Chapter 13: The Maid Makes a Promise

“What are you looking at?”

“Wah!”

After dinner, I was gazing at my smartphone at the desk in my room when someone called out from behind me. Of course, the one standing there was Sayaka.

“Y-you scared me! Don’t just sneak up on me like that!”

Something about the girls around me—they all tend to appear out of nowhere and call out from behind.

“But Keiji-kun, your room is a free-pass zone now, isn’t it?”

“I meant you could come in to clean even when I’m not here, not that you could just suddenly materialize behind me.”

“Oh, was that it? How unexpected.”

“Yeah, right!”

That’s common sense for anyone. There’s no way someone as smart as Sayaka wouldn’t understand that. Well, it was because I gave her free access that she secretly rummaged through my room—and because she left evidence behind, the secret between us was revealed.

“You were looking at a photo of a little girl, weren’t you? Don’t worry, the world may be harsh, but your maid, at least, is on your side.”

“Wipe that gentle look off your face. You’re completely misunderstanding… No, look closer.”

I show Sayaka the screen of my smartphone again. It’s a photo of the old head of the Maritsuji family and a young Maritsuji.

“Oh, is this Lolitsuji-san?”

“Seriously, does everyone think of that nickname?”

“Hmm… This old man, could he be the head of the Maritsuji family?”

“Nice catch. It’s the first time I’ve seen his face. Not that I’m in a position to be granted an audience, you know.”

“He doesn’t look like an easy person to deal with, does he?”

“Tell me about it. He seems super fussy and difficult.”

“I’m not talking about the old man. I’m talking about Maki-san, who managed to get her hands on a photo like this.”

“…How did you know I got it from Maki?”

“He’s someone you’ve never seen before, and his photos aren’t exactly circulating, right? If anyone could get their hands on such a rare picture, it would have to be someone like Maki-san.”

“Somehow, all the women around me are starting to seem terrifying.”

Maritsuji Anri is a given, but I can’t let my guard down around Sayaka or Maki either.

“You don’t have to worry about me, at least. You can believe that I’m on your side.”

“On my side, huh…”

In a way, Sayaka is the one who has the most reason to see me as an enemy.

“So, did you and Maki-san come up with a strategy to deal with Maritsuji?”

“That was the plan, but it didn’t really turn into a strategy meeting. We should’ve had you join us, Sayaka. You’re the smartest one, after all.”

“I may be smart, but my kindness gets in the way. It stops me from thinking of anything too cruel.”

“Hahaha.”

“The most a loyal maid can do is pinch you.”

“Ow ow ow!”

She’s pinching my arm, hard! That actually hurts!

“But I’m not entirely kidding, you know. I’m no Ojou-sama, so I can’t afford to pull any careless stunts against a true heiress like Maritsuji-san. If I were to scheme something and get exposed as the mastermind, it wouldn’t just end with my special scholarship being revoked this time.”

“Come to think of it, the harassment against you stopped after that one time.”

A little while ago, Sayaka had her special scholarship status revoked, forcing her to pay the high tuition fees.

“That whole thing… Looking back, there might not have been a mastermind at all.”

Sayaka crosses her arms and plops down on my bed. For someone who calls me her master, she’s certainly making herself at home.

“No mastermind? What do you mean? The attacks against you just happened spontaneously?”

“You could say that. I kicked Fujikawa off the top spot and have held it ever since. As soon as I entered high school, I took first place on the aptitude test. How many people, I wonder, were unhappy that a mere commoner like me would continue to dominate the top spot for the next three years?”

“…Personally, I’d be more pissed off if Fujikawa were at the top.”

“I’m sure many people dislike Fujikawa, too. But I’m probably disliked far more. There are plenty of people who would rather see someone from a prestigious family like Fujikawa at the top.”

“A simple aptitude test that doesn’t even affect grades led to the exclusion of Hisaka Sayaka? No way.”

“It was a nasty trick, but it was simple and effective. It wouldn’t be strange if multiple people came up with the same idea. It’s possible the attacks on me just happened to occur all at once, from different people.”

“So you’re saying because there was no mastermind, it wasn’t an organized effort, and that’s why there hasn’t been a second attack?”

Sayaka silently recrosses her legs and gives a small nod. Though there’s a good chance they’re just waiting for an opportunity to launch an even more effective attack…

“If it’s not an organized attack, then it’s not that frightening. It might just end after a single attempt, like this time. For now, you don’t need to worry about me. More importantly—”

“What should I do if Maritsuji is plotting something?”

“Ultimately, building a faction is a must, don’t you think? For the July end-of-term tests, we’ll make sure you get into the top ten, but you’ll need some other ‘achievements’ as well.”

“The way you say ‘make sure’ is kinda terrifying!”

It doesn’t seem like this will end with me just having a fun study session between two beautiful girls, Maritsuji and Sayaka. N-no, but getting a top rank is what I want too… right?

“Keiji-kun, is a maid who only takes care of your personal needs enough for you? Or—should I assist in your ambitions as well?”

“…I intend to carry the Kiyomiya family on my shoulders.”

I stand up from my chair and face Sayaka, who is sitting on the bed.

“But then you showed up, Sayaka, and I learned the truth about your birth. So I’m still not sure what I should do.”

“There’s no need for uncertainty. I will support you, so you should carry the Kiyomiya name.”

Sayaka takes my hand and squeezes it tightly.

“Then, will you help me—someone who wasn’t even an illegitimate child—carry the Kiyomiya name and, as a first step, go from being a failure to one of the top students at Sōshūkan?”

“That goes without saying.”

Sayaka stands up, still holding my hand—

“This is a token of that promise.”

“……!”

Chu. Sayaka’s soft lips touch my cheek.

“A kiss on the cheek is so childish… b-but it’s the best I can do right now! You got a problem with that?!”

“Why are you suddenly getting mad at me?!”

You’re the one who kissed me!

Honestly, even a childish kiss like that is enough to make my heart pound like crazy!

“A-anyway—let’s go on the offensive. Shall I come up with the plan?”

“N-no, I’ve been thinking about it too—or rather, in this situation, the first move is pretty much set in stone.”

Even if the Maritsuji family is plotting something, a marriage proposal from one of the most prestigious families is a huge event that doesn’t happen every day. There’s no way I’m letting this chance slip by.

“Yes, I understand. As your maid, I will also host Maritsuji-san at our home.”

“Yeah. Together, you and I—my maid Sayaka and I—will earn the Maritsuji family’s approval.”

It seems Sayaka and I are on the same page. Last time, we were the ones invited to the Maritsuji estate. This time, it’s our turn to return the favor and give them our best hospitality. That’s the next move.

“Oh, that’s right. Speaking of maids, I heard you had Maki-san wear a maid outfit while you two enjoyed karaoke. I won’t forgive your cheating.”

“How do you know about that?! And how does that even count as cheating?!”

And just when the two of us had steeled our resolve!

Well, Maki probably took a picture during karaoke and sent it to Sayaka. It doesn’t feel perfectly resolved… but our course of action and our determination are set.

I guess we should start preparing.