Eternal Melody

He is such a sinful person, Junie, even though he said he would wait. He ended up falling for Ibuki Sumire.

"Are you…doing okay?" Kou finally asked.

Since he came here, he avoids asking her this question because he did not want to disturb the balance in her new life.

He asks because months have passed, she parted with Ichinose on the roof. He remembered that day very well since he hid away behind the door and saw what happened. The other two who followed him also saw it. When she got back here, too, he ended up reporting everything to HQ. Even though he didn\'t trust those guys, they wanted an explanation from start to end of what happened, so he has no choice but to agree.

But no one had asked her, and no one had brought him up in front of her. Kou knew they were trying to be considerate, but he did not believe it did the girl any good.

After all, it was not just Terashima Yuhi that Tsueno Mamoru favored.

If things fall through with Yuhi for whatever strange reason, there will always be that guy.

All he could hear was the sound of flickering pages, and he knew that the girl was still looking down at the book. "What are you talking about?"

Kou flinched when he heard the girl\'s tone. "Nothing"

When Mimi gets like that, it\'s best not to say a word. Even so, she hasn\'t mentioned Ichinose at all, huh? Yet he sees her clutching that necklace in her hands every single day.

Is this what Tsueno Mamoru meant before? When he spoke about setting her up with someone. He had heard the conversation Tsueno had with the caramel-colored-haired girl and couldn\'t help but be surprised. Setting her up with Terashima, at least that\'s the impression he got then. However, when he heard him say those other words, Kou understood.

That guy carefully planned things, so even after he is no longer here, Mimi will not be alone.

He was so lost in thought, though, that he didn\'t when Sumire put her book down and stood up. He did not notice until he felt a pair of familiar arms around him.

"Kou," Sumire spoke softly. "Sorry, I know you\'re just worried about me. But right now, on that matter, I really don\'t want to say anything. I feel as though if I say anything I\'ll truly fall apart and do something rash." She laughed. "I\'m supposed to be on probation right now. But it seems like it\'s difficult. The reason why I can\'t say it, all these factors aside. I\'m still towards Ru…."

At that comment, his eyes widened. It\'s not like he didn\'t notice. Unlike the rest of the world, Kou felt something odd about her relationship with Terashima Yuhi. It looks like everything is going well on the outside, but there was something off about it.

At that, he placed his hand on top of hers, "I understand. Mimi, you don\'t have to worry so much. You\'ll ruin your cute face."

"Idiot." She muttered.

Before they could exchange any more words, they hear the sound of her phone.

"Oops, I\'ll be late. I promised to have a small meeting about the upcoming event at Jupiter records lounge with Ryou-kun and Atsuro."

Kou had noticed the sudden change in familiarity between the two. However, he didn\'t bother with the details. They\'re all getting their chances, after all.

Surprisingly, Terashima is allowing this. Then again, maybe it\'s not like that. Terashima isn\'t allowing this, but this is happening naturally? That guy, however, is up to something.

He separates their hands. The absence of her warmth made him feel strange, but he shook his head. With his usual smile, he sent her off. "Right, have fun."

Sumire smiles. "Yeah, I will be back."

As he watched her retreating figure, though, Kou couldn\'t help but think how different the situation is now. Usually, if he likes someone, he would be more selfish; he would desperately keep that person to himself. However, with Mimi, he found that he couldn\'t do that at all. Even now, that\'s something that will remain a mystery to him.

Kou whipped open his phone. "Hey, it\'s me. Do you have some time?"

The best way to uncover any mystery regarding Ibuki Sumire is to ask that person who acts like her guardian.

He hears a sigh on the other end of the line.

"You know. That translates to drop whatever you\'re doing now and head out, isn\'t it?"

"Glad you got it. See you in that cafe in five minutes."

....

Kou wouldn\'t exactly call himself a demanding person. But nor could he say out right that he is a fair and righteous person either. After all, no matter what happens, it always seems like he would get his way.

The cafe he arranged to meet Hamano Atushi was on a slope beside a few residential apartments. The black hair boy stayed in one this entire holiday and would go back to Tsukhara for the second semester.

He felt a bit bad about calling him out since he knew how busy the boy was, dealing with student council work even when he was here in Tokyo.

The president role, huh? Come to think of it originally, that role was for him. He held quite the attachment to the academy, so he understood where Arashiyan was coming from. But he already decided to walk another path.

Even if Mimi didn\'t come along, he already had thoughts about breaking into the international market. One day, one day, that dream. No, it is within grasp already.

Contrary to what the media say, they are the ones who need to persuade Terashima Yuhi to join them. What is Terashima thinking? He heard from the others about the advice he keeps giving them. Why would he help them out to this extent?