Shin's phone call came at the right time. It felt like she almost messed with Sano in front of Yuhi-san. She does not want Yuhi to see any more ugly sides of her, even if he accepts them.

"Put this on, and this." She lingered around the door for a good few minutes because Yuhi kept putting layers on her.

Sumire laughed when she saw Yuhi fussing over. "It's only around the block, and I won't be gone long."

"Sure you won't." He brushed his forehead against hers. "But I worry anyway, and I don't want you to get sick."

"Then Yuhi-san, please behave and don't fight with San, okay?"

"Right."

"Promise?"

"If he starts it-"

She quickly interjected. "He won't. He is tired and fell asleep before us. Don't disturb him, okay?"

"Alright." He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. "Sumire."

"Mmm, yes, Yuhi?"

"Don't tease me too much."

What a silly person. She traced his lips with her fingers. "If I am to tease you seriously, then Yuhi, we will have problems."

"I want to have a problem."

"Then, maybe later."

"Huh?"

Sumire pulled away from him. "The stars are watching us, Yuhi-san, so I can't say anymore."

…..

Like she told Yuhi. It was only around the block. It was the park they often passed by. She found Shin at one of the tables.

"Sorry."

Sumire laughed when she heard those words. "That's the first thing you say?"

"Yuhi told me what you said." Shin awkwardly rubbed his neck with his hand. "Look, you know I didn't mean to avoid you, and I did say if Atsuro came back, it wouldn't be like before."

"Mmm, you did, but I was a bit lonely."

After all, they get along very well.

Shin sighed. "Still as straightforward as ever."

She looked at him, puzzled.

He flicked her forehead. "It seems my resistance is low…"

Resi-oh!!!

It took Sumire a moment to understand. Shin normally doesn't mention his feelings.

"Don't act awkward. I didn't mean anything by it."

"Aha, of course."

"Is Nagawa really staying over?

"Well, there isn't another option."

"That's true, but what if it was deliberate?"

"You mean getting injured?"

Shin nodded. "I don't know him well. But the people around him appear to be calculating individuals."

"Well, mmm, your probably right."

"Yet?"

"This is a good opportunity to test him. The shock from his wounds caused him to forget. But eventually, he will remember what orders they gave him."

What will he decide?

If he betrays her again, this time, she won't show any mercy.

"You're a scary woman as usual."

"Is that bad?"

"No, it's good for the current situation."

Sumire peeked at the documents he just gave her. "That bad?"

"I looked into that thing you were suspicious of. You were right. Somebody from the Holy Knights headquarters branch went through your schedule that day."

"Did you find out the user?"

"It was a common worker. But I did a profile check anyway."

Sumire blinked when she saw the picture of the girl. "Ah, I think I remember her."

"From?"

"Back when I started to become a bit well known, there was this designer who wanted to design for me. He was very popular. I didn't have anything then, so I didn't think it was right of me to be his muse, so I declined. But he kept coming to see me."

"So did he like you?"

Sumire rolled her eyes. "Older than me by four years."

"Isn't that within your strike zone?"

"It is. But that isn't the point here."

"So this promising older guy looking for a muse for his brand picked you a trainee before you even debuted. If he didn't like you, then he is just strange."

"Oh, hush. So yes, he was persistent and even visited me in the Holy Knights headquarters. I think that girl started to have a crush on him. So she started to hold a grudge against me."

"Uh-huh." Shin trailed off. "You know there is a degree of how clueless you can be."

"Fine, so he liked me."

"See, wasn't so hard."

"That girl saw I wasn't returning his feelings, so she gradually became bitter towards me. At some point, she started behaving suspiciously. But back then, I had a lot going on."

"A lot going on?"

"Ru's condition was getting worse, so I mainly stayed in the hospital to do work. I didn't head back to the base."

Then the accident happened. So the last time she went to the base was last year. "I don't know what happened at that time."

But judging from these reports and the way the people in the Tokyo branch treat her, this girl must have manipulated things. Sumire sighed deeply.

"It's that guy's fault."

"Maybe we should get in touch with him?"

Sumire shook her head. "I told him to go abroad and finish his studies. I think he has established his brand and stuff and has moved there for good."

"Give me a name at least."

Sumire mumbled quietly. "Mashima Toh."

Shin paused before he looked at her with a questioning gaze. "I'm impressed, and you have a bad eye for people."

"Quiet, nothing happened."

'Why? Why are you looking at me like that?'

'It's like I touched a doll.'

At the very least nothing, she needs to talk about with Shin. Besides, her memories of that are very vague. Did that actually happen?

"Let me contact him. You are in danger, Sumire."

Sumire sighed. "Alright, but tell Yuhi first, okay? I don't want to make it worse."

"Are you two fighting? He seemed cheerful."

"Well, mmm. It's just it feels weird lately."

She can't put a lid on her emotions anymore.

Her thoughts broke off when Shin extended his hand out and pointed to her neck. "I can see why he was cheerful."

"Uh, aha."

"If you love him, that is all that is important."

She wonders how Shin can remain so calm. He likes her, right? But, it is a good thing for her. A friendship between them would be impossible otherwise.

"Say Atsuro likes you a lot."

"Yeah, I know."

"I don't think your plan regarding Nagawa will work the way you want to."

"I know that."

"Is this fine with you? You don't like hurting people."

Sumire laughed weakly. "That is true, no matter how strong and ruthless I behave. It is still difficult for me to hurt those I care for." She trailed off. "You knew what happened with Atsuro and me, right?"

"Yeah."

"Back then, I didn't think it through. I wasn't thinking anything. Ru was no longer there, but I didn't want to accept that. My mind was a mess. Even though I did that stuff with Atsuro, I don't actually remember."

She recalled what Toh said to her.

"But, I remember what the other one said to me. He called me a doll. I realized that my state wasn't good, but I think it struck me hard when he said those words. To overly rely on someone, and then to lose them. I became an empty shell."

She ended up in such a terrible state.

I hate the side of myself that relies too much on others.

I was careful for so many years, but both Ren and Ru persisted. In the end, when I lost Ru, I completely fell apart.

"Then does that mean you can't rely on me?"