Chapter 39

"How long do I have to wait?" Ren asked, his leg shaking as he sat on the couch in the living room, staring at his phone on the coffee table.

"It's only been a few days, Ren; calm down." Shun nudged Ren's foot, hoping he'd stop shaking his leg, and set a cup of tea down in front of him.

"How do I calm down? What if she doesn't come back? She's totally not answering right now. I don't even know if she's reading texts."

"Please tell me you didn't text her."

Ren averted his gaze, picking up the tea with a shaking hand.

Shun sighed, rolling his eyes. "So you did... Please tell me you didn't send a mass of texts."

"Of course not; I'm not stupid." Ren held his hand up. "Don't comment on that."

"She'll contact you when she's ready."

"But what if she never is?" Ren glanced up at him, pouting as his shoulders slouched.

"Well... wait a while and then try to contact her."

"But she isn't answering."

Shun raised an eyebrow. "Is there only one way to contact her? Don't we have a mutual friend who is likely with her right now?"

Ren's eyes widened. "Emi! Why didn't I think of that?"

Shun swiped Ren's phone before he could grab it. "Cool your jets; it's still too early."

"Can I have my phone back if I promise I'm not contacting Misa or Emi yet?"

Shun gritted his teeth, staring at Ren as he judged his conviction. "Fine." He tossed it to him. "But I can see it in your eyes that you're planning something, and whatever it is, I want in."

"I kinda need you for it, so that works. First, a call to Daichi."

"If you miss him so much you've stolen my plush Ren, why don't you talk to him?" Emi complained as she sat beside Misaki on her bed a few days after her surprise arrival at home.

"Because I don't know what to do!" Misaki groaned and hugged the plush tighter to her chest, her fingers curling around it. "I can't seem to figure anything out. How do I proceed here?! Leaving was supposed to help me think clearly. And it's like... I love him, but I don't know if I want to date him. I'm afraid to date him."

Emi stared at Misaki with wide eyes, her jaw hanging.

"What?"

"Oh my gosh! Did you just... I'm sure you did, but did you not notice?"

"Notice what?"

Emi grabbed Misaki's shoulders and shook her. "You said you love him!"

"I... what?" Did I say that? Her face flushed. "Y-you must've misheard me."

"Nope." Emi shook her head. "No way. I know what you said. I wasn't distracted by anything, so you can't claim that. I totally heard you say you loved him." Emi squealed, waving her hands around in excitement.

Is she right? There's no way I said that... Misaki swallowed hard. Or did I? Geez... How did something like that slip out? Why did it slip out?

"What's wrong now? Didn't you just admit your feelings for him... finally, so you're ready to talk to him again?"

"But... It's not just about feelings. I knew I had some." But I didn't think it was that deep before. "I don't just think about that part. He's a superstar."

"And who better to be with than someone who understands the industry?"

Misaki sighed. "Don't you mean was crushed by the industry?"

"Psh! You're already making your comeback with your collaboration with Hayase." Emi pumped her fist into the air. "Oh, I know I said I wouldn't record, but I couldn't help myself. I promise I didn't show it to anyone!" Emi pulled out her phone. "I especially loved this dance." She held up her phone to show when Misaki joined in to dance with Ren and Shun.

"Oh geez." Misaki held up her hand to block it.

"Why are you avoiding it?" Emi held it closer. "Look how happy you are dancing with them. You should see the end." Emi fanned herself with her free hand. "I don't want to say it, but you have chemistry with both of them. Like damn! More with Ren, though; Shun's mine."

Unable to look away from the video, Misaki watched as Ren dipped her, and they kissed. Her breath caught as she lightly touched her lips, remembering the feel of his.

"See?" Emi put her phone away. "There shouldn't be much to think about when you two are like this together."

"But that's just a dance—"

"Don't you dare." Emi pointed at Misaki's face, making her back away. "That dance said a lot, whether you admit it or not. You should talk to him soon."

"I'm not ready yet."

"Will you ever be? Sometimes you just have to go for it, Misa-nee. Besides, I'm going to need you to at least see him." Emi pulled out two tickets to Hayase from her pocket. "Because you agreed to go with me before."

Misaki frowned, staring at the tickets. "That's soon!" Too soon. "And since when do they have a concert..." She tilted her head as she checked the location. "Near here?! Isn't that stadium small for them?"

"It's a promotional concert. These sold out fast, especially since they announced more than one new song to be performed live."

Misaki took a ticket to inspect it closer. "These are front row VIP seats..." She gazed up at Emi. "Where did you get these?"

"Mom said I could go to their concert—"

"So Mom got them for you?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Well..." Emi puffed her cheeks out. "No, but Mom said I could go."

"Where did you get these, Emi?"

She frowned. "They're special tickets; where do you think I got them?"

"Ren..."

"Technically, the mailbox, but it was listed from both of them, and they may have mentioned it to me beforehand."

"Wait, are you talking to them?" Misaki had turned her phone back on and got texts from Ren, but it hadn't been the onslaught she feared it might've been.

Emi pouted, poking her index fingers together. "They want to know how you're doing, but they don't want to pressure you."

"But if we go to this concert, they'll definitely see me there."

"Kinda the point... They really want you to go. I really want you to go. Front row seats to a Hayase concert." Emi sighed, hugging her ticket. "Definitely a dream of mine."

What are their intentions here? Should I go? I haven't been front row at a concert in a long time...

"You're not going to make me take Mom, right? I mean, she'd like to go, but I don't think she'd handle it well."

I also haven't been in the middle of a crowd like that in a long time.

"Misa, you have a delivery!" their mom called upstairs to her.

"A delivery? I haven't ordered anything." Misaki wandered downstairs with Emi right behind her.

She held up a large, sparkly box, wrapped with a red bow and a small note on the front reading: I hope you'll join us, Ren.

It's big, but it's not too heavy. What could be in here? She headed back upstairs with Emi peeking over her shoulder as she set it on her bed.

"Well, what's in it?" Emi reached for the box, and Misaki swatted her hand away. "You are going to open it, right?"

Should I? It's not like it could be something bad, right?

Emi tugged at the bow and backed away with the red ribbon.

Misaki took a deep breath and popped the top off the box. Inside, was a red swing dress. She held it up to herself and turned to Emi. "Isn't this the dress I tried on at the store when I was with you?"

"Maybe..." She scratched her cheek. "I may have sent Ren that picture of you when we went out shopping, and you tried on that dress. Guess he must've liked it." Emi couldn't help but smile.

Misaki's jaw dropped. "You what?!"

"Was I not supposed to? You totally wanted it, and he wanted to get something for you. It's not like he can get you that dress if he doesn't know what it looks like, and it's hard to get you a dress without knowing size, style, and stuff. Although I imagine he'd love to pick one out himself..."

"Why do I have a feeling you sent him the picture without him asking in the first place?"

Emi shrugged. "He was asking about you, and since he was sending tickets, he thought about sending something to wear. I sent him the picture, telling him how much you loved the dress, but refused to buy it. Isn't it sweet he wants to buy you what you want? Seriously, can I have one of him?" Emi took the dress and held it up to herself, twirling around. "You'll come with me, right?"

"Isn't that a bit much for a concert?" For someone in the audience, anyway. "What would you wear to it?"

"Are you kidding? I'd wear my fan gear!" Emi handed her the dress back, rushed to her room, and flung her closet open. "Not only do I have a Hayase shirt and sweater, but I have clothes from their line!" She returned with her chosen outfit: a purple t-shirt with Hayase written on it with a picture of the boys, Hayase labelled black pants, and a Hayase labelled purple sweater.

They have their own clothes brand? Didn't even know... Shouldn't be surprised, though.

"But if you're asking about what to wear, that means you're coming with me, right? You're not backing out."

I can't back out now.