Eternal Melody

Whenever he spoke to Sumire, time would pass by very quickly. It was no exception this time too, and before he knew it, they parted ways. Moreover, he did not want her to stay outside any longer. He felt something ominous in the air. 

For people like them, the night is a dangerous time. Even before she was aware of her ability, staying out was not an option for her. As a member of the underworld organization Holy Knights, Sumire undertook many dangerous jobs. Many were after her.

He is sure there is a bounty for her head. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he recalled something. That girl had a bad habit of deliberately provoking people and getting into trouble. Ran observed her life in Tokyo so far and saw nothing unusual, but it might be far too soon to tell.

Ran knew Sumire very well; he was one of the few who knew her personally. So he understood that she most likely has not told Terashima about her little adventures at night. Whenever she can’t sleep, she would end up wandering around; that would be fine if it were a simple walk.

She often got into brawls back then. His thoughts broke off when he approached the bushes, and there he saw the figure of a cloaked man.

Ran sighs and yet stretched his hand out in mid-air and pulled the cloak revealing a certain half blonde half ginger hair boy. “Azuma.”

A bored expression plastered on his companion’s face. Captain.”

“…..did you decide to come back?”

Azuma nodded. “Well, it’s no good if you don’t have your third seat. Besides, even if it’s a bother, it’s almost time and all. ….” He trailed off. “The others got attacked.”

His eyes went wide slightly, but he nodded. He wasn’t close enough with his other brothers to actually concern himself too much when they got attacked. He more or less suspected it any day now, since somebody attacked that man.

“They’re foolish to think this will spite you. It doesn’t bother you, does it?”

“Tsk, why would it?”

Besides…he really couldn’t care less about that. Right now, the only thing that was going on in his mind is Sumire. To think she remembered everything, how long has she known? He never did get a chance to ask. But from that look on her face, it’s probably been awhile – perhaps longer than him.

“What would worry you the most is if that girl got hurt, right?”

He sent Azuma a harsh glare, causing him to shrug. “Easy now. I’m not going to lay a hand on her anymore as I told you before it was the drugs…but…”

The expression on his face turns to a much serious one. 

“You should stop goofing around and just take her already… Though I am nothing like the rest of them. It matters more if your the one who does it.”

Ran did not reply and turned away from Azuma. He knew that even if he did this eventually, he would not be able to avoid it. He ought to ask Hamano for an update on Sumire’s condition. She knows about her abilities but to what extent? How much does she know, and how much does she have to find out?

It will be hard for her to learn about that. Ran clenched his fist. If only Tsueno were still alive, then perhaps it would not be-. He paused mid thought and shook his head. If Tsueno was alive, then that guy would not tell her. He would do whatever he could to keep it from her, even at the risk of her hating him.

….

The following morning, Ran did not have any work, so he remained at his residence.

Sumire just finished Jun’s solo song recently, so Ran did not want to bother too much. So he started to work on the song alone; however, it did not end up very well. Whenever he thought of Sumire, Terashima Yuhi would also appear in his head. 

It is frustrating, after all, watching her with another guy. 

The feelings he has for her he suppressed when she was dating Tsueno Mamoru because he knew. Ran knew that the man did not have that much time left to live; that was why he respected their relationship and did not interfere much. But even back then, he did not feel like this.

He felt sick all over. Sumire kissed Terashima so easily in public, and she clung to him like a child. It is a first to see her behave that way. During that time, he had other things in his mind that kept him occupied but

Ran shook his head. There is no use thinking such things; he slumped down on his bed and was about to close his eyes. But he immediately spotted white hair at the entranceway from his window leading to him sitting up.

He recognized the woman, his childhood friend Hikari Yuki. Ran opened the window when he saw who found her. He forgot to tell him about Yuki. “Saguchi let her in. She’s a guest of mine and a friend of Sumire’s.”

Saguache Wei, a person Sumire picked up during the many dangerous jobs she went on as a member of the underworld. One day she said to him about increasing the guards they have, and before he knew it, this man worked with them.

We nodded and led her inside. “Alright then this way…..” 

“Ran-sama, I’m back!”

My my, she really doesn’t change.

After he closed the window, he stood up from his bed and made his way to the door. Upon passing, he recalls the book. Guess he should just leave it be for later. What did she write in that book? 

He recalled what Jun said. He said it was something Sumire wrote in a lot last year. Indeed he recalled that the girl often had a little notebook with her, but he did not know how it ended up in their possession. Did Sumire give it to Jun when she left for Tokyo?

It did not take him long before he went downstairs and headed to the lounge area. When he entered, he saw the white-haired girl sitting on the red velvet couch that had a golden outline. 

He watched her for a few seconds. There is something about this scene that is familiar. She does look like she belongs in this kind of place.