Akira glanced down, saw the softened expression on Hayasaka Ai's face, slightly dazed, and chuckled.
"See? You can make a cute face. I thought you were stuck with that emotionless one forever."
That line brought Hayasaka Ai back to herself. She looked up at Akira's face, felt his breath so close, and her own breathing quickened.
"I'm sorry. What kind of expression... Do you like?"
"Hmm? That means you're willing to try anything?"
"I... I can give it a try, I guess."
"No need. Do what feels right to you. To me, every kind of expression is fun to see."
In an even better mood, Akira turned his gaze back to the window. The fireworks reflected brightly in his eyes.
Hayasaka Ai rested against his shoulder, dazedly staring at his profile. She then tried to shift her focus to the fireworks—but no matter what, she couldn't appreciate them properly.
Carefully, she said, "Um... Ogiwara-san."
"Just speak up. There's no need to be that cautious. This isn't a cram session—it's a fireworks show. A bit of conversation is fine."
"Mm, I just wanted to ask... Can we finish a little earlier? I still need to send milady home…"
Akira's previously relaxed expression collapsed halfway.
Hayasaka Ai realized she'd probably said something wrong, but in her current not-so-bright state, she had no idea how to fix it.
"Hayasaka... I can call you that, right?"
"Yes! Of course!"
Akira took a deep breath and grinned. "If I didn't know you were so strict about etiquette, I'd think you were insulting me."
That made Hayasaka Ai panic for a moment. "No! I'm very sorry, Ogiwara-san! I absolutely didn't mean it that way!"
"I know you didn't... sigh, forget it."
Akira could tell she meant well—just being overly dutiful. He didn't hold it against her.
After a sigh, he shifted to a more serious topic.
"I want something more long-term, Hayasaka. Can you accept that?"
"...Yes."
"Then here's the first issue: with your job and schedule, when can you come?"
Hayasaka Ai looked a little troubled.
"I don't really have proper time off. I get more rest on weekends, but I still have to respond to milady at any time. If I were to visit... it'd have to be at night."
"...Do you have time to sleep during the day?"
"If milady gives no instructions and the villa has no tasks, I can take a nap."
Akira, who had seen season one of the original series, had a general sense of how hard Hayasaka Ai worked.
That image of her collapsing into a bath, murmuring about how she couldn't endure without some relaxation—it was heart-wrenching to watch.
Which meant that nap time might be a luxury.
If she had to sacrifice sleep just to sneak over at night… subtract the fun time and the commute…
"When do you usually sleep and wake?"
"Sleep at 11, wake at 5."
"...Hah?"
Hearing that, Akira didn't feel right even asking her to come once, let alone regularly. He felt like a terrible person.
This troubled him.
He had thought through many things—how to negotiate with the Shinomiya family, even what came after—but hadn't considered that hardworking Hayasaka Ai simply didn't have time.
"Can you ask your lady to let you sleep in a bit on Sundays? Then you could come over Saturday night. If not, I'll bring it up myself."
Hayasaka Ai shook her head. Her slightly loose hair brushed his neck, making it itch.
"I'll talk to her. If there are no guests or duties Sunday, I can sleep in."
"Alright, let's go with that. And of course, if something comes up Sunday, don't come."
That arrangement satisfied Akira. With that major issue settled, and after enjoying the fireworks a bit longer, his attention shifted elsewhere—namely, to the lively body in his arms.
Hayasaka Ai sensed it and tensed up again, frozen in place.
"Looks like I'll need to trouble you a bit, Hayasaka."
Akira lowered his head and gently brushed the tip of his nose along the back of her ear and down her neck.
Hayasaka Ai had never experienced anything like it. She let out a small, restrained moan, then started breathing quickly and unevenly, tightly closing her eyes.
Normally, that touch might've just tickled—but at this moment, with her mind already primed and her body surrounded by masculine scent and warmth, her temperature had already risen.
Her body had "switched on."
In this state, certain touches become more intense, transforming from mere tickling into something deeper—something strangely acceptable.
"Since you still have to take your lady home later, there's a way to handle this that won't take too much time or energy. Is that alright?"
Hearing his voice, Hayasaka Ai forced her misty eyes open and nodded slightly through her heavy breathing, even though her brain couldn't process what he meant.
"Good. Then stand up... and squat down. Yes, kneeling would be even better…"
…
Afterward, Hayasaka Ai rushed into the bathroom, covering her mouth.
Akira adjusted his robe and lit a cigarette while she brushed her teeth.
Seriously, fireworks festivals are amazing. All that time spent feeling unimpressed before? That was just because he hadn't brought a girl with him.
And it felt great—even if the technique couldn't compare to Kabukicho, the emotional satisfaction beat it by eight streets.
"Huff—this show lasts an hour, right? Probably almost done."
After smoking half the cigarette, Akira put it out and spent the rest of the time clearing the smell.
With the combined efforts of the air conditioner and the open window, by the time Hayasaka Ai came out, she could only faintly smell it.
Not that she had the energy to care—she'd even washed her face with cold water, trying to calm down.
"Good work, Hayasaka. Shall we talk about the deal now, or would you rather rest and discuss later via email or Line?"
Hayasaka Ai touched her still-warm, aching cheeks. Realizing she couldn't return to her usual calm, she gave up.
Then, frowning with annoyance, she pouted and grumbled,
"Ugh... Ogiwara-san, that was too much. Doing that as my first time with a guy, and then immediately talking business? Even if you can calm down, I can't!"
Akira's expression turned a bit strange.
"Hayasaka, if you keep being that cute, I might have to ask you to take the night off."
At that vaguely threatening line, Hayasaka Ai immediately returned to her usual stoic maid mode.
"Yes. Ten minutes remain before the fireworks end. Please proceed, Ogiwara-san."
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