Rule Four || Dream

⏮Red String: 7⏮

{Erie}

She still loves me. Yurino was right all along. Shizuka still loves me. That's why she was distancing herself away from me.

Upon hearing that, I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to reach out and kiss her. Show her what we've both been missing. To put myself at ease. To just feel her lips against mine again. Not being able to kiss her has driven me crazy. It was like she was purposely teasing me all this time.

Unfortunately, Hiroshi arrived back before I could act on my impulse. And I had to act like I didn't want to steal this beautiful woman away from him.

"Ah! Erie! What a pleasant surprise!" Hiroshi smiled.

I smiled back at him. "Hiroshi-chan! My mom made this sweater for you when I told her that you were back. It's starting to get cold nowadays."

I handed him the box, and he took it. "Thank you so much! Honestly, I didn't expect for you to come visit. After what happened in the cafe. Actually, what did happen? Usually, you don't run away from your problems. You handle them yourself, and fight for what you believe in."

My eyes glanced at Shizuka for a millisecond. She looked interested too. "Well, it was just weird seeing my cousin and my manager...date. And I just felt awkward, you know?"

Especially since she's my ex-girlfriend.

He smiled. "I'm sure it is, but you'll get used to it."

I don't want to get used to it.

"When is you mother coming back?" He asked.

"I'm not sure. She'll probably call me."

"Well, have some coffee with us! We have a lot to catch up on, Erie-baka!"

"Hey! I thought we would stop with that name..."

We talked until my mom came back and picked me up. On the way home, she glanced over at me. "So, how did it go?"

"How did what go?" I asked, not sure what she meant.

"Patching things up with Shizuka-san. Did everything go alright?"

"How did you...You set this whole thing up, didn't you?" I asked, noticing the mischievous look in her eye.

"Well, of course! You should really pay attention sometimes, Erie sweetie."

I really did have the best mother.

After that day, the relationship between Shizuka and I changed for the best. She smiled at me and acknowledged me more, but not more than the other girls like she used to. I tried not to talk to her as much, because even though I wanted her back, there was Hiroshi. Hiroshi just had to get in the picture. He messed up all my chances of winning her back.

As we sat down for break during a recording session for our newest single, Shizuka was holding onto the lyrics of it. It was a love song, and I couldn't help but think about the beautiful woman sitting across from me. With her long, brown, wavy hair and big, green eyes, and the small smile she wore subconsciously. Those were some of the reasons I fell for her.

"Erie-san, do you think you can do the hook?" Shizuka asked, looking down at the lyrics.

"M-me?"

She looked up at me and nodded.

"Why? Reina-chan usually does the hook, if not all the vocalists."

Shizuka shrugged. "Your voice would fit this song better. It's higher. Once break is over, I want you to try it, okay?" She asked.