Eternal Melody

After parking the car, Toh suddenly received a phone call and told him to go ahead. Mamoru glances at the rows of different flowers. He didn't know there was a flower shop so close to Sumire's house. Ki would certainly like to come here. However, with her career taking off, she probably doesn't have much free time.

'When she has too much work, I should offer to watch the kids. It would be a good opportunity for me to get to know my son.'

When he first heard about Sumire's pregnancy, he wanted nothing more than to rush to her side. But Toh advised him that it was a bad idea since he was still recovering.

'Your the one who said you don't want to show up looking all awkward.'

Indeed, he was the one who said that. But, it still broke his heart knowing that she would give birth alone. No, she wasn't alone. Yuhi would be there with her. It comforted him, knowing that she would have somebody by her side.

Yuhi didn't just stand by her side during the pregnancy; he took care of Huan and treated him like his own. It probably wasn't easy for him to make that decision, yet he still did that.

'Yuhi is truly a kind guy. If it were me, even I would hesitate to raise the child of another man.'

He supposes this is what makes the two of them different. A deep sigh escaped his lips. He has been trying very hard not to let it bother him. But he can't help but feel jealous. Is it because Yuhi is Ki's, true love? When Ki was dating Sano, Toh, and Kanagawa Ren, it didn't bother him too much. However, with Yuhi, it's different.

'I don't want to see them together.' For now, it's okay for him to see her. But when Yuhi comes back. He needs to be out of the picture. He can't get in the way of their relationship.

"Dear customer, do you need help?" A familiar voice said.

The last person he expected to find was Nase Siena, of all people. Siena is one of Sumire's close friends and one of the four Princesses of the underworld. She wore a massive grin on her face.

"I see your first duty when you return is to give Sumire flowers."

"Uh, actually, I just came back from seeing her," Mamoru said awkwardly.

"I knew you'd spend her birthday with her." Siena beamed happily.

"She is dating Yuhi." Mamoru reminded her.

"I don't understand. You do know that she managed to fall for you, right? You can easily take her back."

"It's not that simple," Mamoru argued.

If it was that simple, he would have returned for her sooner.

Siena leads him to an observatory, and they sit down on the chairs.

"I'm relieved to see that you made the correct decision to appear before her again." Siena trailed off.

"You misunderstand the situation. When Yuhi returns, I will disappear from her again." Mamoru explained.

He has no right to intervene when Ki is finally with the man she loves.

Siena becomes agitated. "I don't understand why you're like this now. I know you pushed Sumire towards Terashima Yuhi strongly before. But you eventually started dating her, so I thought you finally understood."

"Siena, not once have I ever thought I deserve Sumire," Mamoru admitted.

The only reason he went out with Sumire was because he couldn't leave her in that state. He saw how heartbroken she was after what happened with Toh. Sumire reluctantly dated Kanagawa Ren afterward, but he could tell that she only did that to fill the void in her heart.

She experienced three heartbreaks in a row. Naturally, he had to do something. She started saying after Kanagawa Ren left how she would give up on love before it gave up on her again and how she was cursed to be forever alone. He couldn't stand hearing her talk like that and seeing her break down even more.

Was it too drastic, asking her out? But he didn't regret it.

At those words, Siena sighed deeply. "This again. I truly do not understand. If you truly mean what you say, then why did you show up in front of Sumire again? If you truly wanted to disappear from Sumire's life. It would be easy for you."

Mamoru couldn't say anything to that. Indeed, if he truly wanted to step out of her life, he could do so. However, he can't do it.

"Since you're not doing that, then that means you do not want to disappear."

"But Yuhi is- I can't do that to them."

"In the end, the decision is up to Sumire. You can't blame yourself if she decides to leave Terashima for you. Of course, this is just a theory. You should meet with her more often and get to know each other again."

"Ki has changed." Mamoru understood what Siena was saying.

"That's right; she has changed. So you two have to start over from scratch. Please get to know the current her. I know no matter how much she changes, you will love her. But it won't do any harm, will it?"

"Also, there is my son." Mamoru felt awkward mentioning this. "I don't know the first thing about children. I don't know if I can interact with him properly."

"Do you think Sumire is any better? She is probably more clumsy than you. Sumire didn't have the best childhood. She, of all people, must feel disconnected with the concept of family. But she has been doing her best. Mamoru, it's been hard for her. So you should do your part now."

"That's true." Mamoru agreed. "But Ki has always been my family. We have always had each other."

Siena's gaze softened. "Even if you can't become a true family with her, be good to her, okay? She deserves nothing but kindness in her life now."

"Ki, she still follows Aki's orders," Mamoru said, frustrated.

Looking around the apartment, he found traces of blood-stained clothing.

"It's only normal. She feels indebted to him."

"But she is a mother now and her career." Mamoru protested.

"That's why we have to help heal her heart, maybe when all her demons have vanished. She can finally live a normal life."

Mamoru didn't say anything to that, and his gaze fell on the fountain in the center of the room. A normal life, huh? If only she could live a normal life.