After soaking in a traditional bath, Toru finished washing up and got ready for breakfast.
He dried himself off and changed into casual clothes instead of a kimono. As he walked toward another courtyard, he grumbled about how such a large Fujiwara residence didn't even have a maid to help him bathe.
"Young Master Fujiwara, the young ladies are waiting for you in the dining room. The master said you don't need to greet him this morning, just take Ms. Shinomiya out to have fun."
The butler had been waiting at the entrance for quite a while.
There were no ancient-style maidservants or pretty maids, but there was a Western-style butler. It just showed how even a family like the Fujiwaras had been heavily Westernized.
When Toru arrived at the dining room, breakfast had a strong Japanese flavor. The room had clean tatami mats, and each person had a small table placed in front of them, one per person.
Inside, the young ladies were kneeling and chatting. When they saw Toru enter, Chika waved at him with a bright smile.
Toru smiled back and greeted the girls. Looking around, he asked Fujiwara Toyomi, "Sister Toyomi, where's Moeha?"
Toyomi, who was gentle and graceful and at least more reliable than Chika, replied, "Moeha just started junior high, and our family didn't let her take time off. She already took the Shinkansen back to Tokyo early this morning."
Then she glanced at Chika and continued, "...In a while, I plan to go shopping in Kyoto with some friends, while Chika's heading to Nichibei TV to watch a program recording."
"We won't disturb you and Kaguya's outing."
As she said this, Toyomi also glanced toward Kaguya.
But after Kaguya saw Toru come in, she kept her head down. She looked distant, and no one could tell what she was thinking.
"Watching a program recording at Nichibei TV? Chika, are you planning to see Ōoka Momiji?"
Toru recalled Momiji saying she had a recording today.
Chika nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling. "Momiji is a famous Karuta player in Kyoto, someone who might become the Karuta Queen. I haven't seen her record a Karuta show yet, so I want to watch."
Because the Fujiwara family had strict rules, Chika was forbidden from using electronics, playing games, and the like.
So she was especially interested in card games or board games, since those didn't fall under the family's restrictions.
As for Karuta, it was a traditional Japanese game, similar to Hyakunin Isshu or Iroha.
She called her "Momiji" directly, so it seemed their relationship was close.
Toru thought for a moment.
But then again, the Ōoka and Fujiwara families were both major local families. It was natural for kids of the same age to know each other.
Especially someone like Chika, who could befriend just about anyone.
The traditional Japanese breakfast was only so-so in terms of taste.
Chika ate quickly. Once she finished, she stood up impatiently. "I'm done eating! Kaguya, I'm heading out first. Have fun today."
Kaguya set down her chopsticks. Facing Chika, the one friend she could call her own, even she, cold as she usually was, smiled slightly and said, "Okay, Chika. Be careful on your way."
Chika waved goodbye to her sister and Toru, then ran off, full of energy.
Her lively presence always made people smile.
Not long after, Toyomi also finished eating. She smiled and said to Toru and Kaguya, "Then I'll be going as well."
With the 'third wheels' gone, only Toru, Kaguya, and her maid Hayasaka remained in the room.
Toru's gaze shifted to her, and Kaguya suddenly felt a wave of tension.
Since childhood, she had been strictly disciplined by the Shinomiya family and forbidden from having contact with boys.
At school, her cold and unapproachable personality, paired with her beauty and family background, made her nearly impossible to approach.
It could be said that Kaguya had absolutely no experience interacting with men. She didn't even know what to say.
Being stared at like this by Toru made her feel incredibly uneasy.
No. I'm from the Shinomiya family. I can't just sit here like this. But... what should I say... Hayasaka, help me!
On the surface, Kaguya kept up her ice-cold goddess expression, but inside she was mentally screaming from the pressure.
Hayasaka, who had grown up with her, noticed Kaguya's unease. She sighed and knelt down, speaking up:
"Young Master Fujiwara, do you have any plans for today? If not, would you like to hear the plan I've prepared?"
As a qualified maid, Hayasaka had already anticipated all this and prepared accordingly.
"You're Kaguya's maid, right?"
Toru asked, looking at her.
Being called by her given name directly made Kaguya's heart tremble.
It wasn't disgust. It was complete unfamiliarity. Since she was little, no boy her age had ever called her like that, aside from elders.
"Yes, I am Kaguya-sama's maid. Smith A. Hasaka!"
Hayasaka bowed slightly.
Because she was a quarter Irish and had beautiful blonde hair, she did look like a foreigner or mixed-blood.
"Then Basaka, tell me your plan."
"It's Hasaka, not Basaka!"
Hayasaka corrected him word by word.
She was a petite, cute girl, not some berserker.
"Then I can only say your pronunciation is unclear."
Toru's words left her speechless.
He had grown up in America. Arguing with him about English pronunciation was a losing battle.
Suddenly, Toru's expression turned serious.
"I heard that the maid beside Kaguya is named Hayasaka Ai, not some Basaka or Hasaka."
Hayasaka's breath hitched. She hadn't expected him to know.
She quickly replied, "Hayasaka Ai is my Japanese name."
Toru smiled meaningfully. "You're lying. Your family, the Hayasakas, used to be a prominent family in Japan, but they lost to the Shinomiyas in business."
"To survive, they had to submit to the Shinomiya Group. And you, the former young lady of the family, became a maid from birth."
Hayasaka's expression darkened. Toru's words sounded like he was trying to drive a wedge between her and Kaguya. She clenched her jaw and responded,
"Young Master Fujiwara, I have no complaints about being Kaguya-sama's maid."
Toru smirked. "Really? Not even a little? Never wanted to resign or anything?"
"Absolutely not!"
Hayasaka answered firmly, though a flicker of uncertainty still lingered in her voice.
After all, she was a modern person. Who would willingly be someone's servant?
Especially being a maid for Kaguya. Though she never said it, she was honestly exhausted.
"Maybe you don't mind, but your parents probably resent it. You know, the Hayasaka family wasn't crushed through fair competition. The Shinomiya Group used some dirty tactics."
"You met the Special Investigation Department chief yesterday, right? The reason your family went bankrupt was because the Shinomiya Group cut a deal with them."
Toru's tone was calm, but the words struck Hayasaka like a bomb, shaking her to her core.
Last night, Toru had asked Sakai Takaaki to look into it. As expected, the man had his subordinates dig up old documents that revealed everything.
The Shinomiya family's tactics weren't anything special. It was like having the fire department show up at your store every day, making it impossible to operate.
They used the Special Investigation Department to target the Hayasaka family's businesses, while pushing the media to stir up trouble. Investor confidence plummeted. The stock price crashed.
The stock market was like a domino effect. Once it fell, it was over. They were delisted and acquired in one blow. Just like that, everything the Hayasakas had became property of the Shinomiya Group.
Even worse, to repay their debts, Hayasaka's parents had to work for their enemies. And their daughter became a maid for their enemy's daughter. It was pathetic.
"Young Master Fujiwara!"
Hayasaka's voice rose without her realizing it, her suppressed anger spilling out.
She didn't want to admit he was right. But she also knew... it probably was true.
Whenever she saw her parents in private, they never said it aloud, but she could see the resentment they held toward the Shinomiyas. And guilt toward her.
After all, who wouldn't feel bitter watching their daughter, who should have been a young lady, reduced to a maid?
"Hayasaka, is... is he telling the truth?"
Kaguya suddenly turned toward her, asking with concern, "...Did the Shinomiya family really do that to the Hayasakas?"
Hayasaka forced a difficult smile and said, "Young Master Fujiwara is just joking, right, Young Master Fujiwara?"
She looked at him with pleading eyes.
Even if she disliked the Shinomiyas, especially being planted as a spy by Oko Shinomiya, she didn't want Kaguya to become distant from her because of this.
Her feelings toward Kaguya were real.
Toru stared at her for a few seconds, then smiled. "Yeah, I was just joking."
Kaguya was sharp. Toru believed that what he said had already planted a seed in her heart.
He didn't want her to become someone useless who gave up on the family business. He wanted her to use her calm, ruthless brilliance to take back what belonged to her.
Just as Hayasaka let out a quiet breath of relief, Toru spoke again.
"Miss Hayasaka, I don't like liars. But you just lied to me."
Hayasaka lowered her head and apologized, "It was my fault, Young Master Fujiwara. I don't have a foreign name. My name is just Hayasaka Ai."
Toru gave a light nod. "Then, as punishment for lying, you'll be punished."
"Please punish me!"
Hayasaka knelt in a dogeza.
"Fujiwara!"
Kaguya's voice rose, slightly angry. How dare you punish my maid.
Toru chuckled. "Since you're a maid, you must often wear a maid outfit. When Kaguya and I go out later, your punishment is to wear that outfit."
Kaguya let out a breath of relief. She had thought it would be something serious. Just wearing a maid outfit? Go ahead, Hayasaka, you wear it at home all the time anyway.
"Hayasaka, you brought your maid outfit, right? Just wear it like Fujiwara... Toru-kun said."
Seeing Kaguya's approval, Hayasaka just wanted to bang her head against the wall.
Kaguya-sama, do you even understand the situation?!
Wearing it at home is one thing. But outside, dressed like that, calling people 'Young Master' and 'Young Lady'—do you know how humiliating that is?
I'm just a normal high school girl. Why do I have to go through this kind of shame?!
(To be continued.)
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