Eternal Melody

The possibility that Tsueno Mamoru was alive was quite high.

That was why he went briefly to Star Town right after Mamoru’s death, and he wanted to check for himself. But in the end, he could not find any definite clues. He couldn’t stay long just in case people found out he was there.

When he came back to Tokyo, he tried to investigate things here from his end. But it was difficult to do so with his busy schedule, so he had no choice but to halt the investigation.

When Sumire came here, and she vocally explained the other reason why she came here, Yuhi decided that he would help her.

Mamoru’s death was odd. He and Sumire were not the only ones who thought that way. When Atushi found out he was investigating, he also joined in and commented on the same thing.

“Did he save you?” Yuhi did not question her, but instead, he asked her another question.

Sumire blinked, and then she drew back from him; with a large sigh, she said. “Why did you believe me right away?”

“Huh?”

“Most people would say I am delusional.” Sumire trailed off. “This isn’t the first time Yuhi, where I thought I saw him.”

“It isn’t?”

“Back when I locked myself up in his place, there were a few times where I thought I had seen him. But, there is no way.” She shook her head. “There is no way he would watch, let alone leave me in that terrible state. If he were alive, he would see me right away. He would have no reason to sneak around.”

Yuhi didn’t say anything to this. Mamoru would have a reason to act sneaky. That guy would think he is doing everything for her sake.

“Yuhi, tell me that I’m wrong. Tell me I didn’t see him.” Her tone and her eyes looked so desperate.

She probably feels like screaming too.

“Sorry, but I also considered that he might be.”

“Ru wouldn’t do this to me. He would see me.” Sumire exclaimed. “He wouldn’t leave me alone for so long or let me suffer.”

Yuhi bit his lip when he heard those pained words, and it sounded like she was screaming in agony. It seems he doesn’t know as much as he thought he did about Sumires relationship with Tsueno Mamoru. If he knew, then perhaps he could understand what she is trying to say better now.

She seems so confident that Mamoru could never do anything to hurt her. But with him and with others, she seems so distant. Sumire always says that she is ready for him to betray her anytime. However, Sumire does not consider the possibility that Mamoru will betray her?

What on earth did this guy do to convince somebody as stubborn as her? He would also like to learn those tricks.

Yuhi pulled her into his arms again. “Ssh, I will find out.” Yuhi caressed her hair and back. “I will find out Sumire, and you just have to—”

The girl shook her head and raised her face. There was a serious look in her eyes. “No, I have had enough of sneaking around. I will find out the truth at any costs.”

……..

At TS station

Yuhi sighed deeply as he thought back to what happened yesterday. He did not want to leave her behind and go to work, but it was not like he had much of an option. Sumire would hate it if he skipped work for her. At least Sumire on her normal day. Before he left in the morning, there was a strange aura around her.

“Terashima, if you are going to occupy our break room, could you at least not sigh every five minutes?” Kira Jun said in a monotone voice.

Right now, he was currently in Quatro lights break room. It turned out they had work in the same building, not that it surprised him. 

The entertainment board is serious about him forming a group with them, but he had other things to worry about right now.

“Now, now it is refreshing.” Maon Kou beamed happily as he placed a box in front of him. “Here, Yu-yus portion.”

Yuhi raised his eyebrows. “What?”

“Ta-da, my family restaurant’s specialty. Maon karage bento.”

Yuhi looked at the lunch box and saw karage and other meat dishes. Sumire would like this.

She probably won’t have the strength to cook in that state, and he is not counting on Nagawa.

The brown-haired man placed another two boxes in front of him. “For Sumire and Nagawa.”

This guy is oddly perspective. Yuhi mumbled thanks and looked around the room. “Where are the other two?”

“Those two get a lot of jobs together,” Jun explained. “A lot of people believe they are similar.”

 He supposes he could understand that logic.

“By the way, Terashima, have you heard of a designer that clings to Sumire-san a lot?”

“A designer?”

“Yes, we often saw that guy around a lot, but he went abroad near the time Mamoru-san passed away. I wonder if there was a connection.”

Wait, a male designer? Yuhi frowned but quickly shook his head. He has no right to act jealous.

‘Jealousy is a monster in disguise, Yuhi-san will you become a monster for me?’

But now that he thought it through, Sumire will most likely like that.

“I haven’t.”

“He was always around Sumire-san, but she didn’t push him away. I don’t think she liked him either since she responded coldly to everything he said.”

That sounds like a complicated relationship.

“Do you think this guy is involved somehow?”

“One time, Kou said he found them in an odd situation. Sumire-san was pointing a blade at his neck while the guy had her pinned to the ground.”

Yuhi almost dropped the boxes in his hands when he heard those words. Huh? What on earth is that all about? He turned to Maon Kou.

“I think that time Mimi mentioned something about being more cautious towards anybody new.”

Despite the vague information, Yuhi gradually understood. That designer guy must have been a spy somebody sent to gather information on Sumire. But it would be difficult to pinpoint who. The girl has many enemies, and he doubted that guy told her who sent him.

“But you know after that time, I saw them together a lot more, and Mimi wasn’t as cold as before—” Kou paused like something just came to mind. “Mimi was very lonely then, maybe-“

“Fool,” Jun muttered. “She was with Mamoru-san then.”

“But Mamoru-san was weird! When Ran-chan was making a move on her, he never did or said anything!”

‘That doesn’t surprise me either. Yuhi knew Tsueno Mamoru, at least the Tsueno Mamoru who loved Ibuki Sumire very well. That guy would do anything to make sure she is happy. Both of us want the same thing, and yet I could never push her to other guys.’

 “You think they have that type of relationship.”

Kira nodded. “I don’t mean this in a bad way but back then she-“

Yuhi shook his head. “You don’t have to explain things.”