Eternal Melody

Chapter 717: What does it symbolize?

Yuhi sighed. If only there was a way to get closer to her right now. But the only 'method' he had in mind was 'that.' He cursed in his mind; it is no wonder there are so many bad rumors about him.     

"Now then. What's with the dress?"

"Um, the other day, you seemed troubled by my clothes. It's not exactly safe for me to be going out right now. So I decided I would just make my own clothes."

So, she noticed he was behaving strangely. If that is the case, then why is she wearing something even more revealing than before? His thoughts broke off, hearing jeering sounds, and he noticed a group of guys staring at Sumire and wolf-whistling.

Frowning, he draped his jacket around her shoulders. 

"Seriously, if I didn't promise Hino already. I would have gouged out the eyes of anybody who looks at you strangely." Yuhi raised his voice slightly.

The guys who were staring at Sumire just a few minutes ago turned pale. One of them said his name, and they immediately rushed away. 

"Then Yuhi-san, it seems like you have your work cut out for you." 

Huh? She wrapped her arms around her neck and mumbled something. For those walking by, it looked like she was kissing his neck, but she was actually speaking to him.

'Three o'clock, five men cloaked in black.'

He briefly turned his head and placed his hand on her head, continuing the act, and confirmed her words. A deep sigh passed his lips. So, they aren't even going to wait until the performance. Or maybe they are just observing for now? Either way, there is still some time before the members of the public arrive.

He looked at Sumire briefly to see her gleaming eyes and mischievous smile. 

......

Even in a well-structured organization like the Black Alice organization, there is a group of people who abuse their power. They are a band of thieves who extract protection fees from the poor areas of town. These people conduct illegal human trafficking, often selling humans with unique traits to dubious characters.

These people are only new; they had been around just shortly before Sumire arrived in Tokyo. Now that he thought about it, they showed up around when Mamoru's accident occurred. 

Is it just a coincidence? Previously when he and Sumire actively investigated Mamoru's case, there were no leads at all. But perhaps he ought to look into this again. 

These talons are the ones who were staring at Sumire earlier. They didn't exactly do anything other than look, so b they didn't have to chase them down. But he only agreed because he wanted Sumire to let out some steam.

'I almost forgot how easy this was when somebody talented comes along.' He came along with Sumire, but there was no need for him to do anything; she took care of the people in a flash.

It reminds him of the first time they fought alongside each other. He kept reminding her to take safety margins like a fool, and she listened. But, when the opportunity arose, she charged toward the enemy and beat them in three seconds. It may have even been less than that; it was the same this time too.

"Hmm." Sumire looked towards the men on the ground. "That was surprisingly fast. I thought it would be more difficult."

Yuhi's sweat fell at her words. What type of adventure was she expecting? No, since it is her. It's not hard to imagine what she wanted from this. He thought she had been too behaved since that last time with Mashima Mirako, no, ever since she arrived in Tokyo.

It seemed like she courted disasters before they went out with each other. But since then, she has been on her best behavior. Is this the impact of holding back for so long?

Moreover, his gaze falls on the gun in her hands. 'I didn't even know that she carried that around with her everywhere.' Due to her position in the entertainment industry right now, he thought she would know better than to carry a weapon with her. Even he refrains from doing so now. 

Sumire glanced over and chuckled. "Are you going to lecture me for carrying this?"

"No, I'm just surprised."

"When I don't have this on me, I feel very uneasy. It's strange. I hate violence, but not only am I a member of the underworld. But, when I have a weapon in my hands, I calm down."    

It's not weird at all, Yuhi wanted to tell her. But as someone who has experienced just as much bloodshed and violence as she. His words would only seem empty.

"That gun isn't the one issued by Holy knights, is it?"

"Mm, this is different. I got it as a present, probably from the facility. It seems like this was the only thing I brought home with me when my parents came to take me." Sumire trailed off and laughed weakly. "My parents were horrified; they didn't know what the facility was implying, leaving me with a gun. They immediately locked it away. But I knew where they hid it. So occasionally, I would find myself sneaking into that room and staring at it. My memories were hazy, but for some reason, I knew. 'Oh that's mine.'."

Yuhi paused. He thought it looked familiar, but it truly seemed to be the gun she used back then as a child. When the facility releases the children out into society, they give them a parting gift, regardless of whether that child was released normally, if they ran away, or were just dismissed. 

Even though he escaped, imagine his surprise when a gift showed up on his doorstep from those people. What they gave him was 'the sword' he used during his fight with Mashima Mirako. He thought this was normal until he heard what they gave Hino and other members released into society. A necklace, proof of their time in the facility. But they gave him and Sumire weapons; what is that supposed to symbolize?

"I'll call someone to take care of these people-"

There must be something he is not getting. The people in the facility, even now. Exactly how involved are they in the lives of the subjects who left? Ever since he escaped that place, he has never thought of returning. There was a time when just a mere mention of that place made him physically sick. After he met Hino, that stopped, so it occurred to him that Hino erased his last memories of that place.