Rich Girl Caretaker Vol. 5 Prologue

Prologue

Summer break was down to its last ten days.

Most students would usually be feeling the burnout that comes before the end of a long vacation, but frankly, I didn't have the luxury of feeling that. I was already in over my head attending Kiou Academy, the exclusive school for the upper class. As the end of summer approached, my nerves were slowly coming back, and the frequency of my self-interrogations increased—"Did I finish all my homework?" "Have I been slacking off too much?"

Despite that, I was also looking forward to school starting. I have a goal... to become someone who can stand beside Hinako and the others without looking out of place. The push that inspired me came from something that happened during the summer lecture. I got a high score on the summer lecture exam. I was genuinely overjoyed. It's slow, step by step, but my hard work was definitely paying off.

"...Alright!"

And so, today, I was busy reviewing and preparing for the start of school. There are many areas I need to study, but the most pressing one right now is probably etiquette. I haven't been in a school setting for a while, and some of my subconscious mannerisms may have reverted to my old ways. I opened the notebook I used when I first became an attendant and began reviewing Shizune-san's lessons on table manners from the very beginning.

(I've been remembering my commoner days a lot lately...)

Part of it was running into Yuri during the lecture, which has made me reminisce about my old life. It's fine if it's just nostalgia, but if I start forgetting my etiquette, it will cause trouble for Hinako and the others. I have to be careful... A message arrived on the app.

Yuri: "You're still on summer break, right? Want to come over for a meal?"

In short, it was her way of asking, "Want to hang out one last time?" We'd actually talked about it several times since the summer lecture ended. Yuri's father wanted to see me, too, so maybe it was a good idea to visit. After summer ends, our lives will get busy again. If we're going to her place, now is probably the best time.

"Hinako."

"Mmm...?"

A voice came from the bed behind me. She seemed to be awake.

"Yuri asked if we want to go to her family's diner before break ends."

"I'll go."

Hinako answered instantly. I widened my eyes.

"You didn't hesitate at all. I thought you didn't really like going out."

"Because it's with you."

Hinako slowly sat up and said.

"And besides..."

She seemed to want to say something else, but she stopped. As I tilted my head, confused, she spoke again:

"Did you... use to go to Hirano-san's place a lot?"

"Yeah. After work, or whenever she invited me, I'd usually stop by."

Though it was less 'hanging out at her house' and more 'getting fed at her diner.'

"...Then I'll go."

Hinako nodded lightly. I was mystified by her somewhat serious expression. I don't know the reason—but Hinako has been incredibly curious about my past lately. She's always asking things like, "What were you like before?" or "Did you used to do this, too?" She was never this interested before the summer lecture. When I casually asked her why, she always brushed it off, so I have no idea what's going on. In any case, I replied to Yuri, "I'll come with Konohana-san."

"Mngh..."

Hinako flopped onto the bed and rolled around, humming. After a moment, she got up and walked over to me.

"...Itsuki, lend me your dictionary."

"Dictionary? Is the electronic one okay?"

"Mhm."

She nodded. I took the black e-dictionary I had just put away from my desk drawer and handed it to Hinako. She took it, sat on the edge of the bed, and started looking something up. A few minutes later, Hinako walked back over.

"...Thanks."

"Are you done?"

"Mhm... I don't really get it."

She said, looking troubled. I was curious about what she was looking up, but if she wasn't telling me, it must be something she didn't want me to know. This was another thing about Hinako that's been on my mind. She's been making that worried face a lot. She's had worries in the past, but she'd always talk to me or Shizune-san. This time, she wasn't. She was keeping it all to herself. I felt curious, but I went back to studying. I opened the e-dictionary to look up the word "viande," thinking, I just looked this up, how did I forget again? and checked the search history...

(...Ah, this is Hinako's history.) I accidentally saw Hinako's search history. ('Gap'... 'hoe'... 'combing'...? What on earth was she looking up?) (Note: The original words—隙, 锄, 梳き—are all pronounced 'suki,' the same as 'like' (好き).) In the end, even seeing her history, I had no idea what she was worried about. Just then, I remembered that 'viande' is French for a meat dish, and I buried my head in my book.

◆

In the dining room. As Hinako and I were eating dinner, Shizune-san spoke from behind me:

"Itsuki-san, have you been reviewing your table manners?"

"Huh? Ah, yes."

"Your etiquette has been getting a little casual lately, so I was thinking it was about time for a reminder. It seems my concerns were unfounded."

That was close... A cold sweat broke out on my back, but at the same time, I was a little happy. It seems I'm able to see myself objectively.

"Ojou-sama, we've received a message."

Shizune-san said to Hinako, who was in the middle of chewing her pan-seared cod.

"Takuma Waka-sama will be moving into the mansion temporarily."

Hearing this, Hinako's expression turned to one of clear disgust. It was a rare reaction. She's always listless when she wakes up or has to socialize, but I'd never seen her show such animosity toward a specific person.

"Takuma... -san... is your older brother, right?"

"Yes."

I wasn't sure what honorific to use, so I just added -san for now.

"Why is he coming...?"

"For work. He's scheduled to stay here for one week, starting tomorrow."

"Eeh..."

Hinako scowled.

"Um, you don't like him? Your brother."

"I hate him."

That was even stronger than "don't like."

"He... only thinks about himself."

Hinako said with a long sigh. I'd privately categorized Hinako as the type to cause chaos for others, but Takuma-san seemed to be someone who could run circles around even her.

"Ojou-sama, what are your thoughts?"

"...Evacuate."

"Understood."

Shizune-san nodded. Evacuate? I tilted my head, confused. Shizune-san explained:

"This has happened many times in the past. Whenever the Waka-sama visits, Ojou-sama temporarily relocates to another residence."

"...She's really avoiding him."

She hates him that much.

"Just to be clear, Itsuki-san, you will be coming as well."

I'd expected as much. "Yes," I nodded. If I were left alone at the mansion... that would be incredibly awkward.

"Where will you 'evacuate' to this time?"

"Anywhere, as long as it's cool..."

"You've already been to Karuizawa this year. If we go to another summer resort..."

Shizune-san muttered, "Hokkaido, or perhaps abroad..." thinking of a destination. Watching her, I remembered my promise with Yuri.

"Um, if it's okay, could we go near my old hometown? I promised Yuri I'd visit her with Hinako soon..."

If it wasn't possible, I was planning to reschedule, of course. Shizune-san looked troubled. Just as I was thinking This is probably too difficult—

"...What about Itsuki's house?"

Hinako made an unexpected suggestion.

"My house?"

"Mhm. I want to go to the house you used to live in."

Is... that even possible? I'd been evicted for not paying rent, so it wasn't "my" house anymore. However, having repeatedly witnessed the power of an ojou-sama to make the impossible possible, I had a strange feeling she could make it happen.

"I will check on it."

As I expected, Shizune-san seemed to have a solution. She took out her phone and contacted someone. A few minutes later, she finished her call.

"It's possible."

"It is?"

"That apartment was already under Konohana Real mansion. I just confirmed; the unit is still unoccupied. We can rent it temporarily."

It seems I was living in the palm of the Konohana Group's hand even before I met Hinako.

"However, Ojou-sama... this may be rude to Itsuki-san, but to put it mildly, that apartment is not... a suitable living environment for you."

I agreed with that. It goes without saying, but my old place isn't spacious like this mansion, it doesn't have a full set of furniture, and it definitely doesn't have a garden. There's a road right in front, so it's not quiet.

"It's fine. That's what I want."

Hinako said, looking at me.

"I want to experience... the life Itsuki used to live."

She seemed to be interested in a commoner's life. But... maybe I was imagining it. I felt as if she was being driven by some kind of obligation. As if she had to confirm what my past life was like...

"Understood. I will make the arrangements."

Shizune-san picked up her phone again.

"Is the security... okay? That's right near where Hinako was kidnapped when we first met..."

"You need not worry. We will not repeat the mistake we made that day. We will have bodyguards on 24-hour standby in the vicinity."

Shizune-san's eyes burned with a strong will. She must have deeply regretted what happened. Seeing her expression now, I was certain it wouldn't happen again.

"Besides, you are different now than you were then, are you not?"

She stared straight at me.

"If the situation demands it, I'm counting on you to protect Ojou-sama."

"...Yes!"

That's right. I am Hinako's attendant. Whether it's kidnappers or Hinako's brother, Takuma-san, my duty is the same—my mission is to stay by Hinako's side and protect her.

<<PREV | TOC | NEXT>>