Do you truly care?

He blinked. He didn't have time to read more, when he felt a deadly aura behind him. Atushi spun around to see none other than Sumire.

"That was qui-" His sentence fell short when he saw her gaze fixed on her phone. "Uh, this isn't what it looks like.'

Sumire snatched the phone from my grasp. "Mind your own business."

"I will mind my own business partner, but you have to promise me that we work extra hard on this project." Atushi casually changed the topic.

'I am curious about the message, but if I pry now it will only anger her more.'

"What does that mean?"

Atushi suggests she come over to his house after school to work on the project. Sumire looked at him sceptically.

"You're inviting me over?"

Atushi nodded. "Is there a problem?"

She didn't reply immediately, much to his surprise. Atushi thought she would immediately reject his suggestion, or say something cold.

"Yes, yes there is."

It was a simple answer, a rejection and yet Atushi couldn't miss the confusion in her eyes.

Atushi pouted."That wounds me, you know? Deep inside your words hurt. I take it every time without a complaint. And I'm not sure if I'll be able to live another day from -"

At her lack of reaction to this dramatic exclamation, Atushi stopped with the fake pouting and sadness. "You're not even listening." Atushi pointed out.

Sumire cast him an apathetic glance. "And you're whining like a kid, what's new?"

He winced but couldn't help the smile that came along with it. "Ah, ouch! Now that there stung woman!" he loved pissing her off.

She blinked twice and sighed. "You left yourself open."

"That I did." His sentence fell short when the girl extended her hand out.

"What?"

"Your address, give it to me.I have to drop by my house first, but I will be there soon."

Atushi had to stop himself from grinning like a fool. Is that a crack in her icy exterior? It is too soon to tell, but persistence is the key with her.

…

Those random moments, they never seemed to mean anything to him. They weren't friends. They weren't anything at that time. Atushi snapped back to reality when he heard the sound of sniffling. He puts his violin back in it's case and follows the direction of the sound. He finds a lump of pink hair crouched in a ball shape by the large oak tree.

It was Momoi Futaba.

'The first time we met, she was crying too.' Atushi looked at her awkwardly for a few minutes. Maybe he ought to go? But, he glanced back at her tear stained face.

'I have never been able to walk away and ignore someone who is crying. She may not appreciate my presence, but it's better than leaving her alone.'

Atushi decided and walked over, he leaned against the opposite side of the tree.

"What are you doing?" Futaba said through sobs.

"Just standing here, admiring the view and getting some fresh air."

Futaba sighed deeply. "This is embarrassing, how many times are you going to catch me crying?"

"Hopefully this is the last one."

He doesn't understand the reason why she is crying, but he doesn't like seeing anybody cry. It made him visibly sick whenever he heard tears. He hasn't always been this way, but after seeing how much Sumire cried in middle school. He ended up developing this habit of helping those in need.

"It was an argument with my dad." Futaba trailed off. "His work, I don't like it very much. I disagree with his methods a lot. As his daughter and so called heir to his business. I thought I'd be able to voice my thoughts out now that I am older. But, he is the same as usual. He claimed it has nothing to do with me and called me childish."

"Do you, want to be the heir?" Atushi asked.

"You really must be new here."

"Why?"

"You don't know anything about my family." Futaba trailed off.

The girl had stopped crying now and he watched her pluck a flower from the grass as she twirled it in her fingers.

"Um." Atushi recalled what Mikan said to him the other day. "I do know something, your a popular model."

Futaba laughed weakly. "Right, of course." She trailed off. "This popular model is the daughter of a father who owns a criminal business, who is a member of the yakuza."

Atushi looked at her with wide eyes. Although he heard that star town was now crawling with delinquents. It's surprising that somebody normal is a member of the underworld. No, her father being a member of the yakuza means her involvement isn't normal.

'I have to make sure I don't cross her.'

"His daughter is not only a model and idol, but a member of the underworld as an active delinquent." Futaba laughed seeing his expression. "Are you scared now?"

"Not exactly, but you is that really such a good idea?"

Not only is she a model but an idol too. The entertainment industry can be very complicated. If the media learn of her involvement in the underworld, Atushi could already see the headlines.

"It's for her sake."

Atushi immediately understood what she meant. Huh? Does that-

"Is Sumire also-"

Futaba nods. "Although, I think it would be better if you hear the details from her." She trails off. "The other day I was too harsh on you, so I will apologise in advance. But, you have to understand how it looks from my perspective. You hurt her, somebody I consider as my treasure."

"Do you care about Sumire that much?" Atushi ended up asking.

Truthfully he wanted to hear the details. Sumire is involved in the underworld too? To what extent is she involved?

'I knew she had a violent nature, she threatened to beat me up so many times. But, I thought it was all fun and games. I didn't think she would join the underworld.'

"Yes, yes I do." Futaba suddenly stands up and stretched her arms. "Well, I am off to class. Us second years don't get as much free time."

"Uh right."

Futaba's gaze softened. "Hamano-kun, you should talk to Succhan properly. I don't know what your reasons were and what the story is from your side. So I cannot judge or advise you. However, nothing will be resolved if you both continue this way."

Atushi managed to nod and watched as the girl walked away. Nothing will be resolved huh? It is easier said than done, Sumire is very good at running away. But perhaps he hasn't been trying hard enough. Subconsciously he may have been the one avoiding her.

*Unedited*