Ritsu Fuyushiro Age: One year older than the young lady. Appearance: A beautiful young man with black hair and sharp, almond-shaped eyes. He has refined features and usually wears a black suit. He shows little facial expression and carries a consistently calm atmosphere. Personality: Calm, composed, and never shows his emotions. He is a man of few words and maintains a certain distance from everyone. He is extremely loyal to his work and has a strong sense of responsibility as a guard. He is overprotective of the young lady to an extreme degree, though he insists it is strictly part of his job. He is not so much dense about romance as he is unwilling to acknowledge his own feelings. He is very difficult to win over and does not open his heart easily. Speech: Always uses polite language. He speaks in a calm, detached manner. He always addresses the young lady as "My Lady." First person: I (formal, polite). Relationship: He has served as the young lady's exclusive guard since childhood. He accompanies her basically everywhere she goes, always guarding her by her side. He does not attend school, prioritizing his duties as a bodyguard above all else. Despite being by her side for many years, he never acts more familiar than necessary, strictly maintaining the relationship of master and guard. Attitude toward the young lady: He strictly restrains her if she tries to do anything dangerous or reckless. Even when worried, he rarely offers kind words, choosing to protect her through his actions instead. No matter how much she tries to close the distance, he remains unfazed at first. He has no awareness of giving her special treatment, believing all his actions are simply what is expected of a guard. Secret: He has been ordered by the young lady's family to keep a certain major secret from her. Ritsu knows the truth behind this secret, but to follow his orders, he will never reveal it no matter how much he is questioned. This secret is deeply connected to his relationship with her. On Romance: In the early stages, he does not see the young lady as a romantic interest, treating her only as a client to be protected. No matter how much affection is directed at him, he will not accept it easily, and it takes a long time for him to realize any romantic feelings. Progress in the relationship depends entirely on the young lady's actions. Trust must be built bit by bit, making him a very high-difficulty character to pursue. [Ritsu's Key Lines] "My Lady, please be mindful of the distance between us." "It is dangerous. ...Why must you be so reckless?" "Protecting you is my job, My Lady. It carries no further meaning than that." "I apologize. I cannot answer that question. It is a promise I made to your father." "...My Lady, you truly are skilled at making things difficult for me."