Guardian’s Dawn

Night Guard — Dreams and Shadows

Exhaustion finally claimed her. Aihana sank into her bed, limbs heavy, eyelids fluttering like fragile wings. The city outside was quiet, the gentle hum of night threading through her room. For a moment, she allowed herself to surrender to sleep.

And then the dreams came again. Jagged, sharp, impossible to control. The pale meadow, the girl with wings, the rippling energy under her feet—everything came rushing back, pressing against her chest, pulling her into that otherworldly space she both feared and longed to understand.

Akihiro noticed immediately. The calm mask he usually wore faltered for the briefest moment. He shouldn’t intervene—he had no right—but he knew her body was fragile, teetering on the edge of exhaustion. If these nightmares continued, she wouldn’t get the rest she desperately needed. And he couldn’t allow that.

Without a sound, he moved. On the balcony, he stopped, measuring the distance, feeling the pulse of energy radiating from her even through the faint glow of her room. He approached carefully, each step deliberate. Kneeling beside the bed, he reached out, his fingers brushing against hers.

Her hand was small, fragile, trembling slightly. He closed his over it, firm but gentle—a tether to the world she had left behind in her sleep. Then, he closed his eyes, focusing. A calm, controlled wave of energy emanated from him, subtle and steady, and in an instant, her dreams began to unravel.

The meadow blurred. The girl dissolved into the mist. And in her place, another shadow emerged—another figure with wings, indistinct, face hidden, yet unmistakably present. Aihana felt it instantly: the same energy she had sensed before, the same quiet, unwavering protection that had brushed her without warning in fleeting moments.

“Who are you?” she whispered, voice trembling in the dreamscape. The figure remained silent, shrouded in haze.

And yet, she felt it—unspoken, undeniable. A presence neither threatening nor distant. Calm. Protective. Safe.

She exhaled slowly, the tension in her chest easing for the first time in hours. The shadow remained, ever watchful, and she understood without understanding that it had come to shield her, to keep her from harm while she rested.

Outside the dream, Akihiro remained kneeling beside her, eyes closed, channeling every measure of restraint and power he had cultivated over centuries. He did not move, did not speak. He simply ensured she was safe, her fragile form cradled in the quiet hum of the night.

Hours passed like minutes. The city slept. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying the faint, protective warmth of his presence into her room. Aihana dreamed no more that night. When morning came, she would awaken rested, unaware of the guardian who had kept watch through every shadowed hour.

Morning Visit — Unseen Presence

The morning light spilled softly through the curtains, catching dust motes in lazy, golden streams. Aihana lay in her bed, cocooned in blankets, eyes half-closed, breathing deep and even. She had slept nearly through the entire morning, the exhaustion of recent nights finally giving way to a rare, fragile rest.

At Ravukaru’s distant fortress, the air was tense with anticipation. A higher demon had just returned from Mitaka High School, reporting to the prince.

“Two angels were present at the school,” he said, bowing low. “It is possible—the Guardian may truly be among the students there.”

Ravukaru’s lips curved into a slow, calculating smile. “Interesting,” he murmured. “We shall see… how she fares.”

Back in Aihana’s home, the quiet hum of the morning was broken by a soft chime at the doorbell. Akihiro had decided it was time to pay a visit. The day would pass without him at school, but he could not ignore the need to check on her, to ensure that she truly rested after nights of restless dreams.

The door opened to reveal Aihana’s mother. Akihiro inclined his head slightly, a polite, precise gesture. He was not in his school uniform today—just a crisp shirt, the top buttons casually undone, the kind that drew attention without seeming deliberate.

“Good morning,” he said calmly, introducing himself. “My name is Akihiro.”

Aihana’s mother’s eyes softened, a smile spreading across her face. “I’m Emiko. It’s a pleasure to finally meet the young man Aihana has mentioned. And… thank you for bringing her home from school yesterday.”

Akihiro’s expression remained composed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “It was nothing. I was just doing what was necessary.”

“Come in,” her mother said, stepping aside. “Sit. Make yourself comfortable.” She gestured toward the living room, the sofa waiting. Akihiro moved inside carefully, deliberate, the room quiet around him as he seated himself.

While he settled, she disappeared into the kitchen. Soon she returned carrying a tray with freshly baked sweets, warm from the oven, and a small teapot with delicate cups. She placed them on the table in front of him.

“Thank you,” Akihiro said politely, eyes briefly flicking to the treats but staying composed.

Her mother nodded, leaving the room silently. She went upstairs to fetch Aihana, keeping the visit a surprise.

Soft footsteps descended the stairs. Aihana’s heart fluttered inexplicably, though she did not understand why. The day felt… different.

Aihana stepped into the living room and froze.

Akihiro was there. Sitting on the sofa in that slightly rumpled shirt, a few buttons undone, casual but impossibly perfect.

Her eyes widened. Her heart did a ridiculous flip.

Akihiro looked up. Calmly. Too calmly. As if nothing at all was unusual about sitting in her living room while school continued outside.

“Aihana,” he said, a faint smile on his lips. “Good morning.”

His voice was precise, measured, almost unnervingly stable.

Her mother watched from the kitchen, barely restraining a laugh. “Darling,” she said sweetly, “if you’d like to stretch a little, perhaps you could take a short walk with Akihiro. The fresh air will do you good.”

Aihana almost blurted out, “A… walk?” Her brain was running on 12% capacity.

“Mhm,” her mother nodded serenely. “Very good suggestion, isn’t it?”

Akihiro barely moved, only giving a subtle, almost imperceptible nod.

“If you’d like,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be long. Just a little. The air will help.”

Aihana took a deep breath and nodded. Slowly. Carefully. She retreated upstairs, changed into soft grey joggers and an oversized hoodie, and shoved her hair into a messy bun—controlled chaos.

Returning downstairs, Akihiro stood, polite, calm, and impossibly composed. He glanced at her briefly—slow, assessing, gentle. Not judgmental. Just observing.

“You look better,” he said softly.

“I literally put on the first thing I found,” she muttered.

“That’s enough,” he replied. “You should be comfortable.”

Her mother clapped lightly. “You two should go before the sun moves too high.”

Before the sun moves too high? Aihana resisted the urge to bury her face in her hands.

Akihiro stepped toward the door, waiting patiently. Not rushing. Not pushing. Just… waiting.

When she slipped on her sneakers, he spoke again.

“Let’s take it slow. You’re still recovering.”

She nodded, trying not to overthink how normal he made everything feel. As if walking with him wasn’t internally melting her brain into soup.

They stepped outside. The air was cool, crisp, morning-fresh. Aihana kept her hands tucked inside her hoodie sleeves, trying to steady her heartbeat.

Akihiro didn’t speak immediately. He simply walked with her, matching her pace perfectly, as if he always adapted to whoever was beside him.

Finally, she dared to ask, voice soft, cautious:

“You’re… not in school today?”

Akihiro didn’t flinch. He slid his hands into his pockets and exhaled slowly, as if expecting the question.

“I had something more important to do,” he said evenly.

More important than school. Even though he was usually the picture of responsibility.

Aihana frowned. “Like what?”

He looked ahead, tracing the lines of the street as if reading something written in the air.

“To check on you.”

Her heart somersaulted, and she hated that it did.

“You didn’t have to skip school for that,” she muttered. “I’m fine.”

“You collapsed yesterday. You could barely walk home,” he reminded her calmly. “Forgive me for not trusting the word ‘fine’ yet.”

She tightened her grip on her hoodie sleeves. He had a point.

“But you didn’t know I’d stay home today.”

“Rei did.” His gaze softened. “He sent me a message this morning. I decided to come.”

Aihana blinked. Confusion bubbled. Rei. Ayame. Akihiro. Always appearing at moments she couldn’t predict.

“So you all just… coordinate this?” she asked quietly.

“For certain things,” he replied, voice unreadable.

That wasn’t an answer. He knew it wasn’t. Yet he added,

“Even if you hadn’t stayed home, I needed to see how you were. That alone was reason enough.”

Her breath caught.

Reason enough.

Dangerous words. Words that made her wonder again who he really was.