Misuzu and Kouhei stood in front of the building, the dim glow of the streetlights casting long shadows on the pavent. A cold breeze brushed past them, rustling Misuzu's hair as they waited in silence for their driver.
Misuzu had been unusually quiet ever since they stepped outside, her gaze distant and unreadable. Kouhei, unsure of what to say, found himself mirroring her silence. The weight of the mont pressed against him, making even the smallest words feel inadequate.
He wanted to speak—to say sothing, anything—to strengthen the bond between them. But the oppressive atmosphere made it impossible.
Then, without warning, Misuzu turned to him, her eyes locking onto his. The sharpness in her gaze had dulled, replaced with sothing softer.
"I'm sorry, Okumura-kun," she murmured, her voice laced with quiet regret. "I didn't expect Chihiro to say those things."
She hesitated for a mont, then sighed, running a hand through her silky hair.
"Chihiro… she was one of the faction leaders who tried to recruit a long ti ago," Misuzu explained. "But she has this… strange fixation on beauty. Because of that, her attitude toward was always sowhat off. And now that we're in the sa industry, she's beco even worse."
Kouhei shook his head slightly, offering a small, reassuring smile.
"You don't need to apologize for that, Yuki-san."
But Misuzu didn't seem convinced.
"Even so," she insisted, "the fact that she approached you like that… I should not have let that happen. It ans the Mitani Faction has taken an interest in you now—whether for better or worse. Just like the Souichiro Faction."
A cold weight settled in Kouhei's stomach at her words. He let the silence stretch for a mont before finally asking,
"The Mitani Faction… what exactly are they?"
Misuzu exhaled softly, her breath visible in the cool night air.
"They are the faction that governs the territory just north of the territory Yuuna rules. Our territory," she explained. "But unlike the Yuuna Faction, which is ruled solely by Yuuna, the Mitani Faction has two leaders—Chihiro and her brother."
"I see…" Kouhei murmured, trying to process the information.
Misuzu hesitated again, as if debating whether to continue. Then, she spoke, her voice quieter this ti.
"And actually… the reason you're here with today… is because Chihiro's brother is my stalker."
Kouhei blinked.
"I see… Wait, what?"
Misuzu let out a weary sigh, rubbing her temple as though just talking about it gave her a headache.
"Chihiro's brother… He's peculiar, to put it mildly. He has been obsessed with for years now, but…"
"But?" Kouhei pressed, his brows furrowing.
A shadow crossed Misuzu's face.
"I do not like him. Not in the slightest," she said, her voice firm. "But he's persistent. And I have nothing—no one—to protect from him, Okumura-kun."
Kouhei's frown deepened.
"Then wouldn't it have been better to get a bodyguard who could actually protect you?" he asked, his tone edged with concern. "I an, I doubt I'd stand a chance against a demon—let alone one who leads a faction."
"I'm sorry," Misuzu murmured, looking away. "But you don't need to worry about him. Unlike Chihiro, her brother isn't strong. He's just… unnerving."
Kouhei narrowed his eyes.
"What do you an by unnerving?"
Misuzu's expression darkened slightly as she scanned their surroundings. Her voice dropped to a near whisper.
"The Mitani Family possesses a unique ability," she said. "They can completely erase their presence and blend seamlessly into their environnt."
A chill ran down Kouhei's spine. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
"Wait… That ans he could be here right now?" His eyes darted around, scanning the empty street, suddenly hyper-aware of every shadow and flicker of movent.
Misuzu sighed.
"It's possible," she admitted. "Though his ability is weaker compared to Chihiro's, I'm not a fighter. And lately… he's been threatening —saying that one day, he's just going to take ."
Kouhei's jaw tightened, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists.
"That's… ssed up," he muttered.
"Right?" Misuzu let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "But I don't have any n I'm particularly close to. And… I don't want to burden others. Having soone follow around just because of this feels troubleso."
She paused, her gaze flickering toward Kouhei, her lips pressing into a thin line.
"You probably think this is a hassle too, don't you?"
"No, I don't think you're troubling at all," Kouhei said. "If anything, this is sothing that should be taken seriously. Not just by , but by everyone else as well, don't you think? I believe this is what Yuuna-san wants—to carry your burdens. It's the sa as how you don't want to add unnecessary weight to hers. Just as you believe it's natural for her to bear your troubles as your leader, I think she feels the sa way about all of you. As her mbers, she wants you to rely on her too."
Misuzu lowered her gaze slightly, her fingers idly gripping the sleeve of her coat. A faint breeze swept through the night, making her long silver hair sway gently against the soft glow of the streetlights. Her delicate features remained calm, yet her shoulders tensed, as though she were struggling with an unspoken thought.
"Yuuna is already exhausted," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "With all the preparations for this war… with the constant battle to keep our territory safe from that fallen angel corrupting mortals and spreading havoc… I don't want to add to that burden."
Kouhei studied her carefully. The weight in her voice, the slight downward tilt of her brows—it was subtle, but the emotions were there, lingering just beneath the surface.
The way she spoke reminded him of Yuuna.
Neither wanted to trouble the other, yet both longed to share the weight of their responsibilities.
He had convinced Yuuna to lean on her subordinates, but Misuzu… He hadn't spent enough ti with her yet. There was still distance between them.
The low hum of an approaching engine broke the silence. The black car pulled up smoothly beside them, its headlights cutting through the dimly lit street.
The mont the vehicle ca to a halt, Misuzu and Kouhei stepped inside. The door shut with a soft click, and before long, the driver pressed down on the accelerator, sending them gliding into the darkness of the night.
As the city lights flickered past outside the tinted windows, Kouhei turned to Misuzu.
"Yuki-san," he said. "Do you still want as your bodyguard tomorrow?"
Misuzu blinked, montarily caught off guard. Then, slowly, a small smile ford on her lips.
"Yes," she said softly, her eyes gleaming under the dim interior lights. "I want you with tomorrow as well."
And with that, their ti together would continue for another day.
***
By the ti Kouhei returned to the Saionji mansion, the night had deepened into a quiet, cool stillness. The grand estate lood ahead, its towering structure bathed in the glow of moonlight.
In the front lawn, as usual, was Aria.
She was seated on the wide wooden steps leading to the entrance, a half-empty water bottle dangling from her fingers. Droplets of sweat glistened on her exposed skin, her chest rising and falling slightly as she caught her breath.
She had just finished training.
Her outfit, however, was unlike anything Kouhei had seen her wear before.
A black tank top clung to her toned torso, the thin fabric damp with sweat, outlining every subtle curve of her athletic build. Her toned arms glistened under the dim lights, her muscles still warm from exertion. Paired with that was a pair of short shorts—so short that they barely reached mid-thigh, leaving most of her long, sculpted legs exposed. Her thighs were lean yet firm, the slight sheen of sweat only accentuating their definition. She also wore gloves, evidence that she had been practicing intensely.
Kouhei's breath hitched.
She was… breathtaking.
The sight of her in that attire—her damp skin, the faint flush of exertion on her cheeks, the way her long hair clung to the nape of her neck—sent an unfamiliar tightness curling in his stomach.
It was rare to see her out of her usual maid uniform. While he had seen her in training gear before, this was different.
This was raw. Unfiltered.
And sexy as hell.
Aria must have sensed his lingering gaze because she suddenly turned toward him. Their eyes t, and for a mont, she was still.
Then, a smile curled at the edges of her lips.
"Welco back, Kouhei-sama," she said, bowing her head ever so slightly. Her voice was smooth.
Kouhei swallowed.
"Uh… I'm back." His voice ca out more awkward than he had intended.
And yet, despite himself, his gaze drifted lower.
Her shorts hugged her form just right, drawing attention to the curve where her thighs t her hips. And worse—the snug fit around her lower half made that area dangerously noticeable.
The triangular outline of fabric pressing against her was hard to ignore.
It didn't help that she was drenched in sweat, the dampness clinging to her skin, making his mind spiral into places it really shouldn't go.
His heartbeat quickened, and heat crept up his neck.
Aria, however, noticed his reaction almost instantly. Her smile faltered, and for the first ti, she seed flustered. She glanced down at herself, realization dawning on her face.
Her cheeks reddened slightly.
"I-I'm sorry," she stamred, quickly shifting in place. "I didn't an to wear sothing so inappropriate."
Kouhei nearly choked.
"N-No, it's fine!" he said hastily, waving his hands. "It… uh, looks good on you."
Aria's face turned a deeper shade of pink.
Just then, the grand doors of the mansion swung open. A soft click of heels echoed against the marble entrance, and a familiar voice spoke.
"Welco back, Kouhei-kun."
He turned his head and t Yuuna's gaze. She stood just beyond the threshold, her expression calm yet unreadable, her presence as commanding as ever.
"Do you mind if we talk for a bit?" she asked.
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