Thanks for the votes and comments, minnasan! 

Special mentioned to @romanticotaku-san. Thanks for the votes and hope you enjoy reading this story! 

And last but not least, thanks to @user79964179-san for adding this story into your library!

CREDITS TO: UTA NO PRINCE SAMA

CHAPTER 21

"My Little Little Girl.. Hoshikuzu Shall We Dance.. Crystal Time.. Independence... Secret Lover... Believe My Voice... Be The Light... okay, it's all here," Haruka let out a sigh of relief as she looked at each one of the music sheets. She glanced at the clock, eyes widened upon realizing that it was already 11.28 p.m.

Thank God it crossed my mind to rewrite his songs. At least I can spend time with this. Can't wait to see his response, she smiled brightly, anticipating a great response from her boyfriend.

The typical Tokiya would hum and analyze her songs thoroughly before smiling and praising her.

But to wait for his response, he was still showering after coming back from working. It was two days since they both were expelled from Saotome Academy and Haruka used this chance to be a 'good housewife' to Tokiya who left home in early morning and only showed up later than 10.00 p.m. His schedule as Hayato was still packed with drama and variety show, caused the rosette to spend most of her time alone in the big house.

There was nothing much she could do for him from cooking breakfast and talking with him. She also did not dare to go out to take some fresh air because apart from easily getting lost was just a part of her character, she also did not want to cause any suspicion since the building was resided by many famous celebrities.

Yesterday, she was almost caught red-handed by Tokiya's president when the legend singer suddenly came in and checked the house. According to Tokiya, that was part of Seichiro's routine to 'invade' his idol's private life so that they would not do anything that would ruin their public image.

"Composing new songs already?" Tokiya's sudden comment sent his girlfriend shocking.

"Em.. no.. actually.." she blushed as her golden eyes met his eyes. The still wet blue hair made him looked more mesmerizing than usual. "These are the songs that I had composed to my husband during his career. I want to show them to you."

"Really? Sounds good," he quickly took a seat next to her as he grabbed 'My Little Little Girl' music sheet.

Tokiya continued humming as he read each of music sheet while being stared by Haruka nervously.

"Cool. As expected from you, Nanami Haruka, the genius composer," he smiled chummily as his eyes still glued to the sheet. "Otoya told me how successful you are as a composer. Even other groups also tried to steal you from us."

"No, I am not that good, okay? They always know how to exaggerate things when it comes to my songs."

"Then do you mean that I am also exaggerating? I honestly think that you are very talented," for some reasons, his blue eyes stared at certain song. "You know what? Out of all these songs, I think I want to keep this all by myself until I find the right time to sing it," he took out one particular music sheet.

Crystal Time? Why, though?

"Why?" Haruka questioned.

"Beats me.." his face expression already showed that it would be his secret."Ne, Haruka..."

"Yes?"

"Do you prefer Hayato to myself? Or rather, do you wish the Hayato that you always idolizes is not fake?"

Haruka could not help but smiling out of amusement. The late Tokiya also used to ask her the same thing.

"Hm? What's with that reaction?"

"Tokiya-kun, are you perhaps... are you jealous with yourself right now?" her casual remark sent him slightly blushing.

"Please don't put it that way. It sounds weird. Moreover, Hayato is not me after all."

Instead, she was staring at him with a provocative smile.

"Okay, I know what do you want to answer. Just forget that I even ask," he was about to go to the kitchen to find some drinks but was restained by Haruka, holding his hand.

"Of course I prefer you, Tokiya-kun. That's why I am even here, as your girlfriend."

That was all it took to make the blue head relaxed. Slowly, he smiled while his hand caressed her cheek softly.

"You sure know how to make me at ease, right?"

"It's because I already know what do you like, what do you hate.. Do you forget? I can read you like an open book."

"Yeah, you are right.."

"Moreover, Tokiya-kun, I wish from now on, you can stop feeling intimidated about Hayato. You are special in your own way. Don't forget that."

What happened next was Tokiya could not hold back from hugging the girl.

The girl that he never knew that he would fall in love with so much like right now.

"It's so refreshing to hear those words, coming from you after today's work," he gave her a smile but his face was obviously tired.

And it was also obviously tired, not solely because of his work.

"What's wrong? Did your mother pick a fight with you again?" she stared into the blue eyes as she pulled away but he just shook his head slowly.

"Not my mother but Megumi-san is the one who always picks a fight with me."

He stated it casually but it managed to make Haruka's heart sank.

Does he not see her as his mother anymore? Does he already give her up?

"Tokiy-kun, do you not see her as..."

"Just now, I told my president that I want end our contract. I want to quit being Hayato," he quickly interrupted. Obviously, she did not have to question anymore.

"What?" Haruka could not contain her surprise. Two days ago, he was asked to be expelled from the academy and now, he wanted to quit being Hayato? What about his dream?

"Of course he did not allow me to quit that easy but after I did some rebellion and threatened him about his relationship with Megumi-san..."

"What? Did you just say you rebelled and threatened your own president? You, Ichinose Tokiya?" her finger trembled as she pointed towards Tokiya out of disbelief.

"What's wrong?" his face was strangely clueless. It was like he never thought that committing those two verbs were insane until someone pointed them out.

"That should be my line, Tokiya-kun," she rised her voice as she desperately wanted him to come to his senses. "What's wrong? Why do you suddenly want to quit? You were just expelled.."

"Because I want to debut as myself," he answered nonchalantly but it just made Haruka's head spinning.

"But you were just expelled! If you quit being Hayato as well, you have nothing.." her words were cut short by his big hand, suddenly pulling her cheek.

"Just believe me. Yeah, Saotome san already convinced us but I have a good feeling about this," he convinced her. Of course she knows that Tokiya is someone that she can count on. It was something that both her husband and this Tokiya possesses.

But how, though? As far as she knew, Shining Saotome is a man without a mercy.

"Tokiya-kun, what are you doing?" she asked incoherently as Tokiya still pinched her cheek but he just smiled cheekily as he continued playing with her face, generating more weird expression.

"Just want to know about you better," his answer totally did not satisfy her in any way.

"And which part of this has anything to do with 'to know about me better?'" she pouted but it just made him splitting his sides as he coincidentally grabbed and pressed her cheeks, which made her looked like Tweety.

"I just want to know how my girlfriend will look like when I do this.." he pulled her nose forward, which sending him to laugh again.

This guy... is he really trying to know me or he just played around because he doesn't want to talk about that Hayato problem? Honestly, I don't know anymore.

As she just allowed Tokiya to play as he pleased with her face, she was greeted with a flash from a camera.

Wait, a flash?

Haruka gasped out of horror as he was capturing her series of funny faces using his camera. Where and when he got that, nobody knew.

"Tokiya-kun, you are the worst! Stop playing around with my face!"

"But, I just want to save your pictures!"

"But they are embarrassing!" her fair-skinned face turned red.

"It's okay. I will never show them to anyone."

"But still... that's not fair! Let me do it to your face too!"

"My pleasure.."

That ridiculous moment passed before something crossed Haruka's mind.

"Ne, Tokiya-kun..."

"Yes?"

"Since we both kinda have a long vacation and you said that you want to know me better, why don't you follow me to obachan's house? You should see my hometown."

"Eh?" Tokiya automatically turned nervous. He stared into the golden eyes, feeling uncertain about the idea of meeting his girlfriend's grandmother.

Before Tokiya could respond, his cell phone rang, indicating that Otoya was calling him.

"Moshi moshi?"

"Tokiyaaaaa, open the dooor pleaseeee!" the high-pitched voice of the red head made him flinching.

"What door? Just where are you, Otoya?"

"We are right in front of your house."

"Huh?"

"Well, how should we put it.." Cecil gave a sheepish smile while the others looked somewhat happy with something.

"Put it nicely or I will not let you guys stay here tonight," Tokiya could not help but threatening his friends because it took him all to make them telling him what on earth was happening.

All they had done since a few minutes ago was grinning like a clown, including Tomochika.

"We are also expelled like you, Tokiya-kun!" Natsuki finally answered him, delightedly.

"What!?" Haruka's eyes sized up.

"What's so fun about that, though?" Tokiya asked again, feeling confused.

"The same reason as yours, Tokiya," Syo continued, "We just think that it is the time for us to rebel and voice out our opinion to the principal. We want to date properly like other normal couple."

His answer sent Tokiya staring at him for a few seconds before blurting out, "But you don't even have a girlfriend, let alone a potential partner. So, why are you even here?"

Tokiya's insulting comment sent the others laughing as a sign of agreement with the blue head, much to the short boy's chagrin. Come to think of it, Syo was the only one who did not have a potential partner or girlfriend but he was the one who got all excited about rebelling against Saotome's rule. The irony was no jokes.

"Shut up! I will make sure I will have a girlfriend. Soon enough, I will be the first person who gets married among STARISH members," it was cute to see Syo trying so hard to act tough when in fact, it just made him more childish and adorable.

"Hai, hai," they responded in unison, indicating two things. They did not take Syo's words seriously and they also treated him a kiddie.

"Ah, I just remember that you pulled a 'stunt' that nobody would forget for the rest of their life," Syo's sudden and smart remark made the others literally turned their backs on Tokiya but that just made the blue head put on his poker face while Haruka quickly blushed.

"Yeah, Syo is right. Tokiya was so cunning two days ago," Cecil commented with his usual 'loves to pick a fight with Tokiya' face.

"I don't know that Icchi could be way much bolder when it comes to kissing. I don't even kiss Pretty Girl yet," Ren said.

"Of course I could. Regardless how icy and mean I am according to someone," Tokiya glared at Otoya and Cecil, "I am still a MAN."

"What do you mean 'I am still a MAN' Tokiya-kun!? Please don't blurt out a suspicious statement like that! Minnasan, actually, it.. It was not even on my lips. Tokiya-kun just kissed here. Maybe the angle from the CCTV looked like he kissed my lips but the truth is.. it's not," Haruka showed the corner of her lips in order to clear up the misunderstanding but the rest of them just smirked deviously. "I am telling the truth, minnasan! Tokiya-kun, please say something!"

"If I do, do you think they believe us? Just let them be with their pervertish imagination," Tokiya's sarcastic remark made those smirks faded away, replaced with a heavy sigh.

"Okay, he didn't kiss her lips," Cecil admitted out of frustration.

"Come to think of it, it doesn't sound like Tokiya-kun to do something like that in public," Natsuki added, gained himself a nod from Tokiya.

"Glad someone realized it. Thank you, Shinomiya-san."

"But don't you realize that you were quite reckless and dramatic recently, Icchi?" Ren asked.

"Which part?" Tokiya asked, surprisingly oblivious.

"All parts obviously!" Syo exclaimed. "Those couple T-shirt, Tomoya's tragic death and all that. Not to mention you suddenly became an Angry Hayato because of those girls," Syo referred to the incident where Yuna and her friends harassed Hayato in his waiting room.

"What do you mean 'Angry Hayato'? Tokiya-kun, why don't I know about this?" Haruka was confused because apparently, other STARISH members knew it well.

"Nothing, Haruka. They reap what they sow. I just made them faced the music," Tokiya stated, obviously not interested to explain to his girlfriend. There was no sign of 'oh, why did I do that? I am so stupid!' expression on his face.

"Facing the music by strangling a girl right in front of other students? What if they twist the fact that you were the one who attacked them first?" Masato interrogated, sternly. For a second, Tokiya felt like he was scolded by his friends but it did not intimidate him at all. He believed that what he did was right.

"Then they just dig their own grave again," Tokiya added, much to the others' horror.

"So scaryyyyy," Otoya pretended to cry. "All this time, I sleep in the same room with a hooligan."

"Don't be ridiculous, Otoya," Tokiya warned as he could not stand with the excessively dramatic reaction.

"You should calm the hell down, Icchi. You are a singer, not a gangster," this time Ren was serious. Tokiya's recklessness might risk his future career and that was the last thing that he wanted it to happen to Tokiya.

"I know right? Never thought that Tokiya has a violent side. For a second, I thought I was going to deny that you are my roommate and pretend to not know you. Hahahahaa," Otoya's cheerful but back-stabbing comment was the one who got on Tokiya's last nerve the most.

"Given the situation, you guys sure can be a rather promising back-stabber," Tokiya clicked his tongue out of irritation.

"Hey, don't be angry, Tokiya. For the 'love is forbidden' rule, we will always back you," Otoya ensured his roommate, caused Tokiya to roll his eyes. "So, what is our next plan?"Otoya looked around, seeking for any suggestion from his teammates.

"Hm... why don't you guys join Tokiya-kun and me to my hometown? You know, to just give us a breath of fresh air," Haruka who finally cured herself from being so ambarrased about her kiss with Tokiya suddenly interrupted.

"Yeah, that would be great!"

"I am so happy for you, Haruka," Tomochika sincerely remarked as she walked side by side with the composer from the train station to Haruka's obachan's house.

"Thank you, Tomo-chan. I never thought that my dream to be in a relationship with him would come true this soon. It's all thanks to you guys," she averted her gaze towards Tokiya who walked a bit way behind them, surrounded by other STARISH members.

"Nah, don't mention it. As long as you are happy, we all will be happy," something cheeky came across the stylish future idol's head as she met the golden eyes right in front of her. "Hey, why don't we play a mini game by the time we arrive at obachan's house?"

"A mini game? What do you mean?"

"In your head, you must plan to introduce Ichinose-san as your boyfriend, right? Why don't you just keep it as a secret and let your obachan gets suspicious by herself?"

"Eh? Do we really need to do that? I really want obachan to know about it first you know. After all, Tokiya-kun is my first boyfriend."

"Yeah but would it be more fun if your obachan can guess which one is your boyfriend enough from your body gesture?"

And so, she agreed to play along with Tomochika's random plan. She would be quiet about her relationship with Tokiya.

"Haru-chan, welcome back!" as soon as Haruka's grandmother, Yachiyo opened the main door, STARISH quickly behaved themselves. Well, to be specific, her warm presence was enough to stop Cecil and Tokiya from bickering, Masato and Ren from scoffing at each other, Natsuki from hugging the cute Syo and Otoya from being like a child, admiring Haruka's hometown for being so scenic.

"Obachan, I am home!" she hugged Yachiyo, expressing her longing to the woman that took a good care of her since she was small.

"Wow, what nice people you brought along with you, Haru-chan," Yachiyo smiled chummily as she took a good look at the others, sending them grinned proudly except Tokiya.

Not really nice, Nanami-san. I just made your beloved granddaughter expelled from school, Tokiya mentally reflected on himself, making him spaced out and not really paying attention to the others' conversation until...

"Is this guy your boyfriend, Haru-chan?" Yachiyo suddenly pointed towards Tokiya, sending the others gasped in shock.

"Oba-chan, how do you.." Haruka stuttered while Tomochika chuckled as her 'mini game' with Haruka just now failed on the spot.

"Ara, am I right? I observed you guys for quite a while and I must say, the way you look at this young man.. I can tell right away that you really care about him, more than just a friend.. . Plus, what do you expect from your grandma, sweetie?"

"Wowww, so cool," Syo and Otoya exclaimed while the others just smirked.

"Yeah, obachan. Tokiya-kun is my boyfriend," as the composer blushed, Tokiya quickly gained his composure after Yachiyo surprised the heck out of him before he bowed to Yachiyo.

'Nice to meet you, Nanami-san. I am the boyfriend who made your granddaughter expelled from school' was what Tokiya wanted to say.

"I am sorry for asking this but are you guys having a semester break or something? Haru-chan told me that you guys are going to stay here for a week," Yachiyo's question made them restraining from showing a nervous look.

"Yes, kind of. That school has a weird holiday schedule to begin with," Tomochika answered her smoothly, much to others' relief.

"I see. Please come in, make yourself at home."

"These four rooms are for you guys. I already tidied up them," Yachiyo pointed out to all rooms that are available for the boys.

"That's very nice of you, Nanami-san," Masato smiled.

"Nothing. I was so happy to get to know Haru-chan's friends. Please help yourself, okay? If you want anything, just tell me. Haru-chan, Tomo-chan, follow me," the lady poked the girls' arms before leaving STARISH in the middle of the corridor.

There was a pregnant silence until...

"She said those four rooms are for us, right?" Syo ensured. "Which means two people per room, right?"

"Yes," Tokiya answered.

"Guys, I have an idea. Why don't we change our roommate for the time being?"

Cecil's randomness was here... again.

"For what?" Masato asked first.

"Because it will be more fun. Who knows, we might learn something new about our new roommate," Cecil suggested, gaining himself a sudden agreement from Otoya and Natsuki.

"He suggested that because he doesn't want to end up being alone like always," Ren remarked casually, sending Cecil to pout out of frustration. "Since there are seven of us."

"That's mean, Ren! But, yeah.. Ren is right. If we don't draw, Otoya and Tokiya will always be together since they are way too close. Ren will stick with Masato since Masato is the only one who can control him and Syo will be with Natsuki. I don't want to end up like some outcasts," it looked like Cecil was not being afraid of showing his childish side.

"Well, guys, I personally think Cecil's idea is not bad at all. With this, we can know either our bond with our original roommates are too strong to the point of we will still be in the same room despite of the shuffles," Otoya added, being optimistic as usual.

"How about we add another rule? Whatever the result is, we cannot change it. We must accept whoever our roommate is," Cecil still continued with his randomness.

"Then, let's settle it with color draw or something," Natsuki continued, gaining himself sudden nods from others.

Two minutes later....

"I got the purple one..... no, not you again, Otoya," that was Tokiya's off-the-cuff reaction after seeing the color that Otoya drew.

"Yeayyyy, it's you again, Tokiya!" Otoya quickly hugged his uncomfortable friend.

"Hey, let me go!"

"Syo-chan, we will be in the same room again! Let's go, Syo-chan!" with his powerful physical strength despite of adoring cute things including Piyo-chan, lifting Syo with one hand is just a piece of cake.

"Hey, Natsuki! Waaaaa, this is too high! Put me down!!"

Meanwhile, Masato just stared blankly at Ren.

"Why you?"

"How should I know?"

"My question is.. why.. you?" Masato was totally done with Ren. "I thought that we are supposed to shuffle roommates and this is the best chance ever!"

"I don't know. Maybe Kami-sama wants you to nag at me even this is supposed to be a school break or perhaps... He wants Cecil to be the outcast again."

"Ren, you are so mean! Hey, guys! What's the use of drawing if you guys just end up with your original roommates!? Let's draw again!"

"Nah, it's a pain," the only one who bothered enough to answer was the drowsy Tokiya and it was because he could not stand with Cecil's high voice.

After settling down and resting, Haruka, Yachiyo and Tomochika were preparing dinner while having a girls' talk until...

"Ne, Haru-chan.. I noticed that Tokiya-kun was the quietest one since you guys arrived here.. Does he have problem?" Yachiyo asked as she glanced at Tokiya, who sat under a peach tree, chuckling at Ren's prank to Masato which the orange idol received a smack right on his head from the blue one.

Well, to tell you the truth, we all have problems but we cannot bring ourselves to tell you. But it seems like Ichinose-san/Tokiya-kun is the most worried, Tomochika and Haruka mentally answered Yachiyo.

"I think he is just tired, obachan. No need to worry about that.." Haruka ensured her grandmother even at the same time, she started worrying about Tokiya.

The conversation just ended there but nobody could tell what Yachiyo was planning to do.

And the lady luck was on her side when in the next morning, she found Tokiya, sitting alone under a mango tree, seemingly deep in thought.

"Ohaiyo, Tokiya-kun," her greet startled him the most as if Yachiyo, the owner of the house would wake up late like his teammates.

"Ohaiyo, Nanami-san..."

"Just call me obachan. After all, you've became my family too since you are dating Haru-chan," her sincere and friendly remark made him feeling warm.

Something that he never got from his own mother.

"I don't know if I even have time to be your real family."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Nanami.. I mean, obachan.. the truth is..."

That's the end for chapter 21! A bit shorter before we go to the next phase; revealing who is Tokiya's murderer! Based on Tokiya's conversation with Syo in previous chapter, can you guys guess who is the suspect? As usual, let me know what do you think, okay? Matta ne!