Chapter 1: Learning Commoner Life with the Ojou-sama
The next day.
We found ourselves in an ordinary residential neighborhood, the kind you’d see anywhere.
This so-called bedroom community was relatively quiet during the day with fewer people around. Tall buildings like apartments were scarce, and the scenery, packed with small houses and eateries, gave off a cozy, old-town vibe. There was even a modest shopping street near the station.
“…It’s been a while since I’ve been back.”
Standing in front of a compact wooden house, I couldn’t help but mutter to myself.
The houses around here were especially cramped, with narrow paths weaving between them. But having lived here for years, there was no way I’d get lost.
For the first time in ages, I was back at the house I used to call home.
“Izuki-san, here’s the key.”
“Thank you.”
Shizune-san handed me the key.
She let me take the role of opening the door and entering first, probably out of her own kind consideration. I thanked her silently in my heart.
Glancing at Hinako, I noticed her eyes darting around, as if the surroundings were a novelty to her.
Figuring she’d keep that up for a while, I approached the door.
“…Huh. Was the front door always this nice?”
“We were in the middle of looking for tenants, so we did some basic cleaning and renovations. We’ve also prepared the minimum furniture needed.”
Even though we’d only decided yesterday to stay at my house for a bit, they’d already arranged furniture. I couldn’t help but marvel at their usual lightning-fast efficiency.
I opened the door to the house once more.
The narrow entryway and the living room stretching beyond it filled me with nostalgia.
“…It’s changed, but it hasn’t.”
It was a bit cleaner, but there was no mistaking it—this was the old Tomonari family home.
The house was eight tatami mats in size, a one-room layout. It had a kitchen and a unit bathroom, but no washing machine, so we’d have to use the nearby laundromat.
For one person, the space was plenty, but splitting it among three was quite the challenge. Privacy was basically nonexistent, and since we’d chosen an older place to save on space, the floor creaked a lot. Late at night or early in the morning, if someone got up, the creaking floor would echo, waking everyone up without fail.
“This is, well…”
Looking at my house again, I couldn’t help but think.
No matter how you sliced it, this setup wouldn’t be a comfortable space for Hinako. The house had too many gaps, so the air conditioning didn’t work well, and bugs sneaking in was just a fact of life.
There were a few pieces of nice furniture that seemed out of place in this house—a fridge, a microwave, a table, a TV, and a dresser. These were probably arranged by Shizune-san. But even with those, it wasn’t like the place suddenly became cozy.
Maybe we should just change locations now.
With that thought, I glanced at Hinako.
“This is… the house where Izuki lived…!”
Hinako’s eyes were sparkling with excitement.
“Izuki, what’s this…?”
“The closet? You put bedding and stuff in here.”
I opened the sliding door of the closet to explain.
“Ooh…!”
“You don’t know what a closet is?”
“I know about Japanese-style rooms in theory. But… this is my first time using one.”
Hinako opened and closed the closet door repeatedly. Come to think of it, the Konohana family’s mansion is very Western, so even if she knows about Japanese culture, she might not have had many chances to experience it.
“And this is…?”
“That’s the unit bathroom. The bath and toilet are combined.”
“A bath…? This… dip?”
[T/N: She’s likely pointing at the tub itself, which is built into the floor or wall of the small bathroom space, creating a sunken or indented area designed to hold water for bathing.]
“That’s where the bathtub goes.”
I turned the faucet, which was facing the sink, toward the tub and let some water flow as a test.
“…For kids?”
“…Sadly, it’s for all ages.”
She seemed more bewildered than surprised.
I started to feel a little guilty.
“Ojou-sama, if you could wait one more day, we could replace the floors and windows with brand-new ones…”
“No need. I want to experience how Izuki lived.”
“Understood.”
Hinako seemed fixated on my past, as usual.
“Then, I have a meeting with the security team, so I’ll step out for a bit.”
With that, Shizune-san left through the front door.
I turned back to look at the living room.
As Shizune-san said, the house had been cleaned, but it didn’t seem like any major renovations had been done. Probably a cost-benefit calculation. The place was already forty years old and falling apart. Even a full renovation wouldn’t likely attract a flood of tenants.
The renovations were probably just the door and parts of the ceiling.
The floor still creaked as always.
“Izuki… how did you spend your time in this house?”
“How, huh…”
That was a tough question to answer off the cuff.
But then it hit me. The worn tatami floor, the low table, the drafty windows, the faded sliding doors—there were so many things here that the Konohana mansion didn’t have.
The me at the mansion and the me in this house were probably completely different in every way.
That thought made the words come naturally.
“…My parents were often out, so I was usually alone at home. Once I got to high school, I started working part-time and was out a lot myself, but before that, I’d study here or read books.”
By “books,” I mostly meant manga borrowed from classmates, though.
As I walked, I glanced at the floor beneath my feet.
“This dent in the floor? I made it when I was a kid. I was trying to move the table to lay out my bedding, but I dropped it.”
Man, that takes me back—
Lost in memories, I noticed Hinako spacing out beside me.
“Sorry, I rambled on. This stuff’s probably boring to hear about.”
I gave a wry smile, ready to change the subject, but Hinako shook her head.
“…I want to hear more.”
She stared at me intently as she spoke.
“I… want to know more about you, Izuki.”
Her pure gaze pierced right through me.
I could tell she meant it from the bottom of her heart.
“I-I see…”
Well, that’s a relief, maybe.
But being told she wants to know me so earnestly makes me feel all itchy inside.
“Sorry for the wait.”
Shizune-san returned to the house.
“Shall we decide on the room assignments first?”
◆
“Alright, so…”
Thirty minutes later.
To sum things up, I turned to the two of them and spoke.
“We’ll use the partition Shizune-san brought to split the house into two spaces. The side with the kitchen will be the living room, and the other will be the bedroom. During the day, Shizune-san will use the living room, while Hinako and I will share the bedroom. At night, I’ll sleep in the living room, and Hinako and Shizune-san will use the bedroom.”
Hinako and Shizune-san nodded.
In the middle of the room stood a large partition, apparently brought back by Shizune-san from her meeting. With this, we’d divide the eight-tatami house into two four-tatami rooms.
The reason Shizune-san would use the living room during the day was mainly for cooking meals. Hinako and I would set up a table in the bedroom to study or relax.
“I’ll often be out during the day, so feel free to remove the partition when I’m not here.”
“Are you busy, Shizune-san?”
“Yes, my workload has increased a bit more than planned.”
Shizune-san answered calmly.
Never showing a hint of displeasure in moments like this was so very Shizune-san. You could feel the professional soul of a maid serving the Konohana family.
“I’ll definitely be back at night, so… Izuki-san, please don’t do anything strange.”
“Y-Yes, ma’am.”
No need to tell me twice.
Even when we lived under the same roof at the Konohana mansion, this house was so small that it really felt like we were living together for real. Shizune-san probably brought the partition to tone down that vibe.
I’d have to be careful not to let this unusual situation mess with my sense of boundaries.
“Just in case, I’ll leave this here.”
With that, Shizune-san pulled a bottle of pills from her pocket and placed it on the table.
There it is…!
The drug that causes pharmaceutical ED…!
It’d been a while since I’d seen it. What kind of mindset does Shizune-san have carrying that around…?
“Izuki…”
Hinako tugged at my clothes, looking up at me with those big eyes.
“Show me the town.”
“The town?”
“I want to know all about how you lived…”
Hinako seemed utterly fascinated by the commoner lifestyle.
“Alright, leave it to me. Usually, I’m the one learning from you, but for the next little while, I’ll be your guide to commoner life.”
“Ooh…!”
For once, I was brimming with confidence, and Hinako clapped her hands softly in excitement.
Luckily, I knew this town well enough to show her around.
Where should we start? As I began planning, Shizune-san placed a stack of papers on the table.
“I hate to interrupt your enthusiasm, but… Ojou-sama, Kagen-sama has instructed you to complete your usual daily tasks.”
“Ehh…?”
Hinako’s lips curved into a pout, her excitement deflated.
The massive stack of papers on the table was apparently Hinako’s homework.
“…It’s summer break.”
“Precisely because it’s summer break, you mustn’t let your guard down until the very end.”
As a regular student myself, I totally got the urge to milk every last second of summer break, but Hinako was the esteemed young lady of the Konohana Group. The weight of her responsibilities didn’t allow for extended breaks. Tennouji-san and Narika were probably in the same boat.
“I’ll head out for work now. Izuki-san, please don’t spoil Ojou-sama too much.”
As if she could see right through my sympathies, Shizune-san drove the point home.
After the door closed with a soft thud, Hinako turned to me with a sad expression.
“Izuki… help me…”
“…Well, if there’s anything I can do.”
It’s not like I wanted to spoil her, but seeing that pitiful face made me feel like I had to help at least a little.
(What even are Hinako’s daily tasks, anyway…?)
After school, I used to take lessons from Shizune-san on table manners or self-defense, though lately I’d been reviewing and studying in my room. I’d earned some praise from Tennouji-san for picking up manners well, but when it was decided I’d make appearances in high society, I’d have to take lessons again right before.
While I was doing all that, what was Hinako up to?
Curious, I picked up the homework Shizune-san had left for Hinako and took a look.
“This is… information on Konohana Group companies?”
“Yeah. They say I should memorize it now for the future.”
So this was what they called elite education.
They were probably making her study now so she could contribute to the Konohana family down the line.
“And this is data on companies unrelated to the group.”
“There’s a business dinner coming up… They told me to get it in my head.”
Probably so she wouldn’t come off as rude to the other party.
The schedule for business dinners over the next three months and brief summaries of each company were neatly compiled. The materials were easy to read, but memorizing this volume would be a slog.
“This is… whoa!?”
I immediately realized I was looking at something I shouldn’t and averted my eyes.
It was a detailed report on the Konohana Group’s recent business activities, with ongoing projects meticulously listed.
No matter how you looked at it, this was confidential. Hinako, who occasionally helped with work, might be fine, but as a mere caretaker, I had no business seeing this.
(…There’s nothing I can do to help.)
So Hinako was studying this kind of complex stuff every day?
This was completely different from our academy classes. This was a task tailored specifically for Hinako. At least for now, I couldn’t help her. It wasn’t just a matter of ability—our positions made it impossible for me to step in.
“With all this to do, showing you around town might be tough.”
I couldn’t help but mutter that out loud.
Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Hinako twitch.
“I wanted to check out the shopping street and stuff, but… oh well.”
I could’ve sworn Hinako was twitching again, like she was reacting to something.
“…Give me two hours.”
Hinako faced her homework slowly and spoke.
“I’ll finish it quick…”
Her back was practically blazing with determination.
◆
“Hello, Shizune-san? …No, just a quick question. Hinako wants to go out into town, so is it okay if I show her around a bit?”
A few hours later.
I was on the phone with Shizune-san.
“No, we won’t go far. Just grabbing lunch nearby, maybe hitting the shopping street… Her tasks? No, she’s already finished them. Not just today’s—she finished all of them. She says it’s no big deal if she gets serious…”
Shockingly, Hinako had blasted through a week’s worth of assignments in just two hours.
Thinking it was way too fast, I quizzed her to see if she’d actually memorized the materials. She got every question right. Her brain was unreal.
I sometimes forgot, but Hinako wasn’t lazy—she was a genius when it came to practical skills.
Sure, she wanted to escape the responsibilities of being a Konohana, but with abilities this high, it’s no wonder Kagen-san wouldn’t let her go. I couldn’t help but see his point.
After wrapping up the call with Shizune-san, I slipped my smartphone into my pocket.
“…We got the green light.”
“Yes!”
Hinako clenched both fists in victory.
“Still, memorizing all that in just two hours? That’s wild.”
“Praise me, praise me!”
“Yeah, amazing, seriously amazing.”
“Hehe…!”
Hinako beamed with pride.
I didn’t mention the exasperated line Shizune-san had muttered before hanging up—“Then do it seriously from the start”—but it was a perfectly fair point.
“So, shall we head out?”
“Yeah!”
Hinako replied with boundless energy.
She was so innocent right now, a far cry from how she was at the academy.
“Oh, wait. Shizune-san prepared some casual clothes for going out, so change into those.”
“…Can’t I go like this?”
“It’s not that you can’t, but… you’ll stand out.”
Hinako was rocking an elegant dress, and its simple yet refined style only highlighted her natural charm.
It’d be fine for a museum or a fancy French restaurant, but she’d turn heads walking through the shopping street in that.
“Okay, I’ll change.”
“Cool. There’s a mirror in the unit bathroom, so you can change there.”
Hinako nodded, grabbed the outfit Shizune-san had brought, and headed into the unit bathroom.
(…This feels kinda weird.)
At first, coming back here just felt nostalgic, but after spending some time, the sense that this was my house started to sink in again.
To think I’d bring a girl my age to my house like this…
Even Yuri’s never been inside my place.
“Izuki.”
After a bit of waiting, the unit bathroom door opened, and Hinako stepped out.
“Done changing?”
“Mm, perfect!”
Saying that, Hinako spun her body around once.
…It’s not quite perfect, is it?
I thought, looking at the loose white shirt and the denim belt hanging down.
“Hinako, raise your arms.”
“Raaaise…!”
“This belt around your waist, you wrap it like this… and, I’m pretty sure that shirt is meant to be tucked in, right?”
I had Hinako lift both her hands, and in the meantime, I lightly tightened the denim belt.
Finally, I had her tuck the shirt inside the denim.
“…How’s it look?”
Once again, Hinako showed off her outfit.
The top was a white shirt, slightly oversized, with an embroidered logo near the chest. The bottoms were wide-silhouette denim, cropped just above the ankles. With the shirt tucked in, it gave off a cool, summery vibe.
“…It’s different from your usual style, but it looks good.”
Ehehe, Hinako giggled, looking delighted.
Seeing Hinako in denim was pretty refreshing, but it suited her well.
She’s dressed a bit more casually now, but the quality of her presence might be impossible to hide. Her glossy amber hair, smooth porcelain skin, and delicate, almost fragile waist that makes you want to protect her. The refined air of someone carefully raised was something she couldn’t fully conceal.
“Alright then, shall we head out?”
“Mm!”
Hinako replied with the same enthusiasm as before.
Together, we slipped on our shoes at the entrance.
And so, the curtain rose on our “commoner society experience tour.”
◆
“Whoa…!”
Hinako’s eyes sparkled as she darted her gaze around excitedly.
“Izuki, what’s this place…?”
“It’s a shopping street. Like, a road lined with lots of small shops, I guess?”
Trying to explain a familiar sight with words turned out to be surprisingly tricky.
First, I decided to take Hinako to the shopping street near the station. It’d been four months since I started working as her caretaker, and I knew by now that upper-class girls like Hinako weren’t used to bustling places like this. As expected, she found the scene before her utterly fascinating.
“This shopping street was part of my commute to high school. After school, someone was always grabbing a snack here.”
Of course, I didn’t have the money to join in, so I just held back…
“S-so many people…”
“Yeah, more than I expected.”
It was currently eleven in the morning.
The shopping street was filled with housewives. It wasn’t exactly a crowd, but there was a line at the greengrocer’s register, and several bicycles were parked in front of the convenience store.
(Still, it feels a bit too crowded…)
Even though I’d been away for a while, I was originally a resident of this town.
So I could tell the shopping street was busier than usual.
At this time of day, most households would be starting to prepare lunch. Normally, aside from restaurants, it shouldn’t be this crowded…
“…Hm?”
My eyes caught sight of the bookstore straight ahead.
Inside, a man was picking up a book from the shelf, skimming through it.
This guy… I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.
“…”
“…”
As I stared silently, a bead of cold sweat rolled down the man’s cheek.
Then it hit me.
…He’s one of the Konohana family’s bodyguards.
I quickly scanned the surroundings. Sure enough, at least five people blatantly averted their gazes.
Apparently, we were surrounded by a ton of undercover bodyguards.
“Izuki? What’s wrong…?”
“…Nah, it’s nothing.”
Hinako wasn’t a fan of stiff atmospheres, so telling her the truth would be tactless.
I brushed it off casually, and the bodyguards seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
“Is this… a butcher shop?”
Hinako’s attention shifted to a shop nearby.
She stared intently at the meat displayed in the showcase.
“…It feels cheap.”
Lacking confidence in her sense of money, Hinako didn’t say it with certainty.
“Well, compared to what you usually eat, yeah. But it’s tasty.”
I didn’t exactly live a life where I ate meat often, but I’d occasionally buy some here. Even with simple seasonings and a quick grill, it was delicious, I remember.
Hinako’s curiosity moved to the shop next door.
“And this… is a vegetable shop?”
“Yeah. We call it a greengrocer.”
“Green… grocer?”
Hinako tilted her head.
Come to think of it, why do we say “greengrocer”? The word itself makes me think of the eight million gods or something… I’ll look it up later when I feel like it.
Hinako slowly gazed at the displayed vegetables.
“Anything you like?”
“…I don’t like vegetables.”
Oh, right.
“Speaking of which, what’s your favorite food, Hinako?”
“Potato chips…!”
“No, snacks don’t count…”
“Ice cream…! And cola…!”
“Those don’t count either… Hinako, let’s try eating some vegetables next time, okay?”
Why?! Her wide-eyed stare seemed to scream as she looked at me.
I was starting to feel as worried about her diet as Shizune-san.
“Other than that… maybe not much.”
“…Got it.”
When we eat together, she sometimes murmurs, “This is good,” so she probably has preferences. But it seems like she doesn’t have a clear favorite yet.
“Yo, ain’t that Izuki?!”
At that moment, a voice called out from the back of the shop.
The greengrocer’s owner, holding a cucumber, was looking our way.
“Long time no see! I was wonderin’ why I hadn’t seen ya lately, but you’re lookin’ lively!”
“It’s been a while. I’ve been… kinda busy with stuff.”
It’d take too long to explain, so I left it at that.
Then Hinako gently tugged at my clothes.
“Izuki, who’s this…?”
“The shop owner. Also someone who helped me out when I worked here part-time. …I think it was my first year of high school, I worked here for a bit.”
As I explained to Hinako, I noticed the owner eyeing us with an amused grin.
“Haha, I get it now. ‘Busy with stuff,’ huh? That’s what you meant.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“No need to hide it, man. You’ve grown into quite the guy, Izuki.”
He slapped my back with a whack whack.
Feeling awkward, I made a quick escape from the greengrocer.
But similar encounters kept happening.
“Oh, Izuki-kun? It’s been forever!”
“Uh, hi. Long time no see.”
An employee from the pharmacy came out of the shop just to greet me.
“Yo, Izuki! Been a while, buy somethin’!”
“Sorry, maybe next time…”
The fishmonger called out while carrying a crate of fish.
The bookstore clerk and the leader of the dollar store’s part-timers also approached me the moment they spotted me. All of them were people I’d interacted with before.
After exchanging polite greetings, I stepped away to catch a breather.
“…I’m getting called out more than I expected.”
I was supposed to be showing Hinako around, but it turned into me just greeting people.
I felt a little bad.
“Izuki… you’re kind of a celebrity?”
“Nah, not that famous… but I worked a lot around here, so.”
The shopping street had strong community ties. When I mentioned at one shop that I wanted to earn more through part-time jobs, word spread like wildfire, and I was soon referred to all sorts of gigs. Before I knew it, I was working at the greengrocer, bookstore, pharmacy, restaurants—you name it.
“The shopping street has a strong sense of helping each other out.”
“Helping each other…?”
“Yeah. I understood it because I worked here, but the people living in this place share a lot. For example, if fewer customers come to the shopping street, everyone with a shop here suffers, right? So they all band together to keep the street thriving. The butcher might promote the fishmonger, or someone with free time might make and hand out flyers with info about the shopping street.”
By the way, I helped make those flyers once.
“It’s like ‘one for all, all for one.’ The connections here are wide and deep, so once you’re part of it, people call out to you casually.”
“…It feels kinda warm.”
“Yeah. Feeling those human connections is something to be grateful for.”
Every time someone called out to me, I was reminded: I really did live here. Realizing I still had a place here gave me an indescribable sense of comfort.
“I’m… a little jealous.”
Hinako said, gazing at the people working in the shopping street.
“The adults I know… they’re a lot more calculating.”
“…You mean the people you meet at social events?”
Hinako gave a small nod.
The adults around Hinako were all at the top of massive companies or organizations. For an organization to gain that much economic power, it has to consistently outdo its competitors. And above all, the leaders need a fierce drive to win. The people in the shopping street compete too, sure, but the adults in Hinako’s world operate on a different scale, wagering vast amounts of money and manpower in cutthroat battles. The bigger the stakes, the more cautious—and calculating—they become.
I didn’t ask, but among the calculating adults Hinako was thinking of, Kagen-san was probably one of them.
Which way of living was right? My immature mind couldn Neonatal’t come up with an answer.
“Izuki, you seem like you fit this kind of atmosphere better…”
“—Izuki! You’re back?!”
Just as Hinako was about to say something, a loud voice boomed from behind.
Startled, Hinako’s shoulders jumped.
Turning around, I saw the familiar face of the barbershop owner.
“Oh? Sorry, missy, didn’t mean to scare ya. My voice is just loud like that.”
“I-it’s… okay.”
Hinako accepted his apology, pressing a hand to her chest.
After some casual chatter, we parted ways with the owner. Hinako opened her small mouth.
“…Maybe I’m not that jealous.”
“Haha… yeah, this closeness can be a bit much, for better or worse.”
Truth is, plenty of people dislike this overly tight-knit community. It’s a strong bond, sure, but it can feel like meddling. Everyone’s got their own comfort zone, and for someone like Hinako, who isn’t used to it, they might come off as overbearing.
Just then, a stomach growled nearby.
“…I’m hungry.”
Hinako said, rubbing her belly.
The shopping street had all sorts of eateries. Smelling the curry and soba wafting from the shops, I started feeling hungry too. It was almost noon—perfect time for lunch.
Come to think of it, just beyond the shopping street… there was that place.
“Wanna hit up a gyudon place?”
“Gyu… don?”
Hinako tilted her head.
I figured she’d react like that, so I led her along.
◆
We stepped into a gyudon chain restaurant that every Japanese person knows.
The air conditioning cooled our flushed bodies just right.
“First, you buy a ticket here.”
I demonstrated by purchasing a ticket for a regular gyudon.
“Ooh… so high-tech.”
Not exactly the kind of line you’d expect from the heiress of the cutting-edge Konohana Group.
“Which one do you want, Hinako?”
“I’ll get the same as you.”
With that, Hinako pulled her wallet from her bag.
But instead of coins, she took out a black credit card and tried to slide it into the cash slot.
“No, not a card! …You put coins in here.”
“…Got it.”
Hinako inserted the coins and successfully got her ticket.
For a moment, I worried she didn’t even know how to use coins, but thankfully, she seemed to understand that much. Narika buys snacks in private, so it makes sense they’d at least know how to use money.
Come to think of it, Kiou Academy doesn’t have ticket machines. You just sit down, and a server comes to take your order. Same with drinks—there aren’t any vending machines. Maybe upper-class kids aren’t used to automated systems.
“Here’s your order!”
As we waited at the counter seats, a staff member brought two bowls of gyudon.
I grabbed two pairs of disposable chopsticks and handed one to Hinako.
But Hinako just stared at the bowl in front of her, not eating.
“What’s up?”
“I… don’t know how to eat it.”
To the Konohana heiress, gyudon was apparently an alien dish.
“You just eat it however you like.”
I snapped my chopsticks apart and put my hands together.
“Itadakimasu.”
To set an example, I dug into my gyudon. Scooping up some beef and rice, the rice nearly crumbled apart. I quickly brought it to my mouth, and the savory flavor of the beef spread across my tongue.
I’d been eating refined meals lately, so I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy something like this, but it was honestly delicious. Maybe because it’d been a while, it tasted even better. My tongue could apparently appreciate both worlds just fine.
Watching me eat, Hinako finally reached for her bowl with her chopsticks.
“Mmm, mmm…!”
As if handling something delicate, she carefully brought a bite of rice and beef to her mouth.
And when she finally popped it in—
“Mmm~~~ …!”
Hinako let out a deeply satisfied hum.
“Looks tasty.”
“It’s so good… the best…!!”
As expected, she’s a fan of junk food.
Hinako’s excitement shot through the roof.
“Izuki, what’s this…!?”
“That’s pickled ginger. Try eating it with a bite—it’s great.”
“And this…!?”
“That’s just water.”
Everything she saw seemed like treasure to her.
I’m glad she’s having a good experience.
“Ohh… this grease is even more sinful than potato chips…!”
Hinako murmured with a blissful expression.
…Is this okay?
I meant to give her a good experience, but this feels a little dangerous.
Letting Hinako make that face… I hope Shizune-san doesn’t kill me.
While gazing at Hinako’s blissful profile, tinged with unease, I noticed her lips were smudged with gyudon sauce.
“Hinako, turn this way for a sec.”
I said, picking up a paper napkin.
“Your mouth’s all messy.”
“Mmph… hehe!”
I wiped the sauce from Hinako’s lips.
Her expression softened, like a child’s.
And then—our little moment was met with the silent stares of the other customers.
Feeling the weight of their piercing gazes, I snapped back to reality.
Crap… we’ve drawn attention.
“W-Well, shall we get going?”
“Mhm.”
I keep forgetting, but Hinako’s beauty is the kind that’d make all ten out of ten people turn their heads. She already stands out, so it’s no wonder an act like this would draw eyes.
Like we were fleeing, we left the shop and started wandering aimlessly again.
“So, how was your first gyudon?”
“It’s… my new favorite!”
Hinako declared, her eyes sparkling.
What a thoroughly commoner favorite she’s picked up. I’ll have to make sure she never mentions this at high-society gatherings later.
“Gyudon… it was delicious, and so easy!”
“Easy?”
“Mhm. No need to worry about manners or anything.”
For Hinako, a meal where she doesn’t have to mind etiquette might be a rare treasure.
For a while, she’ll probably have more chances to eat without worrying about manners. That should make her happy… though I have a slight concern.
“I’ve only just started paying attention to this myself, so I’m not one to talk, but you can’t let yourself forget manners entirely, okay?”
“Mhm. I know.”
Hinako continued, her expression solemn.
“Because I forgot my manners, I almost got separated from you, Izuki… I don’t ever want to feel that way again.”
I immediately knew what she was talking about.
It was about three months ago. Hinako was dining with executives from a shipbuilding company, and she genuinely pulled the three-second rule I’d jokingly taught her.
She seems to have reflected on that incident.
Of course, I’ve reflected on it too.
“We both need to be more careful, huh?”
“Mhm.”
The responsibilities of the upper class are heavy. It must be tough to bear them with such a delicate frame.
That’s why I’ll be careful too—to lighten Hinako’s burden, even just a little.
“So, we’ve still got some time…”
I checked the time on my smartphone.
“I wanna play more…!”
“Alright, how about a walk in the park to settle our stomachs?”
◆
With the sunset-dyed town in our peripheral vision, we stepped into the house.
“Phew…”
Kicking off her shoes, Hinako flopped onto a cushion in the living room.
“Tired?”
“Mhm.”
We’d driven to the house this morning, and from noon until now, we’d been walking almost nonstop. For an indoor girl like Hinako, today’s activity level was probably a lot.
(I’m… not that tired, though.)
I’ve still got plenty of stamina and mental energy.
Back at the mansion, studying and servant duties pushed my mind and body to their limits daily. Compared to that, today’s schedule was a breeze.
And maybe—just a tiny bit—I felt it wasn’t quite enough.
Spending a whole day living like a commoner for the first time in a while gave me a chance to see my usual life from a new perspective. There’s a clear difference between the commoner’s way and the upper class’s way of life. But when you think deeply, those differences have their own meaning.
It’s something I’d been mulling over at the gyudon shop earlier.
Kiou Academy often demands more analog actions than the outside world. The lack of ticket machines is a good example. If you want to eat at Kiou, you have to call over a nearby server.
At first glance, it feels inconvenient, but when you think about it, it’s not a bad system at all.
The students at Kiou Academy are destined to lead others in the future. Learning how to interact with people—especially subordinates—is crucial. Giving bad orders or acting arrogantly will erode your influence. But if you manage people well, you can enjoy conveniences that surpass automation. At Kiou, mealtimes are a chance to learn that. Even the way you place an order with a server can reveal your character.
Kiou Academy is designed to offer learning opportunities in every setting.
It embodies the stoic discipline of the upper class.
(I’ve really broadened my perspective, haven’t I?)
I’ve only been at the academy for a few months, but because I’ve been desperately working to keep up with everyone, I can feel the insights I’ve gained—things I never would’ve understood before.
Once you see the meaning behind something, you want to take it seriously.
I might actually be starting to miss those days at the academy.
As I was getting sentimental about the past, my smartphone buzzed in my pocket.
A call from Shizune-san.
“Shizune-san? Is something up?”
“Sorry, Izuki-kun. Work here is taking longer than expected, so I’ll be home late. Can I leave dinner prep to you?”
“No problem. Worst case, we’ll order takeout.”
“Thank you. Feel free to use any ingredients in the fridge if you’re cooking.”
“Got it.”
I ended the call.
Shizune-san’s voice sounded more tired than usual. In that case, I should at least handle dinner.
Opening the fridge, I found a variety of ingredients.
Some were clearly high-end, but those were beyond my skills, so I pulled out the basics.
Onions, carrots, potatoes. And some meat.
(…Guess I’ll make curry.)
I spotted curry roux in the spice cabinet. The moment I saw it, the menu was decided.
Since lunch was gyudon, I’m a bit worried about nutritional balance. Let’s go heavy on the veggies.
As I searched for a knife and peeler, Hinako shuffled over, her footsteps soft.
“Izuki… what’re you doing?”
“Shizune-san’s coming back late, so I thought I’d make dinner.”
I explained while setting up the cutting board.
“…I’ll help.”
“You, Hinako?”
I felt a twinge of worry—cooking might be risky for her—but she struck a confident pose, hands on her hips.
“I’ve got cooking experience from summer classes!”
She puffed out her chest proudly.
Does barbecue really count as cooking…?
“Uh, okay, can you handle peeling then?”
“Leave it to me…!”
Peeling’s the safest task—no knives or fire involved.
I taught her how to use a peeler during the barbecue, so she should be fine.
“Hinako, you prefer sweet or spicy?”
“Mmm… sweet.”
“Got it. Then for a secret ingredient…”
I tossed something I found in the fridge into the pot.
“Chocolate?”
“Yeah. Yuri told me it adds sweetness and depth.”
“Ooh… can’t wait!”
According to Yuri, curry’s flavor can be endlessly tweaked, so instead of chasing the perfect secret ingredient, it’s better to tailor it to the eater. By the way, after Yuri’s many experiments, I learned I’m a fan of miso in mine.
“Hinako, can you grab those potatoes over there?”
“Mhm. …Finished peeling the carrots too.”
“Thanks. Just set ’em there.”
We cooked together, side by side.
It felt kinda… like we were a married couple—though I shoved that thought down hard.
I chopped the vegetables Hinako handed me and added them to the pot.
Looks like she’s done peeling the carrots, so I reached for them.
Our shoulders brushed, just for a moment.
“S-Sorry.”
“…Mhm, it’s fine.”
Hinako’s face flushed, and she let out a weird little squeak.
The kitchen’s so narrow, we can’t help but be close. This isn’t the sprawling Konohana mansion or a wide-open beach.
Once you notice it, you can’t un-notice it. We were fine earlier, but now even the rustle of our clothes brushing made us both freeze.
Hinako kept peeling in silence, her eyes downcast.
I chopped vegetables, fighting the itchy awkwardness.
◆
“Thanks for the meal!”
We enjoyed the finished curry together.
“So… full…!”
“Glad you liked it.”
It was a pretty standard curry, but Hinako seemed satisfied.
With my stomach full, sleepiness crept in. For a second, I thought about lying down, but Shizune-san might be back soon, so I held off.
“Wanna turn on the TV?”
I grabbed the nearby remote and pointed it at the sleek, modern TV—one of the appliances Shizune-san had set up for us.
The news came on when I switched it on.
“By the way, Hinako, do you not watch TV much?”
“Mhm… not really.”
Rolling onto her side, Hinako rested her head on my lap.
Like a cat nuzzling up for attention.
Stuff like this, I can handle without overthinking…
Things got awkward when our shoulders touched in the kitchen, but for some reason, lap pillows feel calm and natural. Maybe because we’re used to it?
I stroked Hinako’s hair while half-watching the uninteresting news.
“Next up: Konohana Electronics recently announced the development of a new advanced optical satellite—”
The moment the name “Konohana” left the anchor’s mouth, Hinako closed her eyes.
“This is why.”
“…Got it.”
She probably wants to forget about family matters during her private time.
“But… at the academy, lots of people watch TV.”
“Really?”
“News helps with studying. Papa said I should try to watch it if I can.”
News is a solid way to learn about the world.
But this morning, Hinako burned through a week’s worth of assignments with ferocious determination. Shizune-san told me not to spoil her, but for today, she deserves a break from studying.
“Alright, let’s switch to a variety show.”
I changed the channel.
The Tomonari household had a TV too, though not a cutting-edge one like this—just a secondhand one my dad bought cheap.
Come to think of it, I remember this show…
On my days off from my part-time job, I’d watch TV with my mom while doing piecework at home. This show was on back then, I’m pretty sure.
But the host isn’t the comedian I remember. Seems they switched at some point.
Come to think of it, I haven’t watched TV since moving to the mansion. I got a laptop for studying, so that’s been enough to keep up with recent news.
While walking around town today, I noticed a few changes in the scenery. Shop signs had been updated, road colors had changed—small but steady shifts in this town.
Going forward, I might slowly lose touch with the things I used to know.
“…Izuki, did you use to live like this?”
Hinako, rolling around on my lap, asked in a small voice.
“Yeah, pretty much. Something like this.”
“…I see.”
Hinako murmured in response.
She might just be sleepy, but her face looked almost troubled.
“So? How’s the commoner life?”
“…It’s fun.”
Hinako answered, rolling over.
“Nobody stares at me so much. It’s really relaxing and easy to be around.”
She seemed to enjoy it more than I expected.
But saying nobody was staring at her isn’t quite true. A girl as stunning as Hinako is rare. She definitely drew attention. It’s just that the gazes were different, and she didn’t notice. They were looks of curiosity or interest, not the kind that expect her to act like an Ojou-sama.
“And… it’s warm.”
Hinako smiled softly, her tone wistful.
“You said that at the shopping street too.”
“Mhm… Everyone seemed to like you, Izuki.”
Me? I tilted my head. She went on.
“All sorts of people talked to you. You said that’s just how the shopping street is, but… I think it’s also because it’s you that they came up to talk.”
When she puts it like that, it’s hard to brush off.
But if that’s the case—
“…You too, Hinako.”
I looked straight into her eyes.
“Maybe it used to be different. But now, I bet you’re… warm too, aren’t you?”
Tennouji-san, Narika, Asahi-san, Taishou. Hinako’s got people now who she can open up to, even just a little, more than strangers.
Acting the part can be exhausting, no doubt.
But being by her side, I’ve noticed the change. When she’s with them, she lets her guard down a bit more than usual.
“…Maybe.”
Hinako’s smile was one of relief.
“It’s all thanks to you, Izuki.”
“Nah, that’s not true.”
“No… it’s because of you.”
Her gaze dropped as she spoke.
“But I…”
Hinako fell silent, clamping her lips shut.
She’d been so cheerful until now, but suddenly she seemed down. I had no clue why she was acting this way.
“Izuki, do you… like living like this?”
“…Yeah, I think I do. In its own way.”
It’s not so much “like” as it is familiar, I guess.
I don’t mean I love the poor life we used to have. But living in this lively, chaotic town like we did today? That’s not bad at all.
“Do you… want to go back…”
In a faint voice, Hinako started to say something.
But her words, barely audible, trailed off, and she closed her mouth again.
“Hinako?”
“…It’s nothing.”
With a roll, Hinako slid off my lap.
I slowly stand up as is.
“…”I’m taking a bath.”
“Alright, shall I heat up some water then?”
I head to the unit bathroom and start filling the tub.
The hot water seems like it’ll fill up quickly. Hinako lazily pulls out some clothes from her bag and heads toward the bathroom.
“…Izuki?”
Suddenly, Hinako turns back to me, her face puzzled.
“Why aren’t you changing?”
“Huh?”
“The bath, together…”
“…No, no, no, no way.”
Hinako says it so matter-of-factly that I press my hand to my forehead before responding.
“Let’s, uh, skip that for today. This place’s bath is pretty cramped.”
“Muu…”
Hinako puffs out her cheeks in dissatisfaction but eventually nods, giving in.
“Then… just wash my hair.”
With that, Hinako grabs her usual swimsuit and heads into the bathroom.
From the other side of the door, I hear the soft rustle of fabric. A moment later, there’s a splash of water. Don’t think about it, don’t let it get to you… I turn up the TV volume and stare intently at some variety show I couldn’t care less about.
“Izuki…”
“…Yeah, yeah.”
Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Hinako calls out to me in her carefree tone.
When I open the door, she’s lounging leisurely in the tub, looking completely relaxed.
“Alright, hair… let’s wash it.”
“Sure. But first, we gotta drain the tub.”
The unit bathroom isn’t designed for washing hair or body while the tub is full.
I pull the plug while grabbing the showerhead.
“Close your eyes.”
“Mhm.”
Her hair isn’t wet yet, so I start rinsing it with the shower.
Washing it like this might get my hands and clothes soaked with water and suds, but… eh, it’s fine. I can wash my clothes and myself later.
I sit on the edge of the tub and start washing Hinako’s hair.
The position’s a bit awkward, though.
“Rinsing now.”
“Mmm…”
I rinse out the shampoo from her hair.
The bathroom’s small, but Shizune made sure to stock it with shampoo and everything else we need. Now, which one should I use next… As I’m looking around…
“Ah, it’s hot…”
Hinako says in a faint, hoarse voice.
Now that she mentions it, I feel it too. It’s not the water temperature but the air in the bathroom. We’re used to spacious baths, so I hadn’t noticed, but this tiny bathroom traps heat like crazy.
It’s a far cry from the mansion’s bath. The ventilation doesn’t seem to be doing much either.
“You okay? I’ll cool the water down…”
“No… I need to get out…”
Hinako’s clearly at her limit, so I quickly spread a bath towel on the floor.
“Whoa!?”
The moment we step into the living room, Hinako leans her entire body against me.
Water droplets drip from her body onto my cheek.
Completely overheated, Hinako closes her eyes, looking utterly drained.
For now, I turn on the air conditioner and think about getting some cold water. But then…
“I’m back.”
The front door opens, and Shizune’s voice echoes through.
Shizune slips off her shoes and—seeing me holding Hinako in her swimsuit—she froze in shock.
“Beast.”
“It’s not what it looks like!”
◆
That night.
After pushing the table to the corner, laying out three futons, and turning off the lights to go to bed…
“…Um.”
In the darkness, pressed against the wall, I speak up.
“Isn’t my spot, like, way too close to the edge?”
“You have a record.”
Shizune’s voice comes from the other side of the partition.
Originally, the plan was to place the partition near the center of the room to split it between guys and girls, but due to certain circumstances, it’s been shoved way closer to the wall. It was supposed to be a 4:6 split, but now it’s more like 1:9.
“It was really a misunderstanding. I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“So, it’s fine as long as it wasn’t on purpose?”
Her airtight logic leaves me speechless.
No counterargument comes to mind. I should probably stop making excuses.
Still, if it’s not just my imagination, Shizune seems a bit stricter than usual. This kind of thing happens at the mansion too, but… maybe because it happens so often, she’s decided it’s time to crack down. Though, she wasn’t this strict before.
“…Shizune.”
At that moment, Hinako’s small voice pipes up.
“Izuki’s pitiful. It’s been so long since he came back to this house…”
What an angel…
I could almost cry.
Hearing Hinako’s words, Shizune lets out a quiet sigh.
“Kagen-sama is worried.”
Her tone turns serious as she speaks.
“I don’t know if he’s aware of it, but Kagen-sama’s work today lacked its usual sharpness, even if just slightly. He said he trusts us, which is why he allowed this arrangement, but as a parent, he must still feel some unease deep down.”
It’s a sobering thought.
When you think about it, it’s obvious. His high school daughter is leaving the mansion for a whole week to stay in a cramped, rundown house with a guy her age.
At the mansion, if anything happened, help could arrive immediately. The staff keeps an eye on things. But this house is out of Kagen’s immediate reach.
During the summer course, it was fine.
But this time, he’s uneasy.
The difference… it’s probably me.
During the summer course, Hinako and I stayed in separate rooms, and Shizune was always nearby. So Kagen wasn’t as worried back then.
But now, Shizune has to step out for work at times, and Hinako and I are under the same roof. Even with security around, they can’t invade our privacy or monitor inside the house.
Naturally, that means more time alone together in this tiny place.
Kagen’s trust and unease aren’t about Hinako.
…They’re about me.
I’m the one making Kagen uneasy.
“I’m sorry. I was careless.”
Deeply reflecting, I apologize.
Kagen is a strict man, but not unreasonable.
Do what needs to be done, and you’re free to live as you please. That’s always been his approach with Hinako and me. And because he’s so strict about responsibilities, he tries to respect our freedom as much as possible afterward.
That’s probably why he allowed us to stay here. We’ve been diligent with our routines lately, and we performed well in the summer course exams.
But as a parent, he’s still worried.
Kagen trusts me. And I’ve been living without fully appreciating that.
That’s why I’ve made him uneasy.
“Thanks to you, Izuki-san, Ojou-sama has changed. …And because of Ojou-sama, Kagen-sama is changing too.”
Shizune continues.
“I think those changes are a good thing.”
That’s why she doesn’t want us to do anything that would make them regret those changes. That’s what she’s implying.
I hear someone stirring on the other side of the partition.
Shizune peeks out from behind it.
“This time, I’ll let it slide, thanks to Ojou-sama’s kindness.”
“Thank you.”
I bow my head as Shizune moves the partition back to its original spot.
“By the way, have you decided on tomorrow’s plans?”
Shizune asks.
“We’re heading to Yuri’s place in the evening.”
“Then you won’t need dinner here.”
“Right.”
But that means Shizune will be eating alone again.
Today, she ate curry while I was in the bath. She didn’t seem to mind, but…
“Uh, why don’t you come with us, Shizune?”
“I’ll pass. …I can read the room, you know.”
Shizune’s a college student, so she’s not that much older. But as long as Hinako’s around, she has to maintain her role as a servant.
Hanging out with everyone from Kiou Academy is fine, but since Yuri’s not used to the servant dynamic, Shizune’s probably being considerate. Given their interactions during the summer course, I don’t think it’s a big deal, but I don’t want to push her if she’s declining.
“What are you doing until the evening?”
“I’m planning to study. It’s about time to start prepping for classes.”
“That’s commendable.”
Hinako finished a week’s worth of her routine in one go, but I’m still working through mine.
This morning, I was reminded of just how sharp Hinako’s mind is. I respect it, but I can’t imitate it. As an average guy, I can’t afford to slack on steady effort.
“Still, it feels like a waste to head straight there, so I’m thinking of making a quick stop somewhere along the way…”
I haven’t decided where yet.
There’s no need to force a plan. I can figure it out tomorrow.
Then…
“…School.”
Hinako’s soft voice cuts through.
“I want to see the school Izuki used to go to.”
“…Alright, let’s do that.”
Getting inside might be tricky, but we can at least check it out from the outside.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the school again after so long.
With tomorrow’s plans settled, I drift off to sleep.
