E-book Bonus Short Story: “The Fashion Evangelist, Tsurumi Shizune”

It was the day Izuki and Hinako went to see a play.

Shizune was working at the Konohana residence as usual. She gave instructions to each of the maids, assisted with Kagen-sama’s work, and then cleaned Ojou-sama’s room… In between, she received several work-related updates from the Konohana family’s SP. After confirming there were no issues from the SPs monitoring Izuki and Hinako, Shizune refocused on her duties.

As she was folding the bedding for laundry, her smartphone vibrated, signaling a new message. Thinking it was from the SP, she immediately checked the contents.

Looking at the screen, Shizune was slightly surprised. …How unusual, a message from Hinako-sama.

What had been sent was a single photo and a short message.

Shizune, could you give me some advice?

The photo sent along with that single sentence was of Izuki in a fitting room.

There was still time before the play, so they were probably killing time at a nearby department store. Izuki’s coordination was safe, but each item looked high-quality. It seemed they had chosen a good store.

Shizune paused her work and took a deep breath.

Those two…

Those two are interested in fashion…!!

I must respond with my full effort.

She rewrote the message about five times before sending it. Unable to wait for a reply, she immediately reread the message she’d sent, but it might not have had enough information.

Any further explanation would have to wait until the two returned to the mansion.

Shizune tackled the rest of her duties with more enthusiasm than usual.

◆

As night fell, Izuki and Hinako returned.

Hinako-sama seemed to be back to her usual self. Watching her head towards Izuki’s room, muttering, “So sleepy…” Shizune felt a sense of relief. She had wondered if she’d ever be able to speak with the real Hinako-sama again, but it seemed Izuki had resolved things once more.

Shizune continued with her duties until the two had finished their baths and returned to their respective rooms.

With her work for the day finally done, Shizune psyched herself up, “Now then.”

—it’s fashion time.

First, she visited Hinako-sama’s room. She would probably be going to bed soon, so Shizune had to talk all about clothes before then.

“Ojou-sama, excuse me.”

Upon entering the room, Hinako-sama was sitting in a chair, facing her desk. Shizune was a little surprised, as she’d expected her to be lying in bed.

“Nn… what is it, Shizune…?”

“I’ve come to continue our conversation from this afternoon.”

“Afternoon…?”

Hinako-sama tilted her head quizzically.

Suddenly, Shizune noticed what Hinako-sama was holding in both hands.

It was a blue cup.

“Ojou-sama, what is that cup?”

“This? This is… nhehe… a matching cup I bought with Izuki.”

Hinako-sama said, her face melting into a soft smile.

I see, stoneware. Shizune’s diligent mind came up with the answer in an instant. The mansion’s furnishings were uniformly Western-style, so for tea sets, they generally used porcelain that suited black tea, but perhaps buying earthenware or stoneware once in a while wouldn’t be a bad idea.

She had thought Hinako-sama didn’t seem as sleepy as usual today, but it appeared she had been adoring that cup ever since she returned to her room.

It’s not that she didn’t understand the feeling. When Shizune bought clothes she liked, she sometimes buried her face in them for about an hour.

“…Ojou-sama, what about the clothes?”

“Clothes?”

To the questioning Hinako-sama, Shizune asked in a trembling voice.

“The clothes… you didn’t buy any…?”

“Nn, we decided to do it another time.”

Shizune looked up to the heavens, dazed for a moment.

Eventually, she staggered out of Hinako-sama’s room.

Next, Shizune headed for Izuki’s room.

“Izuki-san!!”

“Whoa!? You scared me!?”

In her impatience, she had opened the door before even knocking.

“Why!!”

“Why what!?”

“Why wasn’t it clothes!!”

“………………Why what!?”

Not expecting to be hit with incomprehensible questions twice in a row, Izuki stared at Shizune’s face in confusion.

This won’t do, I must calm down a little.

Shizune breathed slowly, cooling her head.

“Is that the extent of your passion for fashion?”

“…Shizune-san, are you perhaps not feeling well today?”

That might be so.

But if I’m not feeling well, it’s your fault.

“This afternoon, Ojou-sama contacted me, correct? She wanted advice on clothes.”

“Ah, yes. She did, but…”

“When I saw that, I was very much looking forward to what kind of clothes you two would buy. That was my motivation for work all day today.”

“You should probably find something else to motivate you…”

Izuki looked at Shizune with a worried expression.

“Are you listening? Fashion possesses a charm that is in no way inferior to tea sets.”

“I see.”

“Izuki-san, your awareness regarding work attire seems to be improving, but originally, fashion is something you can freely coordinate based on your mood. In other words, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call fashion a type of luxury item. For example—”

Shizune argued passionately. All to make Izuki understand the allure of fashion.

Meanwhile, Izuki reflected deeply.

…I’ll never again take an attitude that could be misinterpreted when it comes to clothes in front of Shizune-san.

Shizune’s presentation lasted for two hours, leaving Izuki half asleep.