E-book Exclusive Bonus: Konohana Hinako’s Manual Update

It was just another day.

“I’m home…”

Hinako tossed her bag onto the floor as soon as she opened the door, then immediately sprawled out on the bed.

“…This is my room, though.”

I let out a sigh, watching Hinako act like she owned the place and take over my bed. It was a sight I’d grown used to by now, but every time, I still didn’t know quite how to handle it.

Just then, Shizune came up behind me.

“Izuki, as I mentioned in the car, I won’t be able to help you with training today due to my schedule. Please spend your time as you see fit, doing things like reviewing and preparing as usual.”

“Understood.”

Apparently, Shizune was busy with her maid work today and couldn’t supervise my manners or self-defense training. So I planned to spend the time in my room until dinner.

However… as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Hinako had followed me in.

“Um, Shizune? What should I do about Hinako…?”

“…Fortunately, Ojou-sama also has no plans until tonight, so I’ll leave her in your care for now.”

Leave her with me, huh… It’s not like I could actually control Hinako.

“Nngh~…”

Hinako let out a sleepy voice, sprawled out on the bed and about to fall asleep still in her school uniform.

“Hinako, you should at least change first…”

“So much hassle…”

Hinako replied without even opening her eyes. In her natural state, she was always so lazy.

But… at this rate, her skirt was going to ride up, and I’d see her underwear. Her well-shaped legs were exposed almost to the base, which, as a healthy guy, was not something I needed to see.

“Hinako, seriously, you should really change…”

“Nooo…”

No good—she wouldn’t listen to a word I said.

I’d like to get started on my review and prep soon. It wasn’t a bad feeling to spend a lazy moment like this with Hinako, but if I fell behind in class, Shizune would really let me have it.

“…Guess I’ll try relying on the manual.”

I picked up the manual Shizune had given me when I first started living here. This manual covered all sorts of tasks for the caretaker… in other words, it even had information on how to deal with Hinako.

“…Oh, there’s a Q&A section. This might help.”

I flipped through the pages, searching for what I needed.

Q: Ojou-sama falls asleep without changing. What should I do?

A: If you warm her pajamas beforehand and throw them into the bed, she’ll be more likely to change.

“Hmm… might as well give it a shot.”

I headed to Hinako’s room to get her loungewear, then used the dryer in my bathroom to warm it up.

“Hinako. I warmed up your loungewear for you, so go ahead and change.”

“Mmm…”

When I handed her the warm loungewear, Hinako squirmed around under the covers. After a moment, just her arms slipped out from under the comforter, and her uniform got tossed onto the floor.

“Hehehe… so warm.”

Now in her loungewear, Hinako looked completely content.

“Oh… it really worked.”

Just as the manual said, Hinako had changed clothes. This was kind of funny.

“Let’s see if there’s anything else…”

I idly flipped through the manual.

Q: Ojou-sama refuses to leave the academy after school. What should I do?

A: Lure her with a bag of potato chips.

“…I used that trick on the first day.”

On the first day, Hinako also wouldn’t go home from the academy. I remembered she only went home when I tempted her with the potato chips Shizune had given me.

Q: Ojou-sama drools in her sleep. Is it okay to leave her like that?

A: Gently wipe it with a handkerchief. If you put some lavender scent on the handkerchief, Ojou-sama will nuzzle her face into it herself.

“So that’s how it is… I’ll try it next time.”

This had clearly been researched thoroughly. The manual was the result of all the struggles of past caretakers, distilled down.

Q: Ojou-sama often tells me to ‘go away.’ Am I doing something wrong?

A: It happens a lot, so don’t worry about it.

“…Huh?”

I couldn’t help but mutter when I read that line.

“Hey, Hinako.”

“Mmm…?”

“Hinako, you don’t really say things like ‘go away’ to me, do you?”

When I asked, Hinako tilted her head in that adorable way and answered.

“…Because, I don’t want to be apart from you, Izuki.”

“Huhhh?”

This time, I was the one who tilted my head. At the very least, I’d never heard Hinako tell me to go away…

“…Maybe this manual’s out of date.”

Maybe it hadn’t been updated recently. I’d ask Shizune about it next time I got the chance.

A few days later.

When I brought up to Shizune that the manual might be old—

“That’s right. That manual is already out of date, so please update it yourself as needed, Izuki.”

“Huh, me?”

“Of course. After all, it’s your fault.”

I tilted my head, not understanding what she meant, and Shizune sighed.

“It’s not so much that the manual is outdated. It’s Ojou-sama herself who’s been updated. Thanks to a certain someone.”