He asked me if I loved you

TOH

"I-is that weird?" Sumire asked. "I mean-"

Toh leans forward and lightly kisses her. "It's not strange, I also share the same thoughts."

'I'm going crazy, these days I no longer feel like myself. Even my other friends who don't know me well have noticed something is different. Sumire has become so precious to me.'

Precious? That's not it, it's more than that.

'I love her.'

Love destroys people. How many of his patients lives have been destroyed because they love deeply. 

"I'm really glad I met you Toh."

"What brought this on?" Toh wondered.

"I mean err." Sumire laughs. "Actually your friend approached me the other day."

"You mean Koichi?" 

Sumire nodded.

Koichi approached Sumire willingly? That's suspicious. 'I know how afraid he is of her, so why would he talk to her?'

"When I realized he was one of your friends, I felt relieved. Even though he was confronting me regarding my feelings for you."

"He did what?" Toh said with a frown.

'Even though Koichi knows more than most people should about Sumire's situation. I told him a little since he is my best friend.'

"Don't worry, he wasn't rude or anything."

But Sumire hates confrontations more than anyone. This is why he is keeping her away from his social circle.

Sumire extended her hands out and caressed his face. "I'm really alright, if he was cruel to me. I would have told you."

If she said these words when they first met, he would not have believed her. However the situation is different now. Even though they still have a ton of issues to work on. Sumire is definitely doing a lot better now. 

'Most of her progress only seems to show when she is around you. Do you not think that's an issue?' Recalling Mamoru's words, Toh frowns. Surely not- because if that's the case.

'Sumire isn't getting better, she's just learned to mask her pain better in front of others who aren't me.'

 "So, what did he ask exactly?"

"Err." Sumire's cheeks colour. "He was very direct. He asked me if I loved you."

 Toh raised his eyebrow seeing the girls reaction. Why is she blushing so hard over a question like that? It should be easy for her to answer that.

"What did you tell him love?"

Sumire's face reddens more and she buries her face in his chest. "I-I can't tell you exactly."

 "You can't?"

"I-It's too embarrassing."

Toh blinked. What kind of response did she give for her to feel embarrassed? 'Unless she told Koichi she loves me, I doubt any other response would have embarrassed her. 

"B-but err, I think I earned myself a new enemy."

Toh blinked. "You made Koichi angry? What exactly did you tell him?"

"Not him, there was a woman there with him."

A woman who would comment on his matters? That could be anyone. 'I've had many clingy ex girlfriends there after all.'

"I think she said her name was Shizuka."

Toh exhaled deeply. He was already listing who it could be in his head, and Sumire goes ahead and says the name at the top of the list.

"What did she say?"

"Well actually I don't remember, I mean the blood just went straight to my head." Sumire sighed. "But, she said something about you I didn't like."

"Something?"

"About you belonging to a different world because you're a genius designer, and how you ought to live isolated to maintain that skill. She made it sound like you weren't allowed to have emotions."

'That woman hasn't changed at all.'

"So, I told her I believe in you. I only said that and immediately left."

Toh's eyes widened. 

'I knew she was growing fond of me. No, I know she is fostering romantic feelings, no matter how small they are. It's definitely there. But, since she has yet to realize those feelings, I cannot be the one to tell her.'

Toh laughs seeing her expression. Sumire was making a face he had never seen her do before.

"Like, what was her problem? How dare she imply that because of this skill difference you will leave me. Clearly she has never seen us together, otherwise she would know that your head over heels for me."

Toh chuckles. "I'm head over heels for you? This is the first time I am hearing this."

Sumire pouted. "Isn't it obvious? You've been obsessed with me since we first met, otherwise you wouldn't have casually left your number on my phone after we slept together."

He raised his eyebrow. "Did it occur to you that I left my number, just to make sure I had your number to ensure that if anything went missing I could report you?"

"Oh please. I could tell you were into me, when I pinned you down."

Toh chuckles. "If that's the case beautiful, then maybe you shouldn't have played hard to get."

Sumire is quiet for a few minutes and for a moment Toh worried that he overdid it. "Ah-huh, but I wanted to take a different approach with you. San used to say 'we started dating fairly quickly, there was no prior courting.'"

"Then, does that mean you were checking me out at the casino?"

Sumire shrugged. "Tell me, which sane woman wasn't checking you out that night?"

She really is being brave today, it must be because of the fever. But, regardless he will take advantage of it. 

'It's true I dressed up that night, but like Sumire said. Every female in the room was checking me out.'

"And yet, even in a room filled with various woman eyeing me. I noticed your burning gaze beautiful."

It was the reason why he took his chance to seek her out. He was attracted at a glance, but when he noticed her looking back. He was drawn towards her.

There was something there, almost like a thread pulling him towards her.

Sumire's cheeks colour and she coughs. "I-I'm relieved you waited until you followed me."

Right, because she was in the middle of a mission.