Seeing Kanae's strange expression and posture, Byakuya knew this fool's head was filled with nonsense again.
"What's that supposed to mean? You think I'm going to assault you?"
Byakuya questioned, feeling rather speechless.
"Just hurry up and get it over with!"
Instead, it was Kanae urging him on.
She had resigned herself to her fate.
Byakuya's brow furrowed slightly. "Get what over with?! When did I ever say I was going to assault you? You woman with nothing but filth in your head—look at what time it is already."
At his reminder, Kanae turned to look at the clock and realized it was already 8 AM.
Back at the Tsukiyama mansion, not being up by this hour would have meant punishment.
Now Kanae realized she'd been completely self-important. Obviously, the "Master" had come to wake her up!
The flush on Kanae's face hadn't faded, and now it deepened considerably, spreading all the way to her ears.
"Looks like you've come back to reality. Get up already, or Matsumae will end up doing all the housework by herself."
Byakuya spoke flatly.
With that, he headed back downstairs without looking back.
"..."
Kanae changed out of her nightwear, her face burning with shame.
Before, she'd been embarrassed because she thought she was about to be "assaulted." Now she was embarrassed because of her own self-importance.
As she changed, her mind kept wandering back to what had just happened.
After all, she'd already presented herself in that "take what you will" posture, yet he hadn't seemed the least bit affected.
So maybe that human wasn't what she'd imagined?
Or perhaps... he didn't find her attractive enough...?
Feeling like her thoughts were drifting too far, Kanae shook her head vigorously, casting aside all the random musings.
...
A few days passed.
Matsumae and Kanae worked dutifully at Anteiku.
As fellow newcomers, their performance was leagues ahead of Roma's.
"Ah!"
Just then, Roma somehow managed to trip on flat ground again.
Accompanied by her shriek, several plates and cups she'd just gathered went crashing to the floor.
"Roma... how did you fall again..."
Seeing this, Touka could only rub her forehead in exasperation.
It had only been a few days, yet she'd already had another fall. If this kept up, it would be hard to handle.
"Don't do this again, you hear me?"
To prevent such incidents from happening frequently, Touka deliberately adopted a harsher tone with Roma.
But unexpectedly, Roma went straight to Byakuya with an aggrieved expression.
"Amaha-sama, Kirishima-san is being mean to me~..."
She hid behind Byakuya, hugging him from behind.
Being rather petite, her head could only peek out from under his arm.
"You—making a mistake and then not letting anyone say anything about it!"
Seeing Roma being so intimate with Byakuya, Touka—who had only been pretending to be harsh—was now genuinely annoyed.
"Roma-san, try to be more careful in the future."
Byakuya smiled helplessly.
"Okay~..."
Roma nodded, looking pitiful.
But without question, she'd do it again next time.
"..."
Kanae, who was working nearby, noticed the commotion. She found it hard to understand how someone so clumsy had gotten a job here in the first place.
"Welcome."
At that moment, Matsumae was greeting a new customer at the door—only to find that the customer standing before her was the most familiar person in her life.
"Hey, Matsumae. You seem to be doing well."
It was Tsukiyama Shuu who had come to Anteiku.
"Young Master...?! Why are you...?"
Matsumae was momentarily stunned.
Hearing Matsumae's voice, Kanae immediately turned her head and, sure enough, saw Young Master Shuu.
"Young Master!"
Kanae's voice carried surprise.
She hadn't expected the young master to suddenly appear here. Wouldn't this put him in danger?
"Oh? I didn't expect Shit Tsukiyama to dare show his face in front of us."
Tsukiyama's arrival made Touka frown. She sneered coldly.
Hearing Touka use that insulting nickname "Shit Tsukiyama" again, Kanae felt displeased, but she held her tongue.
After all, this was their territory, and she was now Byakuya's servant.
"Why wouldn't I dare?"
Tsukiyama smiled composedly. "But let me make clear—I'm here to see Amaha-kun."
"Still not giving up? I'd advise you to quit while you're ahead."
Touka mocked with a smile. "By the way, I was absolutely blown away by how Amaha tasted last time. Too bad you'll never get to experience it in your lifetime."
"..."
Tsukiyama's smile instantly stiffened. He was definitely rattled inside, but he forced himself not to show it.
Instead of responding to Touka's mockery, he bowed respectfully to Byakuya. "Amaha-kun—no, Amaha-sama... my father is making me follow you as punishment."
"Is that so? And Tsukiyama-shachou is comfortable with that?"
Byakuya asked expressionlessly.
It was hard to say whether Mirumo had demanded this of Shuu, or whether Shuu had wanted this himself... or perhaps the father and son had discussed it beforehand.
After all, Matsumae—the "Knight of the Tsukiyama Family"—had been enslaved by him. Perhaps Mirumo had noticed that Matsumae and Kanae had been treated well these past few days, and decided that putting Shuu under his care would actually be better.
Regardless, if Tsukiyama genuinely wanted to follow him, his personality meant that few people could be more reliable.
And there was another benefit: with Tsukiyama around, he basically didn't need to worry about whether Matsumae and Kanae might turn traitor.
"Of course."
Tsukiyama replied with gentlemanly poise. "As long as Amaha-sama doesn't find me a nuisance, I'm willing to follow in your footsteps."
"Fine. Then you can help out at Anteiku too from now on."
Byakuya was surprisingly agreeable this time, accepting immediately.
"Wait!"
Touka was immediately concerned. "Is this really okay? That Shit Tsukiyama might still be plotting something."
"It's fine."
Byakuya smiled lightly.
"To be trusted so readily by Amaha-sama—I'm deeply honored."
Tsukiyama said at once.
Honestly, even he hadn't expected such immediate acceptance.
"But let me make one thing clear: if you ever dare threaten anyone close to me again, I'll personally twist your head off and wipe out your entire Tsukiyama family."
Byakuya's eyes suddenly turned ice-cold, his voice frigid as he warned Tsukiyama.
Tsukiyama's expression immediately changed. He nodded solemnly. "Absolutely not..."
As expected, this was the Amaha-kun who fascinated him the most!
...
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