Rule Four || Dream

Red String // Summary and Chapter 1

"Erie-san, you're a little flat," Shizuka stated coldly, not even looking at me.

Criticism makes me feel even worse. I rubbed the back of my neck. "I'm sorry," I apologize.

"Don't be sorry, fix it."

"Yes, ma'am."

Yurino frowned at me. She didn't like how cold Shizuka was being towards me, but I didn't want her to say anything about it.

"That's not fair," Yurino muttered, while Shizuka gave out compliments.

"It's fine, Yurino-chan. I just need to work a bit harder--"

"But you sound fantastic!"

"Not to her, I don't."

After a few more rehearsals, we were able to go. I walked with Yurino outside, and was about to walk towards the bus, when she pulled me around the side of the building.

"What? What is it?" I asked, looking around for the source of Yurino hiding us.

She pointed to a guy, who was walking up to the building. Handsome, tall, and walked with confidence. The guy that Shizuka kissed. The guy who made me want to puke.

Even though Shizuka makes me feel bad, I still love her. I can never stop loving her. And I desperately want her back, to hold her in my arms and call her mine. Not to have her walking around with some guy that I've never seen before!

Shizuka walked out and smiled at him. Then we watched as they walked towards Shizuka's car, which I'm guessing he either drove here in, or he walked here. That should be me getting into the car with her!

I sadly watched them as they drove away, then slid down the side of the building. "This isn't fair!" I cried out.

Yurino knows about Shizuka and I, and how Aya came and ruin everything. I needed the thoughts of someone my age, who would have a similar mindset as me. Yurino was closest to me, so I told her.

"Why do you still love her? All she's done lately was say bad things about you. She never even looks at you!" Yurino exclaimed, looking down at me.

"Yeah, but I love her. And love makes you do crazy things."

"Do you think she still loves you, Erie-chan?"

I sighed and shrugged. "Who knows?"

Yurino offered a hand, and I took it. Then we started walking towards the bus stop, where some of the other AS Girls were. Sayaka had a phone in her hand, and I assumed she was trying to call the bus we had reserved for us, due to privacy reasons.

"What took you two so long?" Kaede asked, noticing our presence.

"We had something to do," Yurino brushed off, going to stand beside Sayaka.

Then Reina came and we talked about this new anime she just discovered. I nodded when appropriate, but still couldn't get Shizuka and her lover boy off my mind. Did she still love me like I love her? Or does she really hate me, like I've been thinking the whole time?

⏮

The morning of the talk show we were going on, I saw Shizuka and the guy saying good-bye to each other. He looked around, not spotting me, and hugged Shizuka. I heard her giggle, and I felt myself become hot with anger. I'm the only one supposed to make her giggle. Me!

The guy walked away, fortunately not coming my way. He was going the opposite way. I waited for Shizuka to walk into the building of the TV show's studio, before slowly walking behind her. Yurino already text me that her and most of the other girls were already here. Without Shizuka by my side, I had no motivation to get up and get ready on time.

"You should really set your alarm clock earlier," Yurino commented, using a napkin to wipe the breakfast crumbs from my face.

"Thanks," I mumbled, feeling sick to my stomach. I had tried to skip out on breakfast, but my mom forced me to sit down and eat, which took up some of my time as well.

"So, I found out some news about Shizuka-san and her lover," Yurino quietly said. "My family went out for dinner last night, and I had saw Shizuka-san with that guy. Apparently, he's her boyfriend. And, he's younger than her! Do you know what this means?"

She had a glint in her eye as she said this, like this was actually a good thing. How? I didn't want to know all about her dumb date with her dumb boyfriend. It made my heart ache even worse, especially since I couldn't do those things with her because of me being a idol and her being a manager. My manager.

"That she doesn't love me?" I mumbled, shrugging my jacket off.

"Actually, the opposite! She's dating a younger guy, meaning she likes younger people..." She trailed off, waiting for me to catch on.

Yet, with my head so foggy over Shizuka, I didn't. And I just stared at her.

"Erie-chan! Shizuka-san still loves you!" Yurino claimed.

"Just because the guy is younger than her, doesn't mean she loves me."

"Well, maybe she's with him to try and forget about you. Also, he has black hair, and he has blue eyes. Just. Like. You. She hasn't gotten over you, Erie-chan! If she's dating the male equivalent of you, she must still love you!"

It made sense. If you weren't over someone and didn't know it, you would date people who were similar to them. If I wanted to start dating, I admit I would date someone similar to Shizuka.

"Don't get my hopes up," I sighed, going to join the rest of the girls in our changing room.

Shizuka...I wish things would go back the way they were before...

Cover by J-Poppy