"Do you like it?"
"Yes, but-"
?
"Thank god, I've never made anything before, so I wasn't sure it would turn out well."
Did he make this for her? For a moment by, those words shock her. She figured it was handmade, but she thought somebody else made it on his behalf. To think he made it himself, and yet is he serious? Sumire is doubtful, but her gaze fell on his expression.
The man standing before her is no doubt her first boyfriend, who hurt so much. He is the one who destroyed whatever hope she had in humans. But right now, that very same person is showing her the most sincere expression she has ever seen.
Her gaze fell on the bracelet and then back at him. "Thank you, San. I'll treasure it."
It was awkward for her to walk off after that. It suddenly felt wrong just to leave. But Sumire noticed the whispering and stares of the other staff members, so she had no choice but to leave quickly.
Her gaze fell on the grey-colored skies; drops of snow caught her attention. 'I could walk back, but these shoes aren't appropriate.'
Where should she go? The bar? Or, 'I'll be staying in this house more frequently. When they discharge you, come here.'
Sumire recalled Yuhi's words. Would he be home? Or would he be at school?
Her thoughts broke off when she spotted somebody at the hospital gate—a man with black-colored hair and chocolate brown eyes leaning against the fence with his phone in hand.
It felt strange walking properly after so long of pretending, let alone run. But she didn't want him to go. She wanted to reach him as quickly as possible.
He was on the phone and hadn't seen her. "I already told you, do the job as cleanly as possible. Sumire has a lot going on right now. She won't be able to go for a while, and neither will I. Take care of it. But if you do anything stupid, you'll be responsible."
'Something must have happened.' Sumire knew that Yuhi was silently taking care of her underworld work since she came to Tokyo, though he is no longer a formal member of the Holy Knights. People still listen to him like he is the King.
He doesn't have to dirty his hands for her, and yet he does.
It didn't take long before she reached him; the moment she did, she collapsed in his arms.
"Hey, Sumire?"
She suddenly feels relieved. It felt like a decade has passed since she last saw him, even though they spent time together not too long ago.
Yuhi brushed his fingers across her forehead. "You're burning up! Why are you so pale?"
"Uh, I have a fever?" Sumire repeated.
Yuhi clicked his tongue, annoyed, and scooped her up. She noticed a familiar car parked on the sidewalk.
"Call Atushi if you need help no even ask Yoru or Chitose."
She hears protests on the other end of the phone as Yuhi placed her on the other seat.
"Yuhi, you're not taking me back?"
The hospital was right there, and knowing Sano, he would still be in the lobby. It would be easy for them to get her checked out.
He shook his head. "I'll call Atsuro over; just hang on for a bit." Yuhi trailed off and cursed. "Damn, I should have taken Jae along so he could have driven."
"I'll be okay."
She understood why she had a fever. Everything she has held back since being hospitalized is now flowing out.
'I couldn't sleep well or even eat.
Whenever Sano looked away, she would pour half the meal onto the bin or dump it in a bag.
At night, I felt so restless and uneasy.'
….
When Sumire woke up, she found that Atsuro had finished injecting something in her arm. The sight of the needle startled her, and she almost freaked out but realized that Yuhi was right there.
"Is she going to be okay?"
"It's just fatigue and neglect of health." Atsuro sighed deeply. "She was staying in a dammed hospital this entire time. I wonder why they didn't realize."
'Of course, nobody would notice. The medicine Sano gave me daily was very unusual. But it did wonders on my body, and most days, I felt alright.'
Yuhi brushed his fingers across her forehead, realizing she was awake. "How do you feel, love?"
"Uh, I'm hungry."
Now that she thought about it, when was the last time she ate properly?
Yuhi's gaze softened. "I've made you something to eat."
Atsuro glanced back with a frown. "Yuhi, you have to talk to her, okay? If not, I'll do it."
"Don't frighten her; she isn't well." Yuhi nodded. "I said I would, so go."
Sumire immediately understood. To avoid Atsuro from lecturing her, Yuhi said he would talk instead. 'He is so good to me. I can no longer allow Sano to do such foolish things.'
Atsuro looked annoyed but left quickly. The moment Atsuro left, Yuhi hovered over her. The gentle look on his face vanished, and her sweat fell, realizing he was holding her wrist.
"So, what is this?"
"Uh---"
"You know I'm not usually a petty person. But I have my limits."
"Y-Yuhi."
Yuhi kissed her lips softly. "A bracelet is a sign of possession. Did you know that?"
She seemed at a loss when she heard those words. He mentioned that giving gifts usually have hidden meanings, but Sumire doubted that Sano thought that far. Moreover, this is handmade.
Yuhi must have understood from her reaction since he pulled away and sighed deeply.
"It's not like I don't get it. Normally you won't accept such things from him, so it surprised me."
"Well, I am a girl with a boyfriend; accepting gifts from other men sends the wrong message." Sumire trailed off and pointed to the bracelet. "I had no choice but to accept this at the time. But if you dislike it, Yuhi-san, I won't use it."
It was hard for her to turn him away in front of so many people. Moreover, it stunned her. Sano went through the trouble of making her something.
"You don't have to go that far. Besides, the craftsmanship on this is good. I can tell he worked hard to make it. As an artist, it would be wrong of me for you to tell you to return it."
Her gaze softened at his words, and she wrapped her arms around him from the back. "I do like the bracelet, but I like the earrings and necklace more."
"Stupid."
Sumire laughed softly. "Didn't you make me food, Yuhi-san? Can I eat?"
"Yeah."
He reluctantly left her side. Sumire watched as he stood up and left. The moment he did, she removed the bracelet on her hand and placed it inside the drawer.f𝚛e𝚎𝙬𝑒𝚋𝚗𝚘ѵ𝐞𝒍. c𝐨���
'Even if he says that it bothers him. I shouldn't wear it when we are together.'
Sumire sighed deeply. What is she going to do about that one? It's getting increasingly complex for her to be around Sano since his feelings are genuine. But it is already too late. No matter how sincere he is, all she feels when looking at him is pain.
Besides, there are more important things going on right now.