The Only One || 𝐒𝐔𝐎 𝐇𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐓𝐎

⌞ 9⌝

❝And if you fight, I'll fight❞

"What were you up to, Lili?"

Umemiya asked the confused Lili standing before him.

"Karaoke!"

"Dance class!"

Lili and Tsubaki yelled together, and Kotoha was left face-palming at the back.

"Dance what—" Lili began.

"Karaoke!"

Lili groaned at the mess they had just caused. Tsubaki looked at her, and then Umemiya, who had a spoon in his mouth, confused.

"Damn it." Hiragi joined Kotoha at the back.

Tsubaki winked at her, and Lili could see how back they were sweating. Hiragi's expression suggested that he was on the verge of succumbing to his pain.

"Lili went to karaoke, shopping, and dance class?" Ume asked curiously, and he looked surprised.

"I didn't know you were into that!" He said in return, making her want to collapse in embarrassment. Given her personality and how people viewed her, the idea of dance class and karaoke caught her off guard.

She threw glances at Tsubaki, who mouthed sorry with an apologetic expression.

"How does he know it already?" Lili thought, looking frantically from Suo to Hiragi behind her. Suo was with her the entire time.

"Lili."

Suo held her hand and helped her sit. She forgot about the wound in her ankle.

There is nothing wrong with telling what happened, but Hiragi told her not to report anything to Umemiya that involved her getting targeted.

It was because Umemiya carries his duty extra diligently when it comes to Lili and Kotoha.

He gets carried away when it's Kotoha, and Lili is no different.

Lili's head was throbbing with questions as she looked at Umemiya.

Ume stopped munching on the omurice and nodded his head encouragingly at her.

"I'll tell you what happened." A voice came from behind, and Lili snapped out of her thoughts.

She hastily slipped out a thank you and excused herself.

"Lili—" Suo began, followed by Umemiya, who stood up.

"I'll be fine!"

"Why are they so kind to me?" She thought, walking on the wet street, glancing around to find any insects. There are always a bunch when it rains.

"I should apologise to them," she sighed, crossing a white-haired man with yellow eyes.

Could it be a coincidence they were thinking the same thing?

.ᐟ

"Hey."

"Suo?"

Suo stepped in as she moved aside, noticing the scattered utensils on the floor.

The kitchen was visible from the entrance, and he noticed the dark bags under her eyes.

"I didn't make dinner," Lili said as she slumped on the sofa, lying on it with her eyes wide open.

"Were you cleaning the kitchen?"

She believed she wasn't as skilled at cleaning as he was—not in cooking or even in fighting. It infuriated her, making her feel little around him.

"I was trying to segregate stuff," she said slowly, noticing the bag Suo placed on the table.

"I explained what happened." Suo smiled, looking a little apologetic.

"I'm sorry," Lili quickly added, feeling guilty for walking away.

"It's okay. You looked like you needed some time."

If fighting was her way, Suo knew Umemiya would respect it, just like how he accepts everyone.

Lili wondered what Umemiya would think. Will he accept her after that?

Like how Suo did?

"Show me your ankle."

Suo sat on the sofa beside her, observing her ankle. He couldn't hide the concern and emotions flooding him all at once.

"That's a flower?"

Suo glanced in the direction she was pointing, and true enough, there was a flower in the bag he brought.

"Oh, that. I thought it'd look good on you."

A single sentence was enough to ignite the sensation in her. She didn't resist when he gave it to her, the delicate petals brushing against her fingers.

"You didn't have to." She looked away, embarrassed.

It was a red rose sitting on her palm.

"Shall we eat?"

"I didn't—"

Lili paused, noticing the bag he had brought.

"I didn't want to let you cook today." He took a box from the cover and placed it on the table.

"You are hurt, and I'm worried."

"Worried?"

Why would he go to such an extent? She huffed, pretty sure he was making fun of her cooking.

Or was it something else?

She stared back.

Her heart was thumping against the ribcage, and her palms were sweaty.

"Why?" She asked, looking at his clear eyes.

Is it because she has known him for a long time?

"You mean a lot to me." He said, offering her a smile.

Lili sighed as she sat on the floor next to him, with a visible pink patch on her cheeks. She kept the rose on her hair with a pin and noticed how stunned he looked.

"Your hair..."  He paused, taking a deep breath, like he was on the verge of collapsing if he didn't.

"It's so beautiful."

After hearing his words, Lili appreciated her hair more today, than the day before.

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