Prologue

Morning.

Waking up in the Konohana family’s mansion, I quickly changed into my school uniform and stepped out of my room.

“Good morning.”

“Izuki-san, good morning.”

Exchanging greetings with the maids of the Konohana household, I set about my duties as a servant.

First up was cleaning. Waking up early in the morning to tidy this sprawling mansion was no small feat, but I’d finally started to get the hang of it.

I wiped down the staircase railing with a cloth.

Just over an hour left before heading to the academy. One last push.

“Shizune-san, good morning.”

“Good morning.”

While cleaning, I ran into Shizune, the head maid, and greeted her.

Shizune was tending to some decorations in the hallway.

“Izuki-san, could you hold that vase for me, please?”

“Got it… Here we go.”

The vase was surprisingly heavy, and I held it for a while.

In the meantime, Shizune wiped down the surface of the stand where the vase had been.

“Those flowers will need replacing soon, won’t they?”

Looking at the white cut flowers in the vase, Shizune murmured.

“These are the hydrangeas we prepared about two weeks ago, right?”

“Yes. They’ve lasted well, but their time is almost up. It’s July now, so perhaps something vibrant like sandersonia would be nice for a change.”

As head maid, Shizune also managed the mansion’s interior decor.

June had been adorned with white hydrangeas, but it seemed this month would feature a different flower.

I didn’t know much about flowers. Nor did I have the skill to choose harmonious decor for such a vast space.

I thought I’d gotten used to the work of a servant, but… it seems there’s still plenty for me to learn.

“Oh, Izuki-kun. Helping the head maid today, are we?”

After placing the vase back on the stand, someone called out to me from the side.

I gave a slight bow to the man in a butler’s uniform approaching from the other end of the hallway.

“Good morning, Oliver-san.”

Oliver, the head butler, was German but spoke Japanese fluently. He’d mentioned being in his fifties, but his slim build and straight posture gave no hint of age. He exuded an air of dignity.

“Oliver-san, about the dishware organization…”

“It’s already done. I was about to prepare breakfast, but we’re a bit short-handed, so I was thinking of asking someone to help.”

Oliver responded to Shizune’s question.

His eyes flicked toward me.

My hands were about to be free soon. Should I offer to help…?

“Izuki-san’s still new to the kitchen, so I’ll go.”

Shizune answered.

Oliver nodded with a gentle smile. “Very well, thank you.”

“Izuki-san, would you mind waking Ojou-sama?”

Shizune turned to me and said.

Come to think of it, it was about time for Hinako to get up. But…

“Is it okay if I do it? Last time, she said she didn’t want me waking her.”

“No need to worry. It’s not as if she dislikes you, Izuki-san.”

Well, I did get the sense she didn’t hate me… but if that’s the case, what’s the reason? I still don’t get it.

Still, if Shizune’s busy, I should take on the task.

“Izuki-kun, I’m counting on you to handle Ojou-sama.”

Oliver said, looking at me.

“A caretaker isn’t a butler or a maid. A caretaker stands by Ojou-sama’s side, tending to her needs as an equal. That’s not a role we can fulfill. So, we leave Ojou-sama to you.”

“…I’ll do my best.”

Etching Oliver’s words into my heart, I headed toward Hinako’s room.

My mood lifted ever so slightly compared to when I was cleaning.

It’s a bit late to say, but “caretaker” is an odd title.

Maybe because I’d been working under such a title for three months, I’d started to find fulfillment in looking after Hinako.

“Hinako, you awake?”

I knocked on the door just to be sure.

As expected, there was no response, so I quietly opened the door and stepped inside.

(She’s sleeping so peacefully, as always.)

Hinako slept deeply, so I’d seen her sleeping face plenty of times, but it had been a while since I’d seen it in her room in the morning. She looked so content, maybe dreaming something pleasant.

“Hinako, it’s morning.”

I called out to her while opening the room’s curtains.

Warm sunlight spilled across Hinako’s face.

“Nngh… Too bright…”

Hinako shielded her eyes with her hand.

“Breakfast will be ready soon, so go wash your face.”

“Mm’kay…”

A sleepy, mumbled reply came back.

Hinako slowly sat up, eyes still closed, and froze for a moment.

“I’ll leave your clothes here.”

Before she could fall back asleep, I hurried to get things ready.

I pulled her Kiou Academy uniform from the closet and placed it on the table.

“Dress me…”

Hinako said drowsily.

“You sure? Me dressing you?”

“Mm…? Why…?”

Hinako asked, rubbing her eyes lightly.

Letting out a big yawn, she looked at me with round eyes… and tilted her head.

“…Huh? …Izuki?”

“Morning, Hinako.”

She probably just woke up for real.

“Why… is Izuki here…?”

“Shizune-san’s tied up, so I came instead.”

At that, Hinako burrowed back into her blankets, like a bear escaping the cold.

“…Why are you hiding in your blankets?”

“Because… my bedhead… might look weird…”

“You think I care about that now?”

“…I care.”

Through a gap in the blankets, I could see Hinako’s face faintly flushed.

Fine then. I headed to the bathroom and grabbed a few things.

“Sit here. I’ll fix your bedhead.”

I dragged a chair near the bed and said.

Hinako reluctantly sat down.

Her hair, smoother than you’d expect for just waking up, cascaded down. Did it even need fixing? But if she was worried, I’d take care of it.

I lightly dampened her hair to tame the bedhead, then combed it while blow-drying.

“How’s that?”

“Mm… Looks good.”

Hinako nodded, checking herself in the mirror.

I felt like a hairdresser for a moment.

(I’ve gotten used to handling Hinako’s hair, haven’t I…)

What am I even getting used to? my rational side quipped.

“This… might be nice.”

“Hm?”

“Having you touch my hair like this… I think I like it.”

That’s an unusual take.

I thought as much but kept it to myself.

Because, well, I’d been thinking something similar.

Bathed in the morning sunlight streaming through the window, gently running my fingers through Hinako’s hair, I felt a strange sense of calm.

(What, am I some kind of hair fetishist now…?)

No way, I told myself.

“Then stop worrying about bedhead.”

My role as Hinako’s caretaker was to create a space where she could let her guard down.

So, I’d rather she didn’t stress over it.

“…You don’t think I look sloppy with messy hair…?”

“Not at all.”

I said firmly, and Hinako gave a small nod.

“Okay… I’ll stop worrying, then…”

With that, she crawled back to her bed.

“So… I’m gonna sleep again…”

“Nope, that’s not allowed.”

Bedhead was fine, but oversleeping was a no-go.

After that, I left the room while Hinako changed and returned to my servant duties.

Finally, I got ready for school and met up with Hinako, who’d finished breakfast.

“Let’s head to the academy for the day.”

Shizune took the front passenger seat.

Hinako and I slid into the back. I’d grown completely used to these car rides to and from school.

“It’s a bit crowded… Shall we take another route?”

Shizune murmured, and the driver nodded silently, turning right instead of going straight as usual.

An unfamiliar view unfolded outside the window.

I spotted the entrance to a narrow alley.

At its end was a small shop.

(…A candy store, huh.)

I hadn’t been to one in a while.

Even without me, it’s the kind of place people naturally drift away from as they grow older.

Still, for me, it held fond memories.

(I wonder how Narika’s doing…)

A distant relative, a young girl.

The girl I’d looked after before Hinako, back when we were kids—wonder if she’s doing well today.