Rich Girl Caretaker Vol. 3 Bonus Chapter

Narika Miyakojima's Image Survey

"What's my reputation like lately?"

One day. During break time at school, Narika, who I'd run into, asked me this.

"Think about it, my reputation was awful before, right?"

"Yeah, that's true."

"But it should have changed a little after the sports festival. So I'm curious what everyone thinks of me now."

I replied, "I see." In short, Narika wanted to feel the change for herself.

"Alright, I'll go ask around casually."

"R-Really!? Thanks!"

"But, whatever the results are, I'm going to report them honestly."

"Ngh... Now that you say that, I'm a little scared..."

Narika groaned for a moment, then came to a conclusion. "No, I still want to know!" And so, I went around asking classmates about their impression of Narika.

◆

"My impression of Miyakojima-san?"

"Yeah."

I first asked a guy in my class.

"I used to be a little scared of her, but not recently. She was so cool during the sports festival."

It seems his view of Narika changed for the better. After that, I asked many others the same question, and most gave similar answers. However, among them, someone said this:

"Um... I heard she's surprisingly bad at studying."

A girl in Narika's class said. (Ah... that's from when she tried to join the after-school study group and failed. That rumor spread, huh.) There were a few other... subtle answers.

"I heard she's secretly a gyaru."

"I heard she's a kind-hearted delinquent. Like, she'd get in a fight to protect a kid."

Two other guys gave me completely different answers. The time she dressed as a gyaru to change her image, and the time she fell and messed up her clothes, making people think she was in a fight, had also spread. Because her bad image was gone, she was somehow being seen as a force for justice...

"Er, I'm sure this is just a rumor... but I heard that at night, Miyakojima-san sells illegal drugs."

This must have evolved from the rumor of her scarfing down snacks on her way home. My cheek twitched. I denied that rumor on the spot.

◆

"Itsuki! H-How did it go!?"

Narika looked excited for the results, so I told her the truth, word for word.

"By day, you're a gyaru and an ally of justice. By night, you're a drug dealer. Also, you're dumb."

"Why!?"

She's overflowing with attributes. But she probably doesn't need to worry too much. Just from listening to everyone, I could tell they weren't afraid of Narika anymore. The rest is up to her... I hope she keeps at it without getting discouraged, though it looks like it'll take a bit more effort.

Hinako Konohana's Defeat

"You want to beat Narika?"

"Mhm."

A few days after the sports festival. It was the afternoon on a day off. I heard Hinako's quiet murmur and tilted my head, confused.

"Are you still holding a grudge about losing that tennis match?"

When I asked, Hinako nodded.

"Narika is strong, you know."

"I know... but I want to win."

Hinako replied, rolling around on my bed. Shizune-san, on standby in the corner of the room, noted with admiration:

"This is rare. Ojou-sama shows such strong competitiveness toward someone."

"Is it?"

I asked Shizune-san, who nodded.

"Ojou-sama's grades are exceptional, but that's just in line with the Konohana family's policy. It's rare to see such personal motivation from her."

That's true. Hinako's true nature is as lazy as she looks. This might be a rare situation.

"Has there been some change of heart?"

"...Well, I have my suspicions."

Shizune-san stared intently at me. Why is she looking at me?... I have no idea. Honestly, Hinako would have to train intensely to beat Narika. But she's often busy with family business and doesn't have much time to practice. Still, if we choose a sport Narika is bad at... she might have a chance. (But is there any sport she's bad at?) I'll ask her next time I see her.

◆

The next day. I immediately found Narika at school.

"So, Narika, are there any sports you're bad at?"

"I don't know what you mean by 'So'... but yes, there are."

I heard Narika's answer and my eyes widened. Even though I'm the one who asked, I didn't think there'd actually be any. I thought she was a natural at everything...

"What aren't you good at?"

"Dodgeball."

"Dodgeball? That's a pretty simple sport."

I've never seriously played dodgeball as a "sport." The last time was probably at a class tournament in middle school. I played it a lot in elementary school. It's a team sport where you throw a volleyball-sized ball at the opposing team. Thinking about it now, dodgeball is a surprisingly well-designed game. When an "out" player hits an "in" player, they can come back in. There are also forms like American dodgeball with no "out" zones... As a kid, you just play innocently without thinking, but it's precisely because it's so purely fun that it has proper rules.

"In dodgeball... you have to hit people, right? I don't really like seeing them in pain..."

"...I see."

I understood. That's true. Losing at dodgeball hurts. It is, after all, a sport where you get hit by a ball. Not to mention, even we guys think Narika's athleticism is monstrous. She probably hates the idea of throwing a ball full-force at a delicate girl. She's probably done it before and gotten a bad reaction. I could tell just from her pained expression.

"Narika, actually, Konohana-san said she wants another match with you—"

I immediately relayed the message to Narika. She nodded repeatedly as she listened.

"But dodgeball is a team sport. It's hard to just have the three of us play like we did with tennis."

"Ah... that's true."

One-on-one dodgeball is just violent catch. And Hinako is pretty athletic herself. It'd be hard to settle a winner. (I'll have to think of another plan.) Is what I thought—

◆

"Today, we're playing dodgeball."

During fourth period P.E. The teacher said, holding a ball. It seems even Kiou Academy has dodgeball. The students were split by gender and went onto the court. Hinako and Narika were on opposing teams, as if it were planned. Hinako vs. Narika—I wonder if the other students noticed the sparks flying. All eyes were on them. And so, the game began.

"Hah!"

"Ngh, nice catch."

Hinako's throw was caught by Narika.

"And now—it's my turn."

Narika threw, and Hinako dodged it with a light movement.

"I see... your moves."

"Hmph. I'm not even serious yet."

Hinako said smugly, and Narika gave a fearless smile. They went back and forth, evenly matched. The other students watched them with respect. (...Why does this feel like a battle manga?) When did this become a shonen manga world?

"Waah!?"

Just then, a small yelp came from the other court. I looked over and saw Asahi crumpled on the ground, rubbing her face in pain. It seems she took a ball to the face. I happened to be nearby, so I ran over to her.

"Asahi-san, are you okay?"

"Ah, yeah, I'm fine..."

She said with a smile, but a stream of blood trickled from her nose.

"Oh... a bloody nose."

"Let's go to the nurse's office."

I looked at the teacher, who had walked over, and he nodded. Judging it was the right call, I took Asahi's hand and helped her up.

"Tomonari-kun, you're so nice."

"This is just normal."

"The fact you can say that means you really are... Thanks."

Asahi, usually so energetic, showed a rare, docile side as she thanked me. It was strangely endearing, and I couldn't help but look away.

"Huh? Eh? Are you embarrassed?"

"No."

"Liar! You just looked away! Hey, hey, hey."

Asahi poked me in the side. She's friendly with everyone... but I wish she'd mind the distance at times like this. Getting this close would make any healthy guy besides me blush, too. I took Asahi to the nurse's office. On the way, I felt a stare on my back. Curious, I turned around—

"Eek!"

Hinako and Narika were glaring at me with ice-cold eyes. Why...?

◆

And so, lunchtime came—

"Huh? A draw?"

"Mhm."

By the time I took Asahi to the nurse and got back, their game was over. When I asked about the result, they said it was a draw.

"The winner... was Asahi-san."

Hinako said, looking pained, leaving me to tilt my head in utter confusion.

Hinako and the Body Pillow

"Itsuki~"

"Hinako?"

One morning on a day off. I was reading in my room when Hinako came to visit.

"What is it?"

"Nngh... Nothing."

She said, and flopped onto my bed. She often comes to my room even when it's nothing important—in fact, that's usually the case—so I didn't pay it much mind and continued reading. I heard a rustle, rustle sound from behind me. Hinako, who had been lying down, sat up.

"You're not going to sleep?"

"Mhm." She nodded lightly at my question.

"Your bed... doesn't have that."

"Doesn't have what?"

I tilted my head, confused, and Hinako said:

"...A body pillow."

◆

And so, we went to a bedding and home furnishings store to buy a body pillow. It was one of those boutique shops that cater to celebrities. All the bedding was expensive, and in the center of the floor was a bed with a princess canopy.

"The body pillows are over here."

Shizune-san guided us. Apparently, she'd been to this store before to buy Hinako's bedding.

"Whoa, there are a lot of types."

There were fewer options than for regular pillows, but there was still a large selection. Just then, Shizune-san took out her phone and put it to her ear. It seems she got a call.

"My apologies, something has come up at work, so I must return to the estate. I will call for a replacement maid. Please wait on this floor."

The head maid is busy today, too. Hinako and I nodded and continued browsing. (These are... pillowcases. There are all kinds of these, too. We don't even have pillows at my house, so this is new.) I felt a little teary-eyed.

"...Hm?"

I saw a product that caught my eye and picked it up. It was a body pillow cover with an anime character printed on it. (They have this kind of stuff, too.) Even though it's a celebrity-patronized store, customers have different tastes and ages. There were pillowcases with children's cartoon characters and pillowcases with so-called bishoujo illustrations.

"Itsuki... I want this."

"You mean this pillowcase? I think it's fine, but..."

I went to hand her the pillowcase I was holding. But she shook her head.

"I want... your pillowcase."

"............Huh?"

◆

A few hours later.

"Mmfu~..."

Hinako was back at the estate, looking overjoyed. After buying the body pillow at the store, we immediately went to a printing factory owned by the Konohana Group and had a photo printed onto a pillowcase. The photo used as the source was also taken on the spot... Hinako had obtained a body pillow with my picture on it.

"This way... I can sleep with Itsuki."

That statement could be wildly misunderstood, so I just gave an awkward laugh. Honestly, it's pretty embarrassing. When it's washed and hung out to dry, will the other maids laugh?

"They're sending one to your room, too... so make sure you use it."

"Okay. We went to the trouble of buying it."

I had also bought a body pillow for myself. Never mind Hinako, but since I'm just a servant, I was planning to carry it back myself. However, the pillow was bigger than I thought and hard to carry. The butler said, "I'll have it sent over with the other one." I'll have to thank him later.

After that, we ate dinner, bathed, and returned to our respective rooms.

"Oh, they delivered it."

I looked at my bed and saw the body pillow under the blanket. They had taken it out of the box and even put the pillowcase on. Such attention to detail. I have to learn from that. Today was exhausting, from buying the pillow to making the case. I immediately turned off the lights and got into bed. (...Ah, this is actually really calming.) I can understand why Hinako wanted one. It's comfortable to hold. I'll be able to fall asleep right away...

◆

"Hwaah... Morning already."

The next morning. I woke up and sensed something was wrong.

"............Hm?"

I was tightly hugging something. It's soft, warm, and feels like a person—

"—Hinako!?"

Hinako's face was right in front of mine. I yelped and jumped backward. My heart was pounding out of my chest... I calmed down a bit and stared at the bed. "Wait... is this a body pillow?" Looking closely, it wasn't Hinako, but a body pillow with her picture printed on it. Last night, the pillow was under the covers, so I didn't notice. No, I'm sure I bought a normal body pillow, which is why I didn't check it and just collapsed into bed...

"Itsuki-kun, what's wrong? I heard you shout—"

Shizune-san knocked and entered my room. Then, she saw the body pillow on my bed and her eyes went wide.

"O-Ojou-sama...? D-Don't tell me, you two... spent the night...!?"

"No! It's a pillowcase! It's a body pillow pillowcase!"

I desperately explained to a pale-faced Shizune-san.

"I-I see. It's a pillowcase. I lost my composure... No, wait. Even if it is a pillowcase, this is still strange."

"It is."

Later, Shizune-san helped me confirm the situation. Apparently, when Hinako was having my photo printed yesterday, she also secretly had a set made with her own photo and ordered a maid to put it on my body pillow. In other words, it was a surprise for me. Shizune-san, having grasped the situation, reprimanded Hinako and warned her not to act on her own like that. Hinako was remorseful. Shizune-san was exasperated. And now, that body pillow is here, with me. (............Since I have it, I might as well keep it.) Well, it's not like it's a bad thing. Maybe it'll be nice to use it every once in a while.

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