Eternal Melody

"Atsuro told me."

It was another white lie. He had to.

After all, if he doesn't, he will not get anywhere with this conversation.

At that comment, Sumire sighed. "It's obvious you're lying, you know. But I guess I'll praise you for lying twice despite how honest you usually are."

Tsk busted. Then again, no lies ever seem to escape her.

"So, will you tell me already?"

"No can do." She pauses. "Ah, I finished with your hands now."

Yuhi glanced down to see the bandages wrapped around his arm. The swelling had died down due to the medicine she applied to. However, there is something odd about the way she put these bandages.

"This is a clumsy way to wrap bandages." He stated, noticing the edges seemed off.

"S--h--ut up. I'm just not used to it, and well, I have to-"

Hmm? Why does she suddenly look even more nervous than before? Though it's quite fun seeing her flustered like this, why is she so.. His thoughts broke off when he felt a swelling pain in his neck.

Ah, so that is why. She does not have to get so worked up over this.

"Go ahead."

"Ehhh..?"

Yuhi looked at her slyly. "Aren't you supposed to treat me?"

At those words, he watched as her cheeks turned red. "That is true, but Yuhi, do you have to be unpleasant about this?"

"Is that so?"

Pfft, she is very nervous, isn't she? He watches as she unbuttons his shirt and averts her gaze as much as possible. Yet from this distance, he saw her struggle. The girl's cheeks burned redder, all the way to her neck.

Red huh? That's her color, despite what her name implies. "You can't apply the medicine if you look away."

"I-- I know that." Sumire stutters.

Despite those words, she averted her gaze.

She is fun to tease. As she applied the medicine on his neck, he felt the burning sensation from her hands.

Her power really is strong, Sumire must have noticed since she backs her hands away slightly.

"Shall I use some cotton instead?" Sumire mutters..

She was about to do so, yet he grabbed hold of her arm with his free one.

"No, there is no need."

"I see."

He liked it, the feeling of the girl's hands on his bare chest. Listen to him; he sounds like a pervert. But there was something about this moment that made him have rather irrational thoughts. Damn, she's cute; why does she have to stutter and stammer like that?

Yuhi shook his head. He must be going crazy. He needs to control himself; otherwise, he will scare her away.

"Yuhi, is your practice with the others going well?"

"Hmm? Why are you asking so suddenly?"

"Uh, that's because they haven't told me anything. I am supposed to be composing your entry song."

Oh, that's true; naturally, she would write their entry song. But she is composing the melody, huh?

This would be the first time he would sing along to a melody she wrote. Though that debut song was from her, she wrote the lyrics, not the melody for those.

He wonders if the scenery would be different.

"If they're not telling you anything, doesn't that mean it's going well?"

"That's true, but Ran is a bit-"

Yuhi noticed the change in her expression, so she is worried about Iwa, huh?

He already knew the two have a close relationship. Atsuro told him bits and pieces, and well when those guys first came here. Iwa Ran is the one who hangs around her the most.

Yuhi closed his eyes and opened them again. "Are you worried about him?"

Sumire looked away." It is only natural isn't it? Recently he is a bit distant. I understand his situation is bad. He is going through a lot as of this present moment, although he should be thinking more about himself. He always comes over to the bar to check up on me. He has a habit of not eating properly too. You can't just live off energy drinks and nutritious bars."

Come to think of it, whenever they eat, Yuhi noticed that Iwa only has those canned drinks and eats a few bars.

Huh, so it is like that. But normally, Sumire does not notice such things; even if she did, she would ignore it. There is a reason why others call her cold-hearted because she can be.

He should not underestimate Iwa Ran. To get her to be this worried, he is a worthy opponent.

"Iwa's been doing fine. Kira lectures him on his bad eating habits and forces him to eat with us."

It wasn't a lie. But they only did that recently. The last thing on his mind was keeping track of everything his team members did, Although yesterday was the first time they performed together. He has hovered and spent some time before then.

He watched as her violet orbs brightened. "I see! That's good."

For Iwa Ran, she can make that type of face. It sucks. Yuhi understood that he would never measure up to the number of memories the two shared. But when he hears how much she cares and worries about his new team members, it upset him.

Up till now, his main concern was with the fiance, and well, Mamoru. Even before Mamoru passed away, Yuhi saw him as a rival. But it seems like that isn't the case, huh?

Yuhi extended his free hand out and brushed his fingers across the girl's lips, causing her to lose her demeanor again. "Yuhi?"

"I think I don't like it when you pull that sort of expression for Iwa."

"You think… I can't do anything about that."

"Hmm? I'm sure you can."

It was then where he leaned forward, so his face was inches away from Sumire.

He watched as her face became rather unrecognizable due to the bright shade of red.

"Hold on a second, Yuhi."

No, he doesn't want to. She really is too cute. He can't hold back anymore when she's like this. One has to give him a reward or something for holding out this long, though. However, before he did anything, he heard the sound of something dropping. That alone wouldn't have stopped him.

Yet he saw a rather bright light on the ground and picked up what she dropped. It was a musical composing book and a single score sticking out. Huh? This is….?

Sumire immediately took the sheet of paper from his hands and hid it away with her own, holding it against her chest. "This is…um…."

Why is she acting so nervous and secretive?

"You don't have to look so panicked. It's natural that you don't have our song ready, I mean, like you just said. We don't tell you anything about it, nor do we let you go to our practices."

When he saw her look down at her feet, he had to ask again. "That is their song, isn't it?"

"Sorry."

It must be a song for Ichinose Arashi's team. Yuhi sighed deeply. Well, he knew this would happen, he already saw her reaction when she heard that man got hurt. How on earth did Mamoru deal with this without acting petty?