Eternal Melody

\'I could have easily asked her that question, but I held back. I have already learned enough truths for one day.\' He didn\'t ask her if she still liked him, but he made his feelings for Sumire clear. Would she have told him, if he didn\'t say that? Or would she have continued to lie to herself?

When he was sure the girl had left, he returned to Sumire\'s room.

Huan had curled into a ball shape and had fallen asleep beside Sumire. Hino draped the quilt around Huan, and sat down on the chair beside Sumire\'s bed.

\'When you open your eyes, you\'re going to have a great time telling me that you told me so.\' This must be the reason why Sumire stopped being jealous towards Cassie. She must have observed the girl long enough to know that she was lying to herself and everyone.

If he thinks about it carefully, there was a time where Sumire started to inquire more about his relationship with Cas. Hino exhaled deeply. The signs were all around him from the very start but he chose to ignore them, and for what? Only to end up hurting the person he calls his family. 

His thoughts break off when he feels a pair of familiar hands on top of his. Hino felt his heart beat increase and raised his head to see Sumire, Sumire awake. Just barely.

"Why are you crying?"

"Sum-"

Sumire\'s fingers brushed against his eyelids. "Don\'t cry Hino. It\'s okay, I\'m here."

Before he could even react, the girl\'s hands slipped from his face and her eyelids were closing again. Hino grabbed hold of her hands and mumbled a silent prayer. It was brief, but she woke up. He heard her voice, and felt the warmth from her hands. 

\'I have so much to tell you, so wake up soon.\'

 _______________________

The day Yuhi had to leave for the US came faster than anyone wanted to. Sumire didn\'t wake up again, but she seemed to react whenever Yuhi held her. Both Mashima and Sano said this was a good sign that she would wake soon. Unfortunately, Yuhi couldn\'t stick around any longer. Takeyama was struggling to make up excuses, and insisted that he returned.

Yuhi clearly didn\'t want to go, but Cassie reminded him that Sumire wouldn\'t be happy if he sacrificed all his hard work for her sake.

Hino had to agree there. She would be livid. After all she pushed Yuhi to go to the Us, even if it meant leaving her alone. For Sumire, Yuhi\'s dreams are even more important than her own, and even herself.

Still, to hold this press conference right before Yuhi\'s flight is a bit cruel. He knew Yuhi wanted to be by Sumire\'s side to the last minute. 

"Sumire is recovering. I want to stay here by her side until she wakes up. But, that girl has always been my biggest fan

always supporting me. She\'ll hate that I rushed over here like this." Yuhi laughed. "She\'s always supported me from the very beginning. My biggest fan, my treasure. I\'ll always be thankful for everything she has done for me, thankful that she is in my life and that I can hold her whenever I want."

Hearing some people snickering in the crowd. Hino glared at them but somebody patted his shoulder. It was Nagawa Akane. This girl is here today to represent D entertainment. There were several other artists too.

Instead of giving Sumire\'s work to Shizune alone, he picked a representative from each top company. A mixture of newbies and top artists. This way the media can\'t say anything against Shizune. 

"I know." Hino sighed. "But it\'s hard to watch."

Akane nodded in agreement. "It really is. But this is what the entertainment industry is like. Ibuki-san knows that, and yet despite seeing how toxic the industry is. She chose to come back. I get that you want to protect her honour, but if you do that it will simply give them more to say."

"So I\'ll return to the US after this conference. All I ask is, please allow her to rest. She has already gone through enough."

Hino knew Yuhi wanted to add more, and wanted to talk about her pain. However, if he said those words. Others would criticise Sumire more.

Hell, there are some people who think the whole thing was a set up to \'get attention.\'

"A balance. Terashima-san has found the perfect balance to appease the crowd, despite having that bad temper of his."

Hino sighed. "That balance wasn\'t easy to achieve, and well ever since Sumire returned. Yuhi has found it very difficult to put on a mask, and keep his words in check."

Akane nodded. "It\'s normal to act carelessly for the one they love."

At those words his gaze fell onto Cassie who stepped onto the stage. They haven\'t spoken much since that day, but the awkward tension between them has depleted. Eventually they can work on being friends again. For now. This is enough.

Akane\'s gaze fell on Cassie and then back at him. "I see, so you\'re the one she was talking about."

"She spoke about me?" Hino said.

"More like, she spoke about her childhood friend. She told me it\'s because of the encouragement she received from this friend, that she made it to where she is today." Akane trailed off. "I think you and Ibuki-san are similar like that."

"I\'m the same as Sumire?"

"Terashima-san is the same too. But the three of you know how to inspire those around you."

Hino rubbed the back of his neck. "This is the first time I am hearing this."

Akane sighed. "Didn\'t you know that you\'re the one who inspired my brother to continue with his studies as a doctor? He had very intention of rebelling against the family tradition. But you persuaded him, you said he would become a good doctor. Someone who will help those in need."

\'I do remember having that conversation with Sano. But, who would have thought that he would take it that seriously. I did mean what I said but-\'

"Narasaki-san you seem to have oddly little faith in yourself. I suppose you\'re more alike to her than you are Terashima in that regard."

The same as Sumire huh? 

*Unedited*