Same spot, same place, every time. In the middle of the field on the same path just sitting there looking around and admiring the rather pretty view even though I've seen it 3 times now. 

The world was so light and seemed soft.  Light orbs would float around with a variety of different flowers and different colors but seemed all tinted with the light yellowish whiteish color.  Almost like a filter was placed over the world.  I liked this world, it was so peaceful and calming.

The soft gentle wind blew across the field keeping things in motion lightly moving.

I sat there for awhile, not doing anything but just staring off in the distance. I heard a bit of noise to the side of me and turn to see a little bunny hop across the path. My eyes followed it as it crossed, I once again saw Umi only walking but this time is wasn't so straight forward, she was wobbling almost as if she were drunk which of course she wasn't, she was trying her hardest to continue on, she was struggling as if gravity was getting heavier and heavier.

I tried to call out to her but my voice was caught up in my throat like before. Why can't I ever call out to her, why can't I just stand up to go to her. I want to help her, I want to protect her.... I want to hold her. I tried to stand but gravity pulled me down with three times it's Normal weight causing me to be pushed down even more. Why am I having this dream, I don't like it anymore... when I looked back up to call out to Umi again I saw her fall to her knees but stand up again.

"Wait....just..."

"Wait....." I woke up from my dream and thought about it this time. I've been having the same kind of dream for how long? I started to forget how many times since it was becoming more constant. I just couldn't connect them to anything and why was Umi in them all. Why did she always seem to be struggling? I don't understand it right now....

I got up and went to school as usual.  On my way, I thought about the question I thought about last night,

Was I falling for Umi?

There's no way though right? Girls don't really fall in love with other girls and even if I was falling for her there's no way she would end up wanting me, Umi would never ruin her reputation like that.  Especially since she's an idol now too.  I shook my head to push the thought of all of this out and headed to my morning classes. 

Once lunch came around and went up to the roof again.  I'm so tired, classes aren't as hard anymore since I studied so much, I even study ahead of what we were currently learning. I opened my bento and heard the door to the roof open.  I jumped a bit and quickly hid where I did before.  I peaked around the corner and saw Umi again,  but this time she put her back against the fence and looked up.  She then started to sing, as usual her voice was so soothing and in tune.  It was so nice, but this time it sounded...lonely.  It sounded as if she sound left her mouth but with nothing behind it.  It sounded empty, and right before she stopped I could swear I heard it sound as if she was calling out to someone to come save her or something.  It might just be me I'm not sure.

The roof door opened again and Umi stopped singing.  Nozomi walked through the door,

"Oh Nozomi, is there something you needed?"
Umi said as if everything she just sang never happened, like a mask washed over her.

"Oh, no, I was just looking for Elicchi, she normally eats up here but I don't see her..."   Nozomi looked around for me and all most spotted me when she turned and looked in my direction. 

"I didn't see her up here when I got here, maybe she went to the teachers office?"  Umi said.

"Oh okay see ya Umi~" 

"Actually um.... if you see Eli can you....never mind...bye Nozomi"  Why did Umi say my name? Did she want something? She can always ask but I guess she is the type that doesn't really do why she wants, she normally does what helps everyone else. 

Just like you....

I heard someone say that but it didn't come from around me, almost like it was in me...great am I going crazy now?

After Nozomi left, Umi covered her face and looked down almost as if she were going to cry...

I wanted to reach out to her I want to help her to hold her, to tell her it's okay....

"No...don't cry...there's no reason too...but why do I want too? I don't understand..."  she then gathered herself and left the roof. 

Why did she want to cry? I don't really know why but even though I was considered snooping, I felt like I was supposed to know about this.  Like I was meant to know. 

After lunch I couldn't focus in my afternoon classes, I ended up blocking everything out and just thinking of Umi and what could be wrong. 

"Ayase.....Eli!" 

"Huh?"

"Can you come answer this question on the board?"  The teacher called me and I didn't notice at first.  How embarrassing....  I answered the question as if it were nothing anyways since I studied so much.

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

Once practice started, I helped Umi stretch, but I noticed that she started to get bags under her eyes and her skin looked as if it were losing color. Once I got close to her she didn't feel as warm as she normally does she seemed, cold and distant. During practice she tripped a bit and almost fell.

"Oh Umi are you okay?" Honoka asked as she went over to check on her.

"Yes I'm fine." She answered almost annoyed.

"S-sorry, but thank you yes I'm fine." She then snapped out of what ever trance she was in and softened a bit.

"O-okay" honoka asked a bit stunned by how Umi first responded.

After practice I stayed behind and went over to talk to Umi while everyone else left. She was dancing almost with anger like she was stressed. Every time she messed up she would put her hands on her head and say that's not right...

"Hey Umi, you okay? You seem really out of it." For a second there she looked at me with her eyes wide as if she wanted me to ask her that. She clinched her body wanting to say something to me but changed her mind.

"Y-yea I'm fine"

"Okay, well here want to watch me do it first?"

"Huh?" She blushed for a second there.

"The dance, want me to show you how I do it?" I smiled and looked at her as she looked back at me.

"Yes if you would please" she looked down and smiled to herself. It made me happy to see her smile like that, it wasn't as fake as the other smiles she wears.  She sat down in front of me and watched me do the routine, at the end she applauded me and smiled. 

"You're so pretty when you dance, it seems so natural"  she walked up to me and grabbed my hands holding them to our chests.  I blushed and thanked her.  She's so close, I want to hold her....

"Well I guess I should get going, we'll talk tomorrow! See ya" before I knew it I had unconsciously walked through the school and out the front door next to her only thinking of her body against mine. 

"Oh y-yea, see ya"

As I walked away I turned around over my shoulder to give a peek at Umi and she seemed to be wiping her eyes, she must've been sweating from dancing. 

I returned home and got ready for bed preparing myself for another weird dream...