"It won't just be academics. I will also beat manners, deportment, and self-defense into you."
"Self-defense?"
"Just to be safe."
Ms. Shizune spoke nonchalantly to my stunned face.
"Oh? Have you been cowed already?"
"No... I’ve worked plenty of manual labor jobs in my time. I’m confident in my physical strength."
"Is that so? Then after you've finished your prep work, let us see what you can do."
I flashed a bold smile at Ms. Shizune as she spoke with such cool composure.
Given her personality, I figured I should seize the initiative while I still could. Of course, she was undoubtedly my superior in my role as a caretaker... but if I acted too humble, she would likely subject me to Spartan education for the rest of my life.
I’ll show this woman, with her graceful life in her luxurious mansion, exactly what I’m made of.
Don't underestimate the grit of a struggling student—
"I'm at my limit. Please forgive me. I'm going to die."
Later that night. I was performing a full kowtow toward Ms. Shizune in a dojo located in a corner of the mansion.
"I see. Then let us conclude today's lesson here."
Having finished a grueling gauntlet of lessons covering academics, manners, and more, I was so exhausted my consciousness was starting to haze over.
The self-defense lesson, in particular, had pushed me to my absolute breaking point. I never expected to be handled as easily as a helpless infant... Ms. Shizune was a terrifyingly efficient combat maid.
"Please refer to this manual regarding your duties as a caretaker."
"...It's thick."
"I intended to convey everything orally before dinner, but if there is anything you don't understand, rely on the manual or me," Ms. Shizune said as I received the heavy binder.
"Um... Lady Hinako is still sleeping in my room."
"The Young Lady is usually asleep when she is at the mansion. Please leave her be."
"No, but I'd like to sleep soon..."
"Please sleep in the hallway. I will lay out a futon for you."
"..."
"I'm joking. Please wait until the Young Lady returns to her room."
"...Yes, ma'am."
"Well then, I shall take my leave. Call me by phone if anything happens."
With that, Ms. Shizune left the dojo.
After accepting the caretaker position, I had been issued a smartphone given to all Konohana family employees. Ms. Shizune's number was already in the contacts... but I'd rather not call it if I could help it.
"I had a feeling, but... being a caretaker is a job that normally requires a high-spec individual, doesn't it?" I muttered as I left the dojo and headed toward my room.
It seemed Ms. Shizune's lessons would be a daily occurrence. If I kept this up, I might become a perfect person skilled in both the literary and military arts in just a few months... or I'll break first.
When I returned to the room, the girl was still there.
"Nfuu... ehe, ehehe..."
Apparently, Lady Hinako really loves sleeping.
She slept a lot while she was kidnapped, too, but right now she looked ready to sleep soundly until morning.
I let out a sigh and sat down in the desk chair.
I was exhausted, so I wanted to turn in early as well. However, since Lady Hinako was occupying the bed, I wasn't sure how to proceed...
"Right. This is what the manual is for."
I flipped through the pages.
"Let's see, here it is. 'Precautions for when the Young Lady is sleeping: Mansion Edition.'...'When at the mansion, the Young Lady spends the vast majority of her time sleeping. Since waking her from a deep sleep will put her in a terrible mood, be sure to guide her to her room before letting her fall asleep.'...It's already too late."
I had a general idea of where Lady Hinako's room was, but I wondered if it was acceptable to just carry her there.
Just as I was about to check the manual for that as well... my smartphone suddenly vibrated.
I had a new message.
Yuri: Want to walk to school together tomorrow?
Looking at the message on the screen, I unintentionally let out a sharp gasp.
"...Crap, I forgot to explain everything to her."
Since my previous smartphone had been in my parents' name, I had synced the data to the provided phone. Because of that, messages from my old acquaintances were still coming through.
How should I explain this? While I was agonizing over it, messages flew in one after another.
Yuri: It's fine if you don't want to! I'll just go with my other friends anyway!
Yuri: Hello?
Yuri:...Don't leave me on read.
I wasn't ignoring her.
Since I couldn't come up with a good answer no matter how much I worried, I decided to tell the truth.
Itsuki: Something happened, so I can't go to that school anymore.
Yuri: Huh?
A reply came immediately.
Yuri: Can you talk on the phone?
Itsuki: Sorry, I'm exhausted. Maybe another time.
Honestly, my brain wasn't working anymore. If I tried to process anything else now, I felt like all the knowledge Ms. Shizune had crammed into me would leak out of my head.
The phone vibrated again.
Even though I said another time... No good. I just didn't have the energy to answer.
After I left it alone for a while, more messages popped up.
Yuri: Why aren't you answering?
Yuri: Hey.
Yuri: Hey??
"—Hey."
"Whoa!?"
Suddenly being spoken to from right behind me, I practically jumped out of my skin.
I turned around to find Lady Hinako standing there, narrowing her eyes sleepily.
"Y-You were awake..."
"Who is that person?"
"Eh?...Ah, well, she's a childhood friend from the high school I used to go to..."
"...Hmm."
Giving a meaningful nod, Lady Hinako reached for my smartphone.
Did she want to look something up on the internet? Thinking so, I handed her the phone, and—
"...Confiscated."
"Eh?"
Still clutching my phone, Lady Hinako crawled back under the covers.
"Peace has been maintained with this..."
"What do you mean 'peace'... Um, give it back."
"No."
Still facing away from me, Lady Hinako spoke.
"...I hate that way of speaking."
"Huh?"
Way of speaking... ah, did she mean the formal speech?
"Change it back."
"No, but..."
"If you don't, you're fired."
How tyrannical...
"...Is this okay?"
"Mhm....That's better."
"Ms. Shizune told me to fix my speech, though..."
"I'll tell Shizune tomorrow."
Then, I guess... it's okay?
I could just ask Ms. Shizune directly tomorrow.
"Itsuki."
"...What is it?"
"From tomorrow... I'm counting on you."
Lady Hinako said it with a gentle, soft smile.
For a moment, I found myself captivated by her, and it took me a second to reply.
"...Yeah."
Satisfied by my response, Lady Hinako snuggled back into the bed—
"Ah, hey! Wait! If you're going to sleep, at least go back to your own room!"
The Young Lady was already out cold.
Is she Nobita or something?