After walking for a few minutes, they eventually arrived at the residential areas near the bar. Underneath the street light in the middle of the street, she spotted a familiar bike parked.
Isn't that Shin's bike? Sure enough, when they got closer, she confirmed it was Shin's. However, recalling that the reporter was following them, she could not run over.
Yuhi, however, pushed her forward. "Go. I will deal with it."
Sumire turned to him with suspicion and then sighed. "I suppose I shall leave this to you."
'Sometimes, I do not want him to get involved with this anymore. The ugliness and dirtiness of the underworld are far too much sometimes. However, it is because of people like that reporter that I was unable to find peace.'
What murderer? Because they repeatedly said such things after Ru's death, she started to believe it. It took quite some time, but she gradually overcame those words after she settled her emotions.
Her thoughts broke off when Yuhi suddenly grabbed hold of her hand. "I forgot to do something."
Before she could even ask him what it was that he forgot, she felt his hands on her cheeks, and in the next second, he was kissing her deeply.
'Stupid hooligan.' Sumire cursed in her head. He should at least warn her before giving her such a passionate kiss. Although it was the middle of the night, this was still a residential area. Many people were walking nearby.
Sure enough, it did not take long before she heard the sound of people whispering. Sumire hit Yuhi's chest with her hands, indicating for him to let her go, but not only did he not do that, he deepened the kiss instead.
After kissing for a good few minutes, he eventually let go and wiped his lips. "Well, I hope the reporter took a nice photo."
"Hooligan," Sumire mumbled. Even without looking at a mirror, she knew how red her face was right now.
Yuhi chuckled before pressing a light kiss on her forehead. "Yes, yes, I know. Get going; Shin is looking this way and sighing."
"You're so cruel to your rivals."
"If I wanted to be cruel, there are other things I can do."
Sumire immediately sensed his suggestive sounding tone and quickly bolted away from him. It did not take long before she reached Shin's motorbike.
"I thought I was going to have to wait forever."
Sumire coughed lightly, realizing what he was implying. "Don't be stupid. Yuhi won't attack me in the middle of the street."
"Actually, he could."
Her cheeks colored again, understanding that Shin was right. Several of Yuhi's attempts appeared in her head. She shouldn't underestimate that beast-
Her thoughts broke off when Shin extended his hand out and passed her an envelope. "You should prepare yourself; those people have made a move."
Those people? Sumire immediately took out the first stack of documents from the envelope.
"Dark entertainment?"
"It seems they took over a small entertainment company, and with the Black Alice organization funding, it has now expanded. They have already actively recruited new artists and will start activities next month."
Start activities next month? This timing clearly shows they are trying to go against her. With her being in Tokyo, it was difficult for her to get her company's support. Moreover, she does not want to trouble them over this matter.
'It is okay if you take a rest.'
A rest, huh? If she debuted again under a different company, they would treat her as a new artist. But that situation would be far better than her coming back with her old status and having that new company plot something using those new artists.
Trying to suppress her, think again?
"Shin, Jupiter records president, was trying to recruit me, right?"
Shin's eyes widened when he realized what she was suggesting. "Wait, Sumire, If you join the company, you will be with Atsuro-"
Indeed it was the main reason why she refused before.
"I cannot join Yuhi's company."
She knew what others would say if she joined Yuhi's company. "I do not want to make things even harder for him."
At those words, Shin sighed. "I won't let you do this."
"Shin-"
He held up another document and her eyes widened when she saw what it was. It was a contract inviting her to join Yuhi's company. Hino had already signed it.
"I figured you would do this when you saw this information, so I asked ahead of time. It seemed he already prepared the contract for you a long time ago."
Sumire blinked when she heard those words and confirmed it by looking at the time stamp on the contract. That guy didn't mention it at all. So he was already planning to be her manager?
"Debut under Yuhi's company as a new artist. Actually, your technically still considered a new artist despite having so much experience. You only had one debut single and only did activities for like two months before your long break. You are still new. So it's actually easy to switch companies."
"Mm, but this is temporary." Sumire trailed off; her gaze fell on the moon. "I cannot betray Star records just because I want to be with Yuhi."
She has made many fond memories with the people there. Moreover, when she needed help the most. The president extended his hand out to help her. However, he poached her in a rather shameless manner.
"I see. It seems they are truly willing to do anything to take you down. However, is it not a waste for them to start an entertainment company? There are many ways they can get to you. Your underworld activities have reduced, but you are still very active. Why do they feel the need to take you down using a normal method?"
"Is it not obvious why?" Sumire trailed off as Shin shook his head. "It is because they can see how much music means to me. They can see how much I love it. If they tried to attack me using normal means, they would lose."
She was confident that with her strength, nobody could beat her.
Shin immediately understood. "So they want to target your dream and break you down emotionally?"
"When I am emotionally vulnerable, it would be easier for them to get to me." Sumire frowned. "What I don't understand is why they didn't get to me when I was locked away in Ru's home."
That was the time when she was the most vulnerable. If the enemy truly wanted to get their hands on her, why did they not use that time?
Aki tried to get people to guard the house back then, but she sent them all away, so there was no protection. Even the reporters would drop by, and she would hear them talking outside.
At first, she ignored it, but then she could no longer stand the noise, so she blocked all the windows.. She made sure there was no sound left.