Watching the delighted Miss Yuuko, Watanuki Kimihiro sighed, feeling like he was caught between two powerful deities—worse yet, it seemed those two were subtly clashing.
But to avoid getting trapped in that strange formation again, he obediently followed along.
Thankfully, there were no new illusionary paths beyond the trail; it led straight to their destination.
It was a residence with sealed windows covered by mesh screens.
The front yard was clearly untended, yet the plants and flowers didn't grow excessively wild—they presented a kind of natural beauty.
And in front of this naturally beautiful house stood a girl so refined and elegant that she seemed to belong in Miss Yuuko's own wardrobe of glamorous dresses.
Her maid outfit alone silently declared her identity.
When she saw Miss Yuuko, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes—likely from the striking beauty before her—but it quickly faded into a calm, graceful smile as she offered a flawless bow.
"Good afternoon to you both. I am Aoyama Nanami, maid of the Ogiwara household. On behalf of Mr. Ogiwara, I welcome you."
Watanuki blinked in surprise, finally realizing why she looked familiar.
"You're… Miss Aoyama?"
Nanami smiled warmly. "Yes, it's me. Thank you again for your help last time, Watanuki-kun."
"Ah, no no, not at all. I was just following Mr. Ogiwara's instructions."
Scratching his head bashfully, Watanuki added with amazement, "You've changed so much—I almost didn't recognize you."
"As Mr. Ogiwara's maid, this much is necessary."
Nanami responded with an air of total confidence, then stepped to the side and gestured invitingly.
"You must be tired from your journey. We've prepared some chilled watermelon to help you cool off. Please, come in."
"Ah, okay, okay! Let's go in, Miss Yuuko… huh? Miss Yuuko?"
Watanuki replied hurriedly, but when he didn't hear Miss Yuuko answer, he looked up and saw her staring at him with a subtle yet pointed expression—something between disapproval and scrutiny.
Then she turned to glance at Nanami, who still stood there with quiet poise, smiling patiently despite not knowing why the guests had paused.
When Miss Yuuko turned her gaze back, her eyes now held a tangle of emotions that Watanuki couldn't begin to untangle.
Somehow, it felt like he had done something wrong… but had been kindly and indulgently forgiven.
He was thoroughly confused.
"…Miss Yuuko?" he called out cautiously.
Miss Yuuko let out a deep, meaningful sigh.
Then she walked up to Nanami, reached out with her slender fingers, and gently lifted her chin to study her face.
It was, by any standard, an incredibly rude gesture. And yet when Miss Yuuko did it, it felt utterly natural, as if it were her rightful prerogative.
Not only did it not come across as offensive, it even evoked a sense of enchantment and surrender.
Very few people could resist Miss Yuuko's unique presence—and fewer still could maintain their composure in close quarters with her ethereal beauty, regardless of gender.
Despite her training and the mental discipline she had cultivated for work, Nanami was no exception.
Her composed smile faltered, and a trace of panic emerged.
Then… she suddenly clenched her fists.
Noticing this, the gentle amusement in Miss Yuuko's eyes froze ever so slightly.
"Sigh… children from other families, huh…"
With another deep sigh, Miss Yuuko let go, turned away, and stepped into the house.
Nanami's expression visibly relaxed.
After a slightly labored breath, she returned to her composed posture, her once-clenched hands now folded neatly together.
"Please come in, Watanuki-kun," she reminded the still-stunned Watanuki gently.
Even more confused now, Watanuki followed Miss Yuuko inside, passing through the entryway.
He didn't know exactly what had just happened—but for some reason, it felt like Miss Yuuko had… lost?
After changing into indoor slippers at the genkan, Watanuki was about to step inside when something on the wall caught his eye.
"Is that…?" he muttered instinctively.
But before he could finish the question, Miss Yuuko turned her head sharply, her glare instantly silencing him.
"It's a catwalk. Mr. Ogiwara likes cats," Nanami said from behind as she closed the door.
"If you're curious, there are more decorations inside."
Under Miss Yuuko's inexplicably intense gaze, Watanuki nodded repeatedly, no longer daring to ask anything else.
But when they entered the living room and saw the so-called "more decorations," his eyes still widened instinctively.
"Yo, you're here. Don't be shy—have a seat. Help yourself to the watermelon."
Akira lay sprawled on the sofa, waving lazily in greeting before turning his attention back to his game. He didn't even glance in their direction.
Miss Yuuko, not one to stand on ceremony, made herself comfortable on a nearby sofa.
She picked up a slice of watermelon and took a huge bite, puffing her cheeks in displeasure as she chewed.
Then, with a plup plup plup plup, she spat all the seeds neatly into the trash can.
Nanami blinked as she looked from the elegant, ethereal figure who had earlier made resistance seem impossible… to this same person now spitting watermelon seeds like a sulky child.
She couldn't quite decide which version she should imprint in her memory.
But she did know exactly what to say.
"The guests have arrived, Mr. Ogiwara. Do you have any other instructions?"
Akira casually waved a few fingers. "Nope. You're free to go."
"Yes. Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes. Please wait just a little longer."
With that, Nanami turned and headed back toward the kitchen.
Akira finally paused his game and put down the controller. Shifting from a recline to a seated position, he motioned toward the opposite sofa for Watanuki to sit.
Once Watanuki quickly obeyed, Akira turned his gaze toward the watermelon-munching Miss Yuuko.
Then, in an obviously staged manner, he cleared his throat and asked with a modest smile,
"So? She's a good kid, right?"
It was the exact same line, word for word, that she had used before.
Miss Yuuko took another bite of watermelon and mumbled through the fruit, "She is. You don't find many this earnest anymore. Where'd you lure her from?"
An identical reply as well—only this time, she replaced "pure" with "earnest."
Akira maintained his composed smile and responded,
"Lure? That's such an unfair word. I simply saw how hard she was working, and thinking of the saying 'Heaven rewards the diligent,' I acted on Heaven's behalf and gave her a job where she could focus more energy on her dreams. She chose to stay."
This time, he replaced "destiny's necessity" with "righteous providence."
Miss Yuuko snorted. "I get it, I get it. Back when I was sedu—helping Watanuki fulfill his wish, he also volunteered to stay at the shop to pay his price."
Still insisting on the principle of consent.
But then things went off-script.
Just as Watanuki was debating whether to try a bite of watermelon, he blurted out in protest,
"What? Back then you totally forced me to work there like—like…"
Under Miss Yuuko's wistful stare, his voice gradually faded, and he swallowed the rest of his words.
Akira leaned back on the couch, grabbed a throw pillow, and pressed it against his face, not letting go for a long while—though he twitched occasionally.
Miss Yuuko finished her watermelon, wiped her hands with a napkin, and pulled out her pipe.
After lighting it and taking a deep drag, she leaned back against the sofa, exhaling smoke with a look of pure existential doubt.
When Akira finally removed the pillow, he glanced over—only to see Miss Yuuko's expression.
He couldn't hold back anymore. In the next instant, he burst into uncontrollable laughter, utterly forgetting his image.
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