Sumire laid down for a few minutes before she hears a familiar voice. She felt slightly disturbed by the voice, so she immediately got up and slowly slid the door open.

Isn't that Sano? Sure enough, she saw a familiar figure heading in the direction of her room. Sumire quickly hid behind the wall.

Why is Yuhi taking so long to get back?

She felt her heart speed up as his footsteps got closer.

"Young master, apologies, but guests are occupying that room right now."

"I see."

"Should I ask them to leave?"

"No, customers are valuable. I'll use another room."

A relieved sigh escaped her lips once she heard the two leave. It would be bad if he caught her; she hasn't met with him in a while. It's not like she deliberately avoided him, but Sumire decided it would be bad if they met each other now.

Besides, after she said those words to Yuhi, it felt awkward going back to Sano.

'He looks pale. Is he sick?' Sumire felt a strange pain in her chest. It's not because of her, right? Sure she decided to use him, but surely she didn't brainwash him too much? Her tactic was rather simple. She didn't exactly play hard to get. She kept him interested in her by not getting too attached to him but not pushing him away either.

'I messed with him, but a tactic like that shouldn't work on him, right?' Surely Sano was just playing along.

Now that Yuhi knows the truth, there is no need for her to continue.

Sumire proceeded to re-enter the room when she suddenly heard footsteps. Her eyes widened when she saw Sano, and she tried to close the door, but he grabbed hold of her wrist and entered the room.

"San--" She doesn't get a chance to finish that sentence since he suddenly picked her up.

He tossed her onto the futon.

"Sano! Wait--"

"You, how dare you avoid me for so long?"

'As I thought, he is angry after all.' Yet Sumire noticed how pale and skinny he looked. She hesitantly extended her hand out to touch his face. "Are you sick?"

His skin felt hot, and sweat clung to his face.

"I--"

"You're sick?" She repeated.

Sano sighed deeply. "Yes." He trailed off. "I couldn't take it any longer, so I came here to rest."

Hino mentioned it briefly before, but who would have thought it was this bad.

"Take a break?" She suggests.

"Isn't Terashima with you?"

"Ah." Sumire nodded. "But it seemed like he was in a rush. I don't think he will come back."

He looked distressed when he answered that phone call. Her thoughts broke off when Sano slumped his face onto her shoulders, his entire body pressed against hers.

"San?"

"Just a moment. Sorry."

Oh, he must feel terrible. She wants to say something to him. But what can she say? To think her plan to control him actually worked.

"Sano--wait."

"What a nice smell. Do you wear perfume?"

"Well, a little. I got given some after a photo shoot. I don't like wasting things, so I decided to use it." They gave her so much, and she didn't know what to do with it.

"Then my present won't go to waste."

"You got me perfume?"

His lips curve to a rare smile. "I did."

So he got her perfume, how strange. He often commented in the past how those elegant things did not suit her. Her thoughts broke off when she felt an odd sensation in her lower body. Sumire immediately understood that it was Sano's--

"Can I?" Sano brushed his lips against her ear. "Please, I want you so badly."

'This is getting out of hand.' She supposes it's natural considering well, considering it was her plan. Not to toot her own horn, but it is easy for her to trick and deceive people. It was part of her job in the underworld. She got sent on many undercover missions and, at some point, mastered the art of deception.

Her thoughts broke off when his lips fell on hers. He immediately got to work since her mouth was open.

'A kiss from a beast.' Or maybe it was because of the fever? Either way, it seems like her plan has worked a bit too well. She can use Sano. She can sense his desire for her, and there is something else there too. Did she succeed in making him fall in love with her?

Before Sano could do anything else, somebody yanked him off her.

The other person looked like he just ran a marathon judging from how sweaty he looked. "Hino."

"Damn it. Hey Sano, I told you before-"

"Shut it, my head hurts."

Hino sighed deeply and turned to her. "Were you just about to let him---" He paused and shook his head. "I know things are weird with you and Yuhi lately, but don't do anything stupid."

"Things are weird between us?" Sumire repeatedly puzzled. What is he talking about?

"Then again, maybe it's all good. Yuhi isn't the type of guy to make you feel awkward and uncomfortable for long."

Sumire just nodded along, not understanding what he was trying to say.

Her gaze fell on Sano, slumped against the wall. He looks awful, and he should go back home.

Hino frowned as he looked at her and Sano back and forth. "Sumire, a word."

She nodded and followed him out of the room.

"Look, I know it's just an act, but-"

"This is surprising, you knew?" Sumire cut him off.

"Your behaviour is very hard to understand. You're a complicated person, but even I could see what you were doing. Sumire you, what do you plan to do with Sano? Why do you need him?

"It's not that I need him, but more like I thought he could be a good pawn. I thought I could turn him into a doll, a doll that is obedient to me and only me."

From the very start, she planned to meet him again. It just so happened that they met much earlier than her original plan.

Hino looked at her with a complicated look on his face. But Sumire was beyond the point of pretending to be nice.

"Sano already knows. He isn't stupid, so you don't have to worry about him."