Three hours later, Tokyo Main streets.
On the way to the practice venue, she ran into many troubles. First, the traffic, and so she ended up leaving the taxi second, which is the main issue stopping an assault from happening.
A few minutes later, it was all over because they finally sober enough to see who she was. Sumire thought it would end there, but one of them still managed to use their knife. But afterwards, they rushed off.
Sumire leaned against the wall and placed her hand on her now wounded arm. She felt a stinging pain on her neck and her face too, but her main concern now was her arm. This is bad, and she is supposed to play the piano on stage today.
Before she could close her eyelids, she felt somebody grab her arm.
"Sano?"
Despite her blurred vision, she could make out his face and his voice.
"--okay? Are you okay?"
He showed up again. Whenever anything happens, why is this person the first person to show up? Isn't it obvious that he is involved somehow?
Sumire tried to move his hand away, but unfortunately, she felt very weak.
Sano rummaged through his bag and pulled out a needle. "I will give you a quick shot. You have practice in the stadium today, right?"
"I was on my way."
"You're careless. You should have just ignored them."
So he was in the area long before she came and saw that? Hah, she supposes this part of him hasn't changed. But, there is one thing that is different now. "Yuhi found out that I drank your blood."
"I will explain it."
"He was mad, but it was okay."
Yuhi is not the type of person who would get angry at her for long.
"I see; he is good to you."
"So were you at the start." Even though she can see by now that Yuhi won't abandon her as Sano did, she can't erase the fear in her heart.
"What about now?"
"Eh?"
"I can't erase what my past self did. I was horrible to you just because of my insecurities and fears. You often said in the past that a couple should share everything together, but back then, I didn't do that."
"It was because you didn't trust me-"
"No, the one I didn't trust was myself. I didn't trust in my ability to make you happy or to have a future together. That was why I ignored your suffering. My parents, my family as a whole was putting a lot of pressure on you. They turned you away from the hospital several times when you needed help or when your friends did."
Right, it was difficult then. She didn't care what happened to herself,,, but she would bring them to the hospital whenever her friends got hurt. Of course, with her luck, it was one of the Nagawa family hospitals. Everybody knew who she was and didn't hesitate to turn her away.
She remembered how helpless she felt then.
But when she was hurt the most, somebody approached her and said they would bring her to his clinic. It was a smaller place, but the Nagawa family did not own it.
"Was it you?"
It was just a guess, but why else would he bring this up?
"Yes."
"I see."
How many other things will she find out that he did for her? Despite how it ended, it started off well and even towards the end. If he did that much for her sake behind the scenes, then that means he must have had feelings for her.
Still the words he said, his ability to make her happy, huh? If he admitted these things to her back then, she would have most likely forgiven him. If he said such sweet-sounding things genuinely, she wouldn't have had the heart to turn him away.
Sumire flinched when he pulled out another needle. "What are you doing?"
"I don't think a single shot will make it go away, so just in case."
She sighed deeply but nodded, and soon she felt a familiar sharp pain on her arm. It surprised her that no passing by individuals had said anything yet. But then again, Sumire looked towards the direction of the road. It seems the busy traffic is affecting the flow of the people on the streets too.
Her gaze fell on Sano, who wore a formal business suit. "Were you about to go somewhere?"
"I was on my way back from a party when I saw you here."
So he was on the road and went out? Then again, he has a driver, so it is not like he left the car in the middle of the road.
"This isn't the direction of your house."
Sumire paused for a moment. This flow of traffic is most likely because of the concert that would start in a few hours. She knew that fans liked to arrive a few hours early. This huge crowd is gathering for Quatro Light. She knew better than to think they came for her.
"Did you come for my concert?"
"Yeah."
But surely he is too busy for that? "In four days, I will come back to the bar. So I wanted to ask you something."
Sumire blinked, even more surprised. "Oh wait, you're going back?"
"Why did you pack away my things already?"
"No, everything is still there." Sumire said slowly. "But you--"
Indeed, the danger surrounding him hasn't vanished yet. The reason he can move around freely now is because she sent somebody to watch over him. But she didn't think he would think to go back?
"That place is small and uncomfortable for you, right?" She recalled him telling her when they dated how he has never experienced poverty before and can't imagine living somewhere small. Whenever his place ended up renovated, he would stay in a first-class hotel.
Due to the trauma and shock of what happened, Sano was very quiet during his stay, but surely now it has worn off, he would complain.
"It is." Sano admitted.
"Then-"
"But if I am there, I can spend time with you. I can get to know you more and learn the things I didn't know."
Sumire didn't know what to say after he said those words. Maybe Hino is right, and she shouldn't mess with Sano anymore. What good will it do for the two of them going back and forth like this?
"I already told you before, and it is too late to return to the past. But I just wanted to know, did you like me?"
"I wanted to marry you."
Sumire blinked, surprised at his words. She figured he was relatively fond of her based on his stories, but he wanted to marry her? Someh-- she didn't get a chance to finish that thought since she felt a throbbing pain in her chest and a large ringing sound in her head. It was like a chime.
Her throat and insides felt like it was on fire, so hot. Why is it so hot?
"Sumire? Hey, what-" Sano paused in mid-sentence and removed the buttons from his collar. He pierced his neck with a small pocket knife, and fresh blood trickled down his neck.
"I--"
Sano pulled her towards him. "It's fine. I will take responsibility later; just drink it now."
Sumire wrapped her arms around him and brushed her lips against his neck. "Sorry." Once again, she will add to her sins.