Eternal Melody

HINO

Hino must have fallen asleep out in the hallway, because when he opened his eyes. There was a blanket around him and Yuhi was leaning on the wall opposite smoking. The door to Sumire's room was slightly open, not enough for the smell of the smoke to enter, but just enough to see into the room. The blanket wrapped around him smelled of oranges, and a mixture of summer. A scent he knew all too well.

"You shouldn't smoke that much." Hino spoke up.

"You know it helps me think." Yuhi trailed off. "Thank Cas for that blanket."

"You saw her?" Hino isn't surprised.

'Of course she went back to speak with Yuhi.'

"She came back earlier."

Exactly how long was he napping out here in the hallway?

"We talked a bit, she asked me how I have been and Sumire's situation. It seems she has been doing her best to keep the media at bay, and helping Shizune out during those jobs you made her cover for."

"Of course she told you all that." Hino said bitterly. 𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝒍．𝒏𝒆𝒕

It shouldn't surprise him that Cassie came back to speak with Yuhi. Shouldn't surprise him that she tried to gain his favour and make herself look good in front of him. That is the kind of person she is. The girl he knew, and fell for was simply an illusion. The real her is more sinister. Hino yanked the blanket away from his shoulders.

She probably gave this to him to make herself look good. Her kindness and concern, it's all a lie to impress Yuhi.

Yuhi raised his eyebrow. "You know, I thought with you falling in love with Sumire. You wouldn't be so bitter towards Cas anymore but-"

"I just hate women like her."

"Right, but I really do think your impression of her has been twisted because of her feelings towards me."

Hino laughed bitterly. "It seems your very aware that she liked you for a long time. Maybe you should have accepted her confession."

"Just because I noticed, doesn't mean I have to accept, Besides, I turned her down not just because of Sumire but because of you too."

Hino frowned at those words. "It's true I liked her, but after learning what type of person she is-"

"You of all people should know better than to listen to rumors. As Sumire's manager, haven't you seen how easy it is for people to twist words and turn them into truths?"

"Then if she is such a good person. Tell me Yuhi, why did she leave my grandfather to die? You had a fever that day but you still desperately tried to help him. But she? She was right there, perfectly healthy. But she had to leave because of a job, a fucking job. Would it have killed her to spare two seconds to get him his medicine?" Hino yelled.

"I see, so that's what this was about. It never had anything to do with her confessing to me or what happened between us then."

Hino froze hearing those words. "You remember what happened-"

"Sumire told me, she said it was a possible theory. Amongst the people Soujiro brought with him to the US to help me, there is a girl there. Another ability user that can erase and give back memories that was lost. You, erased my memories over what happened between Cas and me."

Hino flinched but nodded. "I had to do it."

"Because you were jealous?"

"Because you were in pain, because she was in pain. Everytime you held Cas, you called her name. You were both hurting and the relationship was becoming more and more toxic. I did it for both of you."

"You speak about Cas being in pain but Hino. You don't hesitate to call her a whore and shame her in front of her face everytime you see each other. You don't hesitate to insult her even though you knew she was hurting. What type of miserable bastard does that?"

At those words Hino lunged for Yuhi's neck causing him to slam his head against the window. A nurse who was walking by screamed.

Right then Cassie walked out of Sumire's room and Hino's gaze dimmed. "You actually let her inside? What were you two even doing in there while I was asleep? Were you fucking her in front of an unconscious Sumire?"

Yuhi's gaze darkened. "Did you just accuse me of being unfaithful?"

"I'm sure this isn't the first time you're being accused of that." Hino laughed bitterly. "I have been doing my best to keep you two apart. But I am no miracle worker, how many times have you two actually seen each other in private. How many times have you touched her, while claiming to love Sumire?"

Yuhi punches him then, Hino reacts a second later and the two of them continue to exchange blows and insults. Neither of them hesitated to use words they exchanged during their most painful moments against each other.

"Please just stop!" Cassie screamed.

Hino didn't know what it was but he froze. No, he knew what it was Damn it, why is it that even now she still has this type of effect on him?

"Please. I didn't tell you all that Yuhi for you to hurt Hino. Please stop." Cassie sobbed.

Yuhi exhaled deeply and ran his hands through his hair. "Your still defending him even now. Cas, you have endured enough. You can stop pretending now. You don't have to keep lying to yourself just to protect him. Tell him the truth, tell him everything."

Cassie bit her lip but nodded as Yuhi walked off. She was already crouching down to help him. "Hino?"

"What now?" Hino snapped.

"We-werent doing anything. The kids were in the room-" Cassie pointed to Huan who was peeking through the door. "It's alright little one. The two were acting just now."

"But blood-" Huan pointed at his face.

"They take their acting really seriously. Go back inside, didn't you say you saw your moms fingers move? Telling her stories is helping." Cassie said.

"Her fingers moved?"

Cassie turned back to back to him and nodded. In the end he had no choice but to allow her to help him onto the bench. Cassie started to take supplies out of a small med kit the nurse lent her.

Hino sat there silently as Cassie patched up the injuries on his face.

He was still angry but his anger was calming down. Why did she stay to help him, instead of chase Yuhi? She always chased after Yuhi in the past. So, why is she suddenly on his side?

*Unedited*