Chapter 17: The Maid’s Service

“Good morning, Keiji-sama.”

As my eyes fluttered open, a maid stood poised beside my bed.

Her white headpiece sat neatly atop lustrous brown hair, framing a face of flawless beauty adorned with only the lightest touch of makeup. She wore a black knee-length dress, its frilled apron accentuating the gentle swell of her chest. Her long, slender legs extended gracefully from the hem, and with her hands clasped before her, she offered a slight, respectful bow.

“It is seven o’clock in the morning. Rise and shine, Keiji-sama.”

“…Keiji-sama?” I mumbled, still half-draped in sleep. “Are you half-asleep or something?”

“I-I only made a fool of myself that one time! Don’t keep bringing up that mistake!”

“Okay, okay, I get it.” Sayaka’s always been weak in the mornings, hasn’t she? The fact that she’s up this early, putting in all this effort, is honestly impressive.

“That aside,” I continued. “Calling me ‘master’ yesterday was intense, but adding ‘-sama’ to my name is a bit much…”

“I am a maid,” she replied primly. “It’s only natural to address you with ‘-sama.’”

“That’s diving way too deep into fantasy land. Just stick to ‘-kun’ with my name. And drop the formal speech.”

Her occasional polite tone had been throwing me off, and it felt a little late to make a big deal about it now.

“Got it, Keiji-kun,” she said, her voice easing into a more familiar tone. “This vibe work for you?”

“Yeah, that’s perfect. Let’s tweak it as we go.”

Still groggy, I climbed out of bed, stood, and stretched deeply, feeling the morning stiffness loosen. As my senses sharpened, a thought struck me.

Wait a second—this is kind of incredible, isn’t it? Hisaka Sayaka, of all people, calling me by my first name with ‘-kun’? Sayaka, who tosses out last names without honorifics for every guy she meets?

The special treatment sent a flicker of smugness through me, almost dizzying in its rarity. I could get used to this… maybe a little too used to it.

“Keiji-kun!”

“Huh?”

Before I could react, Sayaka flung her arms around me, her embrace catching me off guard. Her hands slid around my back, and the soft pressure of her chest pressed firmly against me.

“W-What are you doing!?”

“It’s a morning greeting,” she said with a playful lilt. “A little service like this is only natural when I’m getting a million yen in contract fees, right?”

Is she seriously planning to keep up this kind of service? My mind reeled.

With everything swirling around lately, I’d nearly forgotten, but I fell for Hisaka Sayaka at first sight, didn’t I? And now, that same Sayaka was waking me up, calling me ‘Keiji-kun,’ and wrapping me in this dizzying hug. All because I’d used my family’s money to make her mine. Was I okay with this? I was supposed to be clawing my way out of being a scumbag, not sinking deeper into it.

“After the greeting, I can help you get dressed, too.”

“I’m not dressing up for a fancy party,” I said quickly, waving her off. “I can handle changing myself… I mean, let me do it.”

“Alright. I’ll wait for you in the dining room.”

To my surprise, Sayaka backed off without a fuss. I let out a quiet breath. That was close. Has she forgotten I’m the guy who got branded a scumbag? Hugging me like that, pressing herself against me, in a room with just the two of us and a bed right there—if I hadn’t been half-asleep, who knows what my teenage impulses might’ve sparked?

A fleeting thought crossed my mind: maybe I should’ve let her help me change. Having a beautiful classmate like Sayaka undress me… that might’ve been even more thrilling than the other way around. A new fetish door was creaking open—okay, nope, time to shut that down. I shook my head and headed to wash my face.

After splashing cold water on my face to jolt myself awake, I changed into my uniform and made my way to the dining room.

“Whoa!?”

A warm, inviting breakfast spread greeted me, laid out meticulously on the table. Steaming rice, fragrant miso soup, grilled fish, golden tamagoyaki, stewed vegetables, pickled eggplant, and a small dish of natto—a quintessentially Japanese breakfast, the kind you rarely see these days. The sight alone warmed me, stirring a quiet admiration for the care put into it.

“I got up early today and had time, so I went with a Japanese-style meal.”

“T-that’s fine, but…” I love a Japanese breakfast, so I was grateful, but more than that—

“Sayaka, you’ve already changed?”

“Yup.” She stood across the table, now dressed in her Sōshūkan Academy uniform, the familiar navy and white crisp against her frame. Normally, she’d stay in her maid outfit until she finished cleaning—or at least until I left for the day.

“Thanks to you, I get to keep wearing this uniform. So today, I wanted to show it off a bit early.”

“Oh, that’s what you meant.”

“Now that I’m officially a maid, I’m not too hung up on the outfit. If you prefer the uniform with an apron, I could cosplay it for you.”

“Don’t call it cosplay,” I shot back, though the image of her school uniform paired with an apron flashed through my mind—fresh, oddly charming.

“Just kidding, I’ll wear the maid outfit properly. I’m a real maid now, after all.”

“R-Right.”

A uniform with an apron wouldn’t be bad… No, scratch that—seeing her usual school look topped with an apron would feel new and, well, nice. But admitting that out loud? Sayaka would pin me with one of her cold, disdainful stares. A cool, beautiful maid glaring at me like I’m trash… okay, that’s weirdly thrilling.

No, stop it, Kiyomiya Keiji—you’re supposed to be breaking free from your scumbag ways.

“You’re not mentally dressing me up in your head, are you?” Sayaka’s voice cut through.

“N-No way.”

What a sharp maid…

“Well, you’re free to imagine whatever. Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”

“Y-Yeah.”

I settled at the table and dove into the Japanese-style breakfast. The grilled fish carried a delicate, smoky fragrance, the clam miso soup warmed me to my core, and even the plain white rice gleamed, each grain perfectly cooked. My chopsticks moved on their own, my appetite unstoppable. Man, this is delicious.

“Phew, thanks for the meal. That was even tastier than usual, Sayaka.”

“It’s my first official day as a maid, so I put in extra effort. Of course, I’ll keep up this standard from now on. Look forward to it.”

I glanced at her, and Sayaka—who used to be as cold as ice—stood up, a deliberate smile gracing her lips. What was with that smile? I always knew she was beautiful, but this… this was something else. I hadn’t realized she could be this cute.

“Keiji-kun.”

“Huh?”

“Starting today, I’m your maid, through and through. You can order me to do anything.”

I froze, her words hanging in the air. That’s a bold declaration… No, it makes sense—it’s her first morning as an official maid, so she’s laying it on thick, doubling down on her role.

“Alright, then let me give you one order.”

“Eek!”

I moved swiftly, circling the table and gently backing Sayaka against the hallway wall with a soft thud, my hand planted beside her.

“…Kabedon is kinda outdated, don’t you think, Keiji-kun?”

“It’s a classic move. It’s not about trends.”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “Sayaka, you’ve got no home, no financial stability, and you’re in such a precarious position that a single petty harassment from the upper crust could ruin your life.”

“Okay, that’s actually a bit offensive.”

“Hear me out,” I pressed on. “Even with all that, I wouldn’t just make anyone my maid.”

“…I’m well aware my face is pretty good.”

“I won’t deny that your beauty’s a factor. But it’s not just that. I chose you because you’re the Sayaka who fought her way to the top of Sōshūkan Academy alone, because you stuck your neck out in this whole special student slot mess. That’s why I decided to make you my maid.”

“Huh? What do you…?”

I thought I’d indirectly said “I like you,” but maybe it didn’t land. Even the brilliant, sharp-witted Sayaka might be clueless when it comes to romance.

“…Alright, I’m heading to school,” I said, stepping back. “Don’t be late, Sayaka.”

It’s fine if it didn’t get through yet. Our relationship just shifted from “landlord and freeloader” to “employer and maid.” There’s no need to rush things.

“Oh, wait a sec, Sayaka.”

“What?”

“I forgot to give you this.”

“Huh? This is…”

I slipped my hand into my uniform jacket pocket and drew out a small object, pressing it gently into Sayaka’s palm. It was the master key to the Kiyomiya Family Old Manor, its metal cool and weighty.

“As my maid, I’m counting on you to maintain the manor,” I said. “Feel free to come and go in any room.”

“Any room?”

“Of course, including my room. There’s nothing I’d be embarrassed about you seeing.”

“I can freely enter your room? Really?”

“W-Well, when you double-check like that, it’s a little intimidating. Just when I’m around… no, actually, come in anytime!” Her skeptical gaze sharpened, and I straightened, declaring firmly to dispel any doubt. I’ve got nothing to hide. Well, maybe I’ll keep my phone on me at all times, just in case.

“A-Anyway… I’m leaving the manor in your hands, Sayaka.”

“…Yes.”

Sayaka’s fingers closed around the master key, gripping it tightly. I had separate keys for my room and other essentials, so the master key wasn’t something I needed. It belonged in the hands of the maid entrusted with the manor.

“I’m your maid,” she said, her expression frighteningly serious. “I’ll use this key to support your life.”

She pressed the key to her chest, as if it were something precious, her resolve palpable.