Eternal Melody



AKANE

At those words Sano flinched and Mashima continued. "You claim to be loyal to her. But, who was fooling around with others when you were an actual couple with her?"

Sano frowned. "You- are you doing this to take revenge for her sake? Sumire's already forgiven m-"

Toh laughed bitterly. "If you think she has forgiven you, then you don't know her at all."

Sano kept shaking his head in denial but Akane understood that her brother knew Mashima was telling the truth. Despite how Ibuki treats her brother, deep down that pain he caused her is something she can never forgive.

Akane reached over and whispered something in Mashima's ear. He frowned but nodded. Akane grabbed hold of a long jacket, and slipped around her shoulders to hide her crumpled dress. This will do. 

Akane walked over to her brother who was frozen on the spot and grabbed hold of his sleeve. "Let's go out to the hallway?"

Sano nodded and Akane led him outside. Once they were further away from Mashima's office. Her brother spoke up. 

"You better stay away from Mashima."

Akane rolled her eyes. "Brother, I'm a big girl."

"You have no idea what hes capable of!" Sano exclaimed.

Akane sighed. "I know better than anyone. That's why I stayed away from him initially."

She didn't want to catch his eye knowing well, knowing the bad blood between him and her brother. She never would have thought her brother would end up working with him, and asking her to help out.

"Besides, your the one who introduced us to each other." Akane pointed out.

"-and now I am regretting it." Sano had his head down.

Seeing him that away, Akane sighed. She truly pitied her brother. She knew each time her brother touched a woman who wasn't Ibuki Sumire, it broke him. Her brother may have cheated on Ibuki, but he was in so much pain when he did it. 

"Brother." Akane said softly. "When Ibuki-san returns, you'll have to talk to her."

"We have had proper talks already, and it hasn't done much."

Akane shakes her head. "No, you haven't told her everything. You haven't told her how it started with those other women. You didn't tell her how much it was hurting you."

Sano laughed bitterly. "If I said I was hurt while touching another woman during my relationship with her. She would think I was deflecting the issue and making up excuses."

"Ibuki-san isn't that type of person." Akane trailed off. "Do you want my honest opinion on this?"

"I'll talk to her. But, I don't want you getting involved with Mashima."

Akane sighed. "What Mashima said there was cruel. But is it really like that? Why is it okay for you to fool around and hide your pain. But, he can't do the same?"

Her brother is acting weird. Shouldn't he be encouraging Mashima to see other girls? It would certainly make Mashima look bad when Ibuki finds out. Although she doubts Ibuki will see Mashima differently. Something tells her, that Ibuki's care for Mashima isn't as simple as they all think.

"This is different. He is clearly trying to mess with you to get back at me."

Akane's eyes twitched annoyed at those words. Even if that's the case, why is he suddenly his business?

"You've bever taken an interest in my relationships before! Not once. Not even when I was in an abusive relationship. You have bever cared." Akane exclaimed.

Why is he suddenly expressing his concern?

"That's not--"

"You know it's true. Don't act like you suddenly care about what I want! You're only saying this because you have some weird rivalry with Mashima."

"Akane." Sano said sharply. "You know I have always cared. But you've never said a word about being in an abusive relationship. You told me before that your not serious about the guys you see, and that your not in a proper relationship with them."

Akane laughed bitterly at those words. "If you truly cared about me like brother Evans did, you would have realized how bad that sounded. You shouldn't be encouraging me to be in a casual relationship. You should have advised me. But you didn't,. You were only focused on yourself."

Sano's gaze dimmed. "Evans? Where is he now? Where was he when our family needed him the most."

She scoffed at those words. "Our family? Do you truly think our family is worth saving Sano? Tell me, aside from me and Senra who actually expresses concern when your sick? When you need someone? Who thanks you for your hard work? The rest of them may be our family by blood but there is nobody else who cares. Even if you work yourself to the bone and sacrifice yourself, they only care about the benefits you bring them. If you fail, they will turn their back on you." Akane exclaimed.

Sano didn't say anything to those words and she clenched her fist frustrated. 

'Fight back. Fight back and tell me how heartless I am being.' 

But, looking at Sano's lifeless expression. Akane knew he wasn't going to say anything again. Once again he would rather have someone he cares for misunderstand him than tell the truth. Akane marched away.

'I will leave him alone for a few days and then check up on him. Despite what I said there, I know out of all my brothers. Sano cares about me than the others. But that's exactly why I'm angry. He needs to start caring for himself, otherwise those he loves will leave him.'

Akane returned to Mashima's office. She paused at the door for a few minutes. Maybe he has returned to working? Is he even still in there? Those thoughts vanished when a hand grabbed hold of her and pulled her into the room.

Unlike earlier however, Akane noticed that his gaze wasn't as clouded. The room also looked tidier. He must have done some cleaning in the time she left.

"Are you alright?" Toh asked.

Akane sighed. "I am. I know he cares about me. Buf, I don't want him to suddenly express his concern just because of his strange rivalry."

Toh chuckled. "You also find it odd huh? But, I can't contain my resentment."

"Because of what he did to Ibuki." Akane said understanding.

No sane person who cares for Ibuki would actually like Sano after what he did to her. Then again, Akane has seen how Ibuki's close friend Kiragi Asuka treats Sano. Perhaps there are those who can see through her brothers mask.

*UNEDITED*

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