Chapter 20: Epilogue

Sōshūkan Academy’s uniforms look almost identical even when switching to summer attire. The jackets, pants, and skirts change to more breathable materials, but at a glance you’d hardly notice the difference from winter.

Most students at Sōshūkan will end up in careers where they wear suits, so the idea is to accustom them to long sleeves even in summer heat while they’re still in school—or so the reasoning goes.

Though it also feels like a bit of upper-class vanity, insisting on enduring the heat in proper attire whenever appearing in public, summer be damned.

That said, with how brutally hot recent summers have become, hardly anyone gets scolded anymore for shedding their jackets.

“Still wearing your jacket properly, Keiji-kun.”

“You’re the same as before the clothing change, aren’t you, Sayaka?”

After school, I grabbed my bag and started leaving the classroom when Sayaka called out to me. Most of the boys and about half the girls have ditched their jackets, but both of us are dutifully wearing our blazers.

“The school’s air-conditioned, and some of the girls are even complaining it’s cold.”

“I’m not particularly sensitive to cold, but I don’t want to look sloppy.”

“Same here. Shedding my scum image starts with appearances.”

Last summer, I wasn’t just jacketless—I had my shirt buttons undone, looking completely disheveled. The reformed, proper Kiyomiya Keiji needs to start by dressing appropriately.

“Ugh~ Just looking at you two makes me feel hot. Dress cooler, would ya?”

“…You should reform yourself too, Maki.”

“Huh? What’re you talking about?”

Maki tilted her head, wearing a blouse with buttons undone and no ribbon, plus a pink school vest. Her skirt, already short in winter, is even a touch shorter now for summer. She looks cool and breezy, clearly with zero intention of wearing a jacket from the start.

“Well, whatever. Sa-chan, I’ll be home late today, so no need for dinner.”

“No staying out at night. Our curfew is 6 PM.”

“That’s way too early! Since when was that a rule!?”

“Now that the marriage talks with the Maritsuji family are moving forward, Keiji-kun has to be on his best behavior. And since you’re involved, you will be too.”

“N-No way… But 6 PM might actually be impossible.”

“I suppose it can’t be helped. Contact me when you’re heading back. If it gets late, I’ll send Keiji-kun to pick you up.”

“Don’t casually volunteer me.”

What kind of conversation is this, even if no classmates are around to hear it?

“So what’s the errand? If you’re really late, I’ll seriously come get you.”

“Ah, well… my mom’s pretty hands-off, but my old man found out I was staying over at your place. Now I’ve got a lecture to look forward to.”

“Yeah, you’d get lectured for that.”

Even with the pretext of learning etiquette, staying at someone else’s place for weeks on end—even if they’re separated, a father would get angry.

“Wait, didn’t you say your father isn’t around?”

“He exists. They just had a normal divorce. But even though they’re divorced and he’s practically a stranger, my old man is still super nosy about what I do, y’know?”

“Even after divorce, a daughter is still a daughter.”

Blood ties aren’t something to take lightly—a fact I’ve come to realize all too well recently.

“Such a pain~ That geezer is so condescending when he lectures me. The maid who works for him is nice though, so it’d be a big help if she was there.”

“Well, go get yelled at. Or rather, why not stop freeloading?”

“Your place is just too comfy, Keiji. I’m gonna keep taking full advantage of your hospitality!”

With that, Maki waved and ran down the hallway. She wasn’t about to let me get a word in edgewise.

“…Hm? A condescending geezer and a nice maid…?”

“Keiji-kun, something wrong?”

“No, nothing.”

That combination bugs me for some reason… but I can’t quite put my finger on why.

Still, maybe I should greet Maki’s father once.

With that thought, today too I head home separately from Sayaka, just in case. It’d be a hassle if our living together got out to school folks, though occasionally going home together should be fine.

Sayaka said she’d do some shopping, so I arrived home first. Reizen-sensei is probably still at work, so no one should be at the Kiyomiya family old manor—or so I thought.

“What the…?”

Entering the old manor and heading up to the second floor toward my room, I heard rustling noises. And they seemed to be coming from my room.

Did Sayaka get home first… No, she’d come greet me.

The maid Sayaka is dutiful, still properly coming to welcome me home even now.

“Seriously? What’s with our security?”

While gauging the situation, I set my bag on the floor, took off my jacket, and rolled up my sleeves. I’m somewhat confident in rough stuff, but if there are four or five guys armed with bats or hammers, it might be dangerous.

I’ll decide whether to beat them down or run based on what I find.

Good thing Sayaka and Maki aren’t here—if possible, I’d like to handle the idiots who broke into someone’s mansion with my own hands.

“Hey, who’s there!?”

“Kyaaa!?”

“………”

I kicked open my room door with force, bursting in—and a girl’s scream echoed through the room. I froze.

“K-Kiyomiya-san…!?”

“Anri-chan…?”

The one in my room was unmistakably Maritsuji Anri. My clothes and personal bag were placed on the bed, like they’d been rummaged through.

Moreover—

“S-Sorry. It’s my first time entering a gentleman’s room, and I got carried away!”

“Th-That outfit?”

That’s what caught my attention first and foremost.

Maritsuji had her usual long black hair with a white headband, wearing a white blouse with a black one-piece dress—a long skirt length. In other words, maid attire.

“Ah, right. Let me introduce myself properly—Starting today, I’ll be serving as a maid at the Kiyomiya family old manor. I’m Maritsuji Anri.”

Maritsuji smiled and said that, then gracefully curtsied while pinching her skirt.

“M-Maid…? You, Maritsuji!?”

“In the old days, daughters of the nobility would serve as ladies-in-waiting to those of higher rank, you know.”

“I-I know that, but a daughter of the Maritsuji family becoming a servant!?”

“But Kiyomiya-san likes maids, right?”

“That’s not what I meant when I said I like Sayaka—You’re messing with me, aren’t you?”

“Who knows?”

Maritsuji stuck out her tongue playfully. It was a childish gesture, completely unbecoming of the highest-ranked young lady.

“I’m Kiyomiya-kun’s fiancée, but the marriage is still in the future. As Mother said the other day, I thought I’d start by learning etiquette at the Kiyomiya house while trying out being a maid. I have permission from the Kiyomiya family head and my mother.”

“How about my permission!?”

“Apparently not needed. Both the Kiyomiya head and Mother said the same.”

“Stop making decisions based on what’s convenient for the adults…”

So it really is settled that I’m engaged to the Maritsuji family…

“How did you get into the mansion anyway? My room should have been locked too.”

“I received the master key from the Kiyomiya family head. He graciously said I can enter anywhere I like.”

“What is my old man handing over?”

I thought the only master key was the one I gave to Sayaka. Was there one kept at the Kiyomiya main residence too?

“But a maid? Seriously, a maid?”

“To win, it seems I’d best stay close to the enemy. Therefore, becoming a fellow maid would be a good move, don’t you think? Isn’t that right, Hisaka-san?”

“…I’m just a maid. Of course I’d welcome the master’s fiancée—and if you’re in the way, I’ll throw you out.”

“You didn’t even try to hide your hostility in that second half, Sayaka!”

I’m not surprised anymore by Sayaka suddenly appearing behind me. She had eco bags full of groceries and daily necessities in both hands, seeming to have come straight to my room upon returning. She must have hurried over after hearing our voices.

“By the way, Maritsuji-san, I’ve been confessed to by Keiji-kun.”

“By the way, Hisaka-san, I’m Kiyomiya-san’s fiancée.”

“………”

Here we go again—sparks flying everywhere. No, I can practically see flames raging behind them now.

“What’s more, I know Keiji-kun’s secrets. All sorts of them, you see.”

Sayaka set the eco bags on the floor, then removed her glasses and put them in her pocket, and undid her twin tails.

“I’m Keiji-kun’s only maid. I’ll never hand the master over to you.”

Sayaka stood before Maritsuji with arms crossed.

It was an utterly bold declaration of war.

My house has a suspicious maid who holds secrets and was probing my secrets. The maid and I share secrets now. We’re inseparable, no longer just bound by contract.

Even with a new maid appearing, Sayaka won’t back down.

“Searching Keiji-kun’s room as I please is my privilege alone.”

Well, if possible, I’d prefer you not rummage through a teenage boy’s room?

Sayaka and Maritsuji are glaring at each other, as if forgetting my very existence.

The Kiyomiya family old manor—a mansion full of secrets that can’t be told to others, where a new major secret is about to be born.