Chapter 112: It's possible
Neither of them spoke for the next few minutes, but he found Sumire looking at him.
"What?"
"You covered it well but have dark circles under your eyes." Sumire pointed out.
"I had a bit of trouble sleeping, so I just gave up on it." Toh admitted.
At those words, Sumire sighed deeply. "I suppose we are similar there too."
"Are you listing everything we have in common?"
"Mm, strangely, there is a lot. Our work ethic, sleeping habits, and we like the same food."
That's probably why it was easy to teach her cooking. They both have similar taste buds.
"I can't lecture you. But not sleeping will affect your health. You should stop that bad habit."
"Are you asking that because you are worried about me?"
Sumire averted her gaze. "O-of course I-I am."
"I was having a hard time sleeping because of you."
"Eh?" Sumire paused before suddenly exclaiming loudly. "W-wait, don't tell me you spent most of the night looking at me?"
"Smart girl." Toh's lips curved to a grin as he leaned forward. "Your very pretty when your sleeping."
"Y-you do creepy stuff." Sumire puffed her cheeks into a pout. "But Ru does the same too, so I think I have gotten used to hearing this."
So, Tsueno Mamoru truly likes her. 'I thought so. It would explain why he behaved like that.' Competition huh? He has never experienced competing with someone for a woman. This should be interesting. Can he beat her childhood friend, who she is closer with?
"You have to rest when we get back, okay? You won't be sleeping much when you have work again. So you should rest as much as you can."
If he tells her, he finds her presence soothing and wants her to be by his side. Will she stay? He is starting to become pathetic.
"To make sure you rest, I will stay right by your side."
Toh blinked, hearing her words. Huh?
"I-I don't get it, but you sleep better when I am around, right?" Sumire kept looking away as she said these words. But Toh understood it was because she was embarrassed.
It shouldn't surprise him. She is the same type as him. She is sharper than the average person. But only four days have passed since they got to know each other properly. However, they have indeed spent the entire day together for the past four days. That's a total of ninety-six hours, which is a lot. There were times before she stayed over, so they weren't strangers to each other anymore.
"It's similar to a form of therapy. Sometimes being close to someone you are comfortable with can dispel all your unease, worries, and fears. No words need to be spoken. Just having them by your side is enough." Toh explained.
"I see. Then that explains why when I'm with you, I am able to calm down. You didn't say much on the second day, but I felt at ease and could sleep." Sumire trailed off. "I thought to myself. Maybe he's using some type of trick since he is a psychologist."
"You are very suspicious of people. But it's not a trick." Toh trailed off. "Are you interested in psychology?"
"A little. It would be useful to be able to read people's thoughts and their behavior."
"Psychology core concepts by Philip Zimbardo, it's a good introductory book. I have it in my library."
At those words, her eyes brightened. "You have a library?"
"Yeah, it's in the west wing-" Toh paused. "Right, you probably haven't gone there. When we get back, I will show you."
"Alright!" Sumire did a little victory pose with her free hand.
She is too cute but interested in fashion design and psychology. Two fields he excels in very well.
"Do you want me to teach you?"
"If you can. Oh, it would also be a good time for me to go into details about the assistance I previously asked of you."
Right, because of recent events, they haven't had time to discuss it. But originally, this girl agreed to see him again because she wanted to use his skills as a psychologist.
Toh squeezed her hands. "I don't mind discussing work, but it's important that we discuss you. How are you feeling today?"
"Ah." She suddenly turned quiet, and Toh immediately understood. She didn't have a panic attack last night, but she must have had a nightmare. She did seem uncomfortable at one point.
"Relationship problems or family problems are often the main cause of self-inflicted injuries or suicides. By relationship, I do not limit this to romantic relationships. This can be applied to relationships in general." Toh trailed off. "But there are cases like yours where the cause can be anything that relates to a past trauma or traumas."
Sumire laughed weakly. "It's truly difficult to hide anything from you. Dr. Mashima."
"The barrier you put between yourself and others and your fear of people is a self-defense mechanism. You are insecure and question the value of your existence and why you are alive. What are you here for."
At those words, Sumire stopped walking. "Then Toh, since you have everything figured out already. How do you plan on treating me?"
"I won't treat you any differently than I have been. As for an actual treatment plan. Do you want me to help you?"
"Dr, isn't it impossible to treat me? My morals have completely vanished."
"Is that why you have given up already?"
"That's right. I don't think there is any hope left in me."
'That must be why she committed such a murder with no remorse. No, judging from the psychological profile I have built of her. She feels remorse,, but the guilt doesn't eat her away because she outweighs the weight of the other person's crime. She believes that he is the stronger evil, and that's why she didn't hesitate to kill him.'
"Then what if I tell you it's possible to cure you?" Toh wondered.
It's not impossible. It's true it will be difficult. But with enough time, care and love, she, too, will change. If she becomes a normal person, will he get tired of her? It is hard to say. Right now, the only reason they are connected is because she is unusual. If she was normal, would he have no reason to see her?
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone