Ms. Shizune finished washing the last of the dishes and skillfully put them away in the cupboard.
It looked like she was about to transition into her official duties for the Konohana family. Naturally, that wasn't something I could help her with. Since I’d already finished my studies for the day, I decided to settle in and relax for the evening.
"Young Lady, shall I prepare the bath soon?" Ms. Shizune asked, glancing at the clock as she worked.
"Mm... it's hot today, so I'll just go in tomorrow..." Hinako mumbled.
"That is not allowed."
"Eeeh..." Hinako groaned.
I could certainly empathize with her. "The air conditioning in this place isn't very effective, is it?"
It was late August. I’d hoped things would have started cooling down by now, but the nights remained stiflingly hot.
"I want ice cream..." Hinako sighed.
"...Then I'll go buy some," I offered. I didn't have anything better to do, after all.
I thought about asking Hinako if she wanted to come along, but she looked utterly exhausted from being out longer than usual over the past few days. Since it was dark out anyway, I decided to go solo.
"Ms. Shizune, I'm heading to the convenience store nearby."
"Understood. Since it is late, please be careful not to wander too far."
Her implicit message was clear: a small detour was fine, but I’d be responsible for whatever happened. It was a very Ms. Shizune way of giving a warning. She’d probably seen right through me; I did want to enjoy the nighttime atmosphere of this city for the first time in ages.
I stepped outside and began walking toward the store.
"...This view hasn't changed at all."
The residential district at night was wrapped in a silence so profound it was almost frightening. To ward off that unease, a strange sense of excitement began to tingle in my chest. I used to feel exactly like this whenever I walked home after working a part-time shift late into the night.
Ever since I became a caretaker, I hadn't really walked through the city at night.
I took a moment to appreciate the dim glow of the flickering streetlamps and the rhythmic sound of my own footsteps—sensations I hadn't experienced in quite a while.
I turned down a narrow alley and spotted my destination. I remembered wanting to work at this specific store when I first entered high school because of how close it was to home, but they hadn't been hiring back then.
As I stepped inside, the blast of air-conditioned air felt like a blessing against my skin. I made a beeline for the ice cream freezer.
On the way, I passed a tall man in a perfectly tailored suit.
...Was he one of the Konohana family guards?
It was hard to put into words, but he had a refined air that separated him from the average person. It was the same aura I’d felt from the upper-class students when I first arrived at Kikou Academy.
I wondered if he was affiliated with the Konohana family, but then—
"Hi there."
The man turned back and called out to me.
"...Hello."
Not knowing why he’d spoken to me, I gave a noncommittal greeting.
The man was strikingly handsome, with a slender build and pale skin. Looking at his physique, I realized he probably wasn't a guard. Another possibility crossed my mind: maybe he was an idol?
"Could you tell me what you’d recommend in this store?"
"My recommendations?" I repeated, blinking. In a convenience store?
If I were working at an izakaya, it would be one thing, but this was a first. He looked well-bred, so I tried to suggest something that might appeal to his tastes.
"How about the wine selection over there?"
"Hmm, not quite. I was hoping for something more... convenience store-ish."
I’d tried to be helpful with the wine suggestion, but it seemed I’d missed the mark.
"In that case, how about the hot snacks by the register?"
"Hot snacks?...Oh, those! I've been curious about them since I walked in!"
Had he never eaten one? It wasn't just that he hadn't tried them; he looked like he didn't even know they existed.
"Also, if you don't mind, could you lend me some money?"
"...Money?"
The man's suspiciousness rating spiked instantly.
However, I had plenty of cash to spare thanks to my salary. A hot snack wouldn't even cost two hundred yen, so I figured it was fine and handed him two hundred-yen coins.
"Thank you. You're very kind," the man said, looking me straight in the eye. "I have a policy of never carrying a wallet. It allows me to nurture more interesting connections that way."
"...I see."
Was this some kind of high-level hitchhiking strategy? He was undeniably sketchy, yet I didn't feel particularly threatened. His refined presence made even his bizarre comments seem like the eccentricities of a genius rather than the ramblings of a madman.
The man headed to the register to buy his snack. Hinako was waiting, so I grabbed three portions of ice cream and lined up behind him.
"...Itsuki-kun?"
The moment I finished paying, the clerk looked at me in shock. I recognized that voice.
"...Adachi-san?"
She was a former classmate. I hadn't noticed her from a distance, but seeing her up close, there was no doubt.
"It's been a long time."
"Yeah. Long time no see."
We exchanged awkward greetings, and the conversation immediately hit a dead end.
There were no other customers in the store. Before the silence could turn into unbearable tension, I managed to scrape together another question.
"Are you working here now?"
"Yeah. My allowance isn't nearly enough to cover everything I want to do." Adachi-san leaned in, studying my face. "You've changed, Itsuki-kun."
"Have I?"
"You're more... dignified. Your posture is better. You look much sharper than before."
It didn't sound like she meant it as an insult. I’d made a conscious effort to carry myself properly as a student of Kikou Academy, so hearing it acknowledged felt good.
"You've changed too, Adachi-san."
"Oh? How so?"
"Well... you look a lot flashier."
It was a bit too blunt, but it was my honest impression. She had piercings in her ears, her nails were done, and her hair was dyed. Since we were now second-years, she might have just decided to embrace fashion, but she hadn't been like this last year. Adachi-san had never been the shrinking violet type, but she’d always been more subdued—at least, she hadn't tried to stand out this much.
"Just a makeover," she answered shortly.
A makeover. I guessed the underlying reason and quickly looked away.
"Why are you making that face?"
"No, well... it's just a bit awkward."
"Is it because I confessed to you?"
"...Maybe." I couldn't think of a convincing lie, so I nodded.
Back in our first year, Adachi-san had confessed her feelings to me. I hadn't really noticed it at the time, but looking back, there had been a period where she’d constantly tried to talk to me. But I’d turned her down. My home life had been so miserable that I couldn't even fathom the idea of a relationship.
"The makeover has nothing to do with you," she said.
I felt a surge of relief, though I was hesitant to show it, which resulted in me making a bizarre facial expression as I nodded. Adachi-san laughed at the sight.
"A lot happened last year, didn't it?" she said, her voice nostalgic. "Remember how I took some time off school after you rejected me? I told everyone I was sick, but I was actually just really depressed."
"...I had a feeling that might be the case."
"What? Then you could’ve at least come to visit me, right?"
"That would have only made things worse."
I let out a small laugh, and she joined in. It wasn't that either of us was at fault, but it felt like a necessary conversation to clear the air—a way to slowly transition our awkward history back into a normal friendship.
"And then, maybe because they wanted to protect me, my friends hated your guts for a while..."
"Ah... so I really was hated."
"I'm sorry. I think it's partly because I vented in a weird way. When I told them I was rejected because of your 'family circumstances,' they all got worked up, saying things like 'That’s obviously a lie' and stuff..."
"No, I probably didn't explain it well either. I never talked about my home life to anyone, so suddenly using it as a reason for a rejection probably didn't make sense to people."
As we talked, the memories of those days became clearer. That’s right—my first year of high school hadn't been some sparkling youth. There were times when things went wrong, and times when I felt like I was going to be crushed by the weight of my worries.
"We were both pretty immature back then."
"...Yeah."
Staying friends after a confession is a skill only romance experts seem to possess; it was certainly beyond Adachi-san and me at the time. I scratched the back of my head, feeling a bit embarrassed by the memory.
"I was so focused on myself back then. I almost wish I could do it all over again."
"Hmm. Does that mean I can take another shot at you?"
"Eh?"
That wasn't what I meant...
"Actually, I'm still pretty interested in you, Itsuki-kun." Adachi-san leaned over the counter, looking up at me with fluttering lashes as she grabbed my hand. "Hey, why don't we talk more? My shift is almost over."
"Even if you say that..."
I was completely bewildered by the sudden shift in distance. Was Adachi-san always like this? She seemed so much more flirtatious than I remembered. Her entire personality felt different.
"Excuse me."
At that moment, the man in the suit, who I thought had left, appeared right beside us. Adachi-san immediately snapped back into a professional posture.
"I'm so sorry! I'll finish the transaction right away—"
"No, that's not it. I simply couldn't stand listening to your conversation anymore."
The man's blunt interruption cut through the air like a knife. Had I misheard him? He’d just said something incredibly harsh. The man maintained a practiced smile as he looked at Adachi-san.
"Young lady, a loveless marriage for money won't bring happiness to either of you."
Adachi-san visibly recoiled at his words. She quickly tried to force a strained smile.
"...What are you even talking about?"
"You should wait until you're a bit older before you start dating for money. That lifestyle has its own unique hardships, believe me."
"I never said I was looking for money!"
"But you already have a boyfriend, don't you?"
This time, Adachi-san’s composure completely shattered. She stared at him, her eyes wide with shock.
"Sorry. I just tend to know these things," the man said with the same nonchalant attitude he’d had from the start.
Adachi-san’s brow furrowed. Irritation and a sense of being creeped out seemed to push her past the point of rational restraint.
"...Tsk."
She clicked her tongue audibly. I wasn't sure what to say, but Adachi-san refused to even meet my eyes. Since I’d already paid, I left the store, feeling a lingering sense of concern for her.
"That was a disaster, wasn't it?" the man said to me as the automatic doors slid shut behind us.
"A disaster? You suddenly spout all that nonsense... no wonder she got angry."
"It was the truth, though. Hmm... it always ends up like this." The man shrugged as if it were a minor inconvenience. "Itsuki-kun. Being humble is a virtue, but you should really try to understand your own position better. From now on, you're going to have more and more people like that flocking to you."
Something about that statement felt off. How did he know about my situation? And more importantly...
"How do you know my name?"
"Why do you think?" the man asked with a cryptic smile. "Here’s a hint: it’s thanks to me that you were able to come back here at all."
I searched my memories of the last few days. What had triggered this trip? Hinako had said she wanted to visit my house. And the reason for that...? The reason she’d left the manor in the first place—
"...Are you Takuma Konohana-san?"
"Correct." The man nodded with a suspicious grin. "Nice to meet you. I'm Takuma Konohana. Thanks for looking after my sister."
Standing in the convenience store parking lot, I faced Takuma-san with a bag of ice cream in my hand.
"I did say I wanted to borrow money, didn't I? Not that you should give it to me. In other words, I have the means to pay you back."
I suppose he did. As a member of the Konohana family, he probably knew everything about me. He likely knew exactly where Hinako and I were staying, too. He could see me whenever he wanted.
"Um... why are you even here, Takuma-san?"
"Just killing time. Or, if I must give a reason, I wanted to see the city my sister chose as her refuge."
So our meeting had been a total coincidence. Since he used the word 'refuge,' he clearly understood that Hinako was avoiding him. Yet, he didn't seem particularly saddened by it.
"How is the caretaker job treating you?" Takuma-san asked abruptly. When I hesitated, he followed up with, "Is it rewarding?"
"...Yes, I think so."
"Hahaha, how long do you plan on staying so tense? You can be more casual with me."
Takuma-san laughed easily, but I couldn't bring myself to relax. I’d felt a strange, indefinable creepiness from him since the moment we met. Despite his friendly tone, there was something ungraspable about him.
"Taking care of that girl is quite a task, isn't it? Feeling stressed?"
"...No, it’s been very fulfilling. I don't have much stress to speak of."
"That's good to hear. The last person ended up with a stomach ulcer. I don't know if the name Konohana traumatized him, but apparently, he hasn't been able to use any of our group's services since."
That sounded like a truly miserable existence. In this country, it was almost impossible to live without interacting with the Konohana Group—they handled everything from banking and real estate to food production.
"From what I just saw, you seem to be on good terms with your old classmates too."
"Yes, well. I have no reason to be on bad terms with them." Though my relationship with one of them might have just imploded thanks to him.
"You're resourceful. Or rather, you have a strong desire to be resourceful," Takuma-san said, sounding impressed. "Because you're like that, I'll let you in on something."
He looked me straight in the eye. "Do you know why the old man gave Hinako permission to leave the manor?"
"Isn't it because... Hinako has been fulfilling her duties as a daughter of the Konohana family lately, and Kagon-san has come to trust her?"
"You're giving that man far too much credit," Takuma-san laughed. It was a polite, empty laugh. "Unlike the hotel for the Summer Seminar, your house doesn't have tight security. Do you really think that paranoid father of mine would let Hinako out of the manor so easily?"
I began to doubt my own assumptions. Kagon-san was indeed cautious—painfully so. He seemed to understand the weight of the Konohana Group better than anyone and always made decisions based on what was appropriate for that burden.
So why had he let her go?
"The truth is, the Konohana family is currently dealing with a bit of a mess."
"A mess?"
"One of our subsidiaries, Konoha Drink Co., Ltd., was involved in a power harassment scandal. It hasn't hit the news yet, so the public is in the dark, but everyone in the industry knows. So, as a precaution, we decided to get Hinako away from the manor for a while."
His explanation was concise and made far more sense to me. It sounded like exactly the kind of thing that would drive Kagon-san’s decision-making.
"My father is someone who can't make a decision without a calculated motive. Try to forgive him," Takuma-san said apologetically.
I wondered if his relationship with his father was also strained, but I had a more pressing concern.
"Does Hinako... does she know about this?" If she did, had she been bottling up her anxiety this whole time?
Takuma-san blinked in surprise at my question. "...You really are kind. That's the first thing you ask?" He let out a short sigh. "She knows. My father should have told her. But she probably only knows the basics. There’s nothing she can do about it anyway."
He spoke with total detachment. "And, as much as it pains me to say it, the main reason she left was to avoid seeing my face. It’s not as if she’s hiding some deep secret from you."
His words seemed designed to ease my mind. Hinako hadn't been faking her excitement when we arrived or when we walked through the shopping district. It was a relief to know that her sparkling eyes hadn't been an act.
Just then, I heard footsteps behind me.
"Itsuki-san. You were taking so long that I came to find—"
Ms. Shizune approached us in the parking lot. In the darkness, she probably hadn't realized who I was talking to until she was right upon us. Her eyes widened slightly as she saw the man.
"...Takuma-sama. What are you doing here?"
"Hi, Shizune. You still look as grumpy as ever," Takuma-san greeted her casually. "I'm just killing time. You know wandering the streets is a hobby of mine."
"...I believe I’ve asked you to stop that particular hobby."
"It wouldn't be a hobby if I could stop, would it?"
Ms. Shizune, usually so composed, looked visibly annoyed. She took a deep breath and turned to me. "Itsuki-san, did this man say anything inappropriate to you?"
"Uh, well..."
How was I supposed to answer that? While I was hesitating, Takuma-san let out a theatrical sigh.
"Oh, come on. I'm the eldest son of the Konohana family, you know. I wouldn't say anything like that."
"If that is the case, then fine..."
"I only explained the current mess the Konohana Group is dealing with."
Ms. Shizune glared at him, her eyes saying, So you did say it.
"Itsuki-kun thought my father permitted the trip because he trusts Hinako now. Did you put that idea in his head, Shizune?"
"...Regardless of what I said, that is certainly one aspect of the truth."
"My father is changing, sure. But I think it’s dangerous to exaggerate those tiny shifts. Expecting too much only leads to disappointment."
Takuma-san’s expression turned strangely lonely. I could only vaguely grasp the points they were arguing over.
"Takuma-sama. Was it really necessary to tell Itsuki-san about the Konohana Group's internal affairs?"
"Is there any reason not to tell him? You’ve always been overprotective, Shizune, but in his case, don't you think he'll handle things better if he’s informed?"
"...I am considering what is best in my own way." Ms. Shizune glared at him. It was the first time I’d ever seen her lose an argument. Whether he meant to or not, Takuma-san was completely leading her around.
Watching them, a thought suddenly struck me.
(...Wait, is the reason Ms. Shizune has been so busy lately actually because of Takuma-san?)
If the eldest son of the family had suddenly arrived at the manor while we were there, it would have created a mountain of paperwork and logistical headaches for her. Seeing how he toyed with her, it seemed like a plausible theory.
"That's not it," Takuma-san said, looking over at me. "Shizune’s workload is entirely due to the scandal I mentioned. My visit had nothing to do with it."
He stated it with absolute confidence. From the corner of my eye, I saw Ms. Shizune remain silent—a tacit confirmation.
But more importantly...
"...Um, I didn't say anything out loud, did I?"
I definitely hadn't spoken that thought. I wouldn't be so rude as to voice such a theory right in front of him. I’d kept it strictly to myself. And yet, he’d addressed it as if I’d shouted it.
Takuma-san laughed at my visible shock. "I told you, didn't I? I just tend to know these things."
The hair on my arms stood up. This must have been how Adachi-san felt earlier.
"Anyway, you don't need to worry about this little mess, Itsuki-kun. Leave that to us 'cunning adults,'" he said, as if nothing unusual had happened.
I couldn't bring myself to reply; I hated the idea of grouping Ms. Shizune in with people like him.
"Well, I should be going. Oh, one more thing, Itsuki-kun." He leaned in and whispered into my ear, low enough that Ms. Shizune couldn't hear. "As you are right now, you can’t be a place where Hinako belongs."
What did that even—
Before I could ask, he was gone.
The ice cream I’d bought for Hinako had completely melted.
After buying fresh ice cream, I was heading home when my phone buzzed. It was a call from Yuri.
"Itsuki, you got a second? Apparently, the girl we met at school today told Adachi-san about you."
"...I see."
"Yeah. I wasn't going to tell you because I didn't want to worry you, but... ever since Adachi-san started her second year, she’s been hanging out with a pretty rough crowd. She’s developed a habit of zeroing in on anyone who looks like they have money. Since you're technically a Kikou Academy student now, just... be careful."
"Yeah... I will."
I hung up and slipped the phone back into my pocket, letting out a small sigh.
"Um, Ms. Shizune," I said to the woman walking beside me. "What kind of person is Takuma-san, exactly?"
"...That is a difficult question to answer," she began. "In a word, he is a free spirit. He is capable of deep thought, but his fundamental values are so skewed that reaching a mutual understanding is nearly impossible. I doubt even Kagon-sama or the Young Lady truly know what is in his heart."
She gazed out at the night city. "However, he still carries the Konohana blood. His innate abilities are every bit as formidable as the Young Lady's. Especially his power of insight... it is powerful enough to be unsettling."
"Insight..." I knew exactly what she meant.
"Have you heard the term EQ?" she asked. I shook my head. "Emotional Intelligence Quotient. It is essentially the emotional version of an IQ score. People with a high EQ are exceptional at perceiving and regulating emotions."
Sensing what others were feeling and controlling one's own... it made sense.
"Takuma-sama’s EQ is among the highest in the world. He once described it as his communication skills being 'too high.' He can divine what someone is thinking just by observing their facial expressions and body language. That is why he sometimes makes comments that seem like he is reading your mind."
So that’s how he knew my thoughts. And it was likely how he’d called out Adachi-san, too.
"However, because of this talent, he struggles with normal communication. To him, things are as clear as if they had been spoken aloud, while the other person has no idea how he knows. It makes for a very one-sided interaction."
Takuma-san had said "it always ends up like this" when we left the store. He probably tried to speak based on what he perceived, but the people around him couldn't understand how he got there. That sense of resignation I’d seen must have been born from years of that.
"...You really know a lot about him."
"Well, I was originally assigned to Takuma-sama, not the Young Lady."
"Wait, really?" This was news to me.
"However, that man had no use for someone like me from the very beginning, so I was quickly reassigned to the Young Lady’s service."
"I see."
"Yes. It was quite a relief." It was a rare moment of genuine, undisguised emotion from Ms. Shizune.
As we approached the house, Takuma-san’s parting words echoed in my mind.
As you are right now, you can’t be a place where Hinako belongs.
What was that supposed to mean?
The answer eluded me as I opened the door. Inside, Hinako was sprawled out on the floor with a cushion. She wasn't asleep, just looking incredibly languid—which was to say, she was being her usual lazy self. I decided to push Takuma-san’s words to the back of my mind for now.
"Hinako, I'm back with the ice cream."
"I'm eating it...!" She sat bolt upright instantly. She must have really wanted that treat.
As she opened the bag and started picking out her favorite with sparkling eyes, I spoke up.
"Hinako, did you know about the scandal at one of the Konohana Group companies?"
"...I knew. Did you hear about it too, Itsuki?"
I didn't want to tell her I’d heard it from Takuma-san, since that would probably lead to another "ugh" face, so I just gave a simple nod.
"I hope... they fix it properly," she said, her expression turning solemn after her first bite of ice cream. "I feel bad for Papa."
Kagon-san, who valued the Konohana Group above all else, was likely losing sleep over this.
"Yeah," I agreed, nodding back.