Meanwhile, while the others went ahead to intercept Souichiro's attack, Aria and Kouhei stayed behind at the Saonji Mansion. At that moment, the two of them were unusually close. Really close. So close that their shoulders were brushing against one another as they sat side by side, and the heat radiating from their bodies seemed to merge in the narrow gap.
"Um, Aria-san..." Kouhei broke the silence, his voice wavering slightly as he glanced at her.
"Yes, Kouhei-sama?" Aria responded, her calm yet attentive gaze fixed on him.
"I don't mind you being this close, but you know... you could do something else instead of just staring at me like that. I mean, there's no immediate danger, right? You can do whatever you want, really."
"Yuuna-sama gave me strict orders to watch over and protect you, Kouhei-sama," Aria said softly, her voice carrying a seriousness that felt unshakable. Her eyes gleamed with a quiet intensity. "Are you perhaps uncomfortable with my presence?"
