Eternal Melody

”I’m alright, but does this shop do tunning? Since the last concur, I haven’t touched my violin, so I am worried about its state.”

”Yeah, we do, just bring it over next time, and I’ll take care of it.”

”Ah, is the master gone for a while?”

”Yeah, for at least two weeks. It is a good thing since I ensured your flexible schedule.”

So he didn’t make those empty gaps because of her request? Her sweatdropped. He is truly a demon manager.

”Then I’ll drop by after school tomorrow.”

”I am interested in your playing now that you mentioned it-” Hino trailed off. “You’re not the picky type, right? There are a few spare violins you can use.”

”My performance fee is quite high.”

”It’s rare for you to be so confident. Are you that good?”

Sumire laughed. “Ah, if this is a music shop, there is probably a copy. I heard the school sent out copies of the first concur to small shops.”

”A copy-” Hino paused and rummaged through the shelves. After a few minutes, he pulled out a familiar CD case with the Tsukuhara high school logo.

”Oh, this brings back memories. I designed that cover.”

”She designed it, she said.” Hino sighed. “I wonder what other hidden ability you have?”

”That is for you to find out, Mr manager.” 

”Performance nine Freshman A-Class Ibuki Sumire and her accompanist 2S Hikari Mizue. Performing a Schubert composition Ave Maria.”

Ah, this- Sumire turned her attention back to the TV screen and saw an image of her from around a year ago step onto the stage. 

”The theme here was love.” Hino paused. “I am just curious; when you sing, it’s obvious you sing for Yuhi. is it the same?”

But she was still dating Ru during this time, so isn’t the answer obvious? The final selection happened shortly before the accident happened. It was a week before the accident. To think something like that would happen after experiencing something happy.

’You said you would reward me for winning! Then drive me to the concert.’

Sumire clenched her fist as she recalled her words from back then. That’s right; it was because Ru promised her a prize for winning the final selection. If she didn’t mention it, he would have prepared something for her regardless. Why was she so impatient?

Her thoughts broke off when Hino brushed his hands across her forehead. “Your starting to sweat a lot. Are you sure your okay?”

”I-I’m fine.”

That startled her; he suddenly got so close. 

Sumire turned her attention back to the screen where her performance was playing. It was a year or so ago, and yet it feels like it has been much longer. 

Now that she thought about it, Yuhi visited her before the selection.

…

December 2013

”This kind of note. What were you thinking, Yuhi?” Sumire addressed the man in front of her.

Yuhi stood in the rock path that was in the middle of the lake. At the same time, she sat in the grass area. “Perhaps I just wanted to give a letter to a cute girl. Nothing wrong with that?”

”Again, with your lame jokes.” Sumire sighed, yet a smile was on her face. “But it’s been a while, so I won’t thrash you for such an off-handed comment.”

Yuhi turned around then and extended his hand out. “Come over, Sumire.”

Sumire nodded and took his hand. Soon, she sat down back to back with him on the large stone rock. ” I’m surprised we can both fit on here.”

”Yeah. Especially considering how fat you are.”

She pinches his arm, causing him to let out a small yelp. “Ite. I was kidding.”

Sumire stuck her tongue out.”Bleh, that’s what you get.”

”What are you, a kid?”

Sumire laughs. “That would be nice. But unfortunately, I’m a full fledge adult now.”

”That’s questionable. Though you’ve changed a lot, I can still see things that remain the same. The two of us are different now but still the same people as before.” Yuhi spoke. 

Her eyes widened; that’s right. It’s exactly like him to notice it. Since it’s him, it’s normal for him to notice. It probably isn’t just those two who can notice things like that now. Surely even those people, surely even those around her, have begun to pay more attention to those matters.

”So what you’re saying is we basically remain a kid for the rest of our life.”

”Exactly that. We may grow up, change appearance-wise. Our hairstyles, body build, and everything changes. We’re taller and become more wise due to the knowledge we’ve increasingly learned in schools. Yet that knowledge is something that can be used as a double-edged sword. Those who want to use it for good usually end up having the opposite effect for those who want to use it for bad end up using it for good. In that sense, ‘ Knowledge’ can help change people for the better or worse. But even if they do change, there will always be some traits that remain the same.”

The more she listened, the more she thought about when she found him reading intently. He always applied the knowledge he learned from books to reality and remained true to himself. He is truly a mysterious person.

”The essence of the soul is it?”

”Yeah. Switching it to the point of reincarnation. No matter how many times the soul goes through that cycle of rebirth. There will always be traits that remain the same ” He trails off. “Well, it’s not usually noticeable. But it’s obvious with you.”

Sumire laughs at that comment, “Right back at you.” Her gaze softened. ” You haven’t changed as much as I thought you would. I’m relieved”.

”I was under the impression that you’d arrest me or something if you saw me again.”

”Well, I can’t say I didn’t plan on that. But I guess something changed.”

That’s right. Since Mamoru came back into her life again, everything changed. That person she treasures ever so deeply. A swelling pain appears in her chest, yet she shakes it off. It is okay; there is still time. Ru will be okay; he won’t die from an illness.

 “Your violin. Give it to me for a second.”

Sumire blinks in confusion, yet he was already taking it out of her case before she could respond. “Wait a second.”

Rather when did he even take it from her?

She watches as he pulls out one of the strings and replaces it with a new one. It wasn’t just a normal string, a pale blue string. A gorgeous shade of blues mixing into one. How beautiful; this was her first time seeing such a pretty string.

Normally people buy white and gold strings. It is unusual to see different colored strings like this. ‘What a mysterious color.’

 Plus, her gaze landed on the way he was attaching the string; there’s something familiar about this sight.