103 Sky

At Mamoru's house, 4:50pm

It was roughly ten minutes before Yuhi's performance started. Sumire was impatiently sitting in a beanie bag in front of the TV in Mamoru's house. After she finished jogging, she returned to Toh's house and spent the rest of the day there. He seemed almost sad to see her leave, but she knew it would be awkward watching Yuhi's performance in front of Toh.

Toh still doesn't know about Yuhi. At least he doesn't know the identity of the person she likes. Right now, they are still getting to know each other. She may have stayed over at his place a few times now, but it's still not enough.

The one who has her heart is still Yuhi, and that will not change unless something drastic happens.

"Ki, I don't mind you coming over. But, you should at least change your shoes-"

"W-what if it starts early?"

Mamoru looked at her with a complicated expression on his face before sighing. "You should have watched it at Mashima's then or your place."

"The first one is too weird. Toh is a psychologist. He will figure it out right away, and I don't think I am close enough with him to disclose the identity of the person I like."

"You're saying you're not close now..? I almost feel sorry for the guy."

"Secondly, I did think about rushing to my house. But when I thought about watching Yuhi's concert alone, I felt nervous. Ru, you have to be here for emotional support."

"You really do like to use me as you please. Well, I don't mind." Mamoru trailed off. "Isn't it unusual to reveal the new song at the very start of the concert? It's usually something that happens at the end, right?"

"That's true, but I think Yuhi mentioned that the entire concept of the concert centers around the song."

"I see. If it's Yuhi, he would have thought it through very carefully." Mamoru removed her shoes and changed with slippers, and he draped a towel around her hair. "You ran here in the rain, didn't you? You should have at least gotten Mashima to drop you off."

"I was in the car initially, but we got stuck in traffic, so I decided that running would be faster," Sumire explained.

"You didn't have to do that. I am sure they would have played it on the radio too."

"No, I have to see it properly. Yuhi said something about the effects making him look cooler, so I need to see with my own eyes. He is already so cool. How can any effect make him cooler?"

Mamoru's sweat fell. "I shouldn't have asked."

"I was with him when he composed the song, and I only heard half of it. I know it's going to be another masterpiece."

Quite some time has passed since Yuhi has last released a new song, so it's natural for her and every other fan to be excited. Indeed the media who were reporting on the scene seemed to be

"Ki, maybe you shouldn't listen to this song-"

"Huh? What are you tal-" Sumire's sentence fell short when the dim stage lights suddenly switched on. Broken pillars and beautiful red roses in the background surrounded a makeshift grand staircase. "How beautiful."

But what is this setting? The broken pillars and the staircase that looks like they will fall apart.

Yuhi suddenly appeared on stage wearing a white polo shirt, a black tie, and a red and white military-looking uniform with red emblems on his shoulders. He wore black pants and long black boots with red linings on the corner. What stood out to her was the black hat on his head.

It took her a moment to realize that this look resembled what he wore when he was a member of the Holy knights. Is it just a coincidence? The outfit is slightly different, but it's too similar.

"In the depths of darkness, I slept in the sin

I accepted the divine mercy as if it was my fate

But then why? It should not have existed.

This echoing singing voice, just like a heartbeat."

Sumire felt goosebumps all over her arms, no her entire body. What is this? She has never heard Yuhi sing like this before. It's not the first time for Yuhi to compose dark songs. Due to his 'image,' he often writes dark songs. But there is something different here.

"This closing life, burning like a flame

This second chance, without any lies

If the wind will blow in my back…."

His singing is so beautiful. Every time she hears his songs, she ends up with tears in her eyes. The main reason for this is because she can sense his deep emotions. But this is different; his soul is crying. He is in pain.

"But I can still sing for you

Even if this body shatters to pieces

This bond, this melody, will become the wings of the song

But I can still sing for you

I want to flutter my wings again

Blue ocean... To the hills of light

Until I disappear

The chains of my memories won't break.

I will stay on the edge of the despair." Yuhi sang.

The song is amazing, and it will gain him even more fans after this. But why? Why is he hurt? Why is he in pain? How come she hasn't noticed? How long has this been going on? The entire time he was here, Yuhi was comforting her.

"Is it a nightmare? A punishment? Stealing even my own voice

But then the miracle so close to the illusion flew down.

This gentle and enthusiastic figure who spoke to me

Overlapping over and over

The wind of hope is blowing." Yuhi pulled out a fake-looking sword as he swung it around before it landed in the field of red roses.

"But I can still sing for you

Even if I would drown in anguish

I'll entrust this song to the connected memories

But I can still sing for you

If it's still possible, lend me wings

Even if I know, it won't be forever...

Until it will fade away."

Sumire felt tears falling from her eyes.

'Even when I'm in pain, I will sing for you, Sumire.'

She could almost hear him say those words.

When the song finally ended, Sumire, who had been tense due to excitement, was now tense for another reason. She immediately took her phone out, but Mamoru grabbed hold of her arm.

"Don't look."

But it was already far too late. She saved Yuhi's name on her search list. So all she had to do was click on it. There numerous articles criticizing Yuhi appeared, and her eye widened, horrified seeing some news about him being a member of the underworld. This was-?

Sumire grabbed hold of Mamoru's arms. "Ru, did you know about this? Even before Yuhi came to see me-?"

"I knew," Mamoru admitted and averted his gaze. "Truthfully, since he left Star town to go to Tokyo. No, even before then, he was experiencing harassment. When he confessed to you, he wanted at least one happy memory before he had to go. No, he wanted you to stop him from leaving."

Sumire didn't know what to say. She felt a mixture of different emotions.

"The darkness of the entertainment industry is something you know very well, Ki."

"I know, but why does Yuhi have to experience it?" Sumire yelled. "Why does Yuhi have to get hurt? Yuhi is-" She paused.

Something is wrong here. Why would the media suddenly harass Yuhi? Sure they have reported stuff about Yuhi before, but nothing of this scale. Nothing that would cause him this much harm. In fact, the media has only ever harassed one person to such an extent, that person being her.

Sumire took one look at Ru, who kept looking at her with a guilty expression, and she immediately understood.

Once again, for her sake. The person she loves is experiencing such grief. Because of her, he is hurting.