Eternal Melody

Toh didn\'t find her in her room the next morning. For a moment, he panicked, thinking she had left. But he hears humming and the smell of food. He sighed deeply, put on his clothes, and walked down the stairs.

Sumire was there in the kitchen, cooking and humming a melody. Judging from the bags in the doorway, Narasaki must have dropped by already. Seeing him, she waves him over, and he helps her set the table.

"So, what truly brings you here all this time?" Sumire asked.

"You." Toh didn\'t hesitate to reply.

Sumire laughed. "I know you\'re in love with me, but there must be something else."

He raises his eyebrow. Why does she think there is something else? This isn\'t like her, no. This is how she was when they first met, she was cautious and suspected everybody had hidden motives.

"I heard the boss\'s plans regarding you. It\'s not safe." Toh muttered.

He heard about \'D entertainment.\' and immediately understood what Lucifer was doing. As a psychologist, Lucifer\'s tactics bothered him. How dare that man play around with a person\'s mental condition?

"I see, so you\'re still serving him," Sumire mumbled.

"Only as a front."

Sumire laughed again. "You don\'t have to act so nervous. I understand, Toh, that you are on my side."

Toh extended his hand out and caressed her cheek. He brushed his fingertips against the cut on her cheek. "Did it hurt?"

"A little.

"Toh," Sumire mumbled.

"What is it?"

"Uh, last night," Sumire asked nervously.

"You fell asleep after we chatted for a bit after dinner, so I took you to your room."

Sumire looked at him like she was looking at a ghost.

"Did you think I would do something to you?" Toh said knowingly.

"W-well, yes." Sumire laughed sheepishly. "But you didn\'t, so that\'s good."

Toh cut up the piece of bacon and ate it. She keeps looking away from him.

"Sumire, are you still afraid of people?" Toh asked.

"N-not at all. I\'m just nervous." Sumire stammered.

"You know, lying isn\'t your forte. Moreover, lying to a psychologist."

Sumire kept avoiding his gaze, and he reached over and held her hand from across the table.

"Calm down. Take a deep breath." Toh instructed.

Sumire seemed very flustered, and he squeezed her hands. "This is good; your cooking has gotten better." Toh swiftly changed the topic to the food right in front of him.

Her eyes brightened. "You like it? I\'m so glad." She seemed genuinely relieved, and he noticed that her hands were less shaky.

"Yeah, of course, I do. These are my favorites, after all."

"I wasn\'t sure if you still liked the same food."

"The food abroad is nice and very different from here. But after a year, I got tired of the taste. It\'s all grease and oily food. Japanese cooking is healthier." Toh said as he took a bite of the omelets.

"T-Toh," Sumire said nervously. "I want to ask you, um. Did Hino mention the children?"

"Yeah, when is he bringing them over?"

Sumire looked at him, confused. "Do you not mind them being here?"

For a moment, he pauses. Indeed, he does mind. He can\'t be like Terashima. It will be difficult for him to adjust. Sumire must have sensed his turbulent emotions.

"I can\'t live here without them. Do you understand that, Toh?"

Toh understood. Of course, he did. She doesn\'t trust him, even after he leaves her alone in peace.

"I didn\'t say you couldn\'t have them here."

"But your expression-" Sumire said, puzzled.

"I will admit that it will be difficult for me. But I will adjust. I don\'t want you to leave my side again, Sumire."

Sumire bit her lip, and she stood up. She walked over to him and caressed his cheek. "You have a scar on your neck.."

Toh turns quiet. He was enjoying the feeling of her hand on his cheek, but he didn\'t think she would make that comment.

"Did you get hurt?" Sumire asked, concerned.

\'This scar is the smallest injury I have right now.\' Toh stopped himself from saying it. He doesn\'t want to overwhelm her, but they do eventually have to speak about what happened the past year.

"Help me bathe.

"Uh, no, I don\'t think I should."

Toh didn\'t let her finish her sentence and grabbed her wrist, dragging her to the bathroom downstairs. He immediately removes his clothes and notices Sumire averting her gaze.

"You\'ve seen me naked before. So, I don\'t mind you looking." Toh said, but he picked up a towel and wrapped it around his waist.

"You\'re insane," Sumire muttered.

No matter how insane he is, this is the best way to show her. Moreover, these scars wounded his pride too much. It will be difficult for him to explain the situation. Toh tugged on her arm and turned her around.

Sumire was trying to avoid him still, but she couldn\'t due to his strong grip. Her entire face was red, but her shyness quickly faded as she stared at him, no staring at the scars on his body,

"When you get on his bad side. Lucifer will not defend you. Lisa\'s grandmother did this to me. She has unusual tastes." Toh chose his words carefully.

Sumire looked like she was on the verge of tears, and Toh caressed her cheeks.

"I\'m fine now."

She shakes her head frantically. "I knew she was crazy."

"Huh?"

"The one who stole your photos and trashed my house that time wasn\'t miss Lisa. Miss Lisa was hostile towards me, but it\'s only normal since she was in love with you. It was her grandmother. When I realized how obsessed she was with you, I feared you would be in danger, and I met with Miss Lisa. She told me that she couldn\'t stop her grandmother from bringing Toh to the US. But, she would do her best to keep you by her side." Sumire explained.

Toh just looked at her, confused. He couldn\'t believe what he was hearing. He placed his hand on his face feeling a headache coming along. So, when she begged him to stay and acted weirdly. This was the reason why?

"I thought you asked me to stay because you loved me; was it not like that?"

Sumire frantically shakes her head again. "Don\'t misunderstand! I was indeed worried about your situation. But I truly wanted you to stay with me."