After Aoi told the five of them about all the things she hid, all the problems she endured, and also the things about herself that were continually suspended from school, the five of them could feel a big shock from the sudden news. Who would have thought that a girl like her had to face such a big challenge? But again, maybe her life was fated in such a way and it's not like they can do anything about it.

Mitsuki runs his fingers through his orange hair before his eyes were cast on the girl. He stared at her sad face. 'Sigh... she's really something else' he thought while drawing out a thin smile. "All right!", he announced while clapping once. "Let's go home, shall we?"

"Great idea," agreed Yamato who began to stand up and stretch his body after a long time he settled down on the brick floor of the playground. "My body hurts so much from sitting on this. I'm an old man, you know? Not like all of you, young people."

"Yamato-san, you aren't that old" Sogo giggled awkwardly. "But the idea sounds good. We can spend our time at home. Moreover the longer we are outside, I'm afraid people might be able to recognize our faces."

As soon as he told them that, they all looked around them and he is right. The people near them were murmuring to each other as their eyes peeked at them. Tenn moved toward Aoi and settles his hand on the girl's shoulder. "Do you want to follow them or do you want to go home with me and meet Gaku? Though, we will actually have training after this," he mumbled the last part in a slow voice before glancing at the clock on his wrist.

Aoi looked at Tenn before she throws a glance at the five of them. "I guess I will follow them, just to make sure that they will zip their mouth tight. Tell Gaku that I will come straight to the store after school hours."

"Well if that's your choice... just here's my advice to you. Don't keep any more secrets from me or them." He tilted his head towards his idol friends or to be precise, his rivals. "I can tell this to Ryu too, right?"

Aoi unhurriedly bobbed her head and smiled. "Yes, you can."

"Good! All right, I have to go now. See you later," he said before pulling Aoi in a tight hug.

His startling action made Aoi look up, looking at the man with a surprised look. "W-Why?"

The pink hair smirked. "Well, they got a chance to do it, so I want it too."

"E-Ehh?!"

"Don't think that I don't see it. Then, goodbye" He let go of Aoi and walked towards the taxi that had just stopped at the edge of the park. His hand tugged the hat he was wearing down, adjusting it so that he didn't appear to stand out in public. And then, he entered the taxi and it drives away.

Aoi let out a heavy sigh before she gives her attention to her other friends. "Now, there are only six of us left."

Riku grinned as he gets the girl and stood next to her. "Don't worry! We will have fun," he said cheerfully.

Seeing the cheerfulness shown by the older boy, Aoi couldn't suppress herself from carving a smile. It seems like the fun is reflecting at her and it feels very different but from another viewpoint, it is quite nice. She bounced her head excitedly as she grabs Riku's hand, making the boy goes flustered at the easy gesture.

× × ×

"So, how was your day?", Gaku asked as soon as his hand reached for the cup and drinks water from it. He used the white towel around his neck to wipe his sweat-off. "You followed the five of them home, didn't you? What are you all doing today?"

Aoi placing down a chocolate tray, putting all the dirty dishes into the sink. Opening the water tap, she glanced at the gray hair. "Hmm... kinda great, I guess. They are quite interesting for me to learn about them especially with Yamato-san. Since our first meeting, I have told you right about me being afraid of him?" Gaku nodded. "However, after what happened today, he wasn't as scary as I visualized he would be. He's a nice brother!", She said while washing the dishes.

"Brother?"

"Yup! Yamato-san said I can assume him as my brother now," Aoi replied with her eyes still concentrated on her work.

Gaku crossed his arms close to his chest. His face slightly altered. Even though his lips were smiling but his eyes say the opposite, one of his eyebrows twitch in annoyance. 'Heh~ so he wants to start a war with me? He used to not allow me to be very friendly with Tsumugi and now with her little sister? Declaring himself as a brother to Aoi..'

"How brave..."

Aoi lifted her face and looked at Gaku, her eyebrows furrowed. "Did you say something?" she asked as she wiped her wet hands with a dry towel.

Gaku quickly waved his hand-off and chuckled sweetly, pretending to be innocent. "Nothing! Oh, yes. You didn't tell me yet what you all did today," he said changing the topic. He didn't want the girl to feel suspicious of him especially when his mind had already started planning something to retaliate against his good friend, Yamato. Maybe not today but sometime in the future, he will. Though that's what he will sarcastically call him but truth is, he is none other than his rivals.

And so, Aoi tells him about all the things they did from the moment they played hide and seek in the house until the end, they were all feeling tired and they just watched a movie where Yamato acted as one of the casts in the drama. Even so, she kept some parts of the stories as a secret from the man. For example, the time when they all played a charade game and she had to act as Gaku? It was the funniest moment of her life. She never thought that she would try to disguise herself as Gaku but she had to admit that she thinks that she was quite talented in imitating his style.

Thinking back to that funny moment, Aoi let out a small laugh. "What are you laughing at?" Gaku wondered, puzzled by the sudden laugh but Aoi just shakes her head-off, not answering his questions.

Gaku chuckles over her response. "Well, it does sounds like you're having fun today. That's good to hear," he said and gently strokes her black hair. "What about your secret? Are they bringing it back?"

"Nope. I think they can keep it nice and tight."

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