“Young Lady. If you could wait just one more day, we could have the floors and windows replaced with brand-new ones...”
“It is fine. I want to experience how Itsuki lived.”
“Understood.”
Hinako seemed to be fixated on my past again.
“Then, I shall step out for a moment to coordinate with the guards,” Ms. Shizune said, before exiting through the front door.
I turned back to look at the living room.
Just as Ms. Shizune said, the place had been cleaned, but it didn’t look like any bold renovations had been made. They had likely calculated the cost-effectiveness. This was a shack that was already over forty years old; even with a full renovation, it was hard to imagine people flocking to move in.
The only things that looked new were the door and part of the ceiling. The floor still creaked as much as ever.
“Itsuki... how did you spend your time in this house?”
“If you ask me how...”
It was a difficult question to answer.
But then I suddenly realized something. The dilapidated tatami floor, the low table, the windows that let in a draft, the faded sliding doors... there were many things here that weren't in the Konohana family manor.
The me who lived in the manor and the me who had lived in this house were surely different in every way.
Thinking that, the words came naturally.
“...My father and mother were often away, so I spent a lot of time here alone. From high school onward, I was usually out for part-time jobs, but before that, I’d study or read books here.”
Though when I said books, they were mostly manga borrowed from my classmates.
As I walked, I looked down at the floor beneath my feet.
“This dent in the floor—I made that when I was a kid. I was trying to move the table to lay out my futon, but I ended up dropping it.”
How nostalgic.
As I immersed myself in these old memories, I noticed Hinako staring blankly at me.
“Sorry, I talked for a long time. It’s boring to hear stuff like this, isn’t it?”
I gave a wry smile and tried to change the subject, but Hinako shook her head.
“...I want to hear more,” she said, staring intently at me. “I... want to know more about Itsuki.”
I felt pierced by her pure gaze. I could tell she meant it from the bottom of her heart.
“I-I see...”
Well, then maybe it was okay. However, having her tell me she wanted to know about me so earnestly made me feel a bit bashful.
“Thank you for waiting.”
Ms. Shizune returned to the house.
“Now then, shall we decide on the room assignments?”
◆
“Uh, well then...”
Thirty minutes later, I spoke to the two of them to finalize our conclusion.
“We’ll use the partitions Ms. Shizune brought to divide the space into two. The side with the kitchen will be the living room, and the other will be the bedroom. During the day, Ms. Shizune will use the living room, while Hinako and I will use the bedroom. At night, I’ll sleep in the living room, and Hinako and Ms. Shizune will use the bedroom.”
Hinako and Ms. Shizune both nodded.
In the center of the room stood a large partition that Ms. Shizune had apparently obtained from the guards she was coordinating with. With this, we would divide the eight-tatami-mat house into two four-mat rooms.
The reason Ms. Shizune would use the living room during the day was primarily to handle the cooking. Hinako and I planned to put a table in the bedroom so we could study or relax.
“I will often be away during the day, so you may remove the partition during those times if you wish.”
“Are you busy, Ms. Shizune?”
“Yes. My workload has increased slightly more than originally planned,” she replied flatly.
The fact that she never made a displeased face in times like this was very much like her. I could feel the professional soul of a maid serving the Konohana family.
“I will definitely return at night... Itsuki-san. Please make sure not to do anything strange.”
“Y-Yes.”
She didn't even need to tell me.
Even when I lived in the Konohana manor, we were technically under the same roof, but because the house was so small this time, it really felt like we were living together. Ms. Shizune had likely prepared the partition specifically to dispel that atmosphere. I had to be careful not to get swept away by this unusual situation and misjudge the distance between us.
“I shall leave this here just in case.”
With that, Ms. Shizune took a bottle of tablets from her pocket and placed it on the table.
There it was! The medicine that causes drug-induced ED!
I hadn't seen that in a while. What was going through Ms. Shizune’s head that she felt the need to carry that around...?
“Itsuki...” Hinako tugged at my sleeve and looked up at me. “Give me a tour of the town.”
“The town?”
“I want to know... a lot about how Itsuki lived.”
Hinako seemed quite intent on experiencing the commoner lifestyle.
“Alright, leave it to me....Usually, I’m the one being taught things. For the next few days, I’ll be the one showing you how a commoner lives.”
“Ohhh...”
At my unusually triumphant look, Hinako gave a small, light round of applause.
Fortunately, I could guide her around this neighborhood as much as she wanted. As I was immediately working out a plan, Ms. Shizune placed several bundles of paper on the table.
“I am sorry to interrupt while you are excited... but Young Lady, Kagon-san has instructed you to complete your usual daily routine.”
“Ehhh...”
Her momentum crushed, Hinako pouted. The large bundles of paper on the table were apparently her homework.
“...But it’s summer vacation.”
“He says it is precisely because it is summer vacation that you must not let your guard down until the very end.”
As someone who also possessed the sensibilities of a normal student, I understood the feeling of wanting to savor every last second of summer vacation, but Hinako was the young lady of the Konohana Group. The weight of her responsibility wouldn't allow for any more rest. Tennoji-san and Narika were surely in the same boat.
“Now, I shall head off to work. Itsuki-san, please do not spoil the Young Lady too much.”
Perhaps sensing my sympathy, Ms. Shizune gave me a sharp warning.
After the door clicked shut, Hinako looked at me with a pathetic expression.
“Itsukiii... help me...”
“...Well, if it’s something I can do.”
It wasn't that I wanted to spoil her, but when she made such a sad face, I felt like I had to help out at least a little.
(By the way, what exactly is Hinako's daily routine?)
In my case, Ms. Shizune used to give me lessons in table etiquette and self-defense after school, and recently I've been doing preparation and review in my own room. Regarding etiquette, I've been told I've largely mastered it thanks to Tennoji-san's help, but I'd likely need more lessons right before my official debut in social circles.
While I was doing those things, what was Hinako doing? I picked up the homework Ms. Shizune had left for her.
“Is this... corporate information for the Konohana Group?”
“Mm. I was told to memorize it now for the sake of the future.”
So this was what an elite education looked like. They were making her learn this now so she could contribute to the Konohana family later.
“This one is documentation for companies unrelated to the Group.”
“There’s a dinner party coming up... so I was told to get it into my head.”
I suppose it was so she could prepare to avoid being rude to the other parties at the meeting. The schedule for dinner parties for the next three months and rough summaries of each partner company's information were compiled there. The materials were very well organized, but memorizing this much looked like grueling work.
“This is... ugh!”
Judging immediately that it was a document I shouldn't be looking at, I averted my eyes. It was a document detailing the recent business activities of the Konohana Group in minute detail. Ongoing projects were even listed by name.
No matter how you looked at it, it was confidential information. Putting aside Hinako, who apparently helped with work occasionally, I, a mere caretaker, had no business seeing it.
(It doesn't look like there's anything I can help with...)
Was Hinako studying such difficult things every day? It was completely different from our classes at the Academy. This was a task prepared for Hinako, and Hinako alone. At the very least, I couldn't help her with the content. My lack of knowledge aside, the difference in our positions made me hesitate to interfere.
“Still, with so much to do, a tour of the town might be difficult today,” I muttered.
In the corner of my vision, I felt Hinako react with a twitch.
“There were lots of places I wanted to show you, like the shopping district... but I guess it can't be helped.”
Twitch, twitch. Hinako was definitely reacting.
“...Wait two hours,” she said, slowly facing her homework. “I’ll finish it... right away...”
I could practically see flames of determination roiling behind her back.
◆
“Hello, Ms. Shizune?...Ah, no. Just a small question. Actually, Hinako says she wants to go out, so would it be alright if I gave her a tour?
A few hours later, I was on the phone with Ms. Shizune.
“No, we won’t go that far. I plan to have lunch nearby and stop by the shopping district... Her daily routine? No, it seems she already finished it... Not just today's portion, but the whole week's worth. She says she can do this much easily if she gets serious... but...”
To my shock, Hinako had finished a week's worth of assignments in just two hours. Since I thought it was far too fast, I had quizzed her to see if she had truly memorized the documents. She got every single question right. Her intellect was truly staggering.
I occasionally forgot, but Hinako was only a slacker; her actual ability was that of a genius. Hinako wanted to escape the duties of her birth, but with this much talent, I could see why Kagon-san wouldn't want to let her go.
The call ended, and I put my phone away.
“...I got permission.”
“Yes!” Hinako pumped both her fists.
“Even so, I’m impressed you memorized all this in just two hours.”
“Praise me, praise me.”
“Yeah, you're amazing. Really amazing.”
“Mufufu...” Hinako looked immensely proud of herself.
I chose not to tell her what Ms. Shizune had said with a sigh before hanging up—“Then please get serious from the start”—but I thought it was a perfectly valid point.
“Should we head out, then?”
“Mm!” Hinako replied energetically.
She looked so innocent that it was hard to believe she was the same person I knew at the Academy.
“Oh, that’s right. Ms. Shizune prepared some clothes for going out, so you should change into those.”
“...Is it no good like this?”
“It’s not that it’s no good, but... you’d stand out.”
With Hinako dressed in an elegant one-piece dress, her natural beauty was far too conspicuous. If we were going to an art museum or a French restaurant, it would be fine, but walking through a local shopping district in those clothes would draw every eye in the place.
“Then, I’ll change.”
“Yeah. There’s a mirror in the unit bath.”
Hinako nodded and went into the bathroom with the set of clothes Ms. Shizune had brought.
(It feels kind of strange...)
At first, I had only felt nostalgic, but after spending some time here, the feeling that this was my home was returning. To think the day would come when I would bring a girl my age to this apartment... Even Yuri had never been inside.
“Itsuki.”
After a while, the bathroom door opened and Hinako stepped out.
“Did you change?”
“Mm, perfect.”
Hinako did a little pirouette.
...I wouldn't call it perfect. I thought as I looked at her baggy white shirt and the drooping denim belt.
“Hinako, hands up.”
“Banzaaaaai...”
“You have to wrap this waist belt like this... and also, I think that shirt is meant to be tucked in.”
I had Hinako raise both hands, and I lightly tightened her denim belt for her. Finally, I had her tuck the shirt into the jeans.
“...How is it?”
Hinako showed herself to me once more. She wore a loose-fitting white shirt with a logo embroidered on the chest and wide-silhouette denim that reached just above her ankles. With the shirt tucked in, she looked cool and summery.
“...It’s nice. It's a fresh look for you.”
“Ehehe,” Hinako laughed happily.
Seeing her in denim was a novelty, but it suited her well. Though her appearance was more ordinary now, her natural beauty was impossible to hide. Her lustrous amber hair, her fine white skin, and her delicate waist... the refined atmosphere of someone raised with extreme care couldn't be completely covered up.
“Well then, let’s go.”
“Mm!”
I put on my shoes at the entrance along with Hinako. And so, the commoner society experience tour began.
◆
“Fuohhh...!”
Hinako's eyes sparkled as she looked around.
“Itsuki, what is this place...?”
“It’s the shopping district. I guess you could call it a street where many small shops are gathered.”
Explaining a familiar sight was surprisingly difficult. First, I led Hinako to the district in front of the station. Having worked as her caretaker for four months now, I knew that young ladies of the upper class had no familiarity with such cluttered places. As expected, Hinako found everything fascinating.
“This shopping district was on my way to high school. After school, people were always buying snacks to eat here.”
Of course, I never had any money, so I always had to just watch...
“Th-there are a lot of people...”
“True, there are more than I expected.”
It was 11:00 AM, and the street was full of housewives. It wasn't exactly a crowd, but there was a line at the greengrocer and several bicycles parked in front of the convenience store.
(Still, it feels a bit too crowded...)
Even though I’d been away, I was a local. I could tell the district was busier than usual for this hour. Most people should be at home starting lunch preparations. Normally, only the restaurants would be busy now, but...
“...Hm?”
I happened to glance at the bookstore. A man inside was skimming a book, but I recognized him.
“...”
“...”
As I stared in silence, a bead of cold sweat rolled down the man's cheek.
I had my answer. He was a Konohana family guard. I quickly scanned the area and spotted at least five other people who conspicuously averted their eyes. Apparently, a small army of guards was lurking around us.
“Itsuki? What’s wrong...?”
“...No, it’s nothing.”
It would be boorish to tell Hinako, who hated stiff atmospheres. When I gave a vague excuse, I could practically hear the guards breathing sighs of relief.
“Is this... a butcher shop?”
Hinako stared intently at the meat displayed in the showcase. “...I feel like it’s cheap.”
Perhaps unsure of her sense of prices, she didn't state it as a fact.
“Compared to what you usually eat, definitely. But it’s delicious.”
I hadn't been able to afford much meat back then, but I’d buy some here occasionally. I remember it being great even if I just seasoned it simply and grilled it.
Hinako's interest shifted to the next shop. “This one is... a vegetable shop?”
“Yeah. We call it a greengrocer.”
“Green...?” Hinako tilted her head.
Now that I thought about it, I wondered where the name came from. I’d have to look it up sometime. Hinako slowly walked past the displayed vegetables.
“Is there anything you like?”
“...I hate vegetables.”
That’s right. I’d forgotten.
“Come to think of it, Hinako, what is your favorite food?”
“Potato chips...!”
“No, those are snacks. Excluding those...”
“Ice cream...! And cola...!”
“Excluding those too... Hinako, we really need to work on getting you to eat vegetables.”
Hinako opened her eyes wide as if to say, “Why!?”
I was starting to feel as concerned about her diet as Ms. Shizune was.
“Other than those... I might not have a favorite.”
“...I see.”
When we ate together, she occasionally muttered that something was "delicious," so she clearly had tastes. It was just that she didn't have a definitive "number one" yet.
“Oh, if it isn't Itsuki!”
A voice called out from the back of the shop. The greengrocer owner was looking at us, cucumber in hand.
“It’s been a while! I haven't seen your face lately, but you look like you're doing well!”
“It’s been a long time. Lately... well, I’ve just been busy with various things.”
The full explanation would take too long, so I omitted it. Hinako tugged on my shirt.
“Itsuki, who is this?”
“He’s the owner. He looked after me when I worked here part-time in my first year of high school.”
As I explained, I noticed the owner looking at me with an amused grin.
“Hahaha, I see. So that’s what you meant by being busy.”
“It’s not what you think.”
“No need to hide it. You’ve certainly become a man, Itsuki.”
He slapped me on the back repeatedly. Feeling embarrassed, I beat a quick retreat from the greengrocer. However, the pattern continued.
“Oh, Itsuki-kun? It’s been ages!”
“Ah, hello. It’s been a while.”
An employee from the pharmacy actually came out of the shop to greet me.
“Itsuki! Long time no see! Buy something!”
“Sorry, maybe next time...”
The fishmonger called out while carrying a crate of fish. Even the bookstore clerk and the leader at the hundred-yen shop approached me as soon as they saw me. They were all people I’d known.
After finishing the greetings, I found a quiet spot to settle down.
“...I’m getting recognized more than I expected.”
I’d intended to show Hinako around, but it had turned into a meet-and-greet. I felt a bit bad about it.
“Itsuki... are you a celebrity?”
“No, nothing like that. It’s just that I worked all over this area.”
Shopping districts have strong community ties. If I worked at one shop and mentioned I wanted more hours, the word would spread instantly, and I’d be introduced to new jobs. Before I knew it, I’d worked at the greengrocer, the bookstore, the pharmacy, and several restaurants.
“The people here have a strong spirit of mutual aid.”
“Mutual aid...?”
“Yeah. Since I worked on the inside, I know that the people here share a lot. If customers stop coming to the district, every shop owner is in trouble, right? So they all work together to keep the place lively. A butcher might promote the fishmonger, or someone with free time will make flyers for the whole street.”
I’d actually helped make those flyers once.
“They’re all in the same boat. The connections are deep, so once you’re part of the community, everyone treats you like family.”
“...It’s kind of warm.”
“It is. It's nice to feel those human connections.”
Every time someone called out to me, I was reminded that I had really lived here. Reconfirming that I still had a place here gave me an indescribable sense of relief.
“I might be... a little envious,” Hinako said, watching the shopkeepers. “The adults I know... are much more calculating.”
“...Are you talking about the people in social circles?”
Hinako gave a small nod. The adults in her world were all at the top of massive corporations or organizations. To reach that level, they had to constantly win against competitors. The scale of what they staked was enormous, making them cautious—and calculating.
I didn't ask, but I suspected Kagon-san was among the calculating adults she was thinking of. Which way of living was better? My immature mind couldn't provide an answer.
“Itsuki also prefers this kind of atmosphere...”
“Itsuki! You’re back!”
Just as Hinako was about to say something, a booming voice erupted from behind us. Startled, Hinako’s shoulders jumped. I turned to see the barbershop owner, another familiar face.
“Oh? Sorry about that, young lady. I didn't mean to startle you. I just have a naturally loud voice.”
“I-it’s... okay.” Hinako clutched her chest, accepting the apology.
After a brief chat, the owner left, and Hinako spoke softly. “...Maybe I’m not so envious after all.”
“Hahaha... well, the distance here is unique, for better or worse.”
Quite a few people actually disliked these dense connections. Some called it close-knit; others called it over-interference. It wasn't for everyone, and Hinako, who wasn't used to it, clearly found it a bit overwhelming.
Right then, a stomach growled.
“...I’m hungry,” Hinako said, rubbing her belly.
The aroma of curry and soba from the nearby shops was starting to get to me, too. It was almost noon, the perfect time for lunch. Come to think of it, just past the end of the shopping district, there was a certain place.
“Shall we go for a beef bowl?”
“Beef bowl...?”
Hinako tilted her head. I’d expected that reaction. I led the way.
◆
We entered a beef bowl chain store that every Japanese person knew. The air conditioning was a welcome relief after our walk.
“First, you buy a ticket here.” I demonstrated by buying a regular-sized beef bowl ticket.
“Ohh... high-tech.”
That was a strange thing to hear from a girl whose family sat at the cutting edge of global industry.
“Which one do you want, Hinako?”
“I’ll have the same as Itsuki.”
Hinako pulled out her wallet, but instead of coins, she produced a black credit card. She tried to slide it into the banknote slot.
“No, not the card! You put coins in here.”
“...I see.”
She managed to insert the coins and get her ticket. I’d been worried she didn't even know how to use change, but she seemed to have a basic grasp of it. Narika bought snacks in her private time, so they weren't completely clueless about money.
Now that I thought about it, Kikou Academy didn't have ticket machines. You just sat down and were served. There weren't even vending machines. Perhaps upper-class children were just unfamiliar with automated systems.
“Thank you for waiting!”
The clerk brought our two bowls to the counter. I broke apart two pairs of disposable chopsticks and handed one to Hinako. However, she just stared at the bowl, making no move to eat.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don't know... how to eat it.”
To the young lady of the Konohana family, a beef bowl was an alien object.
“You can just eat it however you like.” I broke my chopsticks and pressed my hands together. “Let’s eat.”
I took the first bite to show her how it was done. The meat and rice were perfectly savory. I’d been eating nothing but high-end meals lately, so I’d been worried I wouldn't enjoy this anymore, but it was great. If anything, the long absence made it taste even better. My palate could still appreciate the simple things.
Following my lead, Hinako finally reached for her bowl.
“Mu, mumumumu...!”
She carefully pinched a bit of meat and rice, handling them as if they were fragile glass. Finally, she took the bite.
“Mmmmmm...!” She groaned in delight.
“Good, right?”
“It’s delicious... the best...!!”
As usual, she seemed to have a weakness for junk food. Her mood did a total 180.
“Itsuki, what is this!?”
“Pickled ginger. It’s good if you eat it with the meat.”
“And this!?”
“That’s just water.”
Everything she saw looked like a treasure. I was glad she was enjoying the experience.
“Ah... this grease is even more decadent than potato chips...” Hinako whispered with an ecstatic expression.
...Is she going to be okay? I’d meant to give her a nice experience, but this was starting to feel a bit dangerous. If Ms. Shizune saw her making a face like that, she’d probably kill me.
As I watched Hinako’s happy profile with a sense of growing unease, I noticed a smudge of sauce on her lip.
“Hinako, look at me for a second,” I said, reaching for a paper napkin.