CH 6

Chapter 06: Welcome to The Konohana Family (2)

Translated by Hikaru

Edited by VampireKnight

Apparently, this girl, Hinako Konohana, has a huge difference in attitude between her public image and her private image. Even though it was the private side, I am more familiar with this version since Hinako was like that from the beginning when she was at the kidnapping scene. I have only been familiar with her for about three hours, though.

“Um, the girl in the video, is she a maid or something?”

“She’s the former caretaker. She recently suffered a puncture in her stomach due to stress, and after being hospitalized, she submitted her resignation.”

“…… Wow.”

That is also a terrible story to tell.  But just now you were saying she was my predecessor. So you were saying I should be the next sacrifice?

“In short, Hinako can play the role of an impeccable young lady in public, but outside of that, she becomes a self-depraved figure like she is now. There’s a huge difference between on and off. She needs a companion who can handle both.”

“So that’s… the caretaker.”

“That’s what it is.” Kagen-san nodded his head.

“The role of the caretaker is to protect Hinako’s public image as a perfect young lady. In other words, to support her behind the scenes to prevent her true nature from coming to light. What do you think…, will you accept? It was Hinako’s own request, I would be grateful if you could be the one to take care of her.”

I thought about the question before answering. “I was kidnapped, and you saved me. It may seem shallow of me to say this when I owe you all so much, but… will there be a reward?”

“Of course. Live-in boarding, three meals a day. And I’ll pay you a salary on top of that.”

That’s ― that’s a hell of a good deal. This is what it means to be a rice cake on a shelf. There is no better condition than this for me, as I was about to have no place to live. Rather, I am sure he took my situation into consideration when he made this suggestion. I am very grateful.

“About the salary…, how about 20,000 yen a day?”

“Tw, Twenty thousand!?”

Kagen-san rolled his eyes at my surprise.

“Oh, was that not enough? But I’m hesitant to pay the same salary as a professional butler or maid… Then how about 50,000 yen per day?”

“The opposite! It’s too high!”

I didn’t expect the price to go up.

“Then I’ll hire you at your price. How much do you want?”

Asking for a price. This is the first time I have heard that line outside of fiction.

“If it’s a daily wage, 8,000 yen is enough.”

Even if you’re a temporary worker, it’s more than enough to get 8,000 yen. I thought I mentioned the general market rate, but… for some reason, Kagen-san wrinkled his brows.

“Itsuki-kun. The responsibility of a caretaker is much more important than you think.” Kagen-san said with a mysterious look on his face.

“Between you and me, the Konohana Group’s performance has been sluggish lately. The economy is a big part of it, but there are also factional disputes within the group and conflicts with competitors, so things aren’t going as well as they should. It’s not enough to bankrupt us, but it’s too much to ignore. So… it’s important to know who my daughter will marry.”

“A marriage, is it?”

Kagen-san nods and looks at Hinako, who is sleeping behind me.

“The reason why Hinako plays the role of a perfect young lady in public is to find a better marriage partner. She makes sure that she always puts on that performance at the academy, parties, and other places where she interacts with people as the daughter of the Konohana family. The caretaker… is an aid to that, in other words, a serious role in protecting the Konohana family brand.”

When I heard that explanation, I thought again. I really lived in a different world. Previously, I had never thought about a bride or a brand in my life.

“I guess I should have explained it to you first. I don’t mean to sound harsh…, but this is the first time I’ve hired commoners. So, I guess I didn’t make enough explanations.” Kagen-san said with an apologetic look on his face.

“So how much do you want to be paid?”

I was pierced by Kagen-san’s sharp gaze and swallowed my spit. It was a good thing that I have been so carefully reminded, so I can understand the purpose of this question and answer accordingly.

―His resolve was being questioned.

What price were you willing to work for, Kagen-san was asking. If you sold yourself cheaply, he would look at you with disappointment as he did before. But if you asked for a price that was out of your worth, you would be laughed at as being unreasonable. In the end, the answer I chose was―

“… For 20,000 yen, please.”

“Hmm… the original price. Well, that’s fine. I hope it works for you. Then I’m expecting that much work.”

With that said, Kagen-san took out a document from his desk drawer. While filling out something on the form, he continued to say.

“You’ll start work tomorrow.”

“From tomorrow !?”

“You’ve seen the video earlier. Hinako would be lost even in the house without her caretaker. We need someone to support Hinako as soon as possible.”

Not that I’d be surprised if you get lost, with the size of this mansion, but…

“Itsuki-kun. Is it okay to have M size clothes?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right… will you provide me with some clothes for work as well?”

“It’s more of a work uniform. You’ll be attending the Imperial Academy from now on.”

“… ha!?”

I was expecting something like a butler’s uniform, but I got an answer I hadn’t imagined at all. The Imperial Academy. It was that prestigious school that Hinako attended.

“Hinako goes to the academy. Of course, the caretaker would go with her.”

“No, but, it’s a very prestigious school. I don’t think I’d fit in if I went there…”

”You’ll have to adapt somehow. It’s part of the job. It seems that you had good grades at the previous school, so it’s not like you’re bad at studying, right?”

In order to increase my chances of being able to attend college as much as possible, I had been taking my studies a bit more seriously, but…it was a different level from the prestigious schools.

Will I be okay…?  Studying, exercising, manners, communication skills, etc. My anxiety is endless.

“Since followers are not allowed in the academy, you will be attending the academy as a regular student. In order to keep it from being an issue, your identity will be that of a member of the Konohana Group from the branch family. You are aiming to be a CEO in the future, but also an ordinary guy who’s familiar with the lives of ordinary people.”

“It’s not normal to be the son of an heir…”

“It’s a normal thing at the Imperial Academy,” Kagen-san said simply.

For me, the academy itself is not normal.

“Your company is part of the Konohana Group. That’s why you can’t raise your head to Hinako…  That’s the kind of story that will alleviate suspicions on you.”

So that was it. Certainly, my role would be less obvious if I had that status. I looked at the girl sleeping behind me. She was drooling again, so I lifted her chin and closed her mouth. She and I might be friends for a long time to come. Thinking about it made me feel closer to her.

“By the way, if you ever lay a hand on my daughter―”

Realizing that Kagen-san was staring at me, I straightened my posture.

“It’s a little, little cut, isn’t it?”

“Cut it off? Ha-ha-ha! No, I wouldn’t do that!” Kagen-san laughed vigorously.

“I usually kill them.”

“Huh!?”

It was too simple and scary.

“Then, I’ll be counting on you from tomorrow.”

As Kagen-san said this, the maid who had been waiting in the back slowly opened the door to the room. Hinako, who had been asleep, woke up and rubbed her eyes. Just before I was about to walk out of the room with her.

“Oh, and ― I’ve done some research on your house,” Kagen-san said with a serious look on his face as I turned around.

“At the Imperial Academy, the daughter of the Miyakojima family is also enrolled. I’m sure there’s no conflict between you personally and that family, but…I want you to refrain from any unnecessary contact, just in case.”

“…Yes.”

Right, so she is at the academy too. Well, I guess she probably does not remember me. There was no way that contact was going to happen.