Sano felt content just holding her, but he found himself placing kisses on her neck after a while.
"Hold on your-" Sano did not give her the chance to finish her sentence.
"Sumire. Hey, do you remember when I first touched you? I was so nervous. I thought I wouldn't be able to do anything."
"Liar."
"I'm not lying."
"Liar," Sumire mumbled. "If you were nervous, you wouldn't have done such a horrid thing."
"Horrid-" Sano paused as he thought about it. "That was-"
"Doing something like that, I was so confused."
"Weren't you the one who kissed me?"
"Other than kissing, I didn't know anything else."
Sano stared at the girl, speechless. She was the one who asked him out so boldly and even followed him back home. But she didn't know anything?
'I am surprised she isn't changing the topic.' Still, quite some time has passed since he last spoke to her carefreely like this. He feels comfortable and relaxed around her.
"How is your health?"
"Oh right, the medicine." Sumire trailed off. "I only have three left; you told me I have to come to you when I have three left, right?"
"Yeah." He trailed off. "I'll check later. I-" Sano trailed off and coughed.
Sumire frowned and placed her hand across his forehead.
"Your fever is bad. Wait a minute. I'll cook something for you."
"There's nothing in the fridge."
"I brought groceries."
Huh?
"I planned to have a nice meal with you to make up for ignoring you. I didn't think you would be sick, but it works either way."
'She admitted to ignoring me so casually. But I can't get mad. A meal together?'
His lips curve to a smile at the thought, and he lets go of her.
A relieved sigh passed her lips the moment he did, and he frowned. Does it bother her that much? He didn't even do anything.
His thoughts broke off when Sumire gently placed her hand on his forehead. "Mm, you need to rest. You don't look well. It's been many days, but you're still sick because you haven't looked after yourself properly."
What can he do when his body is in such a terrible state? Sano grabbed hold of the edge of her clothes. "Are you not going to ask me more about what I said earlier?"
"About proposing to me?"
"Yeah."
Even if she no longer has feelings for him, isn't her reaction too low? No, what is he thinking? Of course, she won't feel anything now.
"Can I see the ring?"
Sano blinked, puzzled at her question, but he pointed to the top of his bedside table drawer. Sumire pulled it out, and he watched as she carefully examined the design.
"Your right; this is the type of ring I like. You know my tastes well. If you were truly not serious about me, you wouldn't know something like this."
There was something different about her today. There was a nostalgic look in her voice and even her tone.
"Will you take it?"
"For now, I will. But, do not misunderstand my intentions. Right now, I just want to help you overcome your regrets."
"Am I the only one with regrets?" Sano asked bitterly.
Even though she acts the way she does, he has had more than enough time to observe her behavior. "Is it not the same for you?"
He did not dare to say this to her at the start, but the situation has changed now.
Sumire laughed weakly. "You caught me there."
Is she admitting it?
"You know I gave Yuhi-san a brief overview of my thoughts, my regrets towards you in the past, and I ended up crying. I guess I still end up emotional when I look back on things. Even though it is already too late to make amends, I still cry if people ask me. It's weird how fate works. No matter how many times you push a person away, you will meet them repeatedly if you are destined to play a role in your story."
"Are you saying that I still play a role in your story?"
Sumire laughed. "You already are silly."
Sano felt his heartbeat increase once he saw her bright smile. Since when? Since when could she look at him like that?
'Even back when we dated, she has never shown such a sincere smile on her face.' Sano lets go of her sleeve. "Can I make some requests?"
"Sure."
…..
It did not take long for her to finish cooking and return to the room with a tray. The entire time he could not get any sleep. His thoughts were a mess. He wonders when did she become so important to him? The feelings he has for her differ from before.
'I want to be by her side, even if it is only for a short while until I can no longer suppress those people to the very last moment. I want to be with her. I want to see her smile like that.'
Sano did not think such pure-sounding emotions existed inside him.
Since when did he start feeling this way towards her?
He noticed for a long time that something was changing. When he first heard that she was coming to Tokyo, he decided to follow her. He didn't truly know what he was expecting. At first, he did not entertain the thought of getting back together with her. Even he knew how badly his words hurt her.
But before he knew it, he was watching over her. 'I am even utilizing the connections I made to help her return to her career be as smooth sounding as possible.' He knew his actions baffled so many people, yet he wasn't stopping.
'I wonder if she knows about him bribing the reporters yet.'
"Is it good?"
"Yeah."
Sumire laughed. "I didn't think you would ask for rice porridge with honey; it's such a simple meal."
"Even I like simple foods like this."
"Is that so?"
'I love her so much. I don't want those people to hurt her.' But their recent behavior towards him shows that they are planning something significant involving her. He asked his assistant to investigate, and he received the news this morning.
"Sumire, those people will start an entertainment company to take you down."
"Mmm, I know."
Does she already know? It is not easy to get that information. Then again, he should stop underestimating her information network. He already saw how involved she was with the underworld affairs with his own eyes.
His thoughts broke off when he heard the sound of a bang, followed by rushing footsteps. For a moment, he is alarmed, thinking those people came here. They usually wouldn't, but it is hard to predict their movements recently. Sano proceeded to stand up to protect Sumire, but there was no need.
"Hino, I only sent you a brief message. Your too fast." Sumire commented casually.
Indeed there, standing at the doorway, was none other than his best friend, Hino.
Sweat trickled down Hino's face onto his neck, and he appeared to be out of breath, indicating that he ran all the way here.
"In that brief time, something could have happened>" Hino glared at him. "You didn't do anything to her again, did you?"
"Relax, manager; he is too sick to try anything."