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Valentine's Day was supposed to be a happy day for those who fell in love and wished to spend the entire day with their beloved. Tamarinne, real name: Somi Choi, the young idol of Reingar's Island was not an exception. But from the early morning, her face was gloomy and sad. She kept looking out at the window in a big room, which she used to practice and enhance her performance. Since it was a big event, the Reingar's University held a festival for Valentine's day, and Tamarinne was asked to perform in the evening. Slapping her face rapidly, Tamarinne tried to stay out of struggling thoughts and practiced. But her dance and voice were emotionless.
"Somi, what's wrong?"
The worrying voice woke her. And Tamarinne smiled so free and brightly when she saw the person who just opened the door. Wearing his usual black clothes, the young Suin man, Al, came close to her.
"I'm okay," Tamarinne smiled and tried not to worry him. As long as he was here, she had nothing to fear. But, it did not help to soothe her thoughts. She then asked him, "You woke early. Did something happen?"
"How do you know?" Al was surprised, and his black cat ears raised up while his eyes were opening widely.
Tamarinne smiled and replied, "Normally, you won't wake up until I call you. But if you do, then it must be a problem."
"Can't say I disagree," Al smiled, and so did Tamarinne. He then answered, "Actually, it isn't serious. A female student sent a complaint to Lucy."
"What is the complaint?" Tamarinne wondered.
"Someone set up hidden cameras in the female toilets and dress rooms. The problem is Lucy didn't report to Hazel and decided to investigate herself. She hid and tried to find the culprit. But she was spotted and ran away. Thankfully, she still had some lights on the suspects. We narrow to five of them but Lucy isn't sure who the culprit is and she asked for Hazel's help."
Tamarinne understood the situation. She then asked, "And Hazel asked for your help?"
"That's right," Al nodded. He continued, "Although we have the suspects, we still need to be sure who is the true culprit."
"Then our Valentine's Day is going to be ruined," Tamarinne thought and her eyes were sad. She then asked, "When will you be done?"
"At least, not until late afternoon. I'll try to solve it as soon as possible," Al replied.
Just like Tamarinne, they wanted to spend their time together. But they both knew this was not a simple case and it needed to solve fast.
"I'll be waiting then. Be careful, okay?"
Tamarinne smiled and then, she kissed his cheek. Al nodded and he left the room.
Later, Yuna, the president of the Reingar's school, came to the room and she saw Tamarinne was practicing. But just like before she met Al, her performance was not good. It was not normal at all.
"What's wrong?" Yuna asked.
"Yuna?" Tamarinne startled. And then, they both sat down and Tamarinne shared what happened.
Yuna adjusted her glasses, and said, "I think it won't be a difficult case, but it also depends on Lucy if we want to find the true culprit."
"I know that. But..." Tamarinne stopped. She looked away, before she continued, "I... want to spend the whole day with him, without anything interferes."
"I see," Yuna understood her childhood friend's feelings. She continued, "When I think about it, this is your very first Valentine's day from the day you two became a couple. Both of you have been through a lot, from distance and disconnection, from Al's pessimism and your's shyness, from his stubbornness and your uncertainty. But in the end, you overcame everything."
"Isn't it selfish?" Tamarinne asked with a sad smile. "I know what should be prioritized first, but..."
"And what's wrong with that?" Yuna asked and she surprised Tamarinne. Yuna then continued, "Today is Valentine's Day, the day for the couples. It is not wrong at all if you want to spend time with the person you love, whether you are an idol or not."
"Right..." Tamarinne replied with a weak voice.
"If I were you, to be honest, I would rather focus on practicing and show him my best performance in the evening event. Don't you agree?" Yuna smiled and cheered Tamarinne up.
"That's right," Tamarinne smiled back, and they both laughed in joy. She then said, "But... I wonder if Al can eat chocolate. Although he looks like a human, he's still a cat. I don't want to repeat the mistake I caused him before. Do you remember? When he got skin allergy, I thought cat and dog shampoo would work for him, but his condition ended up worse."
"I do remember. And... that's a hard question. It won't be Valentine's Day at all if you can't give chocolate away," Yuna wondered. She then remembered something and said, "But I remember seeing him ate a chocolate ice cream before. So I think he will be okay."
After thinking and discussing, they gave up. Yuna then stood up and said, "Alright, I'm going back. There are still works need to be supervised. I'll see you around."
"See you late," Tamarinne waved her hand.
"It's good that you have someone by your side, unlike me. But I hope you will be happy," Yuna mumbled. She had to admit that she was very jealous of Tamarinne, who had Al by her side. Until this time, Yuna still thought of the white-haired boy, who was also known as the Heir of the Covenant. Unlike Tamarinne, Yuna knew her feelings would never be responded to.
In the afternoon, Al was staying in an interrogation room, which was separated into two sections. One for him and one for the suspects. Al was not alone. Together with him was a young girl, who had long bright brown hair. Her eyes had the same color as her brown. They were both looking at five young male students, who were the suspects of the case, through a large glass, but the suspects did not see the two of them.
Al began, "So, Lucy, do you recognized any of them?"
"I was hiding behind a toilet's door and I couldn't see his face..." Lucy replied and put a finger to cover her mouth, and she was trying hard to remember what she saw. She then continued, "...but I heard him singing a song."
"Do you remember what song it was?" Al asked.
"I believe it was "I'll kill you that way"?" Lucy replied with her doubt.
"Slashstreet Boys, I'm familiar. Okay..." Al said and he stepped close to a microphone, and spoke, "Number one, can you please sing the opening to "I'll kill you that way"?"
The first suspect was stunned. He said, "Really?"
But then, he nodded, "Okay."
"I'll set... you on fire," the first suspect sang.
Seeing Lucy was shaking her head, Al turned to the second suspect and spoke, "Number two, keep it going."
"With gas... and a lighter," the male student sang.
Lucy shook her head again. Al then spoke, "Number three."
"Believe, when I say..."
Al spoke, "Number three, we are singing "I'll kill you that way", not "I want it that way"."
"What is the line..." the third suspect stopped and tried to recall the lyrics. After recalling the lyric, he sang, "You'll scream... when I say..."
"Number four," Al spoke but his voice was a little bit strange as if he was singing with them.
"I'll kill you that way," the fourth suspect sang.
Al then raised up his arm and sang, "When you die..."
Lucy was shocked.
But not the suspects. They all sang together, "Ain't nothing but a dream state."
"When you die," Al sang.
"Ain't nothing like camp Crystal Lake," all the suspect sang together again.
Al then sang, "Now number five."
"It's nothing but a sick game," the fifth suspect sang with a beautiful and perfect voice, and he shocked Lucy.
"Woo!!" Al raised his arm up again.
"I'll kill you that way," all the five suspects sang and finished the interrogation.
Al took a breath and said, "Chills, literal chills."
"It was number five. Number five set up the cameras," Lucy spoke quickly.
Al then startled and replied, "Damn, I nearly forgot about that part. Well then, let's grab him."
After closing the case, Al quickly rushed back to Tamarinne. But he was shocked at what he saw.
"Somi, are you okay?" Al asked with his worrying voice and rushed to Tamarinne.
While Yuna was bandaging Tamarinne's right ankle, the young idol smiled and replied, "I accidentally fell down. It's not serious but I won't be able to perform tonight."
"I will have Hazel postpone it," Yuna checked Tamarinne's wound carefully, before she stood up spoke to Al, "Well then, I'll leave her to you."
When Yuna left, Al checked Tamarinne and he sighed in relief and did not notice how happy she was when he was here.
"Alright, get on," Al then turned his back on her and offered her to climb up his back.
"Well..." Tamarinne was embarrassed. It was the same situation before back on Halloween day.
"Come on, or we will be late at the festival. I'll carry you the whole night, just like before," Al spoke.
Tamarinne wasted no more time and climbed up on his back. After that, she squeezed her arms around his neck and smiled with pure happiness, and she did not forget to kiss his cheek.
After that, she said, "Alright, let's go."
"Aye aye, ma'am," Al replied.
"Oh wait, before I forgot. Open your mouth," Tamarinne requested, and Al followed without thinking.
After Al tasted the sweetness of the chocolate piece in his mouth, Tamarinne said, "Thank you... for being by my side."
Al smiled, and replied, "I should be the one who thanks you. If it weren't for you, I don't know who or what I become."
"So, how about the chocolate?" Tamarinne smiled back, but she wondered if the chocolate would harm him.
"It's really tasty. I like it," Al replied.
After feeding him the whole box of chocolate, Al showed no symptoms and Tamarinne could not be happier. And they spent the whole night together. But when midnight fell, Al got stomachache and diarrhea, and Tamarinne was waking up the whole night to take care of him. Thankfully, it was not because of the chocolate, but because he ate too much food.