The show must go on

Backstage 5

I didn't return to see Ren all week, I was mostly busy and trying to distance myself.

This Saturday I needed to buy strings for my guitar, so I brought Rinka with me to the music shop.

She's just playing around with the instruments while I get what I need.

On the way home, we go for a walk and go in front of the library.

"We should go see your girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend. I don't want to cause her problems."

Rinka looks disappointed, but then go in the library without me. I follow her in it.

"You know that you're annoying, Rinka?"

"Yes I know." She tells me that with a smile on her face, she points at Ren and she notices us.

"You came back, and you brought your friend."

"I'm Rinka, nice to meet you."

"Me too, she talked a lot about you."

They talked about me for at least an hour, I tried to sneak out, but Rinka noticed me.

"Fuyuko, why don't you come talk with your girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend? That's how you introduced me?"

"No, I swear. She just likes to embarrass me."

They both chuckled at me, I'm so embarrassed.

"It's rare to see you blush, Fuyuko."

I didn't realize I was, is it because Ren is here?

"You should come for a walk with us tomorrow, Ren, I'll bring Ritsu!"

"I'd love to." I wanted to distance myself, but I'm happy to spend time with her.

We part our ways and agree to spend time together tomorrow.

"She looks nice, why were you avoiding her?"

"She deserves someone better than me. I'm too weak for that."

Rinka goes in front of me, she looks mad.

"Is that the reason? Weren't you an idol before? You know we need to look strong for the public."

"I'm no longer an idol."

"Yeah, but you still have the strength for that, don't let your past define you. You're more than that!"

"I don't know."

"If you sense you'll do something bad, you can go, but try to spend time with her. You're always alone.

She's right, maybe I should try to know her more.

It's Sunday today, we're all the four of us together. We're going for a stroll in the park.

Rinka is glued to Ritsu, I walk between her and Ren.

"It's been a while since I left the library, and this snowy weather is nice, but it is cold."

Rinka looks at me with a playful smile, I have no idea what she's gonna do.

"Oh no, the snow made me trip." She then pushed me on Ren, Ren catches me and hold me in her arms.

"Are you okay, Fuyuko?"

"Yes, I am." I admit being in her arms feel good, maybe I'll thank Rinka later.

After being together and talking for a while, Rinka goes in front of us and start talking.

"Hey! Let's play a game, we should play hide and seek!"

 Everyone agrees, I've never played it before, but I'm willing to try.

"Ritsu will search and we will hide." I would have preferred to search.

"Can I search?"

"No, I already decided." Then she comes closer to me and whisper.

"You should hide in the same place as her."

She seems to know some tricks to spend time with her lover, I guess hiding their relationship must have helped.

Ritsu start counting, I follow Ren and hide with her.

"You were supposed to hide somewhere else."

"Sorry, I've never played before."

"I won't complain, but we're really close now."

I didn't notice before she said it, hiding in a bush wasn't the best idea.

A bit of time pass, after a while I can't help but ask.

"Why do you spend time with me?"

"It's because I love you, you're a great girl."

I get bad memories when I hear those words.

"Why do you love me?"

"I like your personality, and I admire what you did for Emiko."

I start to blush, she seemed really honest when she said it, I start to wonder if I really felt love with Haru.

"I... Feel different with you."

I get closer and hold her, without thinking, I started kissing her.

"Now you're finally bolder."

"I don't know why I am. I don't want what happened with Haru to happen again, but I want to be with. I'll gladly give you my body."

"Can that wait until you're home?" I hear Rinka from the bush next to us.

"How long have you been here?"

"I've always been, you came in the bush next to me and I didn't want to interrupt."

"You could have told us." Now I'm really embarrassed.

"So I guess you're a couple now."

"I think so, too." Said Ren, hearing those words make me blush and happy at the same time.

"You're gonna talk for a while again?"

It's Ritsu, he found us.

"You're here for a long time?"

"I'm here since you said you were a couple."

"Why nor you or Rinka warn when you're here?"

It made Ren chuckle, I guess we didn't spend a bad time all together.