Eternal Melody

"Did you hear about Aki having a hard time?"

"Why are you mentioning this now?"

"Asuka and that annoying captain of hers dropped me a hint when I dropped by the other day. The reason why you are in such a hurry."

"I-" Sumire trailed off. "No matter what I do, I keep causing people problems. Would it be better if I isolated myself completely? Would it be better if I stopped talking to other people? There was a time where I truly thought this way."

But her feelings have changed, haven't they?

"It is the same with Arashi-san. He doesn't want to see me. It was painful when Futaba told me how he's been living up until now. But at the same time, I thought maybe it was a good thing that he forgot. I may have brought light into his world, but I also brought an unbelievable amount of pain to him."

"That's not true, and you know it." Yuhi hugged her. "I know it's still scary. But you'll be absolutely fine from now on. It may have been a journey of redemption, but I'm sure you learned and figured out many things you didn't have the luxury to do before. Everyone's feelings and your own they've always been joined as one and connected. "

"I-"

"It's okay; your feelings will surely reach everyone. I'm sure deep down they've always understood. But since they are all slow, the only way for them to truly understand is through music. "

"Then what about your feelings for me, Yuhi-san? Do you truly want to marry me?"

Yuhi grabbed hold of her hand and kissed her fingertips. "You already know the answer. But since you're still being stubborn." He leaned forward and mumbled in her ear. "Look forward to Christmas."

….

A few hours later, it was finally her time to appear. Yumi-senpai already performed a total of ten songs. It shouldn't surprise her too much since she has already seen her perform so many times. But there is something different. 

Yumi-senpai is truly amazing.

Yumi-senpai was on the other end; they would enter separately.

 It's still scary.

'I am trembling, and my heart is beating so fast.'                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

This is so pathetic; she is still so weak.

What if she ends up relying on everyone else too much like before? What if this time she ends up causing them unimaginable pain? But even then, she wants to sing. She wants to return to the stage. She wants to be able to once again tell everyone. If she can, then maybe something will change.

The scenery she saw only once, she wants to see again. 

Sumire recalled Yumi-senpai, Masaru, and Yuhi's words. The people she looks up to give her such high praise. Normally, when people praise her, she feels suffocated, but something is different when it comes to those three.

'I felt excited. I made them look my way. Can I stand on stage with them and be proud?'

Sumire gradually dragged her feet across to get to the stage. She kept her head low when she heard people whispering.

"Wow, she showed up?"

"Even if she shows, can she sing?"

Oh this song? Her eyes widened when she realized that the background track playing wasn't one of Yumi-senpai's songs but hers.

"Everybody knows what this song is, right? On the count of one, two-"

"Smile." The crowd called out.

It seems she has worried way too many people. Sumire took a deep breath. It is okay now; she can sing. No, she wants to sing.

"If he sky was crying for you

I'll turn into a sea and embrace it

even if we're swallowed by the storm and lose our map

your back is the signpost for me now

like the moon and sun, even when near or far

please be close enough 

to capture my light

smile smile 

watch me always, watch me forever whenever

smile smile 

want to believe, want to feel it forever

smile smile 

being able to understand happy mornings and sad nights

I won't forget to smile

I cannot live without you forever." Sumire sang.

..

Sumire returned after the third encore song was over. Normally having another MC before the last song is uncommon. But she couldn't dismiss that bad feeling amid 'Shine Line. ' Indeed, once she got backstage, she noticed that Soujiro, who had been with Yuhi earlier, was no longer in sight; instead, there was a rather anxious-looking Yuhi.

So the dark clouds she saw from the small roof in the stadium was correct. What are they planning? No, what are they doing outside?

Sumire immediately hugs Yuhi. "Sumire. " 

"This is all my fault. I know you don't want me to blame myself. But I'm not that slow anymore. No, I don't think I ever was. It's my fault. However, if I had been more honest, we shared the blame for what happened then. I could have persuaded you. I've made so many mistakes, and yet people have never blamed me. I wonder why I didn't notice it sooner; love has always been right beside me."

"Sumire-Sumire--"

"It's okay. I'm still afraid. But in our short time apart. I didn't just cry. A part of me learned to be stronger. Yuhi, I love you. That's why I'm here right now. " 

Yuhi placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Leave it to Masaru and the others. I will stay right here."

"If you sneak away-"

"I know."

Sumire hesitated to run to the stage, but it would be bad for her to stop now. Moreover, if she does that, then those people would win. She has to keep singing tonight no matter what.

"Why? I've completely forgotten how to love

meetings will come someday with the beginning of parting

somehow, I have decided upon that idea.

you tied the loose shoelaces of my dirty sneakers

your shy smile suddenly shone in the sunlight." 

Ru, being an idol is truly amazing, you know? Even someone as normal as her was able to change.

"It's not that I love for want of love

you gave me the courage to love straight-forward.

the two swear to the journey from now

that no matter what occurs, the two hands will never part."

She made loads of friends, she has created many precious memories and received so much from them.

"It's weird; the everyday landscape begin to seem special

the flowers, birds, and sea, the wind, mountains, sweet sun

when everything shines together."

She's fallen in love several times.

So many people have loved her.

But, there's always been one person—only one person for her. 

"I found the last piece to the unsolvable jigsaw puzzle

your broad back protects me, and I'll continue to follow you

for eternity."

 Everyone is shining together; their feelings are all connected even now.

 These feelings have increased even more since she came to Tokyo.

"Until now, I've taken the longer way around but

I'm finally able to love straight-forward

the two will head to the dream of tomorrow

no matter what occurs."

She's no longer alone. She never really was. Even in that short time, she left. Everyone's feelings, all those emotions were still there. 

Yuhi, the same goes for you.. Even though it was painful, he must have understood that if they truly were fated to be together, they would meet one day again.