Eternal Melody

Neither of them spoke the entire way up to the roof, and she pondered about their conversation just now. She didn't make a mistake, right? Was she being a bit too bold there?

She learned from the other girls in her class that sometimes being too straightforward can cause a misunderstanding. But that is how she truly felt.

'I do not see the need to hide anything from him at this stage in their relationship.'

More than six months have passed since they started dating; soon, it will be an entire year. She shouldn't be hiding her desires towards him now.

Her thoughts broke off when Yuhi opened the door to the roof. Now that she thought about it when she first saw this house of Yuhi's. She found it unusual that he had a rooftop area instead of just a roof. But it seems like Yuhi-san likes scenery. She would occasionally find him here staring at the view of the city.

It was night, and this was the residential district. But despite that, they could hear the sounds of bustling life below.

'Whenever I have something in my mind, I come here, or just when I want to relax.'

Sumire recalled what he had told her before. In this instance, it must be the former rather than the latter.

"There is something on my mind."

She felt the sadness in his tone and paused. So there was something weighing on his mind. Normally it is hard to catch Yuhi off guard, but she did it easily; he seemed meek somehow.

"Yuhi?"

"It's about our relationship Sumire."

At those words, Sumire flinched. Wait, wait, is he going to break up with her? Ah, she knew it; she should have kept those unusual thoughts to herself. Does Yuhi think she only likes him for the same reason as those other women do? That is not it, Yuhi; she truly likes him for other reasons than his looks.

Her thoughts broke off when he caressed her cheeks. She looked into his eyes and understood something. This it's the same gaze he gave her when he first confessed to her.

But why? Why is he looking at her like this now?

Yuhi suddenly sighed and pinched her cheeks. "I'm not breaking up with you, so calm down for a moment, will you?"

"Ouch, ouch. But you are the one who said, let's talk about our relationship in a serious tone."

"Of course, I have to. We have the wedding, and about the other guys who like you. I think we should talk about it."

"Uh." Sumire trailed off. "You know, maybe the breakup talk sounds better."

Yuhi pinched her cheeks tighter and exhaled deeply. "I know we discussed things in New year. I heard your feelings towards them loud and clearly. But there are still others like Atsuro, for one. You are still not comfortable around him, but you ask about him. Sometimes when I see that, I misunderstand."

"It's true. I asked about him. But it's truly nothing more than concern for a friend."

Yes, he is a friend. How could she possibly go out with the man who saw her try to commit suicide several times?

Yuhi must have understood what she thought since he let go of her cheeks. "I don't want you to think I am trying to intimidate you."

"I won't think that way. Besides," Sumire paused and saw the troubled look on his face. "-it's rare seeing you like this, so I am enjoying it quite a bit."

"I'm just worried about him and Soujiro, who have been staying away from you."

Sumire laughed at his words. "Do you think they are plotting something in secret?"

"I do."

"The man I love is a dull guy, after all. How could you lose your confidence against people I do not even interact with?"

"They say absence makes the heart grow fonder."

Sumire blinked when she heard those words. Isn't that what she told him before? She did not speak to him on the day he returned to Tokyo. But she did leave that note as a response to that letter he gave her.

"You remember such weird things, Yuhi-san."

"Do you think so? I still have that note, you know. I would read it before I went on stage."

"W-what?" Sumire did not expect this piece of information.

Now she was getting this strange image of him reading that note before he went on stage. How embarrassing. She felt her cheeks redden again, and she coughed.

"That wasn't a confession."

"But I interpreted it as you'll grow even fonder of me than you already did during our time apart. Didn't you write it with that in mind?"

The reason she is embarrassed is because he is exactly right. But she also wrote it, thinking that he would not understand the real message. He is far too sharp when it comes to stuff about her; no, he is just unusually positive about her feelings towards him.

Yuhi must have kept it on him at all times, and even if the note got crumpled or wet due to the weather. He would take careful measures to make sure he could still read the words.

Why does this person love her so deeply? Why does he give her the hope that she ought to have given up on a long time ago?

Yuhi, does Yuhi not understand? In that year, he went off to be even more famous. How many times did she stain her hands with blood in that year? How many people did she kill? How could he possibly still love and treat her so preciously?

'I have sinned so many times. I have taken so many lives.' She had already prepared herself not to be happy for the rest of her life. The weight of her crimes cannot be judged due to the laws regarding the delinquent world. But if those rules were not in replaces, then she would just be a plain murderer.

The people she killed have greatly sinned too. But did that give her the right to judge them? She did not think this through when she was an active member of the holy knight's organization.

'I have to end people's suffering with my own hands. Yes, this is the only way.'

During her darkest time, she had such thoughts. But after experiencing such happiness and joy because of Yuhi, she finally understood. She never had the right to judge those people.

Those people she killed and thought were bad people may have had loved ones who cared about them no matter what they did. People like Yuhi who would forgive her for doing bad things.

She stole someone's treasure, that is why she does not deserve to live happily.