I was called in by a big shot.
Kuro and I are in a lavishly decorated room. It's the big shot's workplace.
On this island, where the architectural style of each district can change completely, it feels like a single island crammed with many different countries when you see it in person.
In fact, it's not far from the truth, as people from many countries live here and have their own factions.
For some convenient reason, the languages are perfectly understandable, but we still have language classes. It's sad.
Kuro was chosen by lottery from everyone and was assigned to a mission with me. From now on, we must always work in pairs on requests.
"Good day, Yozuki-san."
A door opens, and a woman enters. This woman is the client for this request, 'Holy Ruler-sama.'
She's not wearing a suit but a white dress. The color of her hair and skin gives her a very ephemeral impression, but her eyes, which look straight at me, are... not completely unguarded.
After a brief greeting, we take our seats.
Holy Ruler-sama is a character from "Black Bullet." In that world, she's the ruler of the Tokyo Area, but in this world, she serves as the representative of Japan in the island's parliament.
She's known for being an idealist, trying to build a system of cooperation between countries. To those with ulterior motives or "Butei" (armed detectives) who know the realities of the world, her ideals are something to be exploited or laughed at, but they are incredibly popular with the general public.
"I would like you two to be my bodyguards for this mission."
Even though she's a young representative, the real power is held by an old man named 'Kikunojo Tendo.' To put it badly, she's just a figurehead. The value lies in a lovely young girl who hasn't even reached adulthood yet, holding up these ideals.
"A unofficial meeting with Vice-Representative Saotome-shi will be held the day after tomorrow. I'd like to ask you to be my bodyguards during that time."
"Saotome is a gung-ho militant, right? So, you're aiming for a time when Kikunojo Tendo is away from the island?"
"Yes. I believe so."
Kikunojo Tendo isn't on the island for a conference in mainland Japan. Even a young girl is a representative. They probably figure they should bring her over to their side while the nuisance is away.
"Do you need bodyguards?"
"If it's Saotome-shi, maybe."
Saotome is famous for being the exact opposite of Holy Ruler-sama—a gung-ho militant. He's trying to repeal the ban on murder in Japan's Butei laws, and he's skilled himself, often turning the tables on assassins who come for him.
That's probably why a bodyguard is needed. Maybe something will happen.
Next, I don't understand,
"Why did you choose me as your bodyguard?"
The reason she chose me, a practically unknown Butei.
"I saw the records of the plane hijacking the day before."
"Mmm..."
The plane hijacking. She must be talking about the Butei-killing incident. A guy came to tell us to keep quiet... well, since she has one of the highest authorities on this island, I guess it makes sense she would know about it.
"Is it so bad if I say it's because your words struck a chord with me?"
Kuro looks at me. Don't look at me like that. I was just high on adrenaline because my Stand manifested. I felt like giving a song and dance.
"What did you say, big brother?"
"They were very captivating words. I never thought I would hear such words from a Butei."
"I'd really prefer if you didn't talk about that."
Holy Ruler-sama smiles while Kuro looks at me with a suspicious gaze. Unable to endure their stares, I gesture for them to move on.
"Besides, you won't be the only ones guarding me."
Holy Ruler-sama turns her head back and speaks to the people lined up behind her.
"Please introduce yourselves."
"Excuse me."
One of the men steps forward.
He wears a coat-like garment, and a sword and pistol are tucked into his waist.
"These are the people in charge of my personal guard. This is Captain Yasuwaki-san."
So, they're her exclusive bodyguards.
The man who stepped forward at Holy Ruler-sama's introduction wears glasses. He has a nervous-looking face.
For a moment, he looks at me as if sizing me up, but the look quickly disappears.
"My name is 'Takuto Yasuwaki.' I'm a Third Lieutenant and serving as the Captain of the guard. I'll be counting on you in case of an emergency."
"...Right. My name is Sho Yozuki. I'll be working with you."
I stand up and we bow to each other across the desk.
"Now, for the detailed schedule..."
With Yasuwaki in my peripheral vision, I listened to the secretary's explanation.
--------
"That Yasuwaki guy... he felt kinda creepy."
The explanation of the guard duty is over, and Kuro and I are walking down the corridor. Her first words after leaving the room were this.
"As expected of Kuro. You're right."
"Huh?"
Takuto Yasuwaki. He's also a character from Black Bullet... but he's a so-called 'complete antagonist.'
Not just in light novels, it's not uncommon for characters who start as enemies to become allies... or at least form a cooperative relationship.
But this guy is different.
He is portrayed as the protagonist's enemy from beginning to end.
"There's a high possibility that won't change in this world either."
"Seriously...? Is he an enemy spy?"
"No, it's more like a twisted kind of love."
"W-what? What's with that pronunciation...?"
Just a slight twist of the tongue gets this reaction.
"Anyway, let's put that aside. Yasuwaki is after Holy Ruler-sama. You get it, right?"
"Ah, is it one of those 'love across social classes' things?"
"I wish it were that simple."
He wants to marry Holy Ruler-sama and seize power. He's like the Fujiwara clan in the Heian period. A little different, maybe?
"Hmm, I see. It would be great if you could just tell them."
"Well, there's no proof."
It's the same as the Butei-killing incident. Even if you know who the culprit is, you can't report them if they haven't committed the crime, or even attempted to.
If we make a reckless statement, we'll be the ones in danger.
All we can do is wait for an incident to happen and then resolve it perfectly and safely.
"Alright, Kuro. Go on ahead."
"Asuna-san and the others told me not to leave you alone, though."
"This is the first I'm hearing of that...!!"
My surveillance has gotten stricter.
"But this time, it's better if I'm alone. It might be better for us later if he thinks I don't know his true nature."
Besides, Kuro is a child, so Yasuwaki might unconsciously let his guard down.
"...Okay. I'll go on ahead, big brother!"
"Hey! Wait up!"
Kuro intentionally runs off, yelling loudly. I also pretend to try and hold her back.
Footsteps echo from behind me.
"Stop, Sho Yozuki."
It's Takuto Yasuwaki and his two lackeys, for a total of three people.
"I won't pretend I don't know what you want."
"Hmph, then you know what I want to say. Quit the bodyguard mission. Lord Tendo has entrusted Holy Ruler-sama to me. You are not worthy of her."
Oh, wow. I can't believe I'm hearing this line in person...
On the day of the meeting, Kuro and I are to ride in the same car as Holy Ruler-sama and wait behind her during the meeting. Apparently, this was Holy Ruler-sama's wish.
The look on his face during that explanation was genuinely terrifying. It was the kind of look that could kill a person. If there had been no one else there, he probably would have drawn his sword.
"You should tell her that directly--"
The corner of a pillar is chipped by a bullet. As expected of an exclusive bodyguard for a VIP. It's an S-rank equivalent quick draw.
"Don't shout... Honestly, what is Holy Ruler-sama thinking... to have an unknown Butei like you by her side...!!"
You two lackeys, say something!! Your boss is seriously crazy! Don't you have a comment about that?
"...For starters, the reason you don't like me isn't just that, is it?"
At my words, Yasuwaki grins.
"Holy Ruler-sama has grown into a beautiful woman and is now 16 years old."
"You wouldn't think so to look at her in person."
"Don't you think it's about time for her to have a successor?"
"She's not a country, you know?"
"Silence."
Ah, it's over. I've figured out that he's just like the original and hasn't changed at all.
Well, whatever.
"Anyway, I have no obligation to obey you."
"You...!"
Yasuwaki and his two lackeys fire at me as I turn my back and start walking, but...
"Huh?"
All the bullets fly in a completely different direction.
"Gata-suk. You can't beat me."
"You're a supernaturally gifted person...!!"
Yasuwaki and I glare at each other, but hearing the gunfire, guards come running.
"...I'll kill you. I'll kill you, Sho Yozuki!!"
He gives a dramatic parting shot and runs away. I'm checked for gunshot residue on the spot and released right away.
I'll have to tell Kuro about this.
--------
"......"
Well, yeah. I thought this incident meant this was going to happen.
Kuro was no longer in the hallway where we had entered the facility. I asked the receptionist, who said she had already left the building. I tried to call her mobile phone, but there was no response, which made me a little anxious... but I found her safely.
She was at a fountain in the park in front of the facility. She wasn't alone, though. She was with a girl her age with platinum blonde hair, who was wearing pajamas.
Furthermore, they were surrounded by three men.
They weren't Yasuwaki's subordinates. They looked like common thugs. Kuro was protecting the other girl from them.
I need to hurry and do something.
"You guys better stop."
"Huh?"
"What's it to you, big guy? Butt out!!"
"What, you wanna fight that bad?"
I show them my Butei High student ID. With just that, the thugs' faces tense up, and they get ready to run away.
"Ugh...! H-hey! Let's go!"
"Y-yeah."
The men all run away together. The fact that they're scared of this means they're just delinquents.
"You okay, Kuro, and..."
I pull the girl who had collapsed to her feet. Her eyes are half-open, and she looks incredibly sleepy.
She stares at me with those eyes, which make it seem like she's half-dreaming.
"A hero of justice... It's my first time seeing one."
"I see."
"What about me?"
"...? Was there someone else?"
She hadn't even noticed Kuro.
"...It's getting dark, so why don't you go home? Big brother, let's go."
Kuro seems pretty annoyed by how she's being treated.
"Where are we?"
"You're lost!?"
Kuro falls over perfectly.
--------
When I return from buying a juice from a vending machine, Kuro is trying hard to communicate.
"I'll ask one more time. Do you know where your home is?"
"No?"
"Your mom and dad?"
"I wonder?"
"Why are you in pajamas?"
"Why indeed?"
"Are you picking a fight with me?"
Kuro is on the verge of losing it.
"Is it not going well?"
"Yeah. Nothing I ask her seems to get through. What should we do? All I know is her name."
"My name is Tina... Tina Sprout."
...So it really was Tina.
"Here."
I hand the juice I bought to Tina.
Tina takes out a tablet from the only thing she's carrying, a plastic bottle, and chews it up. The bottle is labeled 'Caffeine.'
She drinks the juice as if taking medicine. It feels like her eyes have opened up a bit.
"I'm a night person, so I can't stay awake during the day without doing this."
"A night person? At your age?"
Kuro frowns at the incomprehensible words.
"What's your name?"
"Me? I'm Sho Yozuki."
"Sho-san?"
"Yeah."
"Big brother, you're moving fast."
Why?
After I turn to look at Kuro, I see Tina has closed her eyes.
"Don't fall asleep."
"Ugh..."
Tina puts another caffeine tablet in her mouth. I can hear the sound of the tablet crunching.
"Alright, do you remember what you were doing before you got here?"
"Today, I woke up in an apartment, brushed my teeth, took a shower, changed my clothes, and went outside feeling great."
"Yeah, that's a lie, isn't it?"
I sigh.
"I guess there's no choice. I'll search for her address by name--"
"Actually, I think I know where my house is."
"Whoa, what was that!?"
Just as I was about to resort to my last option, Tina reacted like a completely different person.
At that moment, the timer on my mobile device went off.
"That alarm?"
"The supermarket sale is about to start."
It's our turn to go shopping today. We were supposed to stop by the supermarket on our way back from the request explanation. If we're late, it'll be a big problem.
A silence falls.
"...Well, it's getting late."
"Big brother! We have to go!!"
We both start walking in different directions.
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