The following morning, I woke at my usual time and immediately changed into my academy uniform.
After finishing a few light servant duties, I headed back to my room to grab my bag for the Academy. On my way, I spotted Hinako walking toward me from the other end of the hallway.
The hallway was a straight shot to the dining hall. Ms. Shizune had likely guided her part of the way there.
"Yawn... Morning, Itsuki..."
"Morning. Heading to breakfast?"
"Mm..."
Hinako nodded sleepily.
"I wish we could eat breakfast together, too..."
"I have my servant duties in the morning. It can't be helped."
"...Even though you don't have to wake me up anymore?"
"There are plenty of other things to do. Cleaning, laundry... Ms. Shizune has her hands full, right?"
Hinako let out a noncommittal "Nm-mu," making it unclear whether she was convinced or not.
As I looked at her, a question I’d been meaning to ask finally slipped out.
"By the way, I’ve been wondering... why did you suddenly decide I shouldn't wake you up in the morning anymore?"
"Euh!"
Hinako let out a strange little squeak.
Her expression looked exactly like I had poked her where it hurt.
"T-that's because..."
"And before, you used to ask for piggyback rides and to be carried all the time, but you stopped doing that lately too..."
To be honest, it had bothered me at first. I’d worried that I had done something wrong.
However, Hinako clearly still trusted me. That only made me more curious. What exactly had caused this change in her recently?
"I... I thought I should... graduate from that sort of thing..."
"Graduate? Is there a reason for that?"
"There is, but... even I don't really understand it myself..."
Hinako let out a troubled sigh before eventually speaking in a slow, quiet voice.
"................If you... want to do it, Itsuki... then I will."
I hadn't expected that response.
How should I put it... to be honest, it didn't feel bad. But it wasn't something that should be done lightly. Excessive skinship was dangerous in many ways.
"It's not that I specifically want to, but... I was just thinking that if you become so independent that you don't need any help, there might not be much point in me being your caretaker anymore."
"—!?"
In reality, Hinako still got lost even inside the mansion and would try to nap whenever she found an opening, so there was still plenty of work for a caretaker. I said it with a wry smile, but Hinako's face suddenly went pale, as if she were witnessing a tragedy.
She furrowed her brow, her lips moving as she mumbled something inaudibly.
Eventually, she took on a look of firm determination.
"................Carry me."
"Eh?"
"Carry me...!"
It was the first time she’d made the request in a while, but unlike before, her tone left no room for argument.
Though bewildered by her sudden shift, I moved to pick her up. When I got close enough for our skin to brush, Hinako turned her body sideways and wrapped her arms around my neck.
Apparently, she wanted a princess carry. While it was a bit embarrassing, I have to admit part of me was happy to be asked again after so long.
I slowly lifted Hinako into my arms.
Her face, visible right against my chest, was flushed a deep crimson.
"...Um, are you okay?"
"I’m fine... just... take me to the dining hall like this..."
Perhaps she didn't want me to see her face, as she buried it against my chest.
Even so, she couldn't hide her bright red ears.
"Because... I want you to keep taking care of me, Itsuki..." she whispered, her fingers tightening their grip on my collar.
Seeing her like that made my expression soften.
"I don't have any intention of quitting as your caretaker either."
"...Mm."
Hinako gave a meek reply.
She definitely seemed different than before. However, it wasn't that she disliked me. It felt almost as if she was starting to see me as a member of the opposite sex—
"...No, that can't be it."
I muttered the words so quietly she couldn't hear.
She just looked up to me as a trustworthy member of the family.
After convincing myself of that, I carried Hinako the rest of the way to the dining hall.
Monday after school.
While we were studying as usual in the cafe next to the dining hall, I noticed that Tennoji-san’s pen had stopped moving.
"Tennoji-san?"
"Eh?...Oh, ah, my apologies. I was lost in thought for a moment."
She seemed uncharacteristically distracted.
It wasn't just now, either. For a while now, I’d felt like her mind was elsewhere.
"Is something the matter? You seem a bit out of it today."
"...No, please do not worry. I have no issues with my health."
With those words, Tennoji-san began grading the answer sheet I had filled out.
"I have finished grading your quiz. Your score is 98... It seems that while you put all your effort into the applied questions, your review of the basics was somewhat lacking."
After she finished grading the math quiz, Tennoji-san immediately explained my mistakes.
I silently took notes on her explanation.
"Next will be practical training for table etiquette... but let us take a break before that. I shall go to the powder room."
Tennoji-san stood up and headed toward the school building.
Watching her walk away, I tilted my head.
"...She definitely lacks her usual energy."
She had said it was nothing, but that was surely a lie.
Her complexion wasn't bad, and there was nothing unnatural about the way she walked. So while her health might be fine, she was undoubtedly troubled by something.
I felt it would be rude to pry into something she clearly wanted to keep secret. I wanted to help her, provided it didn't come across as unwanted meddling, but...
While I was lost in thought, a familiar figure crossed in front of me.
I called out to the female student with tied-back black hair that reached down to her thighs.
"Narika?"
"Hm?...Itsuki! It's you, Itsuki!"
Noticing my presence, Narika approached with her eyes sparkling.
To think she would get so happy just from me calling her name... She really was like an affectionate dog. I could almost see an imaginary tail wagging vigorously behind her.
"Did you call for me, Itsuki?"
"No, I just called out to you... What are you doing staying at the Academy this late?"
"Oh, it's nothing much. I was checking if the Academy would be interested in using some of the products we've developed. My family manufactures sports equipment, you see. The Academy is a major client."
Narika's family, the Miyakojima family, ran a sports equipment manufacturer.
She had likely been pitching equipment for use in physical education classes.
"...I see you've been busy."
"Well, I am a daughter of the Miyakojima family, after all. You can praise me, you know."
"Impressive, impressive."
"...That was a bit half-hearted, wasn't it?"
Despite her words, Narika still looked happy.
"By the way, what are you doing here, Itsuki?"
"I’m having a study session with Tennoji-san. We're preparing for the proficiency exam and doing some practical etiquette training."
"Mm, I see. Continuing to study even after the midterm exams have ended—both you and Tennoji-san are quite diligent."
"I suppose....Though, it’s not like there’s a huge gap between my grades and yours, Narika."
"...True, perhaps I should be studying as well."
In truth, Narika’s grades were lower than mine. While she got near-perfect scores in PE and history, her other subjects were below average—though she did manage to avoid failing.
As the conversation reached a natural pause, a brief silence fell between us.
For some reason, Narika was acting fidgety. Perhaps she still had things to do.
"Sorry for stopping you. Well then, see you later."
"W-Wait just a minute! Wasn't that the part where you're supposed to invite me to join your study session!?"