After a few more words, the girl and her friends left. Jun and Hino were on their phones and laptop, clearly intending to take this matter seriously. Yuhi watched Sumire for a few minutes and immediately rushed to catch her before falling.
"Are you still feverish?" Yuhi asked concerned.
"I-I'm fine. Can we find somewhere to sit down?"
Yuhi nodded and led her to some benches not too far away. Sumire clung to him tightly. For the first few minutes, she didn't speak, but Yuhi could tell that she was visibly shaken about something.
"You see, my dear, it was a year ago. When I was making preparations for my debut. I was in a bit of a slump and wasn't sure if I should debut. During that time, Ru showed me some fan letters he obtained from my previous company. There was a letter from a girl named Kotone."
"That girl from just now's sister?"
"It may be a completely different person. But I think I recall Kotone sending a follow-up letter with a picture of her and her sister saying, 'I turned my sister into your fan too. So now it should be easy to get news.' That letter was already two years old when I received it. So to hear that she passed away the year I read it shouldn't surprise me. But when I was a bit more famous, I thought I'd track her down-" Sumire paused, and she laughed weakly as tears fell from her eyes. "Human lives are very fragile, aren't they?"
"I had a similar experience before. But in my case, the fan had actually died after writing that letter. Their relatives sent it to me, but I had no idea at that time. That letter encouraged me, and I kept it with me for a while."
"When did you find out?" Sumire asked.
"Hmm, I think it was six months later. I had a job in the area where the kid lived. So, I got Hino to track down the hospital. But, when I came there, it seemed like nobody of that name was staying there. I tracked him down further and found his relative's place; they told me it'd been three years since he passed away and the circumstances behind it. 'To the very end, he was watching your concert and listening to your music.'"
To his surprise, Sumire suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck. "My dear, were you sad? Did you cry? I'm sorry I wasn't there."
Yuhi blinked, hearing her words. What is she doing trying to comfort him when she is the sad one? He recalled her reaction to the fan moments ago. Indeed, Sumire is a good girl. Sure she may look expressionless at times, but that doesn't make her a bad or cold person. Those who get to know her to understand that she is a good person.
He responded to her words with a kiss. "I am fine, even more, after receiving that confession earlier."
Sumire laughed sheepishly. "Um, you know that was actually quite embarrassing for me."
"Thank you for letting me hear that. I think I have finally resolved myself fully. Ibuki Sumire, I love you. Will you be with me forever?"
"Y-Yuhi?" Sumire stammered.
He grabbed hold of her hand, where he placed the engagement ring and kissed it. "It feels like my proposal was lacking. So I am just adding to it."
"You're so silly." She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck, and mumbled. "Of course, dummy, you have to be with me forever."
...
A few hours later, the last remaining performance in the normal stages had just finished. The final part will start soon. But he was having a difficult time concentrating. His gaze fell on the girl sitting beside him, who was taking deep breaths.
'Damn, what is with that outfit? Since when did she have something like that?' Yuhi felt very conflicted. He wants to ask her to change, and there is time for that. But that would be overstepping his boundaries. He doesn't want to act too possessive. She is free to wear whatever she wants.
"Yuhi-san, the final part starts soon, and if we include Sumire-san's performance time. You have a good twenty minutes to get hold of yourself." Jun commented. He was busily typing away on his laptop as he ate a donut.
Kou grinned. "Now, it can't be helped. Mimi is exceptionally pretty tonight; anybody would stare."
"If you continue to stare at her, Kou, Yuhi will gouge your eyes out," Tetsuo commented.
"If you have time to chat, you guys should practice." Ran grumbled. "There were mistakes during rehearsal."
"Aren't you the one who made a mistake, Ran-Ran?" Kou said, puzzled.
Before Yuhi could say anymore, he found Sumire staring at him. "My dear, do you think I look pretty?"
Yuhi could only stare at her dumbfounded. What is she saying? He thought she was doing breathing exercises to calm her nerves. How did her attention suddenly shift to him?𝒇𝑟e𝗲𝚠𝚎𝐛𝗻𝐨νel. 𝒄om
"You're beautiful," Yuhi responded immediately with flushed cheeks.
Sumire laughed softly. "It took you less than a second to answer. You kept staring at me for this reason?"
"I think you know this, but I find you incredibly attractive no matter what you wear. So when you dress up, I can't control myself." Yuhi leaned closer. "Damn it, come with me for a second."
He stood up, grabbed hold of her hand, and found a quiet spot behind some props. There was conveniently a curtain covering the boxes. Yuhi backed Sumire against them and kissed her. He kissed her for the next few minutes; hearing her unsteady breathing and the way she called his name only spurred him on.
"This looks great on you. Will you dress like this for me sometime?" Yuhi mumbled.
Sumire ran her fingers through his black locks. "If that is what you want."
"Are you still nervous?"
"Just a little. Yuhi, if I faint, you will catch me, right?"
"Of course. I can't allow anybody the privilege of holding you." Yuhi joked and gave her hands a gentle squeeze. "Relax, no matter what happens. I will be just five minutes away."
"R-right, I will be okay."
Yuhi kissed her again. "Should we do this until you get on stage? It helps you calm down, doesn't it?"
Her trembling seems to have decreased since he started to kiss her.
"Ah, but it's embarrassing," Sumire averted her gaze. Her entire face was bright red. "-and what if I want to do something else??"
She truly does know how to amaze him. "We are saving that for tonight, remember?"
Sumire pouted. "Can't you bend the rules a little?"
Yuhi raised his eyebrows and brushed his forehead against hers. "Cheeky brat, do you remember what happens when you provoke me?"
"I-I remember, my dear, but is it wrong for me to be honest?"
There is certainly nothing wrong with that. But sometimes Sumire takes it too far. She probably has no idea how much of a monster he can be. If she knew, would she still smile for him like this? Would she still look at him with these flushed cheeks and innocent expressions?
Would she still accept him even if he turned into a monster-filled with only desires?