Kiryu was on his way out, but the moment he opened the door. A sobbing and terrified Fujisaki Selia stood there.

"I'm so afraid Kiryu-kun, what if, what if he comes after me for real? Even your family wouldn't be able to protect me. That man is ruthless... If he gets his hands on me again..."

Kiryu frowned seeing how badly the girl was shaking. What gave her such a scare? Ever since he told her he would protect her, she hasn't been this afraid before. He pulled her into his arms and pats her hair.

"It's all right, I meant it when I said I'd help you."

Though he's mainly using the Austin family connections to do that. What happened Selia? He wanted to ask the girl directly, but considering her present state, it isn't wise to do so.

Selia continued, sobbing even louder as the minute went by.

"No... no, he will come after me. He will find me and then, and then once again I will have to... I didn't want to do it. I never wanted to sleep with those men... but he told me to... He said it would help him... Even though we were dating why didn't he protect me?"

... Kiryu patted the girls' hair and doesn't respond. He has seen many cases like this before. But what surprises him the most is how Selia hasn't broken yet, putting it that way seems wrong. However, in most cases, the girl in that situation breaks, she either surrenders or takes her own life. In Selia's case, she still found hope. Perhaps she doesn't hate Sakurai Mikado or blames him as much as she thinks she does? That could be a possibility.

Kiryu found himself lost in his own thoughts, he didn't notice that someone had been watching the whole time. Until a light knock and cough interrupted his thoughts. Kiryu looked over and immediately recognized the girl. Lila showed him a photograph before.

Oh, this girl...

"Can I help you?" Kiryu asked, "Is this about Lila?"

"Well.. yes. You see she came to practice despite saying she had a hospital appointment before..."

He frowned deeply at this. She didn't mention attending practice to him. Did she go there because she wanted to see Karas.h.i.+ma? He shook his head; he needs to keep calm.

"Lilchan fainted."

?!!!! His eyes widened alarmed, he doesn't bother with the details and yanked Selia away. He turned to the door quickly.

Lila seemed surprised, but grabbed hold on to his s.h.i.+rt, "Kiryu-kun?!!"

"Sorry, just stay here," he replied. All he was thinking about was Lila. She's so careless that girl, he really cannot take his eyes away from her for a single second.

"Kiryu-kun, but I'm so scared I..."

Selia was still trembling badly. It would probably be bad if he were to leave her now. But what little concern he had for her vanished completely, the moment he heard what happened to Lila. "There's only one key to this place, and I have it. Relax, they have secured this place. I'll even call Sumire-san here."

He doesn't wait for a response and quickly left the room as Ayase Kotori followed him.

.

.

When he arrived at the place, Karas.h.i.+ma was apologizing to the girl.

"No, I'm okay. I wanted to attend so.."

"How come?" Haruka asked.

"I wanted to see you for a while. We have spent little time together lately..."

Lila, she must have missed Karas.h.i.+ma. He's so selfish, wanting to keep her all to himself. Then again, the same goes for her. She's discarding her time with Karas.h.i.+ma, sacrificing everything else just to be with him. But just for a while longer, it's only for a while longer.

"Haruka, don't."

"Sorry, can't hold back any longer. I'll only kiss you...."

Wait, a minute. Kiryu didn't have time to react since Karas.h.i.+ma lips were on Lila's in a second.

"Nngh ....."

"Har-ugh."

He froze on the spot. He ought to stop him, right now he should — and then what? In a few days, Lila won't be his anymore. She will begin date Karas.h.i.+ma.

"Ahem." Kotori coughed.

Hey wait--

However, Ayase Kotori's cough already interrupted the two, "Karas.h.i.+msan. I know you enjoy taking advantage of people. But doing so would spell your death now."

Karas.h.i.+ma's gaze met his, and he sighed and pulled back from Lila.

"And Lilchan, don't be too trusting."

"R—right..." Lila stammered. Noticing how flushed she was, he frowned and walked over, pulling the girl into his arms. Karas.h.i.+ma's scent is on her, that's annoying. Hearing laughter, he saw how happy she was, "Were hugging Kiryu..."

"..."

She really is cute. Ah, forget it. He will just erase any trace of Karas.h.i.+ma from her starting now... His thoughts broke off when Lila pulled away from him, her cheeks puffed in a pout.

"Why do you smell like Selichan?" Lila questioned.

... Uh oh.

"It's not what you're thinking."

Besides wasn't she kissing Karas.h.i.+ma just now?

Then again, Karas.h.i.+ma forced her to kiss. For his case though, he hugged Selia. He decided by himself. Ayase Kotori can vouch for that too. Seeing Haruka look at him curiously too, he sighed and recalled something Miu told him once before.

'The one person who you have to be kind to be Lila.

So please don't treat me kindly anymore.

We can still be friends, but if you do anymore.

I can never move forward.'

He's always thought of himself as a cold-hearted person, someone indifferent to the world. At the start, he really was like that. But after he met Teras.h.i.+ma Lila, he saw gradual changes in himself. He no longer distrusted the world so much and even formed bonds with other people, even without Lila there to guide him.