Make another

After she confirmed that Kiryu-kun had taken Lila away, she turned to the explosion that had cleared up, and she noticed that the child was still there unharmed, but her husband was not. Sumire picked up the silver-colored gun that he left behind.

She closed her eyes but couldn't track Yuhi's presence at all.

That huge fool, she knew she shouldn't have allowed him to follow her. Sumire placed her hand in the center, and a large black portal appeared.

'As I thought, that is the only explanation for Yuhi-san disappearing so quickly.'

Those people that woman did this deliberately. She was trying to lure Lila-chan into this portal. So instead of taking Haruka-kun by force, it seems they have resorted to attacking Lila-chan directly?

"Wait, Sumire-chan." A familiar voice said. It was Makino. They met her along the way and decided to bring her back. "Let me come with you too."

"But your-"

"I can use my powers now. They lifted the restriction on me. Let me come along."

Sumire nodded, and the two of them entered the portal.

"Sumire-chan, I received word of a strange van passing through this area just now," Makino exclaimed. "That van is most likely the same one we saw before."

At those words, her gaze darkened. The van Makino-chan is talking about is the one where they saw them loading innocent civilians and mixing them with the infected behind a cage. In other words, it is human trafficking.

"But that van is one of the assemblies, isn't it? If people see it, they may get the wrong idea."

"Who is to say that everybody in the assembly is willing to take down Sophia?"

Sumire understood very well that many actually believed this was a good thing. In this era, hangouts can rule. The only ones losing out would be the humans. But no matter how twisted their mindset is.

"-they won't do this. Moreover, Yuhi-san has been working hard; they even lifted the restriction for you. Your part of the assembly, to Makino. I don't think anybody will backstab you."

She watched as a faint tint of red appeared on her cheeks at those words.

Her gaze softened at the girl's innocent reaction. A part of Makino-chan probably still likes Yuhi-san.

But unlike before, she no longer felt jealous. It is strange, but as one grows older, the feelings of jealousy gradually disappear. It is still there, but it will not hurt her as much as before. She trusts Yuhi; she trusts the love he has for her.

After walking around the dark space for a few minutes, the darkness lifted, revealing a small building surrounded by trees. There was even a normal-looking road. It felt like something transported them to another area, or is this an illusion too?

"But you know Sumire-chan, was that truly your daughter? She looks even more mature than you sometimes."

Her sweat fell. "Well, that child has gone through a lot. Experiences shape people."

"-and the one with her was Kiryu-kun. He also seems different than before. The fact that the children had to face this it's still indirectly my fault. It wouldn't be like this if I did not go along with what that crazy man wanted before." Makino sighed. "Moreover, my daughter has gone crazy."

"Crazy man, huh? In the end, I don't think Lucifer was a bad guy."

"Really? I don't know how you can say that after what he did to you-" Makino paused. "But I understand; he must have helped you. Your life force doesn't seem as unstable as the last time we saw each other. Your hair is still that color, but it will probably return to normal once this mess ends. This is all his doing, correct?"

"Makino-chan I--"

Makino shook her head. "No, I understand it very well, the reason why so many people love you. Yuhi-kun and Lucifer included."

Sumire was about to say something when she felt a wincing pain in her head. 'I connected with Yuhi-san before we returned. This connection is like a bond. If he sustains serious injuries, I will get it too.'

Yuhi was very reluctant to do this, but she told him she would disappear again if he didn't agree. She didn't want to mess with his feelings too much, but there was no choice.

She looked towards Makino-chan, who nodded, and they headed down without another thought. They both landed on the roof and peeked through the small window. There they could see Yuhi pinned on the table with all sorts of pointy looking machinery about to cut him open. It seemed Yuhi tried to dodge and sustained a head wound.

It was an awful-looking sight.

Makino closed her eyes, and a stream of white eagles flew into the small window. "Trap them."

The birds attacked the men in black suits, and Sumire used that chance to enter. She did not rush up to Yuhi-san, knowing that Makin-chan would help him. Her target was the one who dragged Yuhi-san into this. She found him hiding behind a small concealed room.

"Enough! What are you doing just standing around there? Get rid of that intruder-" The old man froze when she turned around. "Ibuki Sumire?"

"Do you truly think my husband is that weak?"

In the next second, she heard the sound of a large bang. Yuhi had broken free and threw aside the table he was on moments ago.

"Even if this base goes down, I can still restore things with this chip-"

Sumire threw him aside, causing him to land on the ground; large blood vines wrapped around him before he could get up.

"Oh, I forgot to mention it, but those things like to devour smart people. You're a scientist, right? It seems your luck has run out." Sumire smiled as she bent down and swiped the memory chip from his hands. "But since your so kind to give me this gift, I'll make sure they at least leave your hands behind."

The old man was crying for help, but his agony ended eventually.

Sumire immediately rushed out of the room, and the moment she turned the doorknob, she fell into a familiar pair of arms. They were only apart for a good fifteen or maybe even less, but it felt wrong. She no longer wants to spend a second away from this person.

Yuhi gently patted her back. "Ssh take a deep breath; it is bad for you to stress out."

Sumire clung to him tightly, not saying a word.

"Alright, it was my bad. I'm sorry."

"Your an idiot Yuhi-san!" Sumire exclaimed. "If you want to protect kids so much, you should protect your own."

"You know how strong and independent all our children are-"

"Then, make another if you want to protect a weak child."