Eternal Melody

Chapter 801 Red Feather Part 3

?

Yuhi doesn't have to question how she knows. Hino could have told her. But something tells him that's not what happened this time. She is the bravest and smartest girl he knows. It wouldn't surprise him if she already knew.

It's not like he planned to hide it from her forever. But before he said anything to her, he wanted to have the core facts settled. He doesn't want to give her false information that may lead to her getting hurt.

Or maybe this was all an excuse. He isn't worried about Sumire's safety. In his eyes, Sumire is not only the bravest and smartest girl he knows but also the strongest. Heck, she is stronger than him. This is why he has never bothered with cheesy lines saying that he would protect her. There is no need for that between them, and Sumire appreciates that.

The reason why he was so reluctant to leave was knowing that she was deliberately sacrificing her own happiness. He was so angry at her because, once again, she was doing something that would only hurt her.

Him leaving would destroy her, and he knew that. She knew that very well. It's been two and a half weeks, almost a full month now. But he still hasn't gotten used to not being by her side.

Waking up without her in his arms and falling asleep without her has been very painful for him.

"I have been meeting with Sano." Sumire suddenly said.

The sudden change in topic surprised him. He thought Sumire would confront him, and yet-

'Sumire-san trusts you more than she does herself.'

Recalling the words Jun told him not too long ago, he sighed quietly. When she does things like this, he feels like a jerk.

"Yeah, Hino told me. You're letting him drink your blood?"

Sumire nodded. "Ah-huh, me and him-we-"

"I understand, Sumire, I really do."

Even though others may judge her for it, he understood exactly what she was doing.

"It's strange that you understand when I don't get it either. I don't think it's a pity nor want to mess with him like I did before." Sumire said, frustrated. "I don't get this. Toh hasn't noticed for now, but I think Ru suspects something. Those two are close, so it won't be long before Toh knows."

'She cares more about Mashima than I thought.' During the new year shrine visit. Sumire already confessed to him how she was having a hard time getting over her past relationships because 

"You don't want Mashima to find out?"

"I know how much Toh dislikes, no hates San." Sumire then tells him about how Mashima beat Toh up for touching Sumire when Mamoru was hospitalized for a short time.

'Nice move Mashima.'

"I understand the need to punch Nagawa." Yuhi nodded in agreement.

Sumire rolled her eyes and sighed. "Of course you do, but Toh is usually so calm. So, when he did that before, it made me think that there was more to him than I thought."

"Does that scare you? Him going out of control?"

"A little. I just don't want there to be any conflict between them."

'I wonder which one she cares about more. At least she is able to admit that she isn't using Nagawa anymore. This is good progress.'

Truthfully, the reason why he isn't doing his best to get back as quickly as possible despite missing her like crazy is this. Without him there, the other guys who had been holding back will act. Now this may sound strange, but he has always felt bad about the other guys who like her.

Since Sumire's attention is constantly on him, even when she spends time with them, they haven't really had the chance to pursue her. 'They were never given a choice like you.' A voice echoed in his mind.

Yuhi clenched his fist. 

At the start of their relationship, he was too busy focusing on making Sumire happy to heal her scars after the damage of the accident. When she gradually improved, he could no longer ignore the other guys who liked her.

The fact that he could ignore them before was already amazing. 

'It was Hino's feelings for Sumire that I couldn't ignore.' Forget the other guys. The real reason was Hino. Hino, who offered to become her manager despite being extremely busy, Hino who went to court and defended her. Hino, who has silently protected and watched over her, treated her like a good friend when he loves her.

Watching Hino behave like that, always being respectful and never being selfish. The guilt slowly started to eat at his soul. When Takeyama came that day, Hino stayed behind with Sumire instead of chasing after him. It finally clicked inside his head what he had been preventing himself from admitting.

Hino cared more about Sumire than him.

Hino chose Sumire.

Was it because of their past? Yuhi didn't know. But he knew originally Hino was wary towards Sumire and acted coldly because he didn't want her remembering anything. 

He headed inside the room, and Yuhi slipped his shirt off, and Sumire's face turned red. "Y-Yuhi?"

"I'm going to take a bath," Yuhi announced.

If he stays out on the balcony any longer, his own thoughts will drive him crazy.

"T-then I'll hang up," Sumire said nervously. Despite those words, Yuhi watched her gaze linger on his body. 

"You know, has anybody told you that it's inappropriate to stare?"

"You're the one who suddenly stripped out of nowhere," Sumire said accusingly.

"I haven't fully stripped yet." Yuhi headed towards the bathroom, and the minute he opened the door knob. He spotted the warm bathtub. 

Kou, of course. His friend must have noticed the pattern by now. Whenever he gets nightmares, a warm bath helps him calm down. 

"Ready to be ogled at." Yuhi declared as he removed the last layer of clothing and stepped into the tub.

Sumire's entire face was red as a tomato, but she never stopped looking. "Yuhi," Sumire said softly. "Before you left, we spoke about having more children, didn't we?"

They actually had a serious conversation about it. Not that joking one about filling their future home with children's laughter.