The same

In an alternative space, a woman with blonde coloured hair was finishing drawing some strange symbols on the ground. Her name is Kanehera Yumeko, she is currently in an alternative dimension. The reason she ended up here?

'There was supposedly going to be an announcement regarding the tournament, so I headed to the dome. When I saw the other contestants I didn't think anything weird.' But she did have a weird feeling on the way there.

The events of that day remained clear in her mind, the lights going off in the stadium, somebody screaming, the lights going back on and seeing the dead bodies.

Yumeko felt a wincing pain in her arm. Although the injury should be healed now, occasionally she would feel sharp bursts of pain.

The ground was shaking and in the next second- her thoughts broke off when somebody placed a drink in front of her.

It was a woman with caramel coloured hair.

"Kasumi-san."

"Aizawa Misaki is taking over for a bit." Kasumi stretched her arms. "It is good to take a break, I am exhausted."

"I am sorry." Yumeko apologised. "Because of me your-"

"No it is alright, this is what Lila would want-" Kasumi trailed off. "This is what he would want too."

Now that she thought about it, this is the first time they are having a proper conversation. Yumeko suddenly felt nervous realizing that the girl would be staying long.

This is bad, she doesn't know what to say to her. Moreover the last time they spoke was when Siena-san passed away. Kasumi-san looked very hurt then and said some harsh things to her, but Yumeko did not take it seriously.

It is only normal for Kasumi-san to blame her. After all Yori-san only did that to protect her.

'This is what Lila would want.' Yori-san also said that. For these people Terashima Lila is very precious. It is the same for her too, without the girl she would not have discovered her dream. But, the last time they talked to each other- no to be exact the last time they met.

Lila-chan came to find Mikami and her brother but she happened to be there too. Her friend was crying so much when she explained how Haruka accidentally mistook Shinoazaki Rikka for her and slept with her.

Just thinking about it made her blood boil. But it is not like she does not understand the situation, at least now that the world has turned upside down. To think Haruka was helping spread and create that terrible drug.

A deep sigh passed her lips. 'Even if he did it to protect Lila-chan, how could he possibly have created something so terrible?'

"About Karashima."

At those words she immediately focused on Kasumi and the girl chuckled.

"It seems like you are quite fond of him."

Her cheeks coloured slightly when she heard those words, and she coughed lightly. "We, were friends." Yumeko mumbled.

"I see, I suppose that makes sense. You see I heard he pulled some strings to keep you in the tournament. When I heard that I wondered what kind of relationship you two had. I thought there was something weird-"

Yumeko immediately interjected by frantically shaking her head. "Please do not misunderstand we are not like that!"

"I know, I can tell that guy really likes Lila."

"You can tell?"

"When they first returned to Star town, I came over and lectured them a bit. But just when I was leaving he chased after me and told me. 'I know you doubt me, but I love her. I want to be with her forever.' It was just a simple line that anybody could say but when I heard him say such words for some reason I believed him."

"But you stayed away from Lila-san a lot. She thought you hated her for being with Haruka?"

Kasumi shook her head. "It was not like that at all. When I realized they were serious I was searching for a way to help them. Kiryu and Lila did the hanyou ceremony when they were younger. It won't be easy to break their connection, so I was busy trying to find a way."

So Kasumi-san wasn't distancing herself deliberately.

"Also when you formed a unit with that Emma girl-"

At those words Kasumi's face colour turned pale. "Wait, wait is that why she was upset? Did she think I distanced myself because I was unsatisfied with her relationship and replaced her with Emma?"

Yumeko sweat fell when she saw Kasumi's calm demeanour vanish. It seemed like Kasumi-san had no idea at all. Then again, maybe if she noticed that she could have pitched in and helped them out.

"It seems so."

"Gah how could I have possibly let her misunderstand like that? Lila is very sensitive when it comes to other peoples emotions. Because I didn't explain it she probably overthought it a lot."

"Kasumi-san, your feelings for Lila-chan sure runs deeply."

Kasumi's panicked expression vanished and a tint of red appeared in her cheeks. She averted her gaze awkwardly. "We have been friends for a long time. I truly care a lot for her, not just as a friend but as a rival."

"A rival?"

"Hmmm, I say rival but it's more like someone I respect." kasumi trailed off. "Ever since I met her Lila has always liked to sing, but she never sang for anybody in particular. People like to say that her songs were for Kiryu but that was not the case. She sang because she wanted to get her mother back, but along the way something changed. That entire time I was beside her, I saw her struggle to find a meaning to her dreams. I was always watching her, and maybe that's why I started to respect her."

This person is exactly the same as her. 'I wonder why I did not realize it before.' It always worried her that she was never good enough to be friends with Lila-chan. So after they had that argument regarding Haruka she did not patch things up with Lila for a long time.

Lila-chan misses her friends in Star town. After the tournament ends she will certainly return there, so there is no need for her to make up.

That was wrong of her, she ought to have apologised first. Lila-chan was being stubborn about it, but at the end of the day. When the bullying towards her became severe, the first one to reach out and help her was Lila-chan.

'I always thought that my admiration and respect is what caused a friction in our friendship.' Because she saw Lila-chan as an idol first. But listening to Kasumi-san it is not like that at all. Sure she treated Lila-chan as somebody she aspires to be like, but that did not stop her from getting along with her.

"Anyhow-" Kasumi's cheeks coloured even more. "When I watch her sing, I feel an odd sensation in my chest. Lila's songs are different from her mothers but I can sense her powerful emotions to convey her message to people. Dreams are meant to be fulfilled. After watching her for so long, that is the message that stands out in all her songs."

Right she also felt the same way. There were many people who criticised Lila-chan and said she only sang love songs. But while she indeed sang for those she loved, there was another message in all her songs. A hidden message one would not see unless they carefully watched over and cared for her.

It was the conclusion she reached a long time ago.

*Unedited*