Tell me now

SUMIRE

"I have said nothing about you constantly being on dangerous jobs. I know we came to an agreement when you warned me that you won't be around a lot. However, the truth is. I hate it. I hate you being part of the underworld. I hate that you can't live the life of a normal girl."

"I don't have to be a normal-" 

Toh shakes his head. "But you do. Ibuki Sumire, you deserve everything the world offers to give you. You deserve to be in the light not just the darkness. You deserve what everyone else has, and so much more. I have tried to be patient, and guide you through everything. But this incident has made me realize that no matter what I do, you will find a way to get rid of all my efforts."

Sumire bit her lip. 'I thought I regretted it when I saw Toh, when I saw how many people gathered there because of me. But, hearing his words. Seeing him like this-' If she was crying before, now there was a flood of tears escaping from her eyes.

Despite his anger, Toh reached over and brushed his fingers across her eyelids as he continued to speak.

"Tell me Sumire. Tell me the truth, are you still in love with Nagawa Sano?"

Sumire tried to avert her gaze but Toh quickly caught on.

"No Sumire. You can't do that. I know I told you previously that if anything makes you uncomfortable, you turn away from it so you don't feel further suffocated. But, I also mentioned that you have to know when to use it. Now isn't one of those times. You have to look at me, you don't get to run away from this."

"But it hurts."

"Of course it does. I'm not trying to comfort you right now. I want you to hurt, I want you to feel pain hearing these words. I promised I'd never use any psychologist techniques on you. But, you seem to have no problems breaking promises so why can't I?"

It really hurts, he might as well have stabbed her with a knife. A knife wound would hurt less than this. 

It hurts, because she knows he is right. It hurts knowing that she has completely messed up this time. More tears streamed down. What is she supposed to do? He is angry, no she hurt him so much. She returned back to his side. But, how is she supposed to fix this mess. 

"Answer my question. Do you still love him?"

"No!" Sumire exclaimed. "You know it's not like that. I've told you so many times-"

"But, how am I supposed to trust those words now? You spoke about trust just now, so let me answer you. Sumire, I can't trust you right now. I did before all of this. I trusted that while I can't take the center spot in your heart, you still trusted me enough to keep this relationship going. Still trusted that you cared enough not to hurt me with your actions. However you broke all of that with this little stunt of yours. You proved to me that it's not just Terashima I have to worry about, but the ex who broke your heart. The one who hurt you with words that cut deeper than any blade."

"He isn't-It's not like that." Sumire mumbled. But her words were wavering.

They were wavering because she recalled Sano's explanation. She shouldn't have believed him. She shouldn't have even given him the chance to say those words. But she allowed him to speak, she allowed him to explain and to touch her. 

It was wrong, it felt wrong, all of it. Sumire wants to tell Toh how every touch from Sano made her feel wrong. But, he is already furious after he saw that kiss. 

"Then I hope you can explain that kiss." Toh said bitterly. "Was that the only thing that happened? Or was there something more."

"Are you actually implying that I slept with him?" Sumire raised her voice. 

"Why wouldn't you? You could have easily done that."

Sumire shook her head in disbelief. She understands that he is angry and that she messed up big time. But, she never thought he would say such words. Never thought he would imply that she would whore herself and cheat after being cheated on herself.

"I know your angry and you have every right to. But your taking this way too far. You saw the state I was in when we first met. You saw yourself the damage he caused me mentally and physically. How could you possibly imply that I'd allow him to touch me?"

"That fucking kiss is why." Toh shakes his head. "-and what happened before during the time Tsueno was hospitalized. Tsueno explained to me that because you don't care about yourself, you can do those things easily. I get the logic behind that. But, we are in a relationship Sumire. It's different now. That is not okay, it's not okay to allow a man other than the one your dating to touch you. He was weak, you weren't. You should have pushed him away. You let him touch you, and that makes me think if anything else happened. Can't you see why I am saying these words? I'm not just doing this to hurt you. I want you to understand. You were wrong, you messed up. Now you have a decision to make."

"A decision?" Sumire repeated. 

"Do you want to go back to Nagawa? Because if that's the case, I can contact him for you."

"A-are you saying that you don't want me anymore?" Sumire croaked. She couldn't stop the next flood of tears. Her vision was going blurry. "You don't want to be with me?"

To her surprise Toh suddenly kissed her. It wasn't a gentle kiss, but it didn't matter to her. She ran her fingers through his hair and pulled him closer to her. His hands wrapped around her waist.

"You don't get to guilt trip me." Toh mumbled angrily against her lips. "I will choose you even if this world burns down. I will choose you even if the world ends right now. I will always choose you, always want you. But, I've always respected your decision and I intend to do that even now. If you want him, and not me. You have to tell me now. You have to decide now. Before my rationality disappears and I lock you up and keep you to myself."