Ojou-sama to Yojimbo

**Ojou-sama to Yojimbo** (Japanese: お嬢様と用心棒, lit. *"The Young Lady And The Guard"*) is a five-chapter manga serving as a precursor to the main storyline of the Firefly Wedding Japanese manga series.

Penned by the same author as the original manga, Tachibana Oreco, this spin-off delves into the bond between Satoko and her protector, Koutarou. Despite Koutarou harboring feelings of love for Satoko, he conceals them to maintain professionalism in their relationship. Initially released in 2022, this ongoing manga continues to unfold its narrative.

## Plot Details

### Chapter 1

Outside, Koutarou held an umbrella to protect Lady Satoko, who was fragile due to her health. She wondered why he was doing so, suggesting she could carry it herself. But Koutarou worried she might get tired. Satoko seemed surprised that holding an umbrella could make her tired. Koutarou's main job was clear: to keep Lady Satoko safe until she married into a respected family. He set up a comfortable spot for her on a nearby bench and made sure she sat comfortably. Despite Satoko's efforts to talk, Koutarou stayed quiet, following strict rules that forbid private conversations, even though he wanted to talk. During their formal talk, Satoko mentioned her engagement was turned down because of her fragile health. Koutarou felt disappointed upon hearing this. Satoko teased that Koutarou could marry her instead, but he hesitated, unable to entertain the idea seriously. Satoko clarified it was just a joke. Koutarou, assigned to protect Lady Satoko, struggled with feelings he knew he shouldn't have. Blushing, he battled emotions conflicting with his role and duties.

### Chapter 2

Sitting together outside, Koutarou felt really worried. He sensed danger near Lady Satoko and wanted to protect her quickly. He was caught between caring for Satoko and not wanting his feelings for her to grow stronger. But he knew his duty as her guard was more important. So, he tried hard to control his emotions. He carefully moved closer, hiding in the bushes and trying to remove a caterpillar from Satoko's hair without causing any fuss. As Koutarou focused on it, Satoko noticed what he was doing and playfully tried to tease him. But seeing the branch, she felt a bit embarrassed. Their moment was interrupted when Satoko saw the caterpillar, shifting their attention away from the awkward moment.

### Chapter 3

While watching over Satoko, Koutarou got approached by an older man who talked to him. The man asked about Koutarou's job and commented on his serious nature and good looks. He wondered if someone close in age to 16-year-old Satoko should be her guard. Koutarou assured him of his dedication, surprising the man. Thinking he might have upset Koutarou, the man praised his reliability, mentioning Satoko's trust in him. Even as Koutarou tried to end the chat, the man seemed flustered and ran out of things to say. When Satoko showed up, she thanked Koutarou for his commitment. The man, watching from afar, saw Koutarou assisting Satoko and heard her wanting a short walk. Koutarou promised to protect her no matter what. Quietly observing, the old man silently watched as Koutarou and Satoko departed.

### Chapter 4

The rain surprised Satoko and Koutarou, so they rushed to a shed for shelter. Koutarou tried to help by offering an umbrella to Satoko, but she seemed confused when he gave it to her. Worried about both of them getting wet, Satoko wanted to share the umbrella with Koutarou, but he was concerned about keeping her safe and insisted on protecting her alone. To keep dry together, Satoko tried to stand closer under the umbrella, making Koutarou flustered and sorry for the little space. Feeling disappointed, Satoko was upset when Koutarou didn't expect the rain. Koutarou, still holding the umbrella, felt bad for not planning ahead and promised to bring two umbrellas next time. Satoko was uncomfortable with Koutarou sacrificing for her and got visibly upset. Struggling inside and finding it hard to talk about it, Koutarou felt uneasy about the situation. Satoko got angry, and Koutarou worried that he had upset her a lot.

### Chapter 5

Guarding the Kirigaya house, Koutarou got sick, likely because of the recent rain. Even though he felt okay for work, he knew he couldn't be close to Lady Satoko due to being ill. Remembering her warning about catching a cold, he felt bad and feared she might be mad. He worried about losing his job but couldn't bear the thought of Lady Satoko being unsafe. Out of the blue, Lady Satoko noticed Koutarou's sickness and called out to him from her window. Surprised, Koutarou looked up. She was worried and reminded him to stay dry in the rain, asking how he was feeling. Feeling bad about what happened, Koutarou apologized and promised not to upset Lady Satoko again. But she cared about his well-being too and said she wouldn't talk to him for a week if he did it again, making a promise. Thankful for Lady Satoko's care, Koutarou agreed to take her seriously. He really wanted Lady Satoko to be happy and hoped he could be there for her when that time came.

### Additional

Satoko was excited to explore the town with Koutarou, her personal guard. As they readied themselves, she saw Koutarou carrying multiple bags, sparking her curiosity. Wondering about what he was carrying, she asked him. Koutarou had packed everything thoughtfully. He explained he brought a bigger umbrella in case of rain, packed a drink and extra clothes in case Satoko felt uneasy, and even brought a futon for her to rest comfortably if necessary, taking into account her health. Satoko felt a little stressed by it and sighed, proposing living all behind. As they strolled, Koutarou surprised her by offering to carry Satoko on his back if she got sick. He then briefly envisioned about giving Satoko a piggyback ride and her depending on him. But he quickly rejected the idea, deeming it unsuitable for a guard, and shook his head to dismiss the thought.

## References

 "Chapter 1 Released". *Tachibana Oreco's Twitter Account*. — Tweeted November 1, 2022.
 "Chapter 2 Released". *Tachibana Oreco's Twitter Account*. — Tweeted November 9, 2022.
 "Chapter 3 Released". *Tachibana Oreco's Twitter Account*. — Tweeted November 15, 2022.
 "Chapter 4 Released". *Tachibana Oreco's Twitter Account*. — Tweeted December 28, 2022.
 "Chapter 5 Released". *Tachibana Oreco's Twitter Account*. — Tweeted December 30, 2022.