He often caught her mentioning the dead redhead girl's name. Her expression filled with pain, and those tears in her eyes

"Yamamoto. Yamamoto Mina shot Kuruga Asahi."

Yuhi raised his eyebrow when he heard the familiar name.

"I had not seen what had happened. However, Mikoto had, Mikoto had brought the redhead to the clearing area so others could find her. I told him that interfering with their struggles was pointless and that I did not permit him to take such an action. However, I stopped scolding when I heard the name of the girl.

Kuruga was indeed a foolish dog like all the others, yet the girl had been quite different in some aspects. Some of the actions she took did help my family and me, so I owed her quite the debt. Mikoto, as one of his long-time friends, knew about it and said,' It was the least we could do. So I even called her comrades over'.

Yuhi stopped smoking for a second and sighed deeply as he rubbed the temple of his forward. "What a pain." He mutters. "Those two are friends."

"Surely it should not surprise you? These individuals will carry on betraying and hurting each other until they share satisfied. Even then, when their selfish desires have been fulfilled, they will keep on repeating this cycle. It is one that does not change at all."

Yuhi didn't say anything, and in the next second, that person was no longer there. He looked up at the skies and exhaled deeply. Even though this world is very twisted, he knew Sumire would still say that this world is beautiful.

After a few minutes, he was about to head back when he felt a familiar pair of arms wrap around his waist. Yuhi gently caressed her hair. "Hey, love."

"How many did you have?" Sumire leaned forward as she pointed to the cigarette.

"Just a few."

"A whole pack?" Yuhi sensed her disapproving tone and chuckled.

She is very cute, even though he knew her concern was normal. He still found her fretting over him as something endearing and beautiful.

"Are we skipping?"

"Mm, but don't change the subject. You can't have too many."

"Are you concerned for me or my voice?"

"Well, of course, it is the second part. I did fall in love with your singing before you so-" His eyes twitched annoyed as he reached over and pinched her cheeks. "Ouch, that hurts."

"Brat, you must be doing this deliberately."

"Well, that is because you left me alone."

"Did you want to speak to him?" Yuhi wondered. The man who just left is a leader of a terrible crime syndicate. He knew Sumire had an odd relationship with him since the man was also a member of the elite circle.

Sumire shook her head. "No, you're right. I would rather avoid him."

"Did you stop dragging Nagawa around to those events?"

"Mm, more like I stopped going to. I have made my presence clear, and that much is enough." She played with the buttons on his shirt. "Yuhi-san, you were also uncomfortable with me going there?" She asks despite already having the answers.

"Yeah."

But even more than that, what bothered him was her taking Sano along with her. Even now, he does understand what she was trying to do. This might be a good time to ask, but he dislikes talking about that man.

His thoughts broke off when he felt a pair of soft lips on his. "What are you doing?"

"I believe I just kissed you, Yuhi-san."

Hah, right, she likes kissing, doesnt she? "I thought you would ask me more questions like what we talked about."

"There is no need for me to do that; after all, I trust you, Yuhi."

She trusts him, huh? This is a good thing, and yet there is something odd whenever she mentions the word trust. It feels wrong somehow. He does not understand the reason for that.

...…

One of the good things about Iro road high school is the large campus and a large number of empty rooms. After cuddling and flirting for a bit outside, they returned inside and used one of the empty libraries.

"Hey, Sumire, sorry that took too lo-" Yuhi paused when he saw her fast asleep on the table.

Yuhi sighed deeply. This girl is falling asleep more than him recently. Then again, he knew how restless she was at home. At night she can only sleep for a few minutes before waking up again. If she was this tired, she ought to have stayed at home instead of attending school.

His thoughts broke off when his phone rang. It was a good thing the volume was low. Yuhi quickly answered it when he saw the caller ID. "Did you find anything?"

"No. But I received orders to go to Tokyo for a while, so I suppose I can continue my investigation there."

The person on the other end of the phone is Kiragi Asuka, one of Sumire's close friends.

Yuhi heard the sound of a ticket gate and blinked. "Are you at the station already?"

"I am on my way. For some reason, it is difficult to get a train today."

Huh? Yuhi blinked, puzzled when he heard her words. What does she mean by that? How is it difficult to get a train? Sure Star Town is far away, but it is not the countryside, there are still multiple trains running every day.

"Asuka, that sounds like-"

"I know. But I will be careful."

Yuhi sighed deeply when he heard her firm tone. "Look, maybe you should find another way. Sumire is still hurt from the last incident with Kuruga Asahi, and then there was that attack on Ichinose. After investigating, I learned there were no clues that linked both attacks other than Sumire. The person who is doing this is trying to send a message, and they want to hurt her and break her down."

But to achieve those goals, they would need something other than attacking her close friends.

"Yuhi, I would be more concerned about you and also Nagawa Sano. What is the news on him lately?"

"Are you saying they will attack Nagawa to get to Sumire?" Yuhi frowned at the thought. Would that not mean that Nagawa is close to Sumire? Would that not mean she cares a lot for him? He does not like the sound of that.

"Yes, I am." Asuka admitted.

"You could have denied that."

"Unlike Sumire, I do not intend to spoil you."

Yuhi sighed. "Well, I can't say no to that, so when will you arrive?"

"A few hours, but I will be busy settling into the base there. Please tell Sumire I will meet with her tomorrow."

"Did you call just for that?"

Yuhi felt that there was something odd with her tone.

"Is it something you cant discuss on the phone?" He immediately understood when she did not reply right away.

"I changed my mind. Meet me in the train station later on."