Eternal Melody

He should focus on Sumire first.

Yuhi is surprised to reenter the room and find her awake. No, what surprised him was the bottle of wine by the bedside table and the cup.

'How did she know I keep those in the drawers?'

"H-hey, did you drink wine?" Yuhi asked, despite knowing the answer already.

"I drank! I also took my clothes off already." Sumire said proudly. "It will make it easier for you."

So underneath that blanket she is naked?, Yuhi quickly erased the image from his head. His thoughts broke off when he heard her hiccup.

"Sorry, this is the first time I drank so much. But strangely, I'm not drunk yet." Sumire laughed.

'Damn, I'm in trouble. She is so cute.' He would rather she openly seduce him. Either situation will cause him problems. Yuhi walked over, and right at that moment, the blanket fell from her shoulders, briefly revealing her skin.

Yuhi rushed over and stopped it from falling. "Lay back down." Yuhi somehow managed to get her to lay down on the bed, and he quickly joined her.

Even now, laying side by side makes him feel nervous.

"Hehe." Sumire laughed.

"What?"

"Even when I'm like this, you're holding back. You're so kind, Yuhi."

'If she knew my thoughts, she wouldn't say that.' Suppose this girl knew that a simple glimpse of her bare skin is enough to drive him insane. What would she think?

"Don't drink when I'm not around; you could attract weird guys."

"Aha, Toh said that to me too."

This is a chance; it's rare for her to openly talk about this man.

"How did you meet him?"

Sumire cutely tilted her head to the side. "I met him when I was running away from dangerous people."

"Dangerous people?"

"I was accompanying Asahi to a job. I saw one of my targets and lured him away, I succeeded in killing him, but his people immediately went after me. It seems he was prepared for an assassination. He just didn't think it would succeed."

Now that he thought about it. 'I think Mamoru told me about this; he mentioned being concerned about her state of mind.'

"I met Toh when I was running away; he helped me, and then we went back to his place so he could treat my wound."

Wait, she followed a stranger to their house? Yuhi looked at her dumbfounded as she continued her story. But he relaxed a little when he noticed how happy she was when she talked about Mashima. It seemed like the first impression was a good one. That guy treated her wounds and treated her well.

"Afterwards, he started drinking and offered me one. I thought it would give my age away if I didn't drink, so I drank. But it made me all muddled-headed. I became emotional, and I think I pounced on him first?"

Yuhi already knew where this story was going, and sure enough, Sumire tells him how she woke up the next morning.

'Damn alcohol. I'll definitely not let her drink in the future. So that's why she acts so strangely when I ask about her first time. The one who took it wasn't Atsuro or Mamoru. It was the designer guy.'

Yuhi felt conflicted. It's good that he finally knows, even if he had to hear it this way. His thoughts broke off when he felt the girl edge closer and closer until she was directly beside him.

It did not take long before Sumire kissed him deeply. "Mmm."

She is driving him crazy. After kissing for a few minutes, Sumire drew back with red-stained cheeks.

"Are you done?"

"Ah." Sumire trailed off and quickly hid under the blanket.

Yuhi stared at her, speechless.

First, she asks him to do homework and lures him into her toom. Second,

she attacks him, and now she is hiding.

"So, you know how to seduce now? Is this a result of your practice?'

"Mmm."

"You don't have to wait till I sleep."

'I am flattered that she is even doing this. But, I want to be awake and see her many different expressions.'

"But I'll get nervous."

"So when I'm asleep, you don't get nervous?

"I do, very nervous."

"Then---"

Sumire giggled. "Do you want to help me practice Yuhi? I'm not very good."

"Maybe when you feel better," Yuhi recalled what she said earlier.

'Nausea and a missed period.'

Sumire explained how her cycles become irregular due to stress. She has been busy running around since her concert with Takahashi Yumi. But with Hino as her manager, the burden should have lightened.

'Is she pregnant again? It can't be but then again, considering my behavior during Christmas.'

I'll have to ask Naga--no Atsuro. Nagawa is serious about Sumire now. It is hard to predict his behavior. He does not want to do anything that would bring the two closer. Moreover, it seems like the media intends to use Nagawa's feelings for Sumire to cause a rift between them. He cannot let that happen.

Yuhi continued to caress her hair and noticed the girl was staring at him. "What is it?"

"Recently, Yuhi-san, you haven't met up with your childhood friend. Why is that?"

His sweat fell when he heard her direct words. Didn't Sumire want him to stay away from Cas and avoid mentioning her? Surprisingly she is the one bringing her up.

"Cassie's schedule has been hectic since she returned. We met up in that cafe that one time just to catch up, but she mentioned it would be hard to meet for awhile."

"So, in other words, you wanted to meet with her but couldn't."

Yuhi panicked when he heard her tone. Is she angry again? He doesn't like it when she is mad. She tends to have this empty look in her eyes, and she closes her heart off- his thoughts broke off when she buried her face in his arms.

"S-Sumire?"

Isn't she still naked? Being this close to her is a bit dangerous.

"Listen to me rant for a bit. Yuhi, I am extremely jealous of that girl because she has known you for far longer than me. She knows things about you that I had to learn and ask along the way. It makes me envious. I struggle to learn things about you, but she will know them naturally just because you spent more time together."

This is the first time he is hearing this.

"I don't want to hate her, but it's difficult for me to get close to someone who knows you better."

"But Hino-"

"I was a bit bitter towards him at the start. But then he told me that he felt the same way, and we naturally got along better afterward. Yet that girl is different. I can tell that she cares a lot about you. Previously you told me that all the girls you slept with only wanted you for your body and money, right?"

"Yeah."

"This girl isn't like that. I can tell that she likes you. What I am trying to say to you, Yuhi, is, I am terribly frightened now that somebody better has shown up; she will take you from me."