"Ah, a chat.." Sumire suddenly turned shy as she nervously brought her fingers to her lips. "That would be good. I haven't seen you since the last time, and I was afraid that you misunderstood me."

"Nonsense, why would I?" Sano edged closer. He brushed his hands across her cheeks. "I apologize for catching you off guard. But I believe we can discuss things now, no? Why don't we find a place to rest."

Sumire's gaze dimmed at the hand on her cheeks. It seems like the guy won't ever change. She gave him a chance to prove himself wrong, but it looks like he will continue behaving in this manner.

She moved his hand away and stared at him directly. "I don't need your bullshit, so back off."

Sano seemed surprised. "What?"

"Are you deaf? I don't need your bullshit so back off."

"Sumire, it seems like you have changed a lot since the last time we met."

"What did you expect after harassing me? Did you think I would get so frightened that I would be scared the next time we meet? Did you think I would break down in tears and cling to you? I'm not that pathetic. Do you think you're that important to me?"

She watched as anger flashed through Sanos eyes, but before he could hit her, somebody stopped him.

It wasn't Soujiro this time but somebody else. Hino-san?

"My dear friend, what are you doing?"

Hino looked troubled, and Sumire understood why. This entire time she knew Hino hid his friendship with her. But now all of his efforts will go to waste if he does not stop now.

"Let go of her."

Sano blinked. "Let go?"

At that comment, Hino sighed and pulled her into his arms. He wrapped his arms tightly around her. "Yeah, let go."

"Oh my…" Sano looked back at the two of them. His lips curve to a smile. "I see, so the girl that you are fond of recently is Sumire?"

"Damn, what rumors are they spreading."

"It's all over the company…"

Fond of? Wait, there are rumors? But Hino and her are just friends. Why would there be rumors about them? Then again, people's minds work in strange ways. It is easy for other people to make assumptions based on what they believe without listening to a proper explanation.

Sumire sighed and pulled away from Hino. "I meant what I said just then," Sumire repeated sharply as she glared at him. "Quit bothering me already. I will never return to you."

"Never, eh? I don't believe that is the case; you see Sumire, you are mine already. You never stopped being mine. Besides, those words you said earlier about coming back to me now, I never implied such a thing. Or is that something you wanted? Be careful not to put words into people's mouths based on your own delusion/fantasy."

At that comment, Sumire froze.

His current words overlapped with something he told her in the past.

"I have had enough of this." A familiar voice said.

Sumire turned and saw a tall woman with long grey curly hair wearing a black tank top, white pants, and a pair of sunglasses. It was none other than one of her classmates, Igarashi Aika. Recently the two of them have spent a lot of time together, and it did not take long before they became good friends.

"Excuse me, miss… this is a private conversation."

"Yeah, yeah. But you see, I am friends with that girl you are trying to intimidate." Aika walked over to her. "Just now you said something about being delusional and putting ideas into people's heads, but are you not the one who is doing that? I mean, after harassing and stalking her openly, are you sure you're not the one who is trying to beg? Don't get me started on how you were touching her face just now, like gross. Maybe you should think about your words carefully before you say them? It could end up having the reverse effect."

Her eyes widened when Aika finished her speech. She thought so from the start, but how come this girl is brimming with confidence? Asami-san told her that they would get along, and at first, she doubted it. The girl looked very intimidating, and she belonged to the popular crowd.

She knew all these things were superficial.

But after her past experiences, it was difficult not to think this way.

Sumire glanced over at Sano and saw how shocked he was. That's right, this kind of method of fighting back works against people like Sano. People like Sano think they have the world in their hands and twist and control people with their words.

"Why don't you just mind your own business? Even as a friend, I believe you are overstepping some boundaries."

Aika nodded. "I agree there. But I could not ignore your shitty words. Do you think that nobody can see what you are doing? You act innocent, kind, and the perfect gentleman. If something bad happens, you act like a hero. You put on this kind and innocent act; then, you choose a vulnerable target. You find somebody easy to manipulate and work your way under somebody's skin chipping them away bit by bit until they bend to your whims."

"That is a bit harsh, miss; you don't know me."

"Well, if I am wrong, I am wrong. But think about it, why are you still here clinging to your ex who you threw away? You suddenly had a change of heart? Then why don't you show her that and pursue her normally? Start as friends or something. Why are you here edging her on about the past? So what if she is your ex-girlfriend, does that give you the right to touch her without permission?"

A strong-willed person.

Aika has only known her for a short time, yet she can say these things with confidence. She noticed based on Sano's stalking and harassing at school. Sumire did not have to say anything about the past, Aika figured out.

She wishes she met this person back then. If she did, then maybe she would not have fallen into Sanos trap.

"It is obvious to anyone that you are playing the psychological card to get her to submit to you again. No offense to Sumire, but she is one of those weak targets I mentioned. Is that not the reason you like her so much? Because she is easy to control?"

Her eyes widened when she heard those words. She never thought of it that way before, but it seems like Aika has everything figured out.

"My, it seems this has become quite the spectacle now." Sano looked at her. "I only wanted to tell you that it looks like things are going well with you and Terashima Yuhi. I just wondered why things changed."

Her gaze dimmed.

"Are you serious? Sumire, don't answer that. Look at him, continuing with the bullshit."

"I don't know what gave you the idea even to ask me that. But do you think I will give you details on my personal life, let alone my relationship?" Sumire argued back. She has had enough of this guy, what makes him think he can say all this and get away with it?