Sumire never thought that the day would come where somebody would tell they would protect her. Shin must know her reputation, so why is he saying such things? If he isn't careful, she might misu— ah is that the reason why? Is he trying to act cool in front of the girl he likes? If that is the force motivating him, then maybe she could shrug this off. Perhaps she could stop feeling weird. But Sumire understood something already.

Shin is not the type of person who would ask for recognition or acknowledgment of anything he does. What an unusual man. From now on, would it be okay for her to get closer to him?

"Sumire, do you know a researcher called Eli?"

At that comment, the fond expression left her face and replaced it with a dark one. "What about him?"

"I think we will need his help for this. I am a good scientist, don't get me wrong. But that man has a lot of experience and wisdom. If it's him, surely he has more information on individuals like us."

Sumire sighs deeply, and she nodded. "He is coming here tomorrow. I don't know what for, but I could ask him for you."

"Is that why you look so troubled?"

He noticed?

She slowly nodded her head. "I suppose you could say that is the main reason. Honestly, I don't have the best impression of him after our terrible first meeting. But the reason why I am still associating myself with him is because he is useful. If it is that man, then I will find the answers I need to know."

He told her that he would help her regarding the incident when she was younger. No, not that strange kidnapping one but the incident that took the lives of her family members. She wants to know the truth, and she will use whatever means available to her as long as she can get answers.

It's not like it will bring them back. Sumire understood that her family was gone forever. But she cannot let this go, and there is clearly something wrong. Until she finds out, she won't be able to live her days peacefully.

__

Back in reality

Two people were arguing intensely inside a small flat. The reason why he has yet to leave to go after Sumire was because this woman stopped him. Amano Touko, his ex-girlfriend, since she cheated on him last year - Yuhi decided to break up with her. They have been broken up for a while now, so he doesn't understand why she behaves so unreasonable.

Why does she react like this whenever he gets a girlfriend? It was the same for Makino too.

"I told you already, Touko, it doesn't matter what you say. I will stay with Sumire."

She didn't say anything, and Yuhi quickly turned to the door. The moment he tried to leave, though, she hugged him from the back. Yuhi sighed deeply and turned around. "Look, I told you —" He paused when he saw the tears in her eyes.

"Please don't leave me, Yuhi. I regret cheating on you. I regret going to Paris alone. I regret it all, so please come back to me; it was very painful for me to leave you."

Yuhi dropped her hands and pulled her away. He shook his head. "A simple sorry won't cut it." She hurt him a lot. Back then, he had other things going on; his life was falling apart. During the time where he needed her the most, she ended up inflicting him more pain.

No matter how sincere her apology is, he could never bring himself to date her again.

To his surprise, she suddenly rushed towards one of the rooms on the right. She bolted the door open, picked up a bucket of black paint, and tossed it towards the black canvas - and the piece he was just working on. She picked up a brush and painted over it; no, his eyes widened when he saw his recent work transform.

As expected, she is a very good painter. It seems like it isn't just him and Sumire who get triggered and do emotional paintings. Contrary to what Touko thinks, her dark emotions are what make her a good artist.

"Hey, Touko, that's enough." Yuhi grabbed her hand.

"My world is so dark without you. I came back from France because I could no longer paint. I can't continue without you, Yuhi."

So she didn't come back because she heard about him and Sumire? Yuhi sighs. "I already told you before it was too soon for you to go. If you just waited an extra year, then the situation would be different."

She must have encountered a huge slump. No wonder he hasn't seen any of her paintings in the international art competitions. It is normal for artists to have a slump. Sometimes art can deprive people of their happiness, their normal emotions. The more engrossed somebody is in their piece, the more a part of themselves slips away.

"I didn't want to wait. I can't stand it here. It is a good school, but it isn't enough; the teachers are mediocre, and there are no other talented students. Can't, you see Yuhi? If you stay here, then you won't be able to improve." Touko trailed off. "Come back with me to Paris."

Yuhi sighs, even more, when he hears that. So this is what she was after?

"If it were a while back. If you came for me when I was still with Makino, I would have gone with you. It's not that the teachers here are mediocre, it's because they have nothing left to teach us. Artists grow day by day; they surpass their teachers and those who came before them. This place is a good school and the perfect environment for that sort of thing--" Yuhi stopped in mid sentence.

"No more." Yuhi didn't say anything than that and simply walked away. He exited the door and didn't bother looking back. 'No more of this.' Why did he even bother with her? After she betrayed him, he shouldn't have bothered trying to impress her. It was so stupid. 'Sumire.. ' thinking of the girl who brought sunshine to his life he took a deep breathe. Sumire isn't Touko, she already proved that to him.