Just for a bit longer

Even though he knew he ought to practice self-restraint. When he discovered that Lila was also sick, he found himself in the assembly building again.

Haruka was just here moments ago, but he had to go see Zane, who had just woken up.

'After what you said, I know I shouldn't rely on you too much. But please watch her for a bit.'

The three of them have made great progress, unlike before. Lila and Haruka have already made their minds up. The girl he is so madly in love with has decided that she wants to draw a line between them even if it's painful for her.

'Like family, huh?'

His thoughts break off when he sees her shifting around the bed uncomfortably. He walks back over and places his hand on her head, immediately feeling the intense heat on his palm. Her fevers went up again. It's still going to take a lot of time before she's better.

The girl stirred awake. "Unnnnmm Kiryu?"

For a moment, he is surprised that she called his name. But quickly realized that Haruka must have told her that he would come here.

'Do not delude yourself into thinking that she actually cares for you still.'

"Hey, there, sleepyhead." He gently places a kiss on her forehead.

"I feel hot, Kiryu."

"Mm, it's the hanyou fever. So you should continue resting." Seeing her troubled look, he quickly adds." We can take that walk later."

'I almost forgot that I promised to go on a walk with her.' Haruka suddenly returned, so it completely slipped his mind. He places the now ice-cold towel on her forehead.

"Now, I'm not sick, but you are."

Strange enough, after he punched Haruka, he felt a lot better.

Lila laughed weakly. "Um, I heard that you fought with Haruka after all?"

"I was holding back for a long time," Kiryu admitted. "Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt him."

It's not like their happy interaction was a ruse in front of Lila. He genuinely wanted to patch up their friendship, and Haruka seemed to think the same way too.

But when he heard that nonsense that came out of Haruka's mouth, he snapped.

"I understand; he probably said something stupid like how it's better if your by my side instead of him."

"You know him well."

"Mmm, he really can be an idiot. But, I understand why he feels so insecure."

"Yeah."

But at the end of the day, those insecurities are nothing. In the end, the one who has Lila is Haruka. So Haruka shouldn't be afraid anymore.

Kiryu exhaled deeply. 'I sound so bitter and jealous.' His gaze fell on Lila, and he noticed that her violet-colored eyes had turned bright red.

"Are you hungry?"

Lila slowly nodded her head.

"I don't know when Haruka will be back."

It's probably not a good idea for her to wait. "Come here.'

Lila is sitting on his lap before long, and she brought her beautiful lips to his neck. The initial sharp and wincing pain dulled his senses, and for a moment, he couldn't move. But that did not last long as he gently combed the girl's long black locks with his fingers.

She's so beautiful. It's been a while since they've done it this way. Even though they frequently did this in the past. Ever since they broke up, she has not taken blood from him like this since it involves a bit of intimacy.

'I have also tried to draw the line.' But perhaps due to his emotional state, he ended up telling her to come over like normal. Like an idiot, she responded so naturally.

"Haruka is going to scold you later."

When they started dating, he remembered how he thought. 'Now I can touch her easily. I don't have to come up with an excuse to touch her anymore.'

Before they dated, they would drink each other's blood a lot to have an excuse to touch the other. At least that's what it was like for him.

Her pretty hands, gorgeous eyes, beautiful skin, and her child-like smile. Oh god, he doesn't want to do anything to hurt her. She is no longer his, but that's exactly why he might end up hurting her even more than he already is.

Lila briefly drew back. "You're not hurting me; you could never hurt me."

She sounds so confident, and yet it felt so wrong to him. He has already hurt her. The day he decided to let go of her hand and to let her go to another man's side.

Lila laughs, surprising him. "Un, you know you don't have to think about me this much, Kiryu?"

So she saw that too. "Why can't I? Or rather, you're drinking a lot to see that far."

'Rather, you're the only one I think about.'

"Oh, I'm sorry, Kiryu. I thought-"

Sensing her embarrassment, he laughed weakly. "It's fine."

He has truly missed being close to her like this.

"Kiryu?"

"Sorry, just don't move." He wants to inhale her scent for a bit longer.

They only dated for a year, but he has been with her for so many years. They started their intimate relationship in middle school.

...

Four Years Ago - Terashima Family Manor-

"Gee, Lila. Haven't we spoken about this before? What were you trying to do back there?"

"Hmm, I was verifying whether or not your are truly the king of bad rumors. And I wanted to solicit you."

"Hey now."

" You finally turned to look at me. Since earlier, it seems as though you were avoiding my gaze. You don't have to feel helpless that you can't do anything about my dreams of the past. Just you being there beside me is enough."

"You're really such an odd girl. Sometimes I don't know how to deal with you."

Lila leaves his hold and walks over to the window. " I mean, those rumors are kinda over the top--" Seeing her stagger, he immediately appears behind her, supporting her fall.

"You're injured. Don't get too hyper."

"See? Kiryu, your kind. Unlike me, there's actually kindness in you. That's why those rumors have no meaning to me. Because I know what you're really like. "

What a cold echo and expression; whenever they're together, he always thinks that his own suffering is nothing in contrast to hers.

Kiryu brought her over to the bed and pushed her down. "People only see what they want to see. They can say what they want about me, and I wouldn't mind. However, I don't want anyone saying anything about you."

"I know. You're worried about what happened before. But it will be different now, Kiryu."

"Different, huh? You still seem so lonely, Lila. " he laces their hands together. "Lila...Lila." Kiryu repeated.

"But I have you, Kiryu. I'm not lonely. "

"Are you sure about that? "

"I'm sure. Because Kiryu, you'll never leave me."

What an odd girl. Her voice is so clear, and she seems so confident of that fact. 'But don't you know how much your shaking in his arms right now? Lila?'

His thoughts broke off when he felt her tug on his shirt collar. "What are you doing?"

"Something stupid."

"Lila?"

"Will you let me?"

Those four words stirred something inside him, something he held back this entire time. "Do you want to kiss first?"

"Wh-why?" Lila's cheeks immediately turned red.

"It'll help you."

"T-then we can kiss."