Eternal Melody

"Do you think Lucifer will show himself after this?" Yuhi wondered.

"I don't know whether a man as cold-blooded as him will feel moved by music. But at the very least, I noticed that the ones with ties to the underworld have disappeared. The only audience members are the regular D entertainment artists."

'I don't think Sumire's song moved him; perhaps he saw what happened earlier? I was too busy calming Sumire down, but I felt somebody watching us.'

"Break Beat Bark! It's growing distant.

The route to tomorrow is going a long way 'round like a loop...

But wake up! Morning has come

"Hello, my hope!" If you've got an unchanging, unconvertable heart,

Then even obstacles you and I face get us fired up, right? Heartbeat

I start shouting, with all my prayers behind it

I heard the sound of tears falling-- it's still echoing in my ears

I'll come and save you at the speed of sound!" Sumire sang.

He doesn't know what that madman is thinking. But, he won't allow Lucifer to hurt Sumire.

"Hino, tell the organizers there will be a slight change in the program."

Hino sighed. "Hey, we already spent a lot of time persuading them for you guys to take the slots beside Sumire. Besides, you're even going to change your song."

Jun, who was typing on his laptop, glanced over."You're always causing problems."

"It means Ran has time to practice his bad dancing."

"Oi Tetsuo."

Yuhi felt somebody staring at him and noticed Kou was looking over with a serious look in his eyes.

"I heard from Mamoru-san before that Mimi cried when you performed that song. No, she tried to commit suicide due to the guilt she felt towards you."

"I am aware." Yuhi clenched his fist at the memory.

Hino practically had to tie him up so he wouldn't ditch his work and rush to her side. He knew the consequences would be severe; no, he thought he knew. But to think she would do that-

"You only performed it once because of what happened to her, didn't you?"

"That's true."

"But if you truly cared, you wouldn't have performed it at all."

"That's wrong." Yuhi immediately rejected Kou's words. "I decided to sing that song because I cared for her more than anybody. I wanted her to know my situation, but she would have been more hurt if I had told her directly. I put my feelings into a song hoping to ease her pain."

Kou laughed weakly. "If it's music, she should take the news better. I understand your mindset, but in the end, it's better to communicate those emotions directly. You did that because you didn't want to lie to her anymore, and you knew nobody else around her would have told her."

"Kou-"

"Mimi has always loved you, Yuhi. So, you have to take good care of her. For all of our sakes."

Yuhi immediately understood. This was Kou's way of saying that even though they still liked her, they would give up. Before Yuhi could respond, he heard rushing footsteps. He turned around and caught the girl rushing towards him.

"Yuhi, how did I do? I feel very good!" Sumire said happily.

Yuhi chuckled as he parted a strand of her hair from her face and wiped the sweat with a handkerchief. Her face was beaming with happiness, and her eyes were shining brightly.

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, eyelids, nose, and lips. "You did very well. Good job, Sumire."

"T-then, will you listen to what I want to do tonight?" Sumire covers her mouth before laughing shyly. "I mean, I would really like it if we did something after this; it would be special."

Yuhi felt his cheeks color, hearing her words. "Special?"

"Mm, special. Yuhi-san you don't mind right?"

Seeing her innocent-looking eyes, however, Yuhi sighed.

'I think our idea of making tonight special is completely different. When I touch her, I can think of several ways to make tonight special. But she doesn't think that is she?'

He almost fell for that trap. "I don't. I will listen." Yuhi trailed off and whispered in her ear. "But, you need to listen to me too."

"Un okay!" Sumire quickly agreed.

Even as he stepped out onto the stage, his thoughts were a mess. Yuhi knew that Sumire had no idea what she had just agreed to there. It should be good for him that she is so innocent, but sometimes it is frustrating.

His name was written in capital letters Terashima Yuhi with a single blue rose beside his name. At first, the crowd did not notice, but everybody went silent when he stepped out onto the stage. Despite being far from the audience, he could hear exactly what they were saying.

'Don't tell me he is going to perform sky?'

"In the depths of darkness, I slept in the sin

I accepted the divine mercy as if it was my fate

But then why? It should not have existed.

This echoing singing voice, just like a heartbeat.

This closing life, burning like a flame

This second chance, without any lies

If the wind will blow in my back." Yuhi sang.

'Even when I am in pain, I will sing for you, Sumire.' When he first performed this song, these were the emotions he had in mind. But it's different now. He no longer wants to see her hurt over this song. He wants her to understand there is another message behind it.

"This bond, this melody, will become the wings of song

But I can still sing for you

I want to flutter my wings again

Blue ocean... To the hills of light

Until I disappear

The chains of my memories won't break

I will stay in the edge of the despair." Yuhi sang.

"Is it a nightmare? A punishment? Stealing even my own voice

But then the miracle so close to the illusion flew down.

This gentle and enthusiastic figure who spoke to me

Overlapping over and over

The wind of hope is blowing." Yuhi pulled out a fake-looking sword as he swung it around before it landed in the field of red roses.

"But I can still sing for you

Even if I would drown in anguish

I'll entrust this song to the connected memories."

Yuhi quickly bowed; he didn't bother with an MC and increased his footsteps so he could reach backstage. But he didn't have to do that; in the next second, he felt a familiar bundle in his arms. For a moment, he is shocked but then hears sobbing.

He cupped her cheeks and wi[ed the tears away. "You know, I didn't sing this again for you to cry."

"I-it doesn't matter what you sing; your songs always have this impact on me."

"So much for my plan to make you smile and say how cool I am."

"Oh, silly." Sumire wrapped her arms around his neck and mumbled in his ear. "For me, you've always been the coolest regardless of whether you sing."

Now, who is the silly one? Yuhi felt a pair of lips on his breaking his thoughts. The initial shock of her doing something as bold as rushing up to him on stage was already surprising. But, now, she has taken the initiative to kiss him in public in front of thousands of people.

'She may just be caught up in the moment right now. Later on, she may have regrets when she looks back at this. But, for now, I will treasure this moment with her.'