??? We told you to get some sleep!!!" Natsumi complained.

"That doesn't matter," Akari-chan pushed Natsumi's face out of way and held my hands. "You're fine now right?"

I nodded and smile at Akari-chan. "Where's Yumi though? Didn't you two went to the infirmary together?" I asked trying to sound like I knew nothing. Ken still looked a bit suspicious of me.

"Yeah, where is she?" Natsumi asked.

Yumi's POV

'Why are they here in Japan?!? Why would they follow me all the way here?? Are they that desperate?? Please don't make things more complicated than it already is.'

I rushed through my phone and called my manager as quickly as I can. "Hello? Kyoko-san my parents just texted me that they're in Japan. Please don't tell them anything. About my location, home or school or anything else."

She sighed, "Alright, alright." I hang up the phone. It's about time for my shift, I should return. I stood in front of the door of the classroom where everyone is. How should I face Ken now....

A/N: Hello~ hope you enjoyed this chapter! Part two's coming up next~ Make sure to vote and feedbacks are welcome!! Oh and check out our art book, 'Eclipse' that we just published recently. Thank you for reading till the end~ Have a nice day! (ﾉ'ヮ')ﾉ*: ･ﾟ

- Kuroi & Yukine