Eternal Melody

"Don't let it get to your head." Shin looked away. "You still haven't entered any official tournaments. Until you do, these words are empty."

Sumire sighed at his words. 'This man knows how to ruin the moment. No wonder I don't see any girls around him.' Still, it would have taken a lot to persuade Mamoru to put her in harm's way. Ru didn't treat her like glass and included her in dangerous jobs before. But if it became too dangerous, he wouldn't allow her.

"I don't have any memories before I was six years old. Ru knew about this and said he would help me." Sumire mumbled. She laughed awkwardly. "I know it's strange saying this now, but I figured if I helped you - you would need this information."

She mentioned it casually, but Sumire saw Shin flinch.

"Shin? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Alright, let me give you some more details on this case. Sumire, do you believe in supernatural powers?"

She blinked when she heard those words. "Uh?"

"Well, this case is linked to something abnormal. The witness reports and according to the victim's memory, state that somebody teleported them to another space. First, they would only be teleported a certain distance from the last spot, but then the distance grew. Soon they would no longer be in the Japan they knew."

"So, you're saying they would end up in a place similar to here, but everything is different? Including people's relationships?"

Shin nodded. "Correct, one example was a particular woman. Her boyfriend was dating another girl, and he didn't know her. She found it strange. 'How can that be? Were childhood friends who live next door.' The girl went to her home and realized it wasn't there. Her home area wasn't a residential area but a shopping district. Her boyfriend lived elsewhere too."

"In the case, this is right. Why would anyone teleport humans like some kind of game?"

"Game?"

Sumire nodded. "It sounds like a game if you ask me. They are teleporting these people with no destination in mind like some game. They even sent some people back."

"I see, that sounds right."

For a moment, it was quiet.

Sumire noticed his change in expression right away. After all, ever since he came in, her gaze had never once left his. Though every single time, her gaze met hers, she would turn away quickly.

They talked this entire time but kept avoiding each other's gaze.

So it's like this, is it, she thought.

It was like that, after all.

Sumire sighed, she more or less suspected that to be the case. After all, she isn't completely dense when it comes to love. Whenever he came near her, Sumire noticed how self-conscious he seemed. Whenever he patted her head, he would avert his gaze from her.

She initially dismissed it and thought it was Nothing. But it turns out that's not the case after all. She figured that it would be like this...however this is a bit ---

"What are you doing?"

Sumire glanced over at the man who occupied her thoughts.

"You don't have to be that surprised. Here, let me help you up." Shin said, extending his hand out.

She stared at it blankly for a few minutes before snapping out of her trance. She stood up on her own. 'When did I crouch down and stop walking?'

Her deep thoughts were broken when he appeared inches away from her face.

Sumire stepped back.

"Hm? Do I look scary to you?"

"N---no, that's not it..."

'That's not it, but he is a bit too close for my liking.'

Shin suddenly grabbed hold of her arm, h--old on? She didn't get a chance to speak as he pushed her towards a nearby wall.

He loomed over her and brought his face to hers. "So, since you came back, I wanted to say this to you. Aren't you having too much fun playing around with people?"

He looked into her eyes, and she knew he saw her. She knew that he saw through the strong face she put through this entire time. Deliberately acting strong, acting playful when she would rather break down. He saw through everything she wanted to hide this entire time.

That frightened her more than anything, people discovering her act.

Sumire tried to maintain her composure, but he was so close she could barely breathe. She froze completely and couldn't blink or look away.

"Well? Aren't you going to use this sharp tongue of yours to lecture me again?" i????????r????????????． ????????m

Her eyes widened, alarmed at his harsh words.

This is ---like his behavior back then.

Argh, she knew it. He was still like this, after all. She wondered why he had changed so much after she recalled her memories. But as expected, it was just a front after all. He smirked; she knew he was mocking her. But she couldn't find the strength to respond.

"There is no use acting around me. I know what kind of woman you are. You pretend that you are strong and brave, but the reality is completely different."

These words...why? Why did she have to hear it from him also? It's frustrating.

"....Even if that's the case, you don't have any obligation to care or point it out." Sumire said as she found the strength to talk back.

She wanted to run away and escape this situation. Sumire felt her body tremble, but she shook her head.

'As I thought, I don't want to see it again, see him act this way towards me.'

Since she arrived in Tokyo, the person she got know was so very kind. 'So very kind and gentle.' There is no sign of that warmth; instead, there is Nothing but coldness. What happened so suddenly? Did she say something to upset him?

Ah, what is she saying? Right now, she sounds so childish and silly.

"That's true. I don't anymore. Despite having regained these memories, I have no feelings for you like before. A lot has happened in those years; I have tainted my hands with blood and picked up weapons again countless times."

Her eyes widened alarmed. But it didn't shock her as much as it would have earlier. After that conversation, Sumire figured that he was still involved in this side somehow.

When Shin spoke, she felt a wincing pain in her heart. Even though she already knew. She even understood that it would end up this way... Why? Why does he have to be so cruel about it?

"You are no longer important to me."

At that comment, she finally managed to push him away. "We didn't come here for this." Sumire managed to say.

"Indeed." Shin nodded. "Let's get going. Follow me."

Sumire decided not to walk beside him anymore and slowed down her pace until she trailed after him. Weren't they talking about the investigation and cases then? How did it suddenly end up this way?