Eternal Melody

Hino sighed again. "My little brother."

Sumire blinked when she heard those words. She did not expect that. So now it made sense, "When I spoke to him earlier, he resembled you."

"I didn't think we would be alike."

"You're acting like you've never met him before—"Sumire paused. "Wait, you've never?"

"My family is weird, Sumire. Or rather, my old man has a bad habit of sleeping with random women and abandoning the child on the streets. However, that boy is the son of his current wife, so he is different from me. It seems he discovered a dangerous secret, and people are chasing him down. My father is searching all over for him."

"He didn't mention his family."

"Well, that makes sense. His father is the prime minister."

"Wait--?"

So that would make Hino— what an odd string of events.

"That old man had the nerve to contact me and ask me to search too."

"You were in touch?"

"It was shortly after I met Yuhi, that guy got in touch with me and told me never to see him again. He gave me hush money, and I used that to build up connections before I made my own money to start up the company. After I became successful, he returned and tried to use me."

So Hino had a background story like that. Now that she thought about it, whenever the prime minister appeared on the news, Yuhi would immediately switch the channel.

"So why did you keep your brother here instead?"

"Father is looking for the kid to silence him. I think he will deliberately give him to the bad guys and let them deal with him. Then he will become the tragic father who lost his son." Hino trailed off. "This game of politics is very messy. I prefer dealing with the entertainment industry; it is a lot easier for me."

Sumire chuckled when she heard those words. "Are you sure about that? The entertainment industry has me."

"Maybe politics is better." Hino jokes.

Sumire stepped on his foot, but Hino continued to laugh. Oh, somehow, they are talking to each other like they normally would. It seems she cannot dislike this person. She indeed felt betrayed that he kept things from her, but she still cannot hate him. The same goes for Sano too, even though he did all that, in the end, she cannot hate him. But she hasn't forgiven him either.

Her mindset is very complex; sometimes, she doesn't understand her own thoughts and beliefs.

"But you know, I think I know why you don't want to see Sano for a while. He left very deep marks on you."

Sumire looked at him, puzzled.

"Your neck."

She rushed over to the mirror by the door and indeed saw the deep markings on her neck. Her eyes twitched, annoyed. So this is why he can keep calm around her during the day. At night once she falls asleep, he must be—just the thought of it disgusted her. 

"Don't blame him too much; he has suffered a lot the last few days."

At that comment, Sumire raised her eyebrow. Sometimes she cannot tell what Hino is thinking. Does he want her to get back together with Sano? Most of the time, it looks like he is against them even interacting, and yet there are times like this.

"Give me your phone."

Hino blinked, puzzled but passed her his phone. Sumire took a deep breath before she quickly dialed Sano's number.

That's Sano's voice, isn't it? There is no mistaking it despite the muffled tone due to the panting and grunting sounds. It seems Hino was right about him sleeping with other women. It doesn't bother her, she can calmly listen to this, but somehow there is something strange. It seems she doesn't understand her own emotions regarding him very clearly. Is it because from the very start, she forced herself to like him?

A relationship of convenience that was all she expected from him. She expected them to both use each other and ended things peacefully. But at some point, she does not know when but somebody got attached. Which one of them became attached first? After learning more bits and pieces regarding their past, Sumire wondered if Sano became attached first.

If so, then it must have been painful for him because she could not return his feelings for her.

"It sounds like you are enjoying yourself; if so, then just let me say this. I will come back but cope with me for a while."

She did not criticize him, but she did not brush it off completely.

She hears the girl respond. "Wow, isn't that a girl's voice? Hey, you said Nasaki Hino isn't seeing anybody."

"Hn, he isn't."

"But a girl-"

At that comment, she heard shuffling, and Sano must have taken the phone off the girl. "Sumire?"

"Mm, correct."

"Wh-where are you? Hino found you?" There was a mixture of displeasure and happiness in his tone.

He probably does not like the idea that Hino found her. Even though he was just doing that stuff with another woman moments ago, he is displaying his jealousy right now. He is indeed an unusual man.

"I'm safe; that's all you need to know."

"Can I come see you?"

"No."

There was silence for a moment before Sano mumbled. "I need—I need you to come back, I can't—"

"I already know," Sumire interjected. He is going to say that he cannot live on without her or something along those lines. Whether that was true or not, Sumire didn't care to find out. But right now, she understood this much. In his way, he is changing, and perhaps there are a few things she misunderstood about him.

Does that mean she will forgive him? Unfortunately, the answer is still no. In her heart, no matter how close she becomes to him now, she still cannot forgive him for what happened in the past. For her to forgive him, she first has to uncover the truth. The odd things that occurred while they dated almost like somebody planned it all. Back then, she was suspicious, but ,she couldn't focus on it due to her emotional mindset.

"Let me see your face."

Sumire sighed. "It won't do you any good, and don't switch on your camera either; I don't need to see you fooling around."

"I thought you wouldn't get jealous."

"I'm not, but it's not something you should show other people like it is some kind of trophy."

Sano sighed. "It seems you are okay if you can lecture me."

"Mmm."

"I thought you escaped with Terashima or something. But Terashima is still in his cell in the Hyou4 prison."

 At that comment, Sumire panicked. "Did you tell Yuhi I was—"

"Yes."

She looked towards Hino, mumbling abort mission. It is over if Yuhi knows. Yuhi will not stand around in prison for any longer and go look for her.