Umi...

Umi...

Hey Umi!!!

I tried to call out but my voice wouldn't work, I opened my mouth but nothing came out... 

I found myself in a completely all white field of flowers on a path in the middle of it, I saw Umi in the distance walking off taking her sweet time holding her bag to her side and walking head strong. It fit her since she was hard working but seeing her walk off like that made me feel...pain...what's going on...  I tried to move and catch up with her but I couldn't...I couldn't move in general...I tried harder and harder to just take one step closer but I fell instead. 

Umi! W-wait!

I don't know where she's going but she shouldn't be alone.

I tried calling out again but all that came out were little mumbles... but from those mumbles I saw her flinch a little but still didn't turn around, this caught my eye and caused me to try and stand again and call out but I just...couldn't...  she continued to walk as if nothing happened.  I closed my eyes and looked to the ground clenching my fists on the ground and almost cried when I heard her voice for a split second saying

Eli......help...m-

Beep beep beep beep

My alarm clock went off as I slowly sat up and rubbed my eyes....what a strange dream...

Oh... I touched my cheek and felt a tear. My eyes were watering. I wiped the tear away in confusion...wait...what did I dream about?  I had completely forgotten it after two minutes.

     I got up and ready for school, I called out to Arisa that I was leaving and headed out.  I took out my phone and checked it while walking but the first thing that came up was the photo I took yesterday of Umi.  I smiled a bit at how pretty it was and for some reason, put it as my wallpaper... no one would see it anyways since we aren't allowed on our phones at school and breaking the rules wasn't my thing.  Once I got to school I put my phone away and went to my locker changing my shoes and headed to my first class.  When I turned the first corner I spotted Umi walking down the hallway on her own with her bag to her side walking head strong as usual...this feels familiar... wait umi...

"Umi! Wait up!" I called out to her but she kept walking, something in me started to feel...sorrow? 

Wait!

"Umi!!"  I called out again but ran towards her this time and caught up with her I placed my hand on her shoulder and she jumped a little at first but turned and looked at me with a smile. 

Wait I've seen that smile before

That smile wasn't just a regular smile, it was one that kept things inside one that was plastered on.  I would know... I used it all the time before...

I walked with her to class, we don't say much but we asked how each other's mornings were. This was normally as far as we would get in our private conversations. When we arrived at her classroom she said goodbye and entered. As I watched her I unconsciously followed her in and grabbed her arm.

"Are you okay?"  I asked her, I felt her flinch a bit and noticed this but she slowly turned and smiled at me again.

"Yes of course, I'm fine Eli, now you should get to your class you'll be late." She said and went to her seat.

fine...

I paused for a moment and headed to my classroom before class started...today I had a hard time focusing on the test but I think I still did fine.  Once class finished, I headed to the roof with my bento and sat against the fence.  I took a deep breath and sighed.  I opened my bento and began to eat.  The door to the roof opened catching my attention as Nozomi walked through. 

"Elicchi~" she walked over to me sitting next to me. 

"Oh, hey Nozomi..."

"What's wrong Elicchi? You seemed fidgety during the test unlike usual... something on your mind?" I thought about telling her but thought it might sound weird.

"Oh it's nothing, just a little off today"  she pouted and looked at me with her little devilish eyes and in a punishment position with her arms up and hands ready.

"Come on Elicchi, tell me the truth hehehe"  I covered my chest and sighed... I guess I don't have a choice, Nozomi did always have like a sixth sense. 

"Umm.... there's is one thing...do you...do you think Umi has been a little too busy lately?" 

"Hm? I guess so...she does come later to practice and I don't see her eat lunch either...but isn't that just how she is?"

"I guess so... thanks Nozomi"

"No problem~"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once my second set of classes were over I headed to the roof for practice and once again Umi showed up late. so I offered to help her stretch.

"Oh, if you could please." She smiled that same smile she did earlier in the hallway.

We stretched once again like before and practiced the same too as regular.  After practice everyone went home but I saw Umi still practicing so I decided to stay and watch.

"Oh Eli you don't have to stay..."

"It's okay I want to."

I saw her blush at this a little, did I say something embarrassing?  Oh well. 

"Oh here you should put your left in front of your right and turn like this"  I showed this spin move and stepped back so she could do it too.

" so like this?"  She placed her left foot across her other and spun but began to fall off balance

"AH-"

"Umi!" I ran and caught her but fell off balance falling backwards with her in my arms.

"Oh, Eli! Are you okay?!?!"  She turned to face me on top of me, her body between my legs.  Her blue hair falling around her with some behind her ear, her worried look and hazel eyes looking down on me as the sun began to set once again... her body against mine on top of me.  She was warm from dancing and the summer heat but it felt nice.

"he..heheh..ahhahaha!!!" I began to laugh at the situation we were in.

"W-what's so funny???" She seemed puzzled but slowly started to laugh along.  She couldn't hold back her laughter either.

"Ahahahahahahahah!" We both laughed together, she hung her head down so our foreheads were touching as we laughed.  I opened my eyes and saw how close she was.  I felt a shock of what felt like electricity flow through me from where her head was touching mine.  I stopped laughing and froze.  Seeing her smile like that and laugh with actual meaning and the scenery around her... she really was...

"Beautiful..."

"Huh? Heheh what'd you say Eli?"  I didn't realize it but I had said it out loud.  She was still laughing a bit. That smile, I wanted to hold her face with the smile still on it.

"I guess we should get going now huh?"  She had gotten off me, and I guess she didn't realize me reaching for her face because she acted as if nothing happened.  Wait what was I doing? 

I walked with her outside the school and said goodbye as we parted ways.  Later that night I still felt the warmth of her body on me as I laid in bed.  Why was she all I could think about right now?  Umi... I felt myself smiling and turned squeezing my pillow.

"Heheh she's so cute..." I found myself whispering... well I mean she is an idol after all so of course she is. There's nothing weird about that, right?