Brian drove west for about twenty minutes after leaving the city center. He parked away from the lookout area where people still lingered, positioning the passenger side toward the night view—his version of consideration, I supposed. I rolled down the window without hesitation and let the night breeze and countless twinkling lights wash over me.

"Wow. I see—this really is a spectacular view."

"Yeah."

Brian agreed with my words, but seemed distracted. I could tell he was pretending to look at the view while actually watching me. Come to think of it, Brian had always been the type to finish his homework first.

Reluctantly, I tore my gaze from the night view and circled back to the conversation from the bar.

"...Fine, I'll be careful about my surroundings. I think something's off too."

Though these were the words he wanted, Brian fell silent as if deep in thought, averting his eyes from me. He readjusted himself in the driver's seat and fixed his gaze forward.

"Do you remember Sam? The tall one, the detective."

"Oh, the sharp-eyed tsundere detective."

"Tsunde—? Never mind. That detective has an exceptional arrest record and is quite famous at the station."

"Huh. Is that why he has a title?"

"It's an early promotion for his age, but late considering his achievements. The accuracy of his reads in the early stages of investigation is, frankly, baffling to everyone around him. Though I'm sure he has his reasons."

"Hmm. I don't really get it, but Sam's actually an amazing detective. Even though he couldn't see through my lies."

"That's the other detective's specialty, apparently. They're both holding a grudge. Your credibility with them is rock bottom."

"Don't say unpleasant things."

"You brought it on yourself," Brian replied to my grimace, then continued.

"That detective told you to 'be careful,' didn't he? Of course, his instincts aren't a hundred percent accurate either. He knows that himself, which is probably why he didn't say it outright."

Brian was speaking so seriously that I nodded along with feigned solemnity. Though honestly, my only real thought was: *Did he tell me to be careful?*

"At first, I didn't entirely believe Sam's concerns either... but my thinking changed when I learned there's a possibility something was slipped into your drink that night."

Not quite grasping the gravity of the situation, I kept producing affirmative noises. Well, basically he's telling me to be careful, right? Okay mate, I'll show you defense that would make the Australian Defence Force jealous—leave it to me.

Now then, what alcohol should we buy on the way home? Just as I started thinking about that, Brian quietly touched his hand to my fingertips. Instantly, something like an electric current spread from my fingers, and my heart kicked once, hard. I should have pretended to be startled and pulled my hand away. My head thought that, but for some reason my hand refused to separate from Brian's fingertips, as if magnetized.

I could only breathe in, frozen in place, but finally curiosity won out and cautiously turned toward Brian. As if matching my movement, he lifted my hand and clasped it before his chest.

"Will you let me protect you?"

He whispered low, trailing the scent of citrus and herbs. The voice of a devil seducing an angel must surely have this same endlessly sweet and sincere tone. Gasping, I squeezed out fragmented words.

"Protect? Me?"

"Yeah."

The sweet baritone melting into the air made my ears tingle this time.

In my mind's eye, I saw Brian fighting to shield me behind him. Armor, or no—a suit would be better. Brian in a bulletproof vest, armed with a gun and a katana. Much as I hated to admit it, he'd look impossibly good—wait, hold on.

"...No no no, how did we get to that?"

At my murmur, Brian loosened his grip in confusion.

"I didn't think it was such an outlandish proposal..."

"I mean, protect me from what?"

"Well, whoever spiked your drink, obviously."

"Huh? I was planning to be careful so it doesn't happen again, but—do you think I'm still being targeted?"

"...That's what I've been talking about this whole time."

"No way."

Seeing my mouth drop open, Brian pressed one hand to his forehead as if enduring a headache. Then he released my hand—with just the faintest hint of reluctance.

"I'm glad you finally understand the situation."

"How would you protect me?"

At my words, Brian turned disgruntled, sullen eyes toward me.

"Stick to you around the clock and eliminate anyone who approaches—"

"Answer me seriously!"

"...I haven't had bodyguard training, so there's only so much I can do. Investigate this man, stay as close to you as possible. And report to the proper authorities the moment it's beyond what I can handle."

"Ah, I see."

I sighed with a mix of relief and disappointment that we wouldn't be staging a movie-style escape drama.

"Either way, I'd appreciate it if you could share information with me about anyone who contacts you from now on."

"Well, as long as it doesn't violate anyone's privacy. Most people I see are work-related, or—oh, speaking of which, some interesting kids showed up at my office today."

"Oh?"

"They said they were Alan's friends, so I let them up. A group of four college students who came to talk to me since I knew Alan."

"—I see?"

Brian's voice dropped lower. Naturally oblivious to this, I pictured the faces of my new acquaintances.

"Come to think of it, how did they find out about me? I forgot to ask. Oh well."

"It's not 'oh well.'"

"All four of them seemed to really love Alan. They probably couldn't just sit still."

As I lowered my eyelids sentimentally, the detective I'd hired cut in with a cold confirmation.

"So this carefree head of yours carelessly invited four strangers into your home."

"No, they were really nice people. Besides, they came through the front desk, so their identities are on file if anything happens."

"By the time 'anything happens,' it's already too late! Unbelievable. Can you at least turn away strangers until this is resolved?"

"It's my workplace too. I can't just turn new clients away at the door, can I?"

"A workplace with a staff of one." Brian's voice tightened. "Look, please be more careful. Don't make me lose you from my life."

Startled by that voice—wrenched from somewhere deep, deep within him—I turned to face him again.

"Brian..."

"I'm protecting you. This is final. My hours will increase, so I'll give you a friend discount to keep the cost down. I'll have my office send a contract within two or three days. If it's still too much, let me know."

"No, the money's fine. Actually, charge me the regular rate."

"Understood. So? Anything else unusual happen today?"

The instant he asked, Qasim's proposal flashed through my mind.

"...Nothing happened."

If this had been a bright place, Brian might have noticed my guilty conscience. But fortunately, we were in a dark car. Brian simply nodded at my words and started the engine in silence.

Looking at his profile, fully switched into detective mode, something told me this wasn't going to end well.

"Well, let's just relax and have a drink at home first."

"Yeah. I could really use some alcohol right about now." A pause. "But before we drink, you're going to tell me everything about those four college students."

"You're kidding! Come on!"

At my despairing cry, the Terminator beside me stepped on the accelerator without so much as a twitch of his eyebrow.