A/N: Chapter Two! Huzzah, we're going to Shuchiin!


"Hmm, so this is Shuchiin Academy. It's a lot bigger than what I imagined." I mumble to myself as we packed into the car. I was riding shotgun while Hayasaka and Kaguya were behind me. They were both wearing the standard black Shuchiin Academy uniform. Kaguya had her hair tied up in a unique style, while Hayasaka's clothes were more carefree.

"Indeed, we're not even at the main entrance yet." Kaguya replied absentmindedly as the driver took several turns. Wait, didn't I see this guy in several ramen shops in the past? Huh, that's weird.

"Tell me something about Shuchiin, Lady Kaguya." I asked, looking behind the car seat. "My family could have been able to let me apply here given our wealth, but in an effort to save money, they just made me go through homeschooling." Granted, they were still pretty prestigious tutors, but the whole homeschooling bit made me lonely.

"Well, it was established by the Edo Shogunate to rival the increasing influence of the Dutch. Children of samurai families and the more rich merchant class were enrolled to this academy. Many prime ministers, politicians, and company heads came from Shuchiin. While most people view this school as an academy for the elite, that is simply untrue, as entry to the lower classes were allowed, albeit under strict conditions. I myself am a member of the student council as vice president." Kaguya finished her explanation as Hayasaka lit up a party popper. Where the hell did she get that?

"I see, so it's mostly for the elites. I wonder if I'll do well in this school." I muse to myself.

"I'm sure you'll do fine, Hayabusa-san. You may be home-schooled, but you were still smart enough to be able to infiltrate the Shinomiya household. By the way, do remember what we talked about earlier." Hayasaka told me. Oh yes, I remember it well, though I was utterly dumbstruck at how ridiculous it is.

"Right, that thing where you act bubbly and cheery to avoid drawing attention to yourself." I said, "is that really necessary though? Why not just be yourself?"

"Because Hayabusa-san, if you don't put up an act, you won't be loved." Hayasaka replies, as if she has said that line a thousand times. I looked to Kaguya for answers, but it would seem she was distracted by the passing scenery.

"I see. Though I'm sure I'd fall in love with you if you acted more like yourself." I said offhand, too distracted by Shuchiin's grandeur.

"My, my, isn't that nice Hayasaka. Hayabusa-san would be quite the match for you. You even have the same first syllables in your last names. Quite the match indeed." Kaguya teased her sisterly maid, who huffed and looked away, blushing.

"Sure, if his lines didn't come straight out of a shoujo manga." Hayasaka replied, deadpan as ever. Though I had a feeling she was flustered all the same. Oho, so the emotionless maid puts up an act even now. I see.

"We're here." The driver said stopping in front of the majestic gates of the academy. We disembarked and I took in the sights of Shuchiin's various modern buildings, and the students walking inside the academy. There was a cadre of students with armbands in front of the gates, likely from the disciplinary comittee.

Kaguya and Hayasaka walked up beside me, "Well, thanks for the ride Kaguyacchi~" Hayasaka cuddled up to Kaguya obnoxiously, the latter maintaining a facade of perfect calm. "Well, see ya~ I'll be heading to class first~" And with that, Hayasaka bade us goodbye and began walking to class first, leaving Kaguya and I behind.

"Is she always like that in school?" I asked Kaguya, who sighed and gave a nod.

I wonder, is Hayasaka lonely like that?

"Sadly, yes, though I have no idea why she wants to hide it so much, since there are several butlers and maids attending Shuchiin. I think she just wants to have a normal high school life." Kaguya and I began our walk towards the classrooms. As we walked, various students pointed and whispered at us. I suppose Kaguya Shinomiya being in the presence of another male other than Miyuki Shirogane would attract attention.

"Is that Lady Kaguya?"

"Why is he with another guy? And with Hayabusa Motoshige no less!"

"I heard his company was swallowed up by the Shinomiya Group, so now he's serving as his butler!"

"Really?! How scandalous!"

"Gossip travels fast, I see..." I mumble as Kaguya and I continue walking.

"Pay them no mind, it is simply a rare sight for me to be walking with a man other than the president. Although you should probably watch your back, some of these students might target you for being the son of a 'failed company'. Although I do find it peculiar that they know your name even though you've never studied here before."

"Well, my father is the CEO of a small company, but I understand, thank you for the advice, Lady Kaguya."

We were able to reach our classroom while enduring the stares and whispers of all the Shuchiin students. While Kaguya walked with elegance and grace, simply taking all of the gossip in stride, I was barely able to get it together until I made it into our classroom. It was surprisingly just like a normal high school classroom from school mangas. With seats, desks, a chalkboard, and a teacher's desk in front. There were various boards around the room, probably for announcements and such. Odd, I expected it to be fancier somewhat.

I picked the empty seat beside a blonde boy with bags under his eyes. He was wearing the standard Shuchiin Academy uniform with a golden Aiguillette pinned on his uniform above his chest. He was also studying, even at this time. This is probably Miyuki Shirogane, according to the information profile before the mission. But we've never met before so it's time to bring out the niceties. I did have my father's men steal his phone...

"Nice weather we're having eh?" I say to the boy, trying to make conversation. He looked at me from his book and smiled.

"Yes, it is quite nice. You must be Hayabusa Motoshige, the new transfer student." The blonde boy smiled and put out his hand. I took it and we had an earnest handshake. Though I could feel quite a lot of calluses, this guy must be either really hardworking or he has a lot of part-time jobs. Maybe both.

"I am, and who might you be?" I asked, it would be rude not to since he already knows who I am.

"Ah, my apologies. I am Miyuki Shirogane, student council president of Shuchiin Academy. It is nice to meet you." He says. My face morphs into feigned surprise as I looked at him. So this is the guy eh? He looks sleep-deprived though. Maybe Kaguya likes that about him?

"It is nice to meet you too. So, you're the one Lady Kaguya talks about all the time."

"Eh? How could you possibly say that? Do you live with Shinomiya?" He asks, eyes wide. Huh, so he doesn't know about the butler thing.

"Yes, I am Lady Kaguya's butler. Though I'm still new to my job, I observe that she takes quite the fancy to you." I explained.

"Really? So Shinomiya thinks that way..." Shirogane mumbled as he blushed and looked away. "What made you say that?"

"Well," I began, "if you were to perhaps be kidnapped by a third-party, Lady Kaguya would send her personal guard to get you."

"That is a very specific example... but I must admit, it is quite embarrassing to know the lengths Shinomiya would go through for me." He muses this thought in his head for a while before going back to his studies.

"I can help you, you know," I say to him. He tilted his head quizzically, wondering what I could mean. "I can help you obtain Lady Kaguya's heart."

"Eh? But I don't, Shinomiya is just a dear friend..." Shirogane stutters and closes his study book.

I chuckle and give him my friendliest smile. "Nonsense, anyone could see it from a mile away. It's no use denying it. Why, all the gossip from the students earlier is because I was with Lady Kaguya, instead of you. Are you two often together?"

"Well," he sat up straight, "Shinomiya is vice president of the student council, and we often patrol together around the school. She's my right-hand woman, in a manner of speaking. We're always together."

"I see, I see, but you two aren't together together, right?" I ask him. How weird, they'd go well as a couple. And if I am instrumental in them getting together, Kaguya might be able to persuade his dad to let my father's company go in exchange.

"No, sadly we aren't like that, as much as I'd like it to be." He sighed and looked outside the windows, "We are engaged in a sort of 'war' I suppose you might call it."

"A war? How so? Are you two having arguments?" I ask, my curious piqued.

"No, no, nothing like that. It's difficult to explain, but in a nutshell, I suppose I could say... whoever falls in love first loses." Shirogane said. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

"So you admit that you two are in love?"

"Well... I am in love with her, but I don't know about her. She often gives me mixed signals and such..." Shirogane sighs and massages the bridge of his nose. I sympathize, but I can't relate. It's not like I've ever fallen in love before.

A certain emotionless maid comes to mind. That's just attraction.

The bell rang and all the students ceased their activities and talking and sat down to await the teacher. Shirogane closes his book and removes his studying materials as we wait. But before the teacher enters he says, "I appreciate the offer of your help. In exchange, you're always welcome around the student council room if you ever need any help of your own."

I smile at him and nod, signalling that I got his message, he smiles back and then looks ahead, completely focused at the following lessons.

I feel bad for stealing this guy's phone now.


After class ended, I went to check out the student council room. I knocked on the large double oak doors, and I waited for someone to open it. After a few minutes, I was answered by Kaguya herself.

"My, my, Hayabusa-san," Kaguya said. "What are you doing here?"

"I was invited by the president," I replied. "May I come in?"

"The president? How nice of him," she mused, looking at the man in question, who was doing paperwork on his desk. "But where are my manners, please sit." Kaguya requested, pointing at the nearby couch. On it, a girl with light blonde hair and a boy with slightly long hair were playing cards on the table. It looked like the girl was winning, as she was grinning happily.

"Hello, my name is Hayabusa. It's nice to meet you." I say to the boy and girl. That seemed to snap the blonde girl out of their gaming funk as they turned to look at me.

"Oh, hello~ sorry I didn't see you there! You must be Kaguya-san's new butler!" The cheery girl said, as she stood up and made a goofy pose, "my name is Fujiwara Chika, secretary of the student council!" she finishes, her black ribbon twitching from the movement. What is that ribbon for?

"It's nice to meet you Fujiwara-san," I turned to look at the gloomy guy, whose face was scrunched up in either concentration or disgust, "and who might you be?"

"Oh, a new guy," he tilted his head up to look at me. "You a normie?"

"I watch anime." I say in a deadpan voice. This seems to cheer him up as he smiles at me.

"Nice, dude. Name's Ishigami Yu, treasurer. If you need any anime recommendations, you let me know. Now then Fujiwara-senpai..."

"Hm? What is it Ishigami-kun~ have you finally admitted defeat?" Fujiwara asks in a sing-song voice. But the air seemed to get heavier as Ishigami stood up...

And proceeded to slam his cards down on the table.

"You cheater!" he yelled and pointed an accusing finger at Fujiwara, who adopted a somewhat adorable embarrassed expression, "you were using a marked deck! After all this talk about finally playing fair, you still cheat! Fujiwara-senpai is a cheater! You'd make a great politician! Cheater~ Cheater!" Ishigami chanted as Fujiwara bolted from the room. Ishigami gave chase, still chanting the word cheater.

"By the gods," I remark. "Is it always this lively here?"

Shirogane chuckled, amused. "Yes, it is. We often have a lot of free time after doing our jobs. You'll find no shortage of excitement here, Hayabusa-san."

"Indeed. Although, I do wish for some peace and quiet once in a while." Kaguya said, placing a cup of tea in front of me.

"Lady Kaguya, I do believe it should be the other way around."

"Nonsense," Kaguya objected. "You are a guest here; as such you will be treated as one." She then proceeded to flash an expectant expression to Shirogane, who seemed lovestruck.

"Yes, yes, although you may be Shinomiya's butler, you are a guest of the student council." Shirogane said, "feel free to drink Shinomiya's high-quality tea."

"Oh my, president. You flatter me. While I may be able to prepare such fine tea, you yourself are a hard-worker, and at the top of the second-year class no less!" Kaguya donned a psychotic grin once more, and I was reminded of the trap she sprung on me last night. I began drinking the tea to calm my nerves, but Kaguya seemed strangely happy for some reason, almost like she was planning something. "If you want me to serve you tea, only say so~" Kaguya continued.

"Oh, Shinomiya." Shirogane chuckled, though it seemed forced. "while I would like to partake in your delicious tea, what I want to know is why you suddenly had a man start living with you in your mansion."

I almost spat out my drink right then and there. I thought we were cool with each other, but is he actually jealous of me?

"My, my, president. I was only forced to bring him under my wing due to extreme circumstances regarding our two companies." Kaguya went near Shirogane who adopted a Gendo pose. "Could you perhaps be... jealous?"

Wait a second, so I was brought into the household not because I had any real value, but because I could be used to make Shirogane jealous?

"Figured it out, huh?" A manly voice suddenly spoke to my side. When I turned to look at him, I saw a middle-aged man wearing aviator sunglasses and sporting quite the hefty beard.

"Excuse me, but, who the hell are you?" I asked. He shook his head and adopted Fujiwara's earlier pose.

"Feast your eyes, for I am the narrator!" His voice bellowed.

I just stared at him, dumbfounded. Oh gods, it's a nutjob. This academy allows nutjobs.

"I am not a nutjob, young sir, in fact I am a victim! A victim of this cruel world!" The crazy narrator continued his rant, "I was supposed to be essential to this world, but no~ you had to came along!" He pointed a finger at me. Did he just read my mind? I think he did.

"Me? What did I do?" This just keeps getting crazier and crazier.

"You just had to exist, so now my beautiful narration was replaced by your stupid first-person view! Oh, the humanity! The god of this world is so cruel!" Cried the narrator shaking his fist at the heavens.

"Um, of course my view is first-person, that's how everyone's view is!" I counter.

"Wrong! So very wrong!" The narrator thrashed around, stomping his foot. "The readers will be disappointed to see me replaced by some seventeen-year-old kid!"

"Readers? What? This isn't some manga, you know."

That seemed to light an idea up in his mind. "You're right, this isn't a manga... it's a fan fiction!"

"This isn't a fan fiction either! It's real life!" This is getting ridiculous.

"Oh, you poor boy," he hugged me tightly, as if I were his son. I struggled to get away, but his grip was firm. "you foolish boy."

"Um, can you please let me go? And why are you speaking to me with such condescension?"

"That's right, this is not my world." he said, ignoring me. He then quickly released me and looked off to the windows. "I must go, the manga needs me."

"What manga?!"

He turns to look at me, as if imparting some hidden message. "You will know, in time, my child." He then proceeded to run out of the halls, like a man on a mission.

"Okay... that just happened. What sort of loopy-land have I entered?" I groaned and turned to stare at Kaguya and Shirogane, who were still locked into some sort of battle trance with each other. Could this be that love is war thing Shirogane was talking about? And how did they not notice that crazy guy entering the damn room?

"They're at it again I see." The familiar flat tone comes up from behind me. It was Hayasaka, still clad in her carefree clothes, but in her maid persona.

"Does this always happen?" I ask, finally finishing my cup of tea.

"Yes, quite frequently in fact. They're never able to move on from this 'state of war' into dating. I get dragged around Lady Kaguya's schemes as a result." Hayasaka explained.

"That's sad, they'd be a really cool couple if they ever get past this and start going out." I said. Hayasaka just looks at me and sighs.

"That's what the rest of the student body think. They're viewed as a power couple in the school. Lady Kaguya with her wealth and natural genius. Shirogane with his hardworking will and kind attitude. While it would be nice if they get together, I don't think it'll happen anytime soon." Hayasaka said. A power couple eh? I'm a newcomer here so I haven't really seen these two in action so far. But if everyone is so in awe of them, they probably deliver results.

"Come to think of it, what brings you here, Hayasaka-san? Didn't Lady Kaguya tell you not to go to the student council room?" I ask.

"I got tired of waiting, so here I am. Though it seems we'll be here a while." Hayasaka sighed and sat down beside me. Quietly observing the two engage in a battle of wits. Hmm, she seems bored. Maybe I could invite her to go out somewhere?

"Say, Hayasaka-san," I began. "Why don't you and I go somewhere?"

"Somewhere? Are you going to do unspeakable things to me? You lech." She retorts, voice still deadpan.

"No. I want to foster trust between you and I."

"That will come in time, and I can't just leave Lady Kaguya here." She replies.

"Yes, but I want to show you something. Call it a peace offering. Besides, this will take too long, and we're going to be working with each other from now on, are we not?" I flash her a grin. She stared at me for a good few minutes in silence. But after a while, she sighed and nodded.

"Alright, but we can't go too far."

"Then let's go."


"A hospital? Why on earth would you bring me to a hospital?" Hayasaka asked, face morphed into confusion.

"You'll see." I gave her a sad smile as I led her inside. Immediately we were hit by the cold wind from the air-conditioning. The halls were filled with people coming and going from rooms. Doctors and nurses doing their rounds. It was quite the familiar sight.

"Hayabusa-kun? Visiting your mother?" The admissions nurse asked.

"Yes I am."

"Visiting hours are open right now, so please go on ahead. She's in room 403, but I'm sure you already know that." The nurse smiled as I nodded in reply. She seemed to notice Hayasaka next to me, who seemed oddly nervous.

"Ohh, is she your girlfriend?" The nurse asked with a mischievous grin.

I let out an embarrassed chuckle. "No, she's just my co-worker. Can I bring her along?"

"Well, you know visiting hours are for family only..." The nurse pursed her lips in thought. So I gave her my most pleading look. "Oh, don't give me that. You and your father have been good to this hospital. So I suppose I could make exceptions. Go right ahead!"

"Thanks, miss. I really appreciate it." Hayasaka and I bowed in gratitude towards the nurse as we headed to the elevator to go up. We were the only ones in the elevator, and the atmosphere was oddly heavy.

"So," Hayasaka finally spoke up. "Why are you taking me to see your mother?"

"You'll know when we get there."

The elevator dinged as it opened on the fourth floor. I greeted the passing doctors and nurses with a smile, and they greeted back with warmth. My father did donate large sums of money to this hospital, and I was familiar here since I often visit my mother. After walking around for a few minutes, we came face to face to the room of my mother. Room 403. As we were about to enter, a voice suddenly called out to my side.

"Hey, you! That room is off limits!" The burly voice snarled as he took my arm, but then he seemed to realize who I was. "Y-young master? My apologies! I didn't know you were coming to visit!"

"It's alright, Honda. I did come on such on short notice after all." Honda gave an apologetic smile and gave me a deep bow.

"Who's this?" Hayasaka asked. Honda turned

"I could ask you the same, young lady. This room is off limits to anyone but the Hayabusa family." Honda said as he crossed his arms.

"Now, now, Honda." I say, putting a hand on the big man's shoulder before gesturing to Hayasaka. "This is Hayasaka. She's my new co-worker. Hayasaka, meet Honda Tadakatsu, my mother's bodyguard."

"Nice to meet you young lady. But new co-worker?" Honda huffed. "What do you mean by that, young master?"

"In lieu of my father's company being assimilated into the Shinomiya group, I am now the butler of Kaguya Shinomiya." I explained.

"Ah, yes. Now I remember. You now live with the Shinomiya daughter. The boys and I had quite the shock, young master. While we were shocked enough to the company being assimilated, to know that you became a butler was... distressing. Your father was quite worried."

"Ah, yes. I'll make sure to give him a call later. In all the kerfuffle I forgot about contacting him." I give an embarrassed laugh to Honda who sighed in response.

"Please don't neglect your father, young master. Now, don't just stand there. Please, come in." Honda said as he opened the room. But before we could enter, he gave a request to Hayasaka. "Please don't treat the young master badly."

"We... won't." Hayasaka replied. Honda smiled as he finally let us in.

Greeting us was the bland white paint of the room. The dull orange rays of the sunset beaming through the windowsill. The monotonous beeps of life support machinery permeated the room. And on the hospital bed, a frail woman lay.

My mother.

I grab the two chairs inside the room and place it by her bedside. I sat down and gestured Hayasaka to do the same. But oddly enough she was looking to the side with an uncertain expression.

"Are you sure about this? I'm just a stranger, and I was previously your enemy. Why would you show something as personal as this to me?" Hayasaka asked. Why did I want to show this woman my mother? I only just met her. But then again, I knew the answer.

"Because... I was lonely."

"Eh?"

"I was lonely that I was the only one visiting her. Father would only come sometimes, because he was so busy running the company. I wanted someone I could trust to share my loneliness with."

"And you chose me?" Hayasaka asked, seemingly even more confused than before.

"Yes, I chose you. You are my co-worker, and I did say this was to foster trust between us. So, here I am, showing my heart to you. And besides, I remembered something you said."

"What was that?"

"'If you don't put on an act, you won't be loved'. I thought you were tired of putting up an act for Lady Kaguya's sake. So I'm showing something dear to me to you. Something that would make you act your true self."

"You got all that just from one day of school? Truly, your powers of observation are almost... unbelievable." Hayasaka said, shock evident on her face. But there was relief in her face too. Maybe it was relief that she didn't need to be alone.

"I wouldn't be able to commit corporate sabotage if I wasn't observant. But enough about that, sit." I requested, and thankfully Hayasaka complied.

A long silence settled between us. I was content just sitting there with her, looking over my mother.

But then she spoke up, "What happened to her?"

"She was a victim of corporate sabotage by a rival company. She noticed a car careening towards us, so she shielded me with her body. I was only seven years old at the time. She's been in a coma for ten years now." I explained. "When my father found out, he put all his resources into destroying that company. He didn't even want their money, he was too furious."

Hayasaka was speechless.

"And because of that, I wanted to be of use to my father, to eliminate any opposition that would dare be a threat to his company. So I trained under old spies and company agents, I wanted to be his sword, even if it meant robbing or hurting people. But I failed, and dad's company was annexed by the Shinomiya group."

More silence.

"You didn't fail." Hayasaka said with conviction in her eyes. "The Shinomiya group takes care of their servants, you can count on it. I'm sure your mother and father will be fine."

"I hope so." I say, as I let out a hopeless sigh.

"I know so. I've been with Lady Kaguya ever since we were children. I know she'll stop anything from harming you. She takes care of her own."

"I find that hard to believe. I was Lady Kaguya's enemy just yesterday after all. Why would she go out of her way to take care of me and my family?"

"Because Lady Kaguya isn't like her family. She's kind at fault. She didn't treat me as a piece of trash just because I came from a servant family. She considered me her own sister. So I know she'll think of you as something akin to that even though you were just enemies before. Lady Kaguya was never one to judge people by their pasts." Hayasaka speaks with passion. My eyes widen surprise at how hard she was trying to convince me. Damn, she's really cute...

"I see, I'll take you word for it then."

Another empty silence fills the room. Only the beeping of the life-support machines was heard.

"I can relate, you know?" Hayasaka says.

"Hm? To what?" I ask.

"My mother," Hayasaka began. "She's the personal servant to Shinomiya Ganan-sama. So she rarely has time to come home, or even contact me. She was Lady Kaguya's wet nurse. I worry about her every single day. I know she's busy, but sometimes I just long to have her around." She chuckles to herself. "She even left me notes in a notebook just to have some sort of correspondence."

"What about your dad?"

"He's even farther away, in some distant country. He's accompanying one of Lady Kaguya's brothers abroad."

"Lady Kaguya has brothers? I didn't know about that." I said, mulling over the thought.

"The Shinomiya family is large," Hayasaka explained. "There are several branch and servant families under the main family. It's how they have such a large power base between themselves."

"I see..."

"So..." Hayasaka says, face uncertain, before putting a hand on my shoulder. "I share your pain."

"Thank you, Hayasaka-san." I realized something, so I asked her. "Say, I don't actually know your first name. What is it?"

"It's Ai. My full name is Hayasaka Ai."

"I see." A good five minutes passed between us, once more in silence, before I spoke up again. "Tell me Hayasaka-san. Are we friends?"

"Friends?" Hayasaka thought this over, her forehead creasing. "I suppose we are. At the very least, we're confidants."

"Thank you. You're the first friend I have." I show her a weak smile, she giggles and gives me a warm one back.

"You're also my first. Lady Kaguya is more like my sister, after all."

We both laughed to ourselves, before settling over to look at my mother.

"You look just like her, Hayabusa-san." Hayasaka remarks, noting my jet black hair and brown eyes.

"We're both Hayabusas, Hayasaka-san. Feel free to call me Motoshige if you like."

"Then, Motoshige-kun. You look just like your mother." Hayasaka repeated.

"Thank you, Ai-san. If I had to guess, you look like your mother too."

Hayasaka's eyes widened before she giggled again. "Lucky guess, Motoshige-kun. But 'Ai-san', hmm..."

"Do you not like it?" I asked.

"No, no, it's not that." Ai assured me. "It's just weird, you know? You're the first one to call me that."

"It seems we're taking a lot of firsts from each other at this point." I observed. Ai just seemed to laugh harder at that.

"Motoshige-kun, that's so lewd sounding!"

"Hey, it was just an observation!" I raise my hands in mock surrender as we both giggled again. Soon enough, the visiting hours were up and we had to go home.

Ai looked at my mother as she gave a deep bow. "Thank you for giving me my first friend, Miss Hayabusa."

I smiled at that, and looked at Ai with warmth. Thank you mom, for bringing me such a wonderful friend.


A/N: And that wraps up this chapter! Stay tuned for more!