Rich Girl Caretaker Vol. 2 Bonus Chapter

Making It Up to Hinako

A few days after the exam results were posted.

"Speaking of which, we talked about me making it up to you..."

It was a holiday, and Hinako had come to my room. I asked her:

"What exactly do you want me to do?"

"Mmm..."

She made a troubled sound.

"...What... did you do with Tennouji-san that day?"

"We went to the arcade, then bowling, and then karaoke."

Hearing my explanation, her eyes narrowed.

"Sounds like... you had the time of your life."

"Yeah, well... it'd be a lie to say I didn't have fun."

I could feel Hinako's mood souring and tried to be vague, but if I lied and said it wasn't fun, it would feel like a disservice to Tennouji-san. And, as expected, Hinako's cheeks puffed out angrily.

"I... want to go too."

"Huh?"

"I... want to do all of it...!"

And so, I quickly brought Hinako to the arcade. Of course, we weren't alone. Shizune-san and the Konohana family bodyguards were watching from a short distance. Unfortunately, Hinako has less freedom than Tennouji-san. But considering Tennouji-san and her parents' personalities, I get the feeling the Tennouji family is just built different.

"Alright, let's start with this racing game."

"Mhm."

We sat down together. Like Tennouji-san, Hinako was in disguise today, so she was allowed to drop her ojou-sama mode and be herself. She was wearing simple clothes and a dark hat. Even if a classmate saw us, they wouldn't recognize her from a distance.

"Itsuki... what place did Tennouji-san get in this game...?"

"She was dead last."

I recalled Tennouji-san shouting "That's cheating!" when she got hit by a banana peel.

"Then... I have to do better than her."

Hinako was fired up with a strange competitive spirit. I was confused, but I put in the 100-yen coins and started the game. And, though I'd already predicted the outcome...

"Dead last."

"Ngh..."

Hinako got the exact same rank as Tennouji-san and pouted.

"...Again."

I did as she asked, put in more coins, and started the game. However—

"Nnngh..."

She still got last place. After that, she tried again, and again... but this was probably too difficult for Hinako, who never plays video games. She couldn't get the hang of it.

"D-Do you want to play something else?"

"...Mhm."

Before I knew it, we'd spent over an hour just on the racing game. Next, we played Taiko no Tatsujin. But Hinako wasn't good at this either, and the game ended quickly.

"If it were a real taiko drum... I'd be great."

She said the exact same thing as Tennouji-san... Is taiko drumming a required course for ojou-samas at Kiou Academy?

"Uh, I also played this with her."

I said, pointing to the air hockey table. Hinako stared at the white puck from a distance, tilting her head.

"A coaster...?"

She'd mistaken it for a high-end brand's drink coaster. We have a few sets in the manor kitchen, so that must be what she thought of.

"Hockey is a game where you hit this back and forth."

I briefly explained the rules, and we started a match.

"Alright."

"Ngh..."

We played several times, and I kept winning. However, her movements, which were clumsy at first, gradually became sharper—

"...I think I get it."

She muttered. Suddenly, her movements became incredibly fast. She'd flick the puck—no, fake a shot—and then score while I was off guard.

"Ah!?"

"I won... hmph hmph."

She looked overjoyed. That was the first time I'd ever seen someone use a feint in air hockey... Thinking about it calmly, her gym grades are excellent. As expected of the "perfect ojou-sama," she's good at both academics and sports. Her reflexes are definitely top-notch.

"Itsuki... do you get it now?"

Hinako suddenly moved close and said:

"I'm... better than Tennouji-san..."

She said, full of pride, and rested her head lightly on my chest. Then, from her small, cute lips, came the sound of steady breathing.

"...She's asleep."

"The Ojou-sama rarely gets that into something. She must be tired."

Shizune-san had approached at some point. She looked at Hinako leaning against me.

"Karaoke and bowling will have to wait. That's fine, right?"

"Ah, yes. It's fine."

I slowly lifted Hinako onto my back. Her expression looked satisfied, like she was smiling. People in high society really don't get to relax like this. It might be nice to bring her out again when I get the chance.

(Come to think of it... what about Narika?)

I thought of Narika. She's also a high-class ojou-sama, but she knows a fair bit about commoner life. I wonder if she has her own ways to relax? I pondered this as I carried Hinako out of the arcade.

Narika Miyakojima Talks Business

During a break at school. I ran into Narika in the hallway, and we started chatting.

"By the way, you mentioned you 'talk business' at the school, right?"

"Hm? Oh yeah, that's right."

"...You can 'talk business'?"

"Wha!? D-Don't look down on me! I can too talk business..."

Narika tried to argue, but her voice trailed off.

"...Actually, I can't. When I went last time, I just sat next to my dad."

Just as I thought.

"...Can you try re-enacting it? I'll be the client."

"Okay. The setup is I'm selling my family's product."

We stood facing each other again.

"Ahem... So, what product is your company introducing today?"

"Yes, based on analysis of recent sporting needs..."

Narika began her presentation, but—

"Er, and so, that is to say, if your company would purchase this product, in the future..."

"...You're stammering."

"D-Don't say I'm stammering!!"

She flushed bright red.

"Huh? What are you two doing?"

Asahi-san noticed us and walked over. I explained the situation.

"Ooh~ Sounds fun! Can I be the client, too?"

Narika looked nervous, but nodded and started her presentation again.

"And, uh, according to our company's analysis, in the sports world..."

Just like before, Narika was stumbling over her words. But maybe because she was nervous... her expression gradually turned serious.

"So, um... will you buy it?"

"I... I will..." Asahi-san nodded, her face stiff.

"I-Itsuki, look! I made the deal!"

Narika was overjoyed. But, unfortunately...

"...Narika, you pretty much just intimidated her."

"Huh?"

"If someone glares at you with that look, anyone would say yes..."

Asahi-san nodded, a complicated look on her face. Narika had gotten so nervous she had a terrifying "Refuse and I'll kill you" look.

(She wasn't this nervous when it was just me...)

She's really bad at communicating.

"...In your case, this might actually be a more successful method."

"N-No way! I don't want to be that rude!"

Her saying that just shows how kind and sincere she is. One day, when Narika gains a commanding presence that matches her kind heart—she'll definitely become a first-class ojou-sama who won't lose to Hinako or Tennouji-san. I couldn't help but think so.

Mirei Tennouji and the Potato Chip

During one of Tennouji-san's table manner lessons— I finished my meal and placed my fork on the plate. Tennouji-san's sharp gaze immediately landed on me.

"You made a sound at the end."

"Ngh."

I'd been careless setting my silverware down.

"Goodness. Itsuki-kun, you have a habit of getting sloppy at the end."

"Sorry..."

I had been so focused on etiquette during the meal that I relaxed the moment it was over. Tennouji-san sat across from me, sipping her tea. She closed her eyes, savored it, and then set the cup down without a sound. Her every move was graceful.

"...Do you ever break etiquette?"

The question just popped out.

"No... I'd like to say, but that's not quite true."

I got a surprising answer. She saw my eyes widen and continued:

"When I'm not feeling well, my concentration breaks... And, when I eat something truly exquisite, I focus on the food and forget my manners."

"Setting aside the first part, the second reason is pretty cute."

"I-I can't help it! I'm only human, you know!"

I'd be pretty shocked if you weren't.

(But, so she does do that...)

Getting so into food that she forgets her manners.

(...I'd kind of like to see that.)

"—So, I was thinking about that today."

After school. Back at the Konohana manor, Hinako came to my room to kill time, with Shizune-san accompanying her. I told them what I'd been thinking.

"How irreverent. I didn't know you had such a wicked fetish."

"N-No, it's not like that! It's just simple curiosity..."

I was just a little curious, not obsessed.

"In other words... food so good it makes Tennouji-san lose her composure?"

"...Something like that."

Hinako, lying on my bed, nodded.

"Itsuki... leave it to me."

"...You have an idea?"

"Mhm... I'm going to make potato chips."

Potato chips? Hinako ignored my confusion and looked at Shizune-san.

"Shizune... make potato chips using the recipe I'm about to give you."

"...Very well."

Hinako fluently reeled off a recipe. When I heard ingredients like white sesame and truffle, I was reminded all over again that she is, in fact, a genius. A little while later, Shizune-san returned with the chips. I immediately tried one...

"—So good! Huh!? This is amazing!?"

It was so far beyond my expectations, I had a weird reaction. Hinako saw this and looked smug.

"In the realm of potato chips, no one can defeat me..."

I wish you'd be proud of something else. Shizune-san had followed the recipe, creating a refined, low-salt, low-oil chip that wouldn't get her in trouble. It probably wasn't satisfying for a junk-food-lover like Hinako, but Tennouji-san might prefer this. She might just love these.

The next day, I immediately had Tennouji-san try them.

"These are... potato chips?"

"You know what they are?"

"Just how out of touch do you think I am?"

Oops. My bad.

"So, why are you giving me these?"

"I thought they were good, so I wanted you to try... It's a thank-you for all your help."

"That's very thoughtful. In that case..."

If I told her, "I just want to see your reaction," she'd probably kill me. She picked one up and put it in her mouth.

"—Delicious!!"

Her eyes lit up.

"The umami spreads through your mouth, the freshly fried potato aroma, and this exquisite crunch! It's only one chip, but it's so satisfying! This subtle, elegant flavor... is this black truffle!?"

I had never seen her this excited. She was practically vibrating as she kept eating.

"You're eating one after another..."

"Yes! One after another! I can't stop!!"

Oh man... she's starting to say weird things. Am I, an outsider, even allowed to see this?

"—Ah!?"

After a moment, Tennouji-san suddenly snapped back to reality.

"P-Please forget this..."

She hung her head, bright red. I see. She really is only human.

Hinako Konohana's Mark

One holiday, at the Konohana manor.

"Itsuki... what did you do when you stayed at Tennouji-san's house?"

Hinako came to my room and asked, out of the blue.

"Even if you ask... it's just like I said. I had dinner, it started pouring, so I stayed over..."

"...Tell me in more detail."

Hinako pouted slightly. I already got chewed out for this... but it seems she hasn't totally forgiven me.

"I ate dinner, then took a bath... and then I studied in my room."

"And... was Tennouji-san with you the whole time?"

"...Yeah."

Hinako thought about this for a moment.

"...I've decided. Today... you're going to do all the things you did with her, with me."

She declared.

"And so... first is the meal."

It was dinnertime. We went to the dining room together. I sat next to Hinako as we ate. My dinner with Tennouji-san was just part of etiquette practice, but I probably shouldn't mention that.

"Itsuki... this is good, here."

"Thanks... no, wait, you just don't like this, do you."

"Ngh... You saw through me."

She'd only moved the bell peppers from her plate to mine. Of course I'd notice. From the kitchen, Shizune-san muttered, "Thank goodness for Itsuki-kun..."

"Next... the bath."

After a short break, we went to the bathroom attached to Hinako's room.

"Itsuki... wash my hair."

"Alright, alright."

As ordered, I carefully washed Hinako's long hair.

"Ehehe~..."

She let out a happy little sound. After the bath, we went to my room.

"And then... the after-bath chat."

Hinako let out a satisfied "Hmph~," as if to say, "Mission complete." She flopped onto my bed.

"What... did you talk about with Tennouji-san...?"

"Just small talk... and schoolwork."

"Ooh..."

I thought back to my stay at her house. 'Defeat Hinako Konohana!!' I'd better not mention that Tennouji-san declared that.

"Do you... like this life?"

Hinako suddenly asked. For this question, I now had an immediate answer.

"Yes, I do."

"...Mhm."

She gave a small, quiet acknowledgment. Then, her face full of happiness, she closed her eyes...

"Hinako?"

I called her, but got no response.

"...She's asleep."

I looked at her peaceful sleeping face and sighed.

(In the end, this is just... our normal routine...) The things I did with Tennouji-san that day were just... the things I do with Hinako every day. I wonder if she realizes that? I thought, as I gently pulled the blanket over the soundly sleeping Hinako.

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