章 97: I want her to change sides
Sumire clasped her hands and apologized.
"But as expected, you are mad, right? I think I went a bit overboard myself. I knocked out the others who were left behind with me, so they shouldn't have seen anything. However, I still put your friends in danger."
"Friends?"
"Uh, right, the people you were with. They were your friends, right?"
"No, they were people who just dragged me there." Toh trailed off, seeing her expression.
"But there was a pregnant woman there who said the child was yours-"
Toh sighed upon hearing those words. He extended his hand out across the table and flicked her forehead. "And you actually believed that?"
"Actually, I was half skeptical about it. I mean, if it wasn't you, it's probably Akira Kenji's doing, right?"
"Correct, he is the type of person who would get a woman pregnant without a second thought and not take responsibility. But considering how much he dislikes me, he probably instructed her to tell that girl that it was mine to make me look irresponsible."
"It seems like you have your own fair share of drama to deal with." Sumire takes a sip of her tea. "So, I tested your reaction and realized that it wasn't the first time you saw a scene like that."
"It was a first for me to see a cute high school girl covered in blood. But your right. Those scenes do not surprise me." Toh admitted.
"I thought if you didn't flinch, you would be a perfect fit to assist with the type of jobs I do."
Right as Aki's human weapon, she must get involved in even bloodier scenes.
"Does it not bother you? Living this type of life?"
"Hmmm." Sumire paused for a moment before shaking her head. "I don't mind it. If I summarise how I met Aki and joined the underworld, it would be something along the lines of I owe him my life. Because of that, I decided that I would do anything he wanted me to do."
"When did this happen?"
"When I was much younger. I have already lost count of how many years have gone by. At the start, I only intended to repay the favor for two years, but even when that time frame passed by. I realized it was already too late to leave his side. I had already seen far too much and stained my hands. It was too late to go back even if I wanted to."
As Toh sat and listened, he couldn't miss her turbulent emotions.
"Perhaps it was due to how I entered the group, but many were not fond of me. I couldn't find anybody who was willing to partner with me, so for a while, I did jobs on my own. But eventually, Aki-san found somebody for me. That girl was nice, kind, and well-liked by everyone. She was the complete opposite of me. But, I gradually entrusted her to watch my back."
"What happened to her?"
"She betrayed me." Sumire laughed weakly. "I understand very well how fragile human relationships are. That's why Toh, even if this relationship fell apart, I will be fine."
Nothing has happened, and yet she already believes this will end? Toh frowned and walked over to her. He picked her up and brought her over to the living room. He positioned the girl on his lap and placed a game controller in her hands.
"When I have some free time, I play games to relax."
"Um," Sumire looked at him awkwardly. "I understand, but do we have to do it like this?"
"Yes."
It did not take long before Sumire was engrossed in playing the game. Toh sighed in relief. Just now, he had to stop her since it felt like her emotions would explode. Even if she ends up having a mental breakdown, he is confident that he will be able to look after her. But he doesn't want to see her cry. A smile suits her far better.
"This is a more complicated game than I thought," Sumire grumbled. "Hey, Toh, do you have any shooting games?"
"I do."
"Then put that one instead."
After he changed the discs, he returned to the previous position with Sumire on his lap. He thought the girl would use that time to escape, but she didn't, and she even looked like she was waiting for him. It did not take long before Sumire started playing. Unlike her frustrated grumbling earlier, she was beaming with joy now.
Toh looked at the screen and had to admit that she was doing very well.
"Is your marksmanship that good?"
"Mm, but actually, I think I have more confidence shooting targets at a closer range than long range."
"How close?"
Sumire dropped the controller for a moment, made a makeshift gun with her fingers, and pointed it at him. "This close."
It felt like his heart would stop for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Isn't it natural to be able to hit somebody at that range?"
"You may think so, but getting that close to your opponent in actual combat is dangerous."
Now that she mentions it, it would be easier to sustain a life-threatening injury. But she is saying that for her, it would be better to fight at a closer range.
"It's too bad I couldn't see you in combat. I always seem to witness the aftermath."
The first time they met, she was running away after brutally killing somebody.
The second time was the incident a few days ago.
Sumire laughed. "Since we will be working together, you will get plenty of chances."
"What happened the other day wasn't reported properly on the news. They said it was a gas explosion, that's why the lights went out. There was no mention of unidentified people, and the gunshot sound was covered by 'people messing around with equipment.'" Toh trailed off.
It sounded far too good to be true. As a person who was actually there, naturally, he knew it was all lies. But the media who reported it and the rest of the civilians in the town did not question it at all.
"Fufu, you shouldn't underestimate the Holy Knights. We are the leading group for a reason."
He has to admit that he did underestimate them. He thought the big boss was overreacting. How can there be any group that far surpassed theirs? It seemed like he was proven wrong. That man Aki is too dangerous, and the one helping that dangerous man is Sumire.
'I wonder if there is a way to persuade her to switch sides.'
The big boss may seem like the last villain type, but in his own way, that person wants to help change the world.
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