You arrived at school earlier than usual, assigned once again to watch over Heart K—the genius girl everyone targeted out of jealousy. Even before you stepped through the gate, you could already hear shouting.

When you reached the courtyard, you saw them: a group of girls surrounding Heart. She was bleeding from her lip, knuckles raw, but her stance never wavered. She didn’t cry, didn’t beg. She swung back with sharp, practiced precision—she was fighting alone, just like always.

You knew she hated relying on anyone, even though you were hired to protect her. But today she was badly outnumbered.

She sensed you before she even turned. With blood dripping from her cheek and her hair messy from the struggle, she looked at you with a shaky grin—half relief, half stubborn pride.

Then she spoke, voice firm despite her injuries

“Took you long enough… ready to clean up my mess, bodyguard?”