"Do you want to bet on that?"
A determined look flashed through Hino's eyes. "I do. I'll bet everything on you, Ibuki Sumire."
A deep sigh escaped her lips when she heard his serious reply. It seems the people who associate with Yuhi are all like this. When she first started to get to know the guys in Akagumi, she quickly learned they weren't scary.
'A group of foolishly honest people.
I have never met people who smiled so much.
I have never met such honest people.'
All the people around Yuhi are like this. Hino is not different. At first, he seemed strict and very cold, but she recalled when they first spoke properly. Hino learned right away that she genuinely loved Yuhi. He could tell just from their short conversation.
For her, that meant 'this person has been watching over Yuhi preciously.' That encounter was enough for her to change her mind about him.
It must be Yuhi's influence. She heard that before Hino met Yuhi, he was uncontrollable and cold-hearted.
Sumire rummaged through her bag and took out some score sheets. "Here, it's only half the song and some lyrics. But, these are my current emotions."
Hino scanned the sheets, and his eyes widened.
"This-"
"I know it's very different. It gives a more pure image too, which frankly speaking will not help me. If I act innocent, the public will surely--" Her sentence fell short when Hino picked up her guitar from the corner.
"Show me."
He really is way too blunt. Well, she supposed she could show him. Sumire took the guitar from him and played a few chords.
"One day, I could hear it
When it was raining the voice that called me.
You've always been there for me through thick and thin.
So that I can look forward and walk again
When I get to my dream stage someday.
I'll surely think of you, and I'll surely see your face.
For this song and this voice
connect me to my precious thoughts."
By the end of it, the expression on Hino's face looked priceless. It was a first for her to see him so shocked, so she burst into laughter.
"H--hey, this isn't funny!"
Sumire laughed. "Sorry, but is it that surprising?"
"Well yeah, it's different from your usual style."
"Is that not what you wanted?"
"It is, and this is a great song." Hino suddenly flicked her forehead. "But you started trembling halfway."
Uh, so he noticed that.
"Mm, it's still difficult for me. You and Yuhi are the only ones I can sing in front of, and even with you, I end up this way sometimes."
"Will you be fine? The concert-"
"I will be able to sing with Yumi-senpai. I am that confident."
"But singing alone is hard?"
"It seems so."
"Then why didn't you just get Yuhi to play the guitar while you sing?"
Sumire blinked, startled at his suggestion. "Eh?"
"I mean, I know you don't want to perform with him properly until you reach his level. But something like this should be fine, right?"
She didn't reply right away. "Will Yuhi mind?" She suddenly turned shy at the thought of performing with him.
'It's my dream to stand together on stage, but thinking about singing love songs with Yuhi makes me embarrassed.'
"Are you actually asking that?"
"You don't understand Hino, but even if Yuhi isn't singing, he is still the god of composers."
"You're really his number one fan, you fangirl whenever he gets on stage."
"When you see a handsome guy sing, that's the normal reaction." Sumire trailed off and picked up her phone. "Ah, my dear has a show today. I'll stare at him to get some more energy."
Hino's eyes twitched, annoyed. "Get back to practice."
"But it won't do any harm. I've been dancing for so many hours."
"Hours?" Hino trailed off. "Sumire, it's only eight."
Sumire looked for a place to hide, but before long, Hino was pinching her cheeks.
"I did say you could use this place but don't abuse it!"
"This is why I said let me use a shared training room. You'll have witnesses then." Sumire pointed out.
Hino sighed deeply and took something out of his bag. Sumire blinked when she saw the neatly packaged box.
"You made me bento."
"I made too many."
She slowly opened the box and blinked once before laughing.
Hino looked away, uncomfortable.
"Let's eat already."
Sumire nodded and stopped the music. She joined Hino on the ground with the lunchbox.
"Do you want me to bring some chairs?"
She shook her head. "This is fine."
The moment she starts to eat, she hears the sound of her phone.
Her gaze brightened when she saw who messaged her.
From: Yuhi
Hey, my love, I'll pick you up.
So tell me when you finish, alright?
From: Sumire
Two hours! Give me two hours.
From: Yuhi
Very eager, I see, but alright.
Hino sat beside her coughed, and Sumire laughed lightly.
"You know, so many months have passed since you two started going out."
"Right, it's been half a year."
"Half a year of dating, and you're still acting like a new couple in that disgusting phase."
Sumire paid no attention to the last part; her attention remained on the first half. 'That's right; half a year has gone by already.'
It struck her as unusual to think she survived this long. 'With my personality, for me to stay in a relationship for this long means I like the other person.'
It's not just like, though. Her feelings for Yuhi increase as the day goes by.
"Then again, it's because it's been half a year that Yuhi is busy these days."
Eh?
Hino quickly realized what he had just said, but it was too late. Sumire tugged on his shirt.
"Tell me what you mean."
"Yuhi is preparing something for you." Hino trailed off. "He indeed had some other work, but the main reason is because he is preparing a six-month anniversary thing."
"Um, but it's been like eight months."
"Better now than ever. The fool is excited so just let him be."
'Really excited..' An image of Yuhi's smiling face appears in her red, and unconsciously her cheeks turn red. Somehow lately, she doesn't know how to behave around him.
Is it because he learned that she had liked him this entire time? But it felt like he already knew that. What has changed between them? Why does she feel so self-conscious?
"The human heart is truly complicated."