Eternal Melody

The announcement came at exactly eight when he was spoiling her with breakfast in bed. He had just switched on the TV when Hino's face appeared on the screen. Hino was right outside the company building explaining everything.

He set up an official press conference so easily; that's expected of Hino. But what is his solution-

"Sumire and Yuhi will be performing together soon."

At those words, he almost dropped the spoon into the porridge. Huh? Wait, what is he talking about?

Just as he thought Hino repeated those words again, he confirmed that he didn't just hear things.

Yuhi looked toward Sumire and saw her panicking. "W-what if my heart stops?"

Yuhi blinked at her innocent-sounding question.

Why is she so cute?

'I am shocked too, but this reaction of hers interests me more.'

"If it does, I'll revive you again."

"N-no need."

Yuhi kissed her forehead. "I don't want to practice with a ghost."

"I-I'm too-nervous. Yuhi you--"

"I know. Let's do this, I'll compose a tune, and you write the lyrics?"

"Yuhi, don't you always write songs for me?

"It's true I have something I could turn into a duo, but are you sure? Making something new isn't a problem."

"I want to..perform with you as soon as possible."

"I thought you --"

"I'm very nervous. But singing with you, I have always wanted to." Sumire laughed. "Really, my heart is going crazy. But I'm happy, Yuhi."

At those words, he felt his heart beat increase; why was she smiling so brightly? So many people have told him how much Sumire admired and respected him as a singer. He thought he already understood, but it appears like that is not the case.

She is smiling so brightly just because they are going to sing together.

Yuhi picked her up and brought her to the room next door. There were cabinets filled with CDS and scores.

"Choose anything here."

"Are these all about me?"

Yuhi turned red, and Sumire laughed again. "I see!"

'Would she smile more if she finds out the main reason why I have so many houses is because of all the songs I wrote for her the past few years?' Or maybe she would find it weird. There is already a considerable amount in here.

Yuhi watched her carefully browse through the shelves.

"So," Yuhi coughed. "-you know people expect us to sing a love song.

Most of these are love songs, but some random ones are mixed in. Before he realized that his feelings for her were love, he wrote different types of songs dedicated to her.

"I know." Sumire trailed off. "Truly, it doesn't matter what I sing with you, Yuhi."

"It doesn't?"

"No matter what we sing, the feelings we have for one another will pour through."

Recently, she has seemed more confident when talking about their relationship.

After choosing a few songs, they returned to the room. Yuhi made sure she was sitting on the bed.

'Labored breathing, flushed cheeks, and a trembling voice.'

Her fever must be high again. His thoughts broke off when he heard her shifting closer until she was beside him.

"You know, I can't read your mood recently," Yuhi commented.

"You can't? This is the I want to attack mood."

"Attack, huh?" Yuhi traced her lips. "Are you uneasy about something?"

"A little. Will people talk if I perform with you?"

Yuhi frowned when he heard those words. Despite how casually she asked, he immediately sensed the fear in her tone.

"It doesn't matter if they do; what's important is that I want to perform with you."

"You may think highly of me, but those people---"

"Those people are fools, Sumire. They are not worth your time."

Despite his sharp words, Sumire looked like she didn't believe him. She is trembling. She must be frightened.

Yuhi held her tightly. "Ssh. I'm here." He whispered.

"I--I'm sorry, I---just-" Sumire mumbled.

"It's fine. I get it."

He does, despite what it seems. Sumire's case is different from his; hers is more severe. But, he knows how it feels to be affected by hate from random strangers. She probably thinks, 'if strangers dislike me, what about the people who do know me? They must hate me more.'

For her, hate and dislike are the same. Because nobody has taught her otherwise, it would explain why she immediately concludes that he is angry whenever he gets upset when she harms herself.

This is too much; what did her parents teach her growing up?

'I already knew that she didn't come from a very loving household. But, didn't they have the common sense to teach her something so simple?'

It's not like his circumstances were any better. But perhaps because he was abandoned earlier on and adopted by somebody else. He still escaped from being too damaged.

"Yuhi, why do you never get upset when I behave this way?"

"Why would I get upset?"

"I'm being whiny and troubling you. I'm not making much sense either. You don't find that annoying?"

The damage is too much. He thought that Mamoru had managed to heal her heart. The only reason why she behaved that way when she first came to Tokyo was because she didn't know Mamoru was alive.

But now that she knows, she ought to return to her usual self. He made a mistake; she was never healed at all. What Mamoru did was temporary.

'It has to be you, Yuhi.'

Mamoru often said it before. But he never believed him.

Now he understands the magnitude of those words. It is exactly like what Mamoru said. The person who will heal her heart has to be him.

"Sumire, you have to talk to me."

"Talk?'

"Tell me everything."

"About my exes?" Sumire said, confused. "I think I said everything in the new year."

"About everything else."

At those words, Sumire immediately understood, and she averted her gaze. Yuhi grabbed her hands and squeezed them tightly.

"It's okay to talk to me, Sumire."

"It's not like I didn't want to tell you, Yuhi. I was just worried that it would add to the list of problems I have in your mind." Sumire trailed off. "Besides, there are people with worse family situations. On the surface, we looked like a normal family."

"Appearances can be deceiving."

"That's right, but it's not like we were pretending to be a happy family. The happiness others saw just happened to be built at the sacrifice of one person, of me."

She had barely said anything, but already he knew what the outcome of this conversation would be.