Eternal Melody

December 31st, Tokyo Shrine

A legend says if a person rings the bell together with the person they love, they will be together forever.

He does not believe in such things, but he learned from Atushi that girls love this type of thing. So, he planned to tell Sumire that he wanted to do this with her. However, his eyes twitched, annoyed when he saw the other guys crowding around the gate area.

"Sumire-san! Yuhi-san! Over here." Yoru excitedly waved his hand around.

Damn these guys, how dare they interrupt his time with Sumire? Then again, he has hogged her all to himself since Christmas. Still, he was only left alone with her for two days; on the twenty-sixth, Atsuro showed up with the kid and said.

'I am going on tour in the next town for a while. Take him.'

What is with that going on tour during this time? He is doing that on purpose. 

"Your so late, and you're the person who invited us too. Gee Yuhi, get a grip." Atushi lectured.

"My bad."

"As expected of King, right after the new year starts," Jae commented.

He drank way too much yesterday. "Happy new year, everyone."

He simply watches the others go around various stalls with Sumire for the next few minutes. He is not the festive type and did not enjoy doing any of these activities, so he simply stayed in a quiet corner and watched.

 "How can you act so nonchalantly? Aren't you feeling anything?" His head honestly kills, or rather the dosage of alcohol on those drinks is way too dangerous. It took him by surprise when Kou suddenly dropped by like that. 

Although he intended to spoil Sumire until the new year, he had something to deal with yesterday and did not get back till late.

Yuhi expected Kou to lecture him. But instead, all he got was a heart-to-heart talk. Damn him, acting grown-up when he usually acts like the fool most of the time.

Kou remained calm. "I understand my drinking limits, and I'm capable of controlling the amount I drink like any responsible adult. "

No, he is the one who drank a frightening amount.

"Your scarf, you ought to adjust it."

Yuhi mumbles yeah and quickly fixes it. He wonders why Shougo is being so nonchalant about all of this. Even if he is trying to look at it from a mature perspective, it doesn't change the fact that it's wrong. Then again, whenever he takes those drugs, he ends up in this condition. Thankfully Sumire was deep asleep when he returned and only woke up briefly during midnight.

He could only imagine how she would have reacted. She would definitely misunderstand.

'Aika was right. It is easy for an accident to happen to go to those types of places.' It is a good thing Kou showed up; otherwise, something bad could have happened. 

"You don't have to feel so guilty. You've done nothing wrong."

"You think so? I feel like it's my fault those women became like that."

He had to leave Sumire alone for a while because he received a tip from a reporter that he was close with. Some of the girls he slept with in the past were rallying together to cause trouble for Sumire.

"I want all of this to end soon," Yuhi mumbled. 

Sumire has finally stepped onto the stage properly again. He cannot allow foolish people to destroy her hard work and efforts.

Kou patted his shoulder. "It's alright, leave it up to me. It will still take some time, but I'll take care of it. Honestly, I'd love to just step in. But if I make any sudden movements and they notice."Kou's gaze lands on Sumire, who is beside Ran. "They'll go after her, won't they?"

Yuhi nodded, " I'd like to think it's an empty threat. But I don't think she would bother with that. "

"That's why I'll look into it. I'm sorry but bear with it for a while. "

Bear with it, huh? But, he truly hates going to those places. It reminds him of when he was a huge mess and used such stupid methods to cope with his pain.

His thoughts broke off when he felt a pair of arms hug him from the back.

Oh, it's Sumire.

"Wow, isn't that a parade? Let's look."

"Wait, idiot, if you go around by yourself. You'll draw attention!"

With Shougo leaving and Rinna chasing after him, he was left alone with the sleepy Lila. This is bad; she's so cute. He wants to take her back home with him.

"Are you tired?" Yuhi said kindly. "We can find somewhere quiet, and you can rest for a bit."

At those words, Sumire suddenly stepped on his foot. "Now you are acting concerned? I couldn't sleep at all yesterday because I was worried about where you went."

"I told you I had a business-" Yuhi trailed off once he saw her expression. "You didn't believe me."

He thought he managed to trick her, but it turned out she knew all along.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and tugged on the scarf. A dark aura surrounded her. "You even let those annoying flies get to you!"

His sweat fell. "It won't happen again, I was a bit tipsy, and one of them got close to me."

But his explanation did not appease her at all; instead, she got angrier. "Then it's your fault for dressing so handsome! I remember what you wore yesterday, how could you wear something like that? If you enter a club filled with single women, of course, they will pounce on the next looking prey!"

'Uh dear wife, are you sure you're talking about them or yourself?'

Yuhi rubbed the back of his neck. He hasn't seen her this angry before. He thought he understood how jealous she got, but it seems he underestimated her.

"I'm handsome?" Yuhi tried to change the topic, but Sumire wasn't having that either.

"Urgh, if you have to go to a place like that, you have to take me with you! Yuhi, you don't understand how scary women can be. As long as they don't see a partner with their prey, they will behave so shamelessly. Even if they bring their partners, if they aren't pretty enough, they will flirt right in front of them."

'Prey...' This girl is she lecturing him or flirting with him?