Testing a theory

SUMIRE 

Although she has gotten used to living with Mashima Toh, there is nothing like the comfort of her own home. Quite some time has passed since she last stayed here. Sumire half expected having to clean up, but it was tidy and there were also several post it notes from Ru. She exhales deeply when she sees the most recent one.

It was stuck to her bedroom door.

Out on a trip, I'll get you a souvenir.

Toh, who was carrying her upstairs, raised his eyebrow reading the note. "So, how many of these souvenirs do you have now?"

"There's entire boxes of them in the store room." Sumire trails off and sighs. "I need to find him, last time I saw him he-"

Toh cuts her off by kissing her deeply. The sudden kiss startled her but she kissed him back.

"Toh-"

"Instead about speaking about other men beautiful, I believe you should focus on the one in front of her."

Sumire blinked. "I've been seeing your jealous side a lot more recently."

Toh chuckled. "Is that the sort of thing your into beautiful?"

"It's true the idea of seeing your desperation for my affection does things to me."

At those words Toh leans forward and kisses her forehead. "We can explore more of your needs, after we get you fed and rested."

Sumire tilted her head. "Recently. I have a lot of those needs. Are we going to have enough time to explore everything?"

She watched Toh's calm gaze be replaced with a heated one.

Ah, this is what Arata was talking about.

'Try provoking him a little, you'll get a glimpse of his obsession for you.'

"Kiss me again?" Sumire asked.

Toh bends down, brushing his lips against hers. "What are you up to beautiful?"

"Just testing a theory."

'I thought he was becoming more fond of me, I didn't realize how much. I must be crazy too, why would I encourage a person's obsession? But, seeing him this way, it makes me more fond of him-'

 Toh moved his face away but she noticed how he slammed the door open, and immediately brought her over to the bed. Toh leans forward and kisses her deeply.

'There is something about the way Mashima Toh kisses. I wonder if it would be the same with Yuhi.'

Sumire clenched the edge of the sheets, and felt Toh interwin their hands together.

Thump.

Thump.

Why does this action of his make my heart beat faster?

'Beautiful.' Toh's voice echoes in her head.

'Y-yes?'

'You should know better than to listen to Arata.'

Her cheeks heat up realizing Toh knew from the very beginning what she was doing.

'W-why didn't you say something?'

Toh chuckled and used that chance to nibble on her lips.

T-this man!! He can be really infuriating sometimes.

 'Did it ever occur to you beautiful, that I have been waiting for an opportunity like this?'

Sumire didn't get a chance to reply to that, since the kiss eventually became heated.

She really doesn't want to lose this person.

But, she cannot see an outcome where these happy days will continue. She can't see an outcome that ends with Mashima Toh remaining by her side.

 .....

Sumire didn't know how long they were kissing for. But, it was certainly enough for her to slump her head on the pillow in her hands in defeat. 

'I-I definitely don't have the lung capacity to kiss that long! Moreover, I didn't even know what I was doing. The experience never bothered me before. It was enjoyable learning along the way. But, recently I want to try something else. I want to see him lose control for me, that's why when Arata made that suggestion, I just went for it.'

She wonders if having thoughts like this is normal.

'Now that I think about it, did I feel this way when I fell in love with Yuhi-san? I should check my past diary entries. Either way, my feelings for Mashima Toh seem different.'

Sumire steals a glance at Toh only to find him setting up a mini table with some snacks. 

She laughs.

"Are we having a movie date?" Sumire asked.

Toh chuckled. "Yeah, I'd like to take you to an actual cinema though. But this will have to do for now."

Sumire blinks. "It's true we've never had a movie date. I'd like to experience it, you know as a high school student."

'I want to make more memories with him, experience more firsts with him. There is so much I want to do with him.'

"Then, keep your schedule free for a few days. I can make arrangements."

She exhales deeply. "I wish we could do that, but there is so much going on."

Aki is being more of a spartan than usual. Although she does understand why. The frequency of the black alice organisation attacks have increased. Even though there were disturbances when she was still dating Nagawa Sano, it wasn't this bad. The frequency of the attacks have alerted not only the underworld groups but the police.

'I don't know how Aki is dealing with them, but recently they have turned their attention onto me. Unwanted attention.'

Toh leans forward and kisses her. "Do I have to beg for a date with you?"

Her face flames, just thinking of Toh on his knees and begging her.

Toh smirked. "Well it seems I am slowly discovering your interests." He trails off. "It's unfortunate that you still haven't healed."

Sumire curses recalling her injuries. 

"Those injuries aside." Toh rolls up her sleeves revealing deep cuts. "When were you going to discuss this?"

She curses again, and proceeds to dive under the sheets to hide but Toh takes them away.

"Are you really going to hide when we are in the same room?"

"I can try."

Toh exhaled deeply and ran his hands through his silver hair. 'He looks really tired these days. There are occasions where I would wake up in the middle of the night and he isn't there.'