Eternal Melody

"Then, if that's the case, go out with me sometime."

"For work?" Sumire wondered.

"No, just us two. If I call it a date, you'd probably just refuse, but friends can hang out, can't they?"

That's true but isn't he basically admitting it is a date? Even if they are close friends, and even if she knows he won't do anything. It would be wrong of her to accept.

"I will ask Yuhi."

For matters like this, she cannot decide on her own.

"Sure, you can do that. But you already know what he will say, right?"

Sumire frowned. Indeed, she could see it now. 'Since it's Hino, it is okay.' She sighed deeply.

"Yuhi-san has no idea how that makes me feel. I understand that he trusts you. But he should know about your feelings for me."

Hino sighed in agreement. "Yeah, but I am sure I told you how bad that guy is at romance."

Before she could say another word, she saw a cheerful-looking Yuhi walk over with a bunch of bags in his hands. "Sumire, look at this stuff. They are selling all sorts of antiques in that vendor over there."

Sumire pouted. "-and where exactly are we going to put all that stuff?"

"In one of the houses, but oh." He opened a small box, revealing gorgeous ancient-looking hair ornaments. "When I saw this, I had to get it for you. I couldn't pick one, so I said I'd buy the whole box instead."

This guy has no concept of saving money, does he? But seeing his innocent reaction is refreshing. "Then the number of ornaments will equal the number of dates you'll take me on."

Yuhi grinned. "Sure. I'd really like to see you wear these as soon as possible, so we can schedule it-" Yuhi's sentence fell short when Hino bent over and picked one of the ornaments.

Before she knew it, Hino had slipped it onto her hair.

Ah, this seems strange.

"For now, wear this one. It looks good on you." Hino commented.

Sumire couldn't hide her flushed cheeks. R-right, Hino did say that he was the better one at romance. But that move was far too sly.

Yuhi's gaze dimmed, and he pulled her into her arms. "Why is Hino openly flirting with you?" He pinched her cheeks. "Did you provoke him?"

"H-hey, don't blame me! I did nothing."

It's strange when she is with Hino and Yuhi-san, she can smile more naturally without worrying. Right now, they are in the middle of the festival grounds, and many members of the public and those dislike her. But, when she is with these two, she can forget the unpleasant feelings.

It's okay if she enjoys this for a bit longer, right, Ru?

....

At Yuhi's Apartment - 5:00PM.

The apartment they chose to stay in today was closer to the city, so it was a lot noisier outside. It does seem like they will need more stable accommodation soon. Jumping between different apartments when she is pregnant isn't good.

From: Hino

The first meeting regarding your performance is tomorrow at one.

Sumire blinked, seeing the message, and sighed. That slave driver, she only just received the news two hours ago. He is giving her less than twenty-four hours to choose a song. It's not like she doesn't have any; she has written many songs since she stopped her activities in the entertainment world.

The song she chooses for this event will be crucial.

Sumire peeked her head through the living room and found Yuhi reading on the couch.

Yuhi's home attire always made her blush. Why does he wear those tight shirts that show his muscles? Who is he trying to impress? Her gaze fell on something else. 'Glasses.' He mentioned that his eyesight is poor, and when reading, he must wear glasses.

She watched for a bit before walking over until she had positioned herself on his lap.

Yuhi sighed deeply. "My cute stalker finally stopped staring."

"Staring is good, but touching is better."

"When you're like this, I don't know what to do," Yuhi said, defeated.

"You just have to tell me I'm pretty."

"You're prettier than any other human in the universe; you're brighter than any star shining in the galaxy, lovelier than any flower," Yuhi commented.

Sumire blinked, hearing his reply. "You're better than this than I am."

Yuhi's lips curve to a smile. "Will you believe me if I tell you those words came naturally?"

"Maybe."

He wrapped his arms around her waist. "So, my wife, do you feel better now?"

"Mm. But should we really have gone home?"

"It's fine." Yuhi caressed her hair. "Hino kept his word. Will you be okay?"

"I should be. I wasn't chosen for the festival, so I planned to sabotage the event by holding another concert on a stage nearby. But, that would mean having the audience choose."

"You don't want that?"

"It doesn't seem right. Besides, everybody has been looking forward to the festival; I would be wrong to destroy it just because I couldn't get a spot."

"But you're forgetting the only reason you couldn't get one is because the organizers were being unfair." Yuhi trailed off. "I saw the original guest list. You were supposed to be opening for the fourth day."

Sumire blinked, hearing those words. She was?

"The organisers changed it to an artist from D entertainment. I suppose we will see who it is tomorrow, but you don't have to worry about not being chosen. You were picked, one of the first few even."

So she was not only chosen but one of the first few. She bursts into laughter. "So that's how it was. I feel silly for worrying this entire time." She trailed off, seeing Yuhi's red-stained cheeks.

H-huh? Why is he getting all embarrassed?

"Why is her smile so pretty? I need to tell her not to do that in public." Yuhi was muttering.

Sumire blinked, hearing his words. Does he not realize that she can hear him? Her smile is pretty. This is the first time she hears it. Since she spent most of her life with an expressionless face, she always assumed that whenever she did smile, it would look strange.