She wakes up to an argument between Eli and Hino. But from the sounds of it, it was one-sided. It was mainly Hino arguing with Eli. Sumire waited for a few minutes before she heard the sound of the door slamming. Sumire sighed deeply as she placed her hand on her head.

Nothing good happens when Hino ends up in a bad mood. But with her current state, there is nothing she can do. Moreover, her words may have the opposite effect.

Also, maybe she underestimated him too much. This entire time he showed her such kindness, and she enjoyed his company as a friend. If she thought about it carefully, he would not go that far for a normal friend. He cares a bit too much for her. But as long as he never openly said it, Sumire thought she could carry on as normal. But just now, that anger for her sake and even going this far to protect her. When she sees Yuhi again, she has to talk to him about this.

It will do her no good to think about these things now. There are too many unknown factors involved.

Still, she recalled the exore

"The men who like you are formidable."

Sumire looked at the source of the voice only to find Eli standing at the doorway but with a notably large bruise on his face.

"He hit you?"

Eli laughed. "I wondered when he would snap."

"You edged him on, didn't you?"

Eli walked over and pulled up the chair beside the bed. "How are you feeling now?"

How was she feeling- the moment she woke up, she focused on the contents of their conversation. She placed her hand on her throat. The dryness from earlier was no longer there, nor the burning sensation in her body.

"I feel better."

"I see."

Sumire didn't want to ask what he did to make it stop. Eli is still a scientist.

"Among scholars in the life sciences and general underworld society, there is a rumor going around about a Queen."

"A queen?"

Our Queen is so stupid.

Now that she thought about it, that voice in her head called her a Queen. "Black Alice," Sumire mumbled.

Eli looked at her with a serious gaze. "You figured something out?"

"A while back, I said something to Shin.." Sumire trailed off. But somehow? Why doesn't she remember what she told him? Sure so much time has passed, but her memory is sharp.

"It is unlike you to forget; it seems somebody is interfering."

Somebody? Sumire took a deep breath for a few minutes and did not say a word as she carefully thought back to the events of that day.

Or maybe it's just one Queen. After all, without darkness, there is no light, and the same goes vice versa. --

Bits and pieces slowly came to her. But the words kept breaking.

The followers are divided because they think there are two Queens.

But I wonder how they would react if they realize the Queen they are searching for is just one person?

All their fighting and all their pain. Was it all for nothing?

Despite the broken sentences, Sumire understood. It seems she was getting closer to the truth then, but because somebody interfered like Eli said, she focused on other matters for a while.

"Shin didn't say anything."

"It seems the SF leader has been putting pressure on him, so maybe it was a relief that you started to forget."

It must have been the same for Yuhi too.

Sumire sighed deeply. "It feels like I am causing more problems for people, and I hate it."

"But if you go off on your own and cut people off again, you will make them worry."

At that comment, she recalled one of their earlier meetings and looked away. "Do you have to remind me?"

"It will get dangerous from now."

"I said the same thing to Shin recently."

"But do you truly understand the extent of your words?"

Sumire laughed weakly. "I think both of us know the answer to that question."

"What do you intend to do? You've avoided my messages recently, so I had to come here myself."

"I see. Did you worry that I wouldn't keep my end of the deal?"

Eli shook his head. "No, I know you will."

"I understand that the situation is getting worse. This is no longer a simple investigation of what happened to Ru. The truth behind the accident will lead to many more truths. I will find out more than I am supposed to." Sumire trailed off.

That is right; she figured it out a long time ago, maybe even before she came to Tokyo. What Ru was investigating before his death, the accidents that occurred since her relationship with Sano became sour. Even back before they dated and she was still with Sano, something was off. Maybe even long before then.

The truth she is searching for will destroy the balance of the world.

"Even if I destroy the balance of the world, I will still continue. I won't stop investigating. I know this isn't a simple matter of settling my emotions or even taking revenge. But as long as that organization continues to exist, I cannot rest."

She will bear the burden, the consequences of her actions much later. But for now, all she can see is the path in front of her, the path to destroy those people.

"I know it won't be easy, but I will cope with all the pain. I will reveal the truth to everybody."

"Even if you hurt others you care for?"

At Eli's words, an image of Yuhi appeared in her head, and she clenched her fist. "Yes."

Eli stood up and rummaged through his bag before he pulled out several a4 folders. "I compiled all the information I found abroad after traveling to many places. The information in these folders are things normal people will not be able to find."

Sumire nodded. "Good work."

"I was reluctant to give you this since you decided to randomly stop our correspondence."

Her sweat fell at those words. "To be honest--"

"You didn't want me to find out what you were doing with Nagawa Sano."

Uh- why does that smile look so scary? "So you knew."

"Just recently, I found out. Do you understand, Sumire? I gave you this leeway because I thought you already knew that Tsueno chose them. But you didn't know about it, so I cannot turn a blind eye." Eli trailed off. "Nagawa Sano was there on the day of the accident."