Vol 1 Chapter 6 – The Ever-Watching Tachibana-san

It was the day after I was assigned male bodyguards. As expected, the moment Yukina saw Tachibana-san and Sakurai-san, she flew into a blind rage.

She truly had a look of pure demonic jealousy.

“Why, Onii-sama?! I will eliminate the pests that flock to you! So please, get rid of this obnoxious pair!”

She screamed in a voice that seemed to echo throughout the entire hospital, closing in on me with a terrifying look on her face.

“Excuse me, Yukina-sama, but our assignment to protect Yuuma-sama is the will of the state. It cannot be overturned by personal opinion. Even if we were to leave, other male bodyguards would simply be assigned to Yuuma-sama in our place.”

Tachibana-san, however, remained completely unfazed, stating the facts dispassionately.

In response, Yukina flinched for a moment but immediately shot back.

“Can you two really protect Onii-sama? And can you swear you won’t fall in love with someone as wonderful as him? It’s absolutely impossible! Especially you, the younger one… Sakurai, was it? Not only are you getting strangely close to Onii-sama, but every now and then, I see the look of a female in heat on your face!”

“Th-That’s not… true! The reason my proximity to the protectee has become close is because it’s necessary for his protection!” Sakurai-san declared, her face beet red.

But it seemed Yukina had judged her to be lying.

Well, her eyes are clearly darting all over the place, and her movements are restless.

“See? I knew you were suspicious! Enough is enough! Onii-sama is my Onii-sama! He’s mine and mine alone! I won’t give Onii-sama to anyone!”

“Nevertheless, this is a final decision. Even as Yuuma-sama’s sister, your opinion cannot change it. Besides, Yuuma-sama’s sperm is rank SSS. Do you understand how critical a matter this is?”

“That has nothing to do with it! I don’t care what rank Onii-sama’s sperm is, I will never give up!”

Yukina pleaded with Tachibana-san, tears streaming down her face.

“Please. Don’t take anyone else precious from me! I finally, finally managed to get along with Onii-sama! I can’t stand the thought of our time alone together disappearing!”

The moment I heard those words, I felt a tightness in my chest.

I don’t know what my relationship with the old Yukina was like. But I could imagine.

Her father was gone, and her mother passed away last year. And then, the only family she had left—her brother—must have treated her cruelly…

Yukina must have been so lonely. That’s why she’s so desperately trying to protect our time together now.

Thinking about her feelings, I just couldn’t bring myself to push her away.

I cut into their conversation.

Then, I spoke to Tachibana-san and Sakurai-san.

First, I’ll try asking Tachibana-san a question.

She has a very serious personality, so she should listen to my request.

“Um, Tachibana-san. This protection duty is 24/7, right?”

“Yes… The basic arrangement is for two guards to be present, but even if one is unavailable, one of us will always be protecting Yuuma-sama. That is the purpose of our two-person system.”

I see. So that means my time alone with Yukina really will disappear…

Having constant protection is reassuring, but it also has the downside of eliminating any personal time…

There are times when I want to be alone, too… In that case, I guess I’ll have to make a request, even if it’s a bit forceful.

“I know this is an unreasonable request, but could you possibly create one hour each day where I don’t have a guard?”

“That is not possible. Yuuma-sama’s protection is the highest priority. If anything were to happen to you, we would be subject to punishment for failing to protect our charge.”

Yeah, I figured…

But I’m not the type to back down here.

I haven’t lived longer than I look for nothing.

“But if I don’t have any time without a guard, I’ll kill myself.”

“Wha?!”

“W-Wait a minute, Yuuma-sama! Surely you’re joking, right? Right? You wouldn’t actually kill yourself, would you? Please answer me, Yuuma-sama!”

Sakurai-san, her eyes welling with tears, questioned me with a desperate look on her face.

“Onii-sama, please don’t say things like that, even as a joke! If you died, what would I do?!”

Yukina started sobbing as she threw her arms around me.

“Yuuma-sama! Are you in your right mind?! What is it that you’re dissatisfied with?! Is it my inadequacy? If so, I will end my own life, so please, I beg you to reconsider!”

Tachibana-san also had an expression of utter disbelief.

But I’m serious.

I’m fully prepared to die.

To make time for Yukina, this is a point I cannot concede.

So, I turned a serious gaze toward Tachibana-san.

“I’m serious… I want to make time for just the two of us, as family…”

This is one thing I will absolutely not yield on.

I conveyed that will to her.

“…I understand. In that case, let’s do this. As long as we can create a period of at least 30 minutes a day without a guard, that will be acceptable. But this is a special exception… That is how precious your existence is… Please understand that.”

“Thank you. That’s a huge help.”

I bowed my head to Tachibana-san.

With this, I can spend time with Yukina.

When I looked at Yukina, she had a joyful expression, her eyes filled with tears.

Tachibana-san is a truly reliable woman. Not only did she listen to my selfish demand, but she even gave me a proper reason.

What’s more, it seems she genuinely cares about me. I can feel a kindness from her, almost like that of an older sister.

“Onii-sama… to go that far for me… Onii-sama… thank you.”

Yukina’s cheeks flushed as her eyes glistened, and she looked up at me.

It wasn’t her usual seductive expression, but a look of pure, unadulterated joy.

“It’s nothing to be thankful for. It’s normal to cherish time with family, right? Besides, I’m happy I get to spend time with you too, Yukina.”

“Onii-sama♡ I’m so lucky to be with you, too!”

“Phew. Well, since that seems to be settled, I’ll be returning to my duties. Yuuma-sama, I must ask that you please refrain from doing anything strange just because you are without a guard. Sakurai, let’s go.”

“Y-Yes! Well then, excuse us!”

Tachibana-san and the others, taking the hint, began to leave the hospital room.

“Yes, thank you.”

And so, I succeeded in securing time for myself without a guard.

But I didn’t know it at the time.

That this choice would later lead to an unbelievable state of affairs…

ーーーーーーーー

After leaving Yuuma-sama’s hospital room, I hurried after Tachibana-san.

“W-Wait, Tachibana-san! Are you sure about this? Really leaving Yuuma-sama without protection for 30 minutes? That’s a violation of regulations, isn’t it?”

Male bodyguards have a duty to monitor their protectees on a 24-hour basis.

This is to ensure an immediate response should anything happen to the protectee.

If we break this rule, it won’t just be a stern warning.

In the worst-case scenario, it could mean dismissal.

But Tachibana-san paid my words no mind, continuing down the hospital corridor.

Where on earth is she going, leaving Yuuma-sama behind…?

As Tachibana-san continued to blatantly ignore me, I felt a flicker of irritation.

“—Do you have no intention of protecting Yuuma-sama, Tachibana-san?”

Tachibana-san’s feet stopped dead.

Then, she turned to face me, her gaze ice-cold.

A sensation like my blood running cold washed over me.

Scary… I’ve never felt this way before… what is this…? This is completely different from the Tachibana-san I’ve known… Is this her true face?

“Ah… um. Tachibana-san…?”

At my call, she slowly opened her mouth.

“Did you say I have no intention of protecting Yuuma-sama?”

Her voice, too, was low, with a menacing tone I could never have imagined from her usual self.

It was enough to make my body tremble with fear, even for someone like me who had endured the terrifying training of a male bodyguard.

I want to run… but if I run, I’m sure she’ll kill me…

My instincts were screaming that at me.

That’s how terrifying the Tachibana-san before me was.

“Ah, no… um…”

“Sakurai-san. Why do you think I became a male bodyguard?”

I don’t understand the intent of her question.

Why is she asking me that now?

But I have to answer.

If I don’t answer now, there will be no tomorrow for me.

I had a feeling that was the case.

“Is it because… it’s one of the few ways to be able to serve near a precious man?”

I answered, timidly.

What I had just said was the most popular reason for aspiring to become a male bodyguard.

It’s embarrassing to admit, but that was, in fact, the impure reason I became one.

At that, Tachibana-san let out a soft chuckle.

It was a smile that seemed to be mocking me.

“You really are an impure and honest person through and through… The reason I became a male bodyguard… was because I wanted to always be by Yuuma-sama’s side, to protect him.”

“But we’re not supposed to be able to choose our own protectees! That’s a taboo, because if male bodyguards could freely choose their assignments, it could interfere with their missions!”

“Sakurai-san. You’re still young, so you don’t understand the filth of the adult world at all… There are always loopholes.”

No way… that can’t be… Is Tachibana-san serious? You’ve got to be kidding me…

“Y-You’re joking… right?”

“…”

I tried to laugh it off, thinking Tachibana-san must be joking, but it seemed she was completely serious.

Tachibana-san is in love with Yuuma-sama… that’s why she’s protecting him…

To fall in love with your protectee, Yuuma-sama… that is something that must never happen for a bodyguard.

“You know, I’ve thought about dying many times. But each time, I would remember Yuuma-sama’s smile and hold myself back. Because his smile is wonderful, no matter when I see it. Just being able to work by the side of someone so wonderful is enough to make me happy. That’s why I can put my life on the line for Yuuma-sama. Besides, Yuuma-sama is plenty strong enough without someone like me protecting him. To me, Yuuma-sama is special… It seems he’s forgotten due to his amnesia, but I remember. Five years ago, when I was still a university student, he saved me… I can still remember it as vividly as if it were yesterday. Yuuma-sama gave me hope to live. That’s why I decided… this time, I would be the one to protect Yuuma-sama…”

Tachibana-san’s face was that of a maiden in love.

Five years ago, Yuuma-sama saved Tachibana-san? What on earth happened?

“Tachibana-san… um… forgive my impertinence, but Yuuma-sama doesn’t remember you, right? Are you okay with that?”

Tachibana-san says Yuuma-sama is special to her, but he must think of her as just another bodyguard.

“Yes, that’s fine. Just being by Yuuma-sama’s side is enough to make me happy.”

Despite the situation, Tachibana-san wasn’t the least bit discouraged.

If anything, her feelings seemed to have grown even stronger.

“That’s amazing, Tachibana-san! You really are the person I look up to!”

“Thank you, Sakurai-san. We will protect Yuuma-sama, even if it costs us our lives!”

“Yes!”

And with that, Tachibana-san and I began walking once more.

“By the way, Tachibana-san, where are we heading now?”

I asked as I followed behind her.

This hospital was enormous, so I had no idea of her destination.

“It’s simple. The hospital’s surveillance room. We’ll monitor Yuuma-sama’s condition from there with the security cameras♡ I never said I wouldn’t be watching him, so I should still be keeping my promise to Yuuma-sama.”

And so Tachibana-san stated her childishly sophistic argument.