146 One day

Aki continued to mope around and the faded look in his eyes didn't vanish, so Sumire decided to take action with her own hands. She reached over and stretched Aki's cheeks.

"Yay, you smiled." Sumire said happily.

A mortified look appeared on Aki's face and he started mumbling. "You know, I have known you for a while now so I should be used to your weird antics. But, this is something different. Do you not think I'm cool?"

Sumire rolled her eyes seeing how distressed he was. "I do think my opinion is the least of your worries now."

"Hah, how did you end up cheering me up when it was supposed to be the other way around?"

Sumire blinked and then her gaze softened. "Did you hear what happened in the station?" She said understanding.

Aki nodded. "I sent Masaru there for a reason. Why did he come late?"

"It's okay. Toh took care of it."

"He shouldn't have allowed her to even approach you." Aki shakes his head. "-and well, while you managed to sing. It probably wasn't easy for you with all those people watching. So I wanted to replace the ugly sight with something beautiful."

He truly is odd, but this strange person has done a lot for her. Not only did he save her life, but he is even looking after her even after she rejected him.

The human heart is hard to measure, she turned him down a year ago already. That is plenty of time to move on and find somebody else to like. Maybe he can continue helping her after the rejection because he found somebody else? No, even the days after the rejection. Aki treated her normally.

'He may still have feelings for me.'

"So, is this beautiful?"

Sumire chuckled softly. "It is, you don't think so?"

"I do but I think I should have brought some sake."

She rolls her eyes. "You cannot get drunk tonight. Isn't there a large meeting between leaders tomorrow? You have to be sober."

Although Aki is taking care of the leader duties, she is still the official leader. So it's only natural for her to know this information.

"Aki-san, I'm thinking of accepting Toh's feelings for me." Sumire suddenly said.

Regardless of whether he still has feelings for her or not. This person deserves to know.

Aki didn't seem surprised, since he nodded. "It will be good for you."

"Masato said something similar. But, I wonder if I am doing the right thing."

"Is this because of Yuhi's performance for you the other day?"

"Nothing seems to escape you." Sumire nods. "It is because of that. Even now, Yuhi is singing for me and me alone. It feels wrong of me to get into a new relationship while he is suffering for my sake."

"Yuhi would want you to do whatever makes you happy, and he also understands that you can't be together now. Rather than you being alone and miserable longing for him, he would rather see you in a new relationship."

"But is it right?"

Aki shakes his head. "Whether it is right or wrong, nobody has the right to decide not even you. Riri, just answer the question. Does Mashima Toh make you happy?"

Does Toh make her happy. She recalls their memories from the past month, and she slowly nodded her head.

"Yes." Sumire said determinedly.

Toh truly makes her happy, happier than she has been in a long time. That's why she doesn't want to lose him.

"Then you have your answer."

"Will Yuhi truly understand?"

Aki nods and pats her hair. "He will."

Sumire takes her phone out and hesitates for a few minutes before typing out a message.

From: Sumire

Yuhi, one day.

Perhaps one day we can be together, but that time isn't now.

For now, we must go our separate ways.

I am thinking of accepting somebody's confession.

There is no doubt that I love you.

But, I want to give him a chance.

Since he makes me happy.

She puts her phone away, hoping that he doesn't reply or call her. Hoping that he understands with just this message.

"But you know riri, dating Mashima Toh isn't going to be easy for you. The media seems to have increased their stalking."

Sumire sighed. "Thank you for getting rid of them for me."

"I don't mind doing this to keep you safe. But, one of these days they may slip pass my radar. You have to prepare yourself for that time."

"I understand." Sumire turned to him. "Aki, I've never asked you this before but how old are you?"

"Hm? What's this suddenly?"

He looks young, but he isn't the same age as her or younger. Maybe he is in his twenties? 'I don't think he is thirty.'

"I've decided that I will live longer than you, so I can always look out for you." Sumire nodded pleased with her words.

Aki paused and then chuckled. Sumire pouted. "It isn't funny, I said something similar to Ru too. Your both so careless, and it seems like nobody but me can handle you both."

She felt Aki's hand on her hair again. "If it's you, it wouldn't surprise me if you lived longer."

For a moment she freezes when she sees the tender gaze in his eyes. Seeing those eyes confirmed her suspicions that he still liked her.

"Sometimes it feels like you have a thousand year dragon spirit inside of you."

Sumire hits his arm. "How could you say that?"

"Ouch, ouch. Has anybody ever told you that violent women aren't popular with men?"

"I don't need to be popular!"

________

Meanwhile in Nagawa General hospital, in one of the private rooms. A man with dark brunette coloured hair was weakly leaning against the IV drip, only a few steps away from the door. But, he was having a hard time getting there. In the darkness of the room, there were traces of red blood patches on his clothing, his lips and on the ground.

Just a few minutes ago, he had seen the video on the Holy Knights group chat. Mamoru immediately recognised the ring leader on the video. Ki is in danger, that man is too strong. He may even be stronger than her.

He has to protect her-

Mamoru weakly tried to take a few steps forward but before he knew it, he had collapsed onto the ground.

He clenched his fists tightly. "Ki, please-"

Before his consciousness faded, he heard the sound of someone screaming and vaguely saw the nurse uniform.

"Quick, somebody call Doctor Nagawa."

*Unedited*