Kikou Academy—one of the top three most prestigious schools in Japan.
Having long produced the figures at the very heart of the nation—from prime ministers to the CEOs of major corporations—the academy still counts many children of the wealthy among its students today.
The students' career paths are largely split between politics and business management, making the curriculum naturally advanced. While the campus resembles a grand estate, the students aren't exactly raised as pampered, delicate flowers. At Kikou Academy, top-tier teachers provide a world-class education as a matter of course.
However, even in such an extraordinary academy, school hierarchies—the "school caste"—still exist.
Currently, at the absolute apex of Kikou Academy, reigns a single girl.
Total assets: approximately three hundred trillion yen.
The Konohana Group—a conglomerate known to every citizen in the country.
She is the family's scion, Hinako Konohana.
"Good day, Konohana-san."
"Good day to you as well."
With her amber hair fluttering behind her, she exchanged greetings with a refined, graceful smile.
"Ah, she's so lovely today... Konohana-san is truly something else."
"Man, just being in the same class as her is enough to make my year..."
The girl walked through the academy with her back perfectly straight, exuding an air of quiet dignity.
"K-Konohana-san! I'm planning to host a tea party in the garden after school today... I-if you'd like, would you care to join us?"
"That sounds lovely. I would be delighted to attend."
"Konohana-san. There was something from the last lesson I didn't quite understand..."
"I would be happy to help, if I am able."
Beautiful, intelligent, and refined—she was known by some as the perfect lady.
Popular and always surrounded by people, I watched over her from a distance.
"Yo, Tomonari. Were you staring at Konohana-san again?"
A male student sitting next to me spoke up.
"...You caught me."
"Give it up, man. She’s way out of your league."
Out of my league, huh...
As the only commoner in the entire school, every single girl attending this academy was out of my league.
"Anyway, next is a room change. I need to hit the restroom, so I'll head out first."
With that, my classmate left the classroom.
During the break, once the rest of our classmates had filtered out into the hallway, I slowly approached her.
"Konohana-san, we need to move soon or we'll be late for class."
Only the two of us remained in the room.
The girl hailed as the perfect lady remained slumped over her desk, not moving a single muscle.
"Konohana-san?"
"...Tone."
"...This isn't the time to be stubborn. Come on, hurry up."
"Tone."
Her voice sharpened slightly.
After double-checking that there was no one else in sight, I gave in to her demand.
"...Hinako. Let's move, already."
The moment I said it, her face softened into a loose, silly grin.
"Ehehe..."
She looked utterly lazy, a far cry from the image of a perfect lady. The girl slowly sat up and reached her arms out toward me.
"Carry me~"
"...Give me a break. What if someone saw us?"
"I wouldn't really mind..."
"Well, I would. I'd be killed by the Konohana family."
The girl pouted at my response.
"I don't wanna go to class..."
"You have to."
"I want to go home. I want to sleep. I want to eat potato chips."
"I'll have the chips ready when we get back to the mansion, so just get moving."
"Moo..."
I let out a heavy sigh as she continued to sit there, refusing to budge.
I had no choice. I'd have to physically pull her out of the classroom.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, the classroom door slid open with a sharp click.
"Oh, are you two still here? Your next class is in a different room, isn't it?"
Our female homeroom teacher stood there, looking at us.
"Ah, no, well—"
"—My apologies. I had a few questions about the lesson, so I was consulting with Tomonari-kun."
The girl spoke up before I could fumble an excuse. Her expression was no longer the spoiled, needy one from a moment ago; it was the one the students knew well—the face of the perfect lady.
"I see. It’s impressive to see you so diligent with your studies even during the break," the teacher said with an admiring nod. "Is something the matter, Tomonari-kun? You should head to your next classroom."
"........................ Right."
As always, her performance in front of others was flawless.
Feeling a bit unsettled by the sudden shift, I nodded and left the classroom with her.
I'm not a genius, nor am I a prodigy. My family isn't rich—in fact, we're the exact opposite.
So, how did a mediocre commoner like me end up at such a prestigious academy?
To explain that, I have to go back to an incident from a month ago.
Everything began when I became Hinako Konohana's caretaker.