Rule Four || Dream

•13•

Shizuka's eyes were fixated on Erie throughout her verse. They couldn't stop looking at each other, and Shizuka was beginning to suspect that some of the members caught on to their stare off. Yet, she just couldn't tear her gaze away from the blue-eyed beauty in front of her.

Once the verse was done, the producer stopped the track. Shizuka and Erie still stared at each other, until Shizuka broke the gaze and awkwardly coughed.

"Good. That was...good," Shizuka commented, looking down at her phone, which had lit up. A text came from Ami, asking if she could come to her office.

Shizuka felt all the air forced from her lungs. Did Aya tell Ami about Shizuka and Erie's previous relationship? Shizuka immediately told her she could come down. No need in making her wait so she could hear the rest of the song.

"I have to go, girls," Shizuka announced, standing up. She glanced at Erie, who looked confused along with the other two girls. They didn't hear a thing she said.

So she pressed the button from earlier. "I have to go, but I'll be right back."

"Promise?" Erie softly asked. It was so soft, Shizuka almost didn't catch it.

"Promise," Shizuka replied. She released the button then turned to walk out. She shook her head at the girls waggling their eyebrows at her.

The brunette hurried to her boss' office and let herself in. Ami was watering the bonsai tree on top of her desk, when her best friend came in.

"Yes?" Shizuka asked. Honestly, she didn't expect Ami to want to see her at all, after what happened at Shizuka's house.

"Something's bothering you, and I want to know now," Ami demanded.

Shizuka felt her mouth go dry. There's no way she could escape it now. She'd probably be fired or unfriended. "I...I'm sorry..."

"What's going on? What happened to you? Is it the AS Girls debut? Is it Aya-san quitting?"

Shizuka shook her head. She frowned as she tried to find a good way to explain her situation, but nothing came up. Whatever way it comes out her mouth, it'll sound extremely bad. So she just said what was on her mind.

"Fire me."

"What?"

"No matter how I tell you the truth, you'll fire me. So just do it now."

Ami shook her head. "I have no reason to, Shi-chan."

"Yes, you do," Shizuka countered.

"And what would that be?"

"I violated the fourth rule. I was dating a trainee before she debuted."

Ami didn't say anything, much to Shizuka's surprise. She expected Ami to yell at her for being so stupid.

"It's Erie-san, isn't it?"

"How...how did you..."

"Wasn't it obvious? You looked at her differently from other people. You have this small smile on your face whenever she's mentioned. Your eyes are trained on her in performances. You're head over heels for the girl, Shi-chan. I'm your best friend, I know these things. Is she making you happy?"

Shizuka shook her head. "She did. But I broke up with her."

"Because you cared too much about her to let her get in trouble. Right?"

Shizuka slowly nodded. "You know too much stuff about me, Ami-chan."

The blonde laughed. "Well, I have been your best friend for over twenty years. I know you better than the back of my hand."