Eternal Melody

After Asuka left, the doors opened after a few minutes. The last person he expected to see was Nagawa Sano but even more surprising was that Sumire was with him. Didn't she meet Soujiro? Why are they together?

Yuhi observed them. Sano had his coat draped around her shoulders, and he was asking her if she felt okay. He felt a sudden pain in his chest, and he clenched his fist. It is not like anything has changed between these two despite what happened recently. From the moment Sumire decided to pay attention to Nagawa, they have behaved this way. 

His thoughts were about to spiral out of control when Sumire rushed over to him and hugged him tightly. "Im back, Yuhi-san!"

"Yeah, why-" His sentence fell short when he smelled something familiar. The bandages restricted the smell of blood, but it was still fresh for him.

Yuhi grabbed her wrist and noticed there were bandages there too. Before she could say anything, he dragged the girl out to the back. The moment he shut the door, he pinned her against the wall.

Sumire laughed softly. "Uhh."

"Why are you hurt?"

"When I was leaving Soujiros place, I got into a bit of dispute with the guests who were on their way to visit him."

Yuhi frowned even more, when he heard those words. "They aren't delinquents. Why would they attack you?" He inspected her closely and noticed how her hair seemed out of place.

"I guess just seeing my face makes them angry."

"You didn't provoke them?" He knew how much she liked to tease people.

"This time, I am innocent. More importantly," Sumire wrapped her arms around his neck. "Does the smell of my blood not bother you?

Yuhi stared at her dumbfounded when he heard those words escape her lips. It seems like she is getting braver; then again, he does not dislike it when she is this straightforward with him.

But instead of falling for her provocation, he reached over and grabbed her arm again. A pained screech escaped her lips, and Yuhi frowned.

"I thought since you came with Nagawa, he would tend to your wounds, but--"

"I didn't want to get close, so.."

Yuhi awkwardly ran his hands through his hair. "I know you are considerate of me, but you do not need to go this far. You got hurt, and he is a good doctor."

"A good doctor, huh?"

"What?"

Sumire didn't say anything, and he led her over to the benches. The moment he sat down beside her, though, she immediately clung to him. "Yuhi, you don't have to get jealous."

He sighed deeply when he heard her say those words. "You know I am trying hard not to. But--"

But just now, when they came through the door together, a thought crossed his mind. They looked so perfect and so natural together. 

"Ssh Yuhi, it will all be okay. My feelings for you have remained unchanged since the day we first met."

"Didn't you say it wasn't love at first sight?"

"I said that since I fell for your voice first. But in this situation, I will use this."

Hah, in this situation? Yuhis gaze softened when he saw her rambling. Sumire is struggling to make things normal after what happened that day.  If it were the old her, then she would have run away by now and hide for a few days. 

Yuhi cupped her cheeks and noticed her look down. "Is it awkward?" He asks a question that he already has the answer to.

"Yes."

"But you want to keep trying?"

"Mm. I know most couples would take a break or something."

Yuhi felt his heartbeat increase when she said the words take a break. He knew that she was only using it as an example, but even that mere suggestion upset him.

His thoughts broke off when he felt Sumire take his hand in hers.

"But just the mere thought of that is heartbreaking. I wasn't kidding when I told you I always liked you, and when I accepted your confession either."

"I know," Yuhi mumbled. Despite her not using the words love, he understood her feelings for him very well. 

"Then Yuhi-san, will you have more confidence from now?"

"Confidence?"

"Just now, you say that sight with Sano and end up upset. It will not be the last time you see such things."

"Are you going to flirt with him deliberately?"

Sumire sighed. "No. But I have a lot of male friends, Yuhi-san. I don't want you feeling bad every time you see me with them."

It took a second for her words to register in his mind. Right, he almost forgot. She has loads of male friends who happen to have feelings for her. This will not be the first or last time. Now he is starting to understand Nagawa a little. It is easy to feel inferior whenever there is a better candidate around.

This was the main reason why he was uneasy around Makoto Soujiro. The man is a member of the elite circle. No matter how rich he becomes and famous, that is only limited to the entertainment industry.

Yuhi wrapped his arms around her, and Sumire laughed softly. "What is it?"

"I think I can relate with him a little."

"But even if you do, you won't behave the way he does, will you?"

Yuhi shook his head. "I won't, but it does hurt." This is the first time for him to feel this way, and yet when he saw that moments ago, he experienced something very painful. It felt like somebody had ripped apart his heart from his chest.

"I see, it hurts. I wonder how he coped with it this entire time then."

Right, if he thinks this hurts, then what about Nagawa?

"Maybe you should get to know him," Yuhi suggested. From what she has told him, it does not seem like she got a chance to know him before they dated.

"You would be okay with that?"

"Well, as long as I get to know him too."

He does not want to live a life with such hateful feelings in his heart. He no longer wants to return to those days where he did not trust anybody. 

Sumire blinked before she burst into laughter. Yuhi rolled his eyes. "It isn't that funny."

"No, it is. I wondered what you were about to say." Sumire trailed off. "You know, I wonder if Ru knew about this too."

"About this?" He repeated.

"I wonder if he knew that I would end up not disliking Sano one day."

"Who knows?"

Whenever Sumire spoke about Tsueno Mamoru, she would get this look in her eyes. Yuhi clenched his fist, more than these new ugly feelings of jealousy towards Nagawa Sano. There is one emotion he cannot erase. Mamoru is dead, and even if he were alive, the one beside Sumire is him. But he cannot get rid of these ugly emotions inside of him.