It was the evening before the concert, and the personnel were in chaos. There was a thick tension in the atmosphere. There were a number of staff members shouting at the other workers, while a number of lifters struggled to find where the remaining stage props were supposed to go, while some relaxed and relieved stress with cigarettes hidden in the back.

In the back, Felix leaned against the walls, dressed in a black vest over a white polo. His mismatched eyes concealed behind a pair of sunglasses. From afar, he watched as Natsumi conversed with a black suited man with a clipboard in hand.

“Good to see everything’s going smoothly, Producer-san!” Natsumi smiled.

“Alright, see you tomorrow, Yumiko-chan.”

Natsumi waved as she walked over to where Felix was waiting, “Why with the long face?”

“We’re here because?” Felix expressed his dismay.

“Just seeing into the finishing touches. I want to see if papa’s investments are being handled properly. Don’t worry, after this it’ll just be you and me and a night on the town.”

“How lucky am I.” He scoffed.

She glanced over to the wide-open space they were in, it was what one would expect of a concert arena, only twice as large, “Speak your mind, what do you think?”

“Looks like a pretty big event.”

“It should be. Anyway, I’m just gonna go to Yoko-san for a bit to look over the finances.”

As she walked away to talk to the black-haired lady on the stage, Felix was left alone for a brief period. He pulled out the smartphone in his pocket and read through the documents.

Now, would the sniper attack before, after, or during the performance? It doesn’t even make any sense why they would attack during the concert. In any case, I should keep my guard up.

“You’re an unfamiliar face, who are you supposed to be?” An unfamiliar man with a speaker on his shoulder walked up to Felix. With tanned skin and messy, and pale blond hair.

“I’m—” The tanned man gestured Felix to stop before he could say another word.

“No, no. Let me guess, you’re Yumiko’s new bodyguard?” He smiled widely, putting the speaker down. It was clear at a glance that he had a well-toned physique.

“…That’s right.”

“So what’s your name, bro?”

“Do I have to tell you?” Felix indifferently replied.

“Eh, as one bodyguard to another, I thought we could make a little chit chat.”

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“Isn’t it customary here to give your own name first before asking for another’s?”

“Eh, you got me there, bro. I’m Asahi. Asahi Yamamoto, at your service.” The tanned man raised both his hands in defeat.

Felix adjusted his sunglasses by the bridge, the way the Chief always would, and answered in a rehearsed manner, “It’s Haruki. Nice to meet you.”

“Ah, it’s nice to meet you, Haruki!” Asahi extended his hand.

“Likewise… So Asahi…-san. Who are you supposed to be bodyguarding?” Felix asked as he shook his hand, the tanned man had a firm grip that he took notice of. He could tell that Asahi was also very capable.

“I was hired recently to protect the Sweethearts.”

“Then why aren’t you accompanying them right now?”

“They asked me to leave… and there should be someone else watching over them at the moment, but Yumiko really does have her own personal bodyguard, doesn’t she? Damn, I’m so jealous of you.” He muttered excitedly.

His eyebrows curled curiously, “Why?”

“I heard that there were a lot of people out to get her, so she tests her bodyguards to see if they’re worthy of her, whatever that means.”

“So that’s what it was?” Felix blurted out under his breath to pique the man’s interest.

“Why, what happened, bro? Did she test you?”

“Yeah… I guess I “passed.”

“How? What kind of test was it? What did she do? What did she ask?” Asahi quickly barraged him with questions.

“It’s not exactly the most pleasant of tests.” He dryly answered with the slightest smirk.

“Eh? Now I’m curious!”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

“I see… still, to have a bodyguard all to herself… It’s a shame I couldn’t get close to her.”

“Hm? Why’s that?”

“…I wanna be close to all of them! They’re cute and everything, and since she’s… well, aren’t you interested in them?”

Felix sighed, “You’re not supposed to be interested in your charges, it’s not professional.”

“You’re so stiff, bro… But I guess that what sets us apart. I don’t think I can keep myself away… not when I have my eye on someone.”

Felix gave a disgusted expression and cracked his knuckles, “You know, if you touch any of them—”

“I know, I know. You don’t need to worry about me, bro. I’m fine just watching from afar, I can’t let her reputation get ruined.” He muttered wistfully with a far off look.

“Which one of them is her?” The agent’s eyebrows curled.

With documents in hand, Natsumi returned, accompanied by a tall, black-haired office lady wearing black-rimmed glasses. The tanned bodyguard averted his eyes to the side as they approached.

“Hey! I’d like you to meet the financial manager of Starry Sweethearts, Yoko Takahashi. She said she wanted to meet you. Yoko-san, this is my new body—”

Felix quickly reached out for a handshake. “I’m Haruki, Haruki Saionji. I’m Yumiko’s new bodyguard. It’s nice to meet you, Miss Yoko.”

“Ah, eh? R-right, Haruki.” Natsumi blurted out.

Asahi’s eyes narrowed as he watched Natsumi’s startled response.

“Pleasures all mine, Haruki-dono. I do hope that you will fulfill your duty without any issue. I have high expectations of the both of you.”

“Whoa, Yoko-san! I think that’s putting a lot of pressure on the both of—” Asahi commented.

“Without question.” Felix replied without a hint of hesitation.

There was a sudden stop as Miss Yoko stared sternly at Felix as she pushed her glasses up, shaking his hand. The sharp-eyed office lady then pulled Natsumi to her side, dragging her away from the two bodyguards. Felix’s eyebrows lower in contrast to Asahi’s eyes widening.

“Yumiko.” Kyoko whispered in her ear.

“Y-yes, Yoko-san?” Natsumi responded nervously.

Yoko pushes her glasses upward, “I like him.”

“Ah, oh… he’s funny, isn’t he?” She smiled.

The two bodyguards were left behind by the two women, left with only each other’s company, Asahi tried to strike a conversation

“Bro, what do you think they’re talking about?”

“Who knows?”

Asahi gave him a discontent look, “You know you’re really hard to talk to, bro.”

“So I’ve been told.” Felix answered before the conversation fell into silence.

~