Eternal Melody

He is the only one around her now who could make her react this way.

That bastard. What has he done to her? He could think of several things, but with Narasaki and Terashima around, how could he possibly have gotten close enough to Sumire?

Unless they didn\'t know?

It wouldn\'t be surprising. Sumire is very good at hiding. Last he heard from the lord, too, Nagawa is failing as a pawn because Sumire was using him. Meaning Sumire was playing her games with him, only for it to backfire.

"It was him, wasn\'t it?" Toh tried to control his tone. But he was beyond furious.

He thought there was something else wrong with her. She acted too cautiously whenever he touched her. At first, he thought it was because she was taken now, so she was setting up the necessary boundaries. But that\'s not it.

She was genuinely afraid.

There was something wrong, multiple things even. However, who would have thought it was this?

Sumire opened her eyes. She seemed relieved that he didn\'t hit her.

"Pretending to seduce that will only lead to consequences. I thought we talked about this before." Toh lectured.

Sumire\'s cheeks flushed, and she averted her gaze ashamed. "It was only minor, and I set boundaries."

"I\'m sure you did, but he broke those anyway." Toh knew he was being harsh.

But he couldn\'t believe she had gone through with that stupid plan. She had discussed it with him a few months after they started dating. She told him that one day Sano would eventually come back into her life, and she may end up needing to take drastic measures.

He told her then that he would support her no matter what she decided to do. But after hearing her plan, Toh had to stop her.

"I-I didn\'t-I didn\'t think it would be like this. I didn\'t think he would try to touch me so many times. At first, it was just kissing, but sometimes when I stay over at the hospital. I wake up, and my clothes are a bit messed up. I don\'t-I don\'t know if he has-" 

By this point, Sumire was shaking so badly. She had her hands covering her ears as though she was trying to block something out.

Nagawa fucking Sano. That bastard. Toh was already thinking of thousands of ways to kill him.

"Did this start after Terashima left?" Toh inquired.

Sumire nodded. "I had to stay over, as you know, after giving birth. I had to recuperate for a few days. As my doctor, he was naturally in charge of me. I thought it would be like the previous times I stayed before, so I let my guard down."

"Does anybody know? Narasaki?"

"I think he suspects something. But the ward was empty. There were no other nurses. It was just us two. I did find it strange. The previous times there were at least other nurses and doctors around. But I was too drained after giving birth."

Toh felt his anger growing. He was struggling to contain his dammed rage. That guy, that guy actually- and while she was sleeping, that\'s even worse than taking her forcibly when she is awake. 

"T-Toh. I- I didn\'t. I haven\'t been meaning to push you away. I just-"

Toh shakes his head. "Stop explaining. You owe me no explanation."

\'Lord, forget watching over that guy. If I even get a glimpse of him, I am ripping him to shreds.\'

"I don\'t actually know if he did anything. I was very weak then."

"From what you are describing, he must have," Toh said bitterly. The girl turned quiet, and right at that moment, Mamoru burst into the room.

He appeared in front of Sumire with the same look of fury in his eyes, but he immediately pulled her into his arms.

"He\'s gone too far this time. I\'ll beat him up."

Not \'I\'ll talk to him, but I\'\' beat him up.\' At least Tsueno is being sensible this time around. Toh never understood why Tsueno was so focused on forgiving that bastard. 

"Ru." Sumire sobbed.

"Ssh, I\'m here."

Sumire immediately burst into tears, and Mamoru held her tighter. After a few minutes, the girl stopped crying and fell asleep. Mamoru was clenching his fist and emitting a very dark aura. It surprised him that he wasn\'t bursting out of the door.

"I\'ll stay here for a few days. Do you mind?"

Toh shakes her head. "It\'ll be better for her and the kid too."

Moreover, Sumire still has reservations against him. Now he knows it\'s because of what Nagawa did. He isn\'t too upset. But Tsueno needs to stay here until she gets used to being with another man again. 

Whatever damage Nagawa did to her will never apply to Tsueno Mamoru. Because from what he heard of their relationship, they barely held hands and only slept together that one time. Of course, Sumire won\'t see him as somebody dangerous.

"Sano isn\'t a bad guy." Mamoru suddenly said.

He frowned. "Tsueno, after what just happened, surely-"

Mamoru shakes his head. "Don\'t get me wrong. I am furious about what he did to her. But at the same time, I know he is suffering too. We have all suffered because of Lucifer, me, him, and Ki are no different from each other. Or the thousands of others that man has stepped on. You\'re included in that."

Toh couldn\'t say anything to refute those words. But he couldn\'t accept it. Mamoru is clearly angry too.

"We are all broken, but we use different ways to cope. In his own twisted way, Sano does love Ki despite what she says. Ki did love him at one point. Maybe not as strong as she loved either you or me. But there was something there. Ki understands that too, and that\'s why she is suffering more. She knows there is a good male there somewhere, the good man who helped her cope with the pain of Yuhi being away." 

He was still angry, but Mamoru has always had a good way with words. Indeed, Sumire is strong. For her to continue this reckless idea despite the consequences must mean she is still searching for the old Nagawa. Even if she knows there is a chance that he is long gone, she is willing to risk it. 

"She is too good for that trash."

Mamoru laughed. "I can\'t disagree there." He looked towards Sumire. "I just want her to be happy, you know? It doesn\'t have to be me. I just want her to smile. I want her to live freely."

Toh couldn\'t say anything to that. After all, he knew he couldn\'t say those same words without bitterness. He can\'t let her go without even putting up a fight. He can\'t be like Mamoru, willing to sacrifice his happiness and being with her.