About ten days of summer vacation remained.
Any ordinary student would have felt a wave of lethargy as the long holiday neared its end, but I didn't have that luxury. I was already attending Kikou Academy—a sanctuary of learning for the upper class—despite the reckless circumstances that had brought me there. As the return to school loomed, a familiar tension began to resurface. Did I finish all the assignments? Had I grown soft? The frequency of my self-interrogations only increased.
That being said, a part of me was actually looking forward to the academy reopening.
I wanted to become someone who could naturally stand by Hinako’s side. That was my goal, and the events of the Summer Seminar had only strengthened that resolve.
I had managed to achieve high marks on the seminar exams.
That success had made me truly happy. Bit by bit, my hard work was finally paying off.
"Alright!"
With renewed determination, I spent the day working through my preparations and review.
While there were many subjects I still needed to master, the one area I had to tighten my grip on was etiquette. Since I’d been away from Kikou Academy for a while, I was worried my commoner habits might have started to resurface. Opening the notebook I’d kept since first becoming a caretaker, I began reviewing the table etiquette Ms. Shizune had drilled into me from day one.
(I’ve been thinking about my commoner days a lot lately...)
Perhaps because I’d reunited with Yuri during the Summer Seminar, memories of my former life had been surfacing at random moments. While I didn't think there was anything wrong with a little nostalgia, it would be a problem if I forgot my manners and caused trouble for Hinako. I had to stay sharp.
Just then, the smartphone on my desk vibrated.
A notification popped up from a messaging app.
Yuri: Summer vacation isn’t over yet, right? If you’re free, why don’t you come over to our place for a meal?
In short, it was an invitation to hang out one last time before the break ended.
Truth be told, Yuri and I had been exchanging messages like this several times since the seminar concluded. Apparently, her father wanted to see me as well, so it seemed like a good idea to drop by. Once the new term started, we would both be busy again. If I was going to visit Yuri’s house, now was the best time.
"Hinako."
"Mmm...?"
Hinako’s voice drifted over from the bed behind me.
She had been awake, after all.
"Yuri said that if we’d like, we should stop by the shop before summer vacation ends."
"I'm going."
I blinked in surprise at her instantaneous reply.
"That was fast. You don't usually like going out much, do you?"
"Because I'll be with Itsuki," Hinako said, slowly pushing herself up. "Besides..."
She started to say something more, then bit her lip.
I tilted my head, waiting for her to continue. Finally, she spoke again.
"Did you used to go to Ms. Hirano’s house a lot back then, Itsuki?"
"I suppose so. After work or whenever I was invited, I usually went."
Though, technically, it was more like I was a regular at the shop than a guest at a house.
"...Then, I'm going."
Hinako gave a small, firm nod.
Seeing her uncharacteristically solemn expression, I felt a sense of curiosity. I didn't know the reason, but lately, Hinako had become obsessed with my past.
She would frequently ask me things like, "How did you live back then?" or "Did you do things like this before?" It hadn't been like this until the Summer Seminar; that seemed to be the turning point. Whenever I tried to subtly ask why she was so interested, she would dodge the question, leaving me in the dark.
For now, I messaged Yuri back: "I'll come together with Miss Konohana."
"Mnghh..."
Hinako let out a soft groan and began rolling around on the bed.
After a few moments, she stood up and walked over to my side.
"...Itsuki, let me borrow your dictionary."
"A dictionary? Is the electronic one okay?"
"Mm."
She nodded.
I pulled the black electronic dictionary I’d just finished using back out of the desk drawer and handed it to her.
She took it, sat on the edge of the bed, and began intently looking something up.
A few minutes later, she returned to my side.
"...Thanks."
"Are you done already?"
"Mngh... I didn't really understand it."
Hinako looked genuinely troubled.
I wondered what she had been searching for, but the fact that she didn't offer the information suggested she didn't want me to know.
This was another thing about Hinako that had been weighing on my mind lately.
Occasionally, she would look deeply worried, as if she were wrestling with a major problem.
In the past, she would usually consult me or Ms. Shizune when something was bothering her. This time, however, she wasn't talking to anyone. She was just carrying the burden all by herself.
Keeping my concern for her tucked away in the back of my mind, I resumed my studies.
I opened the electronic dictionary to double-check the meaning of viande. I realized I’d already looked it up and forgotten it, so I checked the search history—
(...Oh, this must be what Hinako looked up.)
I accidentally caught a glimpse of her recent searches.
(Gap... Plow... Comb...? What on earth was she looking for?)
Ultimately, seeing her search history did nothing to help me understand her dilemma.
Recalling that viande was French for a meat dish, I went back to my work.
Later, in the dining hall.
As I was having dinner with Hinako, Ms. Shizune spoke to me from behind.
"Itsuki-san. Were you reviewing your etiquette earlier?"
"Eh? Oh, yes."
"I was planning to bring it up soon, as your movements were starting to look a bit sloppy, but it seems my fears were unfounded."
That was a close call.
A cold sweat broke out on my neck, but I also felt a small surge of pride. It seemed I was still capable of looking at myself objectively.
"Young Lady, I have an announcement," Ms. Shizune said, turning her attention to Hinako, who was currently occupied with a piece of cod meunière.
"Takuma-sama will be staying at the manor for a short period."
"Ugh..."
Hinako’s face twisted into an expression of pure disgust.
It was a rare reaction for her. While she often looked lethargic when waking up or bored when attending social functions, I had never seen her display such visceral revulsion toward a specific individual.
"Takuma... that’s Hinako’s older brother, right?"
"Yes."
Unsure of how to refer to him, I settled on a polite title for the time being.
Hinako still looked like she had swallowed something bitter.
"Why is he coming here...?"
"Business matters. He is scheduled to stay for about a week, starting tomorrow."
"Gah..."
Hinako furrowed her brow.
"Um, do you not get along with him? Your brother, I mean."
"I hate him."
It was clearly more than just a lack of rapport.
"That man... only ever thinks about himself," Hinako said with a heavy sigh.
I had always thought Hinako was the one who led others around by the nose, but perhaps Takuma was the kind of person who could do the same to her.
"Young Lady, what are your orders?"
"...Evacuate."
"Understood," Ms. Shizune nodded.
I wasn't sure what "evacuate" meant in this context.
Sensing my confusion, Ms. Shizune explained.
"This has happened many times before. Whenever Takuma-sama visits, the Young Lady makes a point of temporarily staying elsewhere."
"...That’s quite the commitment."
She really must despise him.
"Just so we’re clear, Itsuki-san, you will be coming along as well."
I had expected as much. "Yes, of course," I replied.
If I were left alone in this manor with her brother, it would be incredibly awkward.
"Where shall we evacuate to this time?"
"Anywhere... as long as it's cool."
"We’ve already visited Karuizawa. If we’re looking for another summer retreat..." Ms. Shizune began weighing options like Hokkaido or going overseas.
Watching her, I suddenly remembered my promise to Yuri.
"Um, if it’s possible, could we go somewhere near where I used to live? I already promised Hinako that we'd meet up with Yuri soon..."
Naturally, I was prepared to reschedule if it was too much to ask.
Ms. Shizune looked thoughtful, her expression turning serious. Just as I thought she might say no—
"............How about Itsuki’s house?"
The suggestion came from an unexpected source.
"Mine?"
"Mm. I want to go to the house where Itsuki used to live."
I wondered if that was even possible.
My family had lost the house because they couldn't pay the rent; the ownership shouldn't have been ours anymore. However, I had seen the "Young Lady Power" of the Konohana family turn the impossible into the possible so many times that I suspected it might actually work.
"I will look into it."
Sure enough, Ms. Shizune already had a plan. She pulled out her smartphone and made a call.
After a few minutes, she finished and turned back to us.
"It is possible."
"It actually is?"
"The property was originally managed by Konohana Real Estate. I’ve just confirmed that there are currently no tenants, so we can rent it for a while."
It seemed I had been living within the reach of the Konohana Group long before I ever met Hinako.
"However, Young Lady—and I mean no offense to Itsuki-san—I do not believe that house will be an easy place for you to stay. To put it bluntly, it is not up to your usual standards."
I had to agree.
The apartment was tiny compared to this manor, and it certainly wasn't well-furnished. There was no beautiful garden, and because it sat right next to a main road, it was never quiet.
"That's fine."
Hinako looked over at me.
"I want to experience... how Itsuki lived his life until now."
She seemed genuinely curious about the life of a commoner.
But was it just my imagination? For a moment, Hinako looked as if she were being driven by a sense of duty. As if she felt she had to know how I used to live.
"Understood. I shall make the arrangements at once."
Ms. Shizune picked up her phone again.
"Um, will security be alright? When Hinako and I first met, she was almost kidnapped in that neighborhood..."
"Do not worry. I will not allow a repeat of that blunder. I will station guards in the vicinity on a twenty-four-hour rotation."
A fierce determination burned in Ms. Shizune’s eyes.
She clearly still carried the weight of what had happened that day. Seeing her like this, I was certain she would never let such a lapse in security happen again.
"Besides, you are not the same man you were then, are you?"
Ms. Shizune looked me squarely in the eye.
"When the time comes, I expect you to protect the Young Lady yourself."
"...Yes!"
She was right.
I was her caretaker now.
Whether it was a kidnapper or Hinako’s brother, my duty remained the same. It was my role to stay by Hinako’s side and protect her.