Chapter 3: The Maid is at the Cafe

After school──

We found ourselves at the cafe “Star Parks.”

“S-so this is what they call a cafe? I’ve never set foot in one before.”

“That’s seriously impressive. Just how sheltered are you?”

Seated beside me is Maritsuji Anri, who has graciously taken on the role of my temporary tutor. It’s a common misconception, but just because Sōshūkan Academy’s students all come from distinguished families doesn’t mean they’re completely naive about the world. They go to cafes, of course—and convenience stores too—and probably frequent fast food places as well. Someone like me, a faux heir, has no qualms whatsoever about popping into any old shop.

But for the highest-caliber Ojou-sama, Maritsuji Anri, it seems the story is entirely different.

“C-Cafes make me so restless, you know? Is it really alright to study here?”

“Sayaka, don’t tell me this is your first time too?”

On my other side sits Hisaka Sayaka. I never expected her to layer on the same joke like that—is this a double serving of tempura rice bowl or what? No, neither Maritsuji nor Sayaka meant it as a joke, probably.

By the way, I handled ordering and picking up the drinks for the ladies as their representative. I was especially puzzled why the maid made me do it, but apparently she didn’t know how the ordering system worked.

“This cafe allows studying. Look, there are others doing it too.”

“Oh, you’re right. I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings.”

They don’t seem to be Sōshūkan students, but with periodic tests coming up, you can spot students studying here and there. It wouldn’t be an issue if Sōshūkan students were here, but people would probably be shocked to see Maritsuji in a chain cafe. She’s a Japanese-style beauty, so she’d fit better in a place serving matcha or traditional sweets rather than a coffee shop.

“I’m all set now. Kiyomiya-san, let’s begin our studies. By the way, this is just an ordinary bamboo ruler.”

“Someone else said something similar! It’s rare for a high schooler to carry a bamboo ruler!”

I’ve never seen one in all my school days—or even in my entire life, for that matter.

“Bamboo rulers don’t expand or contract easily, so the measurements stay precise.”

“Coming from Maritsuji, it’s probably a high-end one. Bet it makes a nice crisp sound when you smack something with it.”

“Goodness, no. I wouldn’t strike anyone. Especially not you, Kiyomiya-san. Well, perhaps someone else──”

“Can you explain why you glanced at me just now?”

“No, there was no special intent. It’s only natural for one’s eyes to be drawn to beautiful things. You look lovely today as always, Hisaka-san.”

“Yes.”

You’re just accepting that?

That Sayaka is beautiful is something not even the most contrary person could deny, though.

“I’ll be instructing Kiyomiya-san, but please feel free to chime in if anything catches your interest, Hisaka-san. After all, it’s the insight of our year’s top student. It’s certainly worth heeding.”

“Oh, this cafe latte is delicious.”

“……”

Maritsuji directs a chillingly cold stare at Sayaka. Sayaka, at least listen to the conversation… No, perhaps she’s deliberately signaling her intent to remain a strict observer.

“Well then, inadequate as I may be, I look forward to your kind guidance for the long term.”

“That greeting doesn’t quite fit. But yeah, same here. Even I don’t think I can crack the top 10 on my own.”

“I believe you could manage it with enough time, Kiyomiya-san.”

With a smooth motion, Maritsuji reaches out and places her hand over mine.

“H-hey.”

“For the very next test, though, it’s true that going it alone would be challenging. I’ll assist to the utmost of my humble abilities.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I express my gratitude and discreetly withdraw my hand. Incidentally, on the other side, Sayaka is reaching for my thigh and giving it a firm pinch.

Can’t you permit a little contact with the esteemed Ojou-sama, oh maid?

“Alright, let’s get serious about this soon.”

“Yes, let’s muster some enthusiasm.”

With that, Maritsuji removes her uniform blazer. She always wears it impeccably at school, so seeing her in just the blouse feels refreshingly novel. Since she’s sitting right beside me, the faint outline of her undergarments shows through the white blouse, which is not only novel but a tad alluring──

“Keiji-kun, it’s study time, got it? You understand that, don’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am, I get it.”

Me, using polite language with my own maid. Said maid, perhaps in competition with Maritsuji, also sheds her blazer and, for good measure, removes the ribbon at her collar.

Was it really necessary to go that far?

Moreover, for some reason, she seems to have foregone inner wear, allowing a pinkish hue to faintly show through.

“You’re having trouble deciding whether to look at me or Hisaka-san, aren’t you?”

“N-no, not at all…”

Whichever way I look, it’s paradise—no, focusing on just one might invite hell.

I give my cheeks a sharp slap with both hands.

“Alright, now we’re really starting. Oh right, Maritsuji, you don’t have much time, do you?”

“Yes, I’m only permitted until five-thirty. We have just one hour left.”

“Yikes, yikes, we’d better hurry. Feel free to work on your own studies too, Maritsuji. Just let me ask you if there’s anything I don’t understand.”

I pick up my mechanical pencil and begin tackling the English workbook. Sōshūkan places strong emphasis on languages, requiring high school students to achieve everyday proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking. English classes aren’t solely exam-oriented but include plenty of practical content.

“…This is trickier than I expected.”

I learned self-defense techniques—really, ways to fight—from the household staff, and even without regular practice now, my body remembers. Studies, however, seem to require consistent effort to stick in my head.

I wonder if my natural aptitude is decent or not…

“Hey, Anri-chan. How should I approach this──”

“Anri-chan?”

It wasn’t Maritsuji who responded, but Sayaka. She leans in close, scrutinizing me with a glare.

“Please pay it no mind, Hisaka-san. In our younger days, Kiyomiya-san used to call me that. Out of consideration for my family’s watchful eyes, it shifted to surname with -san, but now he’s finally dropped to just the surname. Anri-chan is fine when we’re alone, you know.”

“Then, since we’re not alone right now, that’s absolutely not allowed. Keiji-kun, what should your punishment be?”

“You’re the one doling out punishment?!”

That said, I was so focused on studying that I slipped into the old way of addressing her. I accidentally called her Anri-chan before too—I really need to be careful.

“Then, as punishment, you’ll eat your entire dinner via ‘aahns’ from me.”

“Sounds fantastic.”

“Kiyomiya-san?”

Maritsuji manages to glare while maintaining a smile—quite the feat.

“Ah, no, that was just a turn of phrase.”

“Do you understand what ‘turn of phrase’ means? Shall I start by teaching you that?”

“I’ll look it up on my own initiative. Erm… I’m innocent here. I plead not guilty.”

“Indeed. Let’s permit Anri-chan even when Hisaka-san is present. If I, the victim, forgive it, the offense is cleared, right?”

“What in the world are we even discussing—anyway, this is the part I need help with.”

“You can’t translate that directly there. It’s what’s known as a ’roundabout expression.’ So, instead of a literal translation, convert the surrounding English text as well and grasp the context from that──”

“Now Sayaka’s the one teaching.”

“Oh, so I am. My apologies, Maritsuji-san. It’s just that I’m so exceptionally capable…”

“You can’t even restrain yourself from butting in? How unseemly. A proper lady remains silent and simply smiles graciously.”

You’re hardly one to talk about being silent, Maritsuji.

“Just let me study! At this rate, we’re getting nowhere! And—Sayaka!”

“Yes?”

The unflappably cool Sayaka nods obligingly, unfazed by my sudden outburst.

“That one over there—can you handle her somehow?”

“Oh my…”

Sayaka seems to have finally noticed. Normally, she’d have spotted it before me, but with her attention diverted by sparring with Maritsuji, she truly only noticed just now.

We’re seated at the counter facing the street, with glass walls offering a clear view outside. Beyond the glass, across the road, there’s a familiar golden shortcut hairstyle.

“That person is… Class B’s Sogano-san, I believe. Whyever is she pointing her smartphone our way?”

“Maritsuji, you didn’t know? She’s the ‘information broker.'”

“Johoya? Ah, information broker, you mean. What an unusual part-time job she’s taken on, isn’t it?”

“It’s more hobby than job… That should clue you in on why she’s aiming her phone.”

“I see… The Kiyomiya heir, the Maritsuji daughter, and the year’s top student, Hisaka-san. Would a three-shot like this fetch a high price?”

“For some people, yeah. And this setup could spark all sorts of wild imaginations.”

Moreover, featured here are Sōshūkan’s two premier beauties in casual, blazer-free attire. With scum sandwiched between them. If I spotted subjects like this, I’d be snapping away too.

“Capture Maki-san, confiscate her smartphone, delete all local and cloud data, and just to be safe, microwave the phone afterward?”

“That’s way too ruthless!”

I didn’t tell you to go that far!

Also, microwaving a smartphone can cause it to catch fire, so absolutely don’t.

“I don’t mind photos at all. In fact, if it creates a fait accompli, that would be ideal.”

“Wh-what kind of fait accompli?”

It’s not even a two-shot of just me and Maritsuji. What sort of ‘fact’ could possibly emerge from a photo of all three of us?

“Yeah, I think it’s time to accept it. Studying outside with Maritsuji seems tricky.”

“Setting Sogano-san aside, interruptions do seem unavoidable.”

Maritsuji nods, and for some reason glances toward Sayaka. You can’t concentrate on studying while constantly minding your surroundings. In that case, the school library… no, it’s hard to talk there. Then maybe staying late in the classroom, or else…

“Yes, I’ve made up my mind.”

Maritsuji elegantly sips her cafe latte, then sets the cup down on the table with a soft clink. Even her simple act of standing is graceful as she steps down from her chair and faces me directly.

“Kiyomiya Keiji-san.”

“Yeah?”

“Maritsuji Anri hereby formally invites you to the Maritsuji Family’s Kantō Estate.”