Volume 2 - Prologue

Two days after the end of the Konohana family’s social gathering.

Monday morning. I changed into my school uniform, and after attending the servants’ meeting, I headed to Hinako’s room.

“…… You’re sleeping well.”

I didn’t go to wake her up yesterday morning because it was a holiday and there was nothing in particular to do.

I’ve been in a lot of turmoil lately with the dismissal of the caretaker, but seeing this happy sleeping face makes me realize that I’ve returned to my normal routine.

However, I couldn’t just sit back and relax.

I pushed off the futon and shook Hinako, who was sleeping with her stomach sticking out.

“Hinako, it’s morning.”

“Hmm ………………, when is it?”

“Oh.”

I opened the curtains of the room and let the sunlight in.

Hinako sat up and rubbed her eyes sleepily.

“…… Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

I turned to Hinako as we exchanged greetings.

In a room brightened by sunlight, Hinako yawned loudly and then let out a sigh.

“I don’t want to go to the academy……”

“Don’t be selfish.”

Performing may be hard work, but attending the academy is not useless.

I want Hinako to eventually want to go to the academy on her own. And I guess that’s my mission as a caretaker.

I mustn’t forget that I was almost dismissed as her caretaker.

I have to keep myself in check.

While thinking about this, I suddenly paid attention to Hinako’s mouth.

“Hinako, look up for a second.”

“Hmm …?”

I took something out of my pocket and held it close to Hinako, who looked up at me curiously.

“What’s that?”

“A handkerchief. You’re drooling, so I thought I’d wipe it off.”

“What …………?”

As if her brain wasn’t working, Hinako repeatedly said the same thing to me.

The next moment, Hinako looked down with a sudden impatient look on her face.

“What’s wrong? Face down all of a sudden.”

“I’ll wipe it off myself. ………… Don’t look at my face.”

She put the handkerchief in her palm and immediately wiped her mouth with it.

I’m sure we’ve both gotten used to me wiping up Hinako’s drool by now, but …… what’s wrong with her today?

“I’ve got a change of clothes for you.”

“……Hmm”

Hinako shook her little head.

After waking Hinako up, the next thing to do was to help her get dressed. At first, it was stimulating and made my head spin, but lately I’ve been able to keep my rational mind in check, so I’m not so bad at it anymore.

“……. Get out.”

“What?”

“Quick, get out.”

Hinako said, holding the change of clothes in her hands.

The words came as an unbelievable shock to me.

“…………………… What?”

I asked again in surprise, and Hinako pushed me out of the room, her face flushing red.

I hear the door slam shut behind me.

“… Hmm”

It’s not just my imagination.

Hinako has been acting strange since the other day’s social event.

To be exact, her attitude toward me is different from before. In the past, she would have been more open and honest with me. …… What kind of change of heart is this?

“Will it be back to normal in a while……?”

I waited by the door for ten minutes. Hinako came out of her room.

As expected, she hadn’t been able to change her clothes properly by herself, so I ended up helping her. Her shirt was buttoned wrong, and her skirt zipper was biting the fabric in the middle. What was different from usual was that Hinako kept looking away in embarrassment while I was fixing them.

After leading Hinako to the cafeteria, I went to my room to pick up my bag of textbooks.

On the way, I met Shizune.

“Itsuki-san. Is there something wrong with the lady?”

“Something wrong? …… No, I don’t think there was anything in particular.”

If I had to say, I would say that Hinako was acting strange, but it’s not like there was anything wrong.

“The lady said she didn’t want to be woken up by Itsuki-san tomorrow.”

“Eh…”

“I’ll ask again. Did something happen?”

She stared at me as if she were looking at a criminal.

I wanted to clear up that misunderstanding, so I explained about Hinako’s behavior after the social event. If I told Shizune, she might be able to give me some clues.

“Something’s wrong with the lady, is it? ……”

“Well… Did I do something to make Hinako dislike me?”

“No, rather, the incident the other day showed that the young lady is quite fond of Itsuki-san…….”

I was both happy and embarrassed to hear that.

“It doesn’t sound like she’s ill, but I’ll have a look at her. If you find out anything, please report back.”

“Yes.”

I separated from Shizune and headed for the cafeteria where Hinako was.

We should be heading for the academy soon.