Eternal Melody

Following morning, Iro Road High School

“I already told you to go back to Star town!” Sumire exclaimed. “So why on earth am I hearing that your having a concert here?”

The person on the other end of the phone is Tachibana Masaru.

“Lady your so cruel, why can’t it be here?”

Sumire sighed. “Are you doing this on purpose?”

There was a pause followed by laughter. Sumire clenched her fist. Whenever she spoke to this person, she would end up getting angry.

“Anyhow, lady, something exciting will happen soon. We will see each other then.” With those words said, he cut the line off.

That person–! Ah, forget it; there is no use getting mad. Besides her gaze darted towards her stomach, it will not be good for the little one. She still found it surreal.

Sumire felt herself getting drowsy and looked around for a quiet area. She found some benches right at the side and quickly sat down. Yuhi hasn’t told the school about it, but if they find out, the situation could escalate.

Should she find an excuse to take leave from school for a while? She could ask Atsuro. He is definitely around, and Shin is always sneaking around these days. But if she were to ask him, it would mean having to meet with him. That is something she wants to avoid for as long as possible.

Sumire pulled out her sketchpad from her bag and sighed. When she went out the other day, she thought she saw him and managed to capture the back of someone similar. If he is coming to see her without saying a word, she will get mad too.

But does she even have the right to meet with him after saying such hurtful sounding things? This is too complicated. But if it is that person he should know, shouldn’t he? Shin mentioned a key to Rus investigation notebook. He said no matter where they looked; they could not find it.

A key, huh? It felt like she may have seen something like that before, but right now, she could not think where. She felt very tired, and she wanted to see Yuh– her thoughts broke off when she saw an approaching figure.

“Mmmmm, hey.” Yuhi took a seat beside her and slumped his head on her shoulders. “Five minutes.”

Sumire laughed. “Good boy, you went to class.”

“Where were you?”

“Mmm, I got asked to help the freshman.” Sumire caressed his soft black hair. “I missed you Yuhi.”

“Well, if that’s the case.” He lifted his head and cupped her cheeks. “Let’s do something exciting.”

“Like?”

“Like me kissing you senseless.”

“Alright.”

Yuhi blinked. “You sure?”

“I said I’m fine with it. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Yuhi lowered his face and gently kissed her lips. She wonders what this person is trying to do to her, she goes crazy when she is around him. Then again maybe it’s okay to go crazy and lose it for awhile. Since Ru passed away, she hasn’t had time to relax. But ever since she met Yuhi again, she is gradually returning to how she was before.

If it’s this person, he will accept everything about her. ‘I already knew that from the beginning though.’ But due to the Sano incident, she ended up not trusting others.

“Yuhi, stop for a moment.”

At that comment he drew back. “You okay?”

“I just need to catch my breath.” She trailed off. “–and remember were outside.” Sumire didn’t realize the cafeteria was visible from here until half way.

Yuhi sighed. “Well, that part doesn’t bother me.”

Sumire felt her cheeks grow hot understanding what he meant. “Dummy.”

“Yes, I’m a dummy. But lately, your becoming too popular. That news article was a bad idea. Now many people come here just to get a glimpse of you. Most of them being guys.”

He seems genuinely bothered by it. Even though she won’t look at other guys.

“Sumire.”

“Mmmm?”

She likes burying her face into his neck. This way she can smell him — she paused in mid-thought. ‘I probably shouldn’t say this out loud.’

“I know you’re getting comfortable. But your phone is ringing.”

Sumire tu

rned her attention to the phone on her side, then back to Yuhi. She quickly switched it off. “Mmmm, continue?”

“Such a selfish girl.”

She likes him so much.

“Quit sniffling me for a second.”

“But it’s nice.”

Sumire quickly realized what she said but Yuhi didn’t make fun of her. “Yuhi…I like you so much.”

“Your so honest these days.” Yuhi gently caresses her hair. “Do you need anything?”

“I’m not craving anything today.”

Yuhi kissed her lips. “Not even me?”

She leaned forward and kissed him back. “I do crave something.”

He laughed. “So good. Well, I am glad that you’re being more open with me. I told you before that you can rely on me and stuff. But, also you can do whatever you want to me too.”

“Whatever I want?” Sumire mumbled.

“Mmm, whatever you want love.”

She does want to try something. But unfortunately they are in school so it will have to wait. Yuhi however brushed his lips against her ear.

“I don’t mind.”

Lately it feels like her desires towards this person has increased a lot. ‘What has changed?’

“Sumire, don’t kiss me there.” At some point she found herself kissing his neck.

“Nnnhh, but I want to.”

“Damn, what are you doing to me? Don’t do this stuff Sumire, you’ll make me want you.”

“I’m sorry, is it bad?”

“It’s not like that.” Yuhi trailed off and gently ran his hands through her back. “I just don’t want you to regret anything.”

“But I like you.”

‘In my head I’m trying to remind myself. Yuhi went out with plenty of other girls before. So it’s normal that he is experienced.’ Thump, thump – Sumire felt her heart beat again. But this time around this beating felt painful. What is this?

Her thoughts broke off when Yuhi let’s go of her. “Sorry, let me answer this call for a second.”

Sumire nodded.

“Don’t give me that crap, I told you to leave me alone. Hah? I don’t care if Touko sent you.”

Despite Yuhi talking in English, Sumire immediately understood when she heard the last sentence. ‘Touko?’ Isn’t that Yuhi’s ex girlfriend.

Yuhi sighed. “We’ve already broken up. Whoever I date now has nothing to do with her. I can paint the way I want yo without restrictions.” Yuhi scoffed. “So why would I regret things?”

At that comment Sumire extended her hand out. To her surprise Yuhi pulled her into his arms.

“My new girlfriend is cuter, smarter and ten times better at art than her. So, please tell me what is there to regret?”

Cute? Sumire blinked at the unfamiliar term.

With a few more exchanges Yuhi angrily hung up the phone. However his anger vanished when she held him tightly.

“Sorry about that.”

“Your ex girlfriend?”

“Saw the news and wanted us to break up. She said something like ‘The Yuhi I know doesn’t paint such gentle pictures.’ She criticized it a lot.”

Sumire paused. “What’s wrong with painting gentle pictures?”

“For her it’s a sign of weakness.”

A sign of weakness?

“Think of it like this. When your singing, you try to convey your current emotions. It’s the same with art. People who paint gentle pictures are usually very kind hearted. For Touko, being kind means people can step all over you. I don’t disagree with that logic, I’ve had it happen to me before. The moment I let my guard down, people used and threw me away like garbage.”

Sumire tried to look at his expression but Yuhi wouldn’t let her.

“I don’t want that to ever happen again. So I painted dark images that showed how cruel my mindset. Powerful pictures that would frighten people.”

“Yuhi…”

“But, I want that to change. Even if people try to take advantage of me now. I will know I’m not garbage.”

“How will you know?”

“Because I have a treasure at my side.”