Eternal Melody

The thought that she did an excellent job hiding it crossed his mind. But based on her circumstances then, he found it strange. Yuhi did not want to research her. He felt like he was invading her privacy too much. The only reason why he knew this was because of Tsueno Mamoru, Mamoru was the one who told her this. Sumire dated Mamoru last year in August till the end of December, and then the accident happened. Before then, she apparently saw somebody else.

A small diagram formed in his head.

December 2013- June 2014 — ?August 2014 – Started dating Mamoru (16)December 2014- Accident

When Sumire was fifteen years old, she dated somebody for a good half-year.But who?

Sumire sighed and pulled away from him. “Do you really want me to tell you?”

This was the first time he ever saw her look so troubled. To say he wasn’t curious was one thing.

“His name was Sano, and he was six years older than me. I met him at a business meeting.” Sumire mumbled as she played with the straw of her drink. “When I was finally old enough to take over the work my parents left behind, I started attending business meetings and parties. I met him there.”

Yuhi did not speak right away. Did he hear her correctly? Six whole years age difference? Yuhi does not mind age gaps in love; after all, he is two years older than Sumire. But the max-age gap he would agree on is three; four would push it. What was this girl thinking of dating somebody older than her?

“Call it the naivety of youth.”

Yuhi flicked her forehead. “You should have called the police.” He trailed off. What if they did something? Wait, “Did you two–” he does not want to finish his sentence. Just the thought of it bothered him greatly.

“Well, there was a lot of kissing. I guess he touched me a bit.”

“The police,” Yuhi repeated in a trance.

Sumire rolled her eyes. “Calm down; he didn’t do that. He was the kind, gentleman type.”

Kind gentleman? Yuhi scoffed at this. If that guy was a gentleman, he would not have suggested going out with her. If he genuinely liked her, he would wait until Sumire was older.

“Sano is a common name, what is his surname?”

“If I tell you his surname, don’t look for him.”

“Sumire,” Yuhi said sharply. “The name.”

He wants to know what kind of guy would date a minor; no dating is not the issue. There are many couples with large age differences. The problem is that person touched her. “What do you mean by a little?”

Yuhi wants to know all the details before he brings this matter to the police.

“Yuhi, you better not be thinking of reporting this. It was consensual.”

“Why are you defending him?”

Sumire sighed. “I am not defending him; the guy ended up being a jerk in the end. But at that time I was dating him. You can only file reports if there was no consent involved.” She extended her hand out and caressed his cheeks. “Yuhi, it’s okay.”

“…the name?”

“Nagawa Sano.”

Yuhi thought she would not tell him, so when she suddenly did so. He did not know what to think. But that name? Yuhi knew that name very well, or rather he met the guy a few times. That person is a prominent figure in the business world.

“So, do you get it?” Sumire said. “Do not say a word to anyone. Sano and I have not met once since our break up, so you do not have to worry, Yuhi.”

“Why did you two break up?” Yuhi changed the topic.

He does not want to drop the charges, but she probably does not want trouble. If the guy was an average person, it would be easier. But unfortunately, he is not.

“He cheated on me with some girls at work.” Sumire sighed. “He was very obvious about it. I don’t think he even bothered hiding it. Whenever I stayed over at his place, I would find female garments everywhere. When I picked it up he would tell me, is that not yours? One time I refuted back and said it wasn’t. He then said it was his sisters or cousin.”

Sumire grew agitated the more she spoke. The more Yuhi listened, the more amazed he was. To think she put up with that behavior for so long.

“When he broke up with me, he said that he could not date a child any longer. He has needs or something that I could not understand.”

“Those needs..” Yuhi interjected. “You know what he meant, right?”

“Of course I knew, I wasn’t stupid. I was furious but back then I cried. I was angry but I cried instead. I don’t know what happened after I started crying. I think he tried to console me at least once, but I pushed him away. He said to me, if I want to continue seeing him then I could. But not as his girlfriend.”

Yuhi has met many players, but this is the first time he has heard of somebody so despicable. Nagawa Sano, he even treats his relationships like a business deal.

“Did he think he was doing me a favor or something?”

She looks furious. Then again, the guy was terrible to her.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t treat you that way.”

Sumire laughed. “I know you’re very kind to me.”

Is that all he is to her? A kind guy? Yuhi frowned, he did not want that. He buried his face on her hair. “Since you mentioned that guy, I have to say something. He is one of my company’s sponsors, so you may see him around.”

At that comment, he watched her expression darken. He wanted nothing more than to give her a reassuring kiss on the lips, but after that stunt, he pulled earlier. Yuhi did not want to take a chance.

“It will be okay. I won’t leave your side even for a moment.”

“Then, Yuhi-san, you have to make sure you’re watching over me properly.”

Watch over her more than he already does so? Yuhi does not think that is possible unless he watches her twenty-four seven. If he does that, they will have issues. Sumire seemed utterly oblivious to this as she continued eating her meal.