Eternal Melody

The concert and interviews afterwards went by far too quickly. Yuhi wanted to distract himself and train, but it seemed that the others had plans. Now that he belongs to a group, there isn’t much meaning to training alone. He can perfect his skills all he wants, but if he doesn’t synchronize with the others, it won’t work out very well.

Yuhi returned to his main apartment when he received a text from Hino saying not to come. It took him a single call to realize that Nagawa was in that place too for work, and they ran into each other. He didn’t say anything and ended the call. Time seemed to go by so slowly.

He felt very restless and couldn’t do anything. He tried to paint, but that leads to the broken canvas scattered across the living room.

He couldn’t help but think of Sumire. Recently his feelings towards her have been very strange.

‘I already knew that I liked her a lot. It was apparent the moment I met her. Still, recently my feelings seem different. Naturally, since they are dating, he expected that his feelings for the girl would increase but not only have they increased now, he genuinely thinks he cannot live without her.

This almost feels like an obsession. Yuhi wanted to prevent that scenario as much as possible. After all, he saw what obsessive love did to people. But these days, the only thing he thinks about is Ibuki Sumire, from morning to night. The only thing on his mind is her.

Is it because she left for two entire months? There is a saying that absence makes the heart grow stronger, but this is still a bit too much. He can’t help it, though. Now that Sumire is more comfortable around him, she shows him many different expressions that he did not see before. 

Yuhi believed that he already saw many sides of her when they were partners in the underworld, but now he understood. Back then, as natural as they interacted, she couldn’t share many things with him.

He was far too occupied with his thoughts that he didn’t hear the sound of somebody unlocking the front door. Yuhi heard faint and yet hurried footsteps, but he was still in a dazed state.

She smiles so brightly, and her eyes sparkle whenever they see him. She still teases him a lot, but more than that – his thoughts break off when he feels a pair of lips on his. Yuhi wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down.

They kiss for a good few minutes before Sumire pulls away with a red-stained face. “Yuhi-san, you’re too quick to take advantage of me.”

“Because I missed you.”

Sumire, however, didn’t answer that and picked up the bag on the ground. “I bought some nice ingredients. I was planning on cooking something extravagant for dinner.”

“What is the occasion?”

“Our sixth month anniversary!”

Yuhi raised his eyebrow. “I am sure we have dated longer, but-“

“It’s because I ran away.” Sumire sighed. “When it was six months, I was thinking how much I wanted to see you and run to your arms. You have no idea how difficult it was for me.”

Yuhi reached over and pinched her cheeks. “You were the one who left without discussing things with me.”

“Ouch, darling, do you have to bully me? I’m already tired, and yet here I am, acting like a loving wife about to make you dinner.”

She probably has no idea how triggering the words wife and darling are to him. Even though he sees more of her shy and innocent side, she is still quite bold around him. Yuhi didn’t mind that about her; he likes hearing those words leave her mouth.

Sumire must have realized since she beamed happily when he pulled his hands away. 

“Just stay right there, Yuhi! I will finish quickly.”

It was killing him not to pounce on her, but she seemed tired despite her cheerful face. He supposes he can wait till the next day. She will be discharged in a few days, and he can have her to his self again.

Yuhi nodded and picked up the bags. “Let me carry.”

“Mmm, okay!”

The two of them strolled into the kitchen, and he got the supplies out for her. It didn’t take long before Sumire started to cook. Yuhi watched her for a few minutes before he hugged her from the back.

A content sigh passed her lips. “This feels comfortable,” Sumire commented.

“Are you tired? You don’t have to overwork yourself for the concert. Although Takashi said those words, you do realize that the general public don’t think much of the showdown.”

It was harsh, but the public and media’s attention is more on if Sumire will bail or not. Nobody cares if she wins, nobody cares for her skills.

Sumire laughed nervously. “I am actually more nervous about the TV program. I have to do the waltz with the winner,” she trailed off and sighed. “I don’t think I can waltz Yuhi.”

“Huh, but what about the souriees with Soujiro?”

“Soujiro is a good dancer; he can hide my flaws easily. But even if my partner leads me, this will be broadcast on national TV. I won’t be able to hide it.”

‘Your partner will be me, idiot.’ Yuhi knew he would win; he wouldn’t allow anybody else to dance with her. He could lead her and not let anybody catch any mistakes, even on camera. But she won’t know that until the day. He could not say anything and let her worry about it until the day. But Yuhi didn’t like seeing her anxious about anything.

“Then should I teach you?”

She turned around slightly with bright eyes. “You will? I almost ended up asking San-“

At that comment, Yuhi frowned, and she laughed nervously, catching his gaze.

“You know I don’t like disturbing you.”

Yeah, he understood that mindset. After all, he was the same way before. He used to have a huge complex regarding asking others for help.

He felt that he would be getting in their way. He didn’t want others to see him as weak and powerless. 

He didn’t want them to think he was useless not being able to do something simple. 

Sumire is most likely the same way. She would rather ask somebody she isn’t close with and sacrifice any pride. The only one who fits those requirements right now is, unfortunately, Nagawa Sano.

Recently that guy has been a pain in his side.

The more he ignored and tolerated it; the more Nagawa stepped up his game. 

‘It seems it has gotten to this point where I have to face it seriously’ Yuhi already knew from Hino’s tone that it wasn’t a coincidence that Nagawa was there in the same building. It was a good thing Sumire brought Hino along with her; otherwise, those two would have been alone again.

Sumire has already had her talk with him. Initially, he intended to wait until she did this before doing anything. But even after Yuhi waited, it seemed that decision was wrong.