Seraphim is a Bystander

Apology and Gratitude
 

Fortunately, the Ichijou family didn’t seem too different even after everything that happened yesterday.
When I tried to escort them to their vehicle, I ended up getting taken into the same car as the head of the family, just like on the first day.
We’d exposed the young lady to danger due to Master’s and my own judgment, so I thought it wouldn’t be surprising if they kept me at a distance...
“Um, Michiya-sama? I can ride in another car—”

“I told you, didn’t I? I want you to stay with my daughter as much as possible. Besides…”
As if sensing my thoughts, Michiya-sama leaned in and whispered softly in my ear.
“(She was quite shaken by what happened yesterday. I think she’ll feel more at ease with the person who protected her nearby.)”

“...You think so?”
But I was the very reason she was put in danger in the first place.
Could she really feel safer with me around?
I looked to Michiya-sama, seeking some kind of reassurance, and he simply gave a warm smile and nodded.
If he, as her parent, says so, then it must be true. He surely understands his daughter far better than someone like me who only met her yesterday.

“Alright then, shall we go, Aoi-kun?”
“Eh… Ah, yes.”
With a gentle push on my shoulder, I was once again seated beside the young lady—almost forcefully—just like on the first day.
As I resigned myself to the situation and turned to look beside me, I saw her gaze already fixed on me.

“Um… Aoi-san.”
“My lady!”
I had opened my mouth to apologize for yesterday, but ended up speaking over her.

“Ah—sorry…”
“I, uh… interrupted you again. What was it you wanted to say, my lady?”
While scolding myself for overlapping with her again, I waited for her reply.
She looked a bit embarrassed but finally spoke.

“Um… Aoi-san, thank you for yesterday.”
“Eh—?”
I was completely caught off guard by those words and sat in stunned silence as she continued, her posture now proper and composed.
“If you hadn’t been there, I might not be here right now. So… thank you for saving me.”

“That’s not…”
That’s not true at all. If anything, she was in danger because of me.
There’s no reason she should be thanking me.
“Not at all… I’m the one who should apologize for putting you in danger.”

I turned toward her and bowed deeply.
“If I hadn’t led you to the courtyard, none of that would’ve happened. It was due to my lack of skill. I sincerely apologize.”
An apology wouldn’t fix everything—but as a bodyguard who failed to protect their charge, I couldn’t help but say it.
I’d need to properly apologize to Michiya-sama and Mayuko-sama later, too.

“No, Aoi-san! Please raise your head!”
She panicked a little when I didn’t lift my head.
As I looked up, I was met with her face very close to mine.
“I heard what happened! You led me to the courtyard to protect me, didn’t you?”

“U-um, my lady…”
The young lady leaned in even closer, pushing the distance between us to zero.
I instinctively tried to lean away, but it was no use—she firmly grabbed both my shoulders.
“More importantly, Aoi-san, you fought desperately to protect me! There’s no reason for you to apologize!”

“My lady… My lady!”
“What is it?!”
Hearing her finally respond, I frantically tried to find a way to express myself—without upsetting her any further.

“Um… it’s just, your face is…”
“Huh…?”
Only then did she seem to realize her posture—and her face started turning bright red.
…Come on, Aoi. Couldn’t you have said something more elegant?

“Eek! I-I’m so sorry!”
“N-No, it’s fine…”
She quickly backed away, still blushing furiously.
Just as I was about to say something to ease the awkward tension, my comm device started ringing.

“Ah… excuse me a moment.”
“O-Of course…”
Come to think of it, the last time I had a talk with her in the car, I got a call then, too…
When I checked the caller, just as expected—it was Master again.

“Hello, this is Aoi. What’s up?”
“〈Aoi, we’re about to enter a phantom hotspot. The vehicle will stop shortly—once it does, I need you to get out and assist me with perimeter security and phantom response.〉”
Ah, right. That area they mentioned during the morning meeting.
I remember—we were supposed to handle any nearby phantoms to keep them from approaching the vehicles.

“Understood. I’ll join up as soon as we stop.”
“〈Good. Once you’re out, we’ll be running alongside the convoy to defend it—so take this time to rest up.〉”
“Yes… Huh?”

Running…?
Wait, running as in actually running alongside the cars?
Now that I think about it… are we literally running °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° beside moving vehicles?
Before I could even ask, Master hung up the call.