Though he had thoroughly cleansed himself with "Cleanse," Kagura still sensed a lingering trace of Miura's sweet essence on his right fingertips as he returned home.
Ascending the steps to the grand entrance, a maid stationed there gracefully lifted her skirt's hem, curtsying before promptly opening the ivory-white wooden door.
"Welcome home, Young Master Kagura."
Ai Hayasaka, her expression impassive, stood inside to greet him.
More precisely, she was now "Smith A. Hasaka," and "she" should be "he."
Dressed in a formal male butler's uniform, complete with gloves and blue-tinted glasses, Ai had bound her chest and adorned her neck with a subtle prosthetic Adam's apple, fully committing to the role.
"Oh… Hasaka, it's you today?"
Kagura stepped inside, swapping his casual school sneakers for slippers.
He knew his detour with Miura's "mangoes" had delayed him beyond his usual Service Club schedule, giving Ai, who always returned promptly, ample time to prepare her disguise.
But… was her training complete? Where was Sayuri?
"Tch~" Ai adjusted her flat-lensed glasses with her right index finger, speaking formally. "Firstly, Lady Sayuri wishes you to remember two matters."
"Huh…?"
Kagura thought: Why's she calling Mom so oddly?
"First, as you've temporarily hired a new maid, during her tenure here, you must address Lady Sayuri as 'Yuriko,' and she assumes the role of your personal butler."
"I get the butler part… but why Yuriko?"
Kagura scratched his head, feeling a headache brewing.
What was Sayuri scheming now?
"Second, I, Smith A. Hasaka, am currently your 'trainee butler,' mentored by the true butler, Yuriko. Understood?"
"Sigh—Hiring a maid shouldn't be this complicated."
"Third…"
"Weren't there only two?"
"Third," Ai pointed at the translucent white plastic bag in his hand, "what have you brought back?"
"Uh… a bag of fresh Mexican mangoes, three large ones." Kagura lifted it, handing it over. "You can have two; leave me one."
"Phew…" Ai stepped forward, bending at the knee and bowing with a hand to her chest. "My deepest gratitude."
Thus, during dinner, neatly sliced mango was served before Kagura, which he savored with delight.
Ten minutes remained until Saki Kawasaki's arrival.
"That guy… lives in a place like this? Ugh… maybe I should just go home? Skip work…"
Kawasaki pedaled slowly, following her GPS, parking her red women's bicycle by the ornate, carved gate of Kagura's estate. Peering inside, she bit her lip nervously.
—Forget working here. If I break a vase, I'd be in debt for life! But finding a job with this pay is near impossible. I'll take the chance. I'm not that clumsy. Come on, Saki, you've got this!
Steeling herself, she stepped onto the ground in her green X-patterned sneakers, pushing her bike toward the side gate.
A maid in a classic Victorian outfit—black gown, wide white apron—emerged from a nearby guardhouse. Kawasaki, gripping her handlebar, scratched her cheek. "Uh… I'm—"
"You must be Miss Saki Kawasaki?" The maid, about thirty, curtsied and extended her hands with a warm smile. "May I see your student ID or similar identification?"
"Oh… that's me." Kawasaki rummaged through her blue satchel in the bike's basket, pinching her ID between her left index and middle fingers. "Here."
The maid examined it, smiled brightly, and returned it with both hands. "Please enter. Park your bicycle anywhere. Once done, proceed through the main entrance, where someone will guide you for your interview and training."
"Uh… okay."
Kawasaki took back her ID, head lowered, pushing her bike through the open side gate. She sped up, practically jogging past the front garden, parking her bike in a corner. Untying her jacket from her waist, she pulled a small mirror from her bag, fixed her appearance, and climbed the steps.
Then she noticed her sneakers.
"These shoes okay…?"
Walking with her satchel, her soles itched with nerves.
It wasn't foot odor—she skipped uniform dress shoes for two reasons: they were pricey and less comfortable than sneakers, and at 170 cm, heels made her tower over others. Flat shoes kept her grounded.
At the entrance, the maid who greeted Kagura was gone, likely tending other duties. Kawasaki hesitated at the golden doorknob, debating whether to knock or push.
Obviously, knock!
Knock knock—
"Whoosh—"
Ai, wearing a practiced smile, slowly opened the door. The setting sun spilled into the dimly lit foyer, glinting off her polished black shoes.
"Uh…"
Kawasaki froze under Ai's gaze, a chill running down her spine. Despite this "boy" being shorter, his presence was commanding.
The opulent English-style hall, with its curving banisters, added to the intimidation.
"Are you Miss Saki Kawasaki?" Ai adjusted her glasses with her gloved right hand, scanning her before placing a hand to her chest. "I am Smith A. Hasaka, currently serving as Young Master Kagura's trainee butler."
"K-Kawasaki Saki… Nice to meet you. I'm here for the maid position."
Kawasaki stood rigid, clutching her bag, bowing hastily.
—This butler seems so capable… and he's just a trainee?
"Please enter. Lady Yuriko, Young Master Kagura's true personal butler, will conduct your interview. It's nearly guaranteed to pass, but do your best. If you'd like, hand me your luggage, and I'll place it in your prepared room."
"Uh… th-thanks."
Kawasaki handed over her heavy bag, which Ai carried as effortlessly as a picnic basket, her face betraying no strain.
"Please change your shoes. From left to right: sizes 23, 23.5, 24, 24.5, 25."
Ai gestured to five pairs of uniform leather ankle boots, identical in style, varying only in size.
Kawasaki swapped her sneakers for the 24.5 pair. (Japanese shoe sizes use centimeters.)
"Is the fit comfortable?"
"Cough, yeah, great… How much are these?"
Peeking at the insole's logo, she recognized a brand she couldn't afford.
"As long as you work here, these are provided, along with your uniform. Now, follow me."
Ai led with a graceful gesture. Kawasaki nodded, suppressing her curiosity, focusing on Ai's back as they walked down the left corridor on the first floor.
They stopped at a room near the end, its ivory door bearing a brown plaque: For Kawasaki.
"During your employment, you may freely use all items and facilities in this room. You're responsible for cleaning it. Without your permission, no one will enter, even during your days off."
Ai produced a flat brass key from her pocket, handing it to Kawasaki.
As Kawasaki moved to unlock the door, Ai knocked briskly. "Lady Yuriko, Miss Kawasaki has arrived."
Kawasaki, embarrassed, yanked her hand back, stuffing the key into her skirt pocket as if scalded.
Without waiting for a reply, Ai turned the knob and opened the door.
Kawasaki peeked inside nervously.
Was the woman with pinned-up hair by the window Yuriko? But…
This room… was it larger and brighter than her own at home? It resembled a small boutique apartment, complete with a washer-dryer, a bathroom behind a partition, a bookshelf, desk, fridge, microwave, laptop, and tablet…
This was her work dorm? Outrageous!
A dorm should be cramped—four or six to a room, snoring roommates, no private bathroom. She'd braced for that. Instead, she got a solo luxury suite? Damn rich people…
Spotting a bladeless air-purifying fan and humidifier, she couldn't hold it in, slapping her forehead with a wry chuckle.
"Welcome… Miss Saki Kawasawa."
Sayuri turned, right hand on her left chest, smiling.
"Uh… H-Hello…"
Kawasaki studied "Yuriko," who reciprocated the scrutiny.
Kawasaki: Yuriko…? She looks familiar… like I've seen her before. What a stunning beauty—such a tiny waist. Shame about her chest.
Sayuri: This is Kagura's new maid? Hmm… decent appearance, impeccable figure, but…
Click.
Ai softly closed the door, hanging Kawasaki's bag on a nearby coat rack, then stood to Kawasaki's left-rear, glancing up with a slight smile.
Kawasaki snapped her gaze back to Yuriko, tense.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Yuriko, Young Master Kagura's exclusive personal butler and your interviewer and supervisor henceforth."
Sayuri touched her neckline, her expression turning stern.
"P-Please guide me!"
Kawasaki bowed quickly.
"As you were personally recommended by Young Master Kagura and are his classmate, we'll skip the resume. Let's begin. First question: Miss Kawasaki, are you a virgin?"
"Wha…?! Uh… Y-Yes…"
Startled, Kawasaki nearly retorted but restrained herself, averting her gaze, mumbling.
—What kind of interview starts like this? Asking about virginity… This place feels off.
"Second question: Do you have any infectious or hereditary diseases?"
"Of course not. I'm perfectly healthy!"
Though uncomfortable, Kawasaki answered earnestly.
This felt less like a job interview and more like a concubine selection. The thought spiraled, preoccupying her through the questions until her turn to ask. "Um… Lady Yuriko, I'm just here for personal chores. I'm not… involved with Zeamura—uh, Young Master—like that. I won't have to… do those things, right?"
"Hm? Those things?" Sayuri blinked, leaning closer, whispering curiously, "What things? Tell me!"
"I-I mean…" Kawasaki lowered her head, clutching her skirt, muttering, "Like… serving in bed… I won't do that…"
"Hahahaha—What're you thinking? I'd never ask that of you!"
Sayuri patted Kawasaki's arm, laughing heartily.
"Phew… R-Right…"
Kawasaki exhaled, rolling her eyes inwardly. I overthought it.
"Bedroom duties? I'll handle those myself! You're just a trainee—don't steal my role."
"Huh…" Kawasaki froze, staring at Yuriko's earnest face, her cheeks flaming as she clutched her face, shrieking, "WAAAH—!"
Behind her, Ai silently palmed her forehead, thinking: Madam, you're terrifying her…
The interview soon ended. Sayuri handed Kawasaki an envelope with 600,000 yen. "You're officially hired. Since this is a part-time job, we'll skip the contract. Here's two months' salary in advance. Do your best, young lady!"
"Uh…"
Weighing the envelope, likely holding at least 500,000, Kawasaki felt the trip was worthwhile.
She stole a glance at Hasaka, suddenly suspecting why he remained a "trainee butler":
He's a guy—no bedroom duties…
"By the way, that 'bedroom duties' bit was a joke. My relationship with Young Master Kagura is purely… cough master-servant."
Sayuri sidled up, tiptoeing to whisper, shielding her lips.
"Phew—You can joke about that…?"
Kawasaki didn't voice this, but her stifled, eager-to-speak expression made Sayuri itch to tease her more.
Soon, Sayuri led Kawasaki to a deliberately disheveled room, gesturing grandly. "Cleaning tools are here. Tidy as much as you can in thirty minutes. I'll inspect after."
"Thirty minutes?"
Kawasaki scanned the chaotic room, eyes widening at the challenge.
The mess was manageable, but an old, broken coat rack with a cabinet loomed troublesome, its back caked in grime.
"Do your best. Good performance could mean a pay raise."
"I'm on it!"
Kawasaki rolled up her sleeves, stepping forward.
Sayuri tugged her skirt. "Your hair's too long. Cut it or tie it up."
Kawasaki obediently tied it.
Sayuri and Ai left her to clean. In the corridor, after a few steps, Ai spoke. "Madam, why have her clean? A personal maid doesn't do this…"
"Well, it'll be fun!" Sayuri grinned mischievously, shushing Ai with a finger to her lips, winking. "Fifteen minutes from now, fetch Kagura to check on her. Don't go before then."
"Oh…"
Ai replied vaguely, puzzled.
Alone, Kawasaki worked swiftly, shelving books, collecting scattered pens and papers, wiping surfaces, and tackling the troublesome rack. Its back was tough to clean, requiring her to squeeze through.
As she prepared to crawl, she noticed something in the seam between the rack and cabinet.
Frowning, she pried it out with her fingertips. A small, round object clattered to the floor.
Picking it up, she saw a dusty, lint-covered fountain pen.
Focused on cleaning the rack's back, she pocketed the pen, planning to clean it later.
Fifteen minutes later, Ai knocked softly on Kagura's bedroom door, unlocking it with a key. Peering through the gap, she met his gaze. "Young Master Kagura, Madam requests you accompany me to the test room."
"Tch, not coming in?"
Kagura dropped the pen he was using to ponder a melody, stretching in his ergonomic chair and standing.
"I could, but if you try anything, you'd be the one in trouble."
"…Fine, let's go."
Kagura yawned, brushing his bangs, and opened the door.
Outside, Ai kept over fifty centimeters between them, walking formally, like ex-lovers meeting years after a breakup. She said nothing; Kagura, patient, didn't ask, following her to the first floor.
The "test room" was Sayuri's staged mess to evaluate Kawasaki's skills, which Kagura knew.
At the door, Ai knocked twice. "This is Hasaka. I'm entering with Young Master Kagura."
"Huh? NO—Not now…! Don't come in! AAAH—!"
Kawasaki's panicked protests echoed inside.
Ai and Kagura exchanged a glance. As a dutiful butler, she produced a master key, unlocked the door with a click, and pushed it open.
Kagura strode in.
Both froze at the sight.
Directly facing them was a pert backside, wrapped in black lace panties.
Straight legs pressed tightly together, toes lifted, tautening her stance.
Indeed, Saki Kawasaki, in her zeal to clean efficiently, had fallen prey to Sayuri's rigged "obstacle rack," her waist firmly trapped.
Twisting to see Kagura and Ai staring at her rear, she thrashed, but the more she struggled, the tighter she was caught, her panties nearly slipping off.
"Get out, you two massive idiots!"
Furious, she wiggled her hips, shouting.
Kagura whipped out his phone, snapping photos. Each shutter click drew odd yelps from Kawasaki—"Ah~ Ugh~ Wah~" or "Eek!"
Ai, expressionless, adjusted her glasses. "Kawasaki, as a trainee maid, you dare tell Young Master Kagura to 'get out'? Did the 600,000 yen from… cough Lady Yuriko give you such audacity?"
Initially respectful, Ai treated Kawasaki as a guest pre-hire. Now, as her senior and de facto supervisor, she dropped the courtesy.
"Uh…"
Kawasaki deflated, arms drooping, hips relaxing, her curves regaining their natural roundness.
The faulty coat rack had betrayed her. Eager to clean behind it, she'd squeezed through a deceptively wide gap, only for a snap—a bar dropped, trapping her snugly. A flatter figure might've escaped, but…
Kawasaki had E-cup breasts and a shapely rear.
"Ugh… I should just die… Can I die now? Zeamura, where're you posting those photos? I don't want the pay, no contract anyway. I wanna go home… I need to… off myself a bit…"
Her voice, bleak as a starving nun's chant, droned on.
Being seen by Kagura, her employer, was bad enough, but Hasaka too? Two "guys" ogling her risqué lace panties.
She'd hoped Yuriko would rescue her soon—a mature woman seeing her rear was tolerable. But now…
"AAAAH—! I'll never marry…"
Her inner wail was pure despair.
"Kawasaki, gotta say, that's one enticing rear."
Kagura pocketed his phone, approaching the silently weeping Kawasaki, gripping the rack to stifle laughter.
"Zeamura… No, Master Kagura, Young Master! Please get me out!"
Kawasaki lifted her tear-streaked face, pleading, her booted feet tapping behind her.
"Hm…" Kagura wiped her tears, then raised his right hand high, delivering a resounding SLAP!
"WAAAH—!"
The sudden spank sent Kawasaki shrieking, nearly sliding flat across the cabinet.
"You… jerk!" Furious and humiliated, she clenched her fists, glaring. "I let the photos slide, but this? That's harassment!"
"Harassment? You flash your sexy panties at me the moment I check your work, practically begging for it. If Hasaka weren't here supervising, I might've done something naughty."
Kagura rubbed his chin, feigning righteousness, patting Ai's shoulder (missing entirely).
"Begging?! I-I just got stuck! Didn't I warn you not to come in?!"
Her fists pounded the cabinet, rattling it.
"First, how do you get stuck cleaning a rack like this? Normal people wouldn't, unless it's on purpose. Second, on my family's land, no one stops me from going anywhere. What if you were hiding damage or stealing? You've no right to bar me."
Kagura delivered two more slaps to both cheeks.
The springy texture was irresistible—he wanted more!
Her pale skin paired with seductive black lace was pure temptation.
He knew she wasn't enticing him deliberately; otherwise, she'd have hinted at bedroom duties when hired. He was simply bullying her.
"Ugh… sob… I wanna go home… Let me go… I was wrong… I shouldn't have come…"
Kawasaki rubbed her wet eyes pitifully. As she sobbed, her voice shifted to a sharp "Eek—!" goosebumps rising, as if she'd wet herself.
Ai was touching her leg.
Crouching, Ai's gloved fingertips grazed Kawasaki's left inner thigh, sliding upward, pausing to pinch her rear mischievously.
"Well… I must admit, Kawasaki, you've got some assets to tempt Young Master Kagura, but…"
"You—! No one taught you not to touch a woman's body?!"
Seeing Kagura unmoving, Kawasaki knew it was Hasaka, glaring back.
Ai, unfazed—being female—couldn't be pegged for harassment.
"More importantly…" Ai pulled out her phone, recording, her hand brushing Kawasaki's skirt pocket, which bulged oddly. "Kawasaki, no one taught you not to take others' property? That's theft…"
Kawasaki's heart skipped.
"Hm? Theft? Actual theft?"
Kagura perked up, thinking: What's there to steal here? Nothing valuable.
Under video, Ai rummaged Kawasaki's pocket, retrieving the dusty fountain pen. Holding it carefully with a white handkerchief, she showed it to Kawasaki and Kagura. "Kawasaki, I noticed your pocket looked off the moment I entered. Care to explain?"
"I-It's…"
Speechless, Kawasaki flushed, shooting Kagura pleading glances.
Ai played the bad cop, crouching with the pen's grimy cap near Kawasaki's face. "Kawasaki, you may not know, but no pen in this house costs less than 500,000 yen. Why was this premium pen, belonging to Young Master Kagura's family, in your pocket? If not theft, what is it?"
"That expensive?!"
Kagura exclaimed.
"But you, Young Master, care little for prices, do you?"
Ai flattered aptly.
As a maid, she memorized item costs—breaking something meant docked pay (though Kagura secretly reimbursed her).
Kagura stifled a laugh, but Kawasaki's deathly expression sobered him.
"I… I just…"
Kawasaki's fists clenched, nails digging into her palms.
Tears dripped onto the dusty floor. She reached for a filthy rag nearby, clutching it like a lifeline.
"Enough…" Ai meticulously cleaned the pen with her handkerchief, then struggled to lift the bar trapping Kawasaki, finally freeing her after several attempts. Standing over her, she said coolly, "Come out, Kawasaki."
Kawasaki slid out, collapsing to her knees, gripping her skirt, voice raw. "I didn't mean to steal… My family's poor, but I'd never stoop to that. I have hands and feet—why steal? I saw it stuck there, dirty, and pocketed it to clean later…"
"And got stuck yourself, huh?"
Kagura took the pen, popping the cap—gold nib, no big deal.
Kawasaki was in deep—guilty or not, it looked bad.
"…You wouldn't believe me now, would you?"
Her voice was flat, lifeless.
"It's too coincidental," Ai adjusted her glasses, pointing coldly. "Young Master, I suggest summoning a lawyer to proceed with charges."
She winked furiously at Kagura.
Calling a lawyer over this was absurd—Ai was clearly scaring Kawasaki, and Kagura saw through it.
"Fine… I did it…" Kawasaki confessed, shifting to a formal kneel, pressing her forehead to her hands in a deep bow. "Do what you want, but please don't involve my family… especially my siblings. They have futures. I beg you…"
"Uh…"
Kagura and Ai exchanged looks, thinking: She's so gullible—scared so easily!
"Young Master, how do you rule?"
Ai locked the door, sidling up to Kagura, stroking his chest.
To an outsider, they'd seem suspiciously close, but Ai's gender made it fine.
"Hm…"
Since it was bullying, Kagura decided to go all in, pausing dramatically.
Ai chimed in, "She's your classmate, new here, unaware of rules, a first offense… Perhaps a warning, a lesson, and let her off?"
"…" Kawasaki, teary, bowed lower, her gratitude for Hasaka surging like the Edo River. Sobbing, she pleaded, "Please… let me go…"
"Kawasaki, if your family's struggling, just tell me. I said I'm generous to my personal staff. But stealing? I'm disappointed."
Kagura rambled, stifling laughter, rubbing his chin. "But Hasaka's right. As a first-time offender, I'll warn you once… with two conditions."
Kawasaki trembled, dreading his words.
—No escape, huh… Like in manga where maids get teased by masters… Here? But if…
"P-Please, state them…"
She gritted her teeth.
"First, formally apologize for your earlier insolence. Second, while employed, outside I don't care, but on duty, use honorifics with me and my family, no swearing, control your temper, and lower your attitude. You're here as a maid, not a princess. Clear?"
Kagura toyed with the pen, wiping it with a moist towelette.
"I… understand…"
Kawasaki sighed, relieved to have dodged a bullet.
A small puddle of tears glistened on the floor.
"You may rise. From now on, call me 'Senior.'"
Ai knelt on one knee, helping Kawasaki stand.
Shaky, Kawasaki rose, legs weak. The earlier slaps and touches felt trivial now.
But soon, she began unbuttoning her shirt, one by one, so swiftly Kagura couldn't ask why. Blushing, she stopped only when her matching black lace bra was exposed, then tugged it down, baring her full, snowy peaks, their pink tips delicate.
She stunned Kagura and Ai.
Thud~ Kawasaki knelt again, arms shielding her chest, stammering, "S-Sorry… I shouldn't have been rude… So… I'm showing my utmost sincerity to apologize. I'm truly sorry!"
"Uh…" Kagura scratched his cheek, coughing. "So, utmost sincerity… Why undress, Kawasaki?"
"Eek? I-Isn't baring my chest the greatest apology a maid can offer her master…? Or… is it not enough?!"
Kawasaki clutched her burning face, trembling.
Ai sighed, palming her forehead. "Kawasaki, you've misunderstood something fundamental…"