CH 13

The Lady Who Refused to Go Home

Translated by Hikaru

Edited by VampireKnight

The last class for today is over and it has reached the end of the school day at the academy. 

“Hey, Nishinari. Good job.”

“How’s it going? How about a welcome party after this?”

Taisho and Asahi-san approached me. But I apologized with a wry smile on my face.

“I’m sorry. I was told to go home as soon as possible.”

“Well, that’s what first days are like,” Taisho said regretfully.

I started to feel guilty about the situation. They’ve been kind to me since morning, but I’ve been turning down their invitations to lunch and to hang out after school. It is natural for me to prioritize my work as a caretaker, but….. I am also hesitant to continue to disregard their favors.

“Can I ask you again when I get the chance? I’d like to know more about the academy too.”

“Oh! We’re always available!”

Taisho and Asahi-san smiled at each other. At that moment, Asahi-san took out her phone from her skirt pocket and looked at the screen.

“I think I’m going to go home now that I’ve been picked up.”

“I guess I’m going home too. See you tomorrow, Nishinari.”

I bid them both farewell and parted ways. I pick up my bag that was hanging on my desk and decide to leave school as well. Even though I am leaving school…… as the caretaker, I have to make sure that Hinako gets home before I leave.

“Well, Hinako…..”

Hinako was just about to leave her seat. Since Hinako and I are supposed to be in a family relationship with each other, there’s no problem in having a normal conversation, but if possible, I’d like to keep a respectful distance to prevent any trouble.

Hinako leaves the classroom. So that no one around me would notice, I secretly followed her. I thought she was going out of the school, but for some reason, she stopped by the store.

“Can I have one of these loaves, please?”

After buying a loaf of bread at the purchasing counter, Hinako took it and headed for the footlocker. After changing into her outdoor shoes, she headed not towards the school gate, but towards the garden.

There are several gardens on the grounds of the Imperial Academy. This time, Hinako went to the garden near the old student hall. The garden had a small pond and a few tables, but there was no one there. It is far away from the main building where the classrooms are located, and the old student hall nearby was not in use due to its age, so it must have become uninhabitable.

Standing at the edge of the pond, Hinako sliced a small piece of bread and released it. The swimming carp swarmed around the bread.

As a young lady, she may have a love for art and a sense of compassion for animals. However, there was no sign of movement after a period of time. Shizune has told me not to make a detour too often after school, so I approach Hinako after confirming that there is no one around.

“What are you doing?”

“….. Feeding.”

I can know by looking at it. Shedding the mask of a young lady, Hinako, in her true form, crouched down and looked at the school of koi swarming around the bread.

“It’s niceー…” Hinako mutters in a dazed state.

“If I was a carp I could get food just by opening my mouth…… I wish I was a koi……”

“I’m sure… the koi have their own difficulties that we don’t understand.”

“I wonderー…..”

She didn’t seem to care for the animal, but that she envies them. I feel like I shouldn’t say anything, so I let out a sigh.

“It’s time to go home. Shizune-san will be waiting for us.”

“…… No.” Hinako replied sullenly.

I roll my eyes, not expecting her to reject me.

“You don’t like it? You can relax when you return to the mansion.”

“I can’t….. I’ve got lessons and stuff.”

So that’s how it is. It’s also not easy being the young Lady of the Konohana family.

“But even if you stay at the academy, it’s just cramped for you.”

“It’s after school, so it’s not too crowded and cramped.”

That may well be true. Apparently, there are no after-school club activities at the Academy. This is because most of the students are busy with their studies or work after school. In addition, the students of the Imperial Academy, with their financial resources, can do whatever they want to do in their homes. They don’t have to go out of their way to stay at the academy because they have a swimming pool and a field at home.

“We can’t stay at the academy forever anyway. Let’s go back soon.”

“Noー…”

“Since it’s Shizune-san, don’t you think you’ll end up getting into more trouble if you keep being spoiled like this?”

“Ugh.”

Shizune-san is a maid who can punish her master. For a moment, Hinako looked terribly uncomfortable, but she still shook her head in the end. 

“But, still… no.”

Having escaped from reality, Hinako resumed feeding the koi in silence. She is a stubborn young lady. Even though it is after school and the crowd is dwindling, there are still a few students left. I can’t forcefully drag the young lady of the Konohana Family outside.

“Oh, by the way, I have this stuff with me……”

I remembered the black bag that Shizune had given me this morning, and took it out of my bag. She said I should use it if Hinako doesn’t listen well, but speaking of which, I wonder what is inside this bag. I open the mouth of the bag and take out what is inside.

“Potato!!”

Hinako, who has been listless until then, suddenly got a glint in her eye. She was right, there were potato chips (consomme flavor) in the bag. 

“No, it’s not fair…… I can’t resist the temptation……” Hinako says in a quivering voice.

This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone whose will is broken by potato chips.

“Okay, take this, then we’re going home for the day.”

“… don’t rush.”

After a frustrated groan, Hinako reluctantly stood up and took the potatoes from my hand. From there, Hinako and I went our separate ways as planned. As soon as Hinako passed through the school gate, a black car stopped nearby. Shizune-san came out of the car and greeted Hinako. I watched the scene, pretending to be a stranger, and then continued walking the streets alone.

I arrive at a less popular place where we are to meet up and wait for a while. Then the car carrying Hinako and Shizune-san stop nearby.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No, thank you for picking me up.”

The window of the passenger seat opens and Shizune-san calls out to me. I sit down in the back seat. Hinako is sitting in the back. To those around us, it will look as if Hinako and I have gone home separately.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done after we return to the mansion. But first of all, thank you for your hard work at the academy.”

“Thank you very much.”

Shizune-san, who has a strong impression of being strict, gave me a nod, somewhat surprised. Hinako, who is sitting next to me, is eating the potato chips I had just given her with all her heart.

“It seems that what I gave you this morning was handy.”

“It came in handy at the last minute. I didn’t expect potato chips to work so well.”

“It’s the young Lady’s favorite food. It’s rarely eaten, and the effect is extraordinary.”

“it’s rarely eaten…… but isn’t it just potato chips?”

“Of course. Such unhealthy food is unbecoming for the young Lady of the Konohana family.”

Do rich families have a strict diet? It seems that just because they have money doesn’t mean they are free to do whatever they want. In fact, they sometimes seem to be more constrained than ordinary people. However―.

“I think it’s okay to eat potato chips.”

“No. This is also an instruction from Kegon-sama. She is allowed to eat the sliced potatoes prepared by the chef……, but the young lady prefers the commercial ones.”

I guess she probably likes the taste that is bad for her health. When I look at her, I see that the potatoes are too big for Hinako’s small mouth, and that pieces are spilling out.

“There are chip crumbs on the floor.”

When I cautioned her, Hinako looked proud for some reason.

“It’s like eating soba noodles by slurping it up…..”

“What?”

“Spill your chips crumbs. That’s the etiquette when eating potato……”

“No, it’s not.”

What are you talking about with a smug look on your face?

“Itsuki, here.”

Hinako called my name and offered me a bag of potato chips.

“….. Will you give me some?”

“Wrong.”

Hinako opened her mouth at me as I took the bag.

“Imitating the carp.”

That’s what she said, but how am I supposed to react…..? When Hinako opens her mouth, I am confused.

“Feed me.”

Oh……, that’s what you mean.

“Yes, yes.”

I pick up a potato chip and bring it to Hinako’s mouth.

“Ummー…..”

Crunch crunch, Hinako eats the potatoes happily.

“Itsuki-san, please be careful that Kagen-sama does not see you like that.”

“……Okay.”

I look away from Hinako, who is eating a potato chip. It’s a scene that could cause a lot of misunderstandings. It’s probably best not to show it to anyone.

“Shizune-san please keep it to yourself.”

“I’d like to report as soon as possible. Unfortunately……, even if we were to remove you from your position as caretaker now, we would not be able to replace you immediately”

“…..Is that the reason?”

“I suggested that you should cut it out before you give the young lady any feelings.”

“Please give me a break.”

I bowed deeply to Shizune-san.