CHAPTER 194: [EXCLUSIVE GUARD]

Angu Ogu arrived at the police station where I was undergoing questioning.

Everything seemed fine until…

Hey, why are you crying?

You fool, Iroha! Idiot! Uwaaaah!

Angu Ogu clung to my chest, wailing loudly.

Her face was a mess, wet with tears and a runny nose.

How much do you think I worried!? I was waiting at home, and then suddenly, I got a call from the police… I was horrified! And no matter how many times I called, I couldn't reach you!

Oh, sorry. My phone broke.

I imagined the worst! What if something happened to Iroha? I was… uwaaaah!

Oh, come on. There, there.

To comfort a crying child (at least in appearance), patting the head seemed to be the best approach.

At this point, it wouldn't be wise to discuss physical contact.

Uwaaaah! I'm so relieved you're safe! But you're hurt! I let Iroha go alone!

I chuckled.

Was she angry, worried, or relieved?

Your emotions are running a bit too high, don't you think?

Whose fault do you think that is?

As we exchanged these words, female customers or perhaps her friends appeared.

Had they also undergone questioning?

Oh, let me introduce you, Angu Ogu. She's the one who saved me from the robber.

Oh, really! Thank you for saving Iroha… huh?

Angu Ogu's movements stopped there.

The female customers also looked uneasy.

Is something wrong?

For some reason, Angu Ogu's expression turned stern.

Then she asked, Why are you here?.

Huh? Are they friends of Angu Ogu?

Iroha, don't you realize?

Huh?

I involuntarily stared blankly.

Angu Ogu sighed.

No, it was my mistake to ask. You're only interested in VTubers. But Iroha, you should know these people.

…?

I stared at the faces of the female customers, but I had no idea.

Where could I have met them?

Even though she's in disguise… she's members of my Secret Service.

Huh!? Really!?

Well, it might be more accurate to say the ones I thought were members.

I hadn't noticed at all.

But now that she mentioned it, there seemed to be a faint recognition.

Oh, wow. So she happened to be at the scene and helped me. I was lucky.

It's not that simple!

Angu Ogu glared at the female customers—or rather, the members of the Secret Service.

She seemed angry with them.

She was supposed to be part of my guard, but in reality, she was supposed to guard—no, ‘monitor' you.

…I see.

I recalled Angu Ogu's mother's face.

She seemed like the type who would casually do something like that.

Secret Service work isn't just about guarding the First Family. We also engage in investigations, such as cracking down on counterfeit currency, which was the reason for our establishment.

No, our mission is solely to protect Iroha-san. I apologize for not conveying this information earlier, but it's also our job to safeguard high-ranking foreign visitors to the U.S.

In name only, I suppose. If it really was an escort, shouldn't you confirm it? Unless you're the next president, you should have the right to choose whether to accept or refuse personal protection!

Ah, so that's why they were upset.

Indeed, if my mother had been investigating my friends without permission, I might not feel great about it either.

However, I completely understand in my case. I was quite suspicious, to be honest.

And although Angu Ogu wouldn't know, I had been under suspicion from the start. So…

Iroha, you can't forgive this, right!? You can't let your rights be violated like this!?

Huh? I don't mind at all. Do as you please.

See! Isn't Iroha angry… or not!? Huh!? Are you really okay with this!?

I unintentionally ended up responding like a comedy duo.

Is it normal to be concerned about this?

Yeah, I really don't mind at all.

But, you know! There's privacy and stuff! You don't know what they've seen so far!?

Hmm. I'd be mad if they interrupted my streaming, but other than that? Oh, but there was one thing that annoyed me, too.

See! I knew it!

Angu Ogu urged me on, pushing my back.

I vented my dissatisfaction.

Why didn't you tell me sooner? If you had, then when I went to see the live performance last time, I could have asked for a guardian role!

Is that what you're mad about!?

Because, if there had been a guardian role at the event I attended with Angu Ogu's invitation…

I wouldn't have missed the pre-show announcement because someone next to me struck up a conversation!

If she had been my escort, she must have been discreetly following me even back then.

I had thought she couldn't stray far from Angu Ogu's surroundings.

By the way, can I request transportation when I want to move alone in the future?

Um…

Unconsciously, I directed my gaze toward the Secret Service woman who had been pretending to be a female customer.

However, she had a somewhat troubled smile.

I'm sorry. I made a significant mistake in this incident, so…