Etude of Radiance

"T-the one I like is you, Yuhi." Sumire immediately cut him off. "It's true something happened recently, but it was a mistake, and I let my guard down. However, I promised I'd never engage in such actions again!"

"That would be a problem for me."

"A problem?" Sumire repeated, puzzled.

"After all, I want to do that stuff with you. If you're saying you're not doing it again, it won't be good for me."

If her face wasn't red before then, it was now. For some reason, it's not difficult imagining doing 'that' with Yuhi. Actually, the minute he said those words, strange images appeared in her head. Since she has already done it once with Toh, it wasn't difficult for her to imagine doing it with Yuhi.

But the more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she became.

Yuhi coughed awkwardly.

"Uh..so well, yeah. While it frustrates me a little that your first wasn't for me, I'm partly to blame for that. So don't blame yourself anymore for it-and the next time we meet, I'd really like to-"

"A-a song!" Sumire exclaimed. "R-recently, I wrote a few more from the ones you made for me."

She wanted to change this topic quickly before she died of embarrassment.

"Then, let's hear one."

Sumire calmed her beating heart and took a deep breath before she sang.

"Glowing in the moonlight

as a sloping path extends

They're a pair of footprints

carve the way together

Basking in our love, we gaze

into each other's eyes

When you're by my side, I'm not afraid

When I'm feeling anxious and confused

When I can't decide which path to choose

All I want to do is hold your hand." Sumire sang.

This was the song she struggled with the last time she stayed at Toh's place. It took her a while, but she finally finished it during her house arrest.

"But because I love you, everything

around me fades into a gentle hue

Fills my heart with

strength enough to carry on

I've been enveloped by

your blinding radiance

I can feel the warmth you gave

to me, an eternal candlelight

Erasing hesitation now

as I take my first step." Sumire sang.

When she finished, Yuhi looked at her with wide eyes before bursting into laughter.

"Is-Is it weird?" Sumire panicked.

But Yuhi immediately shook his head, and she sighed in relief.

"I was just thinking. It's exactly like you to write a song like this."

Sumire tilted her head to one side, puzzled by those words. It's exactly like her? What is that supposed to mean?

"You've always said that to me that you respect and admire me as an artist, right?"

"Y-yes!"

"I feel the same towards you. I know you may think I am only saying this because of my feelings toward you, but it is not like that."

"Y-you told me last time, Yuhi. Even though I have a hard time understanding, basically, you see me as your equal?"

Yuhi's gaze was gentle as he nodded. "That's right, although, in terms of status, you have only just joined the ladder. But I believe you will close that gap quickly."

"A-about the song, I was-wrote it as a love song."

'I wrote it for you!' Sumire wanted to say desperately. But she was having a difficult time getting those words out. She wrote it with such powerful emotions. From the very start, even before she knew her feelings for Yuhi were love.

"I know, and it reached me." Yuhi laughed. "You're so red right now. You look like a tomato."

"Ah, are you teasing me? It's not funny. You don't know how difficult it is for me to say these words."

"It's not easy for me either."

"Now, that has to be a lie," Sumire mumbled. "Even when you were lecturing me, you said that you liked me so easily."

"Well yeah, I have no reason to hide it," Yuhi said casually.

Says the person that took forever to confess. Then again, she is one to talk to. It seems so silly that they were waiting for the other one to make a move first.

"You know, that song just now really put me at ease."

"It did?" Sumire surprised.

"Yeah, listening to that, it feels like I can keep moving forward and reach a better future as an idol."

Yuhi is complimenting her. It makes her so happy. But this level of praise is too much. It almost sounds like he is saying that hearing her sing gives him as much hope and inspiration as it does when she listens to him.

"How can you say something like that?"

"Because I genuinely believe it. Hey, I have a performance scheduled for five tonight. Make sure you listen to it."

Her eyes brightened when she heard those words. "O-of course I will!!"

"You're way too excited."

"Ah, you were working on a new song, right? Did you finish it?" Sumire has been watching his live performances on TV every single night since his tour started. She even subscribed to the channel that broadcasts his performances live. Being part of his fan club has its perks and as a long-time member.

"Yeah. I'd love to sing it for you right now, but the special effects make me look cooler. So I'd rather you see that."

Sumire laughed. "You're so silly, Yuhi. No matter what, I always find you cool. That's why let's both do our best." Sumire said the last line quietly.

"Is that all you want to say to me?"

"I miss you very much. I wish I was with you right now." Sumire confessed.

She knew Yuhi could sense her sincere emotions. They had a special connection.

"Me too. I want to be with you right now."

Due to their powerful emotions, they could envision being together in the same place in the form of a dream. There is a barren field with nothing but a red-coloured moon, but it did not frighten her. He is right here, right beside her.

They stood in the middle of the field, and she leaned against Yuhi, feeling the warmth and strength of his body against hers.