Seraphim is a Bystander

Time with Family

 
 
“Master Aoi, please wake up. We’ll be arriving soon.”

“Mmm…?”
Aoi was being driven home by a servant from his Master’s household. The woman currently waking him up was Katagiri-san, the one who always handled his transport. Like his Master during training, she usually wore a stoic expression, which could seem a little intimidating at first glance—but her overflowing fondness for children always peeked through. She was a genuinely kind person.
“Katagiri-san? …Ah! I’m so sorry! I fell asleep again, didn’t I?”

“Not at all. I’m sure you’re tired from training, Master Aoi. It’s perfectly understandable.”
“Thank you… and thank you again for everything.”
“…It’s part of my job.”

That’s just how Katagiri-san was—calm and composed in her responses. But a little mental peeking would reveal her real thoughts loud and clear.
(Sigh… Why is Master Aoi just so unbelievably adorable? The contrast between his innocent sleeping face and his serious expression during training is divine… If only I had healing abilities, I’d make sure he was perfectly restored while he slept…)
…Okay, yes, that’s a little terrifying. But she only saw Aoi as someone to be protected at all costs. If it scared me, that’s probably just because my own heart’s too impure… Yes. That must be it.

“…We’ve arrived. Please get some rest.”
“Thank you, Katagiri-san! I’ll be counting on you again for the next training!”
“Of course. …(He even [N O V E L I G H T] thanks a mere servant like me every time… He’s truly precious. Please stay just the way you are, growing up safe and sound…)”

With Katagiri-san's mentally noisy but heartfelt farewell, Aoi entered the house. The front door’s biometric security unlocked automatically. As he stepped inside, his mother appeared, having noticed the sound.
“Welcome back, Aoi. How was training today?”
“I’m home, Mom. I’m tired, but it was fun!”

“Good. Dinner’s ready, so go wash up, okay?”
“Okay!” Aoi replied cheerfully and headed off to wash his hands. His mother watched him go with a worried sigh, her gaze lingering on the new bandages wrapped around his limbs.
“Mom, is Ritsuki awake?”
“Yes, he’s in his room.”

“Got it!”
After washing up, Aoi made his way to what used to be his childhood bedroom. He peeked into the crib, where a grumpy-faced baby was waving a toy with one hand.
“Ritsuki~ I’m home~ Big brother’s here~”

“…Niinii. Aboo.”
“Did you say welcome back? Thank you!”
The baby grabbed Aoi’s outstretched hand without changing his grumpy expression. This was Aoi’s little brother, Ritsuki. While Aoi took after their mother, Ritsuki resembled their father quite a bit—especially that scowl.

As Aoi played with his brother, his mother entered the room.
“Oh, you’re with Ritsuki? Dinner’s ready.”
“Okay! Do you need help with anything?”

“No, it’s fine. Your father’s got it covered.”
With that, she scooped up Ritsuki and the three of them headed to the living room. There, Aoi’s father was already setting food out on the dining table.
“Dad, I’m home!”

“Ah, welcome back, Aoi. …How was training?”
“It was fun! …Still haven’t landed a single hit on Master yet, though.”
“There’s no need to rush. Take your time and improve step by step.”

After finishing the setup, Aoi’s father patted his head and sat down. Ritsuki and their mother joined them, and with everyone present, they put their hands together as the father led the call:
“Alright then—itadakimasu.”
“““Itadakimasu!””” (“Idaimaf!”)

As they began eating the home-cooked meal, the conversation naturally shifted toward Aoi’s upcoming work with his Master.
“So, Aoi—about you accompanying Morimiya-sama on her job?”
“Yeah, Master asked if I wanted to go. I’ll do my best not to get in the way.”

“…I see. If she’s with you, then it shouldn’t be dangerous, but still—be careful.”
“I will!”
Even as they talked, their mother looked uneasy. Noticing this, the father began explaining what he’d heard from Master Renka.

“Apparently, it’s a bodyguard job for the Ichijou main family. Aoi’s just tagging along to observe.”
“Is it really safe? Is the job dangerous enough to require someone like Morimiya-sama?”
“No, they’re not heading into any danger zones. It’s just to be extra cautious.”

“I hope there won’t be any trouble…”
“…Knowing Morimiya-sama, she won’t let Aoi interact directly with the Ichijou family heads.”
The rest of the meal continued with conversation about the job. Though the discussion ended, the worry never left their mother’s face. While she cleaned up after dinner, the father took Aoi and Ritsuki to the bath.

“Okay, Ritsuki~ Close your eyes, okay?”
“Ooo!”
Under their father’s supervision, Aoi gently washed his baby brother. Then he removed the bandages wrapped by his Master, and his father washed him as well.

“…Your wounds always heal so fast, Aoi.”
“Huh? Really?”
The cuts from earlier training were already scabbing over. His father checked his body carefully as he washed, but aside from minor scratches, Aoi looked surprisingly uninjured for someone who trained so hard.

Of course, that’s because I had raised his natural healing ability significantly.
“Maybe it’s due to your high innate ability… Either way, it’s a good thing.”
“…?”

“Alright, let’s soak for a bit and then get out.”
““Okay!” (“Ahh!”)
After a proper soak, they got out of the bath, dried off, and each headed to their own rooms. Aoi had been given his own room since Ritsuki’s birth. Once bandaged again and lying in bed, the door creaked open gently.

“…Aoi? Are you still awake?”
“Mom…?”
He rubbed his sleepy eyes and tried to sit up, but his mother held out a hand to stop him and sat by his bed. She gently stroked his head and began speaking softly.

“Aoi, aren’t you scared of fighting?”
“…? I’m not really sure…”
“I see… If you ever feel scared or in danger, it’s okay to run, okay?”

“…Okay.”
With that quiet promise, his mother continued to gently stroke his hair until he fell asleep.