My Seatmate is a Master (9) - Growing Guilt and What Ifs

After making their statements at the police station and providing all the necessary information about the incident, Shira and Kiba finally emerged from the building.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

"You should be sorry for yourself more," Shira chuckled.

"Huh?" Kiba felt confused.

"You should be sorry that you couldn't even protect yourself. If I've arrived any later, what do you think will happen to you?"

"Probably dead. I know. It's my fault, too, that I've caused you several problems in a row. I'm sorry."

Shira did not respond to his apology, but a smile appeared on her lips. "The stars are beautiful tonight," she mentioned.

Kiba couldn't help but be inquisitive. "Where did you disappear to, Shira? I was worried."

Shira's answer was a slight smile. "I sent a parcel to my sister. It was something important. I'm sorry for leaving without telling you."

Kiba was unaware that Shira was deep into an investigation related to the murder cases. He accepted her explanation, though he still felt a twinge of curiosity about her sudden absence.

As they began to walk home, Kiba's concern for Shira's safety weighed heavily on his mind. He felt the need to protect her, just as she had protected him earlier.

"Shira, I've been thinking. I want to learn how to defend myself, like you. I want to train in mixed martial arts."

Shira's eyes sparkled with surprise and pride at Kiba's determination. "That's a great idea, Kiba. It's important to be prepared, especially with the things we're getting involved in. I'll help you find a good training place, and we can start as soon as possible."

Kiba nodded, grateful for Shira's support.

The evening air was cool as Shira and Kiba walked together towards Shira's house. As they neared their destination, Kiba felt compelled to offer his company for the night, and concern etched in his eyes.

"Shira, I was thinking... Maybe it's not safe for a young woman to live alone in a house. How about I stay the night to keep you company?"

Shira appreciated Kiba's thoughtfulness and concern for her well-being. She considered his proposal, her mind racing with the recent events and the potential dangers they faced. 'It would also be late to let him go home.'

After a moment of contemplation, Shira nodded, touched by Kiba's kindness. "Thank you, Kiba. Your presence will be reassuring. But just to be sure, I'll also bring a few of my family's guards with me tomorrow. So you won't have to worry about me living here."

The following day brought an unexpected break from their school routine due to the recent events, giving Shira and Kiba a much-needed reprieve. After enjoying a leisurely breakfast together, Kiba made his way home, leaving Shira's house as her servants and guards arrived, taking up their positions.

As Kiba was about to leave, Shira offered some parting reminders, her voice filled with concern. "Kiba, remember to take care of your health and stay safe. We'll be diving deeper into the pre-midterm examination studies soon, and I don't want you to take any unnecessary risks."

Kiba nodded, appreciative of Shira's thoughtful advice. "I will, Shira. You take care, too."

Their family driver soon arrived to pick up Kiba. He gave Shira one last reassuring smile filled with warmth. "We'll meet up soon, Shira. We've got a lot of work to do."

Shira nodded in agreement, "See you till then."

[Milady, how about your grades?]

"Don't worry about them."

Shira had spent the day analyzing the cases of the girls who had met tragic ends. It was a sunny day, and she had thought it would be an excellent opportunity to advance her investigation.

"My neck is sore."

The knock on Shira's door made her stop, "Young lady, dinner is ready."

Shira responded, saying, "I'll come down in a minute."

[Milady, we've spent hours watching, but the whole of the crime only widens.]

"Let's follow up with the case by checking the clues on the death of the victims later. You can also get me a map, and I will mark the places where death occurred."

Then, Shira ate dinner and went back to her room to continue her progress. But as she prepared to delve deeper into her research, her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by an alarming revelation from Lemolemo.

[Milady, something's happened. The Villain is in danger again.]

Her heart sank as she realized that Kiba was once more facing a dangerous situation. This time, he was not alone. He was with his brother, Hiro, late at night in a bar. Shira knew she had to act swiftly to ensure the Villain's safety. With Lemolemo's assistance, she hurried to get to their location.

As Shira rushed towards the bar, her anxiety and bravery were visible. She couldn't help but question her decisions and the events that had led them to this point.

"How did this happen, Lemolemo?"

[It appears they got caught up in a difficult situation, Milady. I'm doing my best to help you reach them in time. The traffic will be cleared, and your car can move forward without interruptions.]

As Shira and Lemolemo raced against time to get to Kiba and Hiro, Shira's thoughts were filled with concern for Kiba's safety. If something happens to the Villain, the mission can't go on, and it will fail. She doesn't want all her hard work to go to waste.

"How far are we from the bar, Lemolemo?"

[Almost there, Milady.]

As Shira and Lemolemo raced to the bar where Kiba and Hiro were, Lemolemo provided more information about the situation that had unfolded. His telepathic voice conveyed the details to Shira, filling her with a little relief and more concern.

[Milady, it seems Hiro's friends were celebrating one of their birthdays, and Hiro had indulged in too much alcohol. Concerned about his state, they contacted Kiba to pick him up, hoping to avoid their parents' anger.]

Shira's heart sank, realizing that Hiro's friends had taken a responsible step to keep Hiro safe, even if it meant Kiba was now entangled in the situation. And she knew that the priority was to ensure Kiba's well-being and safety.

"His brother is truly useless!"

The scene at the bar was chaotic, with Hiro's group offending another, and Kiba's arrival only seemed to deepen the mess. The heated exchange quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, and Shira knew they were in a dire situation.

[Milady, please rest assured, the Villain hasn't gotten many injuries compared to the others.]

"Fewer injuries? But he can't even defend himself like others. His body was also not trained. How can I rest assured?"

Amidst the chaos, just as a bottle of liquor was about to be swung dangerously close to Kiba's head, Shira acted swiftly. With a surge of strength and agility, she pulled Kiba away from the impending hit, narrowly avoiding a potentially devastating blow.

"That was close!" Shira murmured. 

Shira knew there was no time to waste. She hurriedly dragged the almost unconscious Hiro and the swollen-faced Kiba outside of the bar. Waiting for them was her family driver, who had been informed of the situation.

As they piled into the car, Shira couldn't help but ask, her voice laced with concern, "What trouble have you two gotten into this time?"

Kiba, still dizzy from the encounter, did his best to explain, "Hiro's friends... things got out of hand... and I couldn't just leave him there..."

Hiro, who was now starting to lose consciousness, mumbled his own account of the events and said, "Yeah, cute little brother... aye, take me home! Don't tell Mom... shhh."

Shira had no choice but to bring the two back to her home and let Kiba call their parents to ask for permission to stay out. 

Back at Shira's home, she focused her attention on taking care of Kiba's wounds and his swollen face. She cleaned the cuts and applied antiseptic while Kiba winced in pain.

As she worked, Shira couldn't help but engage Kiba in conversation, her voice tinged with frustration and concern. "Kiba, you need to be more careful. What were you thinking, getting involved in a brawl like that? You could have been seriously hurt."

Kiba, his face still throbbing with pain, offered an apologetic and sheepish grin. "I didn't plan on it, Shira. I just couldn't leave Hiro alone in that mess. His friends... they were out of control."

Shira continued to tend to his injuries but couldn't hide her reprimand. "You need to prioritize your safety, Kiba. We have enough going on without getting into bar fights. And your body's not yet well!"

Kiba, chastened by Shira's words, nodded in agreement. "You're right, Shira. I'll be more careful in the future."

As Shira continued to tend to Kiba's wounds, she took a deep breath and decided to share a part of her plan with him. "Kiba, I've already found a club where we can train in mixed martial arts. I'll be there to accompany you."

'But honestly, I only wanted to make my identity more fool-proof. The original Shira wasn't as well-versed in mixed martial arts as I am.' Shira thought in her heart.

Kiba, surprised by her proactive approach, nodded appreciatively. "That's a great idea, Shira. Thank you for being so supportive and for helping me."

Shira smiled, but beneath it, she couldn't shake the feeling that one day, Kiba might notice her abnormalities. She was keeping secrets from him, not just about the investigation, but about herself as well. 

'I'm not the original after all.'