For the rest of my life and beyond

Kiryu pulled his hands away. "Your idea of protection is old-fashioned. This entire time you have done more than enough to protect her. The year she spent with you in light town, she was so happy. She was happy and content. She didn't have a single moment to feel lonely because you were always by her side. Every day, you were with her every day since you became her manager. You seldom left her side, and you always returned to her. For Lila, that was enough; that was all she wanted. You already gave her everything."

He felt so frustrated and angry whenever he watched Haruka because this idiot didn't notice it. How could he not see how deeply Lila fell in love with him?

When he heard from Kanehera Kouta that Haruka was still doing such foolish things after he started dating Lila. Kiryu had to hold himself back from rushing over and hitting him.

"Kiryu- Thank you for everything. I promise I will remeasure her for the rest of my life. No beyond it."

"The wedding." Kiryu trailed off and saw Haruka flinch. "You're not inviting me? I'm hurt."

"Y-you want to go?"

Kiryu exhaled deeply. "Well, it's going to be hard for me to see her."

"Kiryu

"You planned it properly, right?"

"Yeah, an island wedding. I decorated the chapel myself. Kiryu you- do you want to-" Haruka struggled to finish his sentence.

"I'll go; just give me some time. After all of this ends, I won't meet with either of you for a while." Kiryu stopped himself from saying how difficult this was. But Haruka understood anyway.

"Alright."

…..

The moment he returned to the hideout, Kiryu remained completely frozen on the couch in the living room. Before he knew it, he was crying again.

This is more painful than he thought it would.

But even then, he does not regret falling in love with Terashima Lila. His thoughts break off when he hears the sound of approaching footsteps. It belonged to Ayase Kotori.

"How lame, you caught me crying again."

Kotori sighed deeply. "It's okay for guys to cry."

"I really can't fight for her anymore. Lila is very happy. I've never seen her smile like that before and Haruka. Haruka is okay now. He has settled all the issues that haunted him from the past. Now he can treat Lila well without being afraid."

There is no room for him to interfere.

"You know Kiryu-kun, on this matter we are similar. You see, there is a person I have loved since my childhood. I have liked this person for so many years, but he always had another person in his heart." Kotori took a deep breath. "That person was you."

Kiryu blinked when he heard the girl's story.

That means she--

"Don't look at me like that. I'm not saying this to take advantage of the moment. I understand very well. I have for many years. Just like how you have always liked Lila, I have always liked you. Even though you didn't know I existed."

"Damn. This caught me off guard."

He didn't realize there was somebody out there like him with so much devotion. Well, other than Haruka.

"We spoke a few times back when your career was taking off. But, you probably don't remember."

"Sorry, back then, I was adjusting to the industry and focused on Lila."

"Don't apologize. I understand."

She understands, huh? It must have been hard for her to suppress her feelings.

"I was curious about Lila-chan. I knew she was the one you liked. When I was getting bullied on set, she helped me. I thought, ah, I'm no match. The girl he likes is kind, beautiful, and strong. They will look good together."

"The dream stars tournament you--"

"I asked Haruka-san if Lila-chan accepted the invitation."

So it was something like this. Who would have thought? Then again, he has never paid much attention to girls who aren't Lila before. Of course, he wouldn't notice.

When he first met Terashima Lila, the young heiress had a lot going on; her elder siblings constant success made her achievements seem like nothing in comparison.

Although she could do well in all the lessons she took, in contrast to her sister - it was regarded as not being good enough. But in his opinion, Lila outshone her siblings.

'Then again, I was very biassed.' After all, he was already in love with her then.

His thoughts broke off when Kotori placed the medkit on the small tea table. "Give me your hands."

"Uh, right." Kiryu extended his hands out towards her. He clumsily put on bandages earlier, but he didn't treat the wound.

Kotori slowly undid the bandages.

"I can't believe you would be so careless. I understand you were trying to prove your point, but this is too much."

"How can you still talk to me like this?" Kiryu wondered.

If this girl has liked him for so long and likes him how he has liked Lila. He does not understand how she can treat him normally and speak to him.

"Our case differs a little. I've never entertained any thoughts of being together with you. I already knew for the longest time that you had somebody you liked. I was fine just watching you." Kotori trailed off. "But it's not like that with you. You dated Lila-san. It must be harder for you to go from dating her to this."

"I have no right to complain. I was the one who let her go."

"I think you should change your mindset." Kotori sighed. "Kiryu-san, do you truly think you have no right to complain?"

"I do." He mumbled. "I should do."

He has no right to complain; he has said that this entire time. But, Kiryu recalled the fight with Haruka. Wasn't that him basically complaining?

His thoughts broke off when Kotori finished treating his hands and bandaging it. "I think you should use this time wisely, Kiryu-kun, to make more memories with her before you truly let her go."

"Make more memories? But shouldn't I practice distancing myself from her?"

Kotori shook her head. "That is a bad idea, or rather, can't you see that already? Aren't you in even more pain now?"

She does make a point there. It is hard for him to ignore Lila when she is so close to him.

"So Kiryu-kun, please make some more precious memories. I am sure Lila-chan would like that too."

"What about you? Are you okay with that?"

At those words, Kotori's calm composure vanished, and she coughed. "W-well, I've already decided to silently like you. You know I don't expect anything from you."

Kiryu laughed. "You know you keep repeating that, not expecting anything thing."

"That is because I do not want you to get the wrong idea."

"Don't worry. I won't put you on the same level as all those other women."

"When you talk like that, I remember those rumors about you being a playboy."

This is fun; he hasn't talked with somebody carefreely in a long time.