‘Her b-bodyguard?’
‘I think that’s my line,’ Nava said. ‘Why?’
‘Courtney Martell has decided that all of the remaining candidates require protection,’ Mitsuko explained. ‘Tracey Spears has declined. Sebastian Ranta has accepted. I would like someone a little less formal than a member of the SSF. I would be grateful if you accepted the position.’
‘W-what about the other candidates?’ Melissa asked.
‘There are no other candidates. The other four have dropped out. And the last is dead, obviously. I understand you were there when it happened, Nava Ward.’
‘We both were,’ Nava said. ‘Melissa assisted with first aid.’
‘Luckily,’ Melissa said, ‘there was n-no b-blood. I don’t get on well with b-blood.’
‘It makes your actions all the more commendable, Melissa Connelly,’ Mitsuko said, smiling. Melissa blushed.
‘You’ve explained why you need a bodyguard,’ Nava said. ‘Perhaps I should have been clearer in my question. Why me?’
‘Because I trust your honesty and because I am confident in your abilities.’
‘Your family could supply a small army, I’d imagine. Won’t they be a little annoyed at you going to an outsider?’
‘Not in the least. Trentons are self-sufficient. My parents will be worried when they hear about what’s going on, but they’ll accept whatever arrangements I make.’
Nava’s eyes narrowed. ‘You haven’t told them?’
‘No, because they’ll be worried. Will you do it? Then I can call them and tell them I have the entire situation under control.’
‘Really? I’m a clanless nobody. Without honour. You believe they’ll be happy with–’
‘Please don’t go there. I can’t argue that you’re not an orphan, but you have as much honour as anyone in the Sonkei clan. I believe you claim not to have as a shield against those of us who might use your parentage against you.’
‘And you called me blunt. Okay, I’ll do it, assuming it won’t interfere with my classes.’
‘It won’t. While I’m in class, the school’s security will deal with anyone meaning me harm. I’m not entirely helpless. I simply want you to be watching my back when I’m outside of class.’
‘Okay,’ Nava said. ‘Then you have a bodyguard.’
Mitsuko smiled. ‘Excellent. I’ll wait while you pack a bag.’
‘Pardon?’
‘My apartment has two bedrooms and if you stay with me, you’ll be able to look after me from morning until we turn in at night.’
‘I don’t think–’
‘Are you crazy?’ Melissa asked. ‘Her place is way better than what we have. You’d be nuts to turn down staying in one of those apartments for a month. I bet her shower is wonderful.’
‘Both of my showers are wonderful,’ Mitsuko said with a smirk.
Nava opened her mouth but concluded that Melissa did have a point. She restarted the statement she was about to make. ‘No, I am not crazy. I’ll pack a bag.’
~~~
‘Do you have any assignments you need to get done?’ Mitsuko asked as she led the way into her apartment. It was quite a change from Nava’s accommodations.
There was a lounge with a big wall screen and comfortable sofas arranged to watch it from. Off to one side of that was a dining table with four chairs. The kitchen was in a separate room rather than just wedged into the same one. There were two, good-sized bedrooms with double beds, wardrobes, etcetera. And the main bathroom had a bath and separate shower along with the usual other fittings. The main bedroom also had a shower room. Everything was clean and fairly new. Lots of subtle shades and very little grey which was the dominant colour in Nava’s apartment.
‘I did that on Friday night,’ Nava replied. ‘This is nice. Very spacious for one person.’
‘I considered getting a roommate. But then I wouldn’t be able to bring anyone back for nights of wild passion without checking with them first.’
‘You have intentions to do that? I’d have thought someone intending to be student president would need to be rather circumspect about that kind of thing.’
Crossing the lounge, Mitsuko pushed open a door. ‘That depends entirely on who I’m having the wild passion with. But, in truth, it’s not terribly likely. I think finding the right person to take to bed is harder than you might think. This is your room.’
‘I don’t really think about taking people to bed.’ Nava walked past Mitsuko and into her bedroom for the next few weeks. It was probably not actually larger than her whole apartment, but you would have needed to take measurements to be sure. ‘I’ll get settled in and we can go over the arrangements for your security. Unless there are assignments you need to complete?’
‘Oh, no. I did mine on Friday as well.’
~~~
‘That’s a nice outfit you’re barely wearing,’ Nava commented as Mitsuko emerged from the bathroom.
The tall brunette was wearing a red robe, barely. It was belted loosely around her waist and was no longer than a miniskirt, and the looseness exposed a large amount of cleavage. The fabric was translucent anyway. The swell of Mitsuko’s breasts was obvious through the material and the outline of her inner thighs was more or less as clear.
Mitsuko smiled. ‘Thank you. I like it. The material feels wonderful against my skin.’
‘I’m sure it does. Should you be wearing it in front of… anyone?’
‘I don’t think I’ve anything you haven’t seen before. You’re free to use the bath if you wish.’
‘I’ll take a shower before bed. Your first public speech is tomorrow afternoon?’
Walking across to the sofa Nava was sitting on, Mitsuko settled down beside her, crossing her legs. Her robe parted to flow over her thighs. ‘At fifteen hundred. There are no classes tomorrow, so several other candidates have… had meetings planned. Sebastian Ranta will be giving his opening address in the morning. I’d like to be there.’
‘So would I. I think it’s important to hear what every candidate has to say.’
‘That’s very responsible of you. We’ll go to see Sebastian Ranta together then. What did you think of Tracey Spears? Before someone tried to shoot her, obviously.’
‘I was unimpressed. If she has policies,
