If a bystander looked at his life, they would certainly criticize him. Abandoned in the forest, taken in by an old man who isolated himself from the world. After the death of that old man, taken to an orphanage.

Knowing those circumstances looked sympathetic. But that's off the mark. Yuhi didn't feel anything about being abandoned.

He didn't resent the parents who threw him away, nor did he particularly want to meet them.

It's not like he was bitter, but instead, it was the opposite. He casually accepted the situation. He liked his current life too, it was not the best but at least he was alive. At least he managed to escape that forest. If the old man did not find him and stayed there any longer, the worst-case scenario could have happened.

"You're a cold-hearted guy."

The first time he heard those words, he was in middle school.

"The parents who abandoned you must be in pain since they had to leave you like that, yet you don't care about that at all and just live on as nothing has happened."

'That is not true. I have had my fair share of problems too.' But even then, it's true he is casual about it.

"Since you're like this, though, I can't get better at all."

"Hey, don't make it sound like it's my fault."

"Sorry. But you're cold-hearted."

"Is that so?"

"You get interested in anything, but you don't cling to anything."

Yuhi didn't know if that would make someone heartless, but it was true that he wasn't attached to anything.

In Yuhi's eyes, the world was overflowing with truly interesting things, but he had never feared losing any of it, and he had hardly ever felt loath to part with something he lost.

"I hope you'll be able to find something so important you'll want to cling to it, too."

His adoptive parents were useless. They were a fairly wealthy family, but after his adoptive father got into gambling debt. The mother killed herself, and the father drowned in alcohol until his death.

Afterward, he decided there was no use continuing this farce. 'It is better for me to live alone.'

Then he met her.

When he met Ibuki Sumire, he immediately thought, 'Ah, I'll probably get too attached to his person, huh?'

…..

August 21st

It is nearing the end of the month already, huh? It is strange how quickly time passes by ever since he met Sumire. Each day, each moment he spends with her seems to fly by quickly. There is never enough time in the day.

Yuhi made his way back to the bar. When he arrived, noise and chattering greeted him. He found Yoru and Chitose were engaged in front of the TV, whereas Kawa and Eric were fast asleep on the kotatsu.

With everything happening, he hasn't had much time for these guys.

"Ah your back Yuhi-san."

Yuhi nodded as he scanned the bar for a few seconds. "Is Atushi not here?"

Sen pulls a 'beats me' expression when the ginger hair boy calls over from his game.

"If it's Atushi-san, your looking for her went out. I saw him with those guys."

That's all that needed to hear, as Yuhi mutters, thanks.

If Atushi is talking to the guys in nanairo feather about this, then it means not even he knows where Ichinose went this time.

How troublesome. However, most people would find it odd that he is searching for Ichinose Arashi. He searched for the guy who will most likely break the current relationship between him and his girlfriend. Most people would find it odd; even so, he had to find that guy.

The reason being he wants to be challenged fair and square?

Hah?

Since when did he get such stupid ideas like that? His thoughts broke when he saw the light from the room next door. It was the room they used as a mini studio when they were here. Come to think of it, and she is feeling better now, isn't she?

It should be fine, right? 'I don't touch her as often these days. My self-control keeps breaking.' Lately, her career is hitting off, so he sees a lot more of her posters and merch around town.

She is getting prettier and prettier. He wants to touch her again.

"Before you assault her, King, why don't you eat something first?" A familiar beaming voice said.

Yuhi sighed when he saw the blonde-haired man point to a plate of food on the counter. "You and Atushi don't have to worry so much about me."

"It is important to eat."

"What makes you think I have not eaten-" Right as he said that, he hears a rumbling sound from his stomach.

Jae beamed happily. "You were saying?"

"Fine." Yuhi sat down by the counter. He kept his gaze on the room where Sumire was. "Is she okay?"

"She seems healthy. I don't think she met with Nagawa Sano today."

Yuhi sighed deeply. "That's not what I meant."

"Hmmm, she headed into that room and said she would work on new songs, but I think I saw her doing homework."

Right with all the recent events, it is easy to forget that they are students. "Are you going to help her, King?"

Yuhi rolled his eyes at that comment. "That girl is smarter than me." This was why he never brought up the topics of studies with her. After all, he knew she would be fine even if she skipped out on a few lessons.

Jae sighed. "You are truly clueless when it comes to romance. I think Sumire-chan would like it if you two studied together."

Why is he even suggesting something like this? Besides, Sumire would probably prefer it more if they discussed the recent books they both read.

"King." Jae suddenly appeared in front of him.

"What?"

"I know you two both like staying indoors. But that is exactly why you have to have more sweet moments with her!" Jae exclaimed.

Sweet moments? Yuhi saw the serious look in Jae's eyes and awkwardly ran his hands through his hair and combed it back. "It is not like I haven't been thinking about it."

Indeed they do spend more time indoors than go on any dates. They are half the time working on Mamoru's case or any other strange cases that have popped up around town. Occasionally they would have literature debates, cuddle and go on a walk. But he has not taken her anywhere since summer started.

"King, I have the perfect plan!"

Yuhi paused. "Plan?"

"Take her to the beach!! Under the scorching heat, you will play the watermelon game, play beach volleyball, get randomly hit on, and fend away the pursuers. Ah, youth."

What is with this guy? Does he have a screw loose in his head? Besides, he knew that Sumire disliked the heat. He also didn't want people to see her in a swimsuit. Still, he does want to see her in one. They talked about going to the beach before too.

"Alri-"

"But taking her alone is too suspicious. So why don't you bring the guys in Quatro light too?"

What?