Do you trust me?

SUMIRE

"Oh. She wasn't there?" 

Sumire wasn't surprised. It was clear from the beginning that the girl approached her because she had ulterior motives. What she didn't know was, she already had a plan to persuade her or swap her out.

"On my way out however, I heard banging in one of the storage rooms. I opened it and found a girl in a battered pink dress. She told me she was your actual accompanist for the evening, but somebody had locked her in the storage room."

"Is she alright?"

Toh nodded. "It seems she was somebody Ichinose knew, he took care of her."

That's exactly why she approached Hikari Mizue. She is the elder sister to Ichinose Arashi's current fiance. 'I could use her.' 

Sumire sighed. "It seems that girl was cleverer than I thought. She must have learned about Mizue-san."

"I don't think she was particularly clever. I found her near the hospital grounds with the terrorists. She was screaming that the others were incompetent because nobody had killed you yet. I recorded her confession, and handed her over to Hyou4 on the spot." Toh explained as he massaged her leg.

Sumire sighed hearing Toh explanation. No doubt she will be amongst the people Asuka is interrogating. Asuka isn't like Futaba and Asahi who openly defend her. Her friend takes the silent approach. But that silent approach is usually the most deadly, because nobody is prepared for it.

'Rest in peace.' If Asuka learns what that girl did, well she can only hope her friend doesn't shred her to pieces.

'I still have a few questions to ask her, for one her motive. I have never spoken to her before she approached me to become my accompanist.'

Sumire parted her thighs again to give Toh better access to the scar there. It was embarrassing, but considering what they did a few minutes ago. She felt a bit braver. 

Toh's lips curved to a smile. "It's a real shame that I intend to punish you tonight. Otherwise, this would have been a nice invitation."

"Even when you're angry at me, you find a way to flirt." Sumire said, rolling her eyes and sighing deeply. "I owe you an apology Toh."

Toh is quiet but continues to apply the ointment.

"After what happened last time. I should have known better than to rush off and do something reckless. While I have no right to be giving excuses, I do want you to understand something." Sumire takes a deep breath before speaking. "This is just how it has always been for me. I have never had much regard to my life. Because I didn't think anybody truly cared for me. No matter how many friends I make, I have always put a wall between myself and other people. A barrier to protect me from getting hurt, no-" She shakes her head. "From me hurting them."

She put up a wall, a wall so tall that nobody could ever reach her. Not even those who claim to know her the best or who she confined in. 

To her surprise Toh suddenly said. "Can I kiss you?"

That's his reaction to her little speech.

Sumire's cheeks coloured. "Do you have to ask that?"

"I believe it is only the polite thing to do in front of a lady."

"Ahem, you weren't being so polite earlier." Sumire pointed out.

Toh ran his fingers through his hair. "I apologize. I find myself so enamoured with your beauty, even when you're covered in blood. I end up having very unusual thoughts."

If her cheeks weren't red before they were now. Sumire shakes her head. This is no good, every single time Toh says such things she ends up very flustered. It's odd. It's not like other guys haven't complimented her before, because they have. So, by now she ought to have built up a resistance. However, everything is different with this person.

Seeing Toh's intense stare, Sumire looked away. "Before that happens, can I ask you something?"

"What is it love?"

"Even if it is foolish, at this point I can say I trust you, with my secrets, with my darkness and everything. But, do you trust me Toh?"

"What brought this on?"

"During this whole affair in the hospital. I thought to myself, there is a high chance of me dying." Sumire paused seeing Toh frown. "I tell myself this before or during every mission I get sent on. There is a high chance I will not come out of this entire thing alive. Before I never used to think about the people I would leave behind. Because I have always felt alone, no matter how many people surrounded me. However this time it was different, I thought of you. I thought of the pain and anguish you would be in if something were to happen."

That is the reason why she had the strength to go on. When she entered the hospital building, when she neared the grounds. She already knew it would be more dangerous then usual. That there was truly a chance she would come out of this dead. But when she thought of Toh, she found herself with more hope than despair.

She has to return to him no matter what.

Sumire's gaze fell back on Toh and studied his expression. The clouded look in Toh's eyes was still there. Fear, anger, sorrow, pain, hurt and betrayal. So many different emotions.

She simply thought it would be the same as last time, she was wrong. Toh was truly angry at her this time.

"Are you done with your fancy speech?" Toh said coldly. She could tell that Toh was doing his best to hold back his temper. 

Sumire felt the tears fall from her eyes but she still kept her gaze on Toh. She can't run away from this, it wouldn't be right. 

"I thought we made it clear to each other after what happened last time. I thought we made it clear Ibuki Sumire, that we won't hide things from each other. While I agreed with you that there are occasions where we have to keep secrets. But, at the very least if it is a secret that endangers our lives, we should tell each other."

Right, they did make that promise and she thought she could keep it. She genuinely thought that if her life was in danger, she would call Toh. She would tell him. But, while she thought of returning to him. It never crossed her mind to contact him.