Chapter 360 - I Have To Let You Go
Sumire... Sumire cried.
From the video footage shown on TV, she seemed to be the calmest person out there. But this entire time, she is the one who has suffered the most. She cried, even though she's the one who told him that tears are weakness.
Yuhi cups the girl's face with his hands wipes the tear in her eyes. "Yu--" He cuts her off by gently lowering his lips down to meet hers.
The tears didn't stop, but her hand had gripped onto the sleeve of his jacket. Once he finished, she immediately slapped him, yet she laughed bitterly. "Ah, what am I doing at a time like this? I'm being rather unpleasant, aren't I?"
He was about to answer, yet she covered his mouth with her free hand. "Don't. Don't say anything. I get it already. I already knew. Back then, I noticed it too. Yuhi, you were someone who was always by my side then. I respected you a lot, the way you conducted your work and investigations. But I can't be with you Yuhi, I can't be with you. Everyone's going to get hurt. Asahi isn't going to be the only one; that is why I have to-"
'I have to let you go.'
Yuhi already knew how she would end that sentence, but he saw how she struggled to get the words out. She was trembling badly, just like how she was that day in the rain. He knew he could never forget that sight for the rest of his life.
Before Yuhi could say anything, the doors burst open, revealing a rather panicked-looking Maon Kou.
"Mimi, there you are."
Sumire, let's go then. "Kou, what is it?"
The maroon-colored-haired boy waltz over and placed his hand on the girl's shoulders. "Alright. Listen to me and be calm, okay? We only just heard about it now. But it seems like, after Asahi-chan's funeral, there was another incident, the other party called Futaba-chii, and she heard it happen..."
Sumire was already trembling before Maon said the other person's name. It seemed like she already knew.
"It's...Ichinose."
Yuhi's eyes widened. That's the last person anybody should chase after her.
He watches the girl's knees go weak, and she slumped on the ground. "Senpai was...senpai was.."
"Mimi, calm down. He isn't dead...but I heard that ----ah, forget that. Mimi, get going over there! Hamano is already there."
He watched the brown hair girl stand up just barely, and she still seemed to be shaken up. But she turned around and pulled him closer. Her lips brushed against his, but she didn't kiss him. She stuck her tongue out as she pulled away.
"Serves you right!"
Brat, what is she- he saw the flash of pain in her eyes.
"Sorry." She whispered the last line and rushed off in an instant, leaving him alone with the maroon-colored-haired boy.
She is an idiot. Why does she have to apologize for? In just the span of two days, her life has turned upside down again; the people she cares for deeply are getting hurt one by one. It is only normal for her to behave this way, it is normal, and yet it pained him.
At the end of the day, she can easily leave him behind for others. Yuhi shook his head, and he needs to stop thinking negatively like that.
"Terashima?"
His gaze darkened. "They are going too far, killing Kuruga Asahi is one thing, but now they attacked Ichinose Arashi too? It's on purpose. They are trying to break her down."
He didn't know how they found out about Kuruga Asahi and Sumire's close relation. But the latter one was obvious. That concert was broadcasted all across the world, after all. It was something everyone had seen. Her strong feelings of love. An indirect love letter.
"Shall I lend you a hand?"
Yuhi looked up to see him wrap a red-colored scarf around his neck, causing his eyes to widen. "Maon did you..perhaps..."
"Hamano Atushi is already there. And I'm sure Ran-chan the others will accompany Mimi over there too. Jun-Jun and Myu-chan will do mine and Ran's jobs..." Kou paused and walked over to the window. "There is already no more means to let this fight go any longer. She's definitely going to get mad when she finds out that I came back to this side of the world for her sake. But this is already a matter I can't stay away from. That's why Terashima, I'll have to ask for your help."
"Why me?"
Kou smiled. "Because you two are connected." He laughs lightly. "I'm honestly really jealous here. But it's something we can't deny anymore."
Sumire, she can't handle this on her own anymore.
No, he wouldn't let her. There's a reason why he accepted to be her partner again. It wasn't so she could leave him in the dark. It was so he could help her and ease that loneliness and pain, even just for a bit.
"I'll cooperate with you, Maon."
..
August 31st, Universal Star Town.
Yuhi didn't know much about Sumire's previous high school. When he was in Star Town before, she already attended this place, but he never visited. He quickly replied to a message from Hino.
He wondered if it was careless of him to come here like this, but he would have had to wait for Sumire back in Tokyo if he didn't agree.
He no longer wants to sit around and do nothing.
No matter where he looks, he can't find evidence for what happened back then. It's almost like somebody erased the records. Yuhi thought that if he traveled all the way out here, he would find the answer. But it seems as though it's not that simple, huh?
He sighed he leaned back on the chair. Yuhi briefly glanced at all the books scattered everywhere. That was when he spotted a figure hover him.
Yuhi already knew what she was going to say to him, so he beat her to it. "I won't take a break."