A young woman with long chocolate brown hair, wearing a white off-shoulder sundress, with a purple-colored cardigan on top, sat in front of an easel. The sound of gentle brush strokes. She was painting slowly today, and yet her palette seemed to run out of paint quickly.

It seemed she would have to drag him back home soon, Sumire thought as a cold gust of wind blew across the room.

The story of their love was quite a roller coaster. Sumire understood that well. From the very moment he reappeared in front of her, she knew her future would be in his hands.

The moment she initiated that kiss, and the moment she accepted his hand.

Perhaps it was more of an experiment because of the feelings that had been building up inside her heart. Yet despite it being an experiment - it was something she couldn't forget. Her gaze fell on the young girl looking at her paintings.

"Hey Lila-chan, do you want to listen to a story?"

"Mommy, you're just going to talk about father again."

Sumire chuckled, "This is a different story." Her gaze softened as she pulled her daughter onto her lap. "A pure romance story, like the one's you like reading about."

Lila looked up, "I'm listening."

"You see, Lila-chan when I met your father after losing touch. It was already our fourth encounter, but this time he stayed in my life for longer."

When they first met again? It was during the harshest time of her life. She went through so much pain and suffering before she could find happiness.

..

Twenty years ago Monday, February 4th, TOKYO 2015

In a nightclub was where it all started- the place where she met him again.

Love was just an illusion.

After she lost her boyfriend because of an accident, Sumire escaped to Tokyo to forget it all. If it's in this place, maybe she can forget everything. But that's a lie, she won't forget no matter how much time passed by.

People hate liars, and yet, many like them too. They lie and play with a person's emotions, its human nature. But liars lose nothing since nothing they say is real. They had nothing, to begin with.

She is a liar - and yet for the first time in so long; she wanted something to happen. Something to change.

Sumire had always been so reckless, but of all the things she had ever done, this had been the most reckless. She arrived in Tokyo only three hours ago. Usually, one would use that time to settle in. But instead, she wandered aimlessly around the streets, with no destination in mind.

But now? Now she found herself pinned against the wall in a popular nightclub, cornered and vulnerable? No, not vulnerable. They cannot use such words for a person like her.

The man who pinned her against a wall had black hair as dark as the pitch-black skies, and his eyes. For the past few minutes, Sumire tried to determine what color his eyes were.

A palette of brown shades appeared in her head. Beaver, beige, buff, chestnut, coyote, desert sand, or maybe even the color of earth? No, it differed from that.

'Chocolate brown.' Yes, it was the same colour as chocolate. 'Would his lips be just as sweet as the color of his eyes?' Sumire couldn't help but think such crazy thoughts now they are this close to each other. She wondered what type of situation is this.

Who is this stranger? She didn't know him personally, but she heard rumors and saw him surrounded by girls. The moment her violet-colored eyes met his, she felt an electric shock through her body. But Sumire avoided him, and yet they still ended up like this.

Seconds turned into minutes. Sumire didn't even know what she was expecting from this.

"So hey," he slurred his words. From the looks of things he was very drunk, and yet she didn't push him away. "You're Ibuki Sumire, right?"

Sumire blinked when she heard those words. Huh? Why does he know her name?

She quickly composed herself and asked him. "I am and you are…"

"Terashima Yuhi."

The name that left his lips was one she couldn't forget. Memories of her childhood flashed through her head. Different colored paint, bright and vibrant colors. A small studio and a thread, a single color. A combination of something new. For a moment, Sumire froze. She didn't know what to say, 'it's him?'

Sumire noticed one thing. Yuhi wore a black hoodie, and he seemed to blend in with the surroundings. 'Wearing clothes like this, normally nobody would recognize him.' Then again, she was wearing similar clothes. She wore pure a black leather jacket and grey trousers. Also, her gaze fell on the white material at her feet, 'and a mask.'

But when Yuhi cornered her, he threw it away.

He also wore a pair of black frames across his eyes. Those aren't sunglasses. A normal pair? Is his eyesight bad?

"I came to fetch you," Yuhi rubbed the back of his hair awkwardly. "I mean, you will be living off-campus, right?"

Off-campus? Sumire had yet to regain control of her senses. She couldn't process it. It's him, it's Yuhi. What does she do about this? She didn't think she would encounter him so soon. Or rather, to think he was the one who those people asked. She has to talk to them later. Why did they send Yuhi of all people to fetch her?

Then again, her agency wouldn't be so careless asking Terashima Yuhi to pick her up. A famous figure like that getting involved with her would end up in another scandal. 'It must be Asuka.' Out of all their mutual friends, only that girl would intervene this much.

She took a deep breath; she needs to calm down. "I will be fine alone."

"Why are you acting tough for? It's stupid."

Stupid?!! Sumire angrily turned away. She did not want to waste her time on him. Sumire quickly walked away and hastened her steps. At first, she heard him following behind her, but his footsteps quickly faded away. A deep sigh crossed her lips. 'What is she doing?' Did she have to get mad at him?

He only meant well. Now that Sumire thought about it, even though those girls surrounded him. He wasn't flirting with them. It seemed like he predicted her coming here before she did. Should she go back and apologize? But, Sumire recalled the way he looked at her. It would be better if she doesn't go back.

Her thoughts broke off when she felt a menacing presence. Sumire immediately stepped aside. But the moment she did, somebody grabbed hold of her from the back. Despite the dim lighting in the corridor, Sumire knew who they were.

The girls from earlier who were with Yuhi. It seemed they saw him taking her away. 'What a problematic situation.' Sumire wanted to walk away, but she couldn't. The girls continued attacking her verbally.

A group of girls with voluptuous figures, far different from her own. While people complimented her for looking mature, figure wise, Sumire knew she couldn't compare. It made her feel bitter knowing Yuhi hung around with such people. But she quickly shook that thought out of her mind.

"Bitch, I can't stand you hanging out with our Yuhi-sama!" one of them exclaimed.

"Yeah," the girl with curly blonde hair agreed. "Do you think you're so great because you debuted recently?"

The short girl at the front sniggered, "This girl is a bitch. I mean, wasn't she dating that Mamo- whatever recently? Just because he died she is flirting?"

At that comment, her gaze darkened. Sumire wasn't angry before, she was calm. But now? She was angry. She felt her blood boil due to the intense anger.

"Flirting? She's openly seducing. What a slut. Then again, maybe that's what that guy liked about her."

Sumire could no longer take it, and spat on the girl. Since she was standing close to her, it landed directly on her eyes. The girl screamed. "Aaah."

The one holding her down seemed startled, and she used that chance to break free.

Initially, she was casually dodging, but when one of them landed their fist on her shoulders. Sumire's lips curved into a smile, and in the next second, she was fighting back.

Regarding stuff that people rarely believe in, Ibuki Sumire believed it easily. However, they're also individuals who hold a belief in strange matters that she didn't see the significance in, like the imprint on her palm.

She heard many tales on the matter. Tales on which each color meant, but out of all those colors, she instantly realized that she had an unusual one.

The nurses had made a big deal out of it upon discovering she and another child had it. That child was Mamoru, Tsueno Mamoru.

"Why you, don't think you can get away with this," one girl at the front growled as she rushed forward. Sumire quickly appeared at the girl's side and knocked her out using her palm. The girl landed on the ground with a huge thud.

"Do you still wish to continue?" Sumire asked. She saw the fear in their eyes, and yet they responded by charging towards her.

What a foolish group of people. But isn't she the same?

When she and Mamoru noticed it, their reaction was pretty much,' Oh it's the same' - then the conversation ended like that. He hadn't been the type of person who focused on such matters, nor did she. But perhaps there was already a silent agreement between them, that even if they didn't have the same that it wouldn't have mattered.

People always believe in rumors connecting them to another individual. In the end, isn't that because 'Humans crave for love and attention?' It was one of the few things she learned from that person in the past. How accurate that statement was.

Her gaze flickered onto the pile of bodies that lay at her feet and the surroundings. The fight ended a few seconds ago when she knocked down the leader. Uh oh, she did it again. Why does she keep causing problems like this? Is she a hopeless case after all?

Sumire saw something from the corner of her eyes. The colour red.

A crimson red color.

'Not her favorite scarlet red.' Sumire crouched down and bent down. Her gaze darkened. She didn't have to look at the state of her hands to know. Her hands stained with this color time repeatedly. She did it again. How many times does this make this?' Her thoughts broke off when somebody pulled her to her feet.

Her amethyst colored eyes met his chocolate brown ones. "Can you run?"

"I can."

Sumire's eyes widened when she realized he wasn't letting go of her hand. He increased his speed and ran. So Sumire had no choice but to follow along. She couldn't see his expression anymore, only his back and yet. 'This sight is familiar to her; this happened back then too.' A young boy who dragged her along everywhere.

Long before they had ever met, this destiny awaited them. They were not like ships passing in the night. It wasn't like they didn't understand each other. They understood each other better than anyone else, and they focused solely each on each other.

After running for a good few minutes, they eventually arrived at the back of the building. Sumire spotted a large item covered by a sheet. Yuhi let's go of her hand and walked over to it. The absence of warmth left her feeling strange. 'Odd...' But then again, Sumire wondered when was the last time somebody held her hand.

Her thoughts broke off when he moved towards her. She flinched slightly, 'will he try something?' This would be the perfect place in a dark alleyway like area, a small space.

Yuhi, however, shrugged his jacket off and draped it around her shoulders. "It's still winter."

"Thank you," Sumire muttered.

Yuhi nodded. "I'm taking you back."

"I'm not going with you," Sumire mumbled.

"Suit yourself; you will get caught by the police if you stick around here."

At that comment, Sumire bit her lip. She knew she couldn't argue back there. She glanced over at the motorbike curiously before she made her mind up. Yuhi passed her a helmet; their hands briefly brushed against one another.

Thump, thump. She felt the sound of her heartbeat increase. It was a peculiar sensation, something familiar and yet something foreign. A flash of maroon-colored hair appeared in her head, and she shook her head. What use is there thinking about it now? Didn't she come here to forget everything?

Sumire immediately pulled her hand back and snatched the helmet from him.

Yuhi sighed. "You know, I will not bite. I'm quite drunk, yes. But I won't attack you."

'So he admits to being drunk at least.' "You will not make a move on me? " Sumire said warily. "I'll have you know. I can pack quite a punch. So if you try anything funny."

"Gee woman, you don't trust anyone do you?"

At that comment, Sumire paused. Indeed she doesn't trust anybody at all. The only person she ever trusted was that guy, and now he is no longer around. It should be fine; he isn't a bad guy, right? Sumire hesitantly nodded and climbed on his bike.

Yuhi was already in position, and he pointed to his waist. "Hey, grab on."

Sumire looked away, "I will be fine."

"You'll fall off, don't be stupid."

She took a deep breath before she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Don't try anything funny."

"I already know what kind of reputation you have. Even I want to avoid crossing you." Yuhi said it normally, and yet Sumire sensed that he was making fun of her.

'It feels like he is mocking her.' She didn't bother replying as Yuhi started the engine, and soon they were on the road. Despite it being quite late already. Sumire noticed that so many people were on the streets. 'Indeed, this is Tokyo.' Even though this is a time where people should be fast asleep, a time where people should be sleeping, and yet the streets are lively.

A sea of bobbing heads, voices, groups of people everywhere she looks. Busy shops. The streets filled with multicolored lights. Her old town was in the countryside. So this was a new experience for her. 'It's beautiful.' The beauty of the city differs from the country.

In the countryside the air is fresh, surrounded by bright green fields and flowers. Over here, the sky seems polluted. Tall buildings and crowded streets. Yet, something is mesmerizing about all of this.

Her gaze fell on the man in front of her. Since they got on the road, he hadn't said a word to her.

She wonders what experiences he has had in a place like this. From her memory, Terashima Yuhi was an awkward kid who was terrible at talking to others. Then again, she wasn't any better either. This person, the experiences he has had since they last met and the people...

"By the way," Yuhi mumbled. "I didn't have dinner, do you mind if we grab a bite to eat?"

"Ah," Sumire nodded. "Sure."

'Dinner?' Sumire didn't even think of food. The moment she arrived here, she simply got off the train and wandered around. Thankfully she sent her luggage away to her accommodation; otherwise, she wouldn't have it by now.

It didn't take long for them to reach their destination. Yuhi immediately stopped the engine and parked his bike at the edge of a familiar building. 'Twenty four hour burger joint.' Her sweat fell when she saw that sign.

"I'll get you something too, stay here."

Sumire only nodded her head and sat down on the curb by the bike. Her gaze fell on her surroundings; in the distance, she watched the scenery. She could see the tall buildings much clearly now.

It's strange, but the place is so beautiful. Sumire didn't know what was wrong with her, but since she arrived in Tokyo, she couldn't help but stare at everything. It's almost like she is in a foreign country.

'No matter where they are, the sky will always connect us..' Didn't Mamoru tell her something like that? That guy told her many things, and yet... at the end of the day, he still left her, didn't he?

Sumire didn't realize when Yuhi emerged from the shop entrance until he placed something on her head. Sumire looked up and saw a small package.

"Here, you're eating too."

"Thank you. I will pay you back."

"You don't have to," Yuhi shook his head. "Sorry for getting wasted before you came."

'So he felt bad about that? It's nothing he has to feel sorry for.' Sumire didn't say a word and opened the wrapping. She hears the sound of rustling and found him opening his food too. It was only a burger, and yet when Sumire bit into it. 'It's so delicious.'

Is it the food that's delicious or, her gaze fell on the person by her side. Is it because of him? It seems like meeting him has stirred such strange feelings inside her. She wonders what all of this means.

.....

Iro Road High School - Tuesday 6th February 2015-

Iro Road High school, a specialized art and music academy.

The main reason why she entered this academy, despite the numerous art academies in the country, was for a particular person. She wanted to meet the person who did that painting.

The national middle school art competition, the name of the person in second place. 'Terashima Yuhi.' Ever since that day, their fates were already intertwined together. But she didn't realize how much she wanted to see him until she saw him again yesterday.

A deep sigh passed her lips as she crossed the courtyard. She was in a terrible mood, but her gaze fell on her surroundings.

It was a lively sight, groups of students working on their pieces. Statues, paintings, drawings, even using dance to paint pictures. There was no uniform, and everybody wore their own clothes. Such bright and vibrant clothing, she suddenly felt out of place.

"Hey, miss," a voice from behind her said. Sumire looked towards the source of the voice and saw a man with blonde hair tied in a bun. Sumire scanned him up and down and frowned. He gave of player like vibes. Is he trying to hit on her?

Sumire walked away.

"Are you the new student?"

She froze when she heard those words and turned back. "I am."

"Let me show you around. Or rather, I've been asked to show you around. Miss Ibuki Sumire, correct?"

'Great,' Sumire thought. Why did they ask such a strange guy to show her around?

Her tour guide's name was Konjo Akatsuki. From what she learned, he was quite popular. People kept calling out to him, so they stood out a lot. When she heard somebody mention 'don't flirt with her too.' It confirmed her suspicions about him, so she escaped.

Sumire didn't mean to stray away. But did they have to pick somebody so frivolous as her tour guide? Yuhi's words from yesterday appear in her head. 'Can't trust people, huh?' It's more like she reverted to how she was before she met Mamoru. Sumire didn't realize how large of an impact his death would have on her.

She remembers it all too clearly, how she woke up from that incident to find out he passed away already. He passed away before she could even say anything to him. No last words, no final goodbye, no final kiss.

Tsueno Mamoru wasn't her first love. No, the person she loved as a child was not him. It was somebody else. However, those feelings she chose to bury it away. Her thoughts broke off when she spotted something from the corner of her eye.

A clock tower? Sumire looked around curiously and noticed something odd. 'The students don't seem to approach that area.' She didn't know what it was, but she found herself drawn to that building. So she gradually made her way over, Sumire quickly approached the building and realized why. Broken windows and the exterior walls were pale. The door looked like it would fall apart.

Thankfully she found a staircase at the side of the building. Though the rest of the building looked like it would fall apart at any moment, Sumire realized that the stairs were strangely clean, no spec of dust. It looked like somebody worked hard to maintain it.

Sumire carefully made her way up the stairs. It was a long flight of stairs, but she somehow managed to climb it. She didn't know what she was expecting to find. But Sumire wanted to get away, and she wanted a better view of the campus. Each step felt like an eternity before she finally arrived.

The moment she did, a strong gust of wind blew. Her eyes brightened when she caught a glimpse of the scenery. 'This was a good choice, after all!' From here, she had a clearer view of the campus—the students working on their pieces, even people leaving their classrooms.

It seems like she will enjoy her life here. If, if she could forget even for a single moment, it would be good for her. If she can forget the painful feelings from that day, even for a moment. Her thoughts broke off when she spotted somebody fast asleep not too far from where she was.

Huh? She walked over, and her eyes widened when she saw who it was. Terashima Yuhi was fast asleep. Sumire started humming as she sat there beside the sleeping Terashima Yuhi. It's not like she has anything better to do.

Besides, isn't he too carefree? Who falls asleep here of all places?

Oh, he has some paint on his hair. 'Orange..' She extended her hand out to brush it away, but she drew back immediately when she saw his eyes open.

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"I wondered who it was, interrupting my nap. You're already here." Yuhi mumbled.

Sumire felt her cheeks grow hot with embarrassment. He heard her sing?

"Hey, don't get embarrassed about it. Aren't you an idol?"

"I only just started two months ago," Sumire averted her gaze. "Don't make fun of me; I know I'm no good."

"No good, huh, but loads of people talk about you. I think you're quite popular already."

"They only talk because of what happened recently," Sumire muttered.

Of course, they would talk. A recently debuted idol and her boyfriend got into a major road accident before her second solo concert. Sumire clenched her fist.

To her surprise, Yuhi said nothing. "You staying here?"

"They gave me an annoying tour guide, so I wanted to escape."

"Ah," Yuhi nodded. "They gave you Akatsuki; you know he is the student council president, right?"

At that comment, Sumire sweat fell, "And I ran away from him? Won't I get in trouble?"

Yuhi shook his head, "You won't, that guy will even laugh about it. Besides, I wanted to tell you this last night too. But quit holding yourself back. What's the use holding back your real ability?"

"Aah," Sumire laughed lightly. "And here I was hoping to be all mysterious about it for a while longer. When more then one person finds out, it's no longer a secret."

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A chuckle escaped his lips, " I wonder if I should be offended or not."

"Mm up to you."

Even though it has been a long time since the two of them last saw one another. To think they can interact so naturally.

Whenever they meet, it feels like they were never apart from each other at all. Still, who would have thought that she would end up seeing Yuhi so soon. This person whose bond she can never severe. Someone who she thought was a fool, and yet the person that is reflected in her eyes is still Tsueno Mamoru.

"It's been a while, huh?" Sumire mumbled. Yesterday she wasn't in the mood to speak with him, so she seldom said anything. But today was different.

Yuhi nodded. "Yeah, I didn't think I would see you again so soon."

So soon? So many days have passed.

Her thoughts broke off when he reached over and interlocked a strand of her hair in his fingers. Light dusk of pink appeared on her cheeks, "What is it…?" Sumire said, startled. "Why are you touching me suddenly?"

"You had something on your face."

Sumire moved away, "I see."

'How strange.' Didn't he touch her far too easily? Then again, she heard the rumors about him. People call him a player, so he must have done something to earn that reputation. Sumire, however, wasn't going to judge him for that. She knew how he was like when they were children.

For her, that's the real Terashima Yuhi. No matter what anybody says.

Then again, she wonders if Yuhi recalls the first time they met. Since it's him, he most likely forgot it already. That snowy concert five years back. 'Would that be the first time they met?' She remembered briefly crossing paths with him when they were younger. But, then again she forgot about it until much recently too.

That snowy concert five years back. Terashima Yuhi's first debut solo live.

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