Eternal Melody

Chapter 728: Aurora

Sumire spends the next few minutes staring at his handsome face when she notices something unusual. Now that she thought about it, his face looked pale when they were walking up the mountain.     

"Yuhi-san, I have been meaning to ask you for a while now but are you not feeling very well?"

"No, I am just a little tired. I will be fine if I rest for a while."

Sumire frowned upon hearing those words. 'The past two days, I have been sleeping over at the agency, and on that first day, I ended up asleep on the couch when I returned home. So I haven't seen him, could it be-'

"Yuhi-san, do you have a fever?" Sumire asked.

"I regularly go to the gym. How could I end up sick? Do you not believe me? Even though you used to check me out all the time." Yuhi immediately denied it.

Her frown deepened upon hearing those words. She didn't believe him. "A drunk person will never admit that they are drunk, and the same goes for those who cheat. People tell plenty of white lies; you're no exception."

Yuhi sighed and sat up. "It's not like you can tell whether I am feverish or not."

"Stay still." Sumire stands up. She parted his hair and lowered her forehead, brushing it against his forehead to feel his temperature. She briefly closed her eyes. 

Normally she carries a bag of medication and a thermometer with her. But since Yuhi-san randomly took her away, she didn't get a chance to take her bag with her. 

"You're a bit warm, but it's not as bad as I thought," Sumire mumbled.

Yuhi is normally relatively healthy due to his frequent gym trips. 

"I think your the one who is a bit warm," Yuhi observed.

Sumire opened her eyes only to see Yuhi directly staring at her. Oh, they are so close. Right at that moment, small lights floated around them. Due to the darkness, they shone very brightly. Are these stars? No, it's winter fireflies. They are very rare, but she has heard that they occasionally show up.

"Now it's my turn," Yuhi mumbled. "Do you mind if we keep staying like this?"

It takes her a moment to register his childish-sounding request. It is rare to see him like this. 

"If I don't move away, will you feel better?" Sumire asked.

It was a dangerous question; she knew if they stayed like this any longer, then her heartbeat would increase. However, she doesn't want to deny a request from him.

"Yes." Yuhi moves closer, and her cheeks redden, and he flashes her a bright smile. "What's wrong? Weren't you the one who got close to me just now?"

"That's true, but I was only worried about your health." Sumire stammered.

"I understand; sorry for being stubborn. I just don't like you seeing my weak side too often."

"I told you already, Yuhi; I will still find you very cool. The thought of you being all weak and needing to rely on me makes me want to attack you-"

Yuhi chuckled as he closed his eyes and sighed deeply. "Going to the mountains like this to watch the stars. It's not the first time for me. Before you and the others came to the facility, I was part of another group. We snuck out one day to see the stars, but those kids suddenly became hostile towards me and trapped me in the mountain."

Ah, so that's why he was acting unusual on their way up.

"They trapped me inside a cave, and it was dark, cold, and uncomfortable. But what stood out to me then was that I was all alone. I didn't have anyone, and there was nobody I could rely on either. Eventually, they sent out a rescue party, but it was a few days later."

A few days alone in the cave in the mountains? It was before they met too. Sumire could already imagine the scenario in her head. She had a similar experience when she walked into the forest after the death of her parents. How many days did she spend wandering there alone?    

"So, it just reminded me a little. But I will be fine."

How can he be fine? She has gone through a similar experience, so she understands how traumatizing it can be. Even though she just told him that she finds him cool even if he shows his weak side. It's not easy for him.

Before she could voice out her thoughts, however, hearing the sudden excited voices below the hill.

Yuhi sighed. "Kou's voice is way too loud. But this is good timing for the aurora."

Sumire blinked, hearing his words. "But I don't see anything."

"Just wait. It's hard to see an aurora with the naked eye when it first appears, but it's there."

She looked at the sky with anticipation as she sat down, and Yuhi joined her. He draped a blanket around them both, and right at that moment, colorful beams of light burst through her field of vision. The entire sky is covered in a gorgeous multi-colored aurora.

"It's so beautiful."

Yuhi wrapped his arms around her shoulder, pulling her closer. "Do you like my surprise?"

"Yes, very much!"

But she wonders what gave him this idea. She doubts Yuhi would like this type of stuff. It takes her a moment before she recalls something. She had to stop herself from exclaiming loudly.

'Watching the aurora with the person you love will bring you happiness. Don't you think that is romantic, Yuhi?' 

One day when they were in the library reading during free study, she found a book on auroras and read that line out to him. That happened during the start of their dating; she didn't think he would still remember it. 

"My dear, I think we are truly a match made in heaven."

Yuhi laughed. "I wondered how you were going to react. I knew you'd like it."

"I'm very happy, thank you." Sumire paused when she saw him lean closer. She doesn't say anything, and in the next second, Yuhi kisses her.

Those kind and gentle eyes, when he looks at her like this, she remembers their first meeting clearly.

'I will return the rest of your memories.' It was what Hino whispered in her ear. Even if he doesn't do that, she is already starting to remember everything. 

From the first day they met, these kind and warm eyes saved her.

She won't tell him. Even though he makes her heart race and her chest ache with such pain that tears well up in her eyes. She is filled with happiness just from the warmth of his body.

He's the only person who has ever made her feel this way in her entire life; from now on, he will be the only one who makes her feel this way.