Which one? (1)

TOH

But, the more time he spent with her, Toh quickly realized eventually he wouldn't stop himself desiring her. He will desire her, but she won't be like those other women. And he was right, the more she blossomed. The more his fascination, his desire turned into something more.

Nothing could compare to holding her in his arms.

"Toh? You're thinking strange things aren't you." Sumire mumbled briefly parting their lips.

"What kind of strange things?" Toh asked.

"Since it's you, it's something perverted."

 She isn't wrong. Toh chuckles softly against her lips. "I was thinking about how much of a beauty you've become." Toh admitted. "How you turn me on so much now that not making love with you is no longer an option."

Sumire doesn't say anything for a few minutes and for a split second, he worries he's offended her. What a stupid thought. Why would she get offended over that comment? Indeed his strange doubt was settled when she bends over and places kisses on his neck. 

"I probably changed so much because I was dating you. I'm sure if I chose somebody else, I would have stayed the same plain me even if I had become an idol or not. But because I chose you. Because I wanted to make you happy, I did whatever I could. "

"So in other words, you had my tastes figured out from the beginning?"

"Well Toh you weren't very good at hiding it. In the back of my mind I had a feeling that if I didn't work on my appearance more, you'd eventually cheat on me."

Toh frowned at those words. "I'm not like him, never imply that." His words came out sharper than he intended. But, just knowing who she was thinking of when saying those words-

Sumire's gaze softens. "You don't have to get so worked up, just because I mention Sano."

"He is your ex beautiful. No sane guy would enjoy their girlfriend talking about their ex."

Moreover, her ex is a bastard like that.

"You don't have to keep mentioning him, after all, aren't we doing something more interesting?" Sumire's lips are on his again.

Indeed, he would rather continue this than speak about that bastard. Still, "I'm sorry you felt the need to change your appearance for my sake."

Even if Sumire doesn't dress up, her beauty is unmatched, at least in his eyes.

Sumire shook her head. "I didn't mind. At the start I may have done it for your sake, but gradually I started liking dressing up. I fell in love with the different clothes, your designs. So I'm thankful."

"Thankful?" Toh repeated.

"There is this saying amongst people my age. Girls in love sparkle and shine more than those who aren't.' I didn't understand it before. But, as I started to err, become more interested in you. I started to understand why. I saw makeup, clothes, everything I used to see as gaudy or superficial in a different light. I wanted to continue being pretty for you, but I also found a new source of light. Something else to appreciate in this world. That's why, thank you Toh."

Ibuki Sumire has always had this ability to turn simple words and actions into something beautiful. No matter how many times they make love, each touch or sensation becomes beautiful when she says his name.

'It may have started because of her insecurity due to what happened with Nagawa, but she turned it into something else.' Something pure. 

Sumire is kissing him again, almost as though she is afraid of his response.

'No matter how close we become, I understand very well that it will take a lot more time to heal her mental scars. She may never truly heal from them, but at the very least I can ease her pain.'

These days, she seems more desperate. Each kiss, each touch- Even if she doesn't tell him. Toh understood what she was thinking, they really are running out of time. Even if they find a solution, he definitely won't be able to remain by her side.

'In the time they are apart, Sumire will continue growing more beautiful.' It pains him, that he won't be with her during that phase, to witness the change with his own eyes. 

Toh doesn't know how long they are kissing, but in the background. He can hear one of their phones ring.

 ...

A few hours later, at the black alice organisation headquarters.

Although he had yet to fully heal. Toh was more than ever determined to get answers, to finally know the truth. He searched for Lucifer everywhere, before eventually finding him on the rooftop. At first neither of them said a word.

"How is she?" Lucifer said, breaking the silence.

"She's recovered."

"I see."

"Is she really-" Toh was still struggling to get the words out.

Lucifer exhales deeply. "Sumire is the girl, he asked you to look for."

Toh felt the heavy weight from his heart vanish. Although the situation is still tricky, it's a relief knowing the truth at last. There is something different about Lucifer today. No, there have been occasions since he joined the organisation where Lucifer acts like a completely different person.

In the last few months however, Lucifer has been behaving like the typical villain overlord. 

'He.'

"I see." Toh decided not to comment on the strange wording.

Lucien chuckles. "Nothing else to say?"

"What did you want me to say?"

"Even though I dropped a hint just now."

Toh exhales deeply. It seems he wants him to comment on it. 'But, I have been meaning to confront Lucifer on this, even before I met Sumire.' His interest on the matter was only because Lucifer's actions from a psychologist perspective intrigued him. However now, it's different. For Sumire's sake, he is betting everything on this one theory of his.

"Since I first joined the black alice organisation, you kept me close by your side. That's why I have more information about you than anyone else. There are times where you act like two completely different people. Times where you are gentle, kind, reasonable and times where you act like a complete tyrant." Toh trails off. "Right now, which one are you?"