Eternal Melody

Instead of sitting on the chairs, Yuhi sets a cloth on the ground, and they have an indoor picnic.

"My dear, I think I just made another enemy."

"What did you do now?"

Sumire pouted, hearing his words. "Why is it my fault?"

"I am assuming it is somebody from school. Since we held our press conference regarding our marriage and you being pregnant. You have been doing a good job provoking the females who like me."

"That's because they are annoying. Your already mine; they need to know when to give up."

"So you did do something," Yuhi said knowingly.

"A week ago, when I bumped into Hitomi-chan. Her notebook fell out of her hands, and there were many pictures of you in that notebook. She started to cry and yell, saying it wasn't fair. 'Yuhi-sama has always belonged to everyone but now your taking him away. Why does it have to be you?'"

"Is that all?"

"Hmm, actually, I think there was something more. But the blood went straight to my head since I was so angry. What she said there, I had already heard so many times before. But then she said something else that I couldn't tolerate. In the end, I told her that I believed in you and left afterward-" Her sentence fell short when Yuhi burst into laughter.

"Of course, you will say something like that. I feel silly for worrying."

Sumire looked at him, confused, not understanding what he was talking about. But Sumire wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his neck. "Your worrying about something Yuhi? What's wrong? I am right here."

Yuhi's gentle hands caressed her back. "I know; thank you, Sumire. All I need is you."

Sumire immediately understood the meaning behind his words. Yuhi must have met with Takayama again. That guy is strangely persistent. All the other people Yuhi turned down before didn't insist this much.

She feels Yuhi raise her shirt and run his hands through her back directly.

"My dear, what are you doing?"

"Touching you."

'Should I be speechless that he is being so shameless, casually?'

"My dear..lately, you touch me more often," Sumire muttered.

"Do you hate it?" Yuhi asked.

"No. But-" Sumire paused. She didn't know how to say this out loud.

'It feels like he is rushing-' Does Yuhi think if he doesn't touch her, she will leave again? No, not in this instance. The one who will be doing the leaving is him. Then, he must be doing this to make some memories with her before leaving. Even though Yuhi rejected Takayama, it seems like he is preparing for the scenario of being made to leave.

Her thoughts break off when Yuhi suddenly stops.

"Sorry, I probably shouldn't do this now."

Sumire continues to stare at him as he pulls her away. He truly is behaving strangely; one moment, he is all over her, and the next, he is pulling away, almost like there is something he is frightened of.

"You used your gun to deal with just normal students?" Yuhi swiftly changed the topic before she could question him.

She shakes her head and explains what happened with Arata.

"I think I know who you're talking about. I have never met him directly, but he appeared in Mamoru's stories. 'Ki always looks like she is having a lot of fun when she is fighting him.'"

"Having fun fighting, huh? That's a new one."

Yuhi rolled his eyes. "When I heard it, I was surprised, after all, when we fought side by side. You always seemed bored after each fight. But the more I listened, the more I understood. 'Ah, she finally met an opponent that is similar to her.'"

"It's strange, Yuhi."

"What is?"

"I thought hearing about me being close with another guy would make you jealous. But you're even encouraging it."

Yuhi sighed deeply, and he flicked her forehead. "Even I understand how to differentiate your interest."

Sumire puffed out her cheeks and hit him. "My dear, this is the moment where you say you're jealous and then say you're punishing me. You never follow the script." Sumire siad frustrated.

"If I punish you like you say, you're not leaving this room walking."

Just now, when he said it, it felt like an arrow hit her heart. Yuhi grabs hold of her wrist and pulls her down to sit on his lap. He buried his face in her neck.

"Didn't you just have a fight? Why are you thinking about fooling around?"

"The fight was a coincidence. I had plans to attack you, dearest."

"You're crazy," Yuhi mumbled. "It's good that you're cute too."

Sumire laughed. "But why did you stop? Are you tired?"

"Just a little. I have been working hard on some new songs."

Judging from his tone and expression, it is not going so well.

Yuhi is struggling to write music; that's new. But it happens to even the most gifted musicians. It is the same for her.

"Yuhi, do you want my help?"

He shakes his head. "I am writing these songs for you. It won't do any good if you assist."

She felt her heart flutter hearing his words. More than one song about her? What type of confession is he going to do this time? She is suddenly looking forward to it. Before asking any more questions, she felt Yuhi kiss and bite and suck on her neck.

"Mmmm."

"Sumire, if I do something to you now. Will you get mad?" Yuhi asked softly.

He is being so silly; how could she possibly get angry at him for holding her? Seeing his passionate yet complicated gaze, Sumire sighed and pushed him down until he was lying on the ground. She stares at him for a few minutes.

'Yuhi, you don't have to be so gentle and caring. It makes me fall even more in love with you, and the more you behave this way, the more I realize how dirty I am.'

Yuhi always refrains from touching her since he believes he is filthy due to sleeping with numerous women before. But none of that stuff mattered to her. He isn't dirty; the filthy one is her and her alone. She is covered in the filth of her dark past. How can she touch him after harming so many lives with these hands?