Now you understand

 SUMIRE 

Is it just a coincidence? A lot of their members have been ambushed and beaten recently. If Toh is the one causing those injuries, she wouldn't know what to do. 'As one of the leading members, I have to do what's correct. I should punish the ones hurting our members, but if that person ends up being Toh, can I really do it?'

Sumire takes a deep breath before extending her arm out. "It hurts, will you help me?"

Instead of taking out the med kit, Toh bends down and starts licking her scars.

"T-this is, an unusual way of helping." Sumire mumbled. But, she didn't move her arm away.

Toh chuckles. "Indeed, but this is as far as we can go today."

Sumire pouts. "Are you sure about that? What if I make a move?"

"You are free to do so, but I don't think you can in your state."

He's right. Her arms are far too wounded, and excess movement will certainly hurt her legs. She learned her lesson from that brief exchange with Arata earlier.

Sumire sighs. "Okay, then the seducing plan is on hold for now."

"For now." Toh agreed, moving his lips away. "These look very deep, did you use a knife? A cutter?"

"The second one."

But she also scratched over the cuts with her nails.

Toh must have understood since he exhaled deeply. "I have to apologize."

Sumire blinked. "For what?"

"Not taking care of you as I ought to have. I have been focusing far too much on our relationship, and on how to please you as a man-"

Sumire cuts him off with a glare and Toh shrugs as he continues. "You have to admit, quite some time has passed since we had a therapy session."

That's true, but both of them have been so busy. Between her attending lessons, practice for the concur, preparations for the underworld, there just hasn't been time. Toh has been equally busy too, with his brand that has been getting more attention. He was already well known before because of his grandmother. But now- Sumire tugs on his shirt.

"I'm seeing you more on TV lately."

"Yes, Grandmother has been dragging me-"

"-alone. As in, different news about you." Sumire interjected.

Toh immediately understood since his lips curved to a smirk. "Are you jealous beautiful?"

Sumire nodded. "I don't understand it very well, but the idea of so many people admiring you, watching you-"

"-is very annoying?" Toh finished.

Another nod.

Toh moved his hand away from her cuts and placed it on her lips. "Now you understand how I feel."

Sumire blinks. "How you feel?" She repeats his words.

"I am not against you being an idol, I've always encouraged you to go ahead and achieve your dreams. However, the idea of other men ogling at your pictures, is extremely disturbing."

'Now that I think about it, I've never asked him about his opinion of me debuting. I know he dislikes the industry, but like he said, he has always encouraged me.'

"I won't do any swimsuit photo shoots."

Toh growled and she laughed. "Really, you don't have to worry."

"I will worry beautiful. I may not be a member of the entertainment industry but I have heard of the unsavoury rumors that happen to idols. Especially new idols, the directors tend to take advantage-"

Sumire continues to laugh. He really is worried about it. But, unlike Sano, he won't suppress her. He will respect her choice.

Toh pulls her into his arms, hugging her tightly. "Sumire, we need to come up with a plan."

Sumire shuts her eyes. "I know." She mumbled. "But, can it wait? When we are in the privacy of our own homes, I want to focus on us."

Toh's gaze softens. "I like the sound of that." He returned to massaging her arms. As comforting as his touch is, she flinches when Toh touches her wounds. "Let me grab a bandage."

Sumire nodded and watched as he walked over to her cabinets.

"You know, for someone who has barely been in my room. You sure are familiar with everything."

Toh chuckles. "You say that, but I do come here frequently."

She immediately understands. "You're the one who cleaned up?"

"The last time, Tsueno came and left those notes."

"And the other times? Ru must have put you up to it."

"It's true he asked me to start cleaning up your place. At first, I hesitated because it would seem like I was intruding on your home without your permission."

Sumire blinked. "But, I personally gave you my key. That means I want you to intrude in my home, and take my bed."

Toh raised his eyebrow. "I didn't say anything about your bed beautiful."

"Well, it's strange it's not coming up. It's the best part of this room, and I see you even bought me new sheets." Sumire pointed out.

Toh chuckled. "I figured you would want something that wouldn't soil so easily."

"That's true, the last ones were a pain to clean." Sumire trails off and watches how carefully Toh applied the medicine to her wounds and wrapped the bandages carefully.

'He really is good to me. Too good even. I'm not deluded into thinking that I deserve any of his kindness and love. A person like me does not deserve a man like this, someone who treats me with respect and showers me with love.'

Mashima Toh doesn't suit her, actually- she laughs bitterly inside her head. A toxic guy like Nagawa Sano might suit someone like her better.

'Is that not why I picked him? Even though San appeared kind at a glance, I knew there was something off about him.'

A month into their relationship, or was it less? She started to see why she picked him. Because he isn't a good guy.

It was the reason why she put up with the signs of San's cheating, for a long time before confronting him. And even after she confronted him, she didn't break up with him. 

'This is what I deserve, I deserve a guy who treats me with false kindness and a twisted love.'