Eternal Melody

"So I hear from the others."

"Yeah, and I heard too that he's been snooping around here as of late. He went on about wanting to see me and all that."

Wait, wait, wait, is that guy around?

She turned to him then. A weak smile appeared on her face.

"Honestly, on that matter, I don't know what to do. It seems like he heard about my upcoming life and will be coming to see it as well. I have avoided it this entire time, but it's not like I can do it forever. In the first place, avoiding isn't something you can do for a long time. Especially in a small city like this." Sumire trailed off as she turned back to look at the river.

But he still had a good view of her face from where he stood. An indescribable look on her face once again yet seemed to fit at the right moment.

"Will you try to escape?"

Sumire chuckles lightly. "If only I could."

"It's simple, you know? You can just not show up tomorrow and hide away somewhere. Take the train to another city for the day and then come back when he is gone."

What was he even suggesting? Such an illogical and reckless plan is not like him at all.

It sounds like he is making a foolish excuse again. When he is with this girl, all his logic and calm composure immediately vanish.

What does she mean by that?

'I understand.'

What does she expect him to say to that? What is that she wants? Numerous questions flashed through his head.

"Yeah, I could do that. But you know something like that isn't going to work."

His thoughts broke off when she suddenly got off the wall and hugged him. His eyes widened. "Ah, I shouldn't be doing this. You're a big shot idol; after all, you will get caught."

Jun tightens his grip around her. "I....I don't...care about that."

"I see, as expected, Jun-kun you're still this way after all. But that's fine, that's alright. So let me answer your question, you know that even if I do want to run away. Because I am so stubborn, I won't do something like that. Since I am stubborn, I can't do it. After all, I already made my mind up a long time to enter a concour again and give it a second chance. Back then, I received g a lot of help from you; you supported me a lot then. Sure Nao, Masato was entering then too. However, I felt like I received the most support from you."

Her voice is like a gentle whisper, something similar to a symphony of colors. He didn't need to have color synesthesia to see it.

Sumire pulls away from him then. "Besides, didn't I just say it? A transient escape is not something that will last long."

….

It was quite late when they returned since they took several detours because Sumire-san kept rushing off. After the meal, it did not take long before it was dark. Sumire insisted on him staying the night since the mansion is on the other side of town.

"Sorry about this, there aren't any rooms except the one Sumire stays in with me," Yuhi said as he rearranged the couch to make it comfortable. 

"I do not mind," Jun interjected. "Was there something else?"

He finds it hard to believe that Terashima stayed behind just to rearrange the couch.

Yuhi awkwardly hands him a few discs. "This?"

"Just some old stuff I recorded before but did not release. Sumire seems to be having a hard time with your song. I figured if you worked together, it would be easier for you."

Jun paused when he accepted the stuff. "Terashima, do you like her that much?"

"I love her more than anybody in this world. I will give her the world if she asks for it."

There it is, no hesitation. Jun wondered how this person could say such things with such confidence. After all, everybody knows what Sumire-san's current state is with romance. 

Before he could say anymore, a sleepy looking Sumire appeared in the door way.

"Yuhi?"

"Hey, there, love."

Sumire groggily made her way over and wrapped her arms around Yuhi. "I'm tired; let's go to sleep."

"Mm, but you didn't have to wait."

"I can't sleep without you."

Yuhi laughed and picked her up. "Stubborn girl. Goodnight, Kira."

Despite her sleepy state, Sumire turned to him and pointed to something on the side table. "Drafts. Goodnight, Jun-kun." With those words said, the couple quickly left the room.

Jun stood up and walked over to the side table, and picked up the score sheets. Drafts? The music was practically glowing, that girl and her amazing ability. 

An idol, huh? From the very beginning, he did not want to become an idol. But his younger brother wanted to, and Jun worried. He was worried that his brother could not handle the harshness of the entertainment industry. So he became one first, and indeed it was a good thing. 

Everything seemed to flow very smoothly until it was time for his brother to debut. Was it because he guided him wrong? But Jun recalled how much his brother hesitated.

"What if I mess up? What if I don't debut at all. I will have to redo everything from the start or even give up."

On the day of his younger brothers enrolling into Moonlight academy, they had such a conversation at the gate. At that time, Jun did his best to encourage him, and he reluctantly agreed, but perhaps he should have said more things.

Even now, he could remember it clearly, seeing his brother from the rooftop and Kou trying to stop him. In the next second, his brother fell from the roof. Thankfully, a bush cushioned his landing, but even then, he has not woken up since that day. 

Later on, during the police investigation, it turned out there was a large number of drugs and alcohol in his room, including a rope large enough to hang at the window on his desk.

His brother's room screamed suicide all over, so nobody blamed Kou, who had been with him. But Jun understood how much the man blamed himself after all the two were lovers. They were both men, but something like that did not bother him. His brother Junie was happy with Kou.

He was happy watching over the two people who meant so much to him. But after that day, everything changed. He and Kou are still in the same group, but his friend no longer smiled as he did before. A fake smile and laughter just to keep up with appearance's sake. The second nobody is looking; his gaze would look hollow and dead.

But since they met Ibuki Sumire, a bit of light has returned to his friends' eyes.