Chapter 2: Kiou Academy

The next day, I donned the black uniform of Kiou Academy and stepped out of the mansion.

Last night, Shizune-san had ended up carrying Hinako-sama to bed. My confiscated smartphone had been slipped back into my pocket, so I discreetly retrieved it.

A sleek black car was parked in front of the gate. Just beyond it, I could see Hinako-sama.

“I wanna go home.”

“If you say the same thing eight hours from now, I shall comply.”

“…Mmph.”

Shizune-san soothed the pouting Hinako-sama with practiced ease.

“Izuki-sama, this way, please.”

Shizune-san glanced at me as she spoke.

Right—starting today, I’m the heir to a mid-tier company. Being addressed so formally by Shizune-san made me acutely aware of my new public persona.

“Now, Izuki-sama, which seat would you like?”

As I moved to enter the car, Shizune-san posed the question.

This… it’s a pop quiz from that etiquette training, isn’t it?

“…The back seat, behind the passenger side.”

“Correct. When a driver is present, the hierarchy of seats is as follows: behind the driver, behind the passenger, the center of the back seat, and then the passenger seat.”

“But if the driver is considered a companion, the passenger seat becomes the highest-ranking spot, right?”

“Precisely. You’ve studied well.”

Well, yeah, after that Spartan-level training you put me through…

“Normally, escorting the Ojou-sama to the car would be the caretaker’s duty, but I plan to entrust tasks to you gradually, Izuki-sama. Now, please, board the car.”

Hinako-sama climbed in first, followed by me in the back seat. Shizune-san took the passenger seat.

“Sooo sleeeepy…”

You slept like a log, didn’t you? I barely managed to swallow the retort.

The car began to glide forward smoothly.

“Since the two of you are supposed to live in separate households, we’ll drop you off a short distance from the academy.”

“So, we’re walking to school together, just the two of us? But what if something happens, like that kidnapping attempt yesterday—”

“No need to worry. We have security personnel stationed around you at all times. The incident yesterday occurred because the Ojou-sama left without informing us. As her caretaker, it’s your responsibility to prevent such situations.”

“…Understood.”

My first day on the job starts now. As her caretaker, I’ll need to be on high alert.

“By the way, I’m in the same class as Hinako… sama, right?”

“Of course. As her caretaker, you are to remain by her side at all times.”

So, it seems Hinako-sama and I will be classmates.

“Izuki… your tone?”

“Ugh.”

She heard that, huh…

But dropping the honorifics for Hinako-sama in front of Shizune-san feels… awkward.

“Shizune, let Izuki talk normally.”

“But, Ojou-sama, that would set a poor example for others.”

“Then… just when it’s the two of us or when you’re around.”

“…Very well.”

Reluctantly, Shizune-san complied.

“See, Izuki? You can talk to me casually now.”

“…Not like I’m thrilled about it.”

Shizune-san’s stare stings. Honestly, I’m fine with formal speech. After a life steeped in part-time jobs, I’m used to hierarchies.

“To avoid any slip-ups, Izuki-sama, please use formal language at the academy. As the heir to a mid-tier company, you hold a relatively low status here, so it will help avoid unnecessary friction.”

“Understood.”

The heir to a mid-tier company is considered low status? …I’ll probably default to formal speech anyway.

“Ughhh… the academy’s getting closer…”

Hinako groaned, sounding utterly exhausted.

“Izuki…”

“…What?”

“Carry me.”

The car swerved violently.

What is this Ojou-sama even saying?! The driver’s freaking out now!

“Ojou-sama, that behavior is, well, rather lacking in the dignity expected of a refined young woman…”

“But Izuki smells so nice…”

“…R-Really?”

Shizune-san’s eyes widened.

“…Izuki-sama, for educational purposes, may I have a sniff?”

“No way, I don’t smell nice at all! Please, spare me!”

“…You totally do.”

As she said this, Hinako leaned in, pressing her nose to my sleeve.

Just to be sure, I sniffed myself. …Nothing special. If anything, it’s just the scent of the detergent used at the Konohana household.

“Uh, Hinako-san, I’m still a guy, so getting that close is kinda…”

“Tone.”

“…Hinako.”

“There we gooo…”

Arguing with her is clearly pointless.

I let out a sigh, only to hear an even deeper one from Shizune-san beside me.

“Ojou-sama, we’re almost there…”

“…M’kay.”

About thirty minutes later, the car arrived at our destination.

Hinako and I were dropped off in a quiet, deserted alley. No one was in sight, but apparently, the Konohana family’s guards were lurking nearby.

“Izuki-sama, please take this.”

Shizune-san handed me an opaque black bag.

“What’s this…?”

“Use it if the Ojou-sama becomes too unruly.”

Not entirely sure what she meant, I gave a vague “Uh, okay” and accepted it.

“Now, off you go.”

Shizune-san bowed respectfully, and I returned a quick bow before heading toward the academy with Hinako.

“…I wanna go home.”

“Don’t you need to start acting the part?”

“No one’s watching yet… I can relax.”

Apparently, Hinako’s equipped with some kind of radar for detecting people’s gazes.

She says that, but as her caretaker, it’s my job to ensure she maintains her Ojou-sama facade. I scanned our surroundings cautiously as we approached the academy.

“…It’s huge.”

I couldn’t help but mutter at the sight of the majestic, mansion-like building before us.

Kiou Academy—one of Japan’s most prestigious schools. The name sounds almost comically pretentious, but it’s undeniably a top-tier educational institution.

I hesitated to take that first step forward.

Meanwhile, beside me—

“Good morning, Konohana-san.”

“Good morning.”

A girl with amber hair flowing in the breeze returned the greetings of passing students with impeccable courtesy.

“Konohana-san… she’s as stunning as ever.”

“Truly, so refined…”

Whispers like that floated from every direction.

I stole a glance at Hinako’s profile as she slipped into her role. She was completely transformed—poised, intelligent, and dignified. It was hard to believe this was the same girl who’d been drooling in her sleep in my room last night.

“Is something wrong, Tomonari-kun?”

“Whoa!”

Hinako peered at me with concern.

I flinched, caught off guard. Hastily covering my mouth, I signaled that it was nothing.

We headed into the school building and made our way to the staff room.

Fortunately, Hinako and I are the same age, so I didn’t need to fake my age to be in the same grade. Thanks to Shizune-san’s arrangements, we were even placed in the same class.

“We’ve been expecting you. You must be Tomonari Izuki-kun.”

A female teacher greeted me as we entered the staff room.

“I’m Fukushima Misono, the homeroom teacher for Class 2-A, where you’ll be enrolled. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure’s mine.”

I gave a slight bow.

“Are you and Konohana-san acquainted?”

“Uh, well…”

Caught off guard, I fumbled for a lie.

Then, Hinako, standing gracefully beside me, spoke up.

“Our families have been close for some time, so we’ve known each other for a while. That connection led to me offering to show him around the academy.”

“Oh, I see!”

The teacher nodded, satisfied with Hinako’s polished explanation.

“Tomonari-kun, having Konohana-san as your guide is quite the luxury.”

“Haha… yeah, it is.”

Hey, teach, did you know? This girl would probably get lost in the academy if she were on her own.

“Today, we have a new transfer student joining our class.”

Fukushima-sensei announced as she entered the classroom first.

I followed, stepping to the front of the blackboard to introduce myself.

“I’m Tomonari Izuki. Nice to meet you all.”

There was no applause or formal bows, but the students’ gazes and expressions felt welcoming.

At my old high school, transfer students were unheard of, and if one showed up, it would’ve caused a stir. But this class seemed unfazed—mature and accepting, with a calm, open atmosphere.

“Tomonari-kun, please take the empty seat over there. Now, I know you’re all curious about the new student, but let’s focus on class first. Time to switch gears.”

The teacher surveyed the room from the podium.

I settled into my seat—second column from the window, toward the back—and quickly pulled out my textbooks from my bag.

First period was math.

“Alright, let’s begin. Today, we’ll be studying the substitution method for integration.”

Substitution method? Didn’t we cover that at the end of senior year at my old school…?

Apparently, at Kiou Academy, it’s part of the spring curriculum for second-years.

“That’s all for first period. Don’t forget to review.”

Fukushima-sensei concluded as the bell rang.

After a quick bow, the students shifted into break mode.

“…I owe Shizune-san a thank-you.”

I managed to keep up with the lesson, but man, it was tough.

Just one period in, and I already felt like I’d studied for an entire day.

Now—how’s the Ojou-sama holding up?

Recalling my duty as her caretaker, I checked on Hinako.

“Konohana-san, I had some trouble with today’s lesson…”

“If it’s alright with you, I’d be happy to help.”

In public, Hinako wore the perfect mask of a refined Ojou-sama. So far, there was no sign of that mask slipping.

“Yo, newbie!”

A loud voice called out from the side.

Turning, I saw a tall, burly male student.

“Pretty bold, not even greeting me, huh? C’mon, hand over some tribute!”

“…Huh?”

What kind of approach is this? I couldn’t tell if he was joking or serious.

“Hey!”

“Ow!”

As I stood there, baffled, a petite female student smacked the guy on the head with a swift chop.

“You’re scaring Tomonari-kun!”

“S-Sorry, that was just a joke.”

The guy rubbed his head and grinned sheepishly.

“You’re Tomonari Izuki, right? I’m Taisho Katsuya.”

“And I’m Asahi Karen. Nice to meet ya!”

I nodded with a vague “Uh, hi” at their introductions.

So, the whole tribute thing was just a prank, apparently.

“Tomonari, you were struggling to keep up with that lesson, weren’t you?”

“…How’d you know?”

“Hahaha! Don’t sweat it—all transfers go through that.”

“All? Are there others besides me?”

“Not at the moment, but transfers aren’t rare here. Students at this academy often enroll late or graduate early due to family circumstances. You probably transferred mid-term for similar reasons, right?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

It seems the students here are well aware of how unique this academy is.

“But Tomonari’s not a familiar name. What does your family do?”

“IT business. Not a huge company, though…”

I answered Asahi-san’s question, recalling the backstory Shizune-san had prepared.

My family runs a mid-tier IT firm, and I’m a potential heir—that’s the gist of it.

Hearing my response, Asahi-san and Taisho exchanged a glance and nodded.

“You looked overwhelmed in class, so we kinda figured… Tomonari-kun, you’ve lived a life closer to the average person, haven’t you?”

“…Yeah, pretty much.”

I admitted, meeting Asahi-san’s teasing smile.

“There are two types of transfer students. One group comes from other schools where they already excelled, transferring here to polish their credentials. The other group didn’t study much before but ended up here due to family obligations. The first group tends to come from wealthy families, while the second is usually more… ordinary.”

“For people who’ve been at regular schools, jumping into this academy’s curriculum is brutal. So, students with similar backgrounds tend to band together and help each other out. Taisho and I are on the ‘ordinary’ side, so we’ve got your back.”

“…Got it.”

I nodded, processing their explanation. Basically, they’re offering to guide me as fellow “ordinary” students.

Man, Kiou Academy students are something else—so mature and supportive.

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“Drop the formalities, man. We’re classmates!”

“Sorry, I’ve gotta talk like this because of family expectations.”

“Oh, right… yeah, that’s pretty common here.”

In my head, I’m already calling him Taisho, no honorifics.

A live-in job with three meals and a daily wage of 20,000 yen? For that, I’ll play the heir role to perfection.

“By the way, Tomonari, I’ve got one question for you.”

Taisho’s tone turned oddly serious.

“You—what’s your deal with Konohana-san?”

The moment he asked, the air in the classroom seemed to freeze with a sharp crack.

What the…?

For a split second, I swear I saw myself climbing the steps to a guillotine.

“You two came to school together today, didn’t you?”

“Oh, uh, yeah… Our parents know each other, so we’ve had some contact before. She offered to show me the way since it was my first day.”

“That’s really all there is to it?”

“That’s it, I swear…”

“You’re not, like, engaged or anything, are you?”

“Engaged? No way, nothing like that!”

To a commoner like me, fiancés are the stuff of urban legends.

I shrugged, and Taisho started trembling—before breaking into a massive grin.

“What the heck, don’t scare me like that!!”

“Whoa!?”

A slap on my shoulder made me let out a groan.

I eyed Taisho warily as he suddenly turned chummy. The tension that had gripped the room moments ago had melted away, and my classmates were back to chatting amiably.

“Man, that was a tense moment, huh?”

“What’s that supposed to mean, Asahi-san…?”

“Well, you see… Konohana-san is, like, super famous at our academy. I mean, she’s the heiress of the Konohana Group, has the best grades in the school, and just look at her—she’s drop-dead gorgeous.”

I nodded, urging her to go on.

“But here’s the thing: there’s never been a single rumor about her dating anyone. So, some of us thought maybe she had a fiancé outside of school or something. Then you show up, walking to school with her, and everyone’s like, ‘Wait, is this guy her fiancé!?’”

“…I see. …Fiancés are a real thing, huh?”

“Not for me, nope. But for someone of Konohana-san’s status? Wouldn’t be surprising.”

Come to think of it, I never asked Hinako if she has a fiancé.

Since she’s still weighing her marriage options, I’d guess she doesn’t have one… but maybe she’s stressed because she does have a fiancé.

“By the way, I don’t have a fiancé either. So, if you ever meet a cute girl, Tomonari, you better introduce me, got it?”

“I’ll… see what I can do.”

I brushed it off with a casual laugh.

Talking with Asahi-san and Taisho, I felt a faint wave of relief. When I first learned I’d be transferring to Kiou Academy, I had no idea how things would turn out. But… it’s looking like I might actually pull this off.

The moment the lunch break bell rang.

“Tomonari, what’s your plan for lunch?”

“We’re heading to the cafeteria, but…”

Taisho and Asahi-san called out to me as I was packing my textbooks into my bag.

“Sorry, I’ve got something to take care of during lunch…”

“Something?”

Taisho tilted his head, and I explained.

“I’m supposed to check in with my parents during lunch… So, I’ll just eat a bento.”

“Oh, got it. …Your parents sound kinda overprotective, huh?”

“Yeah, you could say that.”

This was another part of the backstory Shizune-san had prepared. When I first heard it, I wondered if such an excuse would hold up, but judging by their reactions, it seems my worries were unfounded.

“Now that you mention it, Konohana-san’s kinda like that too, right? She always disappears somewhere during lunch.”

“Yeah… Rumor has it she’s helping with family business during breaks. I heard she even joins conference calls.”

As I listened to their conversation, I stole a glance at Hinako, seated near the front.

“Konohana-san, would you like to join us at the cafeteria?”

“I’m sorry, I have family matters to attend to during lunch…”

Politely declining a classmate’s invitation, Hinako pulled a bento from her bag and left the classroom.

Seeing that, I pushed back my chair and stood up.

“Catch you later, then.”

“Yup.”

“If you ever wanna hit the cafeteria, just let us know!”

Parting ways with the two, I stepped out of the classroom and immediately scanned for Hinako.

She was walking down the hallway alone. Keeping a safe distance, I followed her.

Near the classroom, she was stopped several times by people greeting her, but by the time she crossed the connecting corridor, the attention had died down.

She cut through the garden toward the old student council building. The structure was no longer in use due to its age, but it was regularly cleaned for appearances’ sake.

Climbing the stairs, she headed for the rooftop.

After confirming no one else was around, I opened the door.

“Good work~”

Hinako, sprawled on the floor with a completely relaxed expression, greeted me.

“…Good work, I guess.”

“Tone.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

I gave a half-hearted nod and plopped down beside her.

“So, you always eat lunch up here?”

“Yup. No one else comes around.”

As her caretaker, I have to stick by Hinako’s side at all times.

Looks like I’ll be spending every lunch break on this rooftop from now on.

“How’s the academy been…?”

“It’s a prestigious school, alright. I crammed like crazy yesterday, but keeping up with the lessons is still a struggle.”

“Keep at it. …If your grades tank, you might get fired as my caretaker.”

“…That’d be a problem.”

If I hadn’t met Hinako, I’d probably be homeless right now, unable to even attend school. Thinking about it, I’m in an incredibly privileged position. I’ve got to work hard to stay here.

“Wanna eat our bentos?”

“…Sure.”

Together with Hinako, I lifted the lid of my bento. The meal, prepared by the Konohana household staff, was a lavish spread made with rare, high-quality ingredients.

“Wow… I’ve never seen a bento this fancy.”

“Mhm. But the cafeteria food’s even fancier.”

“Really? …You don’t eat there?”

“Too much hassle dealing with everyone’s stares.”

Guess that’s the price of fame.

“Plus… with a bento, it’s only stuff I like.”

“You’ve got foods you don’t like? Like what?”

“Carrots, bell peppers, green peas, shiitake mushrooms, pickled plums, tomatoes, pumpkin…”

“That’s a lot. You just hate vegetables, don’t you?”

“You caught me.”

Hinako flashed a goofy grin.

Seriously, she’s like a completely different person compared to how she is in the classroom. If Taisho or Asahi-san saw her like this, they’d probably have a heart attack.

Hinako reached for her bento with her chopsticks and started eating.

But the food she picked up kept crumbling and spilling.

“…You’re dropping stuff.”

“Hm?”

“No, not ‘hm’…”

Alright… I’m starting to get why I’m needed as her caretaker.

It’s less “attending” and more “caretaking.” For some reason, Hinako can play the perfect Ojou-sama in public, but in private, she’s hopelessly incompetent. Come to think of it, when she was kidnapped, she was spilling her bottled drink everywhere too.

“Feed me~”

Hinako held out her bento box, opening her mouth wide.

It’d be a shame to let this fancy bento go to waste with all her spilling. And since no one’s around… fine, whatever.

“…Here.”

I casually picked up a piece of food and brought it to her mouth.

“Mmm… acceptable.”

Hinako nodded, looking pleased.

“You should eat too, Izuki.”

“Right.”

Prompted by Hinako, I reached for my own bento.

I started with a classic bento staple: rolled omelette.

“Holy—! What is this!? So good!!”

Once I started, my chopsticks didn’t stop.

The meat, the fish, the salad—everything was unbelievably delicious.

“What’s your favorite?”

“Favorite, huh? …Everything’s amazing, but if I had to pick, probably the rolled omelette I tried first.”

“Then here.”

“Huh?”

“A trade. Ahh~”

Hinako picked up a piece of rolled omelette with her chopsticks and held it to my mouth.

Getting fed like this felt a bit embarrassing, and I hesitated, but Hinako showed no sign of being shy about it.

Reluctantly, I opened my mouth and ate the omelette.

“…Good?”

“…Yeah, it’s good, but was it okay to take it?”

“I’m your master, so I’ve gotta keep you fed.”

“Fed, huh…”

“Can’t have you getting fed up with me.”

Her tone sounded just a touch more serious than usual.

Maybe it was my imagination, but I couldn’t let it slide. A question slipped out.

“…You had a different caretaker before me, right? Why’d they quit?”

“Dunno.”

Hinako tilted her head. Kagen-san had said the last one quit due to stress, but I still don’t know what caused that stress.

“How long did your last caretaker last?”

“…Maybe two weeks?”

“What?”

That’s way shorter than I expected.

“The one before that was three weeks, I think. …The longest was a month.”

“…Any idea why they quit so fast?”

“Dunno.”

“Dunno?”

She tilted her head again, same as before.

She didn’t seem to be playing dumb, but she also didn’t seem to care.

Maybe Hinako just isn’t that invested in her past caretakers.

“…This job’s got such great perks, though. I doubt there’s anything else like it.”

“…Great perks?”

“Yeah. I mean, live-in, three meals a day, and a 20,000-yen daily wage? Sure, there’s pressure, but it’s a sweet deal. The academy’s classes are insanely tough, but if you think of it as building knowledge, it’s not bad.”

There are tons of people out there who’d kill to study but can’t. I was almost one of them.

“What about me?”

“…Huh?”

“Great perks… what about me?”

I didn’t quite get what she meant.

“…What’re you talking about?”

“Mmph.”

Puffing out her cheeks, Hinako looked miffed.

“No interest in marrying up?”

“Uh… that’s, like…”

Marrying up? As in, into wealth?

It’s not about interest—it’s just so far out of my league. The real me has no business sitting side by side with the Konohana heiress like this.

“Don’t quit on me, Izuki.”

“…No plans to, for now.”

At my reply, Hinako gave a soft smile, then flopped onto her side.

“Nap time.”

“…Need a pillow?”

“Yup.”

We’d had a similar exchange during her kidnapping, so I caught on quick this time.

I made space on my lap, and Hinako promptly rested her head there.

“Hehe… top-tier comfort…”

“…Glad you think so.”

With her head on my lap, Hinako started snoring softly almost immediately.

Looking at her like this, there’s no denying how stunning she is. There’s still a hint of youthful innocence, but she’s leagues beyond any model.

Any normal teenage guy would probably lose it in a situation like this.

But for some reason, I’m not freaking out. If anything, I feel oddly calm.

“It’s just… the vibe, I guess.”

It doesn’t feel like we’re a guy and a girl. Sure, I sometimes catch myself noticing her as a girl, but I’m pretty sure Hinako doesn’t see me that way. That’s probably why I can keep my cool.

I was given this flimsy title of “caretaker,” but our relationship feels like something weirder, something harder to pin down.

Still… it’s not a bad feeling.

“…Hm?”

My smartphone buzzed in my pocket, signaling a call.

At Kiou Academy, phones and PCs are allowed during breaks. Some of the ultra-rich students here are already involved in their family businesses, so it’s a practical measure. I definitely overheard someone talking about “day trading” earlier.

“Shizune-san…?”

Muttering the name on the screen, I answered the call.

“You’re slow to pick up. Next time, answer within five rings.”

“…That’s oddly generous.”

“I understand you may be busy at the academy, Izuki-sama. I’ll make some allowances.”

Shizune-san isn’t just strict for the sake of it—she’s all about results.

 

I’ve worked under all kinds of bosses in my part-time jobs, but Shizune-san stands out as one of the best. Her strictness is on another level, though.

“It’s lunch break at the academy now, correct? Until you’re fully settled into your role as caretaker, I’ll be checking in during lunch like this.”

“…Thank you.”

“Is the Ojou-sama nearby?”

“Yes. She’s, uh, napping right now.”

No need to mention the lap pillow situation.

“Any issues so far?”

“Nothing major. …If I had to say, the classes were tough.”

“Then we’ll increase your prep work for today.”

“Ugh, I walked right into that one.”

“Honesty pays off.”

Though it can also make you look like an idiot.

“By the way, Hinako mentioned earlier… her past caretakers all quit within a month?”

“…That’s correct.”

Shizune-san’s reply sounded hesitant.

“Why is that?”

“All of the previous caretakers were subordinates of the Ojou-sama’s father, Kagen-sama. As such, they were effectively her subordinates as well. This caused them to approach their duties with the mindset of a servant, which… often displeased the Ojou-sama.”

“…So, Hinako doesn’t like servants?”

“It’s not servants per se, but rather the stiff, formal atmosphere they bring.”

Yeah, I kinda figured as much.

“Hiring an outsider with no ties to the Konohana family as a caretaker is a first for us. We were struggling to find a new caretaker when the Ojou-sama recommended you. We decided to hire you as something of an experiment.”

“So that’s how it happened…”

The whole process—from being appointed as caretaker to transferring to the academy—had moved so fast it made me uneasy. But it seems this was an experiment for the Konohana family too. Their approach of trying everything and deciding quickly probably sped things up.

“How’s your relationship with the Ojou-sama at the academy?”

“For now, I’ve just said our parents know each other.”

“That’s a good balance. Maintain that distance. …Have you made any close connections?”

“It’s only my first day, so not many, but… I got along pretty well with Asahi Karen-san and Taisho Katsuya.”

“Hm. Asahi-sama and Taisho-sama, then.”

I heard Shizune-san’s brief acknowledgment.

“Asahi-sama’s family runs a retail business… an electronics chain called J’s Electronics.”

“…Never heard of it.”

Asahi-san and Taisho had described themselves as “ordinary” students. That must mean it’s not some massive corporation like my family’s business.

“Is that so? I thought J’s Electronics was a pretty well-known store.”

“…Huh? J’s Electronics?”

“Yes.”

J’s Electronics—I’ve definitely heard of it. I’ve even shopped there before. Their TV commercials air all the time, and I bet most of my old high school classmates would know the chain.

“Th-that’s, like, super famous…!”

“Indeed. As an electronics retailer, it’s among the top five in sales domestically.”

Hold up… what’s this about being down-to-earth? This girl’s a total high-society princess!

“By the way, Taisho-sama’s family runs Taisho Movers, a major transportation company known for its moving services.”

“That’s pretty famous too…”

“Quite so.”

I felt betrayed. Both are household names.

“Your classmates’ family businesses are often the talk of the town, so it’s worth keeping tabs on them. Please report back as your network grows. Also, Izuki-sama’s family officially runs an IT company, so starting today, you’ll study IT-related subjects. Let’s aim to master basic programming.”

“…Please go easy on me.”

“Continue staying by Ojou-sama’s side. If anything comes up, report to me immediately.”

I ended the call with Shizune-san. Letting out a deep sigh, I noticed Hinako staring straight at me.

“Izuki… something wrong?”

“Nah, it’s just… I’m starting to lose confidence.”

Can I really handle a place like this? It’s nothing but untouchable elites left and right. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d mess up someday and cause trouble for the Konohana family.

“Hey, um…”

“Whaaat…?”

“Why’d you pick me to be your caretaker?”

“Hmm…”

After a moment’s thought, Hinako answered.

“I thought… Izuki wouldn’t suck up to me.”

“…Suck up?”

“Yup.”

She nodded curtly.

“I like that you take care of me… even though you act like it’s a hassle.”

Her words felt a bit disconnected, like they didn’t quite line up. Maybe she’s half-asleep or something.

“I wanna skip afternoon classes…”

“…No way.”

“Whaaat…?”

Lunch break ended, and fifth period began.

“Now, for this problem… Taisho-kun, could you solve it?”

“Uh? …S-sorry, I don’t know.”

Taisho, called out by the teacher, mumbled apologetically.

“Then, Konohana-san, would you take it instead?”

“Yes.”

Hinako stood at the blackboard, chalk in hand, and wrote the answer.

“That’s all.”

“Impeccable as always. Thank you.”

As Hinako returned to her seat, her classmates’ admiring gazes followed. Hard to believe this was the same girl who’d been sprawled across her desk, napping sloppily just moments ago, whining about skipping class and throwing a fit.

The chime rang, signaling a break. Rolling my shoulders to loosen up, I saw Taisho and Asahi-san approaching.

“Phew, I’m beat. Fifth period always makes me sleepy—hate it.”

“Oh, you’re the Taisho-kun who couldn’t answer earlier.”

“Ugh… gimme a break. I just misjudged the prep material, okay?”

Looks like keeping up with Kiou Academy’s classes requires serious prep work. Impressed by Taisho’s casual attitude, I glanced subtly at Hinako’s seat.

—Wait, Hinako’s gone?

Realizing she wasn’t in the classroom, I shot to my feet.

“Gonna hit the restroom real quick.”

Excusing myself to the two, I went to find her. It hadn’t even been five minutes since class ended—she couldn’t have gone far.

I hurried out of the classroom and scanned the hallway, spotting her almost immediately.

“…Oh, she’s just heading to the restroom.”

Hinako was chatting and laughing with a group of girls as she entered the restroom. A few minutes later, she returned to the classroom and took her seat.

Just as I was about to head back, my phone buzzed with a call.

“Is now a good time?”

“Yeah.”

As expected, it was Shizune-san.

“It’s likely that Ojou-sama dropped her wallet.”

“Her wallet?”

“Yes. There’s a discrepancy between the tracker on Ojou-sama and the one in her wallet.”

“…She’s got trackers on her?”

How little do they trust this girl?

“I’ll look for it right away. Any idea where it might be based on the tracker?”

“It’s definitely in the west wing of the main building, but beyond that, it’s hard to say.”

The west wing, huh? Given the timing of the call and the location, it clicked.

“Probably… the restroom.”

“…Ah, I see.”

She must’ve dropped it when she went to the restroom earlier.

“Ojou-sama is flawless in public, but the restroom is one place she’s alone. She often misplaces things there.”

“Really…?”

“Please retrieve it.”

The call with Shizune-san ended.

“…Retrieve it, she says.”

I made my way to the girls’ restroom and stopped, scratching my head. As a guy, I can’t just waltz in. What now?

“You there?”

While I was puzzling over it, someone called out to me. Turning, I saw a girl who stood out like nobody’s business.

Long, golden hair spiraled into perfect vertical curls—blonde drill curls, straight out of a manga. Even in her uniform, her figure was striking, her skin fair, and her brown eyes gleamed with a fierce intensity that hinted at a strong personality.

“Is something the matter?”

“Uh, well…”

“Oh, my, I haven’t introduced myself, have I?”

Ignoring my confusion, she spoke in a distinctive, almost theatrical tone.

“I am Tennouji Mirei! The sole daughter of the Tennouji Group’s supreme leader!”

She declared her name with unabashed pride.

“Uh, hi.”

“Hi…? What’s with that half-hearted response? Surely you’ve heard of the Tennouji Group?”

“…Sorry.”

At my apology, Tennouji-san’s eyes widened.

“N-no way, you don’t know? The Tennouji Group, I say!”

“Sorry for my ignorance.”

“Ignorance doesn’t begin to cover it!!”

Her shrill shout pierced my eardrums.

“The Tennouji Group started in mining and is now a colossal conglomerate! It owns Japan’s largest non-ferrous metal manufacturer and a major chemical company, rivaling even the Konohana Group in scale!”

“…Is that so?”

Overwhelmed by her passionate speech, I could only nod.

“That reaction… you do know the Konohana Group, don’t you?”

“Well, yeah.”

“As I thought, I can’t stand her, that Konohana Hinako…! Her presence overshadows my fame…!”

Tennouji-san’s face flushed red, trembling with what seemed like personal resentment.

“…So, aren’t you in some kind of trouble?”

Calming down, she prompted me to recall my original issue.

“Right, I think someone forgot their wallet in the girls’ restroom, and I’m trying to figure out how to get it.”

“If that’s all, I’ll fetch it for you. Wait here.”

With that, Tennouji-san strode into the restroom. A minute later, she returned holding a pink wallet.

“This is it, yes?”

“Yeah. Thanks so much.”

“Now that I think about it, how did you, a boy, know there was a wallet in the girls’ restroom?”

“Oh, uh…”

My mind raced as I answered.

“The owner asked me to look for it… and I figured the restroom was the most likely spot.”

I’d basically told the truth. Tennouji-san seemed to have a grudge against Hinako, but she hadn’t connected the wallet to her. Hopefully, my answer would satisfy her…

“You’re being used as an errand boy, aren’t you?”

Tennouji-san said, sounding displeased.

“That won’t do. If you’re attending this academy, you’re destined to lead others someday. Getting bossed around like this bodes ill for your future.”

“Uh, I’ll be more careful.”

“That lacks conviction. Speak with confidence!”

“I’ll be careful!”

“…There, you can do it.”

Tennouji-san nodded, satisfied.

“Also, stand up straighter. Confidence comes from posture, you know.”

I straightened my back as instructed.

“Much better.”

Tennouji-san gave a small, amused smile.

“Classes are about to start. If you ever need help, look for this golden hair.”

She pointed to her curls with a flourish. It was indeed a distinctive trademark, though it raised a question.

“Just out of curiosity… is dyeing your hair okay at this academy?”

“What!?”

Tennouji-san, who’d been poised to glide away gracefully, froze with a squeak.

“Y-you think my hair is… dyed?”

“It’s not?”

“Are you saying my hair is some… fake, gilded imitation!?”

“I didn’t go that far.”

It was just an innocent question. I wasn’t accusing her or anything.

“I… I didn’t dye it…”

Tennouji-san muttered under her breath.

“I DIDN’T DYE IT!!”

With that, she sprinted down the hallway, shouting.

“…She totally dyed it.”

The final class of the day ended, and the academy shifted into after-school mode.

“Yo, Tomonari. Good work today.”

“Wanna hit up a welcome party or something?”

Taisho and Asahi-san called out to me, but I gave them a wry smile and apologized.

“Sorry, I’ve gotta head home ASAP.”

“Fair enough, first day and all.”

Taisho said, sounding disappointed. I felt a pang of guilt. They’d been nothing but kind since morning, yet I’d turned down their invites at lunch and now after school. Prioritizing my caretaker duties was a given, but constantly brushing off their friendliness made me hesitate.

“If I get the chance, can I take you up on it later? I’d love to learn more about the academy.”

“Hell yeah! We’re always free, man!”

Taisho and Asahi-san grinned. Just then, Asahi-san pulled her phone from her skirt pocket and glanced at the screen.

“My ride’s here, so I’m heading out.”

“Guess I’ll bounce too. Catch ya tomorrow, Tomonari.”

We exchanged goodbyes, and they left. I grabbed my bag from the desk and prepared to head home… but as Hinako’s caretaker, I had to make sure she got home safely first.

“Now, where’s Hinako…”

Right on cue, she was getting up from her seat. Since we’re supposed to have some acquaintance, it’s fine to talk normally, but I’d prefer to keep a polite distance to avoid trouble.

Hinako left the classroom. Careful not to draw attention, I quietly followed. I thought she’d head straight out of the academy, but for some reason, she detoured to the school store.

“One of these buns, please.”

After buying a bun, Hinako headed to the shoe lockers. She swapped to her outdoor shoes and, instead of the school gate, made her way to a garden.

Kiou Academy’s campus has several gardens. The one Hinako chose was near the old student council building, with a small pond and a few tables and chairs. It was deserted—far from the main building and close to the dilapidated, unused old student council building, so people rarely came by.

Standing by the pond’s edge, Hinako tore off a piece of the bun and tossed it in. The koi in the pond swarmed the bread.

Maybe, as a proper Ojou-sama, Hinako had an appreciation for art or a kind heart for animals. But she showed no sign of moving. Shizune-san had told me to avoid lingering after school, so after confirming no one else was around, I approached her.

“What’re you doing?”

“…Feeding them.”

That much was obvious. Stripped of her perfect Ojou-sama facade, the real Hinako crouched down, gazing at the koi gobbling up the bread.

“It’s nice, isn’t it…?”

She mumbled, looking dazed.

“They just open their mouths, and food comes… Wanna trade places with me…?”

“…I bet koi have their own struggles we humans don’t get.”

“You think…?”

She wasn’t exactly showering the animals with love—she was jealous of them. Feeling a mix of emotions, I sighed.

“C’mon, let’s head home. Shizune-san’s probably waiting.”

“…No.”

Hinako replied, sounding grumpy. Caught off guard by her refusal, I blinked.

“No? You’ll get to relax once you’re back at the mansion, right?”

“I can’t… There’s lessons and stuff.”

So that’s the deal. Being the Konohana heiress isn’t all fun and games.

“Still, staying at the academy won’t make things any less restrictive for you.”

“It’s after school, so there’s fewer people. It’s not restrictive.”

She had a point. Kiou Academy doesn’t have after-school clubs. Most students are too busy with studies or work, and their wealthy families can afford private pools or fields for any activities.

“Even so, you can’t stay here forever. Let’s go.”

“Nuh-uh…”

“Throwing a tantrum like this’ll just make things more complicated, you know.”

“Ugh.”

Hinako’s face twisted in displeasure, but she still shook her head.

“Even so… no.”

Escaping reality, she silently resumed feeding the koi. Stubborn little heiress. What now?

“…Oh, right. Shizune-san gave me this.”

I remembered the black bag Shizune-san had handed me this morning and pulled it from my bag. She’d said to use it if Hinako got difficult, but what was inside? Opening it, I found—

“Chips!!”

Hinako, who’d been listless, suddenly lit up. As she said, the bag held a pack of consomme-flavored potato chips.

“Th-that’s unfair… I can’t resist that temptation…”

Her voice trembled. I’d never seen someone’s resolve crumble over potato chips.

“Fine, I’ll give you these if you head home.”

“…Grr.”

Letting out a frustrated groan, Hinako reluctantly stood and took the chips from me.

From here, we followed the plan: Hinako and I parted ways. She walked through the school gate, and a sleek black car pulled up. Shizune-san stepped out to greet her. I watched from a distance, pretending to be a stranger, then walked alone through the city.

I reached our rendezvous point, a secluded spot, and waited. Soon, the car with Hinako and Shizune-san pulled up.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No worries. Good work today.”

I greeted Shizune-san in the passenger seat and slid into the back. Hinako was already there. To anyone watching, it’d look like Hinako and I left separately.

“Good job handling your duties at the academy.”

“Thank you.”

Surprised by the rare praise from the usually stern Shizune-san, I nodded. Next to me, Hinako was munching on the chips I’d given her with intense focus.

“Looks like what I gave you this morning came in handy.”

“Yeah, it saved the day at the last second. Who knew chips would work that well?”

“They’re Ojou-sama’s favorite. She rarely gets to have them, so they’re highly effective.”

“…They’re just chips, and she can’t eat them often?”

“Of course. Such unhealthy food is unbecoming of a Konohana heiress.”

Even in a wealthy family, freedom has its limits. If anything, they face more restrictions than common folk. Still—

“…I think chips are fine.”

“Absolutely not. This is also per Kagen-sama’s orders. …Though, she’s allowed to eat sliced potatoes prepared by the family chef, but Ojou-sama prefers store-bought ones.”

Probably loves that junk-food taste. Glancing over, I noticed chip crumbs scattered on Hinako’s lap.

“You’re getting crumbs everywhere.”

I pointed it out, and for some reason, Hinako looked smug.

“…It’s like slurping soba noodles.”

“Huh?”

“Spilling crumbs… that’s chip-eating etiquette.”

“No way that’s a thing.”

What’s with that proud look?

“…I’ll clean it up. Lift your hands.”

“Okay.”

Hinako slowly raised both hands. I scooped up the crumbs from her lap, and Shizune-san deftly handed me a plastic bag to toss them into.

“Izuki, here.”

Hinako called my name, holding out the chip bag.

“…You’re sharing?”

“Nope. Koi imitation. …Feed me.”

Like a koi waiting for bread, Hinako opened her mouth wide. She wanted me to hand-feed her, apparently.

“Alright, alright.”

“Yummm…”

I picked up a chip and popped it into her mouth. Hinako’s face lit up with bliss. She might not become a koi, but she was definitely channeling one.

“Just to be clear, make sure Kagen-sama doesn’t see her like this.”

“…Got it.”

This scene could spark all sorts of misunderstandings. Best to keep it under wraps.

“You’ll keep this on the down-low, right, Shizune-san?”

“I’d love to report it immediately, but unfortunately, we can’t replace you as caretaker on short notice. …I suggested we neuter you before you get any improper ideas, but…”

“Please, have mercy!”

I bowed deeply to Shizune-san.

Back at the mansion, I dove straight into Shizune-san’s lessons.

“Let’s start with tomorrow’s prep. You have a business management class, so we’ll focus on that. The topic is corporate finance.”

Many Kiou Academy students are destined for executive roles, so business management classes are intensely practical, drilling in the skills needed to run a company.

“I graded your quiz. Eighty-seven points… too many careless mistakes. You’re lacking focus.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The relentless prep dragged on for three hours until I finally cleared it.

“Next, etiquette training. Besides Ojou-sama, the academy is full of heirs to vast fortunes. Rudeness could breed unnecessary resentment, so let’s master this now. Today, we’ll cover French dining etiquette.”

Even dinner was a one-on-one lesson with Shizune-san. I held the fork and knife, each with an index finger along the handle. I ate the fish appetizer without breaking it apart, sipped the soup silently, and cut the meat along the grain into bite-sized pieces.

“No, that’s wrong. Placing the knife and fork at six o’clock after eating is British style. In French etiquette, they go at three o’clock.”

“Y-yes.”

I shifted the knife and fork sideways, handles to the right of the plate, with the knife’s blade facing inward.

“After that palate cleanser, it’s time for self-defense training. Luckily, your physical labor jobs have built a solid foundation, so we’ll focus on technique over raw stamina. Today, it’s jujitsu. Start with one hundred forward rolls.”

Dressed in a judo gi, I trained in the mansion’s dojo, just like last time. After practicing breakfalls, I learned basic throws, then moved to sparring.

“Hah—!”

“Too obvious.”

I pulled Shizune-san forward while sweeping her leg, attempting a kouchi-gari. But she read my move, sidestepped, and effortlessly threw me onto the mat as I stumbled.

“Your weight shift was telegraphed. That might work on amateurs, but it’s useless against anyone with martial arts training.”

“Y-yes…”

Exhausted, I replied in a pitiful voice. The whole point of learning self-defense was to prepare for scenarios like the kidnapping attempt that led to my meeting Hinako. Profit-driven kidnappers are often seasoned fighters, so amateur-level skills wouldn’t cut it.

“C-can I take a quick break…?”

“No. As Ojou-sama’s caretaker, you must protect her in a crisis. Giving up this easily won’t do.”

She’s a demon… a sadistic, spartan devil. Words swirled in my head, but so did respect. Shizune-san excels in academics, etiquette, and self-defense, all while flawlessly handling maid duties like cooking and laundry. If Hinako’s the perfect heiress, Shizune-san’s the perfect maid.

“Shall we call it a day here? Good work.”

“Th-thank you very much…”

In the end, the self-defense lesson didn’t wrap up until two hours after I nearly threw in the towel.

“You’re picking things up faster than I expected.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You might even have a knack for self-defense. With some polishing, it could become something impressive. …On the flip side, your manners still need quite a bit of work.”

“Ugh… sorry.”

My family’s lifestyle was far from affluent, to put it mildly. I’m still not used to handling a knife and fork properly.

“It’d be troublesome if you wandered around the mansion all sweaty, so please take a bath soon. However, while you’re soaking in the tub, take a look at these.”

Shizune hands me a stack of papers.

“What are these…?”

“Profiles of your classmates. It won’t hurt to familiarize yourself with them.”

Studying even while I’m in the bath, huh? …This is a 20,000-yen-a-day job. I’ve got no choice but to accept it.

“Oh, by the way, I met someone else this afternoon.”

“Who might that be?”

“Tennouji Mirei. She’s in a different class, but…”

At that, Shizune’s eyes widen.

“Tennouji-sama spoke to you?”

“Yeah. …Is that a problem?”

“No, it’s not a problem. It’s just that, based on rumors within the academy, Tennouji-sama and the Ojou-sama are said to be like oil and water. It’s a delicate relationship, to say the least.”

That’s news to me.

“Tennouji-sama aside, the Ojou-sama harbors no such feelings. However, the Konohana Group and the Tennouji Group are corporate conglomerates of nearly equal scale. As a result, they often compete, and depending on the circumstances, their relationship can become tense at times.”

“…I see.”

“I’ll prepare Tennouji-sama’s profile by tomorrow. For today, focus on memorizing your classmates’ profiles.”

Got it, I reply. Today’s lessons are done, but Shizune told me to study on my own too. I’ll try to memorize the profiles before bedtime.

Shizune stays behind to tidy up the dojo, so I leave first. I’d love to help, but I’m completely drained. Offering to pitch in now would only make me a burden.

“Izuki…”

On my way back to my room, I run into Hinako. What’s up? Before I can ask, Hinako sidles up close to me.

“…Mmph.”

“What’s wrong?”

“…You smell like sweat.”

“Well, yeah, obviously.”

I gently push Hinako away as she scrunches up her face.

“Where’re you going?”

“Back to my room to take a bath.”

“A bath? …Then come with me.”

Hinako grabs my hand and starts pulling me somewhere.

“This is…”

“My room.”

We arrive at Hinako’s private quarters. It’s at least five times the size of my room. A large brown carpet and a canopy bed dominate the space, screaming “rich girl’s bedroom” with every detail.

“The bath… is over here.”

Hinako opens a door leading from the changing area.

“Whoa… it’s huge.”

The bathroom is just as extravagant, incomparably larger than the one in my room. It’s practically the size of my entire room—a small public bathhouse.

But why did Hinako bring me here?

“Let’s take a bath together.”

“…Why?”

Why?

“Phew…”

Hinako lets out a relaxed sigh as she soaks in the tub. She’s wearing a white bikini-style swimsuit.

“…A swimsuit, huh.”

“Did you say something…?”

“Nope, nothing.”

I was shocked when she suggested bathing together, but apparently, she meant with swimsuits on. It seems she’d planned to invite me from the start, since there was a swimsuit prepared for me in the changing area.

“Well… with a bath this big, I can see why you’d want company.”

Soaking alone in this massive tub would probably feel kind of lonely.

“Mmm… paradise, paradise.”

Hinako stretches lightly. The motion looks oddly alluring. Her flushed face is faintly pink, and water drips from her silky amber hair.

“…Izuki, what’s wrong?”

Maybe she noticed me staring, because Hinako bends down to peer at my face as I sit in the tub. Her modest cleavage fills my entire field of vision.

“N-nothing… it’s nothing.”

I tear my eyes away from her pale skin and answer. Calm down. Calm down, calm down, calm down.

I’m trying my best not to think about it, but Hinako’s undeniably a gorgeous girl. Let my guard down for even a second, and my healthy teenage urges will overpower my duty as her caretaker.

To change the mood, I grab the stack of papers I’d placed nearby. I silently flip through the documents, sealed in transparent plastic to protect them from the water.

“What’re those…?”

“Classmate profiles. Shizune told me to memorize them.”

The papers detail the profiles of everyone in Class 2-A. I already know about Katsuya and Karen, but the others are, as expected, heirs to major corporations or relatives of prominent politicians.

“Speaking of which, do you have any close friends among your classmates, Hinako?”

“Nope.”

Hinako answers in her usual flat tone.

“None? I saw you surrounded by people in the classroom.”

“Mmm… they’re not friends.”

More than acquaintances, but less than friends, I guess. I’ve only experienced one day of academy life, but I think I’m starting to understand Hinako’s situation. For better or worse, she stands out at Kiou Academy. People talk to her in class, but from an outsider’s perspective, they seem more like hangers-on than actual friends.

“Don’t you ever want friends, Hinako?”

“Mmm…”

For once, Hinako pauses a bit longer than usual, actually thinking it over.

“…As long as I have Izuki, I’m fine.”

I’ll take those words as a sign of deep trust. Feeling a faint spark of joy, I notice Hinako suddenly stand up.

She walks over to sit right in front of me, her back turned.

“Wash my hair.”

“…Huh?”

I tilt my head at Hinako, who’s facing away, showing me the back of her head.

“Wash it yourself.”

“…Shizune usually does it for me.”

So she has no intention of doing it herself? I let out a small sigh. This is so like a pampered rich girl.

“Any itchy spots, Ojou-sama?”

“None…”

I lather up the shampoo and start washing Hinako’s hair. It’s my first time washing a girl’s hair. Is this how it’s supposed to go…?

Apparently, Hinako always gets her hair washed while soaking in the tub. Afterward, they drain all the water. I can’t help but think it’s a waste of water, but maybe that’s just my poor upbringing talking.

“…Mmph.”

As I’m washing her hair, Hinako lets out a small sound.

“It’s hot… this is annoying.”

With that, Hinako reaches behind her and undoes her bikini top.

“Wha—!?”

I freeze and immediately look away.

“Wh-hey! What are you doing?! Put it back on!”

“But it’s hot… and wearing a swimsuit in the bath is weird anyway…”

 

“The weird part is a guy and a girl bathing together in the first place!”

Not that this sheltered princess seems to get that.

“The swimsuit… Shizune kept insisting I wear it, so I only put it on because I had to…”

Hinako tugged at the bottom half of her swimsuit with an annoyed expression. Her careless gesture threw my thoughts into disarray again—and then…

“…Hold on.”

I’d just caught a word I absolutely couldn’t ignore.

“…Does Shizune know? That we’re bathing together?”

“Mhm.”

Hinako gave a small nod, and then it hit me. How had I not noticed sooner? The bathroom door was open about five millimeters. Through that tiny gap, a gaze filled with murderous intent was locked onto me.

“H-hah…!?”

My body trembled with fear. It was Shizune. How long had she been watching us?

As I broke out in a cold sweat under her intense aura, the door opened a bit more, revealing Shizune’s face. Silently, she motioned for me to keep washing Hinako’s hair.

“Mmm… that tickles.”

“S-sorry.”

Somehow suppressing my panic, I continued washing Hinako’s hair. I reached for the showerhead nearby and rinsed out the shampoo.

“There… all done.”

The second half felt like I was barely alive. I was in a bath, yet my entire body was drenched in cold sweat.

“Thanks… Let’s make this a routine.”

“Huh?”

“Every night… wash my hair.”

With that, Hinako stood and headed to the changing room.

Wait a second… did this mean I had to endure this terror every night?

As Hinako left, Shizune approached, taking her place. Her eyes were chillingly cold.

“Good work, Izuki-san.”

“G-good work… Um, how long were you watching?”

“From the beginning.”

“The beginning…”

So she’d seen me getting flustered by Hinako’s antics too.

“I’ve prepared a change of clothes in the changing room, so please use them when you’re done.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

“And one more thing—”

Shizune placed a small medicine bottle next to me.

“What’s this…?”

“It’s a drug that intentionally induces medication-related ED by exploiting the side effects of antidepressants and anticonvulsants. In simple terms… it’ll make you, well, unable to perform.”

“Eek!?”

If I took something like that, I’d be done for!

I watched Shizune’s retreating figure with a shudder as she left the bottle behind.

Day two of academy life.

We students were gathered in the massive gymnasium, changed into our gym clothes.

“Today, we’ll be playing badminton.”

The female teacher in charge of P.E. announced.

Even at Kiou Academy, which churned out future CEOs and politicians, we had physical education. It was similar to my old high school, with two classes combined and split by gender. Right now, students from Class 2-A and Class 2-B were gathered in the gym.

“Girls, use the east side courts. Boys, use the west side.”

“Alright, boys, let’s move it!”

The male teacher in charge of the boys’ P.E. led the students to the courts.

Compared to academic classes, this felt like a breeze. Whether it was an elite private school or an ordinary public high school, the content was probably about the same.

“Tomonari, you’ve got a pretty solid build.”

“Oh… I do some weight training now and then.”

I chatted lightly with Katsuya as we moved. Truth was, my physique came from manual labor jobs. I’d quit those gigs now, but Shizune’s self-defense training should keep me in shape. I wouldn’t have to worry about staying active.

“This gymnasium is massive, though.”

“Yeah, it’s about 3,000 square meters. Pretty huge for a gym.”

It was less a gymnasium and more a giant event hall.

“Once you’re done warming up, start practicing rallies.”

We jogged around the court’s perimeter, did some light stretching, and then badminton practice began.

Apparently, they’d already had a few badminton lessons. Practice quickly shifted to near-match conditions, and Katsuya and I, waiting our turn, moved to the court’s edge.

“…Phew.”

Thanks to Shizune, my body was still in good shape. P.E. class? I could handle this.

Thank goodness. Academy life was tough in a lot of ways, but at least I could approach P.E. without anxiety.

“Hey there, Tomonari-kun!”

A voice called out from behind. I turned to see Karen, who seemed to be waiting her turn and killing time.

“I was watching—you’re pretty good!”

“I’m not bad at sports. You seem like you’re pretty athletic yourself, Karen.”

“Oh, you caught me? Like you said, I’m kinda good at this stuff.”

Karen said with a proud grin, and Katsuya chimed in.

“Karen’s great at skating too.”

“I’ve got a knack for balance. What about you, Katsuya-kun? Golf, right?”

“Yup, golf’s my thing. Been dragged to the course by my old man since I was a kid.”

Katsuya laughed.

Listening to their conversation… I felt a chill run down my spine.

“Uh… does that mean this academy teaches skating and golf too?”

“Oh yeah. In second year, we do polo too.”

“P-polo…?”

“It’s a horseback sport. You ride a horse and hit a ball with a stick.”

Ride… a horse? I’d never even been near a horse.

I was so naive. I’d thought I could keep up in P.E., but I’d never played golf, skated, or done polo. Looks like I couldn’t escape Shizune’s lessons after all.

I let out a sigh and glanced at the court. There was still some time before our turn.

“…By the way, the gym uniforms at Kiou Academy are pretty stylish, huh?”

“Oh, these? I heard they were designed by one of our alumni.”

Karen said, tugging at her collar.

“Really?”

“Yup. That person’s now an apprentice to a world-famous fashion designer, so these uniforms might fetch a pretty penny soon enough.”

Wow, what a crazy world. I just wanted to escape reality. Kiou Academy was so far out of my league it wasn’t even funny.

“Oh, there’s Konohana-san.”

Karen’s gaze shifted to the center of the court.

There was Hinako, gripping a racket. She smashed a lobbed shuttlecock with pinpoint precision, landing it in the corner of the opponent’s court for a clean victory.

“Konohana-san’s not just a brainiac—she’s killer at sports too.”

“Totally. She’s, like, the ultimate dream girl for us.”

It wasn’t just Katsuya and Karen—other students were watching Hinako with awe in their eyes.

I’d heard she was the whole package, brains and brawn, and her skills definitely lived up to the hype.

“That said, when it comes to P.E., it’s not just Konohana-san who shines…”

Katsuya tore his eyes from Hinako, glancing at another female student.

“Yeah… Miyakojima-san’s pretty amazing too.”

Karen nodded, focusing on the same girl.

Their gazes landed on a female student with long black hair tied back, reaching down to her thighs. Compared to Hinako, she was slimmer and taller for a girl. Her features were just as striking, leaning more toward cool beauty than cute.

The girl moved with effortless footwork, slamming the shuttlecock into the opponent’s court.

“You probably don’t know her, Tomonari-kun. That’s Miyakojima Narika. She’s not as famous as Konohana-san, but she’s kind of a big deal around here.”

“…She’s famous?”

“As you can see, she’s a total all-rounder in sports. Her P.E. grades might even be higher than Konohana-san’s. Plus, y’know, she’s one of the academy’s top cool beauties.”

“Cool beauty, huh…”

She did have a refined, poised air about her.

“But her biggest trait… is probably that.”

Karen murmured under her breath.

As practice ended, the girl stepped off the court. Two female students who’d been watching approached her.

“U-um, Miyakojima-san! Great job out there!”

“You’re, like, super good!”

The two girls fumbled their words, trying to compliment her.

But the girl fixed them with a razor-sharp glare.

“—What?”

“Eek!? S-sorry!”

“N-nothing, never mind!”

Intimidated by her low, menacing tone, the two girls turned pale and bolted.

Karen sighed, watching the scene unfold.

“I hate to say it, but… Miyakojima-san can be kinda scary. She’s usually super quiet, and her face is always so stern.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard all sorts of rumors. Like she’s secretly in a biker gang or her family’s yakuza.”

Katsuya chimed in, sounding exasperated.

“I mean, they’re just rumors, so there’s no need to buy into them… but either way, she’s got this wall around her. I’ve mustered up the courage to talk to her a few times before, but she always brushed me off with ‘I’ve got stuff to do.’”

“…I see.”

Kiou Academy was a place for only the best and brightest. Bullying and discrimination were rare here. Even so, it seemed some students ended up isolated like this.

“Tomonari, it’s our turn soon.”

At Katsuya’s prompting, I headed toward the court. P.E. class wrapped up without a hitch.

After changing back into our uniforms in the locker room, I was on my way to the classroom.

I scanned for Hinako just to be safe, but she was moving with a group of girls. Her public persona as the perfect Ojou-sama was working in her favor. During short breaks between classes, she always had someone nearby, so I probably didn’t need to worry.

“…Oh.”

“What’s up, Tomonari?”

“Sorry, I forgot my shoes in the locker room. I’ll go grab them.”

I parted ways with Katsuya and headed back to the locker room. I’d gotten so caught up thinking about Hinako that I’d neglected my own stuff.

“There they are.”

I opened the locker room door and spotted my gym shoes on a table. The next class was starting soon. I hurried out of the locker room—

“—!?”

“…Whoa!?”

And nearly collided with a female student at the door. We locked eyes, both startled.

“You okay?”

“Yes. I’m sor…”

Apologizing, I looked at the girl’s face—and froze.

Miyakojima Narika. The girl we’d just been talking about during class was standing right there.

“W-well, I’ll be going…”

Trying to act natural, I turned to leave. I was about to head back to the classroom when she grabbed my sleeve, stopping me.

“Hey.”

Her voice rang out.

“You… you’re not… Izuki, are you?”

A chill ran down my spine. Hesitantly, I opened my mouth.

“WRONG PERSON.”

“No… no, no, no! It’s Izuki! You’re Izuki! No doubt about it!”

Her face lit up, her voice brimming with excitement. She stared at me, eyes sparkling.

“Uwa, uwaa… Izuki…!!”

Tears welling in her eyes, she spread her arms and stepped closer.

“I’ve missed you soooo much—!! Izuki—!!”

“Oof!?”

She threw herself at me with full force, wrapping me in a hug.

Let’s backtrack a bit and talk about the past.

A long time ago, I stayed with the Miyakojima family for a short while.

The Tomonari household was always teetering on the edge of financial ruin, but my parents only ever tried to divorce once. Apparently, deadbeats found comfort in each other’s company, and despite their messy lives, they got along well enough.

But when I was ten, a divorce drama blew up. Something set it off, and my parents started blaming each other for our poverty. This fight was unusually intense for the Tomonari family, and it escalated to the point where my mom decided to run away from home. And for some reason, she dragged me along with her.

But even though she’d left home, Mom had already been disowned by her own family, so she had nowhere to go. Instead of her parents’ place, she turned to a relative’s house.

That was—the Miyakojima family.

I found out later, but apparently, my mom’s mother was a daughter of the Miyakojima family. Like Mom, though, my grandmother led a reckless life, so she was never an heir and was eventually disowned.

Still, Mom clung to the absurd logic of “My mother was disowned, not me!!” and forcefully decided to mooch off the Miyakojima family. Shockingly, this plan worked.

And so, at ten years old, I was suddenly whisked away to a lavish, traditional Japanese mansion I’d never seen before, welcomed as a guest of the Miyakojima family.

Except, we were very much uninvited guests. The Miyakojima family clearly saw my mom as a nuisance, and I, her son, was no different. I still remembered the cold glares I got back then.

On the second day of our freeloading stint at the Miyakojima house, I met Miyakojima Narika.

“W-who are you!?”

The girl was swinging a bamboo sword in the dojo. I was curious about her and got too close, only to get yelled at.

“Uh, I’m Tomonari Izuki. I’ve been staying here since yesterday.”

I didn’t know the first thing about etiquette, but I tried my best to be polite.

But the girl narrowed her eyes.

“Listen up, Izuki! I hate weaklings!!”

“Okay.”

“I heard about you from the maids! You and your mom are freeloaders who don’t do any work, just eating for free, huh!”

“…Yeah.”

I wasn’t expecting to get called out like that by a girl my age. It stung, but it was true.

“So, I’m giving you a job! From now on, you’re gonna take care of me!!”

“…Huh?”

I tilted my head at the girl, who stood proudly with her chest puffed out.

I didn’t really get what “taking care of her” meant, but as a freeloader, I had no choice but to go along with any work I was given.

From then on, while I was staying at the Miyakojima house, I was almost always by her side. She called for me—more than ten times a day.

“Waaah!? Izuki! There’s a bug in my room!!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll take care of it.”

I chased the shiny black thing out of her room with ease.

“Waaaah!? Izuki! Papa got mad at me!!”

“There, there, that sounds rough.”

I patted the sobbing girl’s head to calm her down. Her father was glaring daggers at me, so honestly, I was the one who wanted to cry.

“Izuki… you’re stronger than me, huh.”

“Am I?”

“Yeah. I mean, unlike me, you don’t cry when you see bugs, and you’re fine even when adults yell at you.”

Some days were chaotic, but others were quieter, with her opening up about her insecurities.

Looking back, I think she probably just needed someone to talk to. As the only daughter of the Miyakojima family, she didn’t have anyone she could be vulnerable with.

She was strong, but that strength was physical, not emotional. For example, her kendo skills were apparently good enough at ten to rival adults.

But her heart… it was childish, even for her age.

“Hey, Izuki. As a daughter of the Miyakojima family… I want to be strong.”

She spoke to me with a heavy, somber expression.

“But I don’t have any courage.”

“Courage, huh?”

“Yeah. I’m already ten, but… I can’t even go outside by myself.”

Apparently, as the Miyakojima family’s daughter, she’d been raised in an overprotective bubble. Taught from a young age that “anywhere outside the house is dangerous,” she’d grown terrified of the outside world. But recently, while heading to school by car, she saw a classmate casually walking to school alone and felt jealous.

“Then how about we try going out together?”

“…Huh?”

“Just a little. I think it’ll be fine.”

Growing up in a normal household, the outside world was second nature to me. With that in mind, I took her hand—and we dashed out of the mansion.

“This is amazing!”

She was thrilled. It was her first time going outside without an adult, just with another kid.

“Amazing! Amazing, amazing, amazing! I’m—free!!”

On an ordinary street, she spread her arms and laughed like she was strolling through a field of flowers.

“Hey, Izuki! What’s that!?”

“A candy store. Wanna check it out?”

“Yeah!”

I had a bit of pocket change, so I treated her to some cheap sweets.

Honestly, being in the mansion surrounded by the maids’ cold stares made me uneasy, so I was happier and more relaxed outside too.

“Izuki, what’s this!?”

“It’s an Umaibo.”

“It’s umai!”

“Well, it is an Umaibo.”

She munched on the stick-shaped snack with wide-eyed curiosity.

Our little game of sneaking her outside continued for a few more days. Since she’d get in trouble if her father found out, we slipped out of the mansion without the maids noticing and spent just enough time outside to avoid suspicion.

But—eventually, our game got found out.

Her father chewed me out something fierce.

“What would you have done if something happened to Narika?! Even if you’re just a kid, I won’t forgive anyone who leads my daughter astray!! Get out!!”

I didn’t get it at the time, but apparently, I shouldn’t have so casually taken the Miyakojima family’s daughter outside. As punishment for putting her in danger, Mom and I were kicked out.

They were probably planning to throw us out soon anyway. The maids efficiently packed our things, and we were promptly booted from the mansion.

“Izuki!!”

As we left, Narika called my name, tears streaming down her face.

“I’ll definitely get stronger!!”

That was the last thing I heard her say.

That girl was the same Miyakojima Narika standing in front of me now.

In other words, Narika and I—were second cousins.

“Izuki! Izuki, Izuki, Izuki!! I’ve missed you so much!!”

“…There, there.”

I patted Narika’s head as she clung to me, subtly glancing around. Luckily, the hallway was empty. If anyone saw this, I’d be done for. Getting slapped with a scandal for “improper conduct” on my second day as a transfer student? No thanks.

“Narika, calm down for a sec. What if someone sees us like this?”

“Ugh, ugh… m-my legs gave out…”

“Huh?”

“I’m so happy, my legs gave out…!”

Tears streaming, Narika slumped to the floor.

She… hadn’t gotten any stronger at all, had she?

Since Narika’s legs gave out in this emergency situation, I quickly carried her to the infirmary.

“The nurse… isn’t here?”

Maybe they got called away somewhere.

I borrowed a bed and sat Narika down on it. There was nothing more I could do, so I started to head back to class…

“Ugh, wait… don’t leave me…!”

“…Alright, alright.”

Her teary-eyed pleading got to me, so I reluctantly skipped class to stay with her.

I rubbed my forehead. Thankfully, it was class time, so Hinako should be in the classroom. She was perfectly capable of playing the flawless Ojou-sama when she was there, so I didn’t need to worry about her for now.

“…Izuki. What happened to you after you got kicked out of my house?”

Narika, sitting on the bed, asked, and I answered.

“My parents patched things up, and it all worked out.”

“That’s good… but you could’ve at least kept in touch. I was so worried about what happened to you.”

“Sorry about that. But I didn’t even know how to contact your family.”

“…Fair point.”

Even if I could’ve reached out, talking to Narika would’ve been tough. Mom and I were persona non grata at the Miyakojima house, so they probably wouldn’t have let us through.

“This is kinda late, but I’m sorry for back then. I was reckless, taking you outside like that…”

“What are you apologizing for!?”

Narika said, sounding almost frantic.

“I’m grateful to you, Izuki! If I hadn’t gone outside with you back then… I’d probably still be a coward today.”

 

Being told that makes me feel a little rewarded.

“Not feeling cowardly now, are you?”

“Ugh… well, I mean… I’m still kind of in training, you could say…”

Narika faltered, her words trailing off awkwardly.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. If she’d become the strong woman she’d declared she would, she probably wouldn’t have collapsed and ended up carried to the infirmary like this.

“Well, Narika’s dad seemed like a pretty strict guy. I bet he doesn’t let you have much freedom, huh?”

“…No, I beat my father.”

“Beat him?”

“Yeah. Kendo, judo, aikido, karate—every martial art you can think of, I won against him. That was the condition to escape the Miyakojima family’s watchful eyes. …Thanks to that, I can pretty much live freely now.”

“I-I see.”

As always, she’s an incredibly strong girl, at least physically.

“But… even if I’m allowed to go out, it’s lonely if there’s no one by my side.”

Narika’s energy drained in an instant, and she mumbled, looking down.

“Come to think of it, Narika, it seems like you’re misunderstood a lot at this academy, huh?”

I recalled what Taishou and Asahi-san had said. They called her a delinquent or a yakuza, but there’s no way that’s true.

“Yeah… it’s all a misunderstanding.”

“…How did it end up like that?”

When I asked, Narika let out a deep sigh.

“…The Miyakojima family motto is, ‘A sound mind resides in a sound body.’ Because of that, I’ve been drilled in every martial art imaginable since I was a kid.”

“…When we first met, you were practicing kendo, weren’t you?”

“Yeah. The Miyakojima family is, in a way, a clan of fighters.”

A clan of fighters… that’s quite the distinctive lineage. But having stayed at their house, I know it’s no exaggeration. The Miyakojima estate not only has a private dojo inside but also runs another dojo next door. During my time there, I often heard the shouts of the disciples, so I remember it well.

“Maybe because of our family background, people often think we’re dangerous. Plus, and I’m only telling you this because it’s you, Izuki… I’m terrible at making friends. When I’m in front of people, I get so nervous that my face stiffens up. That makes people think I’m scary.”

Narika’s face leans toward beautiful, with sharp, striking eyes as her defining feature. When she gets nervous and her expression hardens, it can feel like she’s glaring at you.

“Well… you’ve always been like that, haven’t you? You act all bold, but when we actually hung out, you’d cry easily and get timid about everything…”

“Y-You thought of me like that…? That kinda stings, you know.”

“But it’s true, isn’t it?”

“Ugh… you’re right.”

Narika sighed again.

“At first, I wanted to make friends and enjoy student life. But I get too nervous to talk properly, and just trying to make eye contact gets me mistaken for glaring… B-Before I knew it, people were calling me a delinquent or a yakuza, saying all sorts of awful things… Uuuugh…!!”

That’s harsh. It’s like bad luck just keeps piling on.

“What am I supposed to do…?! Come on, Izuki, please, help me…!!”

Tears welled up in Narika’s eyes as she pleaded.

Hearing her story, she sounds like such a pitiable girl. If I could help her, I’d want to… but just then, I noticed my pocket vibrating.

“S-Sorry, I need to step out for a sec.”

I left the infirmary and pulled out my phone. As expected, it was Shizune-san.

“Izuki-sama, where are you right now?”

“…Sorry, a student collapsed, so I brought them to the infirmary.”

“I see. Your location data was off from Ojou-sama’s during class, so I was wondering what happened, but if that’s the case, I’ll let it slide.”

“Thank you.”

“Please return to class soon. Helping others is admirable, but don’t forget your duties as a caretaker.”

I’d been bracing for a scolding, so the exchange felt oddly anticlimactic.

Wait… she knows exactly where I am?

For now, I should hurry back to class as she said. But before that, I’ll check on Narika one more time.

When I opened the infirmary door, Narika turned to look at me.

“Hey, Izuki.”

“What’s up?”

“Come to think of it, why are you at this academy?”

…Now, how do I dodge this one?

My official story is that I’m the “heir to a mid-tier company,” and my connection to Hinako is just “a slight acquaintance through our parents.” But that lie won’t work on Narika. She knows my real background.

As a caretaker, I have to protect Hinako’s public image as the “perfect Ojou-sama” at all costs. …I need to answer carefully.

“…I told you before about my mom being a gambling addict, right?”

“Yeah. I heard it was pretty bad.”

Narika nodded sympathetically.

“She hit it big with her gambling and got a ton of money. That’s how I could afford to attend Kiou Academy.”

Not a bad lie for something off the cuff, I thought, feeling a bit smug.

“…That’s a lie.”

Narika narrowed her eyes.

“Kiou Academy isn’t a place you can just buy your way into. They do thorough background checks for admissions. Money from gambling wouldn’t be considered legitimate.”

Is that so…?

How did the Konohana family get me enrolled here? Maybe there’s some backdoor only the powerful can use.

“Izuki… why are you lying? Is there something you can’t tell me…?”

My lie exposed, she was now openly suspicious.

As I broke out in a cold sweat, my phone buzzed again in my pocket. Probably Shizune-san. Getting another call so soon after the last one might mean it’s urgent.

“S-Sorry… I got another call…”

I started to leave with a quick apology, but—

“W-Wait!”

Narika grabbed my arm.

“You… you won’t disappear again, will you…?”

Her voice trembled as she asked.

Seeing her sad expression, I felt a pang of guilt.

—That’s right. I’d made Narika feel anxious.

Six years ago, I vanished from her life without warning. At first, I thought about that day a lot, but over time, the memory faded, and I stopped dwelling on it.

But Narika was different. Until she met me, she’d never had the chance to go out and play with kids her age. Unlike me, she’d held onto that day—onto that anxiety—all this time.

“It’s okay. We’ll see each other again.”

“Really…?”

“Really.”

Running into Narika here was unexpected, but I’m genuinely happy we reconnected.

Just because I’m Hinako’s caretaker doesn’t mean I have to push Narika away.

“Then… um, pat my head…”

“Huh?”

“Back then! You used to do it a lot! Like when my dad scolded me…”

Come to think of it, I did pat Narika’s head a lot back then.

My phone was still buzzing insistently. Better do this quick.

“…Fine, fine.”

As I patted her head, Narika’s face softened into a goofy smile.

“Ahh… it really does make me feel safe.”

“A second-year high schooler feeling safe from a head pat is kinda weird, you know.”

“I-I know! It’s just… this is a precious memory for me. …Honestly, I thought I’d never see you again.”

Her words, as always, were honest and straightforward.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I kept patting her head.

“Sorry about before. Disappearing so suddenly like that.”

“…We’ve met again now. It’s okay.”

Narika smiled, looking completely at ease.

That’s when the infirmary door swung open.

“—What are you doing?”

Hearing that voice, I stopped patting Narika’s head.

Hinako appeared from beyond the door.

“Hina—”

“—Ko, Konohana-san!?”

Narika’s voice drowned out the slip of my tongue, echoing through the room.

“W-Why is Konohana-san here…?”

“I was feeling a bit unwell, so I left class early.”

Hinako, playing the perfect Ojou-sama, answered calmly.

At the same time, my phone stopped vibrating. —Crap. Was that what Shizune-san was trying to tell me?

“Why are you and Miyakojima-san here, Tomonari-kun?”

Hinako asked.

Glancing at Narika, I saw her face had stiffened with tension. …This is exactly why people fear her. From the outside, it looks like Narika’s glaring daggers at Hinako. But Hinako didn’t seem fazed.

I should answer.

“Uh… well, I saw Narika collapse in the hallway, so I brought her to the infirmary.”

“I see. …Did Miyakojima-san injure her head?”

“Her head? No, it’s not like that…”

“Is that so? I thought maybe she did, since you were patting her head.”

Her tone was as calm as ever, but I could’ve sworn her eyes darkened for a split second.

She saw that, didn’t she…?

“K-Konohana-san, listen! Izuki and I knew each other from way back!”

Narika said, her voice tight with nerves.

“Way back…?”

“Yeah! When we were ten, Izuki stayed at my house…”

“…Stayed?”

Did Hinako just frown for a moment?

Narika didn’t seem to notice and nodded loudly.

“Yeah! Back then, Izuki took care of me!”

“Took care of you?”

Hinako’s brow furrowed at Narika’s explanation. It wasn’t really “taking care” of her; I was more like a playmate, but…

“Izuki looked after me when I was little. He’s basically my benefactor. That’s why I was just happy to see him again.”

“…I see.”

Hinako nodded, though for a fleeting moment, her expression seemed conflicted.

“Hey, Izuki. Why don’t you come back to my house sometime? Just to hang out, or… i-if you’re okay with it, maybe we could be like we were before…”

Narika turned to me.

But as Hinako’s caretaker, that’s not something I can do.

“Narika, that’s—”

“—That’s not possible, Miyakojima-san.”

Hinako cut me off before I could say no.

“Tomonari-kun is working at my house now.”

“…Huh?”

While Narika let out a weird noise, I stared at Hinako in shock.

“Hina—Konohana-san, that’s a bit—”

“What’s wrong, Tomonari-kun? It’s the truth, isn’t it?”

True, it is the truth… but wasn’t it supposed to be a secret?

Luckily, saying I work for the Konohana family doesn’t reveal Hinako’s true nature. Still, I’d rather keep our relationship under wraps. If Narika spreads this around, Hinako and I will be the talk of the academy. That’d make my job as her caretaker a lot harder.

“W-W-What’s that supposed to mean, Izuki!? You’re working at Konohana-san’s house!?”

“Well, uh…”

I glanced at Hinako, flustered.

Even if I deny it now, it’s pointless if Hinako confirms it.

“…Yeah, that’s right. Mostly… taking care of things for her.”

Narika’s eyes widened at my answer.

“…That’s not fair.”

She glared at Hinako, her eyes full of resentment.

“That’s not fair, you! I-I mean…! Izuki was originally mine…!!”

“I don’t know about the past, but Tomonari-kun’s workplace now is my house.”

Hinako said with a bright smile.

“Tomonari-kun, Miyakojima-san seems fine now. Shouldn’t we head back to class?”

“Y-Yeah… you’re right.”

I’m pretty sure my face was twitching like crazy right then.

Hinako glanced at Narika one last time and bowed.

“I’m feeling better myself, so I’ll take my leave.”

With a gentle, Ojou-sama-like smile, Hinako closed the infirmary door.

From the other side, I heard Narika’s groan, “Uuuugh…!!”

—Sorry, Narika.

Right now, I’m Hinako’s caretaker. I can’t really go against her.

Besides… there’s something I want to talk to Hinako about, just the two of us.

“…Did you come to the infirmary to see me?”

“Mm. …I’d get lost alone, so I said I was feeling sick and had someone guide me partway.”

Hinako, dropping her perfect Ojou-sama act, nodded.

“Sorry about that. I’m your caretaker, but I wasn’t by your side. …But what was that back there? Shizune-san said we’re supposed to keep our relationship a secret, right?”

Honestly, I didn’t think Narika would spread rumors for fun, but there’s always a chance.

Hinako, walking beside me, answered in a small voice.

“…I just thought.”

“Huh?”

“I thought… maybe I should make things clear…”

I didn’t quite get what she meant.

Or… could it be? Is she jealous?

…Nah, no way.

I thought back to how things have been with Hinako. She doesn’t seem like the type to have that kind of emotional depth.

“…Izuki.”

Hinako looked at me, tilting her head.

“Whose caretaker are you?”

“That’s obviously you, Hinako.”

“Mm. …Then that’s fine.”

She stopped walking, a satisfied smile spreading across her face as she looked at me.

“Let’s… get scolded by Shizune together, okay?”

“…Yeah.”

I nodded, letting out a deep sigh. At this point, a scolding was inevitable.

What if I get fired…?

“I won’t fire you.”

After school on the day I reunited with Narika.

While explaining the situation to Shizune-san in the car on the way to the estate, she said that.

“From what I’ve heard, it’s not just your fault, Izuki-san. Ojou-sama also caused issues. In fact, if Ojou-sama hadn’t said anything unnecessary, you might’ve been able to brush it off.”

“…But it all started because I got involved with Narika.”

“Miyakojima-sama collapsed in the hallway, didn’t she? Then it’s only natural you’d get involved.”

I silently thanked Shizune-san. She’s strict, but she’s reasonable. She’s not so cold as to forbid even small acts of kindness just because I’m a caretaker.

“I thought I understood the relationship between Izuki-san and the Miyakojima family, but it seems I was a bit lacking in my research.”

“…You knew about it?”

“I knew that the two of you are second cousins, but I didn’t know you were actually acquainted. …Most likely, the Miyakojima family deliberately stopped that information. Since Izuki-san’s family and the Miyakojima family are estranged, it was probably to avoid unnecessary suspicion.”

Previously, Kagen-san had made comments suggesting she knew about the relationship between the Tomonari and Miyakojima families. She must have noticed the connection at that point.

“So, in this case, I also share some responsibility. …Given how things have turned out, you should probably explain the situation to Miyakojima-sama to some extent. First, explain in detail that you’re working at the Konohana household, and then, try to negotiate for her silence.”

“Understood. As for her keeping it secret… I think it’ll be fine, but I’ll let her know just in case.”

Given Narika’s personality, she probably wouldn’t go around spreading rumors. On top of that… Narika doesn’t seem to have any friends to gossip with anyway.

“Since servants can’t attend Kiou Academy, Izuki-san’s official status will continue to be the heir of a mid-sized company. On top of that, we’ll say you’re working at the Konohana household as part of your training… I’m relieved that the truth about the Ojou-sama hasn’t been revealed, but honestly, I would have preferred it if no one found out about you working here either. It could become an obstacle when the Ojou-sama starts looking for a marriage prospect.”

“An obstacle?”

“A male classmate is living and working in the same household, after all. That wouldn’t make a good impression on potential suitors.”

“…I see.”

So it’s about protecting her image as a proper Ojou-sama.

“Kiou Academy also functions as a social arena. Please continue to be cautious when building relationships.”

At Shizune-san’s words, I nod and say, “Yes.”

“Um, Shizune-san. I have something else I’d like to ask about…”

“What is it?”

“Um… is it possible for me to go hang out with my classmates?”

“Hang out?”

Shizune-san narrows her eyes sharply.

“It’s not that I’m just goofing off. It’s just that a classmate invited me out the other day… I feel bad if I keep refusing, and if I never join them, people might start to think I’m being antisocial…”

“…That’s a fair point.”

Looking convinced, Shizune-san ponders for a moment.

“All right. If you let me know the date in advance, I’ll support you.”

“Thank you.”

I don’t intend to shirk my duties, but it’s probably best to socialize a bit so as not to stand out for the wrong reasons.

“I’m not one to talk, but both you and the Ojou-sama should reflect on what happened this time.”

I nod in response to Shizune-san’s words. However… Hinako, sitting next to me, doesn’t react at all.

“Ojou-sama, are you asleep?”

Shizune-san turns toward the back seat, and I answer with a wry smile.

“She’s not asleep… but she’s clinging to me like a koala.”

Hinako grips my right arm tightly, pulling it close to her chest. She’s been in this position ever since we got in the car.

“…Pet me.”

Hinako buries her face into my arm and whispers softly.

“Pet my head…”

“…Okay, okay.”

Doing as she asks, I pat Hinako’s head.

Shizune-san lets out a sigh and faces forward again.

After returning to the mansion, I attended another lesson with Shizune-san, gave Hinako a bath, and finally finished my duties for the day. Drying my slightly damp hair with a towel, I head back to my room.

When I open the door, Hinako, who had been following me around, dives onto my bed.

“Getting in bed right after a bath… pure bliss.”

“I get how you feel, but still.”

Why are you sleeping in my room?

“If you sleep here, I’ll have to wake you up at a weird time.”

“Mmmm…”

When I speak to her, Hinako just rolls over. She’s already asleep.

“…She really does sleep a lot.”

She was napping on the way home, too, and if she sleeps until morning, that’ll be over twelve hours of sleep. If it were just once in a while, I wouldn’t mind, but Hinako sleeps that much every day.

I tuck Hinako in with a blanket and do a bit more studying.

A few hours later. Glancing at the clock and seeing it’s already 1 a.m., I stretch a little.

“Hinako. I want to sleep soon, so you should head back to your room.”

“Mmm…”

When I turn around, Hinako is lying on my bed, staring at me.

“You’re awake?”

“…I can’t sleep.”

Hinako says, looking rather displeased.

“…I overslept.”

I knew it.

Even Hinako can’t sleep forever, it seems.

“…What should I do?”

“Even if you ask me…”

Rubbing my forehead, I push my textbooks aside and pick up the manual sitting on my desk.

“Let’s see what the manual says for times like this…”

I read the manual with detailed instructions on how to deal with Hinako. It even covers what to do if Hinako can’t sleep. However—

‘If she can’t sleep, stay with her until dawn.’ …But I have school tomorrow, you know.

For the sake of my grades, I don’t want to neglect my studies. It’s hard enough to keep up with classes at that academy without enough sleep.

“I really feel like just running around right now…”

“Don’t.”

Apparently restless, Hinako starts to fidget, and I immediately stop her.

“I’d rather you not go wild, but maybe a little exercise will help. If you get tired, maybe you’ll feel sleepy again.”

Luckily, there’s a bath in Hinako’s room, so sweating a bit isn’t a problem.

“The only issue is how to exercise…”

I’m thinking how troublesome it would be if she actually started running around, when Hinako tugs at my sleeve.

“…Let’s go for a walk?”

Even so, we can’t just leave the house without permission. But Hinako knows that too. So what she suggests is—

“A walk around the mansion? Well, it’s big enough for that to count as real exercise.”

“…Yeah.”

Clinging to my sleeve, Hinako nods.

“Still… the atmosphere is something else.”

The mansion at night is enveloped in a unique air. It feels like we’re in a horror movie set, like we’re testing our courage. I’m more likely to break out in a cold sweat from fear than from exercise.

But more than anything, my head is filled with one emotion.

—Sleepy.

Unlike Hinako, I was planning to go to bed soon. Honestly, even walking feels like a chore.

Hinako, on the other hand, is wide awake, pulling me along as we wander through the mansion.

“That way… I think, is the dining hall.”

“Is that so.”

That’s actually the study.

“And over there… is the parlor.”

“Is that so.”

That’s actually the library.

The real Hinako doesn’t like to use her head, so she often gets the rooms mixed up. But I don’t have the energy to correct her every time tonight.

“Mmm… Izuki, are you listening?”

Hinako stops and looks up at me.

“Sorry. I’m just a bit sleepy…”

“…And I was going to show you around, too.”

When she says that, I feel kind of bad.

At another time, I’d have welcomed it… but honestly, most of my nights are booked, too. Maybe wandering the mansion with Hinako like this is a rare opportunity.

“Do you have a favorite spot or something?”

Rubbing my brow and forcing myself to shake off the drowsiness, I ask Hinako.

“…A favorite spot?”

“You don’t spend all your time in your room, do you? Like, when I’m having lessons with Shizune-san, where do you hang out if not your room?”

When I say that, Hinako nods slightly, as if something comes to mind.

“…I’ll show you.”

Hinako takes my hand and leads me on.

Ten minutes later, after getting lost repeatedly, we finally reach our destination.

It’s a small back door at the end of a corridor.

“This is your favorite spot?”

“Yeah. …It’s the exit of the mansion.”

“Why?”

Why would this be her favorite place…?

“Sometimes I… sneak out into the garden from here.”

“Hey.”

From the looks of it, this door is hidden from most views. It’s far from where the staff usually work, so patrols almost never pass by. There’s still a gate before you could actually leave the premises, so you can only get into the garden, but I see—it’s the perfect spot to slip in and out unnoticed.

“You sure it’s okay to tell me? I might rat you out to Shizune-san, you know.”

“Izuki wouldn’t do that. …It’s because it’s you, Izuki, that I told you.”

Smiling, Hinako says so.

Being trusted like that makes me want to live up to it, too.

“Fwaah… I’m starting to get sleepy.”

Hinako covers her mouth as she yawns.

“Let’s get you back to your room.”

“Yeah.”

Looks like moving around a bit really did make her sleepy again.

Back in her room, Hinako immediately collapses onto her bed.

“Well… I guess I’ll head back to my room and sleep, too.”

Quietly closing the door, I turn to leave. But then—

“What are you doing?”

“Whoa!?”

Suddenly, someone calls out to me from behind, and I jump in surprise.

When I turn, I see Shizune-san standing there, glaring at me with sharp eyes.

“I think that reaction is a bit rude, don’t you?”

“S-sorry…”

The dead quiet of the late night, with no one else around, made me easy to startle.

Moonlight streaming through the window shines on Shizune-san. Seeing her like that, I’m momentarily at a loss for words.

“Is something the matter?”

“Ah, well… It’s just, this is my first time seeing you out of your maid uniform…”

Even the perfect superhuman, Shizune-san, is off-duty now. Her hair is down, and she’s in pajamas.

“Is it strange?”

“Not strange, but… it just feels fresh, or maybe… a little childish, compared to usual…”

“Are you trying to pick a fight?”

“No, sorry! That’s not what I meant!”

Maybe it would have been better to say she looks younger. But that could be rude, too.

I guess I’m just not thinking straight because I’m sleepy.

“Just so you know, I’m still a university student.”

“Wait, really?”

“Yes. So please, say I look my age.”

I had guessed she was young, but I didn’t think she was still a student.

“But what about university? You’re always here at the mansion.”

“I’m on a leave of absence.”

So you can just take time off university if you want.

Maybe Shizune-san’s future at the Konohana house is already set in stone.

“So, what were you doing at this hour?”

“It’s nothing major, but…”

I explain to her about Hinako not being able to sleep, and that we were wandering the mansion.

“I see, so that’s what was going on.”

“Hinako sleeps a lot, so… I figured this kind of thing might happen often.”

“No, this is the first time it’s happened.”

Her answer surprises me.

“But there was a section in the manual for this kind of situation.”

“Please read it carefully. That section is for when the Ojou-sama wants to stay up late, not when she can’t sleep.”

So that’s how it is.

Looks like Hinako’s daily schedule isn’t actually all over the place after all.

“She probably just feels safe and is letting her guard down. For better or worse…”

In a small voice, Shizune-san murmurs.

“Since you arrived, Izuki-san, the Ojou-sama has changed—for better or for worse.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I’m not saying it’s all a bad thing, so I’m not blaming you. It’s just…”

Pensively, Shizune-san says,

“…I just hope Kagen-sama doesn’t mind.”

With a thoughtful look, Shizune-san murmurs again.