Seraphim is a Bystander

Departure Day

 
 
"Are you sure you’re okay? You haven’t forgotten anything, right?"

"Yeah, I’ve got everything," Aoi replied, standing at the front door with a carry-on suitcase, ready to go. His mother had asked this same question several times already, clearly unable to hide her concern.
"Well then, Mom, I’m off."
"…Okay. Take care and have a safe trip!"

Today was the day Aoi would accompany his Master on a job. He had gone over his preparations countless times, and now all that was left was to meet up with Katagiri-san, who was waiting nearby.
After waving goodbye to his mother, Aoi headed to the parking lot near their home, where Katagiri-san—the woman who always chauffeured him between his house and his Master’s residence—was waiting.
"Good morning, Master Aoi."

"Good morning, Katagiri-san! I’ll be in your care starting today!"
Katagiri-san quietly took Aoi’s luggage and loaded it into the car.
"Ah… thank you, sorry for the trouble!"

"It’s my job."
As always, Katagiri-san’s words were formal and stoic on the surface. Aoi climbed into the car with her, aware that she would also be accompanying them on this job.
"Now then, let’s stop by the estate first to meet with Morimiya-sama and get ready."

"Yes! Please take care of me!"
The car began moving toward his Master’s estate. Even in the self-driving vehicle, Katagiri-san remained in the driver’s seat in silence. However, if you paid close attention, you’d notice she was keeping a detailed eye on Aoi while also monitoring the car’s status—offering him a drink from time to time.
"Have you had breakfast, Master Aoi?"

"Yes! I had a full meal before leaving."
Upon hearing that, Katagiri-san, who had been reaching toward the compartment, returned her hand to the steering wheel. Incidentally, the compartment was a mini-fridge, containing light snacks. The drink she gave Aoi had come from there.
"…I see. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask."
"Thank you very much."

The drive passed comfortably and quickly, and before long, they arrived at his Master’s estate. Aoi stepped out of the car, took his luggage, and entered the mansion where his Master was waiting.
"Hey Aoi! You feeling alright?"
"Good morning, Master! I slept well last night, so I’m all good!"

"Great! First things first, we need to get you changed into your work clothes. Follow me."
Leading the way, Renka took Aoi to a room in the mansion. Inside were several wardrobes, and one of them contained an outfit perfectly sized for him.
"That’s your uniform from today onward. Get changed."

"Understood."
Aoi unfolded the outfit, which looked like a relaxed version of a suit—professional enough for formal settings, but also flexible enough for easy movement. He wasn’t used to wearing this kind of attire, so he struggled a little as he put it on.
With his long hair and androgynous appearance, the outfit gave Aoi a more graceful, elegant look than his usual cuteness.

"…Alright, this should be fine."
"Done changing?"
The door swung open with a wham, and his Master strode in. She gave Aoi a good look from head to toe and nodded approvingly.

"Oh yeah! Lookin’ sharp!"
"…Really? Thank you."
"Yes, it suits you very well."

Even Katagiri-san, standing quietly beside Renka, slightly softened her expression at the sight of Aoi—though so subtly you’d miss it if you weren’t paying attention.
"So, Katagiri, is all the luggage already in my car?"
"Yes, including Master Aoi’s belongings."

"Alright then, let’s hit the road!"
They headed to the garage, where Aoi noticed that their luggage had already been moved from the previous car into a tough-looking off-road vehicle—one that belonged to Renka. Climbing inside, Renka took the driver’s seat.
"If you don’t wanna die, better buckle up!"

"Please drive safely, Master."
Unlike most vehicles in the current era, Renka’s car didn’t have autonomous driving—it required manual control. Apparently, Renka preferred # Nоvеlight # it that way for “various reasons.”
"Alright, I’ll explain the mission while we’re on the move. Katagiri?"

"Yes. Here you go, Master Aoi."
While Renka navigated the road surprisingly smoothly, Katagiri-san handed over a set of documents. Inside were maps, photos of buildings, and several faces with corresponding names.
"The mission is a bodyguard detail. We’re protecting the Ichijou family head, his wife, and their daughter."

Aoi absorbed the names and faces of the three individuals pictured in the files as he listened.
"I see… So what exactly do we do as bodyguards?"
"Basically, we stay nearby but keep some distance. Stay silent and alert at all times. Got it?"

As Aoi nodded and continued reading, he came across blueprints and photos of a ceremonial venue. Just as he noticed them, Katagiri began to explain.
"That’s the venue where the Ichijou family will be attending the ceremony. The plan is to head to the Ichijou estate, meet up with them, and then provide security throughout the entire event."
"We’ll be working alongside their security detail. For you, just stick close to me and observe."

"…Understood."
The documents included detailed routes and event schedules. Aoi thoroughly read everything and committed it to memory. After finishing, he asked a question that had come to mind.
"By the way, the doctor who checks on me for the virtual combat stuff—her name’s Ichijou-sensei. Any relation?"

"Ah, her. She’s the current head’s younger sister. From what I hear, she’s neck-deep in research and doesn’t really involve herself with the family."
"Wow… So she’s from a really prestigious house, huh…"
Learning the unexpected background of that annoying genius gave Aoi something to chew on. As they took breaks during their journey, eventually…

"There it is."
Renka pointed ahead. Following her gaze, Aoi spotted a massive estate that looked at least twice the size of Renka’s.
"…It’s huge."

"Of course. This is the most prestigious family in all of Akatsuki."
As they drew closer, Aoi couldn’t help but feel the weight of the mission settling in. The size and status of the estate made the reality of it all suddenly feel much more intense.