What I can do for you

SUMIRE

"That is correct, I believe the SF have been notified already and they are on the hunt for the culprit. Normally they would turn a blind eye to an evolved human going on a rampage, but-"

"Have normal citizens been dragged into it?"

Jack nodded. "There hasn't been anyone who has lost their life, but the casualties are high. The police can't turn a blind eye to it, but they can't just make an arrest either. That's why the SF will be assessing the case."

"Will Yuhi-san get in trouble?"

At those words Jack paused but shook his head. "Terashima is offered the same level of protection as you, since he is one of the strongest evolved humans. They won't be able to arrest him, but they'll be consequences like placing a limiter on his powers for a while."

Jack is putting it nicely, but she knows what those limiters are. Invisible shackles, that nobody but other evolved humans can see. It's like putting yourself on display, asking to be attacked because you are in a weakened state. With the black alice organisation going on a rampage like this, she hates the idea of Yuhi-san being weakened.

"Is there a way to make sure they don't find out it's him?"

"We could use a scapegoat, I don't think the SF have it on record that Terashima has black flames."

"But, if we use a scapegoat and they find out later, won't that cause more problems?" 

"That's the thing. Terashima has left absolutely nothing that could trace it back to him."

That sounds like a good thing, but in order to do that he must have destroyed everything?

"I'll find a scapegoat for you, and run the details with Aki and his current group. I'm sure they will agree though."

His current group? Right, she ought to discuss this with Atushi.

"I'll speak to Atushi, I believe he is also a member of akagumi."

"Right, Hamano the vice command is around."

Sumire blinks and looks at Jack in disbelief. Wait, Atushi is the vice command? Seeing her expression, Jack frowned.

"I wonder if it's a good thing you've been so distracted dating, and being a normal girl that you didn't realize-"

Sumire exhales deeply. "I'll accept that jab, since it's true I have been distracted."

"Talk to Hamano about Terashima, I think he might be able to give you some leads."

"I understand."

"Also, pardon me for saying so. But, you really have rotten luck with romance."

Sumire laughs weakly. "Right, the first guy I fall in love with is miles out of my league. And the next one belongs to an enemy organisation."

"Have you decided to talk to Aki about this? I'm sure you've realized that he has been withholding Mashima Toh's actual profile from you."

Of course she realized.

The background checks to get a permit into the organisation usually take a long time. But, Toh was granted one almost immediately. It had Aki written all over it, and once she saw Toh's file, she was suspicious. A squeaky clean history. Yuhi-san's words popped into her mind.

"I really don't want to fight with him again, things are still tense from the last fight."

Jack sighed. "Very well, but I don't think you can keep this situation up for much longer."

 .....

Sumire didn't waste anytime searching for Atushi. Although it was the first time she came here, she remembered him saying he is staying at the old bar his grandfather used to run. Hamano Atushi opened the door with messy bed hair, he was clearly still in his pajamas. He looked at her in disbelief.

"I thought you were at the event in the shopping center today."

"This is urgent, can I come in?"

A complicated look flashed through Atushi's face, and Sumire immediately understood. She barged right past him, and the moment she entered the bar she smelled it.

The smell of Yuhi's cigarettes.

The sign of Yuhi living here.

Sumire looked at him angrily. "I thought it was weird you hadn't been going to school. You've been hiding Yuhi?"

Atushi sighs as he shuts the door. "It's not like that, it's more like he threatened me and I had no choice."

Sumire scoffed. "You're his vice command, I'm sure he wouldn't do that to you."

Atushi raised his eyebrow. "Are you extra mad at me, because I didn't tell you?"

Sumire grumbled and crossed her arms. "It just feels like everyone around me has been hiding things recently."

"Is this because of Mashima? Because you know, I did tell you after that time we went to investigate the missing people case that he was suspicious."

"I thought you were only saying that because you were jealous." 

"Wow, do you really think I'm that petty?"

Sumire rolled her eyes and looked around. "Where is he?"

"He won't be coming back tonight. But, he should be here tomorrow."

"Then I'll wait."

Atushi looks at her with mixed emotions. "I don't think he will step foot in this place if he knows your here."

"Then don't tell him. I can hide in another room and ambush him."

"That's not going to happen, since he will sense you from a mile away." Atushi trails off. "Look Sumire, I think you know why he is doing this. He's been extremely jumpy ever since the incident at the hospital. He wasn't aware that Lucifer appeared directly before you, until recently. Since then, he's been acting this way."

That long ago?

"But he was directing that anger and fear towards other things. It's actually a good thing that he finally decided to take an official hiatus. With the way things were going, he was making many enemies in the entertainment industry."

"I-I saw a video, he didn't look well. He looked really pale and thin, has he not been eating?"

"Not eating, and not sleeping well."

"Can I borrow your kitchen? Oh, I can buy groceries."

Atushi exhaled deeply. "It's fine, I just stocked up and yes you can borrow my kitchen. You'll make him food?"

Sumire nodded. "If he doesn't want to see me, that's fine. But, I can at least do this for him."

Atushi doesn't say anything and she follows him into the kitchen. Even here, she can see the traces of Yuhi-san being here. His scent, his cigarettes, his belongings.