Even though he told Terashima that he would meet with Sumire, he worked until late. By the time he finished working, it was approaching midnight. A deep sigh crossed his lips as he arrived in front of the manor.

All the lights were out from the looks of it, meaning the others are not back yet either. He always seems to be the first one back even though they have an equal amount of workload. The only one amongst them who is the busiest is Kou; that guy does not sleep at all. He always returns at dawn and is the first one to vanish.

Ran was about to head inside when he caught a glimpse of movement in the garden.

'Also, let me add, she is always one step ahead.'

He recalled Terashima's words and paused. It can't be, can it?

Still, Ran rushed over to the garden. At first glance, he could not see anybody, but he found her after taking a few steps forward. She sat on the stands by the arch—a dazed expression on her face.

"Sumire." Ran called out.

At that comment, she immediately stood up and walked over.

"Uh, I heard you were looking for me."

He watched as a deep frown appeared on her face. "Ran, are you that angry at me? I know I said we would discuss the song then, and instead, I showed you me singing with Yuhi, but I just wanted to get my point across. I wanted to tell you that I was okay now. I didn't think you would get mad at me."

Ran looked at the girl with wide eyes, wait. Is that what she thinks?

"Uh, wait a second-" Ran, however, did not get a chance to interject since she rambled on.

"Besides, it's not like I was showing off or anything. I mean, it isn't easy for me and Yuhi to see each other anymore. I just thought you were worried about me and doing something careless again."

Ran couldn't get a word out, so he waited until she finished.

"Well, you are right about that. I worry about you all the time, but I wasn't mad or anything. I was just confused."

"Confused?"

"You.. you're singing that day was so gentle, and yet I felt the same powerful emotion like your other songs."

Even though she sang that way, it still resonated with him. He could feel the emotions she wanted to convey, the message, the story behind it.

Sumire looked at him with wide eyes.

"So err I wasn't mad, but I just wanted to understand how you could sing that way. After all, you should know better than anybody the issue I had last year."

At some point in his career, he wondered whether he could carry on with music. After his band dissolved, he wandered around and played solo for so long. But then he met Kou, who extended his hand out and asked him to join the group. He somehow agreed due to the flow of the moment, but even then, he had his doubts.

When Quatro light was on the verge of disbanding, too, they all met Sumire, and everything changed. He was confused for so long, the idol him or the band member him? Which one was his real self? What is his real melody? It was this girl who answered those doubts of his with her performance.

Sumire sighed deeply. "Ran, sometimes I think you are an idiot."

Huh? Wait, what- "Why are you insulting.."

"I mean, just listen to yourself for a few seconds. Just because I sang slightly differently does not mean anything has changed. Besides, I sang rock ballad songs in front of the station a lot last year."

"Huh? You what?"

"I thought Masaru-senpai would have told you, but then again, he did joke around saying this was our little secret."

Ran recalled something the golden blonde haired man said, and his eyes twitched annoyed. So this is what Masaru meant by seeing something interesting? Ran thought he was referring to Sumire and Terashima's relationship, but it had something to do with music?

"Was it bad? Did you not like it?"

"No, it just confused me as I said. You're free to sing how you want, but when I thought it through, it upset me."

"Why?"

"Because I do not know that side of you." Ran admitted.

For a moment, nobody spoke, and the only sound anybody could hear was the sound of birds chirping not too far away. He felt his entire body tense up as he waited for her reply. Ran immediately regretted his words and wanted to take them back. Did he not just admit there that he liked her? Although it was indirect, anybody could easily interpret the meaning behind his words.

To his surprise, Sumire started to laugh. Ran looked at her puzzled; that was not what he expected.

"If that's all, then isn't the solution simple Ran?"

"Solution?"

"Just learn about the new me from now on; you can do that, right?"

This girl is also quite clumsy with her words. She indirectly told him just now that it was okay for her to stay by his side.

"Should we work on the song?"

"Actually." Sumire rummaged through her bag and pulled out an envelope. "I already finished it. At the same time, I wanted to write a song based on the current you. All the emotions from last year poured in, and then I realized something. Even if you have changed, you can still adjust to any song I write for you."

Ran's eyes widened when he heard those words. Honestly, this girl surprises him every single time. He opened the envelope and quickly scanned the music. Writing this type of song is like her, and yet it is different now too.

"I got it, just shut up and watch me."

Ran took a deep breath. He only briefly glanced at the music, but he already had lyrics—at least lyrics to match all the emotions from then and the present.

"The curse of my past, these half-assed dirty beats

Change it, change it! This smoldering groove

"Worthless," the words I spit out, for some reason.

They left only emptiness behind.

My true song, shoutin' to the heavens!

(Even if it's clunky, my own personality)

I'll release it, my real true voice!

(Now, let's move forward, our sights on the future!)

The only thing I can't surpass is myself.

It's not bad, is it? This new song

I've found the only one! That which could

Overcome the burden of my entire past,

What rescued me was your love."