Silver Wish

No matter what bad things Sano did, Nasaki Hino forgave him and stood by him. Even when Yuhi got badly hurt because of Sano, Hino still defended Sano.

"Yeah."

Sumire raised her hand and hit his ċhėst. "He died Sano; it was because of you. Nine years have passed since then, but the pain from that day does not go away. I know you are suffering, but it is hard for me to see you."

"Then why did you come here today?"

She recalled Yuhis expression earlier and her daughter's words before she left the space. "I don't want them to suffer anymore because of me."

At that comment, Sano circled his arms around her. "Sumire…"

"Please, you have to stay away from me, Sano," Sumire mumbled. If he cannot erase his feelings for her, then the least he can do is stay away.

"No matter what I did, I could never occupy any spots in your heart. Kanagawa Ren and Tsueno Mamoru would come after Terashima. There was never a place for me there. But even after I understood this, I could not bring myself to forget my feelings for you. I discarded everything Sumire, just so I could remain by your side."

She knew that he left his family; otherwise, why would he be there in the mountains? He spent so long with her as her husband. "You started from scratch and managed to snatch away the hospital from your family?"

"They were never that interested in the medical field, so it was easy for me. You started to warm up to me after I saved your life when you gave birth, and after that, whenever I spoke about saving patients, you would smile."

"Sano."

"I gave everything up because of you, but I also gained something important. Sumire, no matter what you say, I will continue to love you. I do not mind growing old alone, as long as I can still see you."

"So.."

A smile appeared on his face. "You do not have to love me. I am not asking for your love, I no longer-"He paused and shook his head. "I never had the right to ask for it. The moment I cheated on you, no, the moment I trampled on your feelings back then was the moment I lost any hope of us being together ever again."

It seems this visit was a waste. Sano will never change his mind on this; he will remain firm and determined. Didn't a part of her understand this already? Hino often said in the past that Sano genuinely cared for her.

Sano is the type of guy who will remain loyal for the rest of his life once he realizes how special you are.

Back then, she dismissed those words because of the pain Sano caused her. But after so much time, no after she lived with him as his wife, she understood. There is someone out there who will live in regret for the rest of his life; he will continue repenting until he dies. But he will not fight this destiny as long as he can continue to love her.

….

The moment she stepped out of his apartment complex and walked down the street. Sumire spotted a man with black hair leaning against the utility pole, a cigarette in his hands.

"You're supposed to smoke that, not just light it," Sumire commented as she got closer.

His lips curve to a smile. "Someone told me that the scent helps calm my thoughts."

"That person is illogical."

In the next second, Yuhi has her in his arms, and he is kissing her forehead, eyelids, nose, and lips.

"Yuhi..Wait you-! We are still outside, and you're an ȧduŀt control yourself!" She exclaimed once she managed to pull away from him.

Yuhi sighed before he flicked her forehead with his fingers. "Why do you always make yourself sound like a saint? My dear wife, you're the one who likes to kiss in public."

If looks could kill, she could have killed him with her gaze already.

"But well, anyhow, I didn't expect you to run off. I just wanted to cool down a little, but you were already gone."

"Uh I was trying to—"

"Did Nagawa and you talk?"

Sumire nodded, and she looked down. 'I didn't accomplish what I was supposed to.'

Her thoughts broke off when Yuhi kissed her. "Yuhi?" She mumbled.

"I understand, Sumire; you don't have to blame yourself. You can still meet with Nagawa."

"Wait, what?"

"You can still meet with him," Yuhi repeated. "Is there something wrong with your ears?"

"As usual, you have to be, so rud-"Sumire paused mid-sentence when she saw the look on his face. It is unfair if he looks at her like that. But even if she tells him to stop, he won't.

"This area is safe, so let us go for a short walk before heading back."

Sumire slowly nodded her head.

After a few minutes of walking behind him, though, Yuhi turned around with a frown. "Why are you so far away?"

"I don't think I should get affectionate with you after meeting with another guy."

Yuhi sighed deeply. "It seems you still have that problem."

"Problem?"

"You keep acting distance whenever you met anybody who had feelings for you. Sorry but that is a load of crap."

"Eh?"

"If you really felt bad, you wouldn't have met with them.

Now that he puts it that way, he is correct. If she genuinely did not want to hurt him, she would not have gone. "I guess I should expect from my cruel self."

Yuhi sighed. "Also that, you're still trying to make yourself out to be a bad person."

"But Yuhi-san, you always went along with it."

"That is because I knew even if I tried to persuade you, you would not listen. Besides, you had a lot going on back then. The least I could do was agree with whatever you said until you started to care for yourself."

"But Yuhi-san, you always went along with it."

"That is because I knew even if I tried to persuade you, you would not listen. Besides, you had a lot going on back then. The least I could do was agree with whatever you said until you started to care for yourself."

So it was something like that? Sumire looked at him, amazed. To think she is only learning about these things now. "The world is in shambles all around us, and yet you want to take this walk and reminisce with me, Yuhi-san?"

"It is pricelessly because the world is like this now that we should have this talk."

In other words, just in case something happens. Yuhi-san most likely understands that if the worst-case scenario happens, she will do something that would lead to sacrificing herself.. He is still the only person who understands her.