"Thank you." Yuki thanked Wei, who offered her tea.

At least Wei knew how to act polite. Luckily he saw what happened just now, though; otherwise, it could have ended up badly. He got to know Wei quite well since he spent nearly every day with Sumire before. After Tsueno Mamoru passed away, this guy became even more cautious of his surrounding. Even to the extent that he carefully observes the mailman and follows him till he's in his van.

Ran sighed. It keeps them all safe, and because of that, the media does not harass them as much. But it keeps even the important people away. The mansion they lived in is located in a secluded area of Tokyo, a place slightly further out from the main city but not too far.

"Yuki." Ran called out.

He watched as her eyes lit up once she saw him. "Ran-sama!" Yuki stood up and rushed over. The moment she was near, she embraced him tightly.

This action of hers was so unlike her that he looked baffled.

"Hey, Yuki, what the..." Ran paused when he noticed her hands trembling as she clutched his shirt tightly.

"I missed you so much."

His gaze softened when he heard those words. Despite the many years of conflict, it seems he still cares a lot for his childhood friend. She was the girl who caused him much heartache and sorrow, and yet he can't dislike her.

They remained like that for a few minutes before Yuki drew back, and they sat down on the couch. But Ran noticed that he still didn't let go of his arm.

Oi oi, even if he is softhearted towards her, someone over there is getting the wrong idea. Wei, who was quietly watching over by the door, was glaring very harshly.

Now that he thought about it, this girl liked him for so long that she drove away the people surrounding him. The last time he saw her, they had an odd discussion.

…

Last year XX December

"To you then, what is feelings of love?" It was an unexpected question from him, but he wanted to know.

Yuki blinked; surprise flashed through her eyes. "I did not expect you to say that."

"You came up with that answer. So, of course, I would ask." Ran trails of, geez, he is starting to sound like a fool right now.

He suddenly felt a warm hand placed on the center of his chest. W--? Ran found that the white hair girl opposite him had closed her eyes.

"Ran-sama, you know you are very kind. I always thought so before. Kind, compassionate. Even though there were always bad rumors about you, things like you were a delinquent and probably possessed by some bad spirit or something..."

It felt like arrows had pierced him. "Not to mention that your foul mouth and ill-tempered." Yuki continued.

Hey, hey, when will these insults end?

Ran was about to say something when the white hair girl opens her eyes.

"But you used those traits to help those around you. I have always known it, the rumors of you starting a fight and getting expelled for it. You did it for someone else. You probably don't remember it, but that time you saved me."

...

Now that he thought of it, he hasn't seen her at all since that time. She didn't even stay for the ceremony of the participants. She left straight to TOKYO. Although he had been here for a while now, he had yet to see her. That time this girl admitted to liking him.

Ran wonders if that's still the same now. If so, then he wonders how he could deal with it. Even though he said something bravado about the Sumire being the only one for him, Ran understood it would not be easy.

Unlike when she was with Mamoru, he could not spend as much time with her. Whenever she was upset regarding Tsueno, he could comfort her and have an excuse to spend time with her. But now? Now he has nothing.

It was pathetic of him to rely on something like that to be close to her. But due to his promise of not making a move on her to respect Tsueno's health, it was the only way.

Though there was that rather brief moment the other day, Ran felt it was not enough. Besides, the guys in the band EMMA seem to like Sumire. At least Kusaji Atsuro and that other one.

Ran more or less suspected that to be the case. But to think it was happening only after a few meetings. Nakara Shin too, who would have thought of all people he would end up with such a troublesome opponent.

Now he regretted being curious about the girl's uneven eye color. He, too, had uneven eye color, but his was mere contacts. However, Sumire stumbled upon the idea when he saw her fight, and it piqued his curiosity for the longest time, which is why he asked the one person who would know about it.

Only one person would have all the answers he sought. That person laughed and treated it as a joke at first, but then he said something serious.

'Haha you suspect me? I see, I see. Well, it's only natural you would if you saw the color of the other pupil. Turquoise is my color. Your suspicions are right, I'm the cause of that side. I did it so she could forget it. Forget about that person. You know Iwa that girl got herself involved in a rather troublesome mess with the Yakuza.

She rescued someone she should have just left alone. That person was also one of her rivals, someone who wants to take her down from her position. Yet she still helped that person. After all, when she came back, she was saying things like protecting that person. I simply couldn't let her get involved with a matter like that'.

Protect huh?

It was exactly like her, and yet at the same time, it was troublesome. Why does she keep getting into trouble? He looks away for a moment, and in the next, danger surrounds her.

It was like her to protect and risk her life for other people who do not care for her. But Ran always disliked that part about her. He disliked that she cared so much for others who do not hesitate to use and throw her away.

Why does she have to live a life like that?

"I went all this way to see you. But I see your thoughts are elsewhere as usual, eh? Thinking about Ibuki-San when I am here, your cold, as usual, Ran-sama." Yuki said as she sighed deeply.

Is it that obvious that he is thinking about Sumire?