Eternal Melody

It was the usual, tiresome dream again.

The same dream, it has never once changed.

Even after he met her and his world gradually changed. The only thing that remained the same as before was this.

When will it end?

Will it always remain this way?

Yuhi doesn't know how long he has had these dreams, but it was always like this for as long as he could remember.

He stood in the middle of a burnt wasteland. CRumbled buildings and the smell of fire surrounded him. Yuhi stood alone in the center of it. There wasn't a single person other than him who was alive, or at least that was how it usually is.

"Don't enter my dream," Yuhi commented when he heard a familiar pair of dainty footsteps behind him.

"After yesterday, I became restless." It was Sumire.

The live, huh? After what happened with Nagawa, it was difficult to concentrate. But it succeeded, he performed with Quatro light, and they became Midnight five, M5 for short. The audience received them well, but the only problem was.

"You couldn't sing again." Yuhi commented.

It was exactly like Sano said; she sustained a bad head injury. But it turned out not even Sumire was aware. On the way to the venue, she passed out, and they had to rush her to the hospital.

"But I watched you sing; it was a lot of fun."

Yuhi sighed deeply as he walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. "You even know how to invade my dreams now. How good is your control over your powers."

Sumire laughed softly. "As good as your sleeping habits."

"So not good yet? But you can still do this."

"I can only do this with you, Yuhi."

Yuhi recalled what happened the other day. If she struggles unless it is to do with him, then how could she use that power yesterday?

"I could use my power yesterday because you were there, Yuhi. I knew you wouldn't leave until I finished."

Yuhi blinked and sighed again. "Sorry, it is not like I do not trust you."

"It is okay."

He noticed her tightening grip on him and caressed her hair.

"Yuhi, it is time for school."

…

Since he had a concert yesterday, Hino gracefully allowed him to have the morning off from work so he could walk to school with Sumire. The entire time however his mind wandered.

'It's not the final judgment that's important. What matters is that you come to that decision yourself. That you agonize over it and eventually accept it.'

At that time, Sumire sounded grand saying that it was the first time he thought that she was cool. It was probably those words that triggered the change of opinion, even though he didn't understand those words exactly then.

Even though he didn't understand it properly then, there was something he could tell, that this girl has the same look in her eyes as he does. He wonders if that's what made him lose his guard around her, and if so, then…

His thoughts broke when the brown hair girl stopped walking, "What is it?"

She suddenly hides behind him, huh? Yuhi glances in the direction she was looking at, only to find a certain redhead member of EMMA alongside a certain sea-colored-haired boy. Atsuro and Shin, huh? Which one is she avoiding?

"Which is it?" He whispers.

Sumire fidgets slightly before she murmured. "Atsuro."

Ah, well, of course.

That one was rather obvious; it cant be Shin; Yuhi already observed the relationship between the two of them. There weren't any feelings of love, so they could avoid awkward moments. Atsuro, on the other hand, is a completely different story.

Once the two were no longer in sight, Sumire came out from her hiding spot behind him and sighed.

"Again?" Yuhi realized.

He didn't have to ask about the details anymore; the two of them just always seemed to do this. Go through the same cycle, repeat it all over again.

"Atsuro lectured me again, saying that it was my fault since I went along despite the warning he set out for me. About not traveling long distances until three months after your power stabilized."

"Why did you ignore the warning?"

Sumire clenched her fist. "Because..there was something I had to make sure of. Besides, it's his fault for being so unpleasant about it."

My my, she can be quite stubborn. However, his gaze lands on the expression in her eyes, she's clearly leaving out some details on purpose again. Well, he can't be helped. He can't expect her to tell him everything.

"In the afternoon, there's that big bargain meat sale in the supermarket, isn't there?"

She nodded. The seriousness left her expression. "I will definitely win!"

"It is nice that you are so enthusiastic, but." Yuhi brushed his hands across the bandage across the right side of her head. "You have to remember what happened yesterday. You were only discharged from the hospital so early because Nagawa pulled some strings."

It amazed him that Nagawa still managed to do that when he was not in good condition himself. Then again, if it is for the sake of the person you like, it is easy to take careless actions.

"I know Yuhi, and I will be-" He cuts her off as he parted her bangs and soft laughter passed her lips. "Is this why you decided to come to school today? Are you that worried for me, Yuhi?"

"Of course I am; you are way too careless. If I take my eyes away from you for a single second, you end up doing something dangerous like this. I always have to watch you."

"Ehhh? But this meat is the best!"

"Yes, yes, but it's probably too strong for most people. Besides, instead of thinking about meat, what about actually studying for the exams?"

Even if it is a liberal arts school, they still have to study for exams; then again, he is one to talk about studying. Still, he does not want her to fall behind.

"Uh."

Yuhi sighs. "You haven't studied yet, have you?"

"I just thought something Yuhi you could teach me again like you did before."

Yuhi immediately noted that there was something odd about the girl's words. But he did not question it as he took the magazine from her hands.

"Yo, you two, it seems like you're cheerful this morning." A familiar voice said.

They glanced over and spotted Atushi crossing the street.

Sumire's eyes light up, and she goes up to him, a magazine in her hands. "Look, look Atushi, high-quality meat, for a bargain price!"

Well, it's not an uncommon factor that Sumire is like this. But he had to admit it had been a while since he last saw such a carefree expression on the girl's face. Just yesterday, she seemed very gloomy.

Did she cheer up because of the live yesterday?

He shook his head, can't be. But she seemed strangely happy about it. Even though they took a less crowded path to school, there were still many people discussing the live. So Yuhi knew it was a big success, yet it was difficult for him to focus on it.