Eternal Melody

"A monster," Sumire replied.

Yuhi rolled his eyes. "That's not a very nice thing to say."

"But, but Yuhi, that's what people call me, and I'm supposed to be better than you! So that makes Hino the same type." Sumire exclaimed.

"I don't like the idea of you two having even more stuff in common."

"If you're jealous, you would have stopped us from having a secret rendezvous."

Yuhi pinched her cheeks. "What secret rendezvous. I know Hino would never make a move on you."

"You're far too confident there, but you're correct."

There was a time last month when she ended up with a fever after being wounded. Hino brought her back home, and Yuhi was in another city performing. He didn't even enter her room to grab the thermometer and just went and bought a new one. He stayed clear of the room and took her to the hospital instead.

"I trust Hino to behave. However, you didn't mess around did you?" Yuhi asked.

Sumire looked at him, horrified. "My dear, how could you accuse me like this?"

"Need I remind you how you were messing around with Nagawa?"

"Hino is different!" Sumire exclaimed.

"I see." Yuhi trailed off and pointed to her bandaged arm. "But I am sure you still treat Nagawa the same way."

"Uh, don't misunderstand, dearest. We only chatted for a bit."

"Does chat involve hugging? His scent is all over you."

Uh, it seems like she can't hide anything. 'I do find it romantic, though. I don't even have to speak. He already knows.' Sumire takes a deep breath before explaining everything from the start, and even her theory of it being a setup.

"If that is true, that is one messed up scenario."

"Mm, but maybe I am overthinking it."

Yuhi shakes his head. "No, Hino's behavior gave it away. Damn Nagawa, just when I thought he was being quiet. I need to hurry up and put that ring on your finger."

"Sano's seduced married women before, though." Sumire pointed out.

Besides, if he is truly serious to the point of being obsessed now, it wouldn't surprise her if he continued his advances even after she married.

A troubled look flashed through Yuhi's eyes, and she giggled.

"If you're so worried, my dear, you just have to keep me by your side all the time."

"Even to the bathroom?"

Sumire sighed, hearing his reply. "Mister, your intentions are obvious."

"I thought you were planning on attacking me anyway."

She raised her eyebrows at those words. So, Yuhi waiting for her on the couch was deliberate and not an accident.

"It frustrates me when you read me like an open book, but I do find it romantic." Sumire sighed. "I don't know what I want."

Yuhi continued to caress her hair and mumbled softly against her head. "You don't have to worry about this too much; after all, your are the only one I can do this with. I wouldn't put in so much effort if it were any other person."

"But sometimes, Yuhi-san, I have matters which I wish to keep from you."

"You're keeping secrets from me now? What happened to couples sharing everything?" Yuhi raised his eyebrows.

"That's true, but-"

"Don't hide anything from me. I want to know everything about you, no matter how small it is. Tell me everything, even if you think it is insignificant and not worth mentioning." Yuhi interjected.

Sumire could only sigh, hearing his reply. A perfect answer that would score one hundred points. Yuhi truly knows what to say.

"Then Yuhi-san, since you know what me and Hino have been up to. What do you think?"

"Why is Aki making you hunt those small fry when there are more important matters to deal with?" Yuhi guessed.

Sumire nodded. "I don't understand his motives, dearest."

"But you're following everything he is saying without questioning it again."

Uh, why does he suddenly seem angry?

"Tomorrow, before we go to school. Do you want to join me somewhere else?"

"Somewhere?"

"The results of my investigation. There have been recent kidnapping cases of young women in hospitals. A few days ago, one of those victims came back unscathed. She wasn't hurt at all, but her face always looks pale, and she often sleeps walk at night."

Sumire recalled the information on Hino's reports and something Eli told her. "Drugs?"

"It seems like it, but it's not a field I am familiar with." Yuhi sighed. "It shouldn't be one you're familiar with either. But Akki must have made you do all sorts of missions."

"Mmm, I am familiar with such cases."

"I set up an appointment. She has had loads of guests the last few days, so it wasn't easy to set this up. But, I pulled some strings."

"A man with connections." Sumire's eyes brightened. "Your so cool, my dear."

"I don't know how to feel when you say that."

Sumire immediately understood what he was trying to say. Uh, why does nearly everything end up being related to Sano? Sumire clears her throat.

"But, we have to make sure we go to school, okay? Hino will nag."

"I know." Yuhi suddenly sits up. "I made dinner already; stay put here while I bring it over."

Sumire nodded and watched Yuhi walk over to the kitchen. Hino is certainly right. Yuhi's behavior is very strange, even if he is acting normal right now. She can tell there is something wrong. Sumire sits up and hugs the pillow to her chest as she watches Yuhi from the corner of her eye, not missing a single movement or change of expression.

His eyes cloud when he isn't near her or other people. She doesn't know what offer that director gave Yuhi. But it must be large enough that he is thinking this seriously. Yuhi is already famous worldwide; he is at the peak of his career. It's not a stretch to say that he has the world in his hands. Yet the music scene is large; there are still places that Yuhi hasn't reached.

Sumire thought for a few minutes before something came to mind. Ah, it must be that festival. No wonder he is behaving oddly. Previously Yuhi told her that he is tired already and could retire anytime. But ever since he became a group with Kou and the others, his enthusiasm towards his career has risen.

'How should I bring up the topic?'

Her thoughts break off seeing Yuhi walk over with a tray with a bright smile on his face. For now, she ought to enjoy dinner and her attack plans.