Mamoru
From the looks of it, Toh has become genuinely infatuated with Ki. At the start, he had doubts about Toh. No that both of them were serious about each other. But, at some point those doubts slowly faded. The closer the two became, the more honest they became with their feelings.
'I want to continue supporting Yuhi, but for me. As long as Ki is happy, it doesn't matter who she ends up with.'
Yet, Yuhi at least deserves another chance. Right now the two are both acting like idiots and avoiding each other. However, when Ki's career takes off. There is no doubt they will cross paths again. Even if Yuhi doesn't actively come back for her, they will meet sooner or later.
A troubled look flashed through Toh's eyes as he exhaled deeply. "I see, I suppose that makes sense."
"It does?"
Toh nodded. "I have been doing my research and watched a few of Terashima's shows. There are occasions where he displays insecurity, and has a dark look in his eyes. Moreover Sumire always talks about how Terashima has a deep understanding of what she is going through. How he naturally understands her."
"How do you feel about that?" Mamoru wondered.
He has also heard the same thing from her and while he has never told her. It made him feel bad when he heard her say it. 'What about me? Can't I understand you like that too?' It was the first time for him too have such ugly and dark feelings.
If even he is having such thoughts, he wonders what Toh thinks about it.
'Sano didn't take the idea of Ki liking another guy while they were dating. Even if he knew about it from the start.'
It's all different at the start. At the start the guys she dates insist they aren't serious, but the more time they spend together. The more they fall in love with her. When that happens, even if they were made privy to that information beforehand. Their feelings on the matter become twisted and complicated.
"Truthfully, it doesn't sit well with me."
"Ah."
"However, it's not like she deceived me when she entered this relationship. She made it quite clear that there was someone else in her heart and yet I insisted. I was the one who backed her into a corner and made her decide."
"But you didn't-"
Toh shakes his head. "I have been thinking about it a lot recently. No, ever since we returned from our trip. Had I waited, would the outcome have been different? Had I left it, and continued to spend more time with her. Perhaps Sumire would have come to the conclusion to date me on her own. However, because I was impatient. I made her decide. I made her think that if I didn't
'I didn't want to think of it that way. But, listening to Toh it seems like I can't deny it.'
"Were you aware of this Tsueno?"
Mamoru bit his lip and nodded. "I didn't want to tell her. I didn't want Ki to think badly of you."
Toh chuckled. "To defend myself, it was done subconsciously. I didn't intend to back her into a corner like that. However, I gradually became more and more desperate. The more I spent time with her, the more I thought of her. The more I wanted to be with her properly."
"Isn't it normal to have those feelings? We all do selfish things for love."
"If I didn't know any better, I would think you were an expert."
At those words Mamoru flinched and sighed. "I won't take Ki from you."
"Of course not. Your the self sacrificing type. Had you discarded that foolish idea a long time ago. No doubt you would have been dating her when we met."
'Foolish.' huh? It's not the first time he is hearing those words. His first proper conversation with Nagawa Sano, was the guy throwing insults at him. Even Yuhi mentioned how silly he is sacrificing his feelings like that.
They don't get it, none of them do. Not that he fully understands his behaviour either. However, ever since he met Ki in the facility. He already knew that no matter what he did, she would never look at him the way he looked at her.
"When a girl truly falls in love, her feelings don't change that easily. It's impossible." Mamoru mumbled.
"I know that too." Toh said frustrated. "I know, and yet while I messed up how me and Sumire got together. I do know that I want to keep trying."
"Even if the ending is a tragedy?"
Toh's lips curve to a smile. "Even if. It's better to try, then give up before anything begins." He trailed off. "Since I am decent guy, your also welcome to try."
Mamoru blinked hearing those words and he frantically shakes his head.
"But didn't you confess to her? I believe she hasn't actually responded to your confession yet."
"T-that was before she got to know you properly. Had I known that her interest towards you would change into something else. I wouldn't have confessed."
There would have been no need for that. He just didn't want her to give up on love.
"But you love her don't you? Or is it just pity-"
"O-Of course I love Ki." Mamoru interjected.
How can he not love her? She is so bright, cheerful, kind, brave, selfless and- he could go on and on. He has endless reasons why he ended up falling in love with everything about her. He has been in awe of her since their very first meeting.
Toh's lips curve to a smile and Mamoru immediately realized. He placed his hand on his mouth but it was far too late.
"Damn it."
"It's not healthy to hold those words back." Toh pointed out.
Mamoru averted his gaze and exhaled deeply. "I know, I really do know that. It's not easy for me, and as we grew older. I realized that it was becoming difficult for me to hide it."
"But you have been managing?"
"Just barely. There are days where I pretend to go off on jobs in other cities, just to put some space between us." Mamoru admitted.
In the most recent years he has been doing this more often, and it is getting harder and harder for him to keep it from her. Ki is very protective over him, and checks over all his missions. So, in order to make the lies more convincing. He deliberately stirs up problems with other groups, thus leading to them holding grudges against him.