✧˚ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒅𝒐𝒍

6

"how was your first day of school, miss s/n?" saitō ryūji's voice cut through the low hum of the car's engine, his tone formal yet carrying a hint of concern. as y/n's long-time bodyguard, it was his job to be vigilant, to notice the little things that others might overlook. and right now, something in her demeanor told him that all was not entirely well.

"it was fine," y/n replied, her voice soft and distant as she stared out the window. the cityscape blurred into streaks of color as the stretch car glided through the streets, but her thoughts were far away from the passing scenery. saitō frowned slightly, sensing the weight behind her words. it wasn't like her to be so curt, especially not after such a significant day.

"do you...like your new school?" he asked, hoping to draw her out a little more.

"i do," y/n nodded, finally turning her gaze from the window to look up at him, her brows furrowed in thought. "it's a nice school. the students were just..." her words trailed off into a sigh. she could still see ayato's face as he stumbled into her, the way his expression had shifted from stoic to something she couldn't quite place—something that made her heart skip a beat just thinking about it.

saitō's frown deepened at her words. "do i need to accompany you at school?" he assumed, his tone was laced with seriousness, the protective instinct in him immediately assuming the worst. as her bodyguard, it was his responsibility to ensure her safety, both physically and emotionally. if the students at this new school were giving her trouble, it was his duty to step in.

but y/n quickly shook her head, trying to dispel his concerns. "no, i can manage. there is a student council there, and the leader said if there's an issue, i can either bring it to him or the headmaster," she explained. she was trying to reassure him, to make him understand that she could handle herself, but her mind was still caught up in the embarrassing encounter with that ayato boy...the moment replayed itself over and over in her head, each time making her cheeks flush with a mix of embarrassment and something else—something she wasn't sure she wanted to name. the way he had crashed into her, the sudden, intense proximity, the look in his eyes as he struggled to apologize... it was all so unexpected, so unlike anything she had ever experienced before. she had been in countless situations where people invaded her personal space, but this was different. this felt...personal.

it bothered her something awful.

she couldn't shake the feeling that someone else might have seen it happen, that someone might have witnessed her moment of vulnerability. she prayed that no one else had seen it, that the incident would simply fade away into the background noise of a hectic school day. but deep down, she knew it wouldn't be that easy. she knew that the image of ayato, the way he had looked at her, would stay with her for a long time. though she knew she couldn't blame herself or ayato for the situation happening, accidents happen. it just will affect y/n since the public loves to make up all sorts of rumors or try to butt into her personal life. but it came with the job, so...

saitō watched her carefully, noting the way her eyes flickered with uncertainty. he knew her well enough to recognize when something was bothering her, even if she didn't want to admit it. but he also knew when to give her space, and when to let her process things on her own. so, instead of pressing further, he simply nodded and said, "if anything changes, you know how to contact me." he added.

y/n managed a small smile, appreciating his understanding. "thank you, saitō," she said softly before turning her gaze back to the window, letting the rhythm of the car's movement lull her into a state of contemplation. as the city lights flickered by outside, she couldn't help but wonder what tomorrow would bring. would she see ayato again? would the awkwardness between them linger, or would it dissipate like a bad dream? she didn't have the answers, but one thing was certain—her first day at this new school had been anything but ordinary. and as much as she tried to push the thought away, she couldn't help but feel a strange, inexplicable pull toward the boy who had turned her world upside down in a single, unexpected moment.

as the car smoothly glided down the road, the soft hum of the engine was the only sound that filled the air, until saitō made a small, almost imperceptible "oh" noise, breaking the silence. y/n, who had been lost in her thoughts, glanced back at him immediately. "what's wrong?"

saitō hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting away as he considered how to word his next sentence. he cursed under his breath, knowing that no matter how he phrased it, the news would not be well received. deciding to just get it over with, he took a deep breath and confessed, "i forgot to tell you, but...miss iku misaki will be dining with you and your father tonight." he informed. y/n fought off the groan that immediately rose in her throat, but her displeasure was evident in the way her expression soured. seeing the disdain written across her face, saitō quickly tried to mitigate the situation. "i know you don't like her—"

before before he could even finish his sentence, y/n hurriedly cut him off. "i can't stand her. that woman is a snake," she hissed, her voice brimming with barely-contained frustration. she was a money-grubbing one at that, y/n thought to herself. it wasn't just a matter of disliking iku misaki; it was the fact that every interaction with her felt like a battle of wits, with iku always trying to worm her way into more control over y/n's life. the woman acted like she was the one in charge, barking orders as if y/n didn't already have enough to deal with. "can't you just tell my dad that i'm sick, or something?" she added, her voice taking on a pleading tone as she looked at saitō with wide, hopeful eyes.

she knew it was a long shot, but she had to try. saitō sighed, a pained expression crossing his face. he hated disappointing her, but he knew there was no way out of this. "i'm sorry..." he began, his tone gentle but firm. "but it seems like he's not going to take any more of your excuses. don't you think you can put your prejudice away just for the night?" he requested.

y/n fell silent, her gaze dropping to her lap as she processed his words. she knew saitō was right; her father had been getting increasingly frustrated with her attempts to avoid iku, and sooner or later, she would have to face the woman. still, that didn't make the prospect any less unpleasant.

with a defeated sigh, she leaned back in her seat, folding her arms defiantly over her chest.

she chewed on her lower lip, weighing her options, before finally muttering a small, resigned, "fine..." there was no point in arguing further. if she had to endure Iku's presence, she might as well do it on her terms.

y/n had dealt with overzealous fans before, ones who made her uncomfortable with their obsessive behavior. in those situations, she had learned that the best way to handle them was to be sickeningly sweet, to put on a facade that disarmed them and kept them at bay. and that's exactly what she was going to do tonight—slip into that same mask of polite indifference and play the part of the dutiful daughter until that unruly woman finally left the house.

as the car continued its journey home, y/n stared out the window once more, mentally preparing herself for the evening ahead. she would smile, she would nod, and she would pretend that her father's new girlfriend's presence didn't make her skin crawl. but underneath that calm exterior, a storm of resentment and frustration brewed, and all she could do was hope that the night would pass quickly, without incident. meanwhile, saitō watched her from the corner of his eye, noting the way her jaw tightened.

he knew this was hard for her, but he also knew that she was strong enough to get through it.

with a silent nod to himself, he turned his attention back to the road, trusting that y/n would handle the situation with the same grace and poise that she handled everything else in her life, though a small part of him couldn't help but worry about what tonight might bring. because if there was one thing he had learned over the years, it was that iku misaki had a way of turning even the simplest of dinners into something far more complicated.

and he could only hope that y/n was ready for whatever the woman had up her sleeve this time.