SUMIRE
Yuhi immediately slumped forward and her eyes widened, because the moment he landed in her arms. Sumire felt a warm patch on his back. It was blood. Despite Yuhi wearing a black cloak, Sumire could see the large damp patch.
He was bleeding.
"Yuhi? Yuhi!" Sumire exclaimed.
Her face colour turned pale. What is this? How did he get hurt this badly?
'The only time I have seen him this injured is when Yuhi-san fought Akishima.' There was also that time when he confessed to her. But, other than those occasions, Terashima Yuhi never gets hurt in a fight.
He's far too strong.
Yuhi coughs and blood comes out of his lips. "Atushi, where is Sumire today?"
Oh, he hasn't realized it's her yet.
Before she could say anything, Atushi enters the room.
"She's safe, you don't have to worry."
"I'll go to see her, I just need to rest for a few minutes." Yuhi said weakly.
Sumire looks at Atushi horrified. 'Don't tell me, he's been sneaking a glance at her, after coming back injured?' From the video Toh showed her, Yuhi-san looked calm. But, has he been suffering this entire time.
"Lay him down on the couch."
Sumire nodded and helped Yuhi-san over to the couch. The moment they reached the couch, Yuhi pulled her into his arms.
"My vision is bad, but it feels like Sumire is here." Yuhi mumbled. "Unless you got me a plushie that feels like her."
Sumire felt her cheeks heat at Yuhi's words.
Atushi rolls his eyes, as he took out the med kit. "How would you know how she feels?"
"Ha, you have no idea how many opportunities I set up to hug her."
H-he did what?
"I mean, it was easy. I knew how meek she got after jobs, if I stuck around long enough. I knew I'd be the one to find her in that state. But, just for insurance, I would send people away."
'Unbelievable! All those times I thought it was a coincidence that he always found me when I was sad? But actually it was deliberate?' Sumire didn't know whether she ought to laugh or cry.
He didn't have to do that.
After all, she schemed her way into his arms plenty of times. She even made excuses why she had to stay in them for longer.
To think they were doing the same thing.
"I even snuck in a few kisses. Ha, if only I could do that now."
H-he kissed her? W-when? If she was embarrassed before, her face felt like it would explode due to warmth. O-Oh--- T-that? H-huh?
Atushi was shaking his head and walked over.
"Close your eyes, I don't want you whining while I treat your wounds."
"Yeah, I could use some sleep."
Sumire waited for a few minutes. Thankfully it didn't take long before Yuhi fell asleep. She reluctantly moved away from Yuhi.
"Help me flip him over."
She not only did that, but removed Yuhi's cloak. The moment the cloak was off, she felt her hands tremble. There was so much blood. How on earth did he manage to move?
"Don't worry, it's not as bad as you think. Something must have fallen on him." Atushi trails off. "Considering how he has been burning things without thinking of the consequences, it wouldn't surprise me if this wound is because of that."
Right, Jack mentioned that. But, this wound seems far too serious for that.
"There's a slash underneath all that blood. I can see it." Sumire pointed out.
Atushi frowned and looked down. "You're right. Huh? This is strange, who could have possibly hurt him?"
Sumire thought back to the video Toh was sent, and Lucifer's frantic voice. Could it be? Did this injury happen after that video? Lucifer must have rushed over and confronted Yuhi.
Atushi must have understood and cursed. "We need to get a doctor here, we can't just patch this up."
Sumire exhales deeply but takes a deep breath before she takes her phone out. "Come here, immediately."
She didn't wait for a response before forwarding an address. She turned back to Yuhi and sobbed. Oh this fool, why did he have to do this? Her conversation with Jack plays in her head.
'I thought I knew about Yuhi's feelings for me. I thought I understood. After all, I noticed how heated his gaze was whenever he looked at me.' But, back then she simply assumed that he only wanted her in his bed, like all the other women she saw him with. So, when he eventually confessed, it took her by surprise.
It wasn't the most romantic confession, but it was a confession from the person she loved. And yet, she could only be happy about it for a few seconds. Because she remembered the rumors about Yuhi leaving for Tokyo.
'I could have gone with him, and he knew that.' But, it wouldn't have been good for either of them.
"It's not my place to say, but Yuhi really likes you Sumire."
Sumire bit her bottom lip. "Right now, I'm with Toh."
Atushi sighs. "I understand Sumire, I do. But, I just don't think you can abandon Yuhi without sorting things out. It's clear to anyone that you have strong feelings for him."
"But, that's selfish." Sumire mumbled.
Her priority should be making that future with Mashima Toh possible, not speaking to Yuhi-san when neither of them are in a relationship.
"You've been selfish this entire time. I don't think one more act of selfishness will do any harm." Atushi said.
It was blunt, but Sumire knew it was the truth.
'Your wrong, it's different this time.' Sumire wanted to argue. Because it was different. Her previous acts of being selfish had nothing to do with the people she loved. Now it does.
She doesn't want to hurt either Yuhi or Toh, but she will have to.
'How can I possibly consider having a future with Mashima Toh, without settling things with Yuhi? No, how could she possibly even entertain those thoughts, when Yuhi has been singing for her all along.'
When he has made his feelings for her painfully clear.
How many times has Terashima Yuhi shown up before her this past year, simply because she keeps getting herself involved in life threatening situations?
So many times, and yet she can't just abandon Toh for Yuhi. It wouldn't be right.