Shattered Happiness

Just a...Bodyguard?

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"For you, I am casting about for an excuse again."

― Arima Kousei

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Serena could barely processed the last few days. One day, there was a strange incident that she was caught in. Then, the next day she found herself in the hospital. Now the next early morning, her mom refused to let her out of bed and tells her that she's no longer allowed to leave the house by herself for awhile. And who's going to be with her outside the house for a next couple of days?

Well, that's no other than Ash himself.

She found the idea pretty strange to be honest. Going around in public with one of the most well-known people in this town and expect it will definitely not hinder her safety? Serena didn't even want to imagine how her mom got him to agree with the idea of it. Doesn't he have a busy schedule and his extracurriculars to attend to as well? Overall, she believes that there's nothing beneficial from it. 

The day when she was able to go to school again, her mom lectured her the first thing in the morning. It was something refreshing to Serena, and she knew it was just her mom being worried, especially with everything that's happening.

Serena silently ate her breakfast as her mom washed the dishes. She chewed and swallowed. She chewed and swallowed her food. She chewed and swallowed her meal again. She glance at her mom, her back facing her as she put a plate away. It was rare for her to be silent...even just for a moment. And if she was silent, that means something is up.

"Um mom..?"

"Serena."

Her name being said in a tone that made her flinch. "Yes?"

Her mom heaved a big sigh and turned to face her. "I know this is weird idea. But this is just temporary, I promise."

Serena adjusted her hat and averted her gaze. "I..understand." With her mom wearing that look on her face, she knew it's not best to argue with her right now. 

Grace walked over to her side and placed her neatly wrapped lunch next to her. She stood next to her in silence for a moment before speaking. "Hey, promise me to let me know if there's anything out of place. We can't have anything like that happen again in this household."

Serena glanced at her mom in confusion. Again? She began to voice out her thoughts but the door bell chimed before she could.

"Oh! That must be him now. Hurry and finish up! I'll get the door." Grace quickly went to get the door as Serena ate the last few pieces of her breakfast before getting ready.

She prepped her backpack and fixed the positioning of her hat before leaving her room. Serena could hear two voices, chattering away like no tomorrow. Based on their voices, she recognized one of them to be her mom's and the other would be Ash, who's came to walk her to school. Huffing at the idea, she knew her mom is being over protective like usual, but again, the incident previously did still shaken her core. She had no choice but to compel to her mother's wishes. 

She slightly adjusted her hat, grabbed her bag, and met her mother by the front door. There, she found her mother happily chatting away with Ash, who intently listened to her with a polite smile. As Serena slowly approached them, his eyes fluttered to her approach and waved to her direction with a bright smile. "Are you ready now?"

Serena nodded and joined him out the door. She waved bye to her mom and promised to come back home safe and sound. She began walking once Ash said bye and jogged to her side. "So ready to go back to school?"