Rich Girl Caretaker Vol. 6 Prologue

Prologue

Hinako Konohana was an early riser. To be precise, ever since she’d realized her feelings for Itsuki, she’d started waking up just a little bit earlier.

"...Nn."

The alarm clock rang, and Hinako woke up. She almost never used to use one. She'd tried it once as a child, decided it was far too loud, and had a maid wake her up ever since. But lately, she'd been waking herself up with an alarm.

(Oh no... I don't have much time.)

Hinako checked the clock and hurried to the sink. She looked in the mirror, using the comb on the counter to quickly fix her hair.

(...Okay.)

All those lessons from Shizune were paying off. She'd finally managed to tame her bedhead. There were still a few stray hairs, but she was out of time. With that done, Hinako dove back under the covers... and pretended to be asleep.

(One minute... until Itsuki comes in.)

She gave the clock one last glance and shut her eyes. Ever since Hinako had realized her feelings, she'd been caught in a dilemma. I still want Itsuki to spoil me... But I don't want him to see me looking like a total slob! Her solution was to wake up just before he arrived and secretly fix the worst of the mess. He had seen her drooling in her sleep once. She never wanted him to see that again. But... having Itsuki wake her up in the morning still made her happy. So, instead of asking Shizune to take over, she'd kept the duty assigned to Itsuki. A minute later, right on cue, there was a soft knock.

"Hinako, it's morning."

(*He's here...!)

Hinako's heart thumped. She buried her face in the blanket... If she didn't, she was afraid she'd break into a stupid, lovesick grin. Itsuki had always been the one to wake her, but ever since she'd admitted her feelings, the simple act felt sweeter every single day.

"The second semester starts today... Guess I should get motivated."

Itsuki muttered to himself as he opened the curtains. That's right. Today was the opening ceremony. Hinako was only just remembering.

"Hinako, time to get up. You have school today."

"...Nn."

Hinako replied, as if she were just now waking up. She sat up and their eyes met.

"Good morning, Hinako."

"...Good morning, Itsuki."

Hinako waited anxiously for his reaction. Please think I'm cute... Itsuki seemed to sense her anticipation. He stared at her intently for a moment, then spoke.

"...Has your hair... been too neat when you first wake up lately?"

"I-I-I-I... I don't know... what you're talking about."

Hinako's eyes darted around guiltily. Come to think of it, Itsuki had been her attendant for six months. He saw her just after she woke up almost every day. He was bound to notice a change, and he'd probably find it suspicious rather than charming. But... she wasn't done. Hinako moved to her next plan.

"C-Can you... do my hair?"

"Sure. Sit over there."

Hinako sat in the chair, and Itsuki stood behind her with the comb.

(*He has to see the nape of my neck...!)

According to the shoujo manga she'd borrowed from Yuri, the nape of a girl's neck was supposed to make a boy's heart pound. Hinako lifted her hair, exposing her neck. She peeked at his reflection... Nothing.

"...Itsuki."

"Hm?"

"Is there... nothing?"

"Even if you ask..."

Itsuki trailed off, sounding troubled.

"Ah."

"Wh-What...?"

"You've got a little tuft sticking up right here."

He said, touching the back of her head.

"Nghh..."

"Wh-What's wrong? Did I do something...?"

Hinako puffed her cheeks and shot him a look of pure protest. She'd had maids do this for her her entire life; she just couldn't get it right on her own. She'd thought about asking Shizune, but Shizune would absolutely ask,

"Why are you waking up before Itsuki-san in secret?"

Even with Shizune, she was too embarrassed to admit her crush. Just how was she supposed to make Itsuki fall for her...? Hinako pouted, her plan a failure. And yet, as Itsuki gently combed her hair, she couldn't help but smile.

◆

Hinako changed into her uniform, and we rode to school together in the black sedan. Today was the first day of the second semester at Kiou Academy. It was just the opening ceremony and homeroom, so we'd be out by noon. I'd already contacted Tennouji-san and the others, so the "usual group" was planning to have a tea party. Hinako, of course, would be there too.

(Is it just me, or does Hinako seem... more like a girl lately?)

I sat in the moving car, sneaking a glance at her. She'd been acting strange. "Strange" might be the wrong word... but she seemed less... lazy. Her bedhead was less chaotic, and even her table manners were more elegant. Is she... growing up in her own way? I'd wondered.

"...Nn."

"What's wrong, Hinako?"

"I'm... sleepy."

Hinako replied, a little unnaturally, and leaned over onto my shoulder. Her ears were bright red... Was she really sleepy? Just when I thought she was becoming more independent, she was back to being clingy. Oh well. She looked happy, so I guess it didn't matter...

"Itsuki-san, we are almost there."

"Yes."

The fact that Hinako and I commute in the same car cannot get out. I get out first, and she gets out a little later. We've been doing this since the first semester. I'd suggested we take separate cars, but Hinako shot that down. She seemed to want to spend as much of the commute together as possible, even if it was just in the car. Still, maybe because it had been a month, she was putting up a little resistance today.

"Shizune, can't I just walk in with Itsuki...?"

Hinako complained, voicing the thing she'd always held back. Shizune-san's expression became more troubled than I'd ever seen it.

"Ojou-sama, um... I understand how you feel, but we can't be rash."

"Hmph. I was just asking. It's fine... Besides, the girl in the manga who tries to force a fait accompli never wins in the end..."

She'd reached a bizarre conclusion, but at least she'd accepted it. Fait accompli... Does she even know what that means? This is the girl who didn't know the "three-second rule." I doubted she was clear on this.

"...Ojou-sama, are you familiar with the Dunning-Kruger effect?"

"? Isn't that the cognitive bias where people with low ability overestimate their own competence?"

"Exactly. To put it simply, it's a phenomenon where amateurs are prone to overconfidence."

Shizune-san had suddenly brought up a complex topic. I'd never taken a psychology class, but even I knew the term, so it must be pretty famous.

"Shizune... Whatever else I am, I am known as the 'Perfect Ojou-sama'."

"Yes."

"I am not subject to that kind of cognitive bias...!"

"...................Yes."

Shizune-san affirmed, her voice strained. In the end, I had no idea what the two of them were talking about. As I tilted my head in confusion, Shizune-san gave a pointed cough.

"By the way." She said, looking out at the passing scenery.

"The 'Management Tournament' begins this semester."

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