Gently pulling aside the paper door embedded in unfamiliar dark floral patterns, (Y/n) took in a breath of awe as she looked around her new room.

The spacious bright room was decorated with hardwood cupboards and a dresser on one side, while its opposite side had another but smaller paper door with the same dark red flowers on it. (Y/n) went inside the room with her luggage and kept it by her side as she opened it.

A storage place where the folding bed called 'futon' was kept. "Interesting," she thought.

"Did you like your room?"

Alarmed by the sudden voice, the young maiden turned around. Kiku was standing by the doorway with a new set of Yukata in his arms, smiling at the thought of his visitor admiring his arrangement.

(Y/n) nodded her head. "Yes, very much! Thank you so much once again for allowing me to stay, sir. I won't cause you any trouble" she said, bowing.

Kiku cleared his throat. "It is alright. I may have never hosted a woman before, but I shall try my best," he gave her a kind smile.

He is really nice, she thought.

Immediately mentally slapping herself for thinking like that, she turned to face the other way.

"E-Excuse me, sir, but may I ask what flowers are these?" (Y/n) asked pointing at the dark flower patterns.

Following her gaze, Kiku seemed a bit hesitant to reply her at first. Finally he made up his mind.

"...Those ar-"

A sharp cough interrupted him as Kiku crouched down and put his hand over his mouth.

"Sir, are you alright?!" (Y/n) quickly went over to him and kneeled beside him, careful to respect his personal space.

After a brief moment, his coughing stopped and he weakly stood up. "I'm alright. I'm sorry make you worry like this. Here, please change into this," handing his guest the set of yukata, Kiku rushed away from the room.

Kiku hastily walked towards his room which was adjacent to (Y/n)'s room. Closing the sliding door behind him, he muttered under his breath.

"Kuro, you..."

Meanwhile, a confused (Y/n) was suddenly interrupted by a call.

She took out her mobile and brought it to her ear.

"How is it going? Is everything alright?"
"Everything seems normal here...but..."
"But?"
"I'm still not sure about this man. I don't even think he is someone ordinary."
"Ah...(Y/n), you have been saying the same thing since the first day. We told you we didn't find anything suspicious about Honda Kiku. So focus on what you're there for. Understand?"

Letting out a deep breath, the young bodyguard finally said. "Understood."

She ended the call before she got caught by the man on whom her suspicions rose little by little everytime.

Yet, this was just the beginning to an unimaginable secret that she wasn't prepared to face.