Location: Office of PTC, somewhere in Tokyo
Time: 6 am
The weather was really freezing this time. Yashiro-san even called me early today. He sounded urgent and worried and panicking. In short it was not his usual self. After I finished changing and dressing up warmly I went to his office.
"Yashiro-san! Too early! Too early!" I yelled as soon as I entered the office.
Yashiro cleared his throat and pointed at a person seated at the sofa. I staggered. I was wearing something girly and stuff right now. I did not expect this to happen. "Tsuruga-san" I whispered.
"Would you care to explain what is happening here?" he said sternly, he was not shouting or even mad but his voice sounded so scary. Yashiro and I were sitting beside each other as Tsuruga-san kept pressing us with questions.
"What happened?" I whispered to Yashiro-san
He looked at me irritably. "You caused this,"
"Stop talking to each other," Tsuruga-san coldly said. We flinched. "Yashiro, please explain this,"
"Ren," he started, my heart pounded, "This is an agency I created, it was started by my father and is now passed on to me, we basically protect clients who requests assistance,"
"It's a security agency," I added
"Kuon-san is my employee, and she handles some of the job," he replied,
"Explain also, why did you have to hide the fact that a woman was protecting me the entire 4 months!" he exclaimed. He sure is angry. My heart pounded. He now knows our secret. What should we do? My money!
"I was about to get to that part," Yashiro-san started speaking again, "That was my fault, we know how difficult it is to handle your female fans and followers so I had to hid the fact that a woman was living with you as your guard,"
Tsuruga-san looked at me coldly. I bowed my head. How did he even know? I was careful.
Tsuruga-san stood up, as if hearing my head thoughts and handed me my ID which was missing for how many weeks. I slapped my head. Why was I so careless. Why did I not thought about leaving it at his own penthouse. "I saw that the a week after you left for Christmas vacation that I granted you. I began to track back my memories. How did I left it?
Flashback
"Tsuruga-san! Thank you for allowing me to have a vacation leave!" I said bowing 90 degrees to him as he handed me my bonus payment. He smiled and patted my head.
"You have done well," he replied
My heart pounded. Why did he just do that? Did he now know he is a handsome dude?
"Ah, yes," I said, "I'll take my leave then," I hurriedly entered my room. I packed my belongings to get ready for my last class. I rearranged the things in my backpack and neatly hid the bonus money he gave. As I placed it in the secret pocket, I started placing everything in the correct order.
He suddenly entered my room and I hurriedly placed everything in my bag.
"Can I help you with something?" I asked standing up while zipping my bag.
He smiled. THAT AGAIN! STOP DOING THAT! You'll give me a heart attack dude. " I want to eat instant noodles,"
This man has a really weird taste. His palate is that of a normal guy. I would often think that actors like him would rather prefer luxurious restaurants than home cooked meals. Oh well, I guess I judged him too much.
I nodded and helped him cooked his meal. We ate together for the first time after that ramen spying incident where he nearly did not talk to me for weeks. The awkwardness felt lesser than before. He explained why he is not fond of cooking, to which I also agreed.
As we finished eating instant noodles dinner and clean up the dining area, I went back to my room and fixed my things. But I was so focused on the money, I counted it again. "10, 000 yen!" I exclaimed. That's a lot for a bonus. My eyes glittered. Finally! Finally I can make Darumaya's house better than before. The worth of the money Fuwa Sho took from me and never gave me back anything after that was finally replaced. My bank account is back to it's proper order since I asked Yashiro-san to triple my salary.
I'll buy gifts! yes I should! I jumped up and down across the room.
End of flashback
"It must have fell out of my pocket after I jumped from excitement," I murmured. I stood up and bowed on the floor to ask for his forgiveness.
Tsuruga-san sighed. His personality really is different when it slips out. He is actually short tempered. "I'm sorry for fooling you, but I just follow Yashiro-san's orders, please don't fire me!"
Tsuruga-san helped me stood up. He smiled. But his smile was creepy in someway. It was like he was acting again. Not smiling genuinely. "You have to swear your allegiance to me Kuon-or whatever your name is,"
It was cold. Freezing rather. It was like a storm was coming. "Mogami-Kyoko," corrected Yashiro. "You have to protect me for the rest of your life,"
Then he smiled, in a very cold manner.
Location: LME Building
Time: 6 pm
My mind was almost leaving my body. How could those two conspire to fool me. If I haven't seen the ID of that kid, I would not have known that he was a she. No wonder her voice would sometimes change. I shook my hand. A lot has been happening. A lot.
"I'm sorry,"
I looked at her. The one who conspired with Yashiro to fool me. The consequence of Yashiro fooling me was the extension of his daily activities as my manager. I accepted every schedule from luncheons, to meetings, to fan meet ups and even interviews. He was actually looking tired. As for Mogami-san, I kept her contract intact and still made her my bodyguard. I'm her client for the rest of her life, as what we have agreed.
"I'm sorry" she whispered again in an apologetic manner.
"Stop it, you've been saying that since Monday," I irritably replied, "I get your point, I understand so just stop apologizing,"
She once again bowed her head and shut her mouth. I did not mean to snap at her, but she's been doing that for almost every hour for the last 3 days. I sighed. Fatigue has gotten a toll on me.
I laid on the Sofa in my waiting room. I just want to rest. Ever since I knew about Mogami-san's true self, I begin to be so conscious around her. I was embarrass at the same time. She must have observed me through the screen of every monitor in the house, I just can't help thinking that a woman was observing me for how many months and has been guarding my door and was still studying for her exams without sleep. I kind of feel irritated and bad for her.
The shooting for the movie started this month, the director and writer grabbed the chance of a cold weather. We filmed on seven different locations in Japan within a span of 3 days. I have never seen and experienced a passionate duo in my entire life.
"Ren? Are you okay?" Yashiro came looking disheveled. Mogami-san came to look at me too.
I feel my vision blurring. Was it today's schedule? Or the issue with Yashiro and Mogami-san?
"I'm fine," I replied, "Stop over reacting,"
"You are not fine!" Yashiro yelled and I heard him dial his phone. "Hello? Sensei? This is Yashiro.."
"Mogami-san" I whispered, she came near me. Her eyes full of worry, "please tell Yashiro to stop bothering the doctor, I'll be fine after I have some rest,"
She nodded and then whispered it to Yashiro. Yashiro went out of the room to buy food and medicine for my fever.
I tried to sit up but Mogami-san told me to lie down, "You'll fall," she said gently. Come to think of it, this was the first time I have heard her full female voice. It was kind of strong but at the same time gentle.
"How come, you accepted that kind of work?" I asked her while covering my eyes with my arm. "I mean, protecting people whom you don't even know"
I can hear her deep breathing as if I have asked a question that should not have been asked. "All my life, I've lived in a hopeless situation. My entire family would always be running from one place to another. Yakuza's would follow my entire family, and no one would be there to save us. As I child, I begin to learn defense skills from my uncle in Hokkaido where my mom sent me to hide. My uncle would always teach me and train me everyday to protect myself. I never knew what caused those people to hunt my entire family down. My uncle died trying to protect me from them when they tracked my location. I was so devastated that I could not even help and protect my uncle. So I swore to always protect people even if I don't know them. I practiced everyday even if it breaks my bones and makes me bleed to death."
I stared at her intently. I did not intend for her to open her heart like this. It must be so distressing opening this topic to me. "I'm sorry I asked," I whispered. She flashed a gentle smile.
"I should be the one apologizing,"
"That again, just stop okay?" I replied returning back to my position. "But, I think you are awesome,"
...
"But, I think you are awesome," I was startled. My mind started to malfunction. The great Tsuruga-san just said that to a lowly being like me!
"I-I don't think so," I stammered, "I still lack life skills, and I'm still studying,"
"I don't mean about that," he replied, "I mean you can protect the people around you,"
"Why? Did you have someone to protect before?"
"I did," he breathed heavily, I began thinking that it was a wrong question to ask, "I would always go to my Grandfather's house and I would play with a friend, a friend that up until now I am trying to look for. She would always let me play the princess," he paused and chuckled, "and she would be the prince trying to protect me,"
"So she was a girl?"
"Yeah," he sighed, "We would always spend our days doing stuff like that. She would climb trees and protect me from bugs and even ants," He paused, for a long time
"What happened?"
"She died," he paused, "in a fire. I saw her going home one day she smiled at me waving goodbye, deep inside me I wanted to ask her to stay for the night but I couldn't even asked her and the next thing I knew her whole house was already in flames. I went and ran towards their home but all I could hear was the shriek of people saying they saw a child inside. My grandfather stopped me from barging into the flames. I could not even protect her." a tear ran down his eyes. He wiped it quickly to make sure I did not noticed him crying.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, it was really a tough question for him to answer. To lose someone at an early age is traumatizing. "It's not your fault, I too wished I could have protected my uncle, but I cannot do anything anymore, what I can do now is to protect the important people around me that are alive and well,"
He looked at and smiled. "Yeah, that sounds so much better,"
Tsuruga Ren-san, you have just opened your heart to someone like me.
