Chapter 333 - Bad Habits
Sumire felt her heartbeat increase.
This is so foolish. What are they both doing? As she thought this, she felt Yuhi's lips on hers. It was a brief kiss, but it made her feel so emotional. She recalled the contents of the letters.
'Call me anytime if you have trouble.'
When she saw that she wanted to call him immediately, she isolated herself for so long and didn't speak with anyone after Ru passed away. But receiving those books with his letters, she slowly regained some strength. 'I want to see somebody, to see Yuhi.'
"I missed you. I wanted to see you."
His gaze is gentle. "I'm sorry. You know I regretted it, leaving you behind. When I came to Tokyo, I was at a loss, and I didn't even know why I returned. It was different without you by my side. We may have ended up as boss and subordinate, and I may have ended up used and treated like a hunting dog. But I longed for those days even though they restricted my freedom."
"You know I never once treated you as--"
Yuhi cuts her off by tracing her lips with his fingers. "I know that. You were the only one who treated me as a human, as a detective. Thanks to you, I could use my strength to protect rather than hurt."
"Yuhi."
"I'm so grateful to you, Sumire. Thank you so much."
Why does he treat her in such high regard? She never understood before. She never understood before because she never tried to understand. This person's genuine feelings for her and everything he does is because she saved him from the darkness in his heart.
When she saw Yuhi again at the bar a few months ago, she noticed something had changed. The aura around him differed from before.
He seems kinder and less restless? Back when he was a member of Holy Knights with her, he gave off a distant aura. He wasn't cold-hearted. But he did not interact with others very well. Back then, he only cared about revenge.
The current Terashima Yuhi is different.
It seems the one that changed him was her.
Her thoughts broke off when Yuhi extended his hand out, manju in his hands. "Alright, then open wide."
"I--I can't eat anymore." Rather how can she eat in this strange mood?
"You sure?"
Sumire slowly nodded. "Yuhi-san, can I ask-" Her sentence fell short when he kissed her after eating the manju. The sweet taste of the bun filled her mouth.
"Too sweet for me."
"…"
Sumire stared at him, speechless. 'Th-this guy? What is with him?' Sumire sighed deeply. It feels like she always gets caught up in his pace. Nothing has changed since she was his boss. It felt weird being Yuhi's boss when he had more experience than her. She knew nothing about being a detective. Sure she was strong, but that was all. She only had strength, but she couldn't solve cases.
If Yuhi didn't join back, then she would have struggled. Perhaps she would have lost her place in Holy Knights. What use is their having brute strength and nothing else?
It didn't take her long to realize that he was also looking at her.
"Why are you watching me, Yuhi-san?"
"Well, I could say the same back at you."
"That is unfair, I asked first."
His lips curve to a half-smile, half-smirk. "Is it a problem? Watching you?"
"No problem, I like it a lot." Why would she be against him paying even more attention to her than he already does?
Yuhi dropped a gentle kiss on her forehead. A content sigh passed her lips. "I think you figured it out already, but I like looking at you. If possible, I want to look at only you."
"Then maybe you should do that, Yuhi-san."
He laughed. "Are you going to damage my eyes so I can only look at you?"
That doesn't sound like a bad idea. Before she could say that, however, he suddenly said. "Thank you for making me so happy."
Ah, he is a fool. There is no need for him to say such things. She felt her cheeks burn at his words, and he laughed again. "Reminds you of old times, boss?"
"Quit it." Sumire hits him lightly, but he grabbed her hands.
Yuhi brought her fingers to his mouth and slowly kissed each finger. "..."
"You know, after I returned to Tokyo, I wandered around a lot. Occasionally I would find things that reminded me of you and ended up buying it."
"Things that reminded you of me?" Sumire repeated as she played with the buttons on his shirt.
"Yeah, I bought a lot of stuff. Why do you think I have multiple houses in Tokyo? I needed the storage space."
Exactly what did he buy to fill several houses? Then again, she isn't one to talk when it comes to bad habits.
Since she missed him a lot, she ended up buying cigarettes and would light them to keep his scent around her. She never smoked but always carried the same brand of cigarettes and lighter.
"Lately, Shin is avoiding me."
"Didn't he speak to you recently?"
"But that was one time," Sumire recalled that scene of him badly hurt. "Was he embarrassed about that time?"
"Men don't like to show their weak side in front of the girl they like."
Sumire rolled her eyes. "Aren't you too calm about that?"
"No, it bothers me." Yuhi sighed. "But you know those guys all mean well. They care a lot about you regardless of their feelings."
So Yuhi-san can see that much?
"I think he is hiding something about the case from me," Sumire confirmed her suspicions the last time she saw him. He was fidgeting and kept averting his gaze.
"Maybe because he realized your seeking help from Makoto?"
"What's wrong with me using whatever resource I have?" Sumire countered.
Yuhi chuckled. "I didn't say it was wrong, but Shin might take it the wrong way. He probably thinks you don't need him anymore since he failed."
Her eyes widened, realizing. "Wait, do you think-?"
"Yeah."
"I didn't intend for that to happen."
"Relax, I will talk to him."
"Yuhi, did you find anything out too?" Sumire questioned. Shin isn't the only one behaving strangely.
"It's not something large. But when you were working on the solo songs with Quatro Light. I noticed there was someone following you."
Sumire blinked when she heard those words before she loudly exclaimed. "Wait, what?!!!"
"Mmm, why do you think I came with you most of the time?"
Was somebody following her? How come she didn't notice that? Sure her skills may have gotten a bit rusty due to her peaceful life now, but even then, it is impossible for her not to notice.
"It's alright."
"How can you say that?"
"Because Sumire, you have me."
'Ah, I give up; this person is the one person I can't go against.' The one person who can destroy her strong front.
Before she could reply to those words, the sound of Yuhi's phone ringing interrupted them. Yuhi only briefly looked at the screen before he got up. Ah, he is leaving; she wanted to talk a bit more and also recalled her fingers that lingered on his shirt. Perhaps she could have done something.
Her thoughts broke off when she felt a pair of lips on hers. "Just taking a call, don't leave here, and we can continue."
"Continue?" She feigned ignorance, and Yuhi laughed.
"Yeah, continue." He replied vaguely.
"Then be quick."
With a final goodbye kiss, Yuhi left the room in a hurry. Sumire slumped on the ground and extended her hand towards the ceiling. She almost said something crazy again.
Yuhi makes her go crazy. This feeling is so strange, but it isn't unpleasant.