As usual, thanks for the comments and votes, guys!

CREDITS TO: UTA NO PRINCE SAMA

CHAPTER 23

About an hour ago...

After finished having a chit-chat with Natsuki, Syo dragged his feet into his shared room with Natsuki before throwing himself onto the bed.

Something occured to him.

"What's going to happen to us after this? Is the principal really that persistent to expel us permanently? How about STARISH?"

"Syo-chan.." Natsuki came out of nowhere, startled the small boy. "Are you going to sleep?"

"Obviously."

Despite Syo's answer, Natsuki took a seat on Syo's bed, much to the small boy's puzzlement.

"Ne, Syo-chan. I was thinking.. the three girls who attacked Haru-chan last time... they are not the same person who sent pictures of Tokiya-kun and Haru-chan to the teachers, right?"

"Hm? What do you mean?" Syo was this close to ask 'how did you know?'.

"I saw the way Tokiya-kun looked at them when he asked them. It seems like Tokiya-kun somehow could solve the puzzle right? Did he tell you anything?"

"N..no.." Syo tried to remain calm as he tried to keep the white lie. He promised the blue head to keep whatever clues they got so far from the others until they could find the culprit but...

"You are trembling, Syo. It seems like you have found out the truth, huh?" a cold voice that Syo wished he never heard the most right now suddenly echoed in his ears.

He did not even have time to react when suddenly, he was pushed against the mattress by an insanely strong energy. He wanted to scream but a big hand quickly closed his mouth.

Satsuki! His mind screamed in horror as his eyes met a pair of intimidating green eyes. The eyes that always looked at him in delight now turned vice versa.

It looked like he was determined to kill the much smaller boy.

Syo struggled to save himself but his attempt just made Satsuki applied more energy to restrain his move.

"Not so fast, Syo. Not after you will give the game away to Tokiya.." Satsuki smirked deviously as his hand reached a baseball bat which he could reach conveniently, much to Syo's alarm. "Logically speaking, you will tell everyone because that's just your nature for not being a scaredy-cat but I will never let it happen. I will kill Tokiya but first of all, you.."

His hand suddenly strangled Syo, much to his roommate's pain. Syo could feel his chest tighten as his breath became shorter.

No, I don't want to die! Not in my own best friend's hand... What will Natsuki feel if...

"Shinomiya-san, what are you doing?" a soft but trembling voice managed to rescue Syo as Satsuki immediately loosened his stranglehold.

Both Syo and Satsuki looked at the door. Tokiya and Haruka were staring at them in disbelief.

"Ah-ha, the bastard and Haru-chan are right here. Finally we can solve this mano-a-mano, Tokiya."

"What? What do you mean, Shinomiya..." his blue orbs widened as he finally got the picture. "No, you are not Shinomiya-san. You are..."

Tokiya's heart beat fast as he met the maniac-looking eyes. It was polar opposite with the bubbly and warm look that Natsuki always gave him.

"I can't stand to see Natsuki doing whatever he wants. That pretentious jerk..." Satsuki obviously disgusted with his other self. Compared to the last time since Tokiya met Satsuki, this guy looked much more maniacal. Tokiya would not be surprised if Satsuki was determined to kill everyone tonight. "Since you are here when I am trying to kill this idiot, I might as well, after this, starting from here..." Satsuki pointed the baseball bat in his hand to Tokiya's ankle, up to his body. "Uuuppp until here..." the object was now on Tokiya's temple. "I will beat hell out of you, just like how I killed the future you and how I made Haruka mourned for your pathetic death."

Haruka and Tokiya gasped in shock upon learning the devastating truth.

Haruka felt her head spinning as her memory immediately served the scene of Tokiya, hit by the lunatic who had destroyed her life. After all this time, she assumed the bastard had some kind of mental disorder because the way he killed Tokiya was way too callous.

She was right about the mental disorder part but...

It never crossed her mind that the guy who she despised so much for killing her husband is Natsuki or to be exact, Satsuki himself. All this time, the criminal was always there with her.

"This is a lame joke, Satsuki. Way too lame," Tokiya was in disbelief. He really hoped that Satsuki was lying even though the fact that this guy popped out itself was not a joke. Satsuki would appear when Natsuki suffered inside so could it mean...

"Tokiya, Nanami, what gives?" Otoya's anxious voice broke the tense atmosphere. Behind the red head, the other STARISH members were also there and just like Tokiya, they gasped in shock to see the state of affairs.

"What... what happened?" to see that Syo was catching his breath while he was still being held by Satsuki and crying Haruka, Otoya could only let out a question.

"Please let him go, Satsuki.. I beg you.. Please don't hurt him," Tokiya's plead only gained himself a strong glare from Satsuki but he did not care. If something happened to Syo, it would be the end of the world for him.

"Or else?" Satsuki strongly swayed the bat before hitting Syo, right on his stomach. It was enough for Syo to scream in pain while the the others almost lost his breath.

"Let him go, Satsuki!" Ren yelled as his anger got the better of him.

"Don't worry... I will never kill this brat because my target.." his smile turned creepy as he stared at Tokiya intently. "Is always this bastard. I always.. I always want to kill him..."

"What happened to Natsuki-kun? Why did he change suddenly like that?" Yachiyo asked Tomochika softly. Natsuki that she knew is a gentle boy who enjoys learning new recipes with her.

Not this kind of guy.

"Obachan, to tell you the truth.. Natsuki has a split personality disorder and this is his other self."

"Are you talking about me, you bitch?" he suddenly pointed the baseball bat towards Tomochika's face. "Still enjoying yourself being his girlfriend? You know what? Everytime Natsuki says that he loves you, I really want to hit you, you bitch! You ruined everything! Natsuki doesn't love you! He loves this annoying chick. That's why I killed Tokiya in the first place!"

All eyes widened in shock. They immediately knew where this confrontation would go.

"Satsuki.. you.." Otoya pointed his shaking index finger to the big guy. He was struggling with sorrow and anger. His red eyes broke into tears as he just learned that his bestfriend was killed by his other friend.

How were they supposed to accept this painful truth?

"Yes, I am the one who killed Tokiya that night. I am the one who smashed him so that this chick...!" his voice got louder as he spit each word while staring at Haruka like a demon. "This retarded chick would feel how does it feel when you lose your object of affection, crush or whatever you call it! I killed her beloved husband because Natsuki still loves this chick so, no one can have this chick if Natsuki can't get her!"

"Satsuki, you asshole!" Cecil shouted furiously. He did not even care about the possibility to be attacked by Satsuki anymore.

"Even Shinomi does love this girl, it doesn't make you right to become a killer, you madman!" Ren also lost his calmness and controlled himself from punching Satsuki.

"But killing Tokiya is the only way for Natsuki to stop suffering and that's what my existence for. I would not let Natsuki suffering while these love birds could all be lovey – dovey, did not care about how other guys's broken hearts. What's so special about a guy who has a short life span anyway, you chick!? He is meant to die for a start so all you have to do is moving on from him and choose Natsuki! Is that hard to do!? Natsuki loves you so much but you just acted ignorant and still chose this idot!"

"Shut your frigging mouth up, you murderer!" it was Masato's turn to lose his temper.

"Call me murderer, madman or whatever you want but..." he smirked as he looked at each soul in the room. "You guys should thank me sometimes."

"What?" Syo could not help from asking.

Satsuki continued smirking before glowering at Syo. "You, midget.. Stop acting tough already when in fact, the night after their wedding, you drank too much out of frustration and Natsuki was the one who cleaned after you. Just admit that the reason you are still single until now is because you still love that chick."

"What?" Syo's ashen face already suggested the truth behind Satsuki's word. When Syo did not have time to react and defend himself, Satsuki already drew his attention to Ren and Masato.

"These two morons..." Satsuki chuckled "To be honest, when I am a murderer, I still pity your partners. It's hard to move on and simply accept a random girl into your life when you were totally besotted your friend's girl, right? What are their names again? Maaya and Shizuka, right? Luckily, that Agnapolis guy brought you all to the past so that you guys could start over and finally could reciprocate their feelings. Or else, you would be trapped in your own frustration."

"You, the sunshine or any shits they call you.." he pointed to Otoya. "I bet you would be in tougher situation, considering for the start, you were the one who were always there beside that bitch. You need her attention but all she did was choosing your roommate, your bloody bestfriend! Hahahahahha. I know from the start that a sunshine like you would be that pathetic because a nice guy like you always got dumped at the end over his much cooler bestfriend even his personality is not even nicer than you. Thank goodness now, you finally have your own girl. "

His next target is Cecil. "You sure are persistent and love your friends so much, right? You went all out, using your absurd magic to bring all of them into the past.. that's very nice of you but you know what? I hate you, son of a bitch! You ruined my plan! You ruined everything!"

"And Natsuki..." a bitter smile crept over his face and nobody could tell either it was a sympathy or an insult to the mentioned guy. "At last, he picked this chick's best friend.. Tomochika, right? I tell you what. As someone who lives in his body, I don't believe when Natsuki said he truly loves the girl. In fact, I think he just made her as a filler so that you know.. Natsuki could get a bit aura of his beloved Haruka from the chick. He was all genki in front of you, being annoying as always when in fact, he suffered a great pain for unrequited love. I can't stand to see him all broken again so I thought this time around, I will reappear and try to kill this moron again. I will never allow Nanami Haruka reunite with her beloved husband."

Tomochika clutched her chest as she heard the word 'filler'.

She is a filler for Haruka? Her own best friend?

Why wouldn't she never think about that? Satsuki's assumption was possible, though. The fact that Natsuki fell in love with her was way too easy and fast, not to mention, according to some people..

It was random and baseless. She and Natsuki were so used to be labelled as unmatched and instant couple by their schoolmates but the future idol ignored them but now..

She suddenly felt that their claim is reasonable once she heard the word 'filler'.

She could not stand this!

Tomochika stormed away, bringing along her broken heart.

"Tomo-chan!" Haruka and Yachiyo called out her name in unison but Tomochika was too devastated to need anyone beside her. She needed to be alone.

"That chick finally learn a truth, huh? Poor her.." Satsuki mocked.

"You don't have to be that harsh, you know!? Shibuya is sincere about her relationship with Shinomiya. Just knocked it off already!" Masato yelled.

"But not Natsuki. Natsuki doesn't love her so all I did was knocking some sense into her so that she will leave Natsuki. Now, my mission to get rid of the bitch is done and that leaves.." He suddenly raised the baseball bat as his green eyes looked daggers at Tokiya. "You, bastard.."

"Don't you ever, Satsuki.." Ren warned as Satsuki still looked at Tokiya while slowly approaching the blue head.

"Touch him or you will die, Satsuki.." Masato remarked.

"Please don't, Satsuki-san.. I beg you.." Haruka pleaded but to no avail. To see how much they love Tokiya somehow brought an entertainment for the madman to mess Tokiya up.

Unlike the others who were neurotic, Tokiya instead was ready to beat Satsuki.

"So, you are here to kill me again?" Tokiya's ludicrously calm voice drew their attention. "The one who sent our pictures to the teacher, the hit-and-run when Shinomiya-san was supposed to take Shibuya-san out for a date is you, right?"

Everybody gasped at the assumption.

"Yes, I am."

"And it's all for the sake of destroying me?"

"Obviously."

"Even Shinomiya-san absolutely did not approve it?" Tokiya chuckled, suggesting that he took the mickey out of Satsuki.

"Of course he didn't approve it, you bastard! He is just like this dude.." Satsuki pointed towards Otoya. "Too selfless! They both prioritize the others even at the end, they did not get anything at all! Just tell me! What did he get from helping you to confess to this chick!? What did he get from being your friend!? Nothing because as long as you are there, this chick will never look at Natsuki and that's why, I killed you, Tokiya! Without you, everything would be fine!"

"Then, your big speech about being a hero to Shinomiya-san is all nonsense."

"What?"

"Just so you know, I know all of us loved the same girl. I could feel all of them were so caring about Haruka and you know what? If I were to die again in your hand, I still can rest in peace because I know, every single one of them will take care of Haruka well including Shinomiya-san and that's what makes these guys a hero while you? You are just a bloody murderer who have a mental problem, temper issue and you know what is the worst thing? If Shinomiya-san learned about your barbaric wrongdoing, I think he will suffer much worse than you can imagine."

Tokiya's words hit Satsuki like a school bus. The thought of Natsuki would suffer more already tortured his mind.

"Tokiya's right," Syo added, finally able to breathe properly. "You think that just because you are the split personality of Natsuki, you are the one who understands him the most when in fact, Natsuki is way more kind-hearted than you. Yes, I can't deny that Natsuki was just as heart-broken as me when Nanami decided to marry Tokiya but he still prayed for their happiness. Natsuki is not as weak as you think!"

"You don't even know what Natsuki truly needs and you call yourself as Natsuki's guardian or something? Shame on you," Cecil mocked,unable to control his anger.

"If Shinomiya learned about something despicable like this and he atones for the sin that he never commit, you are the one who should be blamed at. Not Nanami for choosing Ichinose in the first place," Masato threw a merciless comment.

While Satsuki remained speechless on his spot, Haruka slowly stepped forward, approaching him.

"Haruka,where are you going?" Tokiya grabbed her hand but she loosened his grip.

It was still silent until...

She smiled way too chummy to Satsuki, the one who she resent all this time for killing her husband.

"Thank you, Satsuki-san."

"What?" the simple but sincere remark provoked the violent guy but Haruka did not feel intimidated. Instead, she continued meeting his green eyes. "Are you insulting me, you bitch?"

"You can think whatever you want but still.. thank you for making me realized something that I should from the beginning. That was stupid of me because the one who actually killed my husband is me."

"Nanami, what nonsense are you talking about?" Syo withheld himself from scolding her.

"You guys confessed your love to me but I chose Tokiya-kun without hesitation. I really love him so all I thought about was I would never let him go. I never thought that it would cause that much pain to the rest of you guys. I thought that you guys would finally move on.."

"Nanami, this is not your fault. Logically speaking, that was bound to happen. It is impossible for you to choose all of us," Masato tried to calm her down since to see her put the blame on herself was the last thing that he wanted to see.

"That's true, Lady. How deep our feelings to you back then is solely our problem. It doesn't have anything to do with you. We sincerely want you to be happy with Icchi.." Ren was also slightly panicky because really... it really broke his heart to see Haruka blaming herself.

"After all, some of us had already moving on, Nanami. This whole returning to the past had changed us. We finally found our true loves that we never realized before," Otoya agreed.

"But still!" the composer shouted in despair. "All of this happened because of me and you guys know how nice Shinomiya-san is, right? He prioritizes our happiness over his own but if Satsuki-san suddenly showed up like this, does it mean Shinomiya-san is really hurt inside? I was so ignorant about what you guys felt until.. my husband is dead and... Shinomiya san became like this.."

She suddenly stood up and bowed. "I am sorry, minnasan. Please forgive me.."

"Haruka, please don't say that.." Cecil tried to comfort her but the rosette softly refused.

"I am truly sorry... it was all because of me.."

The sight of her sought for their apology melted the icy and evil heart of Satsuki. His heart sank. He was well-informed that this Nanami Haruka is always soft-hearted and fragile but he never thought that..

She was so fragile to the point of blaming herself for this commotion.

His mind suddenly looked back when he killed Tokiya. He did not want to end anyone's life to begin with. His true intention was he wanted to kidnap Haruka and make her as Natsuki's but he was provoked by Tokiya's persistence to protect her. His grudge against Tokiya which had lasted such a long time got the best of him at that night.

His whole body froze as she approached him with a sad smile.

"You know what? I used to swear to myself, if I had ever met the one who killed my husband, the one who beat him when he tried so hard to protect me, I would kill him. I would make him know how does it feel when he ruined my life, my Tokiya..." her body was shaking terribly as she recalled how Tokiya suffered until his last breath. "I.. I really want to ask that bastard... what did he feel when he crashed our car when Tokiya-kun was supposed to surprise me on my birthday? While I was supposed to tell him about our child... his child that he waited for so long.... that he almost gave up because of his constitution... he could not make it... Tokiya-kun never knew it... My husband never learned about it but I guess.. when I heard the confession from the murderer himself, it did make sense..."

"Haruka, please pull yourself together," Tokiya could not watch this situation any longer but as persistent as Haruka could be, she completely ignored him.

"When Tokiya-kun insisted to protect me, I just could not imagine how painful it was for him to protect me... Until now, it made me so devastated because his life ended that way. He still had more dreams that he wanted to strive. Apparently, that was the price he had to pay for being the man that I love. Had I ever expected about this earlier, I would rather be alone for the sake of him.. for the sake of everyone..."

The whole room turned to a depressing and gloomy space. All of them froze, being traumatic as they recalled the dead body of Tokiya. It was full of bruises and gashes while his body was not in a perfect shape as most of the parts were severely broken.

While Tokiya.... He could not help but falling in love with her more than he should. Seeing how tough for her to surpress her sadness was so heart-rending to watch.

"So, thank you, Satsuki-san. You just made me realized that all this time, I just made Shinomiya-san as a murderer to his friend! Thank you and I am really sorry, Satsuki-san," she stormed out from the room, much to the others' shock.

Her confession just made the other souls discontented. They did not really know what they should say except Tokiya who kept his eyes on Satsuki since God knows how long.

"You love her, Satsuki."

"What?" Satsuki's eyes widened in horror. Compared to the moment when everybody knew the truth about his murder, the violent guy looked more terrified as he was seen through by no other than Tokiya.

"It broke your heart to see her begging for your apology when the real culprit is you. You did not want to hurt her in the first place. You just want to see her happy with Shinomiya-san but at the same time, you did not realize that your violent act was the result of your feeling to her."

Satsuki was dumbstruck as each word stabbed him.

"You really care about Shinomiya-san, right? I bet in your head right now, you dont' want Shinomiya-san to know about this. How about we make a deal? We will never tell him about YOU being the culprit while you promise us that you will never appear again," Tokiya tried to negotiate with Satsuki as he was positive that the problematic guy would never hurt anybody anymore.

"What nonsense..."

"It's all for Shinomiya-san," the blue head said nonchalantly but his calmness triggered the big guy more. "Just be grateful that we give this chance to you.You did not only ruin Tokiya but also Shinomiya-san and Haruka, those people that you care the most.. please always remember that," Tokiya's expression turned cold as he signaled the others to leave the room, letting Satsuki to consider the deal.

"Tokiya/Ichinose/Icchi?" all eyes with different colors looked at the said person, asking for an explaination.

"That's enough. I think Satsuki already changed. He was not in his right mind. Don't you think so, Syo?" his blue eyes met Syo.

"Eh? Yes, yes.."

"Are you okay, Syo?" Otoya asked out of concern as he scanned Syo's red neck.

"Yeah, I am okay."

"I think you guys should sleep already. Obachan, I am sorry for the incovenience. We never thought that the culprit would reveal himself here."

"It's okay, Tokiya-kun," Yachiyo smiled.

"But, Tokiya, where are you heading?" Otoya asked as Tokiya left them.

"Looking for Haruka," the blue head quickly disappeared from their sights.

"I never thought that you guys came from the past. When Tokiya-kun told me about this, I was so surprised."

It took a while for them to absorb the truth that Yachiyo already knew where did they come from.

"Ehhh??"

Tokiya was totally busy tonight even he was supposed to be the 'victim' that they all used to mourn for. He dealt with Satsuki like a final boss in a horror game and now...

He needed to comfort his girlfriend, the one who suffered the most all this time.

"I am sorry, Tokiya-kun.." he stopped himself from approaching her. "Because of me.. it all happened because of me. Our child.." she stroked her flat stomach in regret, which tore his heart more. "Our child is also dead because of me. I am sorry."

"Our child is not dead because of you."

Haruka startled before meeting her golden orbs with Tokiya's affectionate smile.

"No matter what happen, I will always protect you because I love you, Haruka."

It felt like she was seeing the late Tokiya, smiling lovingly at her.

"But.."

Tokiya stroked her hair lovingly as he took a seat on a bench, next to Haruka. "I think that is what the future me will say to you. On behalf of the late Tokiya, I beg you, please don't feel so painful about something that was out of your power because I believe, the moment he protected you and let himself got killed instead, he just wanted you to keep alive. He wanted you to keep hammering away at your dream, composing a good music for the world. You mean everything to him so he did not want to lose you. Again, I tell you, you don't need to bear the pain anymore because.. it hurts me to see you suffer like this, Haruka."

Her tears strolled down her cheeks.

"But, he sacrificed his life for me."

"And that's what a husband means to his wife. To be her shield. To prioritize her life over everything."

Tokiya's calm words sent the rosette dumbstruck.

"It's easy for you to say that when I used to suffer from a great loss of you."

"But the reason why you and others returned to your past is to erase all the bitter memory, the great loss and instead, you want to create more beautiful memories with me, right?"

Haruka was speechless.

"You came here, to see the younger version of me because you want to change your past and changing your past means you will forget all that happened before including the fact that I was dead from being killed, right?"

She nodded slowly, unable to meet his eyes when she felt the urge to cry again.

It has been a long time since she got melancholic like this because so far, Tokiya and her had created many nice memories together.

"So, please, forget about all those bitter memories. I am not going to be dead because of a car accident nor being murdered viciously by our friend, okay? So dear Haruka's rock head, please be nice to her and makes her forget totally about her pain. I want her to lead a happy life."

"If that's what you asked me, I will forget about it, Tokiya-kun," she suddenly jumped into his hug, sending both of them lying on the ground before they heard a soft gasp from somewhere.

"Who is.." both blue eyes and golden eyes widened in embarrassement as Yachiyo froze on her spot.

"Obachan?" Haruka quickly stood away from Tokiya.

"I am sorry, Haru-chan. I just want to see either you are still crying or not. But.." obviously, Yachiyo was surprised to see the jumping scene but she decided to not make it a big deal. "It's okay. You can continue. Excuse me."

"Continue with what? Obachan, that's not what you think!" Haruka screamed in desperation but Yachiyo just ignored her. Instead, she walked away too fast, not matching her old age.

"I told you to be careful when the others are still around," Tokiya's stern voice contrasted his red face.

"Sorryyyy," she just smiled sheepishly.

It seemed like she would give Yachiyo a long explanation about this.

That's all for chapter 23! I am sorry if this chapter lacks something that.. I don't know.. Satsuki is the one who killed Tokiya which led to this return-to-the-past-thingy so the final encounter with him should give more impact like how you saw in other stories when they found out who is the main culprit but I guess, my mind is too tired from working to the point of I could not brainstorm more interesting idea for this chapter. Nevertheless, please let me know what do you think about this chapter, okay? Ja, matta nee!