Eternal Melody

HINO

A stubborn girl, the type he normally avoids at all costs and yet, how did he end up like this? A deep sigh escaped his lips. When she first came to Tokyo. He didn\'t recognize her at first, didn\'t recognize her as the girl from the facility. Back when they were in the facility, they only used their first names. So many years had passed since he last saw her. 

\'When did I realize it was her?\' Hino didn\'t know exactly when, perhaps it was when she was hanging out at his place a lot? Or maybe when he saw that Yuhi was serious about her? Yuhi has only ever loved one person like that. It didn\'t take him long to connect the dots after that.

"I truly am thankful." Sumire mumbled.

"Should I find a way to drag Momoi Futaba here too?"

Sumire laughed weakly. "That one is a bit complicated. Besides if she wanted to come here, she could have come with the guys."

"And next is, our center." Senbi pushed Alto to the front.

"Eh, why don\'t you go next?"

Senbi Nao smirked. "No chance, you need to show her,"

"Nao, you\'re way too enthusiastic about this." Sumire paused and her eyes brightened. "It\'s rare to see you this enthusiastic. Now I am very curious what has gotten you this riled up."

"It\'s the beginning, so don\'t look back." Mikaze sang.

Hino\'s eyes widened hearing Alto\'s voice. Shizune\'s was impressive, but this is- it\'s the same feeling he gets after listening to Sumire and Yuhi sing. Was Alto Mikaze always this good of a singer? Hino shakes his head. He would have noticed if there was such fresh talent around. 

"There\'s no time to look around.

We found this chance.

We cant-" Alto Mikaze stopped singing seeing everyone\'s gaze on him.

Sumire immediately vanished from his side and emptied her bag out as she pulled out the score from her notebook and started scribbling.

"Uh, Sumire-chan what are you doing?" Mikaze asked.

"Memorize these changes quickly." Sumire thrust the score in front of Alto\'s face.

"Eh?"

"I am so sorry. I tailored the song based on your old vocal range. I had no idea that you could sing higher notes now. Oh, I\'m so silly. My singing has changed too, so of course yours has-" Sumire rambled. 

"Uh, then does that mean you like it Sumire-chan?"

Sumire nodded happily. "I\'ve always liked your voice. From the moment we met, I knew there was something special about it. I am glad to see I was right."

At those words Alto\'s cheeks coloured and Sumire beamed happily as she grabbed his hands. "Thank you for letting me listen. You must have worked really hard."

Hino sighed at the sight before him. She really doesn\'t know how to set boundaries between herself and other people. Maybe she doesn\'t even realize what is going on? 

Shizune stepped forward and pulled Sumire away. "Okay, Okay that\'s enough. Why don\'t you volunteer next Sumire?"

His thoughts break off when Nakara casually returned to the room and leans on the wall beside him.

"That was a call from my boss."

"And?"

"It will be in the news in the next few days. But there was a murder, a gruesome one downtown."I think you should take a look at

Hino frowned hearing those words. Downtown? He ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled deeply. "Sumire will get dragged into this won\'t she?"

Shin nodded. "It doesn\'t help how Sumire was in the area not too long ago, and has been seen there more than once."

Hino sighed. If she was only seen there once then they could make an excuse but more than once?

"If they told you, I\'m guessing your boss wants you to lead the case?"

Shin nodded. "The new boss is quite reasonable. He won\'t point fingers at Sumire, and well if you ask me. I think they are friends. Sumire drops by the base often even when I\'m not around."

\'Friends with the new boss of the SF? Should I even ask when that happened?\'

"If that\'s the case then we have some time before the reporters become nosy. I\'ll look into things on my end, and if you discover anything new let me know."

"Should we get Mashima Toh involved?" Shin asked.

Get Mashima involved huh? It would make the most sense considering that Sumire is living with him. 

"I still don\'t trust him. But it\'s true that he needs to know, so he can keep an extra eye out on the reporters."

"How is their living together situation?"

Hino sighed deeply. "Ever since the poison incident, there seems to be an awkward air around the two of them. But that\'s because Sumire is putting a wall between them."

"I thought that would make you happy. You were upset over what happened right?"

"I wasn\'t thinking rationally. But now my mind is cleared up, I understand it was necessary." Hino paused and his gaze drifted onto Sumire. "As long as she is able to smile, then that is enough. I know you and the others who like her share that mindset. But, it\'s not the same for me. Just her smiling isn\'t enough anymore. She deserves more, deserves more than just stolen moments of happiness. In order for her to have more, I don\'t want her to run away."

Whatever is going on with Mashima, he wants Sumire to face it properly. 

Before Nakara could reply, Sumire finishes singing and rushed over.

"Hino!" Sumire said."Did you listen to me just now? Was it good?"

Hino nodded. "Yeah."

She pouted. "I don\'t think you were paying attention."

"I was, your voice has always reminded me of the sun. But today, it reminded me of sunshine mixed with a gust of wind in the air."

\'By saying this, I am basically saying her singing reminds me of Yuhi\'s.\'

At those words, Sumire\'s cheeks colored and he averted his gaze. He didn\'t think she would react like this.

"I mean, you obviously still have a long way to go."

"U-uh right." Sumire stammered. "T-thank you Hino."

Hearing a knock on the door, a member of staff from the crew enters asking to go over some details. Hino nodded. "I\'ll take care of it, you stay here Sumire."

Sumire slowly nodded her head and he followed the staff member out. The staff member was explaining something to him. But, the information was going out one ear to another. 

\'Yuhi, you really have to come back soon. I don\'t know how much longer I can take this.\'

*Unedited*