Author's Note: This is the third part in the Spotlight series. The second chapter of this story will be extended compared to the original and include a new scenario.

Makoto wiped the sweat from his forehead away, his fingers pressing down on the hose's trigger. The cord extending to the other side of the brightly-lit greenhouse, coiling around many flower stations.

His cardigan was sprawled atop the desk near the door, leaving him in a loose, white dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up as he sprayed the bed of flowers with cold water.

"Why were you late today?" The gardening club advisor/biology teacher crept over.

"Sorry, I slept through the bell." He scratched his cheek. He might've been even later if his friends hadn't woken him minutes after.

The mix of water and lighting gave the hybrid flowers a proud sheen.

"The roses are beautiful. It's all thanks to your diligence." The instructor praised. Makoto dropped by every afternoon to tend to the flowers. It'd been his first experience with gardening and gave his best efforts to nurture them. The roses would wither otherwise.

"Thank you."

Makoto left the grounds of Dusk High. White clouds of air formed with every breath. He tightly wrapping his scarf around his neck as he trudged through the cold.

He took the scenic route to his house, crossing paths with the arcade he ventured to from middle school. The exterior's vibrant decorations a sharp contrast to the dull gray skies.

Once inside, he made his way over to that old fighting game, seeing a spot open. Makoto's fingers tapping and moved the controls, stopping when his opponent's health bar declined.

YOU WIN - appeared on the screen. Although Makoto didn't feel like much of a winner.

Roughly one hour after entering, he procured his cellphone.

No calls.

No messages.

He pocketed the device, leaving the arcade and stepping back into a monochrome world.

"Big bro~." Komaru waltzed into his room, wearing a sailor uniform. He'd compliment, but as her older brother, he knew any praises he gave would be thrown back in his face.

"Please knock." What if he was doing guy things and she walked in? They'd both be scarred for life.

"How was school?" She asked, grinning widely as she skipped over, hands folded behind her back.

Makoto tore his eyes from the book he was reading. "Okay, I guess…What's up?" He grinned.

"Nothing~"

"Haha. You're starting to creep me out…and what're you hiding?"

"You wanna know, don't you? Don't you?"

"Maybe or maybe not."

Komaru huffed, feigning indignation. "Be that way, I'll just keep these backstage passes to Sayaka's concert to myself."

He shot up from the bed, slipping on the smooth floor, resulting in him tripping over and falling.

Komaru observed the spectacle with shaking shoulders, covering her mouth in a vain attempt to hide laughter.

Makoto scrambled to his feet, brushing away the embarrassment. "H-How'd you get those?"

"I found them in my mail. Sayaka-chan sent them!"

Makoto spluttered, having heard none of this…More importantly. "Why was it mailed to you?"

Komaru giggled. "Jealous?"

"…A little." He admitted.

"Don't be. She just wanted to mess with you."

"You think?" That sounded like her… "Hold on. How would you know?"

"Sayaka and I talk all the time. She told me just last week." Komaru scratched her cheek, guiltily.

"News to me."

Makoto stood side by side with his sister, along tens of thousand others who occupied the stadium. All raving over the idol group of 5 on stage. Makoto particular was focused on one. The blue-haired girl taking center in the formation. Her voice was simply magical.

Both he and Komaru secured spots not too far off the front row and waved multi-colored light sticks, the idol's name written on their shirts.

It was the first time he'd seen or heard from her for nearly a year, without a filter from a cell phone. But this was Sayaka Maizono, the idol, who sprinkled her heart to the millions of fans, not him alone. He was a drop in the sea of adoring fans.

You're always far away, smiling with someone else. All I can do is look on from over here

Makoto didn't think the resumption of his ordinary days could have been so monotonous. He missed the excitement, craved the warmth that came with being by her side. Makoto tried his hardest not to let it show in their calls.

For an instant, he'd thought Sayaka had looked straight at him. He quickly dismissed the optimism as unrealistic. In the middle of her song and dance, she wouldn't have spotted him in this crowd.

Look at me, painted in your colors. Are you trying to fool me by pretending not to notice? The nerve!

"Big bro, where's your spirit?" Komaru said in a mentor-like voice. Their rankings when it came to Sayakers was the only time where the girl asserted her role as his senior.

"I'm not feeling so good. I'll be in the washroom for a bit." Makoto said, quickly turning to the side, maneuvering through the seats.

"A stomach ache?" Komaru tilted her head, watching her brother leave.

"This isn't like me at all." Makoto at his reflection in the mirror, divorced from his usual cheer.

Despite wanting to support Sayaka…he was in here, hiding away. "How can I be so selfish?" He clawed at his hair in frustration, forgetting his surroundings.

He looked around to see another man giving him odd looks, speeding up his business and exiting the washroom.

Makoto sighed. "I'm a mess."

'Now…I can't imagine a life without you in it. If that's not love, I'm scared to think what it'd really feel like.'

He understood just how heavy the words she spoke were now. He loved Sayaka. That was a fact.

"You never know what you have until it's gone." Fortunately, he hadn't lost Sayaka yet. "I'll let her know exactly how I feel."

He'd be able to meet her with his backstage passes. They wouldn't get to be alone, but it would be something. He'd find some way to get his message across to her.

Someone at the entrance to the concert hall caught his eye. A girl, looking no older than age 10. Arguably not old enough to be here, alone anyway.

He'd seen her on the way over and didn't expect to see her on the way back, just staring at the screen recording the live performance.

"Aren't you going inside? It's a lot more fun in there." Makoto approached.

The girl's scarlet hair swayed as her eyes met his. "I can't." She spoke in a heavy accent, standoffishly.

Makoto ticked his eyebrow "There should be enough seats for everyone." He'd heard the concert was sold-out, but there should still be seats available for those who paid…

The girl's appearance was…not the cleanest. The fabric of her sweater was worn, and her boots were mismatched.

"Are your folks around at least?"

"What's it to you? You gonna call security? I already paid the guy at the stand, up front, so leave me alone."

Makoto flinched at the raw antagonism. What a mouth for a kid.…"'Up front?' How much did that cost?"

"All my savings. About a hundred." She replied.

Makoto deadpanned. The costs for Sayaka concerts usually cost the Naegi siblings months of rigorous savings, with financial assistance from their parents. She would need 10x that amount to have gotten in. Not like that would be possible. The concert had been sold out prior.

The ticket handler must have felt sorry for her.

Makoto shook his head. "I'm not going to rat on you. You deserve to be here as much as I do."

She looked at him strangely. "You're the guy from earlier…why are you out here for? Got bad seats?"

"No, I'm near the front." Makoto said. The girl's confusion evolved into befuddlement, with a side of outrage.

"The heck are you out here for?"

"Ah I'm…feeling a little conflicted, is all." He laughed.

She cocked her head. "Sounds dumb. Sayaka's music should blow that crap all away."

"You're a fan, I see." That much was obvious in retrospect, who'd be here if they weren't?

"Not just any fan. I'm her biggest, number one fan."

Heard that one before.

"My little sister wouldn't take that boast lying down." Makoto scratched his cheek. "She's been a Sayaker since day one. We've even attended all her performances."

The girl's lips curled into a frown. "Stop looking down on me, dumb-looking rich boy." She nailed him in the stomach with a light punch. He barely felt it…perhaps for a lack of trying or…she was just super weak.

Not like he had a right to talk.

She returned her gaze to the monitor. Makoto joined standing at her side. "My name's Makoto. Makoto Naegi."

"Sakura Minami." She replied.

"Minami-chan."

She stopped him with a raised hand. "Call me Sakura and skip the honorifics. Hearing my family name pisses me off."

He shrugged, been here, done that. "…Then call me Makoto."

"I'll call you whatever I want."

I can't let things end like this, unfinished. Can't let my guard down, gotta strengthen my resolve Ready…go!'

Sayaka's voice continued to blare across every hall in the stadium.

Makoto nodded, just as he was about to walk away "Oi. Don't like the music?" He stopped, surprised to see the girl initiate a conversation.

"Wouldn't be here if I felt that way. Everyone in that group are incredibly talented." He said.

She crossed her arms. "If you get it, what're you all mopey for? It's gettin' on my nerves."

Makoto took a shot in the dark. "You're really dedicated. I'm sure Sayaka'd be happy to know she's got a fan like you."

Sakura nodded. "She's what I want to be some day."

Now there's a thought. "What do you like about her?"

"She's perfect! Her figure, her voice, her success and her smile." Sakura ran down a laundry list. "She's like a real-life princess."

Makoto choked at the praise, letting out a giggle.

"Somethin' funny?" Sakura glared.

"Well yeah, Sayaka's not perfect. She's got a ton of flaws."

With utter disbelief, Sakura asked "Like?"

"She's head strong." Never backing down once she sets her mind on something. "She goes the extra-mile for everything." Doesn't know how to relax and move at a steady pace. "And if she's after something, she'd move the whole world to get it." Often failing to think of the consequences or whether she could get hurt.

…

"Amazing." Sakura glowed, a giant smile on her face. "I knew it!"

Not the reaction he was going for.

"I…those were supposed to be her bad points." Makoto scratched his hair at the lack of attention the girl was paying.

"How'd ya know all that?" She so wasn't listening anymore. Rose-tinted glasses were some crazy stuff.

"Sayaka's my….friend. My friend." He smiled on the outside, sulked on the inside.

Sakura giggled, then burst out laughing. "Yeah and I'm an Ultimate."

Makoto held out his pass in front of girl. "Not sure if this counts as proof, but she let my sister and I have backstage passes."

The redhead's eyes widened as she read the inscriptions. "No way." She mouthed, holding the pass in her small hands. "Y-You can't just flash that in public, what if you get robbed?!"

Makoto rubbed his chin. "That's a possibility, but I don't think you'd do that."

"Says who?"

Makoto smiled. "You paid your way in here, the right way, using money you worked hard to save. You're a good girl." Rough on the edges though. He'd pat her head if he didn't think she'd bite him.

Sakura scrunched her face, looking at the floor. "You're an idiot for believin' that. Naïve guys like you are the ones who get taken advantage of and tossed away, y'know?"

"Naïve huh?" He laughed, finding that hard to disagree with. "You're really mature for your age."

"Only because I can't stay a dumb kid, I need to get smarter, so I can grow up as fast and leave home." She gripped her skirt. "I want to be an idol too."

Makoto's smile widened "I knew it, you are a good kid. Even I don't have that kind of determination. You remind me of Sayaka in a way."

"How?" Sakura lifted her head, peering with innocent wonder.

He pointed to the screen "Sayaka's giving it 120% out there. For her fans, sure, but also for herself. Sayaka works harder than anyone else to keep her dream alive. Even if she has to make sacrifices along the way." Or in his case - Hopefully in his case - takes extraordinary risks she doesn't have to. "I don't think a number one fan could cheat her efforts by sneaking in for free."

The girl nodded slowly, mouthing an apology before shoving his pass back to him. "You're still a dummy. You're lucky I don't pick on guys like that."

"Yeah, that about covers it. I'm just a lovestruck idiot." He chuckled.

There, now it's finished. I deliver it to you. When it comes to you, I really, truly... love you!

"Why aren't you in there cheering like everyone else? You're a shitty friend for skimping out on her 'efforts'."

"You're right there. Okay, we're off." Makoto stood up.

"…What'd you mean 'we'?"

"Both of us. If you aren't with anyone else, why not come sit with me and my sister? She won't mind."

"C-Can I?"

"I'm the one offering." He said.

She nodded rapidly.

Komaru looked ready to mouth off at him for disappearing for so long, holding off when Sakura came into view. "Who's this?"

"Sakura. You don't mind if she stays with us, do you?" Makoto patted the girl's back, pushing her in front.

Komaru gave him an exasperated look that said 'You picked up another stray' but voiced no dissent. "Have one of these, Sakura-chan." Komaru handed off a glow stick for their new acquaintance to wave around like a toy.

He joined the girls, trying to match their enthusiasm, he couldn't get rid of those ugly emotions but for now? They could take a backseat.

"Thank you everyone! We've got something special planned for one lucky fan!" Sayaka's voice boomed. A surprise awaited them, where the idols announced that one out of the hundreds of thousands would win the chance to join the group on stage and sing.

"Woah." Komaru waved her arms,

Makoto winced. What a stunt. That'd give anyone crippling anxiety-"Seat number 075! Get up here!"

…

"…!" Makoto looked down at his ticket number and froze.

"So close! I'm 074…" Komaru gasped, head snapping to him. "Bro…are you?"

"S-She can't be serious. Sayaka wouldn't-" Makoto paused, recalling the various pranks she pulled. But this was on a completely different scale.

It had to be coincidence…but did it matter at this point? The stage light that focused on him said no

Fuck.

"Get goin', pansy!" Sakura stepped on his shoes, giving him the kickstart he needed.

"T-Thanks." Makoto muttered, as the light followed him, as did the countless stares. He steeled his nerves. This wasn't much different from school or graduation, where being seen with the most popular girl in school drew a lot of attention his way. Sure, there was a bit of a size difference when comparing crowds and…he would be doing more than dancing this time, but the principle was the same.

Keep calm, focused and try not to piss yourself – With that sage wisdom in mind, Makoto'd made it up the steps, standing in front of Sayaka, the idol. Not his girlfriend. Was she even still his girlfriend?

That important distinction was wordlessly communicated between them when she passed him the microphone.

"Give it up for Naegi-kun everyone!" Sayaka's detached introduction inspired a chorus of applause and cheer. "You remember all my songs right, Number 2-san." She whispered lowly enough for him to hear. Between hers and the teasing smiles from the other girls, Makoto tossed out the possibility of his presence there as a coincidence.

They'd planned this somehow.

And that meant they were either insane…or had a boatload of faith in him to not mess this up. Or it just didn't matter either way…

Makoto resigned himself to this next level prank, facing the audience, waiting in anticipation. It hit him like a ton of bricks; fear and excitation welling up within. Leading the cheer squad didn't even compare.

"Let's start with our newest single!"

Oh, Monochrome Answer then. Makoto memorized the lyrics after a few…dozen or so listens. Only…was that really a song fit for a guy?

He sighed internally.

'All I can do…is give it my all.'

His mouth moved. "Without deciding where to meet tomorrow, we said 'goodbye'." He was started by the roar of his own voice, amplified by the mic. But not as much as it did the audience, unprepared for the husky voice that came from the small, unknown package.

"Even when taking a bath, I'm still fidgety, My heart beats, maybe I should call you instead of waiting." Sayaka joined in, contrasting Makoto's delivery with a honeyed pitch.

"Finally your voice comes in, muttering something and 'Good morning'."

They were busier than ever. Sayaka with her work, and Makoto with whatever he could find to take his mind off loneliness. But when either did call, be it casual conversation, advice or just to listen to each other's daily issues, the sound of the other's voce instantly brightened their day.

"I'm ready and preparations are OK. But bad luck, an accident occurs. The red teacup that I loved with lemon tea inside, dives onto my skirt."

Sayaka singing up close jogged Makoto's memory the tea she liked to the point of obsession, but could never make perfectly, spilled over her skirt once. If he recalled correctly, his reaction was…

"'Sorry…' Towards the late me you said, 'You tried a lot' and patted my head. Thank you."

Both smiled, intoxicated in their private memories.

"Monochrome love is inside you and me. Even the difference in temperature feels lovely Monochrome sight, I'm sure I'm the only one colorful, I like the uncertain parts too."

They lived in different worlds, revering the other as their ideal. But opposites attract and were complete together.

"Monochrome people like the two of us might look distant but in reality we're the closest, Monochromatic dreams will be in rainbow colors if I'm with you."

The duet sparked uproarious cheers from the audience. The level of synchronicity was high enough to leave the impression that the performance had been staged and rehearsed prior. A logic mostly discouraged because Makoto was an unknown talent who'd ascended to the stage with a voice that left them swooning.

Komaru, who knew better yelled at the top of her lungs, both proud and envious of her brother. Sakura watched the duo in awe, starstruck that this was the same boy she'd spoken brashly to.

"If I'm with you, Monochrome dreams will be in rainbow colors. Monochrome future, no full color- If we're together, we can sparkle. If we melt into monochrome street, it'll become colorful."

Makoto and Sayaka traded stares, making a silent promise, to the future where they could be together without status, secrets or pretenses getting in the way.

Makoto's back faced the wall of a local fast food place, sending Komaru a text detailing his location.

He tightened his scarf to protect himself from the cold, a cloud of vapor formed with every exhale from his dry, scratchy throat.

What was the spiky-haired boy doing loitering on a snowy night, in a city far from home, hours after giving the performance of his life?

Well…

"Makoto, that was incredible!" Komaru hugged him after the concert.

"Y-You think? I didn't screw up did I, Sakura?!" He hyperactively addressed the girl, who only replied with a thumbs up.

"Oh Oh! We should get going backstage. Sayaka-chan and the others are waiting!" Komaru declared.

Makoto scratched his cheek, eyes lidded. "About that…" He took off his pass, hanging it by the strap in front of his new friend. "How about you go with Sakura instead?"

""What?!"" They looked at him like he'd grown two extra heads.

"I dunno know what your game is, but I'm no charity case." The girl rejected his offer.

"Didn't you say you wanted to become an idol? You shouldn't pass up this chance on my account." Makoto placed the strap over the girl's neck. "As for me, I can see Sayaka any time I want." He was a poor liar but the two weren't acquainted long enough for her to see that. Komaru on the other hand…

"Big bro…you haven't been your usual self after Sayaka left. Are you sure about this?"

"Positive." Makoto nodded. "And…before you think it, I'm not taking your backstage pass either. I may not be the most reliable older brother ever, but I'm not leaving you outside by yourself."

"Are you nuts? As if I'd even think about giving my holy grail to anyone." She clutched her pass.

"Guess stupidity doesn't run in the family." Sakura muttered.

Makoto rubbed the girl's head. "I'm sure something good will happen if you meet the girls. Think of it as a gift from me."

"…Thank you." She showed him a bright smile. That made it all worth the sacrifice.

"You can thank me after you become famous."

And that's all she wrote, folks.

Makoto whistled to the tune of the music he'd sang earlier.

"It really is him!" yelled a voice. Not 10 seconds later, Makoto found himself ambushed by two girls, taller and older than he was. Was it too late to say he was getting self-conscious of his height? "You're Naegi-san, aren't you?"

He bobbed his head, slightly confused at why they were so giddy…or who they were, frankly. "That's me….I'm sorry but do I know you?"

"We were at the concert and saw your performance." "You're amazing!"

Makoto raked his fingers through his hair, laughing timidly at the flattery. "I-I'm really glad you were entertained. T-They really put me on the spot there, so I dunno if I sucked without any practice."

"Then it really wasn't staged?" "So Cool." They cheered. Makoto had never been fawned over and had no way to deal with it.

'I wonder if this is how Sayaka feels.'

'"Thanks. That means a lot." He grinned, bashfully, blushing out of nervousness.

The girls giggled.

Just as Makoto was about ask why, he coughed harshly.

"Are you okay?" One of the girls expressed concern in an overly cute way.

"My throat's a little hoarse." A consequence of overtaxing his vocal chords.

They looked to each other, then turned back to Makoto. "It is cold out here. You should come with us!" "Yeah, we'll be going somewhere a lot warmer."

Makoto let out a relieved smile. "…Sure. Where?" It was always better to have company, definitely beat sticking around here in the cold alone. There was a matter of giving Komaru coordinates, so he hoped they weren't going too far.

An arm snaked around Makoto's waist, pulling him backwards into the owner's chest. The unexpected contact had Makoto snapping his head over to see…Sayaka?! In the same 'Yuki' disguise as when they'd first met at the arcade.

"Yuki-san?!" He'd nearly called her real name by mistake. He also noticed she got taller, her height exceeding his by a bit. S/he looked down on him with cocky, snide grin that Makoto could tell was fake.

"Yo, sorry I kept you waiting." Her voice lower than normal, keeping up the boyish charade. Before Makoto could ask what the heck she was talking about, Sayaka silenced him with a long, drawn out kiss. "Sorry ladies, as you can see, this little guy's taken." Leaving Makoto speechless, she turned to the amazed onlookers as if there hadn't been a thing amiss with that blatant display of possessiveness. Without sparing another word, the idol dragged Makoto away by the arm.

"*giggles*." "Aw. Too bad."

Sayaka unhanded him after they strayed from the women, calling for a taxi to take them to her home, a condo in the middle of the city. Neither had said a word on the way, as to not jeopardize the bluenette's identity. Which is why the first thing Makoto asked once they entered the complex was about Komaru's whereabouts.

"She went home." Sayaka said plainly.

"Without me?!" Makoto's eyes widened in disbelief

"I said you'd spend the night with me. It should be fine." Sayaka removed her hat, letting her hair fall, then stripped off her winter wear.

"Oh…thanks." Makoto did the same, hanging his scarf and blazer on the rack, leaving him with his green sweater. "Is your dad around?"

"Not tonight."

All those straight and to the point answers…were unlike the girl. "Are you…angry?"

Sayaka shot him a cold look, taking several pronounced steps towards him, cornering Makoto against the wall. "You weren't there." Both the idol's arms were on separate sides of his body, caging him with nowhere to run.

But as far as he was concerned, she was too close. His eyes trained on her lips. If he just inched forward, he could-

"After the strings I pulled to get you in, you ditched me to run off with some random girls to screw around with?!"

Makoto frowned at the choice of words. "They were at the concert. I'm guessing they wanted to talk about my singing."

"Oh they wanted to make you sing alright…You're way too defenseless." Sayaka shook her head, to Makoto's confusion. "You know how much I was looking forward to seeing you again."

"We saw each other plenty on stage."

Sayaka flinched, her anger retracting. Her arms fell to the side as she muttered excuses. "That…wasn't totally my idea. The girls planned that. They figured out we were dating."

"Isn't that bad?" Makoto worried.

"Not…really? It might have been if my manager found out or they thought you were a problem, but the girls liked you remember?"

He remembered they liked messing with him…but then again? Who doesn't?

"That's when we settled on a compromise. They'd look the other way if you passed a test. There were a bunch to choose from… you know how I get carried awa …"

"Don't worry about it. It was fun…doing something that crazy." It was an experience unbefitting the dull Makoto Naegi. One he wouldn't forget anytime soon. One that still made his heart pump faster as he recalled the crowd chanting his name and the insane thrill that came from standing in the spotlight.

"Oh thank god, I feel so much better about it now. Though looking back, I'm sure the girls were trolling me and found out earlier." Sayaka sighed

"So your secret's safe?"

"Duh, they're my childhood friends…and don't you mean 'our' secret?" Sayaka winked flirtatiously, her delicate fingers cupping his jaw as she yanked him into a kiss.

That was a bad idea – Makoto realized as his self-control slipped away at the taste of lipstick. His hands wrap tightly around her slender waist, pressing their bodies closer together. Makoto usurped Sayaka's role as the dominant one in their romantic exchanges.

Her expectations flew out the window when Makoto's tongue snuck in the hungry kiss and wrestled against hers.

Sayaka pulled back – or tried to – only to be roped back in when Makoto's fingers found the back of her head.

"M-Makoto?" She called out his name, intimidated by how Makoto's usual clear orbs had glazed over.

Rather than reply, the boy ventured to do the unexpected. His lips moved down to her neck, nibbling, sucking and then biting the nape. "Not there-aaah!" She voiced, breathless.

"S-Stop, wait just a minute!" Sayaka gripped Makoto's shoulders tightly, separating the two. She took a quick look, noting the purple bruise on her skin. That could cause problems if discovered. Makoto knew that and he still…

"What's gotten into you?"

He let out a low growl that made the idol shudder. "I missed you a lot a-and I was trying to hold back, but you keep teasing me and..." It hardly needed saying at this point. "I love you."

Her sapphire eyes shimmered. "…Say that again."

"I love you."

A switch flipped in the idol. "Geez, that's what's got you so hot and bothered?" Her tone was almost condescending, experienced. Their lips smacked again, Sayaka drooling into the kiss, shamelessly pushing and rubbing against Makoto's thigh.

Makoto hadn't been a good kisser at first. He was inexperienced, awkward, but diligent, attentive and most of all, eager. All of which paid off in spades right now.

"You…you haven't been playing with other girls, have you?" Sayaka joked. Makoto wouldn't cheat, couldn't cheat. It wasn't in his nature "Kidding. You've gotten a lot better."

It wasn't like him to be so assertive or selfish, it went to show how far he'd been pushed. She didn't mind when he gave her another hickey. This was his reward for being so patient. So understanding.

"My room."

Makoto sits on the edge of the bed. Sayaka kneels between his legs, lifting his shirt overhead and haphazardly tosses the cloth to the floor, revealing his pale upper body. On the long list of features that made him self-conscious, his lack of muscle definition ranked near the top.

Sayaka claimed to prefer him as he was, that his thin, slender frame was "Cute. Just like the rest of you." She trails slow kisses from his neck down his torso, stopping at the hem of his pants. They didn't stay on for much longer after Sayaka dragged them off, leaving only his white boxer shorts.

"Leave that on." Sayaka's hands gently smack his, preventing him from taking off that final layer. With a coy smile, she said "Trust me, you'll love this."

Her delicate fingers slide up the hardened shaft, evoking a soft moan from the boy. Satisfied with his cute reaction, she lowers her head, her lips wrapping around the clothed tip, playing with it before taking the shaft in her mouth. With every lick, suck and tease, Makoto feels driven further into delirium.

"S-Sayaka, hold on." The idol stopped working his shaft at the guttural command, staring up at him. While Makoto was sure direct contact with her lips was best, the constraints of the fabric was too much. "Y-You don't have to dirty yourself…"

"That ship's long sailed, Makoto. Besides, I'm not an idol right now, I'm your girlfriend and I want this. " Sayaka declares, her voice as gentle as it was uncompromising. She grips at the waistband and pulls it down. His veiny flesh springs open. "Maybe not cute everywhere…" She redacted her earlier claim. "What happened to being average?" She smirks.

"I-It's not like I have anything to compare it to." He turns new shades of the color red.

"No, Makoto. There's nothing to be sorry for. Not about this." Sayaka said, admiring and stroking the oversized dick. Just as her fingers traced the naked flesh, she was stopped by Makoto's hands on her shoulders, a reversal of their earlier position

"You don't want me to?" Sayaka blinks.

"I do, but…I-I'll blow."

She giggles. "That's what I'm aiming for?"

"Not yet." He pouts

Sayaka lets out an amused sigh. "Boys and their ego." She stands, stripping down from her shirt and jeans. She sits on Makoto's lap, wrapping her legs around his torso. The only barrier left between their sexes are pink cotton panties. Not like there was any room left for modesty. Sayaka unclips her bra, perky breasts spilling out directly onto Makoto's face, giving him an eyeful of her curves and near flawless skin. Nearly, thanks to the hickey he'd left on her neck – The thought only making Makoto grow harder. One hand gripped her breast and the other fell to her fleshy rear.

…I can't even cover it all.

He plays with them, his fingers flicking her hardening nipples.

Sayaka hisses.

"D-Did that hurt?" Makoto asked, concerned.

Sayaka cut off his retreat by grabbing his wrists.

'That answers that.' He applies pressure on his massage on both her assets. Daring, Makoto inched forward, his teeth circling around her nipples and biting down lightly.

Sayaka's moans intensify. She wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, while her hips swayed frustratingly on his crotch. In astounding irony, it took his hormones being pushed to the limit Makoto to regain enough self-control to recall one crucial element. "D-Do we have any condoms?"

Judging from the fright in Sayaka's widening eyes, she'd forgotten too. "Do you?"

"No." The mood killer hung over their heads. Makoto nearly voiced they stop here.

"It'll be fine. Just pull out early." Sayaka said to his surprise.

He shook his head. "It's dangerous. Who knows what could happen?" They did, but he was too frisky to even think about a pregnancy scare. They'd both be in deep shit. Sayaka mostly.

"Makoto…I want this." Sayaka repeated, much more intensely than the first. The sheer need she conveyed threw him over the edge again.

"Okay." He hadn't put up much of a fight. He didn't want to.

Sayaka rewards his permissiveness with a chaste kiss.

Makoto let out a shocked grunt when her hands pressed against his chest and pushed him down onto the bed. She crouches over him. Her fingers tug at her panties, pulling them aside to hang by her leg. Makoto breathed out as he felt her ass slam against his hips, the lust-filled idol grinding his dick and her leaking slit together.

Just a little more and he could…

He catches Sayaka's menacing smirk. She'd read him and his less than clean intentions clearly.

She pushes back a lock of blue hair, leaning down to whisper by his ear. "Hey, Makoto. What'll we be doing next, I wonder?" An absurd question given what she was doing right now.

"Y-You know." Wasn't that obvious?!

"I don't, we've…had misunderstandings…before." Sayaka shudders at the sound of her own voice and anticipation. Teasing was fine, but also a double-edged sword that could easily backfire.

"W-Weren't you the one raring to go at it?" He blanks when Sayaka lifted her hips, grasping his dick with both hands, then lowered herself until the tip just touched her pussy. "If you don't tell me I won't know." Sayaka looks straight in his eyes with un-suppressed enjoyment, drool leaking from her mouth. "Come on…show me how much you want me."

Makoto's response was non-verbal; he grabbed her waist and pulled her straight down onto his dick.

"Oh Fuck." Sayaka threw her head back and howled profanities. His inexperience, the teasing, the moaning and most of all, the tightness overloaded Makoto. He came right inside her depths after a single, well-aimed thrust. Sayaka felt his softening cock, falling onto his chest. "You didn't pull out."

"Your fault." He pouts.

"Yours too. It was payback for how long you made me wait for this. Don't think I'll let you tap out now either." She slides off him, getting back in between his legs, head bobbing as she took him in her mouth. Meanwhile, her fingers settled on Makoto's nipples, twisting them.

"Oh shit." The boy spluttered a rare curse

Sayaka arched an eyebrow at the sensitive response, but otherwise said nothing, her mouth too full for that.

"Sayaka…" Makoto chants her name at the feeling of her warm, wet mouth engulfing his rod. He rakes those blue tresses and bucked his hips upwards. Soon enough, he came again, filling the idol's mouth.

Sayaka spits out the fluid. "Bitter." She crinkled her nose. Her smile returned when she saw he was still hard. "Quick to recover."

Makoto grabs Sayaka and overturns their position on the bed, pining his girlfriend under him.

"Go for it." Sayaka goads him with a teasing smile. He wastes no time drilling his tip in as far as he could reach. Sayaka mutters praises, which a part of him hoped were genuine. The other parts were reeling from how fucking great it felt inside her. Makoto delays his thrusts as he reels back his thoughts, wanting to at least make her orgasm this time.

The pair stare longingly into each other's eyes. While his cock felt absolutely amazing inside her, what Sayaka delighted in most was his smouldering gaze, overtaken by lust. Every expression he made magnified the pleasure considerably.

Sayaka wraps her hands over his neck. "You don't have to hold back. Just enjoy yourself~" He wasn't about to refuse. He started moving his hips.

"Shit, right there. A little more and I'll-…." Sayaka's voice alternates between whispers and yells. His thrusts were fast, rough and uncontrolled but she squealed all the same. Sayaka swearing wasn't new to him, but never this needy and desperate. It was such a turn-on!

He closed one eye at Sayaka's moans, her mewling sending shocks throughout his body, pushing him faster to orgasm. He focused on her full lips and leaned in to make out with her, muffling her continued gasps as he sped up his thrusts.

His hips were on fire and sure enough Sayaka's tight walls clamp down on him. She screamed into the kiss, triggering his own eruption. He kept up his slow thrusts even as he came, the two basking in the afterglow of their love-making.

Makoto shifted slightly to the side, eye-level with Sayaka in a close, sweaty embrace.

"That felt…so good, Makoto." She said.

"R-Really. I wasn't sure what to do." He replied, out of breath.

"You've got a lot of energy to make up for it." Sayaka quit ruffling his hair to look at her palm, frowning. "I'm sweaty and didn't have a chance to take a bath after the concert. You mind?"

He blinked. Mind what? "Course not, it's your place. But um… I'm not much better…can I go in after you?"

…

"…Nope, I'm not even surprised at this point." Sayaka rolled her eyes. "I was inviting you to join me."

"O-Oh, sorry, my brain hasn't quite turned back on yet."

"Uhuh" Sayaka was unconvinced.

"This is so nice." Sayaka melted in the bath, her hair tied up. She leaned backwards against Makoto's chest, his arms circling her torso.

"Yeah it is." The boy agreed. Between the warmth of the hot water, Sayaka's soft skin pressed against him and the smell of scented shampoo, he could have fallen asleep peacefully right there. "I've probably said this a million times, but I can't believe I'm in this situation."

"I can't believe you're still shy."

"S-Shouldn't I be? I've never taken a bath with a girl before, not counting my sister." He stammers, then reflects on his sister. "How was Komaru, by the way?"

"Cute as always. I wish she was my little sister." Sayaka sighs, dreamily.

"Sorry, already called dibs."

She snickers. "I wouldn't be so confident. There's still one method I can use to steal her away."

"What's that?" He inquired.

"Not telling. It's a secret between us girls."

"Nice to see you're getting along." When drowsiness overtook Makoto, he leaned forward, resting his head on Sayaka's shoulder. Her melodious hums nearly carried him to sleep. It didn't last long however. Sayaka moved away, then turned over, facing him. Her curves barely obscured by the water.

"Komaru mentioned a few things when we were alone. What's this about you being unhappy?"

Makoto felt a pang of guilt spreading across his features. "…Sorry. I missed you, a lot. I didn't tell you how much because I didn't want to distract you from work."

Sayaka looked over him, an unreadable expression on her face. "You're too much, Makoto. Apologizing when you did nothing wrong." She pecked his lips. "And I've kind of noticed you really like kissing."

He blushed. "I…uh, don't really know what came over me. I'm not usually so…"

"Aggressive?" Sayaka flashed a grin. "You showed off to thousands of people, Makoto. You're on a high, happens to me every time I get on stage for my fans…speaking of which, Minami-chan was so adorable, so polite!"

Makoto furrowed his eyebrows. "Polite?"

"Yeah, especially with how she tried hiding her accent or stumbled over to correct herself! It was beyond cute."

Makoto smiled. "I was a worried you might have been too disappointed she wasn't me."

"Don't get me wrong, I was." He stiffened at the monotone remark. "But Minami-chan was…interesting. I've spoken with a lot of my fans, too much that it's tough to remember all the faces and names, sadly. There's variety but a certain kind always leave an impression; one that I can't forget even if I tried. Care to guess who they are?"

Sayaka was the most popular girl in the country, he wasn't naïve enough to assume all the attention she received was good. "The creeps?"

"Close, but no. I make an active attempt to not keep them in mind."

He felt a bit relieved at her response. It probably meant the answer was something positive. "Um…the overzealous fans like my sister?"

Sayaka laughed. "That's cheating. Komaru-chan is a one-of-kind. You are too, naturally." She cupped his jaw and gave him a chaste kiss.

Makoto shook his head when they parted. "I can't think...of anything else."

Sayaka giggled. "It's fine. It a bit of a trick question you got right in a way. The answer is 'people like you'."

Makoto pointed at himself.

She nodded.

That…that made sense! "Of course! I-I mean I hope I left an impression, s-since I do like you, a lot. A-And we are pretty close. Sakura probably thinks the same way about you, maybe not romantically but-"

Sayaka interrupted his rambling by holding her finger against his lips.

"I knew you wouldn't understand. The trick. I mean the person I thought you were in the past."

"That feels like it was ages ago…" Makoto remembered their early days…hold on…"Didn't you…kind of…hate me?"

"The types that leave the biggest impressions are the threats to my career. Fans or otherwise." Sayaka said, her voice monotone. "Everyone wants to be famous. Kids who want to become pop stars are a dime-a-dozen, I won't shoot down their dreams, but I won't think much of it either. Not unless they know what they're getting into. Not unless they're prepared to get their hands dirty and go all the way. And if someone like that did show, I'd immediately see them as a rival." The bluenette pursed her lips, her dark blue eyes were like a bottomless sea. "Sakura is a rival. If I'm correct and you knew Sakura wanted to become an idol…why did you think it was a good idea to send her to me? Or…did you actually think I'd assist a threat just because she's a child who looks up to me?"

"Sure I did." Makoto replied instantly.

…

"How can you say that? You know what I'm like when I mean business!" Her voice rose slightly.

"I…was sure you'd see yourself in Sakura." Makoto replied with a timid smile, stunning his girlfriend. "You tell me about your childhood occasionally and, while talking to Sakura, she's similar to what I imagined you were like. That's why…I didn't even think about asking if you two got along."

"I don't think I've answered that yet."

"You complimented her, Sayaka." Makoto's warm hands brushed against deep blue tresses. "I know you. The girl who loves her fans as much as they love her. You wouldn't turn down a girl you inspired. You're too responsible for that."

She bit on his collarbones.

"O-ow, w-why?"

"You're so tacky." Sayaka's voice was muffled, burying into his chest. "It might be rubbing off on me. I feel like an idiot, helping a rival." She blushed.

Makoto beamed at the confession. "That's not much of an issue for you. I don't think I'm alone in saying that you're the best. Even against Sakura, you won't lose." Even if she insists on being a not-so-good person, he believed in her.

His thoughts scattered, shocked as Sayaka resumed her biting.

"The best huh…" Before he asked, she answered, looking up at him. "Makoto…What if I quit being an idol, so we could be together, properly?"

"…Are you serious?" Makoto had to double-take, hardly believing those words. Her position in the idol industry meant everything to the girl. How could she think to give that up?

"I-I think I could it now. I've got you, I don't need validation from anyone else." Sayaka continued, shaking slightly.

"You'd be giving up what you love. I'm not going to be the reason you do that." Makoto replied.

"But we'd be free. No separation, no more putting up with hiding. Just the two of us as a couple, without worrying about stepping on any landmines …don't you want that?"

"I won't choose for you, Sayaka."

"But it's clear what you want." She snapped.

Makoto scratched his cheeks. He'd have to disagree with that. "Is it? I'm not sure how that can be when I don't know myself. Would I like for us to be a real couple? Of course, I would. But...the girl I love works harder than anyone else. She struggled to reach the top and is always thinking about what she can do to stay there, because that's where she belongs. On stage. That passion made me a fan from the start, and I'm sure it inspired many others like me to give their all doing what they love. Even if that idol's not totally the same in person, that part of her definitely wasn't fake. As her friend, her fan and her boyfriend, I'm not going to take that dream away."

"You're still going to get hurt." Her eyes fell

"I'll always bounce back. Positive thinking's my only outstanding trait."

"Stupid, more like."

"Come on, you've seen my grades. I'm average."

She sniffed, and after a time, gazed at him with renewed vigour. "Alright! If you're going to believe in me that strongly, then I definitely won't lose. Not just to Sakura, but to anyone else. I'll become the idol of the century. Everyone will be playing my songs 10 or 20 years from now!"

"That's what I like to hear." He laughed, patting her head.

"It better be…a-and you better not regret this after I gave you a chance." She said through rose-tinted cheeks.

"I won't."

"That means you're absolutely not allowed to break up with me either. For any reason!"

"We don't have to worry about that."

"I'll turn into one of those psycho girlfriends from Komaru-chan's manga!"

"Calm down. You're embarrassed." She always blurts out the weirdest things when she is.

Sayaka let out a heavy sigh then smiled. "Want to get out?"

"…Could you help me out with something first?"

Not 5 seconds later, Sayaka's face contorted to one of similar surprise, feeling Makoto's restored member poking her stomach. "Really?"

"I've uh...been trying to hide it." He responded, sheepishly.

"…Since when?"

"The first kiss."

Sayaka giggled. "Way to ruin your big speech." She was cut off by the phone ringing the edge of the bathroom counter. "I have to take this." She slipped out of the bath, giving him an enjoyable view.

"Sayaka speaking…Hi, Satomi. Oh that's great. You've been a big help. And yeah, I'm still going." Makoto saw her smile warp into uncertainty. "Makoto?" He perked up at the sound of his name. "I wouldn't know where he is-…fine, we'll be there." The bluenette dropped the call, frowning. "I'm starting to think she's the physic."

"Why was I mentioned?"

"That was Satomi. I asked her if she could drop Komaru off for me. It was a long way to your house, so I owe her a favor now…that she expects me to pay up front, apparently." Sayaka laughed, nervously.

"And that is?" He had a bad feeling about this.

"You'll be coming with me to her party tomorrow night."

Makoto accompanied Sayaka around the city, the following morning. Much like their visit to her hometown, the idol strongly always instructed he remain near her . He was more understanding this round. The area was bustling with people and populated by high-rises that attracted his eyes. He could easily see himself getting lost.

They stopped by a clothing store. As the succeeding events had been entirely out of his control, Makoto only had a single set of clothing…which wasn't qualified for the party later that evening, according to Sayaka.

"Parties aren't my scene. I'm not sure how to dress." He muttered.

"Leave it to me." His girlfriend assured him. She waded through the store with the efficiency of a computer. What would have taken minutes of observation for him, necessitated only a glance from Sayaka to see if a specific article of clothing suited him. If yes, she tossed it over for him to grab. If know, she'd move to the next piece, or the next aisle.

"These should do." Sayaka affirmed after guiding him to the change room stalls. "You know how to put them on, or do you need help?"

"They're only clothes, aren't they?" And how would she help?

"Heh." The celebrity smiled condescendingly. He'd understood why after his first attempt.

"By the way, did your parents say anything?"

"Yeah, they said I could stay the weekend…and that I'm grounded for the next month when I get back." Mainly for not giving them prior notice…like he could have?

When Makoto stepped out, Sayaka remarked that the accessories were all wrong and he'd failed to grasp the style. "I'll never talk bad about Miura-san again."

Sayaka giggled and sent him the next pair of clothes. "These should be easy enough."

Makoto took the clothing with him into the stall, plain white walls and a mirror were all that was in the small space. He properly analyzed the clothing. A black sleeveless jacket, a white-tee shirt and shredded pants. Not his usual style. He wondered how expensive they were too. Sayaka said she would pay for them, but he felt like giving her something as well. He saved up enough for one luxurious gift.

"Is it too hard, after all?" A silky voice called from behind. Makoto whips around to see Sayaka behind him.

"What are you doing?!" She covers his mouth, muffling his panicked pitch.

"Don't make a scene, I'm here to help." She claims.

"But you can't be in here!" He whispers.

"There aren't any cameras."

Makoto furrows his brows, searching the ceiling. There were no cameras.

He looks back to her with a perplexed expression

"Intuition." She answers, as if that alone would be enough.

"Does it work that way?"

"Yes."

Okay… "What should I do?"

"Strip."

He stared.

"If you're going to put new clothes on, you have to take the old ones off. Shocker, I know." She rolled her eyes.

"You're in here."

"It's not like I'll see anything I haven't already."

"That was one time. I'm…not used to it." He flushed, averting his eyes.

"One easy fix coming right up." She closed the gap between them, her hands reaching for the hem of his shirt. One hand pulled his shirt up from the outside, the other traced his torso and guided its removal from the inside. As soon as he's shirtless, she falls to her knees, unbuckling his belt and pulling his pants down. "There…wasn't that easy?" She shoots him a flirty smile.

Makoto hadn't even realized he'd held his breath for the entire transition. "You're incredible."

"Thanks for the compliment. Now let's get these on."

Makoto's absolutely stunned by the unabashed display of control from his girlfriend as she reverses her previous actions, putting his clothes on for him. In different circumstances, it might have been humiliating being treated like a child…but there was nothing childish or innocent about her touches. Whenever she could, she took liberties, grazing points in his body that incited his arousal or directly pressed up against him.

For the finishing touches, she strapped the choker onto his neck. "Turn around and see for yourself."

He stared at his reflection in the mirror, eyes widening a bit. He looked…good. Better than he ever did, with the combination of stylish clothing. The choker seemed a bit much though. "Can I-" His words died in his throat when he turned to see Sayaka bent over, hands against the door, her skirt hiked up, and black lace panties hanging down her thighs.

"Care to help me out, next?" She said, raptly staring back at him.

"This is insane." Makoto said, both hot and similarly spell bounded. Unable to bring up his usual counters.

"I've been crazy about you for a while, Makoto. I just have less of a reason to hold back now."

"This is my fault?" She makes it sound like I opened Pandora's Box.

"In a manner of speaking? Yes."

They were doing this, might as well enjoy it. With his zipper undone, he grabs the idol's hips, leaning over her. "T-try not to scream, or we're in deep trouble."

"Implying something there?"

He nods and spears deep into her, overwhelmed by the softness of his hips against her ass and feeling her vaginal walls contract against his shaft. Luckily, he covered Sayaka's mouth before she could let out a groan. Not a particularly loud one, but loud enough to expose them. All he could do (besides rushing his hips) was pray this didn't become a habit. "We'll definitely have to buy these clothes now." Makoto's sense of public decency may have died today but he still had a good conscience.

…

They left the change rooms after 9 minutes of intense rutting. Makoto's hair marginally more disheveled than usual, so it was hard to tell. Sayaka was a bigger mess, but she was skilled enough to hide it, and combed her hair with a brush from her bag.

He marvelled at how prepared she was.

Slowly getting over the exhilaration and anxiety of doing the deed in public, Makoto left his girlfriend to clean up, taking the opportunity to scour the shop, secretly searching for a decent gift. It'd be nothing Sayaka couldn't afford herself, but he had to try something.

"Are you looking for anything in particular, sir?" An attendant said to him. Makoto explained he was searching for a gift to give his girlfriend.

"I don't have a huge budget though." Makoto scratched his cheeks.

"I know just the item." The woman guided him to one of the cases, where accessories were shielded by glass.

Makoto's mouth formed an 'O' "I'll take it!" He chirped.

"You okay?" Sayaka asked. The two had passed the entrance to the party venue, announcing themselves to the bouncers.

Even amidst the loud music he could hear Sayaka clearly, maybe even more than usual. Likely in part due to her somehow being even more beautiful tonight. Her hair was styled into high pony tail. Her face doused with extra makeup. Three silver rings and broaches circled around her left arm. A white tank-top underneath a teal blue vest. A frilly white miniskirt held by a thin, slanted, silver belt.

"I'm nervous." He admitted.

"There will probably be alcohol at this party but stick close to me and you'll be fine. I won't let you do anything you'll regret." She said.

"…Shouldn't that be the guy's line?"

"I have been known to wear pants. Just be glad I haven't made you wear skirts, yet."

"Don't say terrifying things, Sayaka-san."

A feminine voice blows in his ear. "Hello there, cutie.~"

"Ah!" Makoto jerks to the side, head whipping to the side. Satomi Aoba stood, wearing a scheming smile. Makoto clutched his beating heart.

"Don't scare him off just yet, Satomi." Sayaka placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Couldn't help it, he looked so tense."

"It's been a while, Aoba-san." He calmed down and greeted.

"Call me, Satomi. Anyone who's sang on the same stage as me gets to. As long as I don't hate them anyway." Satomi twirled a lock of her hair. "Glad you could make it, Sayaka." She hug the bluenette, planting a kiss on her cheek.

"You've already started drinking." Sayaka darts away, dodging the kiss with a weary smile.

"It's not my fault someone spiked the juice." Satomi shrugs.

"She looks normal to me." He expected drunks to be more…exaggerated in their behaviors. Aoba-..Satomi-san seemed the same as usual. For what he knew.

"She's good at controlling her alcohol, but there's a slight difference. She's less subdued and more upfront about her sadism." Sayaka informed him.

"You're terrible, spilling the beans like that, Sayaka" Satomi fumed…loudly enough to attract a crowd. Naturally, all eyes were turned on the blue-haired girl that just walked in, and soon she was swarmed by the group of the people. Sayaka smiled all the way through like the professional she was. Makoto gave an off-hand wave and said "I'll be fine!"

She nodded, and attended to her fans.

Makoto escaped the increasing tide of human bodies. Dusting off his own clothes. He pouts when he uncovers a stain on the shirt, likely from someone else's mishandling of beverages.

He waddles aimlessly in this foreign world. He hadn't attended parties in his first year of his high school and this looks to be on a different level. He wasn't referring to the club, but the actual party guests. As someone who followed fads, he recognized several faces off TV, from teen actors to musicians.

He made his way over to what may as well have been the bar, pouring himself a glass of what he knew was alcohol. He'd never had beer before, but it was one of those things the teenager in him wanted to experience at least once.

One taste was enough to tell him the experience was overrated. "This tastes awful."

"And I spent so much on it. Boo."

Not this time. "That's just my opinion, Satomi-san." Makoto turned to the idol.

"Makoto-chan's adaptable. Interesting, I'll have to step my game up."

"What's the difficulty setting at so far?"

"Beginner. Working your way up to easy." She smirked.

"Last night, was easy? You girls nearly gave me a panic attack."

"Sayaka said you could handle it, and I was curious too. It's not like we'd have suffered any losses even if you botched the performance. A random, surprise pick from the audience to sing? For a scenario that unreasonable, people would have cheered you on even if you sucked. You didn't, so that just made the show even better. Inviting you to this party is my appreciation, Boyfriend-san."

"Um…thanks." He didn't really know what to make of Satomi. Like Sayaka, she wasn't as preppy as the front she put on in public.

"I'm glad you showed up. Sayaka-chan's so stingy with things she likes, even though I always share with her." Satomi makes a comical expression as she complains. If it was a complaint. It sounded like playful banter to him.

"You know a lot about Sayaka, huh?"

"We've been friends since childhood. I've treated her like my own little sister, maybe more." She puffed her sizable chest out in proud. "Which is why I'm a bit protective myself. So tell me, was she good?"

"Huh?"

"You stayed the night over at her house, didn't you?"

He remembered the call in the bathroom. "Yeah. But we didn't do anything." He lied.

"Pffft-hahaha. Sorry, I didn't mean to insinuate anything. I in my drunken state, I can't help what I say." Satomi clutched her stomach. Once she recovered, she poked Makoto on the forehead. "Which is why as a fellow lover of Sayaka-chan, I'll let you in on something. She's got a bit of a praise kink and is totally submissive once you break through her. Try it if you ever get the chance."

Makoto's cup splashed somewhat. He stared at the taller girl in shock and confusion. "I…why would you know that?" No even before that. "You and Sayaka are lovers?" That can't mean what he thinks it does.

"Being an idol is tough. The few who stick with this gig and make it big are all crazy determined or plain crazy. We've got to watch our diet, watch where we go, who we associate with. We're not even allowed to have boyfriends." She emphasized the last word. "We have to cope somehow, and who better than with the girls we're closest to?"

That kiss Satomi tried to give Sayaka seemed a whole lot less chaste. "Then…even now?"

"Sayaka's faithful. I'm just spilling gossip. And I say 'lover', but it was more like experimentation or stress-relief. There's no deep meaning or strong emotion behind it." Satomi elaborated.

"I wish you said all that first." Makoto muttered. Then found himself getting pulled into a hug by the girl. "Wah!"

"But then I wouldn't get to see you freak out a bit." She pauses, then pushes him back. Bashfully clutching her cheeks as she blushes. "Kyaaa! What am I saying? I'm not a sadist!"

"Satomi-san, I think you should sit down and rest a bit." Scratch his earlier assessment, she was hammered and completely different than the girl he'd met in Sayaka's home. He set her down on the nearest seat and rushed to find what water (after testing it)

"You're such a nice guy, Makoto." She drank the clear liquid from the cup. "But, can you do me a favor?"

"What?" If it's sensible.

The idol twirled her cup, the water splashing on the edges. Her dexterity was balanced enough that the liquid hit the rim, but not a drop spilled to the floor. "We have dreams, and Sayaka's important to make them a reality. I want her to be happy, but I want to be happy too. Please don't steal her away."

"I can't stop Sayaka if she decides to quit, but I won't force her to do anything." He crossed his arms and smiled. "I hope it doesn't come to that though. I love you guys."

Satomi giggled and laughed. "You're a fun guy. Ever think of joining an idol group? We'd welcome you with open arms. Even manager-san would consider it after your performance."

"I'm not cut out for that kind of life."

Satomi rested her chin on the desk, sulking. "Too bad. If I'd found you first, I could have made you a toy for all the girls to play with. Then Sayaka wouldn't be too attached. Wouldn't that have been great?"

Makoto calmly backs away from the danger zone. Makoto journey backs into the center of the party. Once away from Satomi, the awkward loneliness resurfaced, most of the people around him where either risqué dancing or conversing in groups, he wasn't sure how to join in.

His eyes searched for signs of blue hair, figuring that Sayaka could help him out of his predicament. Not much luck, as she was nowhere to be seen. He sighs…

"Huh?" He freezes, thinking about when he became so dependent on the idol. He wasn't a kid at an oversized toy store, he could do this alone.

As Makoto resolved himself, he's pushed forward, losing his balance.

"My bad." Makoto hears a light and upbeat voice as an arm latches onto his to keep him still. The brunette directs his eyes over to the person who nearly pushed him over. Wearing an apologetic expression was a boy of roughly the same age. He had a slim build and was only slightly taller than Makoto. His short, wavy hair was dyed a light orange. He wore a white-logo shirt beneath an open hoodie and black pants.

"It's okay. Thanks for catching me." Makoto said, cheerfully as the boy let go of him.

"You're the guy who was with Satomi-chan." Makoto glimpsed diamond-encrusted piercings as the other boy's head moved from side-side, like he was searching for something in the far-off distance. "Are you alone?"

"Um…yeah." He admitted, lamely.

"Your first time at a party like this, right?" His charming smile was perfectly suited to his innocent, boyishly attractive face.

"Is it that obvious?"

He grinned. "A little. I was the same during my first time. Piece of advice: thinking too hard only makes you nervous. Just loosen up and the motions will come naturally." The socialite paused and then said. "I'm Ken Himejima, by the way."

"Nice to meet you." Makoto replied.

He saw the boy's smile retreat slightly. "Not the usual fanfare I get. You've never heard of me?"

"I can't say I have, sorry." The brunette flustered. Nice going, Makoto!

"Just joking. I'm a male idol. My group's called Daydream and our fanbase is pretty much entirely girls." He explained with a disarming aura. "Not that I'm complaining, but I hope I one day meet a guy who knows me by name alone."

"I'm Makoto Naegi. Sorry, I couldn't be the first."

"I thought I recognized you."

"Were you at the concert?" Makoto assumed, scratching his cheek. That was the only place a celebrity would know him from.

The orange-haired boy gave him a strange look, "No way. Going to another group's concert, is like, taboo, dude. I'd get grilled out by my producer. I watched it on TV." The idol industry sounded more and more like a war zone. "You've got a great voice. Did Satomi hire you?"

Makoto shook his head. "I wish, maybe then I'd have been prepared and gotten paid."

Himejima's smile widened. "Hey, why don't you come hang out with me? I'll show you how to let loose."

Makoto didn't have a reason to refuse. "I'll take you up on that, Himejima."

"No no, that's too stuffy. Just call me Ken."

"Ken-san…Ken." Makoto repeats the name and then nods. He follows the celebrity to a table with more cups than there were people.

"New friend?" A girl asks.

"Yup, say hello to Makoto." Ken introduces him, patting Makoto on the back and pushing him to the front.

"Hi, thanks for letting me join in." Makoto speaks, trying to overcome his reservations.

"Ever played beer pong?" Ken inquires. Makoto shakes his head "Partner up with me, I'll show you the ropes." Makoto followed the boy to one end of the table, across from two others. He looks down to see an assortment of beer-filled cups on both ends. Ken draws a ping pong ball from a can of clear water. He holds with two fingers and throws it, the sphere landing straight into the opposing team's cup. With a cheer from the onlookers, Makoto watched one of them chug the alcohol and take the ball out.

"Simple right?" Ken smiles, a hand at his hip.

Makoto pressed a finger to his chin. "How do you lose?"

"There aren't any more cups on your side or you stop drinking. Oh, and if someone misses, both teams drink." Ken said.

Makoto gulps. Guess the option to not drink was slim. He felt a hand on his shoulder. "Remember, don't think. Just roll with it." Ken hands him the ball

Makoto takes a deep breath. "Here goes." Makoto threw the ball, it landed just on the rim and bounced off. Whoops.

He held the red cup in hand, his eyes glancing to the other three who didn't hesitate to drink. 'Don't think…'

He chugged the beverage down.

Makoto had to admit that Ken was right. Once he took the first leap, the others were easier…but his aim didn't get any better. His turn was inevitable designated, the "group drink" turn, because he'd never hit the cup. It was a spectacular sight to many. Makoto's aim was accurate, but bizarrely, the ball consistently missed the hole. One time, it actually spun around the rim like a basketball, only to fall out.

Eventually, they won (loosely speaking, he doubted this game had winners or losers). The other team surrendered and couldn't drink anymore.

"We did it!" Makoto jumped and high-fived Ken. His feet wobbled when they touched ground. Once more, Ken had to keep him steady.

"In a nick of time too. I wouldn't have survived another miss." The orange-haired boy looked away with a sick expression, covering his mouth.

Makoto giggled, swaying from side to side. "W-Want to go another round?"

"Let's go find other games. Non-alcoholic ones." Ken advised.

"Lead the way, cap'n." Makoto saluted him, following the boy to a string of party games and meets. He barely retained any memories of his actions for more than 5 minutes back. When he glanced at a nearby clock, he discerned hours had passed and he felt close to passing out.

The boys dropped by a seating area in the corner, the two sprawled out languidly on a leather couch. He didn't know if it was due to the physical exertion, excitability…or because of the fireplace, but it was hot. Makoto discarded his jacket, while Ken did the same to his hoodie. The brunette glanced at his new friend. He could see Ken's muscles were more defined than he'd initially believed. The opening on his midriff also revealed a set of hard abs.

Makoto didn't have an interest in the male gender, but from an objective standpoint, Ken was attractive. As expected of a celebrity. "K-Ken-san, what's it like to be a male idol?" Makoto asked, envious.

"Ha? You interested?" Ken smiled. Makoto nodded, thinking that if he had the same level of aptitude, then maybe he'd be a better, more respectable match for Sayaka. "It's endless practice, they work you like a dog, you have to get along with people you may or may not like and still need to put on a smiling face for the all the world to see." Harshly consistent with everything Makoto had heard thus far. "But It's worth it for the status. Some of my friends think I'm a little fruity, but I'm swimming in money and girls fall at my feet. I'll take the idol life as a definite plus. I might even get bored and miss it when it's gone."

Girls were a positive, of course. "Are you allowed to date any of your fans?"

"No chance. I don't have it as hard as the girls do, I have to look desirable, but one serious relationship or one sight at a hotel with a babe, and I'm toast." He sighed.

"Even if it's with other idols?"

"Same deal. It doesn't matter if it's with celebs or non-celebs. Would make for a good story when you're out of the business though." Ken smirked. "Why the questions?"

"Ah, just curious." Makoto said. In the end, becoming an idol himself might only hurt than help. 'I'll do my best to make Sayaka proud of me, my own way.'

"Call me curious too. What about you, Makoto? Dating anyone?" Ken slid up next to him. Makoto could smell the alcohol in his breath.

He let the question hang for a minute before replying. "…No."

"I'd say that's a shame, but it's perfect for me; I won't feel quite as bad about this."

Makoto didn't get the chance to inquire before feeling the boy's lips smack against his. Even in his intoxicated state, Makoto retained enough sense to know he shouldn't be doing this.

He pulled back, shock evident on his features. Ken pressed closer, pinning him down to the sofa, the stronger boy cupping his cheek.

"It's weird at first, but it's not much different than kissing girls. Don't think and just let yourself go." He said, his face hanging right above Makoto's as he dove in for another kiss.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ken stopped, both boys turn to the source of that snarl. Makoto's eyes widened in fear at the sight of Sayaka glowering at them. In reality, the idol's stare was neutral, but he could see beneath the mask.

"Sayaka. You're kind of interrupting something." Ken said. His tone distinctly colder than Makoto'd heard up to this point.

"My mistake. A country girl like me isn't civilized enough to sit back and watch my friend get taken advantage of."

Ken's face warped in displeasure at the accusation. He strode of Makoto, getting on his feet and locked eyes with Sayaka. "Why are you making me look like the bad guy? He's clearly interested in me, and I wasn't "taking advantage" of him. I'm getting to join Daydream."

Sayaka furrowed her thin blue brows, confused. She gazed at Makoto, the boy turtling up, unable to meet her eyes. The bluenette looked back to Ken. "I'm not sure shoving your tongue down his throat is a valid recruitment method."

"It's called easying into a deal. Or is that a little too much action for you, princess?"

The two silently glared at each other. Makoto didn't know if there was history here of if this was a spur of the moment rivalry. What he did know, was that it was his fault.

"Guys, I'm sorry. Please don't fight." His words didn't come out as articulately as intended.

Sayaka sighed. "He's not able to consent to anything right now."

Ken grunted. "Is he your mark or something? If so? It's fair game if I snatch him up first."

"He's not an object. If you want something from him, ask later." Sayaka spoke with the poise of an idol, no matter how much she wanted to act otherwise, at this moment in time.

Ken scratched his hair. "Not what I meant…Why are you so hostile? Do you like him or something?"

Sayaka's flinch was barely notable. None of the boys had caught it. She turns to Makoto, he was looking at her now, still in a daze. "Yeah, I do like him." She said.

Ken was nonplussed at the unexpected answer. Even more than Makoto was to hear Sayaka admit that detail aloud. The orange-haired boy's eyes shifted between the two as recognition graced his features. "So it was like that. Guess I struck out then." Ken reluctantly rubs the back of his head then turns to Makoto. "My bad, again. I got the wrong idea. Didn't mean to scare you."

"It's no…problem at all!" Makoto hiccupped and waved.

Ken sends Sayaka an apologetic smile and shrug, before walking past her, leaving the two alone. The bluenette kneels by Makoto, getting him to sit up straight.

"Are you mad?" Makoto asks, eyes lidded like he could fall asleep at any moment.

"I don't have the right to complain after ditching you that way." She extends her hand for him to take. "Let's go home."

Makoto tilted his head. "Is my house near here?"

Sayaka pressed a hand against her forehead. "My home."

"Oh…" He nodded in a comically serious way.

"I hope this wasn't too bad an experience for you." She cups his cheeks.

He shakes his head. "It was loads of fun. Until…um, that last part. But then you showed up!" He bounced from happy to dejected.

The idol smiles. "Well, as promised, I'm here to protect you." Sayaka was so kind, she was too hard on herself.

Makoto's gaze roams her lipstick covered lips. He inches his face close to hers.

Sayaka grabs onto his shoulders, clearly rejecting his advance "We…can't?" He asks, with hopeful eyes.

She shook her head.

"S'it cuz we're in public?"

She shakes her head again. "We've still got one more day before you have to leave. Plenty of time to have me however you want then." She smiles, slyly.

"Okay, when we're alone then." He chirps.

She ruffles his hair, correcting him. "When you're sober." She doesn't elaborate on the unspoken difference.

Makoto squints in confusion. "I'm not drunk."

His response was met with transparent skepticism

"I can prove it." He whines.

"Makoto, let's just go home."

He pouts. If she wasn't going to believe him, then he'd just have to show her the evidence.

The brunette procures a tiny, circular box from his pants. He lifts the lid, revealing a silver ring. A feather-design was crafted on the back center. A sapphire gemstone was on the front. "A promise ring. I got this for you at the clothing store. See, I wouldn't have remembered if I was drunk." Makoto stumbles, sloppily placing the ring on her finger. He shows off a toothy grin when he succeeds.

Sayaka stared at her finger in silence. Her shoulders shake, her hands conceal her face, but they don't conceal her giggles. "Of all the tacky –What am I going to do with you?"

He giggles with her. Oh wait, what was the legal age again? "Darn. I-I think I was supposed to give you this later. Right before I go back home."

Sayaka stands. Her fingers wrap against his as she guides him up. "I'll pretend to be getting it for the first time when you do. You won't even notice." That said, she keeps the ring on, for the moment.

"Wow. You're like an actress." He's genuinely mesmerized by that.

"Thank you very much." Sayaka admires his gift, a tantalizing thought came to mind. "If it's a promise ring, what's the promise?"

Makoto hummed. That was a good question, one his mental faculties weren't equipped to answer. Therefore, he went with the first thing that came to mind when you see a ring. "That we'll get married and be together forever."

Sayaka melted at his voice. "You're the sweetest drunk ever, Makoto." She'd make sure to go easy on him if he ever remembered how utterly embarrassing, he'd been this night. "We'll have to wait until we graduate high-school, at least. I promised your sister."

"Till graduation then."

"Things just keep getting curioser and curioser."

The gothic lolita spoke for all 15 students in the room.

Makoto, for one, had no idea what was going on. One minute he was stepping through the doors of Hope's Peak Academy, the next he woke up in an empty classroom, plagued with dizziness and with no idea how he got there.

As misery loved company, Makoto was relieved to see he wasn't the only one in these strange circumstances. Surrounding him were all Super High School Level students, or the Ultimates. Each had an aura far removed from his mundane nature. Leon Kuwata, Hifumi Yamada, Celestia Ludenburg, Sayaka Maizono, Byakuya Togami, Junko Enoshima, Mondo Owada, Kyoko Kirigiri, Aoi Asahina, Toko Fukawa, Chihiro Fujisaki, Sakura Ogami, Yasuhiro Hagakure and Kiyotaka Ishimaru.

He knew none personally, but he recognized some, either by appearances or after introductions. But none of their impressions compared to their "headmaster's" or so demented bear, Monokuma, claimed.

"All of you will live a communal life inside this school. Until the day you die."

They were given an ultimatum. Spend the rest of their lives in these walls…or kill someone. Courtesy of Owada, the threat crystallized when he attacked and threw Monokuma, only for the bear to explode a few meters away.

Had it not been for Kirigiri and her warning …that might have been the end of the biker. The scent of gunpowder lingering in the air was proof.

"A lie, is what it is. All these ridiculous things we've heard… This all has to be fake!" Ishimaru's denial, his plight was shared by those who held onto a glimmer of hope.

A false hope Togami crushed underfoot.

"Right now it doesn't matter if it's real or fake. What matters is…is there anyone here who is seriously considering all this?"

Whatever meager trust existed between them – between strangers – all rotted away.

"Naegi...did you happen to go to Sixth Blackroot Junior High? Were you maybe...in class 2?" Maizono asked. Among the other Ultimates, she'd been the one he got along with best. It was surreal he could talk to a national celebrity like this.

"I'm surprised you even remember me." The only faint connection they shared was that they went to the same middle school.

…

Well, never mind. Maizono took a liking to him, offering to act as his Ultimate Assistant. He could proudly say they were friends. Why else would she confide in him?

"While I'm in here, the world out there is forgetting about me. Minute by minute, we're all disappearing. But still... I can't afford to be stuck in here!" Her reasons for becoming a pop star, the fear and desperation she felt being trapped in here. She exposed it all to him.

The faith she had in him…he wouldn't betray those expectations.

"But it's kind of strange, you know? I never thought I'd get a chance to really talk to you like this. All through middle school, you never talked to me. In fact, you never even looked at me." Maizono mused.

She was a celebrity, he couldn't just gawk at her… and how'd she know that?

"I was watching…I was always looking for an opportunity to talk to you."

"Why?"

"Because…because…" Maizono's arm latched onto her opposite shoulder, looking at him wearily. "Um…oh! Do you happen to remember a boy called Kawashima?"

"Ah! Takashi-kun was one of my best friends." One of…no, Takashi was his best friend. Was there someone else?

"That explains why he always got those up-close pictures of you. My favorites were the ones with the rabbits. I think that's where my interest came from. You seemed like a really nice guy; the rumors said so too." Maizono placed a finger to her lips. "Say…do you have a girlfriend?"

The question caught him off-guard. The answer was of course no. He'd never dated in his life…

…

No way. He felt silly that he even tried to remember, his first girlfriend isn't exactly something he'd forget.

"Aren't you going to ask if I have a boyfriend or not?"

He honestly wasn't all that interested in finding out, but since she asked. "You're popular right? I wouldn't be surprised if you did."

Yet he was relieved when she said no.

"Let's just say... there's someone I'm interested in."

The implication that he was that person, made Makoto's heart flutter.

The two searched for weapons to be used a self-defense, stopping by a golden sword in front of the gym.

"Why don't you take it, Naegi-kun? It's a bit much for me, but you might be able to handle it." Maizono said.

He agreed, with the intention of carrying it back to his room on a later date…preferably after he found some gloves. "I'll put it to good use. Thanks for worrying about me."

"No problem, Naegi. You seem like a defenseless guy, please take care of yourself." Her slender fingers brushed against the silver ring she wore

"I want out! Let me out of here right now!" Maizono thrashed. The videos of their loved ones held captive had stricken her the most. Makoto had founder her sitting in an empty classroom, staring off into space.

He consoled her as best he could. Help would arrive…eventually.

"But...what if there isn't a way out? What if help never comes?"

"I-If that happens... then I'll get you out of here myself! No matter what it takes!"

While hugging Sayaka tightly, he promised to protect her.

Deep down, he felt that wasn't the first time he'd done so.

"Naegi...please be careful. If someone comes to the door, don't open it no matter what."

"I won't. The same goes for you, Maizono. No matter who it is, don't open your door for anyone."

The two agreed to exchange rooms for the night when Maizono explained that she'd heard strange noises in front of her door. Makoto proposed the idea of a switch after bungling here and there.

"...Good night, then. See you in the morning." Maizono offered a goodbye.

The door shut behind Makoto. The boy looked in the direction of the cafeteria, thankful nobody was there. Nobody should have been thanks to the nighttime rule.

When he motioned to the direction of the dorms down the halls he saw…"M-Maizono-san?" The bluenette, who he'd left in his room, stood in front of him.

The idol met his bewilderment with an enigmatic smile. She walked past him towards the main halls. Makoto's rubbed his eyes, she was still there, dissuading the possibility that he was hallucinating.

He turned back to his door, motioning to knock and see if Maizono (who should have been on the other side!) would open.

"There's no point, Makoto. It's already too late." Maizono stopped in the clearing and called his first name. It felt as jarring as it was natural.

"C'mere. There's somewhere I want to take you."

Makoto followed the playful command.

His eyes widening when Maizono turned up the stairs. They'd searched the school for days, but the stairs had always been closed off. Makoto advocated they wake the others, however Maizono wasn't open to derogations, paying his concerns no mind.

Makoto trailed behind her, silently. His thoughts wandered to the openness of the school. The second floor, then the third, then the fourth, and finally the 5th. Makoto's steps slowed down with each ascension, flooded by a sense of familiarity.

Maizono lured him to the greenhouse, which Makoto would more accurately describe as a forest, or botanical garden.

Waiting for them in front of the gigantic flower overhead, was a white, round table and two chairs. Maizono motioned for him to sit, he did, hesitantly.

"Why'd you follow me? At this point, anyone would suspect me of being the mastermind, yknow?" Maizono said, crouching near the greenery.

Makoto spluttered at the sudden declaration. "T-That's crazy."

"Hahaha, yup. I could never kill you, Makoto." Her hands ruffled through the grass, searching. "You're the boy I love the most, after all."

The weirdness of this situation, the hazy light-headedness, and that statement…Makoto could only conclude that "I must be dreaming."

"You have dreams about me too? You and Komaru really are siblings." Maizono stood and faced him, hands behind her back to hide what she'd procured from the flower bed.

Makoto tilted his head. "Did I ever tell you about my sister?"

"You don't remember that dinner? Or the time Komaru fainted? I panicked!" She flailed, finally taking her seat.

He saw static and remembered.

"O-Oh right." How'd he forget that?

"Komaru said she dreamed about being my bandmate, but, what about you? I hope it's nothing too dirty, that'd be super embarrassing." She blushed.

"N-No, nothing like that!" His voice cracked, hands raised defensively.

Sayaka was more mischievous, almost cat-like, compared to the Maizono he knew.

…or Maizono was different from the Sayaka he knew?

…

"Whatever you say~ Just remember, I'm willing to act out most fantasies."

Makoto gripped his knees, head hanging down as his cheeks burned.

But Sayaka wouldn't stop. "Is what I'd like to say, but we weren't really given much breathing room once we enrolled in Hope's Peak – what a coincidence that was! – and Kyoko along with the others found out about our relationship in no time flat."

That's right. It'd been a shocker for her to see him as her classmate in homeroom. Makoto knew she'd be there through social media. The two decided to put up their usual front, claiming to be friends from middle school.

It didn't work out.

"It must have been my fault. I'm not very good at acting." He berated himself.

"No, I'm pretty sure it was mine. After all, I get a little…territorial. Between Kyoko, Aoi, Mukuro, and heck even our upperclassmen! I couldn't let my guard down against girls that tough, and you weren't helping!" She fumed.

Makoto wasn't sure what to say. "So it is my fault? I don't really get it honestly."

"Sometimes I can't tell if you're perceptive or dense, Makoto." Sayaka sighed.

Makoto rubbed his neck, shooting her an apologetic smile. "I never got why you admitted we were dating. You could have kept it a secret, I wouldn't have minded if that's what you were worried about. I don't think the others would have either." Sayaka made it a point to announce to their homeroom that the two were in a relationship, despite the clear dangers involved. Then again, it's not like their friends would have ratted them out.

"Maybe not openly, but I doubt they'd approve of what I was doing; hiding you away like someone to be ashamed of. Even if they did, I wouldn't, not anymore. That was a good excuse to come out with it."

"So it did bother you." Makoto drooped, his shoulders sagging, making him look like a whimpering puppy.

"You should have been bothered the most, Makoto." Sayaka's expression hardened.

"I'm fine with our arrangement." And more than anything else, he didn't want to be a burden.

"I had a feeling you'd answer that way. We were never able to see eye to eye on this." The dilemma where the other believed themselves undeserving of their partner. "That's why I brought you here." She said abruptly and with a cute gesture she asked. "Have I ever told you my favorite flower?"

"A rose." It'd made sense when she revealed it while they were dating. It's incredible how it came from her love of that brand of tea…

"Correct." Sayaka held out a blue rose, gently placing it on the table.

"Pretty. I've never seen a blue one before. Shikiba-senpai must have made it." The Ultimate Botanist was a genius when it came to flowers. "It fits you."

"It does, doesn't it? This one especially. Roses are pretty, everyone likes them. Blue roses? They're prettier and stand out even more. But…" Her fingers drifted down the flower's length. "all roses have thorns, no matter the color."

"I know."

"Do you? Roses are better admired from afar, you shouldn't pluck them out from the wild and hold onto them. You could hurt yourself. Just like this…" She pricked her fingers on the thorns, allowing for pink blood to flow.

Sayaka didn't even let out a whimper, instead staring him down with dead eyes that told Makoto not to move. "An ordinary person would let go. When you didn't, I was happy, at first. You say you're ordinary, but I never took you at your word. Normal people aren't like you." Her delicate fingers pricked on the sharp ends "You're the normal person everyone wants to be. Good, just good…but I'm not. I loved your unconditional affection. But I loved your desperation even more."

Makoto gave a confused reaction. "My…desperation?"

"I'm in the same boat, so I know it's not easy to admit. Though in your case, you're too easy to read for it to be kept a secret. Our relationship started as you wanting to protect me, but soon enough? What you really wanted was to keep me all to yourself, right?"

Her eyes scanned him, searching for a confession.

"I was conflicted" He compromises.

She giggled. "I can't get over that night, when I saw how desperately and selfishly you wanted to me. I've seen that look from too many guys or girls, but never you, not to that extent and not so openly. I couldn't control myself. I was happy that you were closer to me. That you weren't perfect, and I could paint you in my colors.

Knowing that, do you still think-"

"Whatever you say or think. My feelings won't change." This conversation had already concluded in his mind. He loved her. End of story.

"…Never?"

"Never."

…

"That's true, isn't it? You didn't lose to your own desires and apologized for being selfish. Only you could be sorry when I'm the one who placed you in an unreasonable position. You wouldn't let go of me." Sayaka twirled the blood-stained rose in hand, even the blue petals were dyed.

He'd seen enough of that color, it made him nauseous.

"I could never do that, I wouldn't apologize for trying to have you all to myself and I'd do almost anything to keep you. Almost anything." She stressed.

"You really don't give up. I've said it before. That you took a chance on me, was enough." He says, adamantly.

*Static*

Sayaka's eyes harden an icy blue. "That overwhelmingly positive attitude…you're quite cruel yourself. Much like how angry you felt when Sayaka injured her wrist, don't you think it would have angered her to see you enduring that pain?" She spoke in a monotone voice. "I overstepped my mission parameters, hoping to give you closure, but it appears nothing I say will change your mind. I apologize."

He shed a guilty smile. "Charades are over, I guess."

"Yes, there's not much point keeping it up any longer. And I am sorry for violating your memories. You may not recall, but this was a necessary step for us."

"Yeah, it's coming back to me." But before the program was over, he had one final question. "You've seen my…our memories. From your perspective…were we that hopeless?"

She closed her eyes as she spoke "That relationship was doomed to fail at one point or another."

Makoto paused, before nodding. "Yeah, I guess that's not surprising. I tried my best, but that wasn't good enough."

"Let me finish: That is the logical assessment of an outsider." She said." However…the only ones who could answer that question were the two of you."

Makoto fell silent at the non-answer. Of course, it couldn't be that easy, but…doesn't that mean it's impossible to find the answer? Sayaka isn't here anymore. "I'm satisfied. Let's end this."

She nodded. "Alter Ego: Model Maizono. All assigned tasks executed successfully." The rose fell, signaling the end of this 'world'. The floor, the walls, the greenery. Everything corroded, melding into pure white.

"One more thing, Naegi-san. A word, from someone who had the privilege to walk alongside you." The corners of her lips rose. "The word 'hopeless', doesn't belong in your vocabulary."

"..."

Memory retrieval – 100%

Neo World Program – Complete

"How are you feeling, Naegi-kun?" Miaya Gekkogahara voiced her concern through Monomi.

Makoto emerged from the pod, steadily regaining the feeling in his legs as he touched the ground. As for the therapist's question, "I don't know."

Makoto struggled to piece together his swirling memories. The simulation had felt so real, like he'd traveled back in time and relived his childhood. However, this was his reality and there was no running from it.

The hands on his watch ticked once more and time would move on. Without her.