The moment his name escaped her lips, Kuga practically bolted out of the door.

"That guy seems like he is quite afraid of me; he escaped rather quickly," Eli said as he took a seat opposite of her.

Sumire sighed. "At least warn me before you show up out of nowhere."

"If I did that, you would run away."

This person is somebody she knew shortly after she became a member of the Holy Knights organization. But even after so many years, many things about him remained a mystery to her. All she knew about him was that he is a genius scientist; in public, he appears to be an easy-going and friendly guy. But he normally has a detached personality and spoke in a monotone voice.

Sumire learned this part about him fairly quickly since they spent a lot of time together.

"There is no need."

If Eli came here from abroad, then it must be like what Kuga said. "Is it bad?"

"Yes, your little friend there was telling the truth. The situation in the delinquent world is something one cannot avoid any longer. It will not be long before you start to see more things on the news."

An age where delinquent fighting, where underworld matters will strongly affect the average person. An age of conflict and misery on a different scale.

"You told me you were observing people that Ru asked you."

Eli chuckled and slid a few photos.

Her eyes widened when she saw the photographs. "Shin, San, and Hino?!!"

"It was interesting observing them."

Wait a moment, why did Ru ask Eli to watch them? When Eli first told her that Ru asked him to watch over people, she thought they were suspects in his case. But that is not the case here. Moreover, is it just a coincidence that those three are the ones she has interacted with the most since she arrived in Tokyo?

It can't be a coincidence; could it be that Ru already knew? That person, to what extent did he predict? How much did he foresee? It seems like there are many things she didn't know about him.

"So when you told me in your messages about them, I thought you knew. But based on your reaction, you had no idea."

"You observed them because--"

"They are the ones who will help you since he is no longer around."

She didn't have to know; a part of her already understood. Otherwise, she would not have repeatedly come to them. No, that is not it. She did not have any ulterior motives, and the same went for them. None of them ever approached her with bad intentions. Whenever she could not go to Yuhi, they were there for her.

One of the reasons why her relationship with Yuhhi has not fallen apart yet is because of them.

But her gaze fell on Sanos' photo. "Do you know he is a suspect in Ru's case?"

"Yes, I did my research. He is practically a lapdog to those people; at least that is what it looks like on the surface."

Sumire raised her eyebrows when she heard those words. "Are you saying it is all an act?"

Eli shook his head. "I think it is more like he does not understand the extent of his influence." He trailed off. "Let us start from shortly before you two broke up, perhaps three months before."

At that comment, Sumire flinched. Three months? Is it a coincidence? The last three months of their relationship were the worse.

"During that time, his brother was not doing very well. There were a lot of bad rumors about him. One night when he went drinking, he ended up messing with the wrong people. This scenario happens a lot, and people usually end up having to pay a lot of debt. But the thing is, what he betted on then wasnt the family fortune but a human being."

Sumire felt her heartbeat increase as Eli took out another photo from his bag. A familiar girl with cyan-colored hair.

"He betted on this girl as collateral for the damage he caused them."

"..."

"She must look familiar to you; after all, she is the one who he cheated on you with."

It seems her bad feeling came true; Sumire could more or less guess the scenario from now onwards. But she still has to hear it first to make sure.

"The Nagawa family prepared to surrender her, but Nagawa Sano stepped up and saved her. He said he would take responsibility and marry her. Those people deliberately chose to mess with the other Nagawa brother for a reason; they did not want to cross Nagawa Sano. So by shielding her like this, the girl became free. For a while, there was no contact from them. But after your break up, news regarding that brother's actions leaked. Nagawa Sano struggled to keep everything together, and those people reappeared to help him."

All of the pieces are slowly falling to place. It is almost as though somebody is doing this deliberately. Ever since she left Star town, no ever since Tsueno Mamoru passed away, something strange has happened. For the longest time, she has thought this way. But now, she is starting to think differently. Could it be even long before then?

At some point, Ru started to become very cautious whenever they went anywhere, and he stuck to her like glue. That behavior started around after that incident in the casino where Sano set her up.

Then at some point, he asked her out. Huh? Now that she thought about it this way, Sumire felt her heartbeat increase. Could it be that is the reason why he asked her out?

Sometimes I wish I could take you away, take you somewhere far away.

I want to quickly turn into an adult. If I do that, then it will be easy to take you away.

Eli extended his hand out and patted her hair. "He did it all to protect you. You understood that much, right?"

"Since when?"

"The ones who targeted your family, and the ones who caused that incident. No, I think it was long before then. Tsueno Mamoru has always been watching over you and protecting you. Initially, he intended to do so from a distance, but the situation changed."

"What are they after?"

"It is hard to say. But after everything that has happened, I can say they want you. There is something they need from you."

So many people sacrificed their lives, and for what? For her? Why? Even though she is a nobody. There is no need for so many people to sacrifice themselves for her, the malice of this world. All this kindness and warmth, she does not deserve any of it.

Why? Why did those people have to die? Why is she the only one who survives?

"Mam, sir, here are your orders."

"We haven't ordered--"

"Ibuki Sumire, according to our boss, you must--" Sumire did not give the waitress a chance to finish those words. In the next second, she picked up the gun on the table and pulled the trigger.

It was only a single shot, and this was the first time she used a gun before. But that was enough; the waitress filled with hostility just a few minutes ago and was on the ground in seconds.

Ah, once again, there is no more salvation for her.

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