Focusing on you

When Tsueno Mamoru finally left, Toh sighed. 'That one is far too sharp. Then again, for me to pass Holy Knights security checks, it must have been Aki.' Although thanks to the boss, if anybody checks his background, it should be clean. Strangely, they didn't find anything at all. Aki must have covered it up, but why?

'I have yet to meet that man, but if he did him a favor, perhaps it's because of Sumire.' Aki must know that he is one of the few who can help Sumire right now.

His thoughts broke off, seeing Sumire rub her eyes and sit up on the sofa.

"Ru?" Sumire mumbled.

"He left. He said he would pick you up whenever you want to go back."

"I see."

Toh picks her up. "That's enough. You really should rest more. You didn't sleep last night."

Taking a nap on the couch isn't enough, either. She should sleep on the bed.

"Toh, you didn't either."

"I am used to pulling all-nighters. So, you don't have to worry."

Sumire nodded. "I overheard what you two were speaking about just now."

"What do you think?"

"I think you're interesting." Sumire shakes her head. "No, you're also very kind and gentle. The past few days have shown me more than I have to."

"So, do you trust me?"

"I might. Is it wrong?"

His lips curved into a smile. "I would rather have you trust me. But, it's okay for you to be suspicious."

"Then, let's leave it at that. Ru behaves that way but still left me here with you."

"Are you two close?" Toh asked.

It was a stupid question, but he wanted to hear it from her.

"Mm, I have known him since I was a child. After my parents passed away, he was the only one by my side, and he helped me sort my life out. I am very thankful. If it weren't for Ru, then my remaining relatives would have tricked me and gotten my inheritance already."

Ibuki Sumire, the last remaining survivor of the Ibuki family. When he did his background check on her, her being the last remaining survivor caught his interest. The entire details of the manor catching on fire and the bodies of her parents and siblings being burned seemed very familiar to him.

'It sounds like something the boss would do.' But he doesn't think the boss would go after a family like the Ibuki family. Maybe he is mistaken?

"Your inheritance."

"I don't have access to it until I am eighteen. But, at the very least, I know those people can't use it either."

Toh replied by caressing her hair, and a content sigh passed her lips. "You really are very good at comforting people. Ah, I feel like if I stay here any longer, you will end up spoiling me."

"Is that bad?"

Sumire paused for a moment. "I think so. I may become a useless person at the end of my stay."

They arrived in front of his room, and he opened the door. He carried her over to his bed.

"A useless person?"

"Mm like-" Sumire paused when he sat down on the bed. "Um, are you going to rest too, Toh? You do look tired."

"That's not it." Toh trailed off as he leaned closer. "So, you feel okay, don't you?"

"Um, yes."

"Then," Toh intertwined a strand of her hair on his fingers and kissed it. "Why don't we get a bit closer?"

Sumire didn't say anything for a few minutes but slowly nodded her head. "W-we are only going to kiss, right?"

"Yeah. Remember what I said to you. I won't do anything unreasonable."

"T-then, please be quick." Sumire closed her eyes.

A quick kiss, huh? Well, that is alright if she ends up liking it. He can make it last longer. Toh leaned forward and intertwined their hands together. But the minute his lips made contact with hers. He immediately noticed her trembling.

'I suppose it is a bit too early. We haven't known each other long enough, and she was very vague when I first mentioned it. When she regained consciousness properly on the second day, she told me she was in so much pain and wanted something that would make her forget.'

He kissed her back then, but it was on an impulse. She looked so miserable, and he wanted to do something for her.

Toh sighed and flicked her forehead. "You obviously can't do this."

"I--I can!" Sumire stammered.

She isn't kidding anybody with those flushed cheeks and barely being able to get any words out.

"Look, I know you're lonely and need a distraction. Normally, I'd be all up for it. However, not if you're not willing."

'If I were a bad man, I would have just pushed her down. But I can't do it. No matter how tempting this is.' For him, consent is the most important concerning his relationships with women. If there is no consent, he will not make a move.

".."

Toh cupped her cheeks and lightly kissed her forehead. "We don't have to rush, do we?

He would like to think they have all the time in the world to get to know each other. But he understood there was a time limit. When the boss woman appears, he will have no choice but to focus on her. He won't have time for Sumire. 'I don't like the idea of seeing two women simultaneously.'

"Toh, thank you." Sumire finally spoke up.

"You're welcome. Alright, what do you want to do? Should we continue the discussion from yesterday? Or would you prefer to cuddle and relax?"

"Ah, the second one, please."

'Seeing Tsueno must have drained her.' Toh wrapped his arms around her and pulled the girl into his hold.

'If I think she is cute, I will lose--' Toh paused to look at her squeezing his hands tightly. 'I lose.'

Toh gently caressed her hair. "You wanted help with stitching earlier, right?"

"Mm, there is still so much I don't know. I wasn't aware of the different stitching types until I saw you the other day.'

'I have to admit, despite her being new at this. She has been oddly helpful. It makes my work for the show faster.' At the very least, Sumire is far more useful than those men who destroy his designs.

"No need to rush this either. I can teach you anytime."

Sumire giggled. "But aren't you busy? You're too focused on me, Toh."

Indeed he can't deny that.

"I told you, I don't mind focusing on you."

'At least for now. I still haven't found the boss woman. It's not like I haven't been looking, but I haven't found anybody of her description yet.'

It's unusual. There aren't that many outstanding females in the underworld. But amongst those he has found so far, none of them seem to have encountered the boss before. Now that he thought about it, Sumire's name also came up on Koichi's list.