Broken

When people ask him why Ibuki Sumire, Mamoru always replies with a simple 'why not?' Although he could spend endless days speaking about why Sumire. He decides not to. These deep emotions he feels towards her. If he has to say it to anybody, it should be Sumire alone.

Three entire hours had passed since Sumire broke down after watching Yuhi's concert. Thirty minutes since she fell asleep, crying for two and a half hours isn't healthy. But he couldn't do anything to stop her from crying. After all, he was guilty for concealing the truth.

Mamoru tried calling Yuhi, but there was no reply. He kept getting the voice message. He tried persuading himself that Yuhi was still busy. After his concert, he probably has other work. However, he could not dismiss the fear in the back of his mind.

What if Yuhi stops contacting Sumire after this? What if this is his answer?

'There is something I have been hiding from Ki. One of the reasons why Yuhi left to go to Tokyo, If Ki finds out it was because of the negative rumors surrounding Yuhi at the time, and he left to protect her. How would she react?'

He sighed deeply. Damn, he hates to admit it, but they are far too similar. Ki didn't even think to ask Yuhi if she could come along because she felt like she would be a burden to him. How great would that be if they could be together without worrying about anything?

If they could date peacefully, then perhaps he would be able to surrender his emotions for her. Although he has hardened his own heart, Mamoru understood that one of the reasons why he could not give up on Sumire was because she was single. No, because she isn't dating Yuhi.

She may have dated Nagawa Sano, and he did distance himself. But he couldn't give up on her even back then. How could he give up on her when it was so clear to him that she wasn't happy with Nagawa Sano? Moreover, he already knew Nagawa's playboy-like personality before they started dating. He actually saw him several times at a gathering, always with a different woman.

It was obvious. So, when Ki introduced who her boyfriend was, he felt very conflicted. 'I should have told her, and yet I understood when I saw the look in her eyes when she introduced Nagawa. They aren't dating because she loves him.'

He observed them for a while and kept his mouth shut. After a month, Sumire admitted that she was only using Nagawa. But the more they spent time together, Mamoru saw the girl slowly becoming attached.

'If I told her sooner, could I have stopped the misfortune of her remaining trust in humanity crumbling away? Or would it have turned out this way regardless?'

His thoughts break off seeing the smoke coming out of the pot, and he panicked. Thankfully after checking the contents, nothing seemed burnt. Some light soup and some meat. Ki may not want to eat. He knew swallowing food made her sick whenever she ended up this way. But her injuries haven't healed up completely yet. She needs this.

He sets everything onto a tray, exits the kitchen, and makes his way up the stairs deep in thought. If she doesn't want to eat immediately, that is fine. He will sit and listen if she wants to chat. If she just wants to hold onto him like she did earlier, than that is fine too. What is important is calming her down.

Not a peek out of her the past thirty minutes. That isn't a long time to sleep. But, normally, Ki has a difficult time sleeping. She may have closed her eyes, but he knew she wasn't sleeping just yet. Normally she would come downstairs after a few minutes and just sit in the corner watching him since she doesn't like being alone.

'Something is strange.' Mamoru increased his footsteps and eventually reached his room. He knocked a few times and received no response. Maybe she fell asleep? He hesitantly turned the doorknob and rushed into the room. A cold breeze blew, and he shuddered. Did he leave the window open? That's strange.

"Ki, are you awake? I made you some fo-" Mamoru immediately dropped the tray, seeing no trace of the girl on his bed. He hears a large shattering sound but dismisses it.

Where did she go? She isn't in the bathroom, is she? Or maybe she went outside?

'I passed the front door to get here. It was locked-' He turned his gaze towards the window, and sure enough, it was wide open. Mamoru felt his heartbeat increase, and yet he managed to walk over. There was a white piece of cloth dangling down to the bottom.

A relieved sigh escaped his lips as he slumped to the ground. That surprised him. He thought she jumped. It wouldn't be the first time, but he didn't want to witness it ever again.

Mamoru took out his phone and immediately sent a message. Seconds later, he received a reply.

From: Atsuro

The southern riverbank is not too far away.

I'm close by. I will go too.

He sends a quick okay message and leaves when he sees something on the ground, traces of blood, and a box cutter knife. Damn it.

...….

At the southern riverbank

'How to deal with a suicidal person?' Because he never wanted to highlight that word, Mamoru had to admit that he never did his proper research. Aki told him that was fine, 'If you research and deal with her like the specialists would, then she will have a hard time trusting you. If you behave naturally, she will warm up you.'

Sometimes he feels frustrated. Aki knows a lot about Sumire even if she doesn't confine in him as much as she does with him. He can tell just naturally after watching her for a long time. After running around the neighborhood for twenty minutes, he eventually arrived at the riverbank.

He could see no traces of Sumire but still frantically looked around. Eventually, he turned his head to the side and saw a man with red hair stepping out of the water, carrying Sumire in his arms. A relieved sigh escaped his lips.

This person is Kusaji Atsuro. He is a member of the underworld and is the main underworld doctor.

"Mamoru." Atsuro addressed. "What were you doing not watching her?"

"I only went downstairs to make her something to eat."

Atsuro sighed deeply. "I told you never to leave her alone when you suspect she is emotional. Especially tonight."

So Atsuro must have seen the concert too. Indeed, anybody in that circle who watches that concert will understand Yuhi's actions. By revealing the truth, it will hurt Sumire.

"Your right. I'm sorry." Mamoru muttered. He had no excuse.

"I'm not the one you should apologize to." Atsuro sighed and passed Sumire to him. "Hold her while I treat her arm."

Mamoru's gaze fell on Sumire's arms and saw a deep cut. It was painful for him to look at, even though he promised her that she would never have scars on her body with him around.