Let me meet her

 TOH

A few hours later. One of the main reasons why he told Sumire that he wouldn't be able to pick her up later, is this woman standing in front of his store and causing a ruckus. Koichi already sent him a warning message when he woke up this morning. But, instead of rushing to the shop he prioritised dropping Sumire off to school.

Recalling the disappointed look on her face when he said he would see her at home. Toh was more than determined to sort out this problem with Alicia as quickly as possible. 

Seeing him approach, his employees practically had tears in their eyes.

It seems nobody tried to send her away.

Of course not, other than him. Everybody else here is a normal person. They won't have anyone backing them up if they offend her.

'I dislike it. But, unfortunately that is just how the world works.'

"Miss Alicia what are you doing causing a problem in someone else's store?"

At those words Alicia whipped her head in his direction, and looked at him with rage in her eyes.

"I know we slept together but--"

"You can't trick me! I know you didn't touch me." Alicia exclaimed.

"Oh?"

"If you did, you would have never left my bed." Alicia said.

Toh sighed. "I won't sleep with you. I have a girlfriend." 

Alicia seemed taken back. "Fine, but at least make me your muse

"No."

Her, his muse?

No chance.

Toh could hear the whispers of the rest of his staff already. Indeed, no sane guy would turn away an international model, especially one of Alicia's status. However, that doesn't matter. The moment he saw Ibuki Sumire wearing his clothes, 

"I have one already but if you did your research you would know that." Toh trails off and sighs. "Let's talk inside."

Alicia reluctantly follows him inside, and he takes the girl to the back area. 

'I normally reserve this space for me and Sumire. But, if we stood in front of the store talking any longer. No doubt the fashion media would end up snapping photos, and taking videos.'

Surprisingly there was nothing in the news regarding him entering and leaving her hotel room. 

'Was it Lucifer who covered it up? I doubt it, after all Alicia so much admitted she is in the country because of Lucifer.'

Then, it must have been Aki. 

Alicia sits down in the chair not the couch. "So, your girlfriend is your muse?"

Toh exhaled deeply. "It seems you know already."

"Not much. I do know she isn't a member of the fashion industry, but the entertainment circle."

"And that's a problem, why?" Toh said, sensing the disdain in her tone.

"Don't you know what women in the entertainment industry are like?"

"You tell me." Toh said.

Exactly how does an international model view the entertainment industry? Someone who has lived abroad all her life.

Alicia sighs. "Before I say this, I will have you know that I am half japanese. My father was a japanese, my mother fell for him when she came here for a shoot."

"That's not what you say in your interviews." Toh pointed out.

He remembered watching an interview Alicia did a long time ago.

Alicia shrugs. "My grandmother controls what I say in those."

"Then is it okay for you to be saying this now?" Toh said as he walked over to the table and placed a drink in front of her.

"This is a private conversation." Alicia trails off. "I will get to the point. I have heard all the details about your girlfriend."

At those words Toh sighs. "I figured, and what? You heard all the bad rumors and automatically believe she is a bad person?"

Alicia chuckled. "Not at all, I'm very interested in her." She holds up her phone showing a picture of Sumire during his recent fashion show. "This girl, I'd like to meet her in person."

Toh frowned. "For what exactly? Are you going to harass her?"

Alicia laughs. "Gosh you should see your face, your acting like an overprotective alpha male."

"What do you want with her?"

"I am searching for someone. I was almost killed a few years ago, but someone saved me."

Toh immediately understood. "And you think that person is Sumire?"

"The person who saved me was strong. Strength like that is hard to find."

"Is that all your basing it on? Because there are others who are strong here."

"Strength, female, Japanese."

"There is this thing called the four princess-" Toh started.

"Amethyst coloured eyes."

Toh couldn't refute her there. 

"So? Will you let me meet my benefactor?"

"If your purpose here is to create a scandal with me, I do not think Sumire will want to meet with you." Toh chose his words carefully.

'I don't want to sound like I am making choices for her, without asking for her opinion.'

Alicia plays with the straw in her cup. "I see, you're that into each other?"

"And if we are?" Toh said.

Alicia chuckled. "I just find it interesting that's all. When I thanked her for rescuing me and asked her if there was anything she wanted, she looked me in the eye and said there was nothing she wanted. When I said money, she didn't bat an eye. But, when I said love she reacted."

"..."

"She rescued me, and destroyed those people brutally. But, she reacted to the word love."

'Of course she would, because even in her deadliest state. Sumire reacts to the people she loves and cares for.'

"Mashima Toh, do you truly think you can give that girl what she wants?"

"I love her." Toh said determined.

"You may love her, but does she love you? And, are you the love she has been looking for?"

"Are you saying you can give her the love she wants?" Toh said.

Alicia chuckled. "So you're not completely oblivious to who she actually has in her heart. Yes, that is the reason I want to meet with her. I can give her what she wants."

If Alicia is making this offer, she must be privy to the reason why Terashima isn't coming for Sumire. 

'No, I know the reason don't I? Sumire wanted to go with Terashima to Tokyo, but she didn't want to get in the way of his career. Under what identity would she go there?'

'You see Toh, if I went with him it would have been selfish. I didn't want to go to Tokyo simply as his girlfriend. If I did and continued to pursue my dream, others would criticise me for trying to leach onto his popularity. Yuhi would be criticised too, there would be those who would argue that Yuhi should be with someone talented and not an ordinary person. Neither of us would be happy with the situation.'

So, her offer must involve a way to keep them together without all the judgements, they would face.