Morning.
Having woken up in the Konohana family manor, I quickly changed into my school uniform and stepped out of my room.
"Good morning."
"Itsuki-san. Good morning."
Exchanging greetings with the maids of the Konohana family, I set about my morning chores.
First on the list was cleaning. Waking up early to clean this vast manor was quite a task, but I had finally grown accustomed to the routine.
I wiped the stair handrails with a cloth.
I had a little over an hour before I had to leave for the Academy. One last push to finish up.
"Ms. Shizune, good morning."
"Good morning."
Midway through my cleaning, I ran into Ms. Shizune, the Head Maid, and greeted her. She was currently tending to the ornaments in the hallway.
"Itsuki-san. Could you hold this vase for a moment?"
"Sure....There we go."
I held the vase, which was heavier than it looked, while Ms. Shizune wiped down the surface of the stand where it had been sitting.
"It is nearly time to change these flowers as well," Ms. Shizune murmured, looking at the white cut flowers.
"If I recall, we put those hydrangeas out about two weeks ago, right?"
"Yes. They lasted quite a while, but they are reaching the end of their life. Since it is already July, perhaps some Sandersonia would be nice to provide a more vibrant look next."
As the Head Maid, Ms. Shizune also managed the manor’s interior decor. While white hydrangeas had decorated the house throughout June, she seemed to be switching to a different floral arrangement for the new month.
I knew nothing about flowers. Nor did I possess the eye to choose interior pieces that harmonized within such a massive space. I’d thought I was becoming a competent servant, but it seemed I still had much to learn.
"Oh, Itsuki-kun. Helping out the Head Maid today?"
After I returned the vase to its stand, a voice called out to me from the side. I gave a slight bow to the man in formal butler attire walking down the hallway.
"Good morning, Oliver."
Oliver, the Head Butler, was German but spoke Japanese fluently. He had mentioned being in his fifties, but he maintained a slim, fit physique and kept his back perfectly straight, so he didn't give off an impression of being old. He was a man who exuded an air of quiet dignity.
"Oliver. Has the sorting of the tableware...?"
"It was finished a moment ago. I intend to prepare breakfast next, but we are a bit short-handed, so I was looking for someone to assist me."
Oliver answered Ms. Shizune’s question while glancing toward me. I was just about to finish my current task. Should I offer to help...?
"Itsuki-san still has little experience in the kitchen, so I shall go," Ms. Shizune replied.
Oliver nodded with a soft, refined smile. "Then, if you please."
"Itsuki-san. Would you mind going to wake the Young Lady?" Ms. Shizune asked, turning toward me.
Come to think of it, it was about time for Hinako to wake up. However...
"Is it okay if I go? She told me the other day that she didn't want me to be the one to wake her."
"There is no need for concern. That was not because she dislikes you, Itsuki-san."
I certainly didn't feel as though she hated me, but if that wasn't the case, I couldn't imagine what the reason was. I still didn't quite understand her. Still, if Ms. Shizune was busy, it was only right that I take over.
"Itsuki-kun, I leave the Young Lady to you," Oliver told me. "A caretaker is neither a butler nor a maid. A caretaker is someone who stands beside the Young Lady and looks after her personal needs as an equal. We cannot fulfill that role. That is why I entrust her to you."
"...I'll do my best."
Carrying Oliver’s words with me, I headed toward Hinako’s room. My spirits felt a little lighter than they had during the cleaning.
It was a bit late to think about it now, but "caretaker" was an unusual title. Perhaps because I had been working under that title for three months now, I had started to find genuine fulfillment in looking after Hinako.
"Hinako, are you awake?"
I knocked on the door and called out just in case. As expected, there was no reply, so I quietly opened the door and entered.
She's sleeping as peacefully as ever.
Hinako slept a lot, so I had seen her sleeping face many times, but it had been a while since I’d seen it in her own room in the morning. She looked incredibly happy, as if she were in the middle of a wonderful dream.
"Hinako, it's morning."
I called out to her while drawing back the curtains. The warm morning sunlight illuminated her face.
"Nngh... It's bright..."
Hinako shielded her eyes with her hand.
"Breakfast will be ready soon, so go wash your face."
"Mm-kay..."
A soft, mumbly reply drifted back to me. Hinako slowly sat up and remained frozen for a few moments with her eyes closed.
"I'll leave your clothes here."
I wanted to get things ready before she fell back asleep. I took her Kikou Academy uniform from the closet and placed it on the table.
"Get me dressed..." Hinako said sleepily.
"Is that okay? For me to dress you?"
"Mm...? Why...?"
Hinako rubbed her eyes lightly. She let out a massive yawn, looked at me with her round eyes, and then tilted her head in confusion.
"...Huh?...Itsuki?"
"Morning, Hinako."
She’d probably only just realized it was me.
"Why is... Itsuki here...?"
"Ms. Shizune is tied up, so I came in her place."
When I said that, Hinako sluggishly burrowed into her covers like a bear seeking refuge from the cold.
"...Why are you hiding?"
"Because... my bedhead... I might look weird..."
"I'm not going to judge you for that now."
"...I care."
Hinako's face, peeking through a gap in the duvet, was slightly flushed.
In that case, I went to the washroom and grabbed a few supplies.
"Sit here. I'll fix it for you."
I moved a chair near the bed. Hinako sat down, looking somewhat reluctant.
Her hair was so silky it was hard to believe she had just woken up. I honestly didn't think it needed any work, but if she was worried about it, I would fix it for her. After lightly dampening her hair with mist, I combed through it while using the hairdryer.
"How's that?"
"Mnh... It feels good."
Hinako nodded as she looked into the mirror. I felt almost like a professional stylist.
I've even gotten used to handling Hinako's hair...
A more level-headed part of me wondered exactly what kind of skills I was supposedly mastering.
"This... might be nice."
"Hm?"
"I think I like... having Itsuki touch my hair like this."
That was another unusual sentiment, but I didn't say it out loud. Mostly because I felt something similar. As the morning sun streamed through the window, slowly brushing Hinako’s hair like this made me feel a sense of peace.
Don't tell me I've developed a hair fetish...?
I quickly told myself that wasn't it.
"There. Don't worry about your hair anymore."
The reason I was by Hinako's side was to create a place where she could truly relax. So, I preferred she didn't worry about such things.
"...Itsuki, even if my hair is a mess, you won't think I look unsightly?"
"I won't."
When I stated that firmly, Hinako gave a small, satisfied nod.
"Then... I won't worry... about it..."
Hinako promptly crawled back into the bed.
"So... I'm going back to sleep..."
"No, you are not."
I could overlook the messy hair, but I couldn't let her oversleep.
Afterward, I stepped out of the room so Hinako could change and returned to my servant duties. Finally, once I’d finished my own preparations for school, I met up with Hinako after she’d finished her breakfast.
"Well then, let us head to the Academy."
Ms. Shizune took the front passenger seat, while Hinako and I sat in the back. I had become completely accustomed to the car commute.
"The traffic is quite heavy....Shall we take another route?"
When Ms. Shizune murmured that, the driver nodded silently and turned the car right at an intersection we usually drove straight through. Unfamiliar scenery rolled past the window.
I spotted the entrance to a narrow alleyway. Tucked away deep inside was a tiny shop.
...A candy shop.
I hadn't visited one in years. It was the kind of shop that people naturally grew away from as they got older. Still, for me, it was a place filled with memories.
I wonder how Narika is doing...
She was a girl and a distant relative of mine. Long before I’d started looking after Hinako, I had been her caretaker. I wondered if she was doing well today.