Eternal Melody

This is the outcome he wanted when he first saw her dead-looking eyes when they met again in that bar on her first day. 'I will do anything to make her smile again.' To think her spending time with the others would do that. Initially, he thought it would be bad to spend so much time with them, but it seemed that concern was for nothing.

It should concern him more than a bunch of delinquent guys were spending time with his wife. But for some reason, he didn't mind it. It's not like any of those guys have the nerve to make a move on her. Moreover, the like they have towards Sumire is different; otherwise, he would have said something.

"Yuhi?"

"Set up a meeting."

"Right, then take care of Sumire." With those words said, Yuhi ended the call. His gaze fell on the emblem; the screen vanished since the footage already ended.

He wanted to delete the data, but he knew Sumire kept it this entire time, so he put it back in the box and inside her bag. She must have a reason to bring this with her everywhere even though there is an excellent risk of somebody finding it out, especially in the entertainment industry. 

Many people would stoop so low as to search through another person's belongings to find any dirt on them. But even with that risk, Sumire takes this with her everywhere.

Yuhi recalled her painful cries and even the tears in her eyes when she hurt those people with an ability she couldn't control. He rushed out of the house quickly. He needs to get to her as soon as possible.

..

It was already quite late when he arrived at the hospital. Yuhi didn't waste any time with the formalities and headed straight to her room. If the security guards do see him, they already know who he was anyway. Besides, Nagawa extended the visiting hours for Sumire's sake, and they made a special exception. 

Yuhi stood in front of her room and paused. What if Nagawa is in there with her? Maybe he ought to have called first. Yuhi shook his head. He needs to stop being so considerate. Besides, she heard from Sumires own mouth what she thought of Nagawa Sano.

He opened the door to darkness no to a small light source by the girl's desk. Right, she has a hard time sleeping in the dark. He wonders how she has been sleeping well in the hospital this entire time. He knew how strict they were at saving energy and stuff. This small lamp probably switches off when she is sleeping. 

Yuhi quickly crawled into the bed, relieved that there was nobody else there. The moment he did, he hears her shuffling. 

"Mmm, dearest?"

"It's me."

Sumire snuggled against him. "You didn't bring Huan? Your so silly, Yuhi."

Right the kid, when he came back, Yuhi realized that Huan wasn't there anymore and there was a note from Atsuro.

'I will take the kid for a while. You and Sumire have way too many problems.'

Well, it's not like he could deny those words. Despite how much time apart Sumire spends with her son, however. Yuhi noticed how attached the kid was to her and how much she cared for him. Yuhi remembered asking her if it bothered her that she couldn't be with him every day, and she said to him.

'That is what makes each moment precious.'

Right when she said that, he thought that she looked like a mother.

But then he would remember the reason why she couldn't live peacefully with her child. Why does she have to suffer so much?

"You--I'm sorry." Right at that moment, he burst into tears.

Why wasn't he beside her then?

'If I didn't leave for Tokyo, that would never have happened.'

Sumire brushed her fingers across his eyelids. "You haven't cried in front of me in so long. I was starting to think there was something wrong with you."

"Why would I cry when you make me happy every day?"

'She is beside me now; why would I cry?'

But seeing how she suffered like that, he couldn't help it. A girl like her shouldn't have to suffer such grievances.

"Ssh, it's alright."

"No, it isn't. You, I should have been there."

"Mmm, you should have. But I am glad that you weren't. If you were there, they would have kidnapped you instead. So at the very least--"

He cuts her off by missing her. 

"No, it should have been me."

"You'll keep blaming yourself even if I tell you to stop. So I'll say this; instead, Yuhi, it's fine because I escaped, and I'm alive right now."

That's true; she is alive right now. She is alive and right here beside him. But why does he feel so uneasy? What is this odd feeling lingering in his heart?

"It's okay because you are beside me now."

Yuhi caught a glimpse of her expression and saw how happy she was. Yuhi sat up and made her do the same. "Shall we talk a quick walk, Sumire?"

"Sure!"

Yuhi made sure she was wearing something comfortable, but even then, he made sure to wrap his jacket around her shoulders.

She seemed chirper, unlike earlier, and the color had returned to her. It was quiet; there was nobody other than them walking around the hospital.

When they reached outside, she skipped ahead happily.

He accomplished his goal, and she can smile now, yet sometimes he felt that something was missing.

"Say Sumire?"

"Yes?"

The moment she turned around, Yuhi felt his heartbeat increase seeing her bright smile. 'What is this feeling? Since when did I feel like this towards her?' This felt very stupid to him. How many years have passed since he learned of his feelings for her? 

"Are you having fun with the others in bar akagumi? Before you disappeared for two months, went there frequently, and you liked staying over."

Sumire nodded. "I find it fun being there with everyone."

"You also seemed to have gained a lot of weight."

She puffed her cheeks into a pout. "Are you calling me fat?"

His sweat fell at how quickly her attitude changed. "Not that, but when you came here, you looked so frail like you would collapse if somebody merely passed by you. But unlike that time, you eat more."

'She also smiles more.' He wondered what those people in the underworld would think if they saw this side of her. Then again, some have already seen it. 

He also heard recent rumors saying that she isn't as ruthless as before. Although he is happy with her smiling more and making friends, it could potentially be dangerous in the long run.

Now that she has more precious things, now that she has more things to lose. 

Yuhi shook the negative thought out of his head. If it were in the past, he would be more concerned. But there is no doubt that Ibuki Sumire has changed.