5 A new sentinel has appeared.

The distance was far too close—more unsettling than when he had cornered you in the hallway during your first meeting.

You curled your fingers slightly. Your knuckles grazed the palm of Sae Itoshi’s hand, a touch as soft as a feather brushing against skin, leaving behind a faint, tingling itch.

You swiftly released the door latch and pulled away from his palm as if struck by an electric shock.

In the brief standoff, neither of you spoke. The only sounds in the carriage were the rhythm of your breathing and the rustle of fabric as you brushed against one another.

“…………”

You abandoned the idea of escaping and gently nudged his elbow, signaling for him to give you some space.

Surely that was a clear enough reminder...

Sae Itoshi withdrew his hand. He briefly started to close his arm as if to loosely encircle your waist, but after a moment of hesitation, he restrained himself and pulled back to create a small distance between you.

The advice he had received from others flashed through his mind.

His parents, who were also a bonded Sentinel-Guide pair, had told him to sheathe his Sentinel’s fangs and possessiveness, reminding him that you had grown up in the peaceful, stable society of ordinary humans. His academy instructors had told him that because your lack of sensitivity to psychic power meant your true identity wasn't discovered until adulthood, he, as a Sentinel, would need to exert double the patience and effort to make up for what you lacked. Even his assistant had nervously advised him that, as someone unaccustomed to such bonds, you needed time to adapt.

Sae Itoshi had never taken these words to heart. A Sentinel was used to doing as he pleased, but seeing your expressions of withdrawal, revulsion, and fear, he began to waver.

His Guide... was afraid of him?

It was such an absurd notion, especially given how high your compatibility was.

Sae Itoshi clenched his fist in secret. His knuckles let out a sharp, teeth-gritting crack, and his fingernails left deep, crimson crescent-shaped indentations in his palm.

It was strange that a Sentinel’s emotions would become even more unstable after finding his Guide. He felt the oddity of it and closed his eyes, struggling to suppress the pent-up tension.

“I am not dissatisfied with you,” Sae Itoshi said, his gaze—usually indifferent to everything—finally showing a flicker of emotion. He did not accept your previous words. “It is you who are always trying to run from me.”

You pursed your lips, unable to meet his eyes.

Seeing your silence, Sae Itoshi’s expression darkened further. He tugged at his training jersey, hoping to dissipate his inexplicable frustration. “Are you afraid of me?”

“……No.”

A strange sense of competitiveness flared up in you, and you spoke stubbornly.

***

Sae Itoshi had not expected such a sudden retort. He was stunned for a moment before he began to doubt the credibility of your claim.

“Then let us talk.”

“Talk about what?”

Perhaps because this was the first time you had conversed with him like this since you had met, your tone lacked its usual polite reticence.

“Helping you integrate into the Sentinel-Guide society as soon as possible.”

He leaned back against his seat, making a concession that felt more like a negotiation.

“For the next month, I will not bother you. You only need to come for your weekly guidance, and for the rest of the time, you will focus on your classes at the academy.”

The implication, of course, was that you were still barred from participating in the mandatory guidance sessions.

“……I understand.”

...What kind of guardian-like speech was that? This overbearing attitude of his hadn't changed at all.

Although you wanted to ask what would happen after a month, you feared he would only dig a pit for you to fall into, so it was better to leave while you could.

Perhaps this was the best outcome for now. He didn't look like the type who would let you go easily.

“Then I’ll be going. Contact me if you need guidance.”

You waved your hand, opened the car door, and slipped out in a flash.

His distracted gaze followed you closely as you turned and walked away.

“……Goodbye.”

Sae Itoshi certainly noticed that your attitude toward him seemed to have become slightly more casual.

Strangely enough, he didn't feel displeased at all.

*

The private plane to Germany finally landed after twelve hours.

The sun was shining brightly in Germany, and the Sentinels of the powerhouse football club had just finished their morning training.

Inside the training base, only a few scattered personnel were walking about. Hardly anyone knew that a breathtaking matching test was being conducted in the laboratory of the Sentinel-Guide Management Center.

Michael Kaiser had long since finished his sampling. The tiny wound from the blood draw had nearly vanished, but the test results were still pending.

He sat on a bench, unusually silent.

It had been nothing more than a whim—as a fellow S-rank Sentinel, perhaps his compatibility would be higher than Sae Itoshi’s?

The possibility of exceeding 86 was slim, but it wasn't zero. As the days passed, this thought became more deeply rooted in his mind, impossible to erase.

Sentinels were inherently competitive; it was common for two Sentinels of similar standing to fight over a Guide—it simply depended on whether the Guide was the type who enjoyed watching them fight, or the type who preferred peace and quiet.

Possessiveness was in a Sentinel’s DNA. As long as the two parties had not registered or formed a deeper bond, theoretically, any Guide could be re-matched. Kaiser, naturally, would not let such a possibility slip by, and he had immediately submitted an application to the European Management Headquarters as an S-rank Sentinel.

At this moment, the anticipation of the result made his certainty grow stronger.

Kaiser unconsciously touched the rose tattoo on the side of his neck; the excitement of the impending reveal set his blood boiling.

*Rip.*

The laboratory door opened. A smiling staff member stepped out, holding a report.

The bright red compatibility score printed on the white paper was as vibrant and beautiful as a red rose.

His intuition had pierced through reality; his perfect instinct for goals was reflected in his search for a Guide.

It was 88.

Kaiser let out a satisfied sigh, his gorgeous blue hair sweeping an elegant arc through the air.

He pressed his trembling left hand against the crown tattoo on the back of his hand, his mind flooded with the urge to see his destined Guide immediately.

And, while he was at it... he would make sure to mock that clown who had occupied a position that never belonged to him.