Eternal Melody

But then, how come they aren\'t together? Has Ichinose-senpai accepted that Sumire likes Terashima Yuhi? Miya couldn\'t see that happening. The guys Sumire messed around with in middle school genuinely ended up having feelings for her. They never saw it as a game.

"Hey Shouta, this means-"

"Atushi did mention something \' interesting\' Is this what he meant?" Shouta mutters.

Her sweat fell. She could already imagine the sly smile on Atushi\'s face as he said that.

"Hmmm? What\'s with the scary face Miya?"

Her thoughts broke off by spotting Sumire stroll into the canteen and over to their table. Unlike before, the expression on her face was clear, and no longer had such a dark expression.

"Sumire I-" Miya started.

"Sumire! Where\'s sensei?" Tsurumi asked.

"Right over there. I actually think he wanted to speak to you."

"Really?" Tsurumi hugs the brunette. "Thank you, Sumire."

Sumire nodded. "Go for it."

This response is just like her, and yet that hug. Miya observed Sumire\'s expression for a few minutes but found no signs of discomfort.

In the past, Sumire distanced herself from those who got close to her.

After Tsurumi left, the brunette turned to her. "Sorry about before. It seems like I wasn\'t feeling all too well. Ah, you know how I am actually a big-time star now! My schedules have been packed and all." Sumire trails off, and her gaze softens. "Though I\'m still not sure on the circumstances. I\'m glad we can be together again, Miya and Kurata."

Unlike earlier, there was no hesitation in Sumire\'s voice, and she was looking directly at them.

She still felt something strange, but she shouldn\'t dwell on it.

"What are those?" Miya pointed to the papers in Sumire\'s hands.

"Oh? My tests. Seems like I missed quite a few."

She watches Aika snatch them right away.

"In the sixties zone again? I thought I\'d see something different."

Sumire laughs. "I can somehow hit the average despite not being here. So maybe I\'m a secret genius."

Akatsuki and Shouta shook their heads, and Sumire only laughed more. 

Sumire\'s laughter seems so much more carefree now. She\'s happy now, isn\'t she? She has a boyfriend, and it seems as though she\'s made quite good friends. She\'s finally become an idol, and her world has gotten bigger than before. But what is this bad feeling?

Miya wanted to have a private conversation with her. But she still wasn\'t sure what to say. No, she has too much she wants to tell her, and she doesn\'t think she will find the right words to say it.

The last time they saw each other, they had a fight regarding Shouta, and now she is returning with Shouta as her boyfriend. 

"Ah that\'s right !! Are you all free tonight? I have some extra tickets the company handed out. I can\'t invite the people I know out to a concert since they\'re a rowdy bunch. So here." 

"EMMA...as in Nakura-sensei\'s band?" Miya wondered.

Sumire nodded. "Right. Since they just came back yesterday, they\'re holding their return live."

"Ooh, now this I\'ll go to. I can wear that new dress."

Miya\'s gaze lands on the pale blue ticket in her hands. EMMA\'s concert, huh? Though she wasn\'t exactly a \' fan\' of any groups in particular or anything like that. She heard of their rising popularity and how they have been trying to recruit an excellent composer. That must be Sumire.

"Are you going?" Aika asked.

"Uh. I guess so. It does seem interesting." Miya said vaguely.

She\'s starting to sound like a fool here. But then again, Shouta has never bothered with that kind of thing before. Sure enough, even now, he\'s eating his meal casually.

"What about you?"

"I\'ll go."

Hearing Shouta\'s reply, Miya isn\'t too surprised. 

She has no interest in concerts. But, this may be a good chance for her to get to know the current Sumire. Shouta is most likely thinking the same.

 ______________

At the concert venue.

Miya exited the bathroom and sighed deeply. She is no good in places like this. She told the others to go ahead while she calmed herself down for a few minutes in the bathroom.

On her way out, she spotted Sumire and was about to call out to her when she noticed the girl wasn\'t alone. Opposite her was a girl with caramel-colored hair. Sumire was looking at her in disbelief before she started crying and immediately hugged the girl.

"Siena."

Siena laughed. "Forever the crybaby, I see."

Sumire hugged the girl tighter. "I\'m back, Sumire."

Miya felt someone grab hold of her wrist and turned to see Nakura Shin standing there. But unlike his formal appearance during the day, he now wore flashier clothes. Miya stared at him for a few minutes before laughing.

"Those clothes don\'t suit you."

Shin sighed. "Tell me about it. But this is my job."

"Your job, huh." Miya trailed off. "Is it also your job to become a teacher just for the sake of watching Sumire?"

At those words, Shin dropped her wrist and sighed. "Your more troublesome than I thought you would be, Shizune Miya."

"So, it\'s true?" Miya prodded. 

Miya couldn\'t help but observe him after Sumire sent Tsurumi over and noticed that Nakura Shin was watching Sumire the entire time. She later on, did her research and found that Nakura Shin belonged to a popular group. An idol who also became a teacher? It doesn\'t make sense. 

Even if he is intelligent and interested in academics, becoming a teacher in a school and university that has nothing to do with his specialty makes no sense.

"It\'s true."

Miya blinked. "I didn\'t expect you to admit it."

"There is no need to deny it. Besides, I think she already knows."

"What exactly is your relationship?"

"We are friends."

Miya couldn\'t help but notice him cringe at the word friends. 

"It doesn\'t surprise me if you like her. She seems to have that effect on people."

A troubled look flashed through Nakura Shin\'s eyes, at those words, and Miya quickly apologized.

"Sorry, I didn\'t mean to be so blunt."

"It\'s alright. She is the same. So, I have gotten used to it."

,Neither of them said anything, for a few minutes, and that silence brokewhen Shin\'s phone started ringing. Excusing himself, Nakura leaves her alone. But not before saying.

"I can\'t wait to see what that smart mouth of yours does in University from now."

Before Miya could retort back, he was already disappearing down the hallway. Miya sighed deeply. She wasn\'t expecting that. She always had a different impression of famous stars. He isn\'t arrogant, but he definitely has more confidence than most.