Eternal Melody

Chapter 879 Thorn Part 8

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HINO

Unfortunately Sumire has far too many enemies. Even if they narrow it down, it will take a long time. By that time the culprit may have even gotten away, or completely erase their tracks and their involvement. They need to find out who hired the reporter and the stalker. They need to find them quickly because the more time that passes by, the more the danger increases.

They need to completely narrow it down so there is only single digit candidates. Right now, three groups are doing their best to cover all the grounds regarding this case. But, even with the combined forces they are coming to a dead end.

'I have been doing my own digging but my investigation is coming to a stand still too.'

Yuhi's gaze dimmed. "Did you know Aki is missing?"

"I heard, and that's why Kain Ryuuji had to take over in Star town."

"Aki would never have allowed that information to be inputted in the data base, fearing for leaks. He acts the way he does but he is sharper than most."

"So your saying, someone who did know imputed that information and it was leaked."

Yuhi nodded. "I really wish I didn't reach that conclusion, but if you checked the gps and found it unactivated. Then all fingers point to someone in the Holy knights leaking Sumire's current residence." His gaze dimmed. "Had I known that earlier, I would have lined up all the members and crushed the suspicious ones."

"Calm yourself Yuhi. You can't just kill them."

"Why can't I?" Yuhi yelled. "Why can't I take revenge on those pieces of shit who are probably living their lives right now while Sumire is in this condition? You know how sensitive this time frame for Sumire's dream is. This is the time where she is receiving the most jobs and opportunities. But now she is stuck here, unable to do anything. Those people who did this to her knew this. They preyed on her weakness, knowing that Sumire would never harm her fans."

Hino didn't know what to say to that. After all Yuhi was right. The reason he booked her a concert in that large venue was because this was the time frame where her popularity was soaring. The time where she would take a few more steps closer to her dream.

Yuhi isn't the only one angry, he is too. He is furious. All of Sumire's hard work being crushed all because of jealousy that can't be explained.

"I can't do nothing Hino. Look at her, just look. It wasn't supposed to be like this and you know it. She was supposed to exit that concert with a smile, call me and shamelessly flirt like normal. Then the next few days she would be so busy but still find a way to contact me and declare that she is getting closer to standing by my side properly. She wasn't supposed to be on the brink of death."

Yuhi's entire body trembled and Hino walked over and patted his shoulder. "I'm sorry, that was insensitive of me. I understand how you feel. You want to inflict the pain they made her go through, double. You want them to suffer until they are begging, and every single hostile thought they have ever had towards Sumire vanishes. You want to break them."

"I-I-" Yuhi couldn't get anymore words out and Hino drew him closer.

He isn't a hugger and neither is Yuhi. But right now he needed a friend, needed his family. Hearing Yuhi's sobs, he signalled towards where the screen was. He heard faint footsteps and turned to the sobbing Yuhi.

It's rare for him to cry like this, he has only ever seen it once and that was in the facility. It was during the time they decided to escape and were running away. When Yuhi ended up being dragged away leaving him and Sumire behind. Hino could remember the pained cries that escaped Yuhi's lips.

When Hino encouraged Yuhi to sleep. Yuhi climbed onto Sumire's bed and pulled her into his arms. He waits until Yuhi is fast asleep before exiting the room, his gaze dimmed. All the emotions he has been holding back the last few hours finally snapped,

It's unforgivable.

The image of Sumire bleeding, and her being loaded onto the ambulance. When he returned to the apartment and saw all that blood.

Now hearing Yuhi's cries. 

Those people won't get away with this. 

 __________________

The next two days, Hino spends it following Shizune around. The girl quickly accepted his offer and even said the earnings would go to his company.

Surprisingly the girl was doing a better job than he thought. Shizune doesn't have the same charisma Sumire has. But, she has something that makes people watch her and that is good enough. It's good enough because this will protect Sumire's reputation. He didn't want to be here, he wanted to be in the hospital to watch over her. However with Yuhi there, Sano, Mashima and Nakara frequently dropping by. There is no need for him to be lingering around when he could be doing something else.

The reason he accompanied Sumire on set today was because he heard Hori Fuko and Sano's sister would be here. 

"It's been a long time Hino-san." A familiar female voice said.

Speak of the devil and here she comes. Nagawa Akane, the eldest daughter of the Nagawa family. 

"Yeah it has."

Akane stands next to him. "I heard you were the one who brought that newbie in to stand in for Ibuki-san. Nobody really expected anything from her, but now they are saying she is crucial to the show." She trailed off. "You've always been good at spotting talent."

'She is Sumire's friend and the one who encouraged her to join the entertainment industry is Sumire.' Hino kept those thoughts to himself. If they know she is Sumire's friend, no doubt they will start bullying her.

"What do you want?"

Akane chuckled. "Isn't that my line. Didn't you accompany the newbie because you knew I'd be here today?"

Hino exhaled deeply. "I want to ask you a few questions, depending on how you answer. I'll be dragging you out of here."

"That sounds scary, but I suppose you have had a lot going on. Is this about what happened with Ibuki-san?"

Hino frowned. "It is. I'll be frank with you, was it you? Were you the one who hired that reporter and the stalker?"

"I see, so you have already worked out there is someone else behind the scenes." Akane trailed off. "It wasn't me, but it could have been."

*Unedited*