Eternal Melody

"Were you painting here all this time?"

"Yes, it is difficult to focus in the classroom-" Her sentence fell short when she saw Yuhi standing in front of the canvas. Sumire felt her cheeks color as she recalled something.

After a few hours went by, she found herself getting bored of practicing for the piece. So before she knew it, she was drawing random pictures of Yuhi-san.

Sumire turned to her sketchbook, hoping to hide the other pieces of evidence, but Yuhi was already going through it. "Huh, I see."

"It's still a work in progress, so don't look so much."

"I don't know why you are so worried. You are very good at drawing."

A-again, her eyes widened at his words. He keeps complimenting her art recently. It is normal for Yuhi to praise her singing, but even with her artwork, she feels truly blessed. Unconsciously but consciously, she gradually got closer until she could rest her head on his shoulder.

"Are you still upset?"

"Just a little," Sumire admitted. "You have a pretty and kind childhood friend who is also good at singing and dancing."

To say she wasn't feeling inferior would be a lie. However, "I know you love me."

Despite all her insecurities and fears, the love this person has for her is something she believes in. But, Sumire recalled the conversation with Hino yesterday. It seems Yuhi's mental state wasn't good then, so he slept with just anybody. This lines up with the tale she heard from others.

But it seemed like during his worst state, yuhi-san slept with his dear childhood friend. The girl supposedly left to avoid falling for Yuhi, but the girl most likely already has feelings for him. That isn't the issue; what bothers her is probably the fact that the girl is a member of the entertainment industry as well.

She probably sings and dances better. Ah, this stupid inferiority complex of hers. She needs to stop comparing herself to other people like this.

"If it's someone prettier, I am looking at her right now."

Sumire coughed. "How can you spout such lies so early in the day?"

"Why would I lie about this?"

"It's easy for guys to say that stuff."

,Yuhi grabbed hold of her wrist and pushed her towards the wall at those words. "Are you seriously going to say that?"

"Yes."

"Damn, why are you acting like this? I already told you yesterday-"

"You can say that, Yuhi. But I think the media think otherwise."

"Sumire."

"I know I am just sulking. But when I see somebody better than me around you, I can't help but feel jealous and miserable."

Even though she loves Yuhi a lot when she thinks there is somebody else who is better suited, she ends up in this state. Since yesterday she has felt very restless and uneasy.

The reason why she ended up leaving the classroom was because it was too noisy. People from other classrooms came over to have a look at her. 'That's Terashima Yuhi's girlfriend? She isn't any better than Cassie.' 'Right Cassie is better.'

Her complicated thoughts aside yesterday, after hearing other people's opinions, it has reinforced her dark feelings. Normally she could paint through anything. But it was hard to when the voices in her head and the voices from reality overlapped.

"-and like I said before." Yuhi brushed his lips against hers. "You're the one I want."

"But-"

"Sumire, don't make this difficult for me. No, for both of us. It took us a long time before we could come together like this and be a couple. Honestly, I was on the verge of losing hope that you would ever accept my feelings. I almost drowned myself in alcohol and other women completely. But when I realized you were still waiting for me, I changed my mind."

Sumire blinked, startled at his words. What is he talking about?

Could it be? During Ru's hospitalization, she often stayed over in the hospital. Although she pushed her debut back, she still practiced in the courtyard. Whenever she sang, her feelings for Yuhi would pour through.

Did he hear her? How embarrassing. But if he heard, why did he not call out to her? Why did he just stand by and watch?

Her thoughts broke off when she saw Yuhi tilt sideways.

"Yuhi-san?"

He has a terrible fever; could it be he caught it from her? Sumire managed to get him on the couch, but Yuhi wouldn't let her go leading to their present situation.

Her gaze fell on the man resting his head on her lap. "Are you still feeling sick? Maybe we should head to the infirmary."

"I'll pass; there will be noisy people."

"Isn't that your fault, Yuhi-san?"

"Hey, don't be mad anymore. There really isn't anything between Cas and me."

"Cas, you call her like that."

She watched as Yuhi slowly got up and pulled her into his arms.

"Alright, please stop sulking. I'm very sorry."

"Yuhi-"

"Damn, I feel sick."

Sumire laid him back down and hesitantly laid beside him. Yuhi hugged her tightly. "Please don't be mad anymore. I know it's hard not to blame me when people are cursing you like crazy. But if I could go back in time, I would make sure everyone knew since a long time ago that you're the only girl who deserves to be by my side."

"Keep going."

Yuhi laughed. "You want to be spoilt today, Princess? I don't mind."

Whenever Yuhi talks about his feelings for her, she feels very strange. It is not a bad feeling.

'I also wish I could go back in time if I accepted your confession then. No, if I went to find you sooner, nothing would have happened between you and your childhood friend.'

The real reason why she is frustrated isn't due to the rumors circling or people bad-mouthing her. The real reason is, 'I feel very frustrated.' The reason that situation even occurred was because she was being indecisive. It was because of her insecure feelings.

"You know I don't blame you for taking so long."

"Yuhi you-"

"I know you're angry at yourself. But please stop Sumire; even if we got together back, then there would have been a high chance of breaking up."

So even Yuhi thinks so.

"We are still young now." Yuhi continued. "But unlike back then, our time apart from one another has made us realize that we cannot survive without each other."

"It was only a short year," Sumire mumbled.

"Yeah."

"But in that year I spent with you, I understood that I truly loved you."