Ginza, inside a French restaurant.
"Ai, isn't my outfit a bit strange..."
Seated at the table, Kaguya Shinomiya rather anxiously glanced at the small mirror in her hand, looked left and right, then turned her head to ask Ai Hayasaka, who was wearing a maid uniform beside her.
Already rendered speechless by Kaguya's questioning every ten minutes, Ai Hayasaka said expressionlessly:
"What exactly are you referring to as strange?"
"My clothes, my appearance... things like that?" Kaguya said hesitantly, with an uncertain tone.
As she spoke, she tugged at the pale purple dress she was wearing, her expression troubled as she said:
"Does this seem too casual?"
"Then what do you consider formal?" Ai Hayasaka said without expression. "Are you suggesting wearing a full evening dress to a private gathering with at most five people?"
"That doesn't seem entirely unreasonable..." Kaguya's tone carried a hint of foolishness.
To this, Ai Hayasaka could only sigh: "Has your recent busy work schedule completely addled your brain?"
"What woman wears formal gowns for private meetings with her boyfriend?"
"Eh?" Kaguya blinked blankly. Before she could process this, she saw Ai Hayasaka lean in, pressing her forehead against Kaguya's.
Responding to this intimate gesture with simple-minded confusion, Kaguya said:
"Ai, why are you so close..."
"Indeed, you have a slight fever..." Ai Hayasaka then pulled away from Kaguya, her expression rather peculiar as she said: "I see, so you're becoming delirious?"
Though rarely seen, Ai Hayasaka knew quite well that her typically calm, even somewhat cold-blooded young mistress would gradually develop comedic tendencies whenever she fell ill.
Such illnesses were most frequently fevers or colds.
Thinking this, Ai Hayasaka tentatively asked: "If I may ask, did you actually rest last night, young mistress?"
Hearing this, though somewhat puzzled by Ai's expression, Kaguya explained:
"I should have, I suppose..."
"Should?" Ai Hayasaka's gaze deepened. "What exactly does 'should' mean here?"
"I did sleep for about two hours, perhaps?" Kaguya said with uncertainty.
Ai Hayasaka maintained her expressionless demeanour: "And aside from those two hours of sleep, what were you doing?"
"Standing by the window... looking at the scenery..." Kaguya's tone seemed somewhat confused.
"Which window were you looking out of?"
"In my bedroom."
"Looking at the scenery in your nightwear?"
"More or less..."
"Are you certain you were actually looking at the scenery?" Ai Hayasaka now stared at Kaguya with a mocking smile that didn't reach her eyes, her gaze seeming to say, 'I'll kill you if you lie'.
Facing such a look, Kaguya said guiltily:
"I did have my mobile phone with me, at least."
"I see. You stared at your phone all night but hesitated to send a greeting message to Lord Luo Shu. I understand now."
Ai Hayasaka instantly realised what this fool Kaguya had been doing last night, leaving her utterly exasperated:
"Of all times to catch a cold..."
Though she understood it was because Kaguya Shinomiya's recent stress levels had fluctuated too drastically, coupled with Luo Shu's attitude genuinely being able to determine the Shinomiya family's next direction, which led to her becoming overly tense... still, no matter what, staring at her LINE messages all night without sending anything and consequently catching a cold from the draught...
As expected, it still felt really stupid... Ai Hayasaka sighed. But in the next instant, she suddenly thought of something, her gaze fixing intently on Kaguya:
"Wait, perhaps the young lady in this state might actually be more suitable for interacting with Luo Shu..."
Though she didn't know the reason, Ai Hayasaka could actually sense that Luo Shu wasn't particularly fond of the usual Kaguya Shinomiya.
Admittedly, in Ai Hayasaka's eyes, Kaguya Shinomiya was just a clever troublemaker, but she had to acknowledge that the other's external facade was truly excellent.
Quick-witted, adept at scheming, cold-bloodedly using everyone as tools, outstanding academic results, above average in sports... but if this version of Kaguya Shinomiya was disliked by Luo Shu, then conversely, would the dazed, foolish Kaguya Shinomiya be favoured by Luo Shu?
Ai Hayasaka wasn't certain of the situation, but she felt it might be worth gambling on.
"Young lady."
"Eh, yes?"
"After Lord Luo Shu arrives later, just act as you normally would."
"Ah? Oh..."
Just as Kaguya Shinomiya blankly agreed, Ai Hayasaka took her phone from her pocket and checked the time: 1:55.
"He should be arriving soon..."
Not long after, the Shinomiya family staff stationed outside reported Luo Shu's arrival.
Hearing this, Ai Hayasaka immediately left Kaguya Shinomiya behind and went to open the door to greet him. But as soon as the door opened, she saw Luo Shu and Haruno Yukinoshita's figures appear at the entrance.
Seeing Ai Hayasaka's stunned expression, Luo Shu immediately greeted her with a laugh:
"Yo, Hayasaka, quite the surprise, eh?"
"... It's fine."
Ai Hayasaka glanced at the small hand with which Haruno Yukinoshita was holding Luo Shu's arm, then said calmly:
"I was just about to go to the entrance to receive you."
To this, Luo Shu offered an explanation with a smile:
"No need for such trouble. For such a short distance, using spatial leap is more convenient."
The question is, for such a short distance, is it necessary to use a method like spatial leap? Can't you even walk a few steps?
A wave of doubt rose in Ai Hayasaka's heart, but she said nothing, instead stepping aside to motion for Luo Shu to enter and take a seat first:
"Since you have already arrived, please take a seat. I will immediately arrange for the staff to serve the dishes."
Hearing this, Luo Shu nodded, then glanced at Haruno Yukinoshita.
At that moment, Haruno Yukinoshita was examining Ai Hayasaka with great interest:
"So you're Ai Hayasaka? That maid from the Shinomiya family?"
"That's me." Ai Hayasaka keenly detected the probing look in Haruno Yukinoshita's eyes and suddenly felt that this woman seemed somewhat similar to Kaguya Shinomiya in her shrewd state.
However, compared to Kaguya Shinomiya, who was adept at using aloofness to disguise herself, the disguise of the woman before her seemed to be a level higher.
"Eh, you're still working for the Shinomiya family? Would you like to consider switching to my side?"
Hearing this, Ai Hayasaka lowered her eyes and said indifferently, "I would have to ask Lord Luo Shu's opinion about that."
At that moment, Luo Shu, standing nearby, patted Haruno Yukinoshita's waist in annoyance and reminded her:
"Hayasaka already agreed to work for me. What, are you trying to steal my maid now?"
"Did that happen?" Haruno Yukinoshita expressed surprise upon hearing this, then said with some regret: "What a shame. I thought I'd successfully poach a talent from the Shinomiya family this time."
This woman...
Ai Hayasaka couldn't help but glance at Haruno Yukinoshita upon hearing this, her brow slightly furrowing:
'She's clearly up to no good...'