Eternal Melody

Her thoughts broke off when she noticed Yuhi getting close to her again.

He did it subtly, and yet it was hard for her to ignore him.

Hino sighed and awkwardly rubbed the back of his head before turning to the shelves on the other side.

"You're mad at him, right?"

"It's more like I don't know what to say around him, he—"Sumire struggled to find the words. "—saw that we were both suffering, but he still hid things." 

If Hino had told them the truth a long time ago, then surely some of these disasters would not have happened.

Yuhi nodded. "Indeed, if he said something before, we could have gotten together sooner."

"Are you sure about that Yuhi-san?"

His lips curve to a smile. "Of course, I am sure about your feelings. Back then, you checked me out a lot."

At that comment, her cheeks burned red. He—he noticed? Well, no, of course, he noticed. Whenever she picked him up when he was working in the gym, he would be wearing only a pair of shorts. It was a bad habit of hers to stare at his well-defined muscles since well, where else was she supposed to look?

Yuhi laughed. "I thought it was cute, don't worry about it."

She wants to die of humiliation right now. What is with this situation? How can he be so calm and casual?

"You didn't find it weird?" Sumire asked.

"I think you have forgotten something; back then, I was already in love with you. Like I could hardly complain that you liked what you saw enough to continue—"

At those words, she hit him, and Yuhi laughed more. "Are you embarrassed? It's okay."

Even if he is okay with it, she isn't. She thought she was subtle and that he didn't notice. But now that she has learned that is not the case here, she wants to find a hole to crawl in for a few days. Maybe she can hide out in that kid's tent. Speaking of which, is he still sleeping? How strange, maybe she ought to check on him.

"I guess I am a little nervous." She admitted.

Yuhi squeezed her hands. "Yeah, that is fine too." He trailed off. "By the way, it seems I am the first to find you."

Sumire laughed. "Indeed, as expected of you, Yuhi-san. But I knew you would come."

Even if she did not learn from Sano, Sumire understood that she would not stay in this place for long. If Yuhi realizes she is missing, he will do whatever he could to try and reach her.

Sumire let go of their hands and picked up one of the books; she walked over to the pillar area and sat down on the ground. Her back pressed onto the pillar, moments later, she hears shuffling to find that Yuhi had done the same except he was on the other side.

"I promised you before that I would find you no matter where you go."

"Mm, that's why I said that."

"You remember that well, huh? You know it's funny."

"What is?"

"It is funny that even now, you are still chasing after my back, even though you are so much more now."

At those words, Sumire felt the heat return to her cheeks as she clasped her mouth. Why—why did he notice? Indeed, she has repeatedly told him that she respected him. But even then, she didn't think he would say something like this. Then again, what does he normally say after she makes those respect comments?

"You've been working extra hard, haven't you, for the Takashi Yumi event, this time? You are determined to sing."

"I thought I was ready the previous times too, but look what happened there." A burst of weak laughter escaped her lips. "I like to sing, even if it is painful and suffocating at times, even though it was because of music that Ru got into an accident."

After she pondered on it for so many months, Sumire realized while she worked on the individual songs for Kou and the others that she still loved music. She thought she could let it go, but everywhere she went, something reminded her of her love for music.

At first, she was content just watching Yuhi, but she was chasing after him again before she realized it.

The main reason she wants to sing now is Yuhi; she wants to stand on the same stage as him, as equals and not as master and subordinate. Right now, she can remain by his side as his girlfriend, but she wants more than this.

"Are you not going to reply?"

"No matter what I say, you have made your mind up. Besides, you have put in a lot of effort."

"Aha, I guess you found out about my morning running sessions?"

"Before I came here, I went to the room you use as a study in my main apartment. You idiot, what are you going to do if you collapse?"

Her sweat fell when she heard the irritated tone. "W—well, I didn't, so isn't it okay?"

"You're going overboard. So now I understand why you've been looking pale, and you don't seem to eat around me either. You keep telling me you have eaten already, and I take your word for it since I trust you, but ha, you have the nerve to trick me?"

"No uh-"

"So to find extra practice time, you skip meals and don't sleep--"Yuhi sighed deeply. "Are you an idiot?"

Sumire frantically tried to explain herself, but she knew it would do no good now that he has everything worked out. "B—but it's fine, I managed."

"I can see why Nagawa insisted you didn't leave the house."

"Uh, you spoke to him?"

"I snuck back into jail a few times when there were inspections to make it seem like I was there. During those times, Nagawa visited me and informed me of your situation. He told me that with your current condition, you would collapse if you're outside longer than five minutes, so he decided to keep you inside."

Sumire paused when she heard those words.

It is not like she did not suspect that. His behavior seemed very unusual; he went to such lengths to drug her just she would be unable to leave. No matter how possessive and odd he normally is, Sumire understood that he would never go that far.

To think she can think such things now, a few months ago such a thought would not have crossed her mind at all. The passage of time, huh?

Ru often told her before that time heals all wounds. But this is the first time that logic has ever applied to her.