CHAPTER 25

"Those are not what I wanted, Haruka," despite the diplomacy in his voice, he slammed all the music sheets down his table but the most 'interesting' thing about the said composer was...

How calm she looked. As if she already anticipated this kind of response or if Saotome had to be more pessimistic...

Haruka was trying to pick a fight with him. He realized that her personality had become stronger after she married Masato. She was no longer the naïve girl who was so easy to manipulate.

It made Saotome wondered if his plan to make Haruka fall in love with Masato was a big mistake. Instead, she should marry someone weak like Tokiya. Someone stupid and docile like the blue head.

"This song especially," Saotome lifted one of the sheets which contained Haruka's favorite song out of the list. "The melody reminds me of Crystal Time and Nanairo no Compass. I believe that you remember just how old those songs, right? More than ten years had passed and Tokiya had gone through a drastic change. He no longer suits this kind of melody anymore."

"I know but that's what I got from knowing the singer," Haruka said, still dared to look into the president's eyes. No sweet smile or nervous expression. Just a determined look which attempted to test her employer's patience.

"You're referring him as the singer instead of as your friend so you should know that you're supposed to create a seductive song..."

"But the singer is far from being seductive. Sure, he is The Stripper but it's because you oppressed him. You forced him to be someone who is far from himself. The current Ichinose Tokiya is still the same guy who I knew from the academy so that kind of melody suits his true self. Soft and beautiful."

"I didn't ask your opinion regarding Tokiya, Miss Nanami," he emphasized her surname, indirectly suggesting that she should know her place. "And I don't think I ever ask for that since I hired you so please mind your words. Your job is to do what I say."

"I refuse," she replied, too fast and rude for Saotome who expected her to apologize or at least be flustered by his stern tone.

"You... refuse?" Saotome repeated, chuckles escaped from his lips. "Or should I say you can't come up with more mature songs since you don't have the ability and experience to do that?"

"Excuse me? What are you trying to say, president?"

"You married your first boyfriend. That's why you have so little experience about how an adult relationship works, right? Too bad. Our composer is too pure. She doesn't even know how to use her 'experience' with her husband to write songs for her friend... or should I say, her first love?"

"Wh...what?" Bringing up something as sensitive as her marriage was so offensive and she might consider slapping the shameless old man but...

"Just admit it, Haruka. You didn't just idolize Tokiya. You actually loved him. I think everyone could tell that as much. But, unfortunately, you ended up marrying Masato."

"What do you mean 'unfortunate'? I love Masato and I won't regret marrying him," Haruka had no time to be surprised at her harsh tone when her anger clouded her mind. It was unacceptable when Saotome was clearly insulting her husband.

"Really? When he becomes that useless and only depends on you as the breadwinner? Seriously, if you think composing mature songs for Tokiya is hard, just fantasizes about your husband. They even look similar so it should be easy."

"Stop that!" Haruka yelled. It was the loudest and rudest voice that she had ever blurted out to the used-to-be respected president. "You're not just evil but you're disgusting."

"What did you say?"

The door swung open, revealing Himura and STARISH members except for Masato and Tokiya. Haruka raised her phone before ending the call which immediately told Saotome that the others had listened to his argument with Haruka. While still holding his cell phone, Ren led the others, facing the president with harsh breath. Just like Haruka, they looked pisses off and if only killing a well-known and legendary singer like Shining Saotome could be done quietly and did not grab unnecessary attention, Saotome believed they would do it without hesitation.

"Now, you want to drag Haruka to your dirty plan after abusing Tokiya like your slave," Ren said, followed by scowls from others. "So disgusting."

"Wow, is this how you guys greet your boss? By calling me 'disgusting'? I don't expect the word would come from you, Ren, out of all people... you yourself are not that innocent either," Saotome's attention turned to Himura who no longer had the sense of admiration and obedience over his face every time he was with his boss. "What's with these angry faces anyway? And you, Himura... what are you doing here with them?"

"We want to leave this sickening agency," the manager said. The more he was reminded of how Tokiya suffered because of Saotome, the more he wanted to shout at the top of his lungs.

"What're you on about?"

"We don't want to work with you anymore," Himura repeated.

"No, you can't, Himura. Unlike Tokiya who can be jobless as long as he wants, you cannot survive without this job. This place is your only bread and butter and your family will end up starving if you quit."

"You're not a god so I don't see this place as my only bread and butter. I believe my opportunities are still out there and just so you know, president... When we said 'we', we mean your beloved workers, Tokiya, Masato and Haruka as well," Himura explained. "I think that's enough, president. I don't want to see Tokiya go through hell because of your avarice anymore."

Saotome chuckled.

I guess they already know everything, huh?

"Waaah, this is the first time I encountered such ungrateful bastards. I never thought that STARISH out of my artists would act recklessly like this," he remarked. His smirk truly served as a way to show them that they chose the wrong person to defy. "But come to think of it, yeah, I expect this kind of thing would come from you guys. Your friendship with Tokiya used to be tight-knit anyway... before you guys ditched him."

"And that's why you used our tight-knit friendship to threaten Tokiya? And that's why you treated him like a toy, you son of a bitch!?" Syo yelled. At this point, nobody bothered enough to calm him down since they were all about to explode.

"Because of you, Tokiya has severe mental disorders and loses his will to live. Because of you, Tokiya doesn't even want to defend himself! You should burn yourself in hell," Cecil said.

"Excuse me, Aijima Cecil, Kurusu Syo," he used their full names now which they knew they would get into the hot water. "You better mind your language before..."

"Why? Do you prefer to be called 'scum of the earth' instead?" Otoya remarked suddenly, something that nobody would expect to come from someone bubbly like him. "Did the name ring a bell? I believe Tokiya did call you this before since you're truly the scum of the earth."

"Shut your mouth, Ittoki Otoya!"

"In fact, we didn't come here to insult you, president. Just, please... let Tokiya be free from all the mess you had caused. He doesn't even want to sue anyone of you and even the VIPs who assaulted him so I thought this is the best deal we can do," Natsuki said as soft as possible. He did agree with Tokiya regarding the fact that Saotome was too powerful to defeat so he hoped that his offer to settle this matter peacefully would persuade the president.

"What do you mean 'the best deal' you dumbass!?" Saotome raised his voice, along with a punch against his table. It sent some of them flinched but they quickly recovered since showing that they felt intimidated would not do any good for them. "You're going to take Tokiya away from me and you said that's the best deal? He belongs to Shining Agency so he will stay here. He won't go anywhere. As for you guys, you are free to leave. The door is always open for you so you better get out of here! Get out!"

"You do know that they didn't say 'an eye for an eye' for nothing, right?" Ren said. "Do you seriously think that we're going to let Tokiya stay with you?"

"You know, just with a call, I can drag you all to hell," Saotome remarked. As he eyed each one of them, Tokiya's pleading to spare them from troubles echoed back in his mind. He should ignore the blue head back then or else, he would not face this kind of stupidity right now. "Do you remember, Haruka? Nine years ago, you were almost kidnapped but Masato saved you. I knew he beat them for you but do you really think Masato was the one who saved you?"

"What?" Haruka exclaimed, her heart thumped fast.

"No, Haruka. Masato wasn't the hero in the situation. In fact, it's Tokiya. It's not hard to make Tokiya did as I said. Once I made someone kidnapped you, he'd be a good boy. That's how much he loves you, Haruka."

Her chest felt tight as she learned of another truth. From the way her friends flustered, she knew that Saotome did not lie to her. Most probably they wanted to keep it as a secret because they did not want to complicate the situation.

"Even until now, I still don't understand what he sees in you when he can easily get a girl as stunning as Nakamura Yuna. He even slapped her just because she spoke ill of you when in fact, she wasn't fully wrong. You're too greedy, Haruka. You secretly kissed Tokiya when he fell asleep outdoors. I bet when he had a fever and Otoya asked you to take care of him, you didn't only take care of him. I bet you also kissed him at that moment, right?"

Haruka's face turned pale. Her mouth was sealed because Saotome did not lie. She secretly kissed Tokiya a few times when he was fast asleep in the gazebo or on a bench when she was positive that nobody saw them together. At that time, she loved him so much that she could not help but kiss him when there was a chance. She never thought that the guy also shared the same feeling with her.

Little did she know, Saotome got eyes like a hawk whenever she and Tokiya were around each other. He believed that she would be a threat for what he planned for Tokiya's future so he would do whatever it took before Tokiya and Haruka fell for each other deeper.

"Pulling two hot guys at the same time in your net who happened to be twins... unlike your plain look, you're quite daring, Haruka. Had I known that the reason why you founded STARISH was to flirt with hot guys, I wouldn't allow you to sit for the entrance exam."

"Shut it! How dare you insult Haruka!" Syo interposed while the others had their eyes sized up at Saotome's sarcasm.

"But Tokiya is such a poor guy. After all the things that he sacrificed, his first love married a guy who looked just the same as him while the rest of his friends ditched him when in fact, it's you guys who should reflect on what have you contributed to the group."

"It all happened because of you, president. Please don't forget that," Himura said, soft but God knew how hard it was for him to suppress the need to punch the Shining Agency founder.

"You can talk all you want but my decision is final. Tokiya will stay with me and yes, he will be out from STARISH. Since you guys are going to leave anyway, I will announce that STARISH will disband during the news conference. I'll make sure that only Ichinose Tokiya will remain in this industry and you guys will be forgotten."

That drew a very heavy sigh from them. To imagine that Tokiya would stay in this tyrannical agency was horrifying. Who knows what kind of future would wait for him.

"As Himura-san said, you're not a god so we're not afraid of you, Saotome-san," Ren said, emphasizing the president's surname. "Just so you know, we'll also fight for the band name."

"Haruka, are you okay?" Cecil asked, realizing that the composer lowered her head. Her lips were quivering.

All of them stopped walking, their attentions were all for her.

"Huh?" She turned to look at them. That was when she realized that she placed her hand on the wall for the support. Her legs felt wobbled and her watery eyes broke their hearts.

"Hey, don't cry," Syo who was just next to her hugged her shoulders. "I know what you felt. Even we also..."

"What Saotome-san said just now was a lie, right? I am sorry but I can't help it..."

"Yes, Haruka. He's right. Tokiya really loves you," Ren said, much to the others' shock. They frowned but the guy ignored them. "We thought that we wanted to keep it as a secret from you since it's all in the past and you're married to Masato but that Saotome-san... he sure knows how to worsen our situation."

It was not surprising for everyone how natural the word 'Saotome-san' flowed from their mouths, given how vile he was.

"That... that's okay, guys. I think it's better for me to know," Haruka said. "It told me that I should be firmer when they ordered me to stay away from Tokiya. Had I known it earlier, maybe I could do something to help him. I shouldn't be so naïve."

"No, Haruka. Don't say that," Ren said as he approached her. "Knowing you, you avoided Tokiya because you wanted the best for his career, right? At that time, you thought that he prioritized his career over everything else, right? He always looked that way even for us so your decision was not wrong. But, I have a question for you. After learning of the truth, does your feeling to Masato change?"

"No, it doesn't," Haruka said, gazing straight into Ren's cyan eyes.

"But you still have something to say to Tokiya, right? He's your first love. Of course, he did have a special place in your heart but it doesn't mean you'll leave Masato, right?"

"No, I won't," her pink lips curved in a small smile as her thought brought her to her loving husband. Sure, it was hard for her to fall in love with Masato and it was even harder to move on from her feeling towards Tokiya but it was all her past. All she had to do was thinking that she and Tokiya were not meant for each other. Now, she was Hijirikawa Masato's wife and she loved him more each day even his illness kept threatening their marriage.

"Then, you should meet Tokiya. Let whatever you bottled up off your chest so that nothing will be unsolved between you both and you can continue your life with Masato. As for Tokiya, we should pray for him that somebody will appear in his life soon. He's a good guy so he'll definitely meet a good partner as well."

Haruka looked around. They all smiled at her, indirectly encouraged her.

"Thank you so much, Ren, guys. I hope what happened just now would be our secret. Tokiya and Masato don't need to know about this."

They nodded, curving in a convincing smile.

One more secret to keep.

Tokiya was bored witless from watching television all day when Haruka suddenly slammed the door open, sending him flinched. The orange-haired woman gasped for air as her eyes met his. Her hand clutched her bag before she quickly took a seat next to the bed.

"Haruka?" Tokiya could notice her sweaty forehead. Just where did she come from?

Despite how dizzy her head felt after running towards the ward, it still managed to bring her to their latest encounter. After the first day of their meeting for Tokiya's album, Haruka snapped since she demanded to know the logic behind Tokiya's sudden decision to withdraw from STARISH while Tokiya tried his hardest to pay no heed to her.

"I hate this kind of quietness you know? It's because it shows that you do have something to say but you don't want to tell us. Why do you choose to be like this, Tokiya? Keeping everyone at distance."

After that, she rudely listed down Tokiya's aloofness back when they were still in Saotome Academy, much to her current guilt. The final straw was when Tokiya said, he wondered if Haruka became blunt after she was married to Masato.

"Well, lucky for me that I married him. At least, he encouraged me to be stronger and braver. Had I married you, I don't know. I will turn out as cowardly as you. I'll end up running away from my problems just like you."

Now, she knew how much the sentence hit Tokiya's feeling right away. That was why his expression changed. That was why he ignored her and refused to discuss anything with her.

Now, when all the truths were revealed... When she finally learned that Tokiya protected her because he loved her...

She felt angry with herself. She was now someone else's wife which made her hard to repay his good deed.

"Are you okay, Haruka? Where did you come from? Why do you look so..." More words did not manage to escape from the idol's lips as Haruka fished out a lot of music sheets from her bag.

"These are your songs. I mean it's for your album after thirteen years," she put the papers on his hand. "They're all done. I hope you like them."

"Really?" The blue eyes which she used to adore so much quickly brightened up while his lips formed the most beautiful smile that Haruka bet every woman yearned for. The man had no idea how his response made Haruka felt like she just won an award. She just made a hurt man like him happy and she wanted to witness it more. "Let me see... even I know no matter what kinds of songs they are, they must be superb if they're composed by you."

"I am flattered."

Tokiya took his time to hum each song and all Haruka did while waiting for his feedback was staring at his smile.

When was the last time she saw such a rare but precious smile? She did not and could not remember it.

"I love them," it was normal for Tokiya not to say much but whoever worked with him knew just how spot on and honest his compliment was since Tokiya was a straightforward person. "But, they remind me of..."

"Crystal Time and Nanairo no Compass, right?" she exclaimed excitedly as she pulled one of the sheets from Tokiya. She anticipated this moment and wanted to share the exhilaration with him. "Especially this one, right? You can say this one is their continuation. I suggest to you to give the title 'Beautiful Affection'."

She already expected him to look confused and startled.

"Wow, you already decided the title... That's actually your first time, right?"

"Yes," she admitted, shyly.

Remember what Ren said? Just let everything off my chest and continue my life with Masato, she thought.

"Why?"

"It's because... it conveys the same guy from Crystal Time and Nanairo no Compass. A guy with beautiful affection."

She hoped her words would reach him but instead, Tokiya just stared vacantly at her. He lifted his brow, indirectly asking for more explanation.

"I am sorry. I can't catch that."

"You're a very kind guy, Tokiya. Very," she said, gazing at him back. "Whoever ends up marrying you will be the luckiest person in this world."

What? Where did it come from? Is she seriously talking about me? Tokiya's mind echoed. He was so used to be called with unpleasant names so when somebody gave such a sudden and over-the-top compliment, he doubted his ears right away.

"Thanks, I guess," Tokiya said, awkwardly. He still could not tell what Haruka's motive was but since he was not in a rush unlike his usual routine, he thought he could listen to her as much as she wanted.

"Even though the president rejected all the songs..." She was sure that he was about to exclaim 'what?' but she quickly supplied. "I won't give up. It's okay if it's not with Shining Agency. I can't do much and I am still angry with myself for it but the least I can do for you is to help you change your public image. To let people know the true side of Ichinose Tokiya. And also..."

This one would make Tokiya confused as heck but she could not care less.

She bet Tokiya also would feel the same once she mentioned Harumi in the conversation.

"You said to Masato that Harumi stopped you from being suicidal, right?"

"Huh?"

"Then, if she has such an effect on you, I promise I will take care of Harumi better so that she can make you smile every day. You can count on me, Tokiya. Just so you know, Harumi loves you so much and she is really concerned about your health so please get well soon."

Tokiya frowned. Just like before, he always had ultra patience when it comes to Haruka no matter how puzzled he was.

"Again, thank you but should you say something like that to her father instead?"

Haruka smiled at his question.

"Hi, guys!" The door was swung open, revealing Tomochika who was oblivious of how much Haruka wanted to hug her for her great sense of timing.

"Oh, maybe Tomochika can be your girlfriend. You guys worked together a lot so you might find chemistry... "

"What... what are you saying, Haruka? You shouldn't use that as a joke," Tomochika stammered, heat rising up her face.

"She's still engaged, Haruka. Don't say something reckless like that," Tokiya said with a sigh. He was positive that the composer was just in her naughty mood again but Tomochika's status was not something that she could joke about as she pleased.

Little did he know, Tomochika already had a mind of her own regarding her status.

"Wait, you gave him songs, Haruka? But Himura-san doesn't allow anyone to make Tokiya working."

"Oh, my... I totally forgot about that! Tokiya, I will take them back. Get well soon, okay?"

"Hey, that's unfair! Give me back the songs!"

"Pick up the call, you bitch," Eiichi muttered as he marched towards his bedroom. His hand shivered as it clutched his phone, waiting for a certain lovely voice to reach him. Luckily no one was there when he passed the living room or else, his teammates would know what kind of face he would make when he almost reached his limit. Sharing the same house with his teammates were fun and it was his wish to live together with them but when his relationship with Tomochika was clouded with more crises, when he wanted to scream and break everything that his eyes could serve every time the woman avoided him, he realized that his wish could be bad.

This was not the time for his teammates to know his true color. They surely would find out once he reached his breaking point but not now.

Now, Eiichi wanted Tomochika's attention. Eiichi wanted to hear her voice. And the most important thing was...

He did not want to let any other guy to woo her when there was a chance and those guys also included Tokiya since he was currently in the same project with her. Reaching his bedroom but was too angry to close the door, his other hand now was clutching the edge of his dressing table. His long fingers pressed the same set of number again, praying that this time, some sense knocked on her mind and Tomochika would bother to talk to him again and...

"The number you have dialed is..."

His hand was too fast to move. As his phone hit the wall with a loud thud, Eiji slowly pushed the door. Shocked expression was written over the babyface.

"Nii-san, are you okay? Is it me or did you just fling something?"

Eiichi was getting tired of putting his mask.

"No, I didn't."

"Really? That's strange. I think I did hear something from here..."

"Where did you come from, Eiji?" Eiichi's louder voice cut him short. Eiji was still holding the doorknob, freezing at his brother's desperation to change the topic.

"Oh, I just visited Tokiya in the hospital. Our schedule was so packed and I felt bad for not visiting him sooner," Eiji said. "Tomochika was also there."

Eiichi felt like something just hit his back violently as her name was mentioned. He felt like someone in his head was laughing hysterically at his pathetic state.

She's with that jerk, Eiichi! She's so busy with that jerk that she doesn't have time to spare for you!

"Wh...what? She... she went to..."

"In the hospital, visiting Tokiya. He is her friend after all. Of course, she would visit him, right?"

But who knows she might cheat on you, right? Tokiya is way better-looking than you after all. He's way more talented than you, way gentler than you. No wonder your father likes him so much. I am not surprised if Tomo is also madly in love with him now.

"Yeah, I guess," Eiichi said, suppressing his hand from hitting his own head. "Well, how did she react when she saw you?"

"Hm... Of course, she greeted me as usual and we chatted a lot with Tokiya."

Come to think of it, should nii-san ask about Tokiya's condition instead? Why does he seem like he doesn't care at all when they both are close?

"I see," Eiichi nodded, could not care less when his eyes suddenly darkened with the urge to kill someone and looked like they would bulge.

"Niisan?"

So, you aren't even afraid of the possibility that Eiji will inform me, huh? You and Tokiya really have to pay the price, honey.

On the very next day, Eiichi managed to have his big hands encircled Tokiya's neck, strangling him with all his strength.

It feels like my dream comes true.

"Eichii, stop it... It's too much..."

Does it hurt? Really!? Should I torture you more?

More pressure applied and Tokiya's throaty cough while his hands desperately pushing his body was the best sight that he had ever seen.

Yes, continue to feel such a way, Tokiya. Feel it. This is what I want you to feel! 

As usual, feel free to let me know what do you think about this chapter or story.  See you guys soon. ^^