2 Like puppets

Humans are like puppets; they are actors in a play.

If one deviates from their role, they get punished.

But what about those who had no role from the start?

"Sumire?" A familiar voice called out, breaking her thoughts.

The moment she heard her name, she turned around and scolded him. "Even if you can't trust people, you should have headed to the base first."

Yuhi laughed. "But I wanted to show off my war scars. Hey, do you think I look cool?"

Sumire rolled her eyes at his words. "I think you would look cooler if you weren't bleeding to death."

"Hey, that's an exaggeration. I can still talk."

Just a few minutes ago, he looked like a zombie. Sumire sighed and walked over to the couch. Yuhi sat up and extended his arm out.

"And so what happened?" Sumire demanded to know. Yuhi is very strong, so it is unlike him to get hurt like this.

"I suppose there were a lot more people than normal."

"How many?"

"Hmm, one hundred, but wait, there were reinforcements too?"

At those words, her eyes twitched, annoyed. "That is a number where you ought to find the best time to run."

Moreover, he probably dealt with it alone and sent away the other person he was with.

"It's fine," Yuhi said, but she saw him flinch.

"What about your partner?"

With the organization's rules, they usually go out in pairs.

"He fled the moment he saw the numbers. When I am not with you, I don't trust anybody to have my back."

This idiot, Sumire, took out a cotton bud and a few bottles out. She poured the contents onto the cotton bud before placing it on several areas on Yuhi's arm. He winced a little.

"Besides, a fight isn't about numbers; you're the one who said that. I took out like twenty in one go, so I figured the rest would be just as easy."

"So, in other words, they paired you with a smart guy for once, but you still did something foolish."

In the past, whenever Yuhi got paired with somebody, he somehow managed to persuade his partner to continue fighting.

"Hey, isn't that cruel? Aki was the one who forced me into this mission randomly."

"I think we have had this conversation before, but you shouldn't allow him to step all over you."

"You're so straightforward about insulting our boss."

Sumire sighed deeply as she examined his other wounds. These will take a long time to heal. "And you're the one who told me that no matter how strong you are, you are still human. Yuhi-san, how do you think I feel when I see you like this?"

It took her a second before she realized what she had just said.

Huh? Who cares how she feels about this? Besides, it is not like she is his girlfriend.

"Were you that worried about me?"

She ought to stop before she says anything else stupid, but for some reason, she couldn't.

"Of course I was. This time around, you disappeared without telling me about the job, I know it was sudden, but you should have mentioned it. I know we have been clashing lately, but I didn't think you would just rush off. When I heard what type of mission it was, my heart almost stopped. I thought I wouldn't get to see you again."

At this point, she felt the tears well up in her eyes.

She felt a warm pair of hands on her head. "Yeah, I also had that same thought. So I rushed to you."

He truly is an idiot. Sumire moved his hand away and quickly stood up. "You must be hungry." She didn't respond to his words.

Yuhi grabbed hold of her arm. "Hey, I have something to say."

"Are you sure you don't want to eat first-" Her sentence fell short when she saw the serious look in his eyes.

No, this is not the first time she has seen those eyes. There were several times ever since he joined the Holy Knights organization where he looked like that.

"I will be frank with you. I don't see you just as my partner for work or even just a friend."

Sumire felt her heartbeat increase when she heard those words. He hadn't finished speaking yet, but she already knew what he would say.

The same, they feel the same towards each other? She felt like crying again due to the happiness she felt. How is it possible? Her entire head felt muddled. Did he truly just say that? No, he hasn't said those words directly. Perhaps he is talking about something else?

"I love you Ibuki Sumire."

He said it! She suspected it, but this is still surprising.

'I also like you Yuhi.' But Sumire recalled something she overheard not too long ago. There are rumors that Yuhi's company is migrating over to Tokyo.

'He will leave soon.'

Sumire clenched her fist. If she responds to his confession, he will surely stay here for her sake. But does she truly want to do that?

'I love his singing.' More than the hope of them being together, she wants to continue seeing him shine brightly on that stage. She cannot be a hindrance to his career.

"I'm sorry."

It was just a single word, but it weighed more than she thought. If she knew that she would carry on that weight for a long time. Then perhaps she would have taken those words back and told him her real feelings.

That day marked when she sacrificed her own happiness, resulting in even more pain and suffering. If she had accepted his hand that day, perhaps the events that occurred afterward would not have happened.

…..

One year and a month later January 24th, 2014

A woman with long brunette-colored hair was in the middle of a recording session. Her thoughts had drifted moments ago on an event that happened a year ago.

It was an unexpected confession out of the blue; perhaps she would have taken him seriously if he wasn't bleeding to death. But even though she liked him too, she concealed those feelings from him and turned him down.

"Now that is a wrap, good work Sumire-chan."

The moment she heard those words from the staff, Sumire removed the headphones, and a relieved sigh passed her lips. 'Recording isn't easy. But this recording is an important one.'

She quickly left the booth.

"We just have to show the recordings to the President, and the moment he gives it the approval to go, we will start mass-producing the CDS. Then you can start making the arrangements for your debut live."

Sumire nodded. "How much did the president say-" Her sentence fell short when she got a glimpse of the order sheet on the staff member's clipboard. "T-this much?"

"He has high hopes for you."

"Impossible," Sumire mumbled. There is no way she will be able to sell this much.

Maybe she ought to head over to the company now and speak to the President before she could say that; however, another staff member stepped into the room.

"Sumire-chan, you're going to be late for school. You said you would attend today?"

For the last two weeks, she has not attended school because of the preparations for her debut. Debuting into the entertainment industry as an idol isn't as simple as she thought. There is more to do than she thought.

But, 'Singing is a lot of fun, and there is a message I want to convey.' Moreover, she has delayed this for far too long. It is okay; she is fine now. Her mental state has been good recently; she ought to be fine. The main reason for her debut delay was her concern on her mental health.

It was something only the President and a few people in the high management knew about. It would not look good image-wise if others knew. A deep sigh passed her lips as she quickly left the room and headed out.

As much as she loves to sing, she dislikes many things about the entertainment industry. She has to maintain a good and friendly image in the public's eyes.

If others find out that she is a yankee, then who would want to go to her concerts? Even if she can sing, people will constantly judge her.

It would trouble the company. 'I do not care what people think of me. But I do not want to affect those people.'

Her gaze fell towards the TV screen on the street opposite. They were showing footage of Yuhi's recent live.

'His tour is going well. He contacted me several times and sent over some tickets. But I ignored them all.'

Sumire sighed deeply. She could have changed her number if she truly wanted to ignore him. But not once since the day he left did she do that. She still reads all the messages he sends her too.

The reason she said no? Other than being a hindrance to his career. 'I felt like I did not deserve to be with him.'

Terashima Yuhi is friendly, outgoing, confident, and talented, unlike her. He also has a weak side and has the same issues as her. But unlike her, he handles his insecurities and fears well.

He does not resort to stupid coping methods like self-harm.

He does not tremble at the sight of a large crowd or resorts to turning mute when she is around so many people.

Recently she has been able to speak with more people, but only around people she has known for a while. It is helpless Yuhi-san; this is probably the reason why she has stage fright.

How can she sing in front of thousands of people if she cannot handle something as simple as talking to a crowd?

But if she does not debut now, it will be harder for her to do so in the future.

Sumire slapped her cheeks, and her gaze fell on the Tv screen.

'One day, I will stand on stage with you. Maybe then I will be able to tell you how I truly feel.'

Her thoughts broke off when she spotted a large crowd gathering not too far from her.

Sumire exhaled deeply. What on earth are they doing?

For the last few years, the underworld society in each town has grown at an alarming rate. Police have tried their best to settle all the cases, but gangs' influence and growth could not be controlled. Which is why in some towns, there are organized underworld groups.

When people hear the words underworld and delinquents, they assume it is a bunch of rowdy men gathering. But that is wrong. Times have changed, and now, Sumire slipped on a green-colored armband with a dragon symbol in the center as she rushed in the crowd's direction.

It was a typical street fight between two groups; each side had their men gathered and their leaders facing off against each other. However, these people are breaking the rules.

They cannot start large gang fights like this in an area outside of downtown. Due to the alarming rate of growing gangs, the police had no choice but to settle it with a few ground rules since they could not get rid of them all.

One of the rules is gang fights; gang fights restricted to downtown and quiet places. Of course, many fools do not consider the rules and do whatever they want. But those groups end up experiencing severe punishment.

The other arrangement the police made was to place a hierarchy system. The strongest groups are the ones in charge.

She belongs to one group that reinforces punishment to those who do not obey the rules. Holy knights, the leading group in the underworld society led by a man named Aki. Although, she ends up doing most of the dirty work because the leader is a lazy guy.

He better pay her for this job later!

Sumire closed her eyes, and in the next second, a bright red colored aura wrapped around her body, earning the attention of the two groups.

In star town, a woman is called a monster by even the strongest of men. That woman is not only strong but has powers that do not belong to this world. The crimson flames of hell and a powerful aura that is enough to destroy someone at a glance.

That woman is her, Ibuki Sumire.