The room was dimly lit, illuminated only by the faint light of a small chandelier hanging above the grand mahogany table. The air was tense yet oddly comical, as a group of men and women in black suits sat around the table, their faces deadly serious. These were Marina's bodyguards – loyal, fearsome, and, at the moment, hilariously determined matchmakers.
At the head of the table sat the leader of the group, a man with sharp eyes and a scar across his cheek, known as Tanaka. He cleared his throat, his deep voice echoing in the room. "Alright, gentlemen. Operation 'Lady Marina's Happiness' is now in full effect. Status report."
One of the bodyguards stood up, adjusting his sunglasses even though the room was dark. "Sir, since the Cultural Festival, we've observed a noticeable increase in interactions between Lady Marina and the boy, Izumi." He paused, his face turning serious. "They even... shared a laugh."
The whole room gasped dramatically. One of them whispered, "So it's begun..."
Tanaka nodded, his expression grave. "Excellent. But this is just the beginning. We must ensure they get closer. For Lady Marina's happiness!" He slammed his fist on the table, his eyes shining with determination.
The door creaked open, and a small figure walked in with a dramatic flair. It was Niko, the overly dramatic president of the anime club, wearing a wide grin on her face. She twirled around and posed, a notebook clutched to her chest. "Sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen!"
The bodyguards immediately straightened, their faces turning serious. "President Niko... You're late," Tanaka grumbled.
Niko pouted. "A great conspirator always arrives fashionably late! Besides, I was busy gathering inspiration!" She waved her notebook, which was covered in chibi doodles of Marina and Izumi, hearts drawn all around them.
Tanaka sighed, rubbing his temples. "And this is why we chose you... You're the only one who can understand Lady Marina's interests. Your anime expertise is vital to this mission."
Niko beamed. "Exactly! Plus, I need some romantic references for my new manga series. It's a win-win!" She flipped her notebook open. "I've already plotted the next steps. We need to increase the 'accidental encounters' between them. Nothing beats the classic anime trope of bumping into each other around corners!"
The bodyguards nodded in unison, writing down notes with serious expressions. One of them murmured, "Brilliant... Truly the mind of a genius."
Tanaka's face softened. "President Niko, how is everything going in the anime club?"
Niko winked. "Perfectly. Marina-chan and Izumi-kun are getting along splendidly. I've already scheduled more events to keep them close. They're even planning another cosplay event. Just imagine... the romantic tension of getting ready together!" She clasped her hands dramatically, stars practically sparkling in her eyes.
The bodyguards shared determined nods. "Excellent work, President Niko. Keep pushing them closer."
Suddenly, one bodyguard raised his hand, his face serious. "But... what if Lady Marina catches on?"
Niko's expression turned mischievous. "Leave that to me. I'll cover it up as research for my manga. Marina would never suspect!"
They all nodded, impressed by her cunning.
Tanaka crossed his arms. "Perfect. And as for Master Ashford... He's still unaware of our operation?"
One of the bodyguards laughed. "He's suspicious, but he trusts us. He knows we'd never do anything to harm Lady Marina."
Tanaka's lips curved into a rare smile. "Good. Let's keep it that way. This mission is top secret. If Master Ashford finds out... we're all doomed."
Niko leaned back, grinning. "Oh, don't worry. He's too busy being the overprotective dad to notice his own bodyguards playing matchmaker." She giggled. "Besides, if he does find out, I'll just tell him it's all for the sake of good storytelling!"
The bodyguards shivered. Even they feared Master Ashford's wrath. But their loyalty to Marina's happiness was stronger.
Tanaka stood up, his presence commanding. "Alright, everyone. This meeting is adjourned. Operation 'Lady Marina's Happiness' will continue as planned. Dismissed!"
They all stood up, saluting in perfect synchronization. "For Lady Marina!"
As they filed out of the room, Niko stayed behind, flipping through her notebook with a mischievous grin. "This is going to make the best manga ever..."
Meanwhile, outside the room, leaning against the wall, stood Ashford. His arms were crossed, and a faint smirk played on his lips. "Those fools... Do they really think I don't know?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "Well... As long as they don't cross the line. Let's see how far this little conspiracy goes."
He turned, walking down the luxurious hallway, his voice echoing softly. "Bodyguards playing matchmaker... Who would've thought?"
The secret operation continued, but little did they know... Ashford was watching everything from the shadows.