I’d worked under a variety of bosses during my years of juggling part-time jobs, and even among them, I considered Ms. Shizune to be an exceptionally good one. Of course, her strictness was also in a league of its own.
"It’s currently lunch break at the academy, is it not? Until you become accustomed to your duties as a caretaker, Itsuki-sama, I will be checking in on you like this to see how things are going."
"......Thank you."
"Is the Young Lady with you?"
"Yes. She’s, uh... sleeping right now."
I didn’t feel the need to explicitly mention that she was using my lap as a pillow.
"Have you encountered any difficulties?"
"Nothing in particular so far.......If I had to say, the classes were pretty tough."
"Then let us increase the volume of your preparation for tomorrow."
"Ugh, I shouldn't have said anything. I just shot myself in the foot."
"Honesty is a trait that allows for great growth, you know."
People also say that honesty doesn't pay, though.
"That reminds me, Hinako mentioned something earlier... Have all the previous caretakers really quit within a month?"
"......That is correct," Ms. Shizune replied, her voice tinged with hesitation.
"Why was that?"
"All the previous caretakers were subordinates of Hinako-sama's father, Kagon-sama. However, being Kagon-sama’s subordinate essentially means being Hinako-sama’s subordinate as well. Because of that, whenever they performed their duties, their persona as a servant remained at the forefront... and that was the primary cause of the Young Lady’s displeasure."
"......Does Hinako dislike servants?"
"Not exactly. It isn’t that she dislikes the staff themselves; she simply dislikes the stiff, formal atmosphere they bring."
Well, I’d already begun to suspect that.
"Recruiting a commoner with no prior ties to the Konohana family as a caretaker is a first for us.......We were struggling to find a replacement when the Young Lady offered her own recommendation. We hired you as something of an experiment."
"I see..."
The transition from my appointment to my transfer into the academy had happened so fast that I’d been a little uneasy, but apparently, it was just as much of a trial for the Konohana family as it was for me. Their policy seemed to be to try everything before overthinking it, which explained the rapid decision-making.
"What is your relationship with the Young Lady like at the academy?"
"For now, I’ve just explained that our parents have a business connection."
"A wise choice. Please maintain that distance.......Have you had close interactions with anyone else?"
"It’s only the first day, so not many... but I’ve been talking a bit with Karen Asahi and Katsuya Taisho."
"I see. Asahi-sama and Taisho-sama."
I heard Ms. Shizune give a short hum of acknowledgment.
"Asahi-sama’s family runs a retail business... they operate a major electronics chain. A company called Jays Holdings."
"......I’ve never heard of it."
Asahi-san and Taisho had claimed to be students who were on the side of commoners. If that was the case, their companies probably weren't all that massive—just like the one I was supposedly from.
"Is that so? I believe Jays Denki is a very well-known brand."
"......Wait. Jays Denki?"
"Yes."
I’d definitely heard of Jays Denki. In fact, I’d shopped there before. Their commercials aired constantly; it was a chain so ubiquitous that practically everyone back at my old school would have recognized it.
"Th-That’s a huge name...!"
"Indeed. As an electronics retailer, their sales regularly place them among the top five companies in the country."
Oh, come on... "On the side of commoners"? She was a total heiress.
"And for the record, Taisho-sama’s family runs Taisho Transport, a major logistics firm famous for its Taisho Moving service."
"That one’s famous, too..."
"Quite."
I felt a bizarre sense of betrayal. Both were household names.
"The family businesses of your peers are common topics of conversation. It would be in your best interest to know them. Please continue to report whenever your social circle expands. By the way, since your family is officially an IT firm, we will begin your IT studies today. You must acquire at least a basic proficiency in programming."
"......Please go easy on me."
"Please continue to stay by the Young Lady’s side. If any problems arise, report to me immediately."
I ended the call. As I let out a deep sigh, I realized Hinako was staring straight at me.
"Itsuki...... is something wrong?"
"No, it’s just... I’m losing confidence in a lot of things."
Could I really survive in a school like this? Everywhere I looked, there were flowers atop unreachable peaks. I was terrified that I’d eventually slip up and bring shame to the Konohana family.
"Hey."
"Whaaat...?"
"Why did you choose me to be your caretaker?"
"Hmm..."
After a moment of thought, Hinako answered.
"I thought... that Itsuki wouldn’t fawn over me."
"......Fawn over you?"
"Mm."
Hinako gave a short nod of confirmation.
"I like how you take care of me... even while you’re thinking about how much of a pain I am."
I didn’t think those two thoughts necessarily connected, but maybe she was just half-asleep.
"I want to skip... the afternoon classes."
"......Absolutely not."
"Uuugh..."
Lunch break ended, and the fifth period began.
"Now then, for this problem... Taisho-kun, could you come solve it?"
"Eh?......S-Sorry. I don't know the answer."
Called on by the teacher, Taisho spoke with an apologetic wince.
"In that case, Konohana-san. If you would be so kind."
"Yes."
Hinako stood before the blackboard, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote out the answer.
"That is all."
"Excellent, a perfect answer as always. Thank you."
As Hinako returned to her seat, her classmates watched her with gazes full of admiration. I could hardly believe she was the same girl who had been lazily napping on my lap moments earlier—the same girl who had been whining about wanting to skip class.
The chime echoed through the halls, announcing the start of a break. I was rolling my shoulders to work out the knots in my muscles when Taisho and Asahi-san approached.
"Phew, I’m wiped. I hate the fifth period; it always makes me so drowsy."
"Oh, look, it’s Taisho-kun—the one who couldn't answer the question earlier."
"Ugh... I couldn't help it! I just miscalculated the range for the lesson prep, all right?"
As I thought, preparation was mandatory to keep up with the curriculum at Kikou Academy. While I was feeling impressed that Taisho took such effort for granted, I casually glanced over at Hinako’s seat.
Wait—Hinako’s gone?
Realizing she was nowhere to be seen, I stood up immediately.
"I’m going to the restroom for a bit."
After excusing myself from the two, I went out to search for her. It hadn't even been five minutes since class ended, so she couldn't have gone far. I hurried into the hallway and spotted her almost instantly.
"......Oh, she just went to the bathroom."
Hinako was chatting with several other girls as she entered the ladies' room. A few minutes later, she returned to the classroom and took her seat. I was about to head back in myself when my phone buzzed with an incoming call.
"Can you talk right now?"
"Yes."
I’d expected it, and I was right. It was Ms. Shizune.
"The Young Lady has likely dropped her wallet."
"Her wallet?"
"Yes. There is a discrepancy between the GPS signal from the Young Lady’s transmitter and the one attached to her wallet."
"......You put trackers on her stuff?"
Just how little did they trust Hinako?
"I’ll look for it right away.......Can you tell exactly where it is?"
"It is definitely on the west side of the main building, but I cannot be more specific than that."
The west side of the main building? Between the timing of the call and the location data, that meant...
"It’s probably... the restroom."
"......Ah, I see."
She must have dropped it when she went in there earlier.
"The Young Lady maintains a perfect facade in public, but she is inevitably alone in the restroom. She has a habit of losing things there."
"Is that so..."
"In any case, please retrieve it."
The call ended.
"......Retrieve it? Easier said than done."
I arrived at the entrance to the ladies' room and stopped, scratching my head. As a guy, I couldn't exactly walk in. What was I supposed to do?
"Is something the matter?"
As I stood there agonizing, a voice called out from the side. I turned to see a girl with an incredibly striking appearance. She had long, blonde hair styled into perfect vertical ringlets—the kind of look I’d only ever seen in manga. Her figure was impressive even through the school uniform, and her skin was porcelain-white. Her brown eyes held a powerful, sharp gaze that spoke of a very strong personality.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, well..."
"Oh, it seems I have yet to introduce myself."
The girl spoke to the bewildered me with a very distinct, haughty tone.
"I am Mirei Tennoji! The only daughter of the head of the Tennoji Group!"
She announced her name with immense pride.
"Ah. Okay."
"'Okay'......? What is with that listless response? Surely you aren't suggesting you’ve never heard of the Tennoji Group?"
"......Sorry."
When I apologized, Tennoji-san’s eyes went wide.
"C-Could it be that you truly do not know? We are talking about the Tennoji Group!"
"Forgive my ignorance."
"It is far beyond mere ignorance!!"
A high-pitched shout pierced my ears.
"The Tennoji Group is a titan with its roots in the mining industry! Today, we encompass Japan’s leading non-ferrous metal and chemical manufacturers. Our scale is every bit the equal of the Konohana Group!"
"......Is that so?"
I was practically blown back by the sheer volume of her lecture.
"That reaction... you do know of the Konohana Group, then?"
"Well, yeah."
"I knew it! This is why I cannot stand her... that Hinako Konohana! Because that woman exists, my own fame is completely eclipsed!!"
Tennoji-san’s face turned bright red as she trembled with rage. Apparently, she harbored quite the grudge.
"......Anyway, you looked like you were in trouble. What is it?"
When Tennoji-san asked that, having calmed down slightly, I remembered why I was there.
"Uh, I think a girl might have left her wallet in there, and I was trying to figure out how to get it back."
"If that is all, I shall retrieve it for you. Wait right there."
With that, Tennoji-san swept into the restroom. A minute later, she emerged holding a pink wallet.
"This is the one, yes?"
"Yes. Thank you so much."
"I suppose it is a bit late to ask, but how did you, a boy, realize this wallet was in the ladies' room?"
"Ah... well."
My brain went into overdrive as I came up with an answer.
"The owner asked me to help find it... so through a process of elimination, I figured it had to be in the restroom."
I’d basically told her the truth. Tennoji-san seemed to view Hinako as her mortal enemy, but she didn't seem to recognize the wallet. My answer seemed to satisfy her... or so I thought.
"You... does this not make you a mere errand boy?"
Tennoji-san looked at me with an expression of intense dissatisfaction.
"This will not do. As long as you attend this academy, you are destined to stand above others in the future, are you not? If you allow yourself to be ordered about like this already, I fear for your future."
"Uh, I’ll be careful."
"You lack conviction! Speak more clearly!"
"I’ll be careful!!"
"......There, you can do it when you try."
Tennoji-san nodded, seemingly satisfied.
"Furthermore, you should mind your posture. Confidence begins with how one carries themselves, you know?"
I straightened my back as instructed.
"That is better."
A small smile played on her lips as she watched me.
"Class is about to begin. If you find yourself in trouble again, simply look for this golden hair."
Tennoji-san gestured to her own hair as she spoke. It was certainly a landmark, but it also made me wonder about something.
"Um... this might be a weird question, but is it okay to dye your hair at this academy?"
"Wh-What?!"
Tennoji-san, who had been about to walk away with grace, let out a strange squawk and spun around.
"Y-You think my hair is dyed...?"
"It isn't?"
"Are you... are you implying my hair is a sham? Like mere gold plating?!"
"I didn't say all that."
I told her it was just a simple question. I wasn't even criticizing her.
"I—I haven’t dyed it..." she muttered. Then she took a deep breath. "I have NOT... DYED IT—!!"
Shouting at the top of her lungs, Tennoji-san bolted down the hallway.
"......She definitely dyes it."
The final class of the day ended, and the school day drew to a close.
"Yo, Tomonari. Good work today."
"What do you think? Want to have a little welcome party or something?"
Taisho and Asahi-san called out to me. I could only give them a wry, apologetic smile.
"Sorry. I’ve been told to head home as soon as possible."
"Well, I guess that’s to be expected on your first day," Taisho said, looking disappointed.
I was starting to feel a real pang of guilt. They’d been nothing but kind to me since the morning, yet I’d turned them down both at lunch and after school. Prioritizing my job as a caretaker was only natural, but I felt bad constantly brushing off their goodwill.
"Could I take you up on that some other time? I really want to learn more about the school."
"Of course! We’re free whenever!"
They both gave me bright smiles. Just then, Asahi-san pulled her phone from her pocket and checked the screen.
"Looks like my ride is here. I’m going to head out."
"I’ll head home too. See you tomorrow, Tomonari."
I waved goodbye to them. I grabbed my bag and prepared to leave... but before that, I had to ensure Hinako got home safely.
"Now, where’s Hinako...?"
She was just getting up from her seat. Since we officially had a "business connection," it wasn't a problem for us to speak, but I wanted to keep a polite distance to avoid any unnecessary drama. Hinako left the classroom, and I followed her secretly, making sure no one noticed.
I thought she’d head straight for the gates, but for some reason, she made a detour to the school store.
"One of these buns, please."
After buying a snack, she headed to the shoe lockers. Once she’d changed into her outdoor shoes, she bypassed the main gates and headed toward the gardens.
Kikou Academy had several gardens on its grounds. This time, Hinako headed to the one near the Old Student Council Building. There was a small pond and several tables set up, but the area was deserted. It was far from the main building, and since the old council building was no longer in use, people rarely came this way.
Standing by the edge of the pond, Hinako tore the bun into tiny pieces and tossed them in. Carp swarmed the surface, devouring the bread. As an heiress, maybe she had a refined heart that appreciated nature or an affection for animals.
However, she showed no sign of leaving. Ms. Shizune had told me not to dawdle, so after confirming the coast was clear, I approached her.
"What are you doing?"
"......Feeding."
I could see that. Having dropped her persona as a perfect lady, Hinako was crouching by the water, staring at the swarming carp.
"Must be nice..." she whispered.
"What is?"
"Getting food just by opening your mouth... I wish I could trade places with them."
"......I’m sure even carp have problems we don't know about."
"I wonder..."
She didn't seem to be showing them affection; she was just envious. I felt a weird mix of pity and exasperation.
"Time to go home. Ms. Shizune is waiting."
"......No."
Hinako’s voice was grumpy. I blinked, surprised by the refusal.
"You don't want to? You can relax once we’re back at the villa."
"I can’t... I have lessons and things."
Ah, so that was it. Even for a girl like Hinako, being an heiress was hard work.
"But staying here won't be any less stifling, will it?"
"It’s after school, so there aren't many people around. It’s not stifling."
She had a point. There were no after-school clubs at Kikou Academy because most students were too busy with tutoring or family businesses. Besides, since they were all rich, they usually had their own pools and gyms at home anyway.
"But you can’t stay here forever. Come on, let’s go."
"Nooo..."
"If you keep acting like this, won't you just end up with more work later?"
"Ugh."
Hinako looked genuinely pained for a second, but in the end, she still shook her head.
"Still... no."
Escaping from reality, she went back to silently feeding the carp. She was one stubborn girl. I needed a different approach.
"......Oh, right. Ms. Shizune gave me this."
I remembered the black bag she’d handed me this morning and pulled it from my school bag. She’d told me to use it if Hinako was being difficult, though I hadn't checked the contents yet. I opened it and looked inside.
"Potato chips!!"
Hinako, who had been listless just a moment ago, suddenly had stars in her eyes. It was exactly as she said: the bag contained a bag of consomme-flavored potato chips.
"H-How underhanded... I cannot resist such temptation..."
Hinako’s voice actually trembled. This was the first time I’d ever seen a person’s resolve shattered by a potato chip.
"I’ll give you these if we head home now."
"......Gunu-nu."
With a groan of defeat, Hinako stood up and snatched the chips from my hand.
Following our plan, we left separately. As soon as Hinako passed through the school gates, a black sedan pulled up. Ms. Shizune stepped out to greet her. I watched the scene while pretending to be a complete stranger, then continued walking into town.
I walked until I reached a secluded meeting point and waited. Soon, the car carrying Hinako and Ms. Shizune stopped nearby.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No problem. Good work today."
After a quick word to Ms. Shizune in the passenger seat, I climbed into the back. Hinako was already there. To any observer, it would look like we had returned home separately.
"Well done on your first day at the academy."
"Thank you."
I was a bit surprised by the rare word of praise from the usually strict Ms. Shizune. Beside me, Hinako was single-mindedly devouring the potato chips I’d given her.
"I see what I gave you this morning came in handy."
"It saved me at the last second. I didn't realize potato chips were that effective."
"They are the Young Lady’s favorite. She rarely gets to eat them, so the effect is immediate."
"......Rarely? They’re just chips."
"Of course. Such an unhealthy snack is hardly appropriate for a daughter of the Konohana family."
I guess even being rich didn't mean you were free. In some ways, they were more restricted than commoners.
"......I think a few potato chips should be fine."
"No. This is also a direct instruction from Kagon-sama.......She is permitted to eat potato slices prepared by a chef, but the Young Lady seems to prefer the commercially produced variety."
She probably liked that specific, unhealthy artificial flavor. I looked over and saw that crumbs were scattered all over Hinako’s lap.
"You're making a mess."
When I pointed it out, Hinako looked strangely proud.
"......It’s the same as slurping soba noodles."
"What?"
"Spilling crumbs... that is the proper etiquette for eating potato chips."
"No, it absolutely is not."
What was she even talking about with that smug face?
"......I’ll pick them up. Lift your hands."
"Mm."
Hinako slowly raised her arms. While she did, I picked the crumbs off her lap. Ms. Shizune deftly handed me a small plastic bag to throw them into.
"Itsuki, here."
Hinako called my name and held out the bag of chips.
"......Are you sharing?"
"No. I’m being a carp.......Put the bait in."
Like a carp waiting for bread, Hinako opened her mouth wide. She wanted me to feed her.
"Yeah, yeah. Here you go."
"Mmm... so good..."
I pinched a chip and placed it in her mouth, and she looked blissfully happy. She couldn't actually be a carp, but she was certainly enjoying the experience.
"Just to be safe, please ensure Kagon-sama never sees this."
"......Understood."
It was a scene that would invite all sorts of misunderstandings. Best to keep it behind closed doors.
"You'll keep this between us, right, Ms. Shizune?"
"I would prefer to report it immediately, but... unfortunately, I cannot find a replacement for you on such short notice.......I did suggest we should just snip it off before you developed any carnal desires for the Young Lady, though."
"Please, spare me!"
I bowed my head deeply to the terrifying maid.
As soon as we got back to the villa, my lessons with Ms. Shizune resumed.
"First, we will begin our preparation for tomorrow. You have a business administration class, so we will focus on that. The topic is corporate finance."
Many of the students at Kikou Academy were destined to lead companies, so the business classes were far more practical than in normal schools. Knowledge of corporate management was hammered into me.
"I’ve graded your quiz. Eighty-seven percent... you have several careless mistakes. You lack concentration."
"Yes, ma'am."
It took three hours of constant study until I finally hit a perfect score.
"Next is your etiquette training. There are many wealthy heirs at the academy besides the Young Lady. If you act rudely toward them, you risk inciting unnecessary hostility. We must master this now. Today’s topic: table manners for French cuisine."
Even during dinner, the lesson continued. Ms. Shizune and I were alone. I had to hold the knife and fork with my index fingers extended. I had to eat the fish hors d'oeuvre without it falling apart, drink the soup silently, and cut the meat into perfect bite-sized pieces along the grain.
"Incorrect. Placing your utensils at the six o’clock position when finished is the British style. In French etiquette, they are placed parallel at the three o’clock position."
"Y-Yes, ma'am."
I turned the knife and fork sideways, placing the handles on the right side of the plate. The blade of the knife had to face toward me.
"Now that your review for digestion is complete, it is time for your self-defense lesson. Fortunately, Itsuki-san, your body has been tempered by physical labor, so we can focus on technique rather than basic conditioning. Today is Jujutsu. Start with one hundred Forward Roll Breakfalls."
I changed into my judo gi and headed to the villa’s dojo. After breakfall practice, I was taught basic throws, followed by live sparring.
"Hup—!!"
"Naïve."
I tried to pull Ms. Shizune forward while sweeping her leg for a Kouchi Gari. She saw right through me, shifted her weight, and used my own momentum to slam me onto the mat.
"Your weight shift is far too obvious. You might be able to take down an amateur like that, but it will never work against someone with martial arts training."
"Yes... ma'am..."
My voice was pathetic; I couldn't hide my exhaustion anymore. The reason I was learning this was because of the kidnapping risk—the very thing that had brought Hinako and me together. Kidnappers looking for a payday were often experienced fighters. Being "okay" wasn't going to cut it.
"P-Please... just a short break..."
"No. As a caretaker, you must protect the Young Lady in an emergency. If you're giving up now, you'll never survive a real threat."
This woman was a demon. A Spartan. A devil. All these words flashed through my mind, but they were accompanied by a deep sense of respect. Ms. Shizune was perfect at everything—academics, manners, and martial arts. On top of that, she managed her duties as a maid flawlessly. If Hinako was the perfect Young Lady, Ms. Shizune was the perfect maid.
"We shall stop here for tonight. Good work."
"Th-Thank you..."
The lesson finally ended two hours after I’d first felt like giving up.
"You're a faster learner than I expected."
"Really?"
"Yes. You may actually have a talent for self-defense. If you polish it, you could become quite capable.......On the other hand, your manners are still quite lacking."
"Ugh... sorry."
My family’s standard of living back home had been anything but wealthy. I still couldn't get used to knives and forks.
"It would be a problem if you wandered around the villa covered in sweat, so please go bathe. However, while you are soaking, read these."
She handed me a stack of papers.
"What are these?"
"Profiles of your classmates. It will be to your benefit to know them."
Studying even in the bath, huh? Well, for twenty thousand yen a day, I wasn't about to complain.
"Oh, right. I met someone else today."
"Who?"
"Mirei Tennoji. She’s in a different class, though."
Ms. Shizune’s eyes widened.
"Tennoji-sama spoke to you?"
"Yeah.......Was it a problem?"
"No, not a problem. However, the rumor within the academy is that Tennoji-sama and the Young Lady are like dogs and monkeys. It is a delicate relationship."
That was news to me.
"Tennoji-sama may feel differently, but the Young Lady harbors no such ill will. However, the Konohana and Tennoji Groups are similar in scale. They often compete, and depending on the situation, relations between the families can become quite tense."
"......I see."
"I will prepare a profile on Tennoji-sama by tomorrow. For tonight, focus on memorizing your classmates."
"Got it," I replied.
My formal lessons were over, but I still had "self-study." I needed to get these profiles into my head before I went to sleep. Ms. Shizune stayed behind to do a light cleaning of the dojo. I wanted to help, but I was at my limit. I’d only be in the way.
"Itsuki—"
On the way to my room, I ran into Hinako. Before I could ask what she wanted, she pressed herself against me.
"......Mm."
"What is it?"
"......You smell like sweat."
"Well, yeah. I just finished training."
I pushed her away as she wrinkled her nose.
"Where are you going?"
"My room. Then the bath."
"The bath?......Then follow me."
Hinako grabbed my hand and led me away.
"Where are we...?"
"My room."
The room we entered was over five times the size of mine. It had a massive brown carpet and a canopy bed—the ultimate "rich girl" room.
"The bath is... here."
She opened a door past her dressing area.
"Whoa... it’s huge."
The bathroom was as big as my entire bedroom. It was practically a small public bathhouse. But why was she bringing me here?
"Let’s go in together."
"......Wait, why?"
"Phew..."
Hinako let out a long, relaxed sigh as she sank into the water. She was wearing a white bikini.
"......A swimsuit, huh."
"Did you say something?"
"Nothing."
I’d been startled when she suggested we bathe together, but it seemed she’d planned for us to wear swimsuits. She’d even had one ready for me in the dressing room.
"Well... in a tub this big, I guess it’d be lonely to soak alone."
"Mm-hmm... paradise... this is paradise..."
Hinako stretched out, the movement looking unexpectedly mature. Her face was flushed from the heat, and water dripped from her silk-like amber hair.
"......Itsuki, what’s wrong?"
She noticed me staring and leaned forward to peer into my face. My entire field of vision was suddenly filled with her cleavage.
"N-Nothing. It’s nothing."
I looked away, staring at the wall. Calm down. Just calm down. I was trying my best not to think of her that way, but Hinako was still a beautiful girl. If I let my guard down, my hormones would start winning over my sense of duty.
To distract myself, I picked up the papers I’d brought in. They were in a waterproof plastic sleeve.
"What's that?"
"Profiles. Ms. Shizune told me to memorize our classmates."
The documents were incredibly detailed. I already knew about Taisho and Asahi-san, but the others were just as impressive—heirs to conglomerates, children of famous politicians.
"By the way, Hinako, are you close with anyone in class?"
"No one," she said in her usual flat tone.
"Really? You were surrounded by people all day."
"Hmm... they aren't friends."
More than acquaintances, but less than friends. I’d only been at the academy for a day, but I was starting to understand her position. She was "perfect," which meant she was isolated. The people around her weren't friends; they were an entourage.
"Do you ever want friends?"
"Hmm............"
Hinako actually took a moment to think about it.
"......As long as I have Itsuki, it’s fine."
I decided to take that as a sign of deep trust. Feeling a small swell of happiness, I watched as she stood up and moved to sit in front of me, her back turned toward me.
"Wash my hair."
"......Excuse me?"
I stared at the back of her head.
"Wash it yourself."
"......Shizune usually does it for me."
So she had no intention of doing it herself. I let out a sigh. Typical Young Lady behavior.
"Are there any itchy spots, ma'am?"
"Nope—"
I lathered the shampoo and began to wash. It was my first time washing a girl’s hair. I hoped I was doing it right. Apparently, she always had her hair washed while she was in the tub, and then they’d drain the whole thing afterward. My commoner brain winced at the thought of the water bill.
"......Muu."
Hinako let out a soft sound.
"It’s hot............ this is in the way."
She reached behind her back and unfastened the top of her bikini.
"Wait—?!"
I stopped dead and looked away.
"What are you doing?! Put that back on right now!"
"But it’s hot... and it’s weird to wear a swimsuit in the bath anyway..."