So that was why she reacted that way. She must have gone over personally to dispose of the evidence. If Kuruga left behind a message for him, they would think he was involved in her death. But the reason they didn't must be because Aki found the message first and called Sumire over.

"I knew."

Yuhi didn't apologize. He knew there would be no use. Besides, he can't deny his responsibility in this. She must feel betrayed that he didn't tell her anything even though he has been careful this entire time with his words and actions. What he did by not telling her anything is the same thing Mamoru did.

When he first entered a relationship with Sumire, he promised her that he would make her happy and treat her equally. But by hiding this from her, he has betrayed the promise he said that day.

"I hate you." She exclaimed. "I hate you so much." Her voice broke.

Yuhi felt her pain when she said those words. She doesn't want to say it, and she doesn't hate him. But she has to say this; otherwise, she will lose control. It must have struck a nerve the way he looked at her since she broke down and cried.

For a moment, he stepped back. He couldn't stand watching her like this, so broken and so fed up with everything.

He was always bad at comforting people, even more so when it came to the girl he liked. One wrong move, and she may end up leaving her side forever. Hino warned him before to prepare himself, and Yuhi thought he was ready. He genuinely believed that he could do it.

Sumire kept repeating how much she hated him as she trembled due to the cold, cried, and screamed. But every single fiber of her being called out to him and screamed, don't ever let me go.

Sumire was a strong girl, but he, of all people, knew her vulnerable side, the side she would only show to those she cared for. He took a deep breath as he extended his hand out and put it on top of her head.

Her eyes widened, and she mumbled an idiot before she buried her face in his arms. Yuhi wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer, so she could not escape. Sumire seemed so drained and lifeless, but she mumbled his name.

"Yuhi."

"Yes?"

"I hate you."

"I know."

She shook her head. "I hate that I can't hate you."

For a moment, Yuhi paused; what a silly girl. He wondered if she noticed it; even when she said she hated him, it was like she told him not to go and to remain by her side.

Yuhi softly kissed the temple of her forehead and squeezed her hands. He repeated this gesture a few times until she looked calm. Yuhi looked at the clothes she wore. It was the same outfit she had on yesterday, but Yuhi noticed the traces of blood- fresh ones.

He wants to know what happened and get all the details from her now. But what is more important is getting her out of the rain as he thought that Yuhi noticed her stagger, and her face seemed red.

Before he came, how long did she stand in the rain?

...

Yuhi had two options rush her to the nearby hospital, which the Nagawa family owned, or bring her back to the bar where Nagawa Sano was. He hated how both options involved anything Nagawa related.

The first option was riskier, and he knew the only reason the Nagawa family allowed Sumire to be a patient there was because of Nagawa Sano. Yuhi didn't want to risk finding out what they would do without Nagawa there.

So he brought her back to the bar. Yuhi didn't like this option either since even now, the wounds Nagawa Sano gave the girl had yet to vanish. Nagawa was speaking with Hino.

"Sumire?!" Hino exclaimed.

"She has a high fever, but--" Yuhi felt there was something else wrong.

He laid her down on the couch, but the girl seemed a bit reluctant to leave. So Yuhi had to sit down on the couch and carried her at the same time.

Sano pulled out his bag and took a few items out. He took out a stethoscope. After a few moments, Nagawa frowned. "Terashima, lift her shirt."

Yuhi was about to say something when he saw Hino's worried look from the corner of his eye. Now isn't the time for this petty behavior. He took a deep breath and slowly raised Sumires clothes, and he only did a little so she would not be as exposed. But that was enough to see a terrible black-colored bruise.

With shaking hands, he raised the rest of her clothes, and to his horror, he saw no normal bruise. There appeared to be lash markings like claws and strange wisps of smoke. What--what?

"Hino, give me my phone."

Hino hesitated but nodded and took his phone out of the bag at his feet.

Right as he was about to dial a number, however, somebody was calling him.

"Yuhi? Is Sumire there?"

"Asuka."

"We found Aki in a terrible condition. I am surprised he is still alive- Sumire? What about Sumire? He was supposed to take her back to Tokyo." Asuka spoke rather quickly. He could sense a mixture of panic and fear in her voice.

Her rambling to him sounded like. Is Sumire alive?

Yes, yes, she is alive but barely.

"She is here, but…"

What on earth happened? He can't make sense of this.

"The two decided to take an early train there. Or rather Sumire seemed rather impatient and kept mumbling how she didn't explain anything to you."

"An early train?"

"It was shortly after they left we received word about a train hijack and bombs. It was all over the news Yuhi- Sumire, Sumire was on that train-"

Wait, it was all over the news? "Was there anything on the news about a train hijack?"

Hino frowned. "No."

Yuhi hears Nagawa muttering something, and he clenched his fist, realizing something.

"Nagawa?"

"They told me to stop a particular broadcast from coming through. Are you telling me--"

If Yuhi didn't have Sumire in his arms, he would have hit the guy already. Why on earth is he so clueless? How many times has this happened already? Why does Nagawa keep falling for the same cheap tricks? How many times will they use him to hurt Sumire?

Why does it have to be Sumire?