Chapter 123

Len.

After Miku finished, Kaito sang Ice. The audience cheered and Rin approached me, taking my hand in hers.

"Here we go," she beamed. I nodded and laughed sheepishly.

"I'm actually kind of scared," I admitted. She looked at me and pulled me closer.

"Fear is normal," she whispered before kissing me. The audience kept clapping and cheering as we kissed behind the curtain. I didn't want to pull away, but I had to.

"Hurry!" I felt Kaito's hand push me gently and I broke away from Rin. She held my hand tightly and we walked out onto the stage.

"Wave!" Rin whispered as my gaze fell over the massive crowd. We both waved and suddenly, the music took over and Rin started to sing.

(Migikata ni murasaki choucho/The purple butterfly on your right shoulder)

I kept looking at the audience. They had begun to clap their hands to the beat. I took a deep breath and got ready to sing with Rin. The part where I came in was almost here.

(...Kisu wo shita kono heya no sumi de/the corner of the room is where we kissed,

(Setsunai to iu kanjou wo shiru/I learned what it's like to feel pain,

(Hibiku piano/a piano echoes,)

Okay. You can do this.

(Fukyo waon/resounding in my head)

Rin and I started to dance as we sang. The dance was something we had worked on with Miku for this song. We interlocked fingers and came close near 'kisu wo shita', our lips nearly grazing, and drifted apart soon after. It was all a blur, really, but the crowd's cheering really excited me and made me more passionate.

And that was it, really. We were done before we knew it. At the end, Rin held my hand and we waved to everyone with grins on our faces before disappearing behind the curtains again.

Rin grabbed me and hugged me tightly, laughing and spinning around and around. Kaito and Miku walked out onto the stage and the music for Cantarella began.

"Wanna watch?" Rin asked. We sat down behind the curtains, watching the two dance across the stage.

"He's going to kiss her," Yuma gave a small half smile and we watched as Kaito kissed his blushing princess. The song ended and the curtains closed over them momentarily, their mouths still pressed together. Clapping continued and we cheered quietly for them.

Miku.

We did it. We performed Cantarella, but we still had to do Cendrillon in a couple of minutes. Kissing Kaito in front of the entire school was strange, and not many people knew that we were more than friends now, but I wasn't afraid to kiss him. He was my prince, and I wouldn't want it to be anyone else.

"That was great!" Rin cheered as we broke the kiss. Kaito had his hands laced around my waist and he wouldn't stop looking into my eyes. I just couldn't break away from his sweet, loving gaze.

"We have a short break before Cendrillon," Gakupo said. Everyone nodded in response. Kaito grinned at me.

"I didn't think it was possible, princess," he said, pulling me close again, "But I think I love you even more now."

We kissed again. Meiko and Rin giggled, probably thinking about how cute we looked. The sounds around me started to blot out and I was focused on Kaito and only Kaito. I don't know how long we held the kiss, but it was Yuma's tapping my shoulder that made me pull back.

"We're starting Cendrillon," he informed us. Kaito and I exchanged glances, our faces flushed. We nodded and got into place.

Rin.

After Cendrillon, Meiko sang her two songs, and Evil Food Eater was especially popular with the crowd.

"Time for you to sing Yellow," Len gently pushed me towards the curtains as Meiko's song ended. I pulled him close and kissed him quickly.

"After me, it's you," I smirked and walked out onto the stage. I waved to the cheering crowd and they repeated my name, 'Rin! Rin! Rin!'

I bowed cutely and put a finger to my lips. They all quieted down. Then came the first beat of the Yellow music and they went wild again. I started to dance slowly, to the music, singing the lyrics as I went on.

(itsukara darou kimi no warau koe tooku/Since when, your laughter become so distant?

(shiawase no owari nante akkenai mono da ne/The end of joy is a thing that comes too soon,

(kazoekirenai namida mo kedarui asu mo/Countless, the tears and lethargic tomorrows,

(kawashita kotoba subete omoide ni wa sasenai/The exchanged words, everything, you should forget)

I loved singing that song, partly because it reminded me of dancing with Len on that fateful Saturday, the day during which we confessed our love and it fell apart hours later. The day that started it all. The day I kissed Len, which used to only be a dream for me, for the first time. I sat under a tree with him in the park, my head on the blond boy's shoulder. It was a week before my father died, a week before I cried and the boy that I loved, kissed and thought was my brother kissed the tears off of my cheeks.

The applause at the end took over all my senses. I think I just stood in the middle of the stage, dumbstruck with my hands hanging by my sides, for a few long seconds. It was Len who wrapped his arms around me suddenly and pulled me to the side.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, it's just...they're so loud," I said. He grinned.

"That's because you did so well," he said, "I'm going to go up now."

I nodded. "Good luck," I patted his arm and he ran upstage. His song, Fire Flower, took over the crowds and I smiled to myself, thinking about the fireworks. I reached into my shirt and tugged at the necklace he had bought me. Gently, I rubbed the pendant with my thumb as he continued to sing.

Once the song was over, I walked up to Gakupo, because he'd be singing Paradichlorobenzene and someone had to take his place at the instruments.

"Len's not done yet," Mr. Gakupo smiled.

"Huh?" I frowned, "But..."

Suddenly, everyone began playing a tune that I had never heard before. I scurried over to the curtains and peered out at Len, who turned to face me momentarily.

"Surprise," he mouthed with a grin that he clearly couldn't hold back. I hid behind the curtains and watched him sing.

(Yureru furoa no ue de biito wo kizamu kimi wa/You, dancing to the music beat on the trembling floor,

(Miraabooru ni hansha shiteru hikari to odotte iru you sa/look as if you are dancing with the light reflected from the disco ball.

(Nagareru sono kami to ka aoi hitomi no wana ni/Your flowing silky hair and your blue eyes

(Dokyuun! Tto tsukinukareta kokoro mou kugidzukeda/have completely trapped my heart and rendered it motionless.)

Almost immediately, I realized that he was singing about me. I clutched the curtains with my small hands and watched, speechless, as he went on.

(Mahou ga tsukaeru boku datta nara/If I were able to use magic,

(Hoka no yatsu ga jama de kinai you ni/in order that the others could not get in my way,

(Jumon wo kakete tsuresaseru no ni/I'd chant a spell and take you away with me,

(Gen jitsu wo mi na yo!/so that you can open your eyes to see reality!

(Sousa KIMI ni kitto oboreru/Yes, you will surely captivate me,

(Haatobiito mo zutto takanaru/and even my heart will keep throbbing violently.

(Soko nashi datte wakatteru/I know very well that there's no end to it,

(Dakara koso zokkon de/and that's exactly why I'm mesmerized from the bottom of my heart.

(Kono fureezu ni kitto oboreru/I will surely be charmed by this phrase,

(Endoresu ni zutto nagareru/which will be repeated endlessly.

(Hari ga ochiru sou shunkan ni/At that brief moment of the drop of a needle,

(Hajimaru ki ga suru n da/I have a feeling that it will start,

(Discotheque Love...)

Once he was done, Yuma and Gakupo headed onto the stage and started singing Paradichlorobenzene. They even got the audience to sing 'paradichlorobenzene' along with them, so that was a huge success.

Len stepped behind the curtain once he was done, smiling at me.

"You never told me about that song," I said.

"I know," he replied, "It was a surprise."

"You surprised me, alright," I laughed softly, "That was amazing, all of it. Fire Flower, Paradichlorobenzene, and that one..."

"Discotheque Love," Len finished, cupping my face with one hand, "The concert's almost over, Rin. Can you believe it?"

"No," I looked down at my feet, "Time just flies by, huh?"

He kissed my forehead and I heard Miku singing Two Breaths Walking. Len's mouth slipped down over mine slowly. My heart beat faster and faster as he held the kiss.

("kore wa boku no shinka no katei no ichipeejime desu."/"This is the first page on the history of my growth."

(dakishimetai kara nihon ashi de aruku/Because I want to hold you, I walk on my two legs

(hitori ja sabishii kara kimi to ikisuru yo/Because I'm all lonely by myself, I'll breathe with you

("nee mama, boku suki na hito ga dekitanda."/"Ummm mama, I met the person that I like."

("omedetou"/"I'm happy for you.")

"You guys!" Yuma hissed and called us over as the song ended, "We have to all head up once Miku's done with Sekiranun Graffiti!"

"Right!" We nodded and waited patiently.

"Okay, everyone!" Miku was loud and clear, "Next up is everyone's favourite vegetable juice song!"

We all got up and hurried onto the stage, finding our places behind Miku. She started to sing and we grinned stupidly at each other as we danced along. The crowds clapped to the song, and even though it was only about two minutes long, I was exhausted by the end.

"Next is Melt," I said to Len as we got off the stage, "Then Yuma's song, and then we're done! I'm so excited!"

I hugged him tightly and he chuckled sheepishly. "That's tight, Rin!"

"Oh, sorry!" I apologized as Miku started to sing Melt.

(La, la la la la la la...)

"Remember?" I whispered, "The first song you sang at the club."

"Yeah," he nodded.

"You were so good, you know. You still are."

"I never would've realized that I could sing if it weren't for you, Rin," he smiled. My face flushed. His smile was adorable. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a bobby pin, reaching towards him.

"H-Hey, what're you...," he stepped back but I clipped the pin in his hair, using it to clip his bangs to one side of his face.

"Now you look like me," I giggled, pulling a hair tie out of my pocket after that, "Here, let me make that cute palm tree on your head..."

I slowly reached into his hair and he waited nervously. I took a handful and gently tied it up.

"You never told me," he asked once I stepped back and took a look at him, "Do I look nicer with my hair tied or not?"

"Hmm," I furrowed my brow, "It's cuter when it's tied..."

"Oh," he smiled, "So I should tie it..."

"But it's hotter when it's open," my face flushed a little as I said that.

"So...how do I wear it?" He looked a little sad and confused.

"Any way you want!" I took his hands and beamed, "You're still Len. I'd like you even if you decided to shave your head!"

"Let's not go there..."

I laughed. Miku's song came to an end. We watched as she came backstage. Yuma put his guitar down to one side and walked up.

"Good luck!" Len whispered. The pink haired boy nodded and we watched as he found his place on the stage.

"I'm so excited!" I squealed, "Again!"

Yuma.

The wind pushed through my hair and tousled it. I wasn't wearing my beanie that day, and I could really feel the cool breeze up onstage.

I looked down at the crowds of students and teachers. They all looked back. I offered a smile and a casual wave., adjusting my headset right after.

"Hey, guys," I said, "What's up?"

Lighthearted laughter echoed around me. I spotted Gumi towards the front, peering up at me with a huge smile on her face.

I want to kiss her again...

I took a few steps here and there around the stage, stopping when I was ready. Miku peeked past the curtains and I nodded, signalling that I was ready. I took a sharp breath and started to sing my song.

(Kimi e no ai o tsudzutta poemu o/These poems I've written of my love for you,

(Okuri tsudzukete juugo-nen/I've been sending them for fifteen years straight,

(Henji wa mada konai/And there's still no reply.

(Henji wa mada konai/And there's still no reply.)

Right after that was some instrumental, so I waited that out. The crowd began swaying to the slow, charming music. Then came my part again.

(Ichi-nen-me ga mushara datta/The first year, I was reckless.

(Mainichi mainichi kakasazu kaita/I wrote each and every day without failure.

(Shitsuyou ni kitte o nameta/I licked stamps with insistence,

(Kimi ni todoke boku no kokoro/sending you my heart's spit.

(Ni-nen-me mo mushara datta/The second year, I was still reckless.

(Ie ga moete mo kidzukanu hodo/Setting my house ablaze still wouldn't catch my attention.

(Fuku ga shita kara moeteiki/In fact, my clothes caught fire from below,

(Kidzukeba eri shika nokottenai/and once I noticed, only the collar was left.)

I'll never forget that song, and how I sang such lyrics out to the world. They meant a lot more than most of these people would ever come to know. This song was much more personal than anyone could've guessed.

The audience exploded into roaring cheers and whistles once I was done, and I really didn't think that I deserved it. I guess if they enjoyed it, it was fine. As they clapped, I held my ground and peered down at Gumi, who was also clapping wildly. I smiled at her, wanting to pick her up in my arms and run away with her, but I could never do such a thing. It'd be too cruel to the rest of the world that benefited from such a perfect girl.

Still, I wanted to hug her and hang out with her and talk to her. I exhaled slowly and looked out at the crowd. Then, I heard Gakupo from behind.

"Hey...Yuma's still onstage," I heard him say, "We're done, right?"

The truth was, we weren't done, or at least, I wasn't. So, before anyone could pull me off the stage, I said what I wanted to say to the audience and to the green haired girl down below.

"That was supposed to be the last song," I said to the crowds, "But there's another song in my heart. It's been there for roughly two years, after I heard the girl of my dreams sing a few lines to her friend one day. I was injured, but her singing helped me heal faster, I swear it did."

I looked down at Gumi with a smile, and she looked back up with wide eyes and a hand cupped over her mouth. I had never told her about how I had heard her sing Meltdown in the gym when I had crutches. Now, she knew.

Gumi.

I gawked at Yuma, remembering exactly what he was talking about, except I thought I was the one crushing on him, not the other way around.

Two years earlier

As Gumi dribbled the basketball and sidestepped the opposing team masterfully, she couldn't help but glance over at the lonely looking pink haired boy sitting on the bench on the other side of the gym. He had crutches lying by him, and the girl had heard that he had hurt his leg badly a few days ago.

It must've hurt, she thought as she passed the ball to a teammate. Their gym teacher blew the whistle and the girls stopped playing and started talking and giggling. Gumi kept looking at the boy. She knew his name, Yuma, and she had sent a few classes with him, but she didn't know him that well. Then, why was it that he kept sticking out of the crowds in her eyes? And why did her legs feel like jelly whenever she walked past him?

He was looking somewhere blankly, his bangs concealing his eyes. Suddenly, Gumi felt a hand on her shoulder, bringing her back to the present.

"Gumi, sing!" Her friend had asked. Gumi laughed a little louder than normal. Maybe Yuma would hear her and turn to look at her. Maybe she could say hi and ask about his leg.

She agreed to sing, but only because Yuma was there, and only a few lines, because she didn't want to seem like a showoff. However, when he got up and left, it hurt the green haired girl on the inside. She really wasn't anything to him. It was hopeless.

Present day

"I dreamed of singing that song with her," Yuma continued, "I loved her, and now I know..."

He looked down at me and my heart stopped.

"...That she loves me, too," he smiled, "Gumi, will you sing Meltdown with me?"

"W-Wha...," I could barely croak out an answer. The crowds started to cheer my name, 'Gumi! Gumi! Gumi!' and then 'Gumi, Yuma! Gumi, Yuma!'

Yuma crouched down and offered me his hand. I weaved past the people in front of me and took it, my heart beating in my ears, blotting out the sounds of the cheering audience.

Yuma squeezed my hand and gently pulled me onto the stage. I stood up and held his hand tightly. It was kind of scary. I didn't know how he could sing in front of all these people without being afraid.

"Yuma!" I heard Miku hiss, "We weren't ready for this!"

Yuma pulled me over towards the curtains. "Rin wrote the song," he said, "And you have the music and lyrics. Come on, we've practiced this one so many times."

"Hey, I didn't say we weren't going to do it," Miku grinned, "I just said we weren't ready. Now hurry up and get back to the centre of the stage!"

"Right," Yuma looked at me and pressed a hand against my cheek, "Don't be afraid. I'm here. Pretend it's just you and me. Sing your heart out, Gumi. We're just having fun."

"I can't...I can't believe you listened to me when I sang that day," I whispered, "The only reason why I did was to try and get your attention..."

He smiled and gently kissed my forehead. "You had my attention before that," he said, "But I loved you even more after that. Come on, Gumi. Let's do this."

I nodded. Miku ran out into the stage and handed a headset to me. I put it on and gave Yuma a thumbs up. Piano keys began clinking behind the curtains and Yuma looked down at me. I took a deep breath and smiled.

As the music passed the slow piano and started to speed up, I got caught in the song's beat and started tapping my foot restlessly against the stage. Yuma glanced at me and that was when I think he realized that I wasn't afraid anymore. I was thrilled.

(Machiakari hanayaka/City lights bright and colourful,

(Ether masui no tsumetasa/The chill of ether anesthetics,

(Nemure nai gozen niji/Sleepless at 2:00 AM,

(Subete ga kyuusoku ni kawaru/Everything rapidly changes.)

I learned many things on the day of the Song of Summer festival, and one of them was that I could both run my heart out and sing my heart out. I had never done a lot of singing in the past, just the typical shower singing and whatnot. Sure, I sang at Miku's slumber party two years ago, but it just wasn't the same as singing this one song with Yuma as the entire school cheered us on.

(Boku no inai asa wa/The morning when I am gone, will be

(Ima yori zutto subarashikute/Much more wonderful than how it is now and

(Subete no haguruma ga kamiatta/It will be a world where all the gears are engaged

(Kitto sonna sekai da/It will surely be such a world.)

Cheers and applause. That's all that I could process at the end of the song. They kept clapping and whistling and screaming like crazed fans. They started to dissipate and return to the stalls, as there was about an hour left before the festival wrapped up.

I looked up at the sky. The sun was orange, hiding behind tattered clouds and outlining them with its honey coloured light. Something inside of me clicked and it made me smile. The sun would set soon. Night would fall, and tomorrow, we'd all come to school again, but it'd be the last day.

I felt Yuma take my hand and squeeze it tightly, like he wanted to hang onto me, like I was going to float away or something. I laughed softly, my eyes still set on the scenery.

"Yuma, I'm not going anywhere," I chuckled. His hand silently slipped out mine but it left something in my small palm. I turned and looked to see that he was gone, out of sight, like a ghost, almost.

I opened my palm and saw the folded up piece of note card he had given me.

Come to the other side of the school, near the small garden.

I pocketed the card and walked backstage. Miku and the others were laughing and talking. The teal haired girl patted my back.

"That was really good!" She beamed, "You sounded amazing."

"Well, I really like that song," I said with a small smile, "Have you guys seen Yuma?"

"Uh, he hurried over somewhere, said he needed to do something," Len frowned.

"Okay," I nodded, "I'm going to talk to him. You guys have fun, okay?"

Meiko giggled. "Going to have some 'alone time' with the boy?"

I blushed and sprinted down to the side of the school, knowing exactly which area he was talking about. It was small and nobody really went there. I honestly wondered what Yuma wanted.

I spotted him leaning against a wall, his hands in his pockets and his head tilted towards the sky.

"Gumi," he whispered. The moment I looked into his eyes, I was, for some reason, afraid beyond words, as though some part of me knew what the future was going to be like.

"Yuma."

I walked up to Yuma and he immediately pulled his hands out of his pockets and wrapped them around my waist, silently pulling me closer for a kiss. I obliged, and we kissed in the corner slowly. My eyes were closed and Meltdown was still playing in my head. He licked my lips and I opened my mouth slowly, letting him explore me.

This must be what he wanted, I thought as my face started to grow hot and we kissed harder. I pressed my body against his and he slowly ran his hands along my torso, electrifying me even though my shirt stood between his hands and my skin.

I pulled away only momentarily, breathless, suddenly exhausted, before he kissed me again. They were quick, short kisses that preceded another long, passionate one.

"G-Gumi...," he pulled back finally, his face flushed and twisted in panic and confusion, "There's something I need to tell you. I'm leaving."

TO EVERYONE WHO READ THE UNEDITED VERSION aka the one without Yuma saying "I'm leaving": I'm so, so sorry. Please, please read it again! Just that last line, I mean, because it wasn't there before and it was supposed to be. I'm so sorry, again, because I freaking screwed up such a crucial point...

You guys. We're so close to the end.

Five more chapters.