One of the main reasons he was busier than before was secretly doing his investigations. It was not like he didn't trust Shin, but he wanted to check up on something too.

It was noisy, yesterday was supposedly the last day they attended class for the summer, but they had to come in today too.

Wherever anybody goes, it's on the paper.

Kuruga Asahi seventeen years old

A second year in the Assassin school died.

Yuhi read those words over and over in the span of a day and a half. Even now, rather than the buzz of the festival tomorrow. The topic amongst his classmates now is this shooting incidence.

"The police say they are still investigating. But no matter how you think about it, it's got something to do with all those shady men all around town."

"We should check it out."

Yuhi sighed when he heard those careless comments. They shouldn't try to get themselves involved with a matter like this. He hopes they do not go through with that plan; otherwise, he would have to knock them all out.

At this rate, it is no good. The media shouldn't have published the matter or broadcasted it that way. What are those guys at the main HQ doing? This whole matter is going to cause panic and unrest in other schools. The fact that it happened in TOKYO and not in the outskirts where the girl's school just shows that this will impact everyone here.

That person didn't stop this matter from being spread. As expected, those people knew something.

"From what I hear, it seems like Ibuki-san's quite close with the girl who got shot."

"Seriously?"

"Do you think she is a Yankee?"

"The girl who got shot is one. So it won't be a surprise, right?"

Well, that kind of logic isn't wrong; it's right on the mark. But their curiosity is dangerous. Sumire's lack of attendance is to blame for this too. The fact that she occasionally disappears doesn't help. Either way, that girl finds it difficult to fit in with others. Asami and Aika aside, it doesn't seem like she gets along with anyone else.

It may be because of that people are freely gossiping about her. Yuhi thought things improved since the cultural festival, but it seems many still dislike her.

"Come to think of it, Asami, your friends with Ibuki, aren't you?"

He watches the timid girl shift uncomfortably; uh oh, that's not good. Yuhi was about to speak up when Aika slammed her hands down on the table.

"You guys be quiet. We still have a few signs and banners left to make, those who have finished their tasks head outside."

"Ha? Since when could you order us around?".

Akatsuki claps his hands. "Now, now, please?"

When they saw his friend, the girl's eyes instantly turned to hearts, and they headed outside.

Asami sighed." Aika-chan, thank you."

"Welcome." Aika trails off." But you know it really would help if we just get one phone call from her at least. She's making us worried over here."

Yuhi looked over at the girl's desk, empty, at least it should have been. He spots a paperback from the corner of his eye and picks it up. Strong in the Rain. It's Miyazawa Kenji, huh? Yuhi had to admit that he wasn't a fan, but he did understand the meaning of the poem. That girl is reckless, after all.

"Terashima, don't you know anything?"

Yuhi was about to say something when he heard the sound of his phone. He quickly stood up. "If sensei asks, I'm taking a smoke outside." He doesn't wait for a response and quickly rushes off.

It was a text from Sumire.

It surprised him that she would show up today, considering how quickly she left yesterday after hearing the news. She made a quick trip to Star town just like that. Yuhi wanted to go with her, but judging how she left without saying a word to him, he knew she needed to be alone.

So she came back? That was good. Ever since she accepted his confession, one of the things he worried about the most was her returning to star town and never coming back.

Yuhi increased his pace, but the moment he went outside, he noticed the rain. What is with the random rain pour recently? He scanned the outside courtyard for a few minutes before he found her.

"Sumire?"

He called her name a few times before he made his way over. Yuhi peered at her curiously, and she hadn't moved an inch since he called her name or reacted to the fact that he was in front of her.

Yuhi raised her face with his hands and saw something he wishes he hadn't seen. Her entire face looked lifeless, like there was no soul in her body; it was almost like-

"What are you doing out here in the rain?" Yuhi asked.

She didn't reply, and he became increasingly worried. The sound of the rain filled the silence as he covered her head with his jacket.

"Asahi died-" She spoke in broken sentences, and Yuhi wondered if her voice was okay. He has never heard her speak this way before.

But he has seen this state before. When Mamoru passed away, he came to see her just once, but she has no memory of it. She looked lifeless then and didn't speak at all. She didn't speak, nor did she cry. At the very least, she is talking now.

She must have rushed over to confirm it herself. Exactly what did she see? If he drinks her blood, he will see everything she saw, but a part of him knew it would not be right.

"She died for me; Asahi was investigating what happened. She never stopped, they caught her, and she died."

When he heard those words, Yuhi finally understood what the situation was. Why did this have to happen now? Just when she was getting better, just when she was starting to heal.

Sumire will always blame herself for Tsueno's death, and it won't be easy for you, Yuhi. She could relapse any minute.

It was something Hino told him before, but Yuhi didn't think much of it; he knew how paranoid Hino got around the women around him. But he should have listened. The situation with Sumire is different. Sumire differs from all those other people. Hino never befriended those people.

She hits his chest. "Why? Why didn't I know?"

Sumire finally looked at him properly, but there was something about her dim gaze and her soaked clothes that made him feel guilty.

Kuruga Asahi's investigation, of course, he knew about it. He has never personally met the girl, but she contacted him a few times to update him. Since Kuruga got word that he would help, the girl has been very helpful in supplying info.

"Yuhi- Yuhi, you knew. Her last message was for you." It was then when he saw something else in her eyes. There was scorn, grief, and hopelessness burned in those amethyst-colored eyes he loves so much.