211 Insecure

At Crescent University - Two hours later, Toh's studio

His own past didn't matter. But, the girl's past with other guys bothered him. He realized this almost after that conversation they had with one another, that his own past was nothing. Even though he is the one with more exes. Toh sighed deeply. Only two hours had gone by since he parted ways with Sumire but he was already going crazy. This was the first time he was too distracted to even work on his designs.

Quite some time has passed since he last went to the university and yet he is too distracted. The show is starting up soon, he needs to finish his main dress. Due to the delay, the other participants have had more time to work on their outfits. But because he has been too occupied with other matters, he still isn't done.

No, that's simply an excuse. He is the one who deliberately stopped working on the show outfits. Just to spend more time with Sumire.

'There really must be something wrong with me. Why am I so obsessed with that girl?'

Initially, he was simply curious to see how far this fascination would go. Would she continue remaining interesting to him or would something change? Would he eventually start to see her the same as he did other people?

Normally when he collects enough data about a person, he would get tired. But no matter how much he learns about Sumire, he doesn't get bored. Will the novelty wear off after he has done everything with her as a couple..? Toh wasn't sure.

Koichi placed a drink down on his desk. "Take a break? You could use one."

Toh nodded. Normally he would argue, but he knew he wouldn't be getting very far if he continued on this way.

"So, it seems I have to take my words back."

"Regarding?"

"Ibuki." Koichi paused. "I thought you were only conducting an experiment around her. But, it seems to me you have fallen for her badly."

At those words Toh paused. "Is this really love?"

Koichi looked at him in disbelief and sighed. "Look, I know your clueless about romance. But anybody and I mean anybody can see that you have fallen for Ibuki."

"I have always been fond of her, since we first met."

His friend kept shaking his head. "It's not just fondness, you are in love with her."

"In love huh?" Toh repeated.

As a psychologist he has seen what love has done to people. He was familiar enough with the practical explanation of the word, and heard from his patients. Many of his patients poor mental health is indeed due to love. It's something irrational and causes people to behave illogically.

Koichi placed his hand on his forehead frustrated. "I can't believe I am saying this but I pity Ibuki. Have you not told her you loved her yet?"

Toh immediately shakes his head and Koichi sighed. "Well, it's not a word to be thrown away lightly and I get that you two are still a fairly new couple. But, you should tell her soon."

Toh raised his eyebrow. "Why do I have to rush? You just said it yourself that we are a fairly new couple. There is time."

He was confident saying this, as Sumire has not given him any reason to believe that she would suddenly break up with him.

Koichi is silent for a few minutes before he takes out his phone. Toh glanced over at the screen. There were several police reports regarding a new set of murders around the city, and there main suspect.

"A teenage girl who is strongly involved in the entertainment industry and the underworld?" Toh repeated.

"This is what I wanted to talk to you about. Has Ibuki been acting oddly?"

Toh frowned. "You can't be seriously accusing her off this?" He felt disgusted just saying it.

"That's not it.I don't think she would do it. I researched the victims and they have nothing to do with the Holy knights. Nor are they people who have crossed Aki. Ibuki is many things, but she isn't a mindless killer. The only ones she takes down are ones Aki tells her too - and well, Aki himself has no connection with the victims. So, she definitely wouldn't have made a move."

But doesn't that mean Sumire does whatever Aki tells her to? That annoys him. Why does she listen to that man without questioning him at all?

'I already questioned her about this, and it seems she doesn't understand it either.'

"Is there anything that ties her to the murders?"

"Other than a blurred security footage of somebody with her figure, and the cloak she uses. There is nothing else."

Toh frowned. "Surely they wouldn't suspect her based on such little evidence?"

"She is one of the few suspects. There are others. But the other ones won't attract as much attention as her, that's why the media have only highlighted her in the news." Koichi paused. "Also, I think the media are somehow aware that Ibuki is one of the suspects. How they were made privy to this information, I do not know. But they clearly know enough to write a heading like that."

"How many people does this description fit?"

"At a glance, normal people would believe it to be Momoi Futaba since everybody knows her family background. However," Koichi pointed to the article. "-but this part narrows it down to Ibuki."

Toh glanced over at the article again. The part Koichi was pointing at.

'-an orphan girl-'

This really does narrow it down to Sumire. Toh sighed. "You should have told me about this sooner."

"I thought you knew."

He shakes his head. "I have been occupied recently."

Occupied in making the girl happy and making sure she doesn't watch TV as much. He took these measures so she would avoid thinking about Terashima Yuhi. But, it seems that was the wrong move. He would have found out a lot sooner.

The reason he was keeping her away from thinking about Terashima Yuhi was because he knew how sad she would get. However, there is no doubt he was doing it for his own benefit too.

Sumire has no idea, but whenever she talks about Terashima she would get that look on her face.

This feeling, jealousy and insecurity. This is the first time he is experiencing such emotions. He would never have thought that he would feel insecure about himself. What is there to be insecure about?

*Unedited*