Eternal Melody



Miya stood rooted on the spot with a complicated expression on her face.

Nakura-sensei rushed off with Sumire before she got the chance to explain. Miya sighed deeply even though she had prepared herself and everything. But Sumire has changed. Just a brief glance at her is enough for her to determine that she will have to change tactics, bringing up what happened the last time they met.

'I regret it. I regretted it so much. In the end, that fight was pointless. Letting a guy get in the way of their friendship was stupid.'

She may not have agreed with Sumire's methods regarding the guys she messed around with. But did she have to say those hurtful words?

She shakes her head and follows her new friends out of the classroom. Everybody was heading to the cafeteria now because it was lunch. Sensei had only called them back in for a short announcement, which she completely missed since she was too shocked after confirming that Sumire was here.

Sumire's personality seems to have changed. But, what stood out to her now was the girl's appearance. It wasn't until she heard the name ' Ibuki' from the people down the hallway before she made her way inside the classroom to confirm. 

Since they used to be friends, Miya knew that her appearance was the last thing the girl liked to speak about. However, the current Sumire is very beautiful. She is dazzling.

She's like a completely different person now. 

'No, it isn't. I love Yuhi. I sincerely do. Although people may call him violent and scary, that person is truly gentle. And so very fragile at times, almost like a kid. I feel warm knowing that he needs me. So that's why I feel like I'm doing this for myself. And I feel like Yuhi is the most important to me too.'

Sumire confined in her in middle school, who the person she truly liked was. But back then, she was messing around with other guys, so she wasn't sure.

'The words you said back then, can I believe them?'

 That display of affection and the look in her eyes looked so genuine.

She has been keeping up to date with the news, so she knew that Sumire was dating Terashima Yuhi now. 

There is no doubt that she is in love with TerashimaHowever, why was she getting an odd feeling? Has Sumire truly chosen anyone? The memories of her first year in middle school flashed through her head, and she shook her head.

Sumire must have done that for a reason, a reason she will find out when she finally gets a chance to have a private conversation with her. Until then, she can continue speculating, but with no evidence, those speculations will remain theories.

"Why aren't you eating?"

Her thoughts break when she hears a tray clatter next to her to find her boyfriend, Kurata Shouta. " 

"Ah, no, I was just thinking."

"Odd girl," Shouta commented.

"You're the one with your buttons not in place. Gee, you really can't do anything." Miya lectured. She reached over and fixed the buttons on his shirt.

"So, nice, you two are so lovey-dovey. I want to have a girlfriend too." Akatsuki sighed. But Miya caught him briefly glancing over at Aika, who was rolling her eyes.

"Ask one of them, girls, then." Aika pointed to a group of girls who were looking over at Akatsuki. "And Tsurumi quit with the brooding expression already! Sumire doesn't like Nakura that way, so you still have a chance." Aika exclaimed.

Tsurumi responded with a grunt and a sigh."I know that. Sumire has Terashima-san too. But don't you get that feeling sometimes? That although she has someone already, she isn't truly with them." 

Oh, that's what she was just thinking,

"Also, she and sensei are always together. I get that they are good friends and have known each other for a long time. But ah, I'm so very worried." Tsurumi said, hitting her head on the table. 

So Tsurumi-san likes Nakura Shin. How odd. But that guy is a student teacher, so she supposed it was normal. 

"Say, are those two close?" Miya wondered.

The small interaction between the two still hadn't left her mind, and the fact that he had been able to touch her like that without her pulling away. It made her curious. She knew Sumire disliked people touching her. Even someone brushing their shoulders against her accidentally makes her flinch. 

She acts reserved in front of her friends too.

Aika nods. "Well yeah. Like Tsurumi just said, they have known each other for a long time. I don't know the details, but they have been close since then. Recently I have heard the news that Sumire will be composing for his group. EMMA's leader has been trying to convince Sumire for a while now, but it seems Sumire only agreed because of Nakura."

"So they have a good relationship," Miya concluded.

"Yourtoo blunt!" Tsurumi exclaimed and then sighed. "Well, I also understand it that they have a somewhat of a unique relationship."

"What do you mean?" Miya questioned.

Akatsuki speaks up. "Last year, when we were still in Iro Road. Nakura-sensei had only been a teacher there for three months before Sumire-chan transferred to the school. So he was still technically new. Since he was young, an idol and a genius scholar, he had a difficult time settling in here. The older teachers tried to pick on him quite a bit, and it turned out his lessons were too difficult for students to understand. Honestly, was at the end of his rope and appeared to be on the verge of quitting."

"Then, what happened?" Miya asked despite already knowing what the answer would be.

"Sumire-chan transferred in, and that's when things changed. Due to the fact that she was seen with Iwa Ran on day 1- everything became rather chaotic, and there was quite a majority who disliked her. Nakura-sensei and her, somehow, must have found comfort in being with each other. A new place, new surroundings, and new people. It's somewhat normal they ended up becoming close." He explained.

Sumire, it seems like that part of her has not changed. The power to draw people in. Sumire is clumsy with words and friendships. But, despite that, so many people are drawn to her. She is included in that. 

"Just now, you said. Sumire transferred in. She wasn't in IroRoad at the beginning?"

"That's right. She came from another school; what was it again?" Aika said.

"Tsukuhara." Akatsuki spoke up.

Tsukuhara?

Miya blinks at the name. She blinks twice, no three times. But the name of that school. Could it be ---? That's the school Ichinose Arashi-senpai went to. Since Sumire left school no sooner than when Ichinose- senpai graduated, her friend didn't know that some people from Tsukuhara came to their school to advertise and, in that presentation, showed the name of their president. 

Two years difference, then he would have been in his third year, whereas Sumire would have been in the first year. Those two met each other again?