That is enough

SUMIRE

'I am so selfish.'

Her eyes water. She should let him go. She has been having these thoughts since she realized that even now she is in love with Yuhi. But, every time she thought to bring it up. Toh's smile, and his gaze filled with affection would stop her.

"Are you crying?" Toh looked frustrated as he moved her hands away from his lips. He brings his own hands to her face and gently wiped the tears. "Did I-say something wrong? I didn't think that would make you cry. I will avoid saying such things in the future if it makes you upset."

Sensing his tone, Sumire quickly explained.

"T-these are happy tears."

This made Toh even more confused and Sumire understood. He maybe an expert psychologist, but even for him there are certain emotions he has only heard of and not seen. No even if he saw them, it wouldn't mean much to him since he doesn't care about the other person.

The reason Toh is behaving like this is because he cares about her. He cares about every single emotion she feels, and wants to know what the causes are to evoke these emotions.

Sumire buried her face in his chest. "-just feeling loved."

It takes a moment for Toh to understand and he wrapped his arms tightly around her. "That's because I really love you."

She knows, even without words she can see it. In his eyes, and his actions.

They remain like that for a few minutes before Toh pulls away. "I will go grab the sketches. Stay here?"

Sumire nodded and Toh exited the room. The moment he left, she slumped back on the bed and extended her hand towards the ceiling. Toh really is strange. He doesn't behave like anybody else she has met. She thought after knowing him well, the interest and fascination she had towards him would change. But even now, she finds him behaving differently.

Her thoughts break off when she hears a buzz sound coming from her phone.

From: Masato

The president appeared in the assembly, and also announced the date of the 1st selection.

Sumire sighed deeply reading the contents of the message. Suddenly appearing like that, and announcing the date for a week from now? Then again, he has probably been practing since he became a candidate. Ichinose Arashi is similar to her in a sense, a person who is very passionate about their dreams.

A week. Despite her busy schedule, she has been doing her best and finding a time to practice. She is ready, as ready as she will ever be. But, she is uneasy. Standing on stage for a concur is different from standing on stage as an idol. For one, the audience. The audience will not only consist of people from school, but members of the elite circle.

She knew several parents of her classmates, their associates and business partners will attend.

The elite circle huh? Even before the accident happened, she wasn't very comfortable with those people. Besides even now she thinks it's stupid. What is with the elite title? What use are titles in this day and age. In the past, perhaps titles would be more useful. But in today's modern society, the elite circle is of little importance. They do nothing to contribute to today's society.

No doubt, there will be somebody in that crowd who knows her. After her family's accident, she considered changing her name. Going to a place where people didn't know her and start afresh. But that would involve having to change schools too, and she didn't want to leave the guys in nanairofeather behind.

Moreover, her debt towards Aki.

Sumire quickly typed a reply to Masato before standing up, and picking her violin case from the corner. She takes a deep breath and pulls the instrument out and begins to play.

Her song choice for the first selection was kanon. If anybody were to ask her why she chose to the song, the only answer she would have is it just feels right. When she first started to practice, she immediately knew that she made the right choice.

Still, the theme is too vague. 'Opening.' huh? The opening to what? Is it truly up to them to interpret their own meaning to that word, or is there something the organisers have in mind? Nobody actually knows the answer.

Maybe they are testing how well they will do with a vague theme. Testing how well they will convey the message they want. Sumire shakes her head. Even if she thinks deeply about music, most people don't share the same thoughts as her. The organisers probably didn't think too deeply about the themes.

Suddenly hearing the sound of a piano being played. Sumire tilted her head, paused. She exited Toh's room and walked towards the direction of the sound, down the steps, a few steps down the hallway into an open space. A white grand piano in the center of the room and the one playing there was Toh.

She listens to him playing for a few minutes. He really is good at everything. This certainly isn't the first time she is hearing him play. When she first discovered a piano in the room, she immediately asked him to play for her.

Toh's lips curve to a smile upon spotting her. "Seducing you with music always seems to do the trick."

Sumire rolled her eyes. "Oh please. I'd believe that if you weren't playing the piano version to the one I just played." She trailed off understanding his intentions. "Are you going to help me practice?"

Toh nodded. "This is a bribe since I realized I left my sketchbook with the designs back in my studio. So you'' have to be patient."

That's a shame, she really wanted to see them. He has been so secretive about it. Sumire nodded and took a few steps forward until she was standing by the piano and started playing.

Toh being a talented piano player helped her a lot. The girl she chose for accompanist gives her very bad vibes.

'I can tell she doesn't really like me very much. But she is clearly passionate towards music and clearly wants to be involved in the selection somehow.'

For her that is enough, even if the person dislikes her. Music doesn't lie and that girl truly loves music.

*Unedited*