You never tell me

'It seems I have underestimated that person.' It's fun talking to you, huh? Indeed she shares the same thoughts. Being with Toh was fun; she could act like herself, and he would not leave her. He could accept her as a person.

But Toh still doesn't know everything about her. She is afraid of what will happen when he learns more.

Her thoughts broke off when she saw Mamoru staring at her.

"What is it?"

"Nothing, I have to take a call. Ki, you lay down."

Sumire tilted her head, puzzled, and watched as Mamoru quickly left the room. He is acting weird again. Since when did this weird behavior of his begin? The more she thought about it, the more confused she became.

Her head is starting to hurt again; maybe she ought to lay down. Sumire was headed towards her bed when she saw her guitar in the corner. It should be alright for a bit.

"Again today, I try to hide my heart

But I've started to run again

Maybe this love has already started

Please tell me today

That you're the only one

To hold my hands

Please tell me today

That your eyes that look at me

Are only filled with me

I'm riding the breeze to lean on you

I've stopped at your sweet scent

If you feel the same way

Please hold my hand

Please tell me today

That you're the only one

To hold my hands

Please tell me today

That you love me

That I've filled up your heart." Sumire sang.

It dispels all the uneasy feelings and emotions in her heart whenever she sings. Sumire recalled what Ru said about this song. She is just being stubborn.

When she releases this song, she wonders how others will portray it? Is it too obvious that she is singing for Yuhi? But, she wants to be honest, at least when she is singing. She doesn't want to lie.

…

At Tsukuhara High.

After learning that she wasn't feeling well, the others immediately came over. It seemed like they heard her coughing when Ru was on the phone earlier.

But when Mikaze mentioned that he left something behind in school, she, Ru, and the other members of nanairo feather ended up coming along.

It's strange being at school like this in the middle of the night.

Mikaze returned with a defeated look, saying all the classrooms were locked already. The item he left behind was his guitar.

"You know, it's boring. We came all this way; we should do something fun." Masaru said with his usual signature grin.

At those words, she stepped on his foot, and he yelped.

"Lady, you are so aggressive."

"What are you even doing here when you are still injured?" Sumire questioned.

"You are injured too, Princess; you shouldn't lecture him," Nao commented.

"I need some fresh air. Being cooped up in the house for a week is boring. But this one here has been going outside every day since he got hurt; how many times has Atsuro had to patch up your wounds?" Sumire lectured.

She is fed up getting the same type of calls from that short-tempered underground doctor.

"Since we're all gathered here, let's play hide and seek." Mikaze suggested.

"What do you mean since we're all here?" Daiki mumbled.

"Come on; it'll be fun."

"Are those two always like that?" Mamoru asked.

At those words, Sumire nodded."Truthfully, I am a little jealous of those two."

That's right; she's envious of their relationship even though they have opposite personalities. A relationship where they bicker and argue yet still remain happy.

She is envious of people who can act carefreely without a single worry. Will there ever be a day when she will be like them? A day where she does not feel sad, lonely, and miserable every day?

"Hey, you two! Nao said he will be the seeker." Sei called out.

"I never said that," Nao grumbled, annoyed.

"Start counting."

They didn't give Nao a chance to retort since then. She and the others rushed off.

After a few seconds she hears counting. He is quick to resign to his fate. Then again, Nao is not the type to start an argument over this.

The others rushed off in pairs, leaving her alone with Mamoru. She wonders why they always end up together.

"But now, all the classrooms are locked. So there is no hiding places, is there?"

Oh that's true. "Maybe we can hide underneath?" Sumire suggested seeing the slot.

"Underneath?" Mamoru said, puzzled.

Sumire nodded and pointed to the empty slot between the classroom, which she had just opened. Hearing Nao's voice, Mamoru quickly bends down.

"Hurry up quickly."

"Ah, my slippers."

"I'll get them in a hurry."

Upon entering, they quickly closed the small slot and sat their backs against the table by the door. They hear Nao's footsteps draw closer.

Sumire knew she would struggle to keep quiet, so she covered her own mouth with her hands.

"Man, where are you guys?" Nao grumbled, frustrated.

Since they were so close to one another, Sumire heard the sound of Mamoru's heartbeat.

Once they hear Nao's footsteps fade, Mamoru breaks the silence.

"Did he leave?" Mamoru asked.

"H-- hah. " Sumire couldn't control it anymore and burst out laughing.

"Ki?"

"Hahaha. Ow, I hit something. Wow, I am tearing up."

This situation reminds her of when they were children. Seeing a grown man frantic about getting caught made her laugh. "Phew, I haven't laughed this much in a while. "

Sumire immediately saw Mamoru looking at her with a warm gaze, and she immediately questioned him.

"What is it?" Sumire expected him to respond right away, initially not overthinking.

But Mamoru suddenly looked away from her. It was that brief moment when she saw something unusual in his eyes.

"N-nothing."

"That's a lie; there must be something. "

"I said it's nothing."

Sumire tilted her head puzzled. Why is he reacting so defensively? This is not the first time she has caught him randomly looking at her.

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

He definitely is. She wishes their exchange of petty words continued. But, something always breaks that cycle.

"How can you be so sure? "

He breaks it just like that. Sumire wonders if he knows what he just did. She doesn't question him; she doesn't have to.

"You're always like that. You're always talking about the most trivial things." Sumire exclaimed.

Why did he break it? It would have been better if they continued with the fake smiles.

Normally when she catches him staring, he would react embarrassed, but that is not the case now. Why did he answer so seriously?

"-and you never tell me the most important things. That's why I-" she slowly turned to look at him to see the expression on his face. "What's with you? Why are you looking at me like that? "