Memory of those days

He didn't think she would agree. No matter how close they have gotten recently, he did not think that she would allow it. But looking at her now agreeing with those lovely red stained cheeks. He wanted to destroy it, the innocence in their relationship.

'I want to touch her.' Kiryu cupped her cheeks and felt the girl tremble as she closed her eyes. She truly is so very precious to him, but this is why he has to take this chance. He can no longer hold back when he is in front of her.

He wants to possess her completely.

Kiryu already regretted saying these words. 'I shouldn't; this girl is not mine. Eventually, she will return to that person's side. Her faded mark will become visible again when she meets him.'

'I am only a substitute.' That is something he understood very well. Ever since he noticed the other mark on the day he met her, he understood even though it is unheard of to be imprinted twice, instead of searching for the reason why he concluded the situation on his own.

Kiryu didn't know when he started to fall for Terashima Lila; he was already in love with her before he understood what was happening. The feelings he had for her from the start it was something. He was attracted to that gentle smile and those innocent eyes. Her bright eyes when she asked him, 'Is that the sound of stars?' Not once has he forgotten how innocent she looked that day.

'I can't forgive anybody who hurts her.'

That included the girl's mother. Why did she leave Lila alone? Why did she leave this pure, innocent girl to fend off in this dangerous world alone? That was the age she needed protection the most, and yet Sumire-san left.

His gaze fell on the girl who was now fast asleep beside him. He intertwined a strand of her hair in his hands. He loves her so much he cannot bare to be apart from her.

….

Moonlight Middle School - Star town

'I want to protect Lila from those good-for-nothing adults.' He does not want to rely on their power but on his own strength. That was why he took advantage of the situation a week ago to start an intimate relationship with Lila.

Obviously, he noticed it; he noticed that this was wrong in the corner of his mind. But despite all that, he wanted to hold her, to possess her and make her belong only to him.

Presently he was watching Lila working. They were all helping prepare for the festival stage. Needing someone to test the stage, Kiryu offered. Might as well get the accessory during this roll. Both Wataru and Eijiro have gotten there after all, and also. 'I love watching you perform Kiryu. '

She is getting prettier, though. What's he going to do? Moreover, she uses the word love far too easily. She tells him she loves his singing with those bright and innocent-looking eyes.

"Confess"

Kiryu scratches his hair at how bluntly Shichiro puts it.

"Please, don't you think if it was that easy to confess to her, I would have done so a long time ago? " If confessing to her was that easy, then he would have easily done so a long time ago. Besides, "Do I deserve Lila?" he murmurs.

Does someone like him deserve her? After all, isn't he scum? Lila already has a partner. However, when Kiryu thought of the girl's partner, he could only sigh.

Although he understood the guy's current situation was not good. It is hard for him to believe that a man like that who sleeps around with random women is Lila's partner.

"You're still afraid."

Kiryu laughed weakly at his friend's assessment."It's a problem, isn't it? Even though I understand how important I've become to her and how I'm the one motivating her. Even though I see signs that she likes me, I still end up like this. A coward will always be one. "

She's so close to him, so so very close to him. She is close enough to take his hand, and yet he cannot make the final move. Just being intimate with her without having a proper title is wrong.

He does not want to be in a sexual relationship with her. He wants to date her; he wants to go on dates with her and walk under the sun.

Shichiro shook his head. "There is nothing wrong with being uneasy. I'm sure if I was in your position, I wouldn't be so sure myself because we all know Lila very well. We can tell that the concept of love is more painful to her than anything else. It's something she may desire but at the same time something she is fearful of. It's not your fault. But neither is it hers."

Shichiro always avoids blaming either of them, but he feels so much guilt after touching her.

"Listen up, Kiryu, and listen well. There's nothing wrong with your feelings for Lila. It would be stranger if you didn't fall for her after all that. The word love may be needed to bind you two properly together. However, I believe that your relationship with each other is something more than that. Something far stronger."

He swallowed his words, knowing that it would be mean of him to destroy Shichiro's speech. He has so many things he wants to say. Stuff like, ' it can't be ' and ' it's not possible. ' But by saying it in his head. Kiryu can tell how stupid he sounds. Really, why can't he accept it? Accept the love that is right in front of him?

Every time he gets close to her, he remembers the expression on Karashima Haruka's face. A year after he met Lila, there was an accident, and they both almost died. The one who saved them both than was Karashima Haruka.

Before then, he briefly passed that guy when he was working. So that explains all his doubts and suspicions. He felt that somebody was protecting Lila from the shadows.

When he saw that guy, a part of him understood already. This person truly loves Lila; he would do anything to save her.

When Shichiro leaves, he notes that the black hair girl is no longer in the spot before; instead, she scoots over and casually hugs his arm. A bright smile on her face as though she had achieved something.

If this innocent-looking girl knew that there was somebody else who loved and would do anything from her, how would she react? Kiryu knew that part of the reason why she was so attached to him was because Lila felt that nobody else cares for her the way he does.

If she learns about Karashima Haruka, she will surely leave him.