I have to confess

After what happened, Mamoru did not think they would be able to continue their day like normal. But surprisingly, instead of asking him to go home, Sumire brought him to all the places in her original plan. It was eight pm before they finally arrived home. With their houses being next to each other, they did not go their separate ways.

While he fixed up dinner for them both, Mamoru did not think the girl would stay long. She said she would grab some reports from his desk, and he left her in his room while he washed the dishes.

But, after receiving a message from Asahi, he immediately started to prepare the guest room. The contents of the girl's message were simple.

'Sumire-sama went too far, so please take care of her.'

She attached pictures clarifying what she meant by too far. Jesus Ki, did she have to cut him up? Normally he does not question her methods, but this level of brutality.

It seems like she is becoming increasingly more violent recently. That is not good.

'I thought with her working towards her debut; she would decrease her attention on the affairs of the underworld.' But, it turns out that is not the case. Ki always says her dreams are more important, but he recalled the last job they went on together.

No, he recalled the events of earlier. The look in her eyes was a predator that had just cornered its prey. This is dangerous; he has to do something.

'Please watch over her, and help her live a normal life.' Yuhi, this is way too hard. Nobody can control Ki when she goes on a rampage. No matter how close he is with her, she would close her heart off to him if he oversteps his boundaries.

He needs to be careful before he approaches this topic with her.

Mamoru quickly went up the stairs and opened the door to the guest room. It doesn't look dusty. Ki had not stayed over in awhile, but he always made sure to clean the room and air out the sheets just in case she ever dropped by.

Then again, it is his fault that she has not been over recently. He has been far too occupied investigating a certain case.

Mamoru took a deep breath before he returned to his room.

"Hey Ki, the guest room-." Mamoru paused when he saw her on his bed wearing her pajamas. So from the very beginning, this girl intended to stay over. "H--hey-- you know we should talk about this." He said nervously.

What on earth is she doing sitting on his bed? No, he knows what she is doing. But does she seriously intend to sleep beside him?

"What's wrong?"

"Ki, you don't think this weird.?"

"Weird?"

"Uh, us sleeping beside each other. We are in high school now."

At those words, her cheeks colored. "It's not like I don't know. But lately, my nightmares are bad, so-"

"It's bad?" Mamoru interrupted her. "Ki?"

"Your too kind, Ru."

His gaze softened at her words. He was half tempted to say 'only for you.' But he knew how it would sound. This is not the time to tell Ki his feelings. He has to hold himself back.

"What do you want to do with the light? Should I keep the main one on?"

He knew that Ki's reasons for being afraid of the dark were not the usual fear. If she sees even a single spec of darkness, her mind will play tricks on her and get terrible visions. It would be enough to cause her to have a breakdown.

"Mm, if that is okay with you, Ru."

"Sure, shall we sleep now?"

Sumire nodded and laid down. He waited until she was comfortable first before he laid on the spot beside her. It is good that this bed is large enough for two people. It would mean being even closer to her if it was a small one.

He does not stay at the very edge, but he does not get close either. Mamoru ensured to keep a comfortable distance between them.

This is really bad for his heart. But, his gaze fell on the girl's quiet breathing. It does seem like she sleeps better when he is around.

'This does not mean I am special.' He has to remember not to get conceited. Still, right now, he is the only one she can rely on like this. That thought alone made him happy.

Mamoru recalled their little outing earlier, and his lips curved to a smile. He likes it when she smiles. A smile certainly suits her far better than a sad one. He fools around and behaves like an idiot all the time, mainly to make Ki happy.

If his strange behaviour can make her smile even a little, he does not mind continuing this way.

She is very pretty. No, she keeps getting prettier. He does not know much about women. For as long as he could remember, he has always been uncomfortable around people of the opposite gender.

Is it because he spent the first part of his life isolated inside his house? For the next part of his life, he entered that facility. A facility specializing in children with unusual abilities, those with evolved genetics.

That place segregated the children based on abilities and gender. So he seldom spoke to any girls until he left that place.

"Mmm, Ru?"

"Y-yeah?"

She was awake? Did she notice that he was staring?

"Thank you so much for staying with me," Sumire mumbled. "I know this is weird, but whenever I'm on my own, I have crazy thoughts."

'Right, this is the main reason why I would agree to something like this. Her definition of crazy thoughts? The voices in her head tell her to give up on everything and commit suicide.'

He cannot leave her alone. Mamoru reached over and caressed her hair.

"Just relax. Take a deep breath."

"Ru, you're so kind; maybe you have ulterior motives?"

"L-like?" Mamoru suddenly became nervous.

Why is she talking about motives? Did she notice something?

"San used to tell me that all men are the same as him. They won't hesitate to jump at a girl regardless of age. 'Your lucky I am nice.'"

Nagawa, what on earth did you tell her?

"Did you believe him?" Mamoru quickly asked.

"I don't know. I don't really understand much about relationships between a man and a woman. But San is older than me, so I did think maybe he was correct."

The damage is worse than he thought. Since it has come to this, there is no choice.

'I have to confess to her.' Truthfully he has had feelings for Ki ever since they were children. But he has always hidden his feelings for her. They were separated awhile when they were kids, but the moment he found her again, he vowed to never leave her side.