Eternal Melody

It didn't occur to him that the living arrangements with Sumire would start on that very day. But, when he finds her in the living room looking around curiously. He understood immediately. Narasaki, the least he could have done was warn him. Still, after hugging her earlier. He hadn't stopped thinking about her.

"Do you like it?" Toh appeared behind her, and Sumire jumped.

She looked at him for a few minutes, confused, before loudly exclaiming.

"Wait, you're the person I have to live with?"

Narasaki Hino works way too fast. Or rather, how did he get her to agree to move away from her house to live with somebody?

"That's right." Toh nodded.

"N-no, it's too dangerous," Sumire mumbled, and he raised his eyebrow. "How did you persuade Hino?"

"He said anybody is better than Nagawa Sano."

It wasn't a lie, but not the complete truth. Narasaki said that he needed to find somebody who would watch over Sumire carefully and care for her emotionally.

"But Hino knows about us." Sumire fidgeted uncomfortably.

"About us?" Toh had to stop himself from grinning.

"That we dated. So, I find this weird." She kept averting her gaze, and he didn't like it. So, he walked over to her and gradually closed the distance between them. "W-what are you doing?" She stammered.

Toh chuckled and cupped her cheeks. "I didn't mention this earlier. But you're so lovely. It makes me want to kiss you."

"Y-You can't!" Sumire exclaimed.

"Well, we don't have to rush. I won't do anything unless you want to. I know you find this situation weird. But, this is for your own good." He brushed his forehead against hers. "So, let me take care of you?"

Sumire reluctantly nodded, and he let her go.

"Where are your bags? I will help you pack."

"Hino said he would bring it over. I wanted to take a look at the place first and introduce myself to my new roommate."

"I see. So, do you like your roommate?"

Sumire averted her gaze. "Have you made dinner yet? I could make you something to eat."

"That would be nice. But I already made food." Toh trailed off. "Should we eat dinner early?"

Sumire agreed, and it didn't take long before he had the food set out on the table. It was the most awkward meal of his life. Sumire didn't speak much, and when his hands occasionally brushed against hers. She panicked. Toh didn't mind too much. He just liked that they were together again after so long.

After the meal, he sat on the sofa to rest when she came over to sit beside him.

"Are you displeased?" Toh asked as he made sure to rest her head on his shoulder.

"A little. You suddenly came back, didn't message me either, and now we are living together." Sumire said frustrated.

"I'm sorry for not letting you know." Toh apologized.

"What did you say to Hino?" Sumire wondered.

"I said I'd protect you with my life."

Sumire was speechless before mumbling. "You really do still like me."

"I love you. I don't want to live without you anymore." Toh ended up confessing before he even understood what was going on.

Toh chuckled, seeing her red face. "Why so shocked?"

"O--of course--y-you've never said-" Sumire stammered.

"I didn't get the chance before. But now I do."

Sumire seemed very conflicted with his response, but he focused more on her eyelids dropping every few seconds.

"Sumire, if you're tired, sleep."

She just came back from a concert, she must be tired.

"I'd like to chat more. We haven't met in so long."

"Alright." Toh caressed her hair. "What would you like to hear about?"

"When did you break up with Miss Lisa?" Sumire asked.

For a moment, he is surprised at her question. They have a lot to discuss, and yet that is her first question.

"I think it was roughly four or six months ago?" Toh replied.

"You don't know the time frame?"

"That's because she still kept trying to meet with me."

"So you slept with her."

"Indeed."

Sumire was quiet, and Toh quickly added.

"She wasn't as good as you, though."

"D-don't joke about that." Sumire stammered.

Toh laughed. She really is very cute. But it wasn't a joke at all. Every single day that passed by since they parted ways, she was always on his mind. Even when he slept with that woman, he only ever thought of her. His thoughts of her and their shared memories kept him sane abroad.

'I should keep that information to myself for now.' Sumire is acting calmly, but she keeps averting her gaze. It's not due to her being shy, either. She is exhibiting traits of somebody who is uncomfortable around people. Sumire has always had this issue, but now she is avoiding eye contact with people she knows.

She is smiling more, but something is definitely wrong with her. He recalled the newspaper clippings and frowned. If Sumire is involved in anything dangerous, the most likely culprit is Aki. That man, what is he making her do now? He has to find out.

"Aren't you sleepy?"

"I am, but-" Sumire paused. "Toh. I think I missed you."

"Are you finally being honest?"

"But you, you left me," Sumire mumbled.

Those were her last words before she drifted off to sleep.

'I left her, huh? Even if I had no choice, this has done some damage to her. I knew when I conducted a psychological analysis before, but she reacts this way whenever people leave her. It is only normal since so many people abandon her.'

Toh drapes a blanket around her. Sumire, you don't have to worry about anything anymore. He will be right beside you. Lucifer is going to be a problem.

That guy is acting nonchalantly, but Toh recalled his brother's recent behavior. He heard of the case of Mirako attacking Sumire and was furious. That was when his brother said, 'Do not think that Lucifer will favor you forever. If you overstep your boundaries, he will dispose of even you.'

Unfortunately, that little threat didn't work on him.

'Lucifer intends to keep me by his side to the very end, while I don't understand why. I can take advantage of it.'

Mirako's misunderstanding is due to his jealousy. Who cares about being Lucifer's favorite? That man is a psycho.