At the start, Sano was his usual snarky and snakey self. But recently, whenever they meet, there is something different about him. There is a sadness in his eyes that she did not see before. Sumire frantically shook her head. No matter what happens, she cannot allow him to sway her. The moment she sympathizes is the moment she lets her guard down. If that happens, who knows what he would do to her?

She cannot risk it even for a moment.

"Alright. I will let you see Sano. Go after school, okay?"

Sumire nodded. "But what about--"

"I will wait for you at the company."

For a moment, there is an awkward silence. Sumire wanted to discuss the stuff Shin brought a bit more but noticed Yuhi put everything away. It seems like she won't get a chance to look at that until he finishes analyzing it. Well, he is doing it for her safety and all.

"Sumire..." Her serious thoughts broke off when she hears Yuhi call her name.

"My lips..you'll graze them again."

"Let me." Yuhi covered her mouth with his.

Sumire laughed. "If we don't stop kissing, we will go crazy."

"I like that, go crazy, eh?"

She rolled her eyes. "Okay, enough being silly. We should go back to class."

"Don't want to, quit struggling when you like it."

"How do you know that?"

"Well, your hands."

Sumire paused. "You look hot."

Yuhi chuckled. "Alright, I guess I am. Continue."

She fiddles with his shirt for a bit before she paused. She raised her hand to caress his cheeks. "Yuhi, do you think I'm weird?"

"Mmm, very weird."

"But you still love me?"

"I love you, silly girl." He kissed her eyelids softly. "Do you understand?"

"I think I do."

"Good."

For a moment, nobody said anything.

Disturbed by the sound of the bell. But Yuhi didn't let her go; instead, his arms tightened around her waist. 'I guess we aren't going to class today either.' Then again, she isn't in the mood to attend class, so this works out for them. She usually would lecture him; at least one of them has to be sensible.

He kisses her a lot these days, and maybe it is to make up for the things he can't do with her.

"Sumire, Sumire."

He calls her name repeatedly like this when things get too intimate.

"Mmm, you okay with this?"

Sumire played with his hair. "Yes, we're only flirting, right?"

Yuhi laughed. "I suppose so." He placed his head on her stomach, and awkward laughter escaped her lips. "Is it moving yet?"

"I guess I do feel kicks sometimes."

"I see."

'Does it bother him? It must do.' Sumire leaned forward and kissed him. "I can't wait till my birthday."

"Your birth--" Yuhi paused. "I see, well, we should start planning. What would you like to do during the day?"

"The day?"

"Yeah, day."

"What's happening at night?" She asks, but she already knows.

Yuhi brushed his lips against her ear. "Well, you should know."

"I do. Will it be special?"

"Yeah, I have a great plan."

A plan, huh? She traces his chest with her fingers. "Yuhi, do you go to the gym or something?"

"Not a gym fanatic. But I guess I do a lot of exercises. Why?"

"I like it..."

'I like your...' Sumire stopped her sentence. What is she thinking? She needs to control herself. If she continues acting so shamelessly like this then— Yuhi cupped her cheeks.

"You okay? Don't get so embarrassed, even though I would do anything to see you flustered all the time. I don't want you to stress."

He is as considerate as ever. Sumire sighs deeply; she needs to stop acting like a fool around him. She is almost eighteen, and then it will be two years until she is legally an adult.

"I'm sorry for behaving so strangely. I liked you more than I thought I did, so I am at a loss on what to do."

Yuhi chuckled softly. "Well, if that's the case, why don't you write it down?"

"As lyrics for a song?"

"Yeah, your comeback will be official after our performance. So you might as well get a head start."

Her comeback, huh? With everything else going on, it is difficult for her to even think about that. But if Yuhi is saying this, who is she to disagree with him? Besides, she does miss singing. Maybe if she sings and jots down all these feelings in her heart, she will stop behaving so strangely.

But then what happens after that? Is she truly ready to return to the stage? Is she ready to sing again? She shouldn't make reckless decisions. Singing is important to her, and she will never give it up. But can the current her sing like she did before?

Will she break down even though she is performing with Yuhi? Will she finally realize things can't return to normal?

Yuhi kissed her lips again.

"Well, forget about it for now. Tell me what happens after school."

"Yuhi, you keep talking about after school, but the day just started."

"Time goes by when your having fun." His lips curve to a devilish smile. "Do you honestly think I will let you go, Sumire?"

No, she already knew from the moment he came inside. Sumire pressed her lips against his. "I think I am going crazy, but that's fine, right?"

Yuhi laughed. "Honestly, what do you want me to do, silly girl? I am already head over heels in love with you."

To be loved and treasured, this much is a blessing. Yet Sumire understood this happiness is temporary. Something is already starting again in the shadows. If she isn't careful, she would get swallowed whole, and then everything will come to an end.

Something will break again.

Something will break, and this time, there will be no way of fixing it.