AN: Welcome back to my personal favourite Fic! Starting from this chapter onwards, I will attempt to steer the story away from the Manga more, resulting in some more original content. Although, there are a couple of scenes from this particular "arc" of the Manga that I either need to add for the sake of developing plot, or that I simply found amusing, and wanted to write my own, slightly modified versions of them.
Oh, yeah and just to warn everyone in advance, due to the introduction of a certain character, this chapter is the first one where the "M" rating comes into play. Although, the parts where sexual content/nudity is present, it won't be "fap-material worthy", so to speak. It's too early in the story for an actual, proper lemon scene, but that might come in the future! ;)
Chapter 3 – The Suzutsuki Mansion
I was currently standing in the dining hall of the Suzutsuki mansion, fully dressed in a butler's outfit. Due to an unfortunate event after the Sports Festival, our house was burned down thanks to lightning, so Kureha and I are now living here for two months until our house is fully rebuilt, earning our keep as servants. I moved around slightly, testing out how well the uniform fit on me. Konoe had given it to me, telling me it was one of her father's spares, who was apparently travelling due to work, luckily. It fits me surprisingly well. Though knowing it belongs to that old geezer… It sends a shiver down my spine. I thought to myself and sighed as I waited patiently. Kanade had told me to wait here once I was done changing, so she and Konoe could show Kureha and I the ropes. Suddenly, the door to the room opened, revealing the beautiful and extremely sadistic woman who I was currently working for.
"Have you finished changing, Jirou-kun?" Kanade asked as she entered the room. "Nagare and you have a somewhat similar build, so it should fit well." She said and walked up close to me to inspect me. "It… looks good on you, Jirou-kun."
"O-oh, t-thanks, I-I guess." I said and cleared my throat. I did not expect that compliment. And what's with that small blush on her face? "Where are the others?" I said and peeked past her, seeing no sign of Konoe or Kureha anywhere.
"Kureha-chan should be finishing up changing soon, and I ordered Konoe to fetch the only other maid currently in residence. Well apart from… nevermind." Kanade grinned and stifled her laughter. What's she up to now? "Speaking of her, you do know that you must be careful not let my butler's secret slip, right? The other servants know it, of course, but Kureha-chan is also one of my servants now… Besides, they don't know that you know about it."
"Of course, Kanade. I'll be careful. I don't really want to find out what happens if my sister finds out..." I laughed awkwardly as I finished.
"Ah, yes. Kureha-chan has a crush on Subaru, does she not? Certainly, that would be… amusing, but the risks are too high. After all, Kureha-chan has let so many of your secrets slip when I've talked with her..."
"Wait, what did you say?!" Kanade simply giggled at me.
"Nothing of importance, Jirou-kun~! I'm looking forward to introducing you to the maid you'll be working with. I'm sure you'll get along famously." Don't change the subject, woman! You totally said something suspicious just now! "Ah, they're here."
Kureha emerged from the door that Kanade had entered from. She was wearing a cute maid outfit that looked like it was tailored specifically for her. Wait… did Kanade prepare that for her in advance? What on earth was she planning on doing with it… From behind her, Konoe came in and bowed at Kanade, holding the door open as another person entered the room. Her hair was a glossy wine-red, tumbling past her waist. Her expression was nearly mask-like as she quietly stared at me. She was clearly dressed as a maid, her outfit similar to the one my sister was wearing. With one very un-maid-like exception.
For some reason, she was wearing an eyepatch.
"I am Saotome Ichigo. It's a pleasure… underling." She said in a cold tone as she glared at me. I'm getting real bad vibes from her…
"Okay, back up! You said we'd get along with her?! We've just met, and she's already calling me names!" I said loudly to Kanade, while she simply giggled next to me. I get it! Your giggling is cute, but this is hardly the situation to be thinking about that!
"Underling, it appears you need some education." Saotome-san said in a voice dripping with malicious intent, as she picked up a chainsaw.
Wait, a chainsaw?
"HUH?!" I stepped back slightly as Saotome-san started up the chainsaw with a loud 'vruuhmm' sound.
"This is the Suzutsuki mansion. We are servants. You will address Kanade-sama with respect – or else!" She brought the chainsaw down right in front of my face, the teeth spinning dangerously close to my throat. "And one more thing. Should you presume to make advances towards her, you will regret it. I am already in love with her!" Well, that's not something I expected.
"Thank you, Ichigo. That will do. Jirou-kun is indeed a servant, but he is also… Let's call him a… friend. For now." Kanade said and blushed slightly. What did she say at the end? For… now? What does she mean by that?
"Your… your friend?" Saotome-san asked, glancing between Kanade and I.
"Well… yes. So, no violence, please."
"..." Saotome-san stayed silent for a few moments. "As you wish… Mistress Kanade." She then continued and stared at me maliciously.
Yikes… she's a yandere if I ever saw one. But what she said… I don't think she needs to worry about me making advances towards Kanade. Although… No, I'm still very much gynophobic, I can't be thinking of anything like that yet. And Saotome-san scares the shit out of me. I swallowed as Kanade walked up to me.
"Jirou-kun, do be careful. Ichigo can be a tad… extreme when it comes to me." She whispered to me and winked. "Now then, Ichigo. Since Jirou-kun isn't acquainted with you like Kureha-chan is, why don't you properly introduce yourself." She said with a smile as she turned to face Saotome-san again. Wait… why would Kureha know her?
"Very well, Kanade-sama." Saotome-san turned herself fully towards me. "As I already said, I am Saotome Ichigo. You may call me Ichigo, even though I wouldn't want an underling such as you calling me that. However, it is Kanade-sama's wish that all of her servants are on a first-name basis. I am a third-year student at the Rouran Academy, as well as the captain and lowest-ranked member of the Rouran Handicrafts Club."
"Captain? Of that club?! Wait… you go to our school?!" I was shocked by her statement. Another thing that I hadn't expected of her.
"Yes, although I am nineteen. I wasn't held back a year, I simply waited in order to enroll at the same time as our mistress. I'm a grade above her. Having two servants in her grade would have been stifling." Ichigo said and glanced towards Konoe.
"So you founded that freakazoid club?" I asked and let out a small sigh. "Now that I think about it… Kureha said something about you and concrete." I said and glanced towards my sister, who was currently posing for Konoe, not paying any attention to our conversation.
"That? It was sleight of hand, but everyone bought it. I'm not very strong."
"So that's why you're the lowest-ranked member?" Kanade snickered as I asked that.
"No. It's because I didn't take part in the ranking fights." Ichigo paused for a moment, her voice becoming darker as she continued. "If I had participated, somebody could have died."
I shuddered and swallowed as she finished. Kanade giggled quietly and came back up to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. I noticed Ichigo twitch slightly as she glared at me.
"I'm sure Jirou-kun doesn't need to introduce himself to you, Ichigo? Now then. Subaru, Kureha-chan, come with me and I'll show you what to do. Ichigo, you can outline Jirou-kun's duties for today." Kanade said and left with the two other girls in tow, leaving me alone with the crazy yandere.
"Underling." Ichigo said, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Y-y-yes..?" I said and swallowed. She obviously hates me, and it's all thanks to Kanade! She's going to make me do something ridiculous and risky…!
"Today, you will be cleaning." The term 'anti-climactic' was not enough to describe the current situation.
"Uh… cleaning?"
"Are you not familiar with the term, underling? Ensuring our Mistress' home is clean and respectable is of utmost importance. You will be using this." Ichigo said and lifted up a broom. At least it isn't a toothbrush… This… actually sounds kinda normal. Wait, where did she get that broom from? The same place where she got the chainsaw from earlier?
"Okay, I can do that. Which rooms am I cleaning?" I said as I reached out and grabbed the broom from her, half-expecting her to hit me on the head with it.
"All of them." Ichigo said casually, though I could clearly hear the animosity in her voice.
"Um… by 'all of them', you mean..." I asked nervously as a bead of sweat rolled down my face.
"Yes. Every single room in the entire mansion." She expects me to clean a mansion this huge all by myself?! "Until you're finished, you won't be fed."
"HUH?!" She can't be serious! I'll be at it until the middle of the night! I'm off to a great start with her… all thanks to Kanade. I swear, she does these things on purpose… then again… It's not like I dislike her, or her company… Am I a masochist for thinking that?
Ichigo continued to glare at me for a few moments, her expression darkening. Uhhh… don't tell me she's thinking up a way to kill me right now? Wait, does she really want me to clean the entire mansion?
"Underling..." Ichigo said after a long silence between us. "I've heard much about you from our Mistress and Subaru, although… he has recently talked about you less, while our Mistress..." I could see her fingers balling up to a fist, before she took a deep breath, seemingly calming herself. "Given the things she's said, and what I've heard myself, I must ask you… some things."
"Uhh… sure? What is it?"
"As I mentioned, I go to Rouran, just like you do, and there has been a… rumour going around recently." I could practically see the darkness and animosity gathering around her, giving her a very menacing aura. What is this? A Stand power? Or maybe, since she's still technically not an adult, this is her superpower? I haven't heard anything about a meteorite passing the Earth, though... "Tell me… are you truly our Mistress' fiancé?"
"O-oh… t-that… You see..." Gaaahh! How do I explain it? "Kanade… well… she made it up in order to save my life. Although, looking back at it, my life wasn't really endangered back then..." I nervously rubbed the back of my neck, stealing glances at her to see her reaction.
"...So you're saying it isn't true, then? That better be the case, or your life will be endangered." Ichigo said, the tension she had being released slowly.
"Ahahaaa… Uhh… A-anything else you wanted to ask?"
"Even if you aren't her fiancé, there's still something going on… Our Mistress… She often talks about you with Subaru. Other than him, she's never been friends with a boy before. But ever since you were introduced into her life… she has been looking forward to school. So, my question is this… What did you do to Mistress Kanade?" What… is she talking about?
"Huh? What have I..? I haven't done anything to Kanade."
"You 'haven't done anything'? Ignoring the blatant usage of her first name... there's obviously something that has happened. I noticed it recently, precisely, around the time summer vacation ended, that Mistress Kanade has been acting strangely as of late. I already said she talks about you a lot, but that's not the only thing. From time to time, she appears to be… anxious about something, and her expression softens." Kanade… softens? That's… hard to believe. Then again… she has been acting differently around me recently… "Until now, her heart has always been strong and sharp… much like my collection, in fact." Ichigo paused her explanation and pulled out a revolver and a very sharp-looking knife. Seriously?! Where does she get these from?! "I want to help her find herself again. So, tell me: How did you cause this change?" Ichigo moved uncomfortably close to me.
"Uh… but I really haven't done anything that might warrant such a change..." I wasn't lying to her, I really had no idea what could cause Kanade to change. Unless… No, I can't jump to conclusions, here. She only loves to use me for her sadistic needs, that's all. Right..?
"That's not true. You clearly have. There's no-one else it could be." Ichigo came even closer to me. She's not listening to me at all! "I'd love to torture it out of you..." I flinched at her statement. "But since Mistress Kanade seems to care about you enough to request me to not use violence..." Suddenly, Ichigo's maid uniform was lying on the floor. "If I can't beat it out of you… I'll simply have to seduce you." Ichigo was now in front of me with only her underwear on. Alert! Alert! Abandon ship! Abandon ship!
"Waitwaitwait WHAT?!" Before I could do anything, Ichigo had shoved me onto the floor and was crawling on top of me, her large chest making its existence very known to me. "N-no! Stay back!" I would have moved my hands to protect myself, but that would have resulted in me receiving a handful of her.
"Mistress Kanade herself told me that you have a bit of a maid fetish, particularly when it comes to garter belts." Ichigo positioned herself so that one of her legs was between mine, pressing onto my crotch. This is bad! This is really bad!
"What?! No! She… She made that up!" The situation was getting out of hand very quickly. I was already sweating profusely, and it was only getting worse.
"Let me show you how irresistible a maid can be..." Ichigo paused to take off her eyepatch, revealing a perfectly fine eye underneath. "...Master." She placed her hand on my chest and looked at me in a way that made my cheeks more flushed they had ever been. "Master, I beg you! Grant me this favour!" She said and pressed herself against me.
This situation is not what I had in mind! Any normal guy my age would kill to be in my shoes! I thought as I held on to the best of my ability, but with her more than generous breasts pressing against me while her leg was pressed against my crotch… Unfortunately though, I'm gynophobic! If I can't make her back off, my nose is gonna start bleeding! But that's not the worst part… It seems… It seems that Kanade's program to treat me has been… somewhat effective. Ichigo's face turned into a grin as she noticed that she managed to have an effect on me, pressing her leg down on me harder than before.
"Oh, what do we have here? So you do have a maid fetish, after all… Master." Her grin reminded me of Kanade's sadistic one, though I was much more scared of Ichigo right now than I had ever been of Kanade.
"I-I-I d-do n-not!" I brought a hand to my nose, expecting a nosebleed any second. I was sweating like crazy, and my breathing was ragged. But never before were my usual symptoms of gynophobia accompanied by… this.
"Don't lie to me, underling. Your body doesn't lie. Now… will you give me some answers, or..?" Ichigo's hand trailed down my body while her other one held onto the collar of my uniform. Someone… save me!
"Ichigo!" Konoe's voice came from the door as she entered the room, her eyes widening at the scene in front of her.
"What are you doing here, Subaru?" Ichigo asked coldly as she stopped her assault on me. A second more and the dam would have been burst… in my nose, I mean.
"What are you doing to him?!" Konoe shouted, her face becoming redder.
"Hmph! I just had some questions for him. Don't interrupt." Ichigo said and turned her attention back to me. Please interrupt!
"There's no time for this! I came here because Ojou-sama ordered you and I to… go buy groceries for dinner." Did she come up with that on the spot? I don't care, if it saves me.
"..." Ichigo stayed silent for a few moments, as if contemplating something. "Ah, I see." She then said and got up, swiftly putting her maid uniform and eyepatch back on. "While we're gone… you can start by cleaning the bathroom." She said as Konoe pushed her out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"Oh man… that was close." I said to myself and sighed. If she's going to keep being like this… it's going to be rough.
It was probably for the best that I heeded her orders, though, so I straightened my uniform, picked up the broom and headed for the bathroom. Luckily, Kanade had shown me around, so I knew where it was located, though I had never been inside of it before. Opening the door, I was greeted by a changing room larger than our living room back at home. Well, before it all burned down, that is.
"'Bathroom'? More like a suite! If just the changing area is this big, the tub must be massive!" I said to myself as I glanced around the room. "I'd better hurry, don't want to miss dinner, after all."
What Ichigo said is still on my mind, though… I thought as I walked closer to the entrance to the actual bathing area. I've done something to change Kanade? What could it be? I can't think of anything but two options… either what I did to her during Golden Week by talking her down affected her somehow, but I doubt she'd still be fretting over that. The other option though… No, that can't be it. They do say that love changes a person, but… there's no way THE Suzutsuki Kanade would fall in love with someone like me. I was but a nobody to her until I discovered Konoe's secret. And even now… I'm pretty sure she keeps me around just to mess with me… I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I failed to notice the clothes laid out on the bench to the left of me as I opened the door the bathing area. Maybe something's weighing on her mind? After all, it would be all too… convenient if she also harboured feel- My thoughts were interrupted by the sight before me.
"J-Jirou-kun?" Kanade squealed out cutely as she noticed that I had opened the door.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" I screamed out in shock and dropped the broom I was holding.
Kanade was stood under five meters away from me, completely naked. She was holding the shower head in her hand, and it seemed like she had turned it off not too long ago. If I had come in a few moments earlier, I would have heard the running water and could've avoided this awkward situation. Her skin is all wet and glistening… Her hair looks kinda good too like this, when it's all wet and cascading down her body so freely… And the way she's slightly turning her body like that, I can see her… see her… b-b-b-boo-
"I-I believe it is n-normally the girl who screams in a situation like t-this, Jirou-kun." Kanade said and turned slightly, concealing those perfect mounds from me. "A-are you nearly finished s-staring?" She asked with a heavy blush on her face.
"S-s-sorry!" I said quickly and turned around away from her. I could feel my own cheeks heat up as well, and my heart was beating in my chest like crazy. "I-Ichigo-san told me to clean the b-bathroom. I-I didn't mean to w-walk in on you! Honest!"
"...It's not like I mind it..." Kanade mumbled under her breath, nearly incomprehensible. What did she say? I think I misheard… I glanced back towards her, seeing her fidget in place a little, before she took a deep breath and cleared her throat. As her eyes met mine, I quickly turned away, feeling the blush on my cheeks becoming stronger. "Well, it seems that Ichigo laid a trap, and you fell in." She then continued, her voice a lot more composed than before.
"A… A trap?!" I relaxed a little, but stayed completely still otherwise.
"Yes. She was fully aware that I was bathing… so she sent you here in hopes that you'd walk in on me. I suspect she hoped I'd be angry enough to fire you." Kanade explained to me. That girl is so warped! How much does she hate me?! "But… you don't have to worry, Jirou-kun. I won't throw you out, not for something so… trivial." I let out a small sigh of relief.
"T-thanks, I guess. I, uh… I'm really sorry about this, Kanade. I-I didn't see that much, so..." Images of her large, round, wet, perfect orbs came into my mind briefly. "A-a-anyway, I-I'll l-leave you in p-peace now." I took a step towards the door. I need to get out of this situation, and soon. Who knows what will happen to me and my gynophobia if I stay here for any longer…
"Ah, Jirou-kun, wait!" I felt a wet hand grab mine from behind. "I-I already said I didn't mind it..." Kanade's quiet voice came from behind me. Okay, I definitely didn't mishear her that time.
"Eh?" I stopped and turned my head to look back, now seeing Kanade in all her glory. Her face was flushed a deep red, but I doubt it was nearly as red as mine was. I quickly brought a hand to my face and pinched my nose.
"Huh? I-I-I m-mean..." Stop it, woman! You're only going to make the situation worse if you keep stuttering cutely like that! "H-hold still for a moment!" Kanade used her free hand to turn my head the other way, then she hugged me from behind, her soft mounds pressing against my back.
"K-Kanade, w-what are you.." Suddenly, my vision was blocked by something.
"There! All ready!" Kanade said as she tied the cloth behind my head, blindfolding me. "Now, w-would you… wash my back? Usually, I'd have Subaru help me, but as she's off running errands, I thought… I'd ask you instead."
"Huh..? W-wait, you c-can't seriously..."
"Oh, of course. I shouldn't ask you. As your Mistress, I order you to help me." I swear I could hear her smirking.
"Y-yes… Mistress..." I said and sighed.
Kanade took my hand again and guided me inside properly. I could her moving something, then heard her sitting down on something in front of me. She handed me a sponge and guided my hands to her back, and I reluctantly started to wash her back. Because I couldn't see anything, every now and then my finger would slip and come into contact with her back. Her wet skin felt smooth and… nice, even if every touch caused me to jump.
"W-what if someone catches us like this?" I asked after a minute or so of scrubbing.
"Hm? There's really no-one here right now, Jirou-kun. Even your sister won't be… bothering us, since she's working on the opposite side of the mansion. With Ichigo and Subaru gone… It's just the two of us here." I swallowed at her statement. Wait… did she plan all of this as well? I'm… not surprised, honestly. "If you really already fear discovery, why not wash my chest as well?" This time, her statement brought a blush to my cheeks, as I recalled what said chest looked like.
"A-are you trying to kill me?!" I sighed, and could hear her mutter something akin to 'it wasn't easy for me to say that either', though I wasn't quite sure. "Th-there. Is that enough?" I asked as I paused my scrubbing for a moment.
"Gracious, no. Subaru takes her time and makes sure to wash every inch of my back. Or perhaps it takes longer because I do so enjoy playing with her while she's trying to wash me." Kanade replied and giggled. Thanks for that mental image, Kanade! Now I'm imagining you naked in here with Konoe!
I shook my head and took a deep breath before I returned to washing her back. Despite my growing anxiousness and the beads of sweat rolling down my face, I powered on through. It's okay. Just calm down and breathe, Jirou. Take this as an opportunity to make progress with curing your gynophobia. Yeah, that's it. If I can be this close to, and casually touch a naked Kanade, the girl of my- WAIT this line of thinking isn't helping at all! Distraction needed!
"Uh, K-Kanade." I blurted out after a while of silence, and I felt Kanade jump a little.
"Y-yes, Jirou-kun?"
"Well… Ichigo-san said something to me about you… changing. A-apparently, she noticed that you've been… acting differently from usual. I-I was just wondering if there's something… worrying you." I said and continued my scrubbing.
"..." All I got in response was silence.
"Kanade..? A-are you alright..?" I stopped my scrubbing, and felt a hand grip my right wrist.
"...It's all your fault, you know." Kanade said quietly. "So, Ichigo's noticed, huh? I guess it's not a surprise."
"My… fault..? Ichigo-san said something like that, but..." I got the feeling Kanade wasn't really listening to me.
"...I guess it's not really a surprise that you haven't noticed, either..." Her grip on my wrist tightened ever so slightly. "...Stay still." I heard Kanade rise from her sitting position.
"Huh? Kanade..?" I felt her hands on my shoulders pulling me up, so I stood up as well. "What's going on..?" She turned me around and guided me to sit down on the wet stool.
"Given your… condition, that must have been exhausting for you." Kanade's voice came from above me, so she must have been standing over me. "I believe that you deserve… a reward, Jirou-kun." Suddenly, I felt a weight on me. It took my brain about two milliseconds to deduce what had just happened.
"Wait, w-w-what are y-you doing, Kanade?!" Kanade had sat on my lap, her arms wrapped around my neck.
"I believe that a fitting reward for you would be… a kiss." She pulled me closer to her, closing the distance between us. Her breasts pressed against my chest and she pressed her forehead against mine, all the while her left hand caressed my hair, sending shivers of both fear and pleasure throughout me.
"H-hold on a l-little!" I could feel her breath on my face, and my heart was beating faster than ever. Not being able to see means I feel everything even more intensely..!
"...Do you really wantme to stop, Jirou-kun? If you really want to… I can stop now and we can forget about this ever happening." Kanade said quietly, her voice sounding melancholic.
"Huh? I… I mean..." Do I want her to stop? The rational part of my brain is saying yes, because I'll get a nosebleed and pass out at this rate, but… I suddenly felt something wet drop onto my lap. Again and again. Huh? Is that the water from her hair dripping down? Or is she…
"...I can't hold back."
With that, Kanade pressed herself against me again, our lips colliding. The kiss was more forceful than our first one, back during Golden Week. Kanade held onto me tightly for a good while, and I could feel blood rushing to two specific parts of my body. The sensation going through my body was… incredible, to say the least. I was equal amounts terrified and excited. In the end, my fear came out on top, as a burst of blood was released from my nose. This didn't stop Kanade, however, as she kept on kissing me, and I could feel another liquid going down my face, apart from my own blood. A drop of this liquid got into my mouth. It tasted salty.
"...I'm sorry, Jirou-kun. Please… please don't hate me for this..." I heard Kanade say as she broke the kiss. "But… what's this I feel... down… here..." She trailed off at the end. I… think I know what… she noticed…
The stimulation was too much for me, and the last thing I remember before blacking out is Kanade catching me before my head hit the hard tiling floor of the bathroom. I… I won't hate you for this… Kanade.
"Underling."
I slowly opened my eyes to see an unfamiliar ceiling above me. It took a few moments to process everything. Ichigo was standing next to the bed I was laying down on, staring at me accusingly. She looked almost like a statue, or a doll, completely motionless.
"Ichigo-san..?" I glanced around the room, but didn't recognize it. Must be one of the guest rooms or something…
"I found you collapsed on the floor of the bathroom, so I brought you here. What happened?" Ichigo asked me.
Suddenly, I remembered exactly what had happened in the bathroom. From walking in on Kanade while she was showering, to washing her back blindfolded, to… to… to her kissing me. "Don't hate me for this"… That's what she told me… I could feel a blush rising to my face, and I quickly rose to a sitting position.
"O-oh right!" My heartbeat rose as the recent(?) events were replayed through my mind.
"Did you finish cleaning the bathroom..?" Oh, crap! If I tell her the truth, I'll be fired… No, I'll get killed!
"Well, uhh..." I have to think of something quickly! "I went to clean it, but… um… Mistress Kanade came in. She said she wanted to take a bath and I should come back later. So I went in after she was done, and I guess… all the steam knocked me out." Please believe me!
"..." Ichigo just stared at me in silence. Her expression remained the same it had been the entire time we had talked. "Oh. How disappointing." She finally said and I let out a small sigh of relief.
We stared at each other for a few moments in silence, Ichigo making no moves to leave, or, well, move at all. Uhhh… what's with this awkward atmosphere? Why is she just… standing there? Wait, how long was I out for? I glanced out the window, only to be met with darkness. Has she… stood there the entire time I was unconscious? I'm surprised I'm still alive, if that's the case. Before I could get up from the bed, the silence between us was interrupted by the growling of my stomach.
"Are you hungry?" Ichigo asked, her expression remaining unchanged. You should start playing poker with that face.
"Very." I replied and turned away, slightly embarrassed about the situation.
"I see. Well, since I am the acting chef, I have prepared dinner for you. You must thank our gracious Kanade-sama for this." Ichigo said and moved over to the table on the other side of the room, picking up a serving platter and bringing it over to me. "Originally I intended to procure a package of frozen rice for you, since I believe that someone like you does not deserve anything better, but Ojou-sama ordered me to prepare a proper meal for you." She doesn't hide the fact that she hates me, does she?
"Uh, thanks. If I don't see her today, could you thank her on my behalf?" My question was met with a glare that nearly pierced a hole into my head. "J-just joking, of course. I'll thank her personally tomorrow." Ichigo's glare only got stronger with my statement. Crap! I chose the wrong words! Reload! Reload! "Ahem. Where will I sleep? I don't think our Mistress ever specified that for me."
"Oh, you will sleep here, Underling. I went through the trouble of arranging private quarters for you outside, but once again, Kanade-sama ordered me to tell you that you would be sleeping here." Ichigo walked over to the window and pointed outside. I leaned forward and just barely saw a tent propped up on the lawn outside. Ah. Private Quarters. I see. "I still firmly believe that letting you sleep under the same roof as our Mistress is far too dangerous, but I cannot go against her orders. Just as a precaution, however, I will make sure you won't leave this room until tomorrow morning."
Ichigo proceeded to go outside the room briefly, before coming back with some planks and an electric drill. She then boarded up all the windows in the room. Wait, what the hell is she doing?! Is she serious?
"I will also set up a tripwire just outside the door, and I will be sleeping out there too. Don't. Try. Anything." Ichigo said to me before she slammed the door and locked it from the outside.
I sat in the bed dumbfounded, processing everything that had just happened. I looked to the serving platter that she put on the nightstand beside me, which was covered by a cloth. I slowly lifted the cloth up, revealing an omelette rice with the Kanji for "Die" written on it. Well, that isn't menacing at all. I wonder if she's poisoned it? Do I even dare to test that? I placed the cloth back over the meal and laid back down on the bed, releasing a long sigh. Maybe I should just go to bed. Humans can survive a day without food, though it doesn't feel nice. I'll talk to Kanade about her crazy maid tomorrow. With those thoughts, I got up and turned off the lights, then laid back down on the bed, closing my eyes.
"Please don't hate me for this..." Kanade's words lingered in my mind as I let sleep take me. I won't, I promise that, Kanade.
I was awoken from my pleasant slumber by a knock on my door. Unnhhh… who is there to wake me up this early? And I had such a good dream about Jirou-kun, too… I thought as I curled up on my bed and opened my eyes slowly.
"Ojou-sama? Are you awake?" Subaru's voice came from the other side.
"Yes… I'm awake, Subaru..." I said sleepily and closed my eyes again. Jirou-kun… I want to go back to that dream…
"Ojou-sama..? I-I'm coming in." I heard the door open and close as Subaru entered my room. "You're still in bed? Everyone else has gathered for breakfast already."
"Hmmm..? What… time is it..?" I asked, though I wasn't really paying attention to her.
"Huh? It's nine AM, Ojou-sama. Usually you would be up at this time already, are you sick?" I heard Subaru come closer, then felt the accumulated heat escape as she removed the covers from over me. "O-O-Ojou-sama w-what a-are you d-doing?!" Subaru shouted, sounding shocked and embarrassed.
I opened my eyes again and yawned. It took my groggy brain a few moments to realize the questionable... position I was currently in. With my left hand, I was hugging onto my pillow, with my left leg draped over it. Meanwhile, my other hand was firmly planted between my thighs. As I moved my right hand to free it, I felt something… wet. I froze in place and looked down at where exactly my hand was. Wait… was I really..? The dream I had… I felt the heat rise to my cheeks as realization hit me.
"Subaru. If you would so kind as to return to the others and inform them that I will be right there. You don't need to wait long." I said in the calmest voice I could muster at the time, though it took considerable amounts of willpower to prevent myself from stuttering.
"O-of course, Ojou-sama." Subaru said and bowed.
I watched her leave the room, and let out a sigh of relief once she closed the door behind her. I slowly raised up my right hand, my suspicions being confirmed once I looked at it. I… I can't believe it. Jirou-kun… Look at what you've made me do… I need to get myself cleaned before I leave for breakfast… I got up from my bed and went into the small toilet adjoining my own room. It's all your fault, Jirou-kun. Of all the possible things that could have happened in that situation… I blushed again when I washed my hands and face as I recalled what happened yesterday. Well, at least it's proof that he's making progress with his gynophobia, which makes me one step closer to my goal. My blush deepened, this time due to recalling the dream that had caused this embarrassing turn of events. Calm down, Suzutsuki Kanade. I can't let Usami-san see me in this state. Wait… Subaru said it was nine already… I need to hurry. I quickly finished up in the toilet and got dressed, then made my way out to the front yard, where Usami was impatiently waiting for me.
"Finally, Suzutsuki Kanade. You told me to be here by eight, and guess who's waited here for an hour?!" Usami shouted at me once I exited the mansion.
"Gracious, Usagi-san, don't you know I need my beauty sleep?" I smirked as I teased her.
"Don't call me that! U-SA-MI not U-SA-GI! A-anyway, you said chicken-brain is working for you here, too?"
"Yes, Jirou-kun is working here, along with Kureha-chan. It's truly a shame what happened to their house, so this is the least I can do for them." I said with a smile.
"Y-yeah, I heard that too. But… do you really feel that bad for them?"
"Don't you pride yourself in being able to see through me, Usami-san? You should be able to tell that I'm genuinely worried about Jirou-kun." I know all too well about your true feelings towards him, which makes you my rival. "But enough chitchat. Jirou-kun, Kureha-chan, Subaru and Ichigo are all waiting for us, so let's get you changed." Usami-san visibly twitched at the mention of Ichigo's name.
"The captain is here?" She asked, raising an eyebrow as we made our way inside.
"Yes, while most of the staff is gone, Ichigo stayed behind. She's getting along quite well with Jirou-kun." I lead Usami-san to the room where she would be staying. "This will be your room for the time being. I've left your uniform inside, on the bed. Change quickly, we don't want to keep the others waiting any longer."
"I-It isn't too r-revealing or anything, is it?" Usami asked before she entered the room.
"What makes you ask that?" I asked and kept a straight face. "I'm sure you'll like it." Although I think I'll be the one enjoys it more than you. I thought and suppressed the urge to smirk.
Usami narrowed her eyes and stared at me for a few moments before entering the room. I waited outside patiently. I want to see her reaction to the delightful uniform I've prepared for her. I would say I'm sorry, but I'm not. I can't resist teasing her. I checked the time on my phone and knocked lightly on the door.
"You need to hurry up, Usami-san. The others have already waited long enough." I said and opened the door.
"Suzutsuki Kanade… What… WHAT IS THIS?!" Usami shouted as I entered the room.
"Hm? Do you not like it? Or is it the wrong size? I'm sure I got everything right." I nearly couldn't hold in my laughter.
Stood in front of me, fuming with anger, was Usami in a maid uniform, not much unlike the one she wore at her workplace, but with a bit of… extra. Namely, a coloured ribbon matching her hair tied over her chest, but more notable, a pair of bunny ears on her head, and as I leaned to the side, I caught a glimpse of a fluffy bunny tail as well.
"Do I not like it?! What do you think?! Why would you make me wear something so… so… embarrassing! A-and I'll be wearing this in f-front of chicken-brain, too." Usami replied and fidgeted in place.
"Because it's amusing, of course~! Come along, Usagi-chan! I'm sure everyone is waiting for us anxiously." I turned around and left the room, but stopped just outside and glanced back towards Usami. "And I'm afraid that's the only maid uniform we have here currently, so you'll have to make do." I said to her and smirked.
"You… you really are a devil, Suzutsuki." Usami said and exited the room to follow me.
"Remember, while you're here, I will be your Mistress, so no calling me by my last name, now."
"Hmph. Yes, Mistress."
"What was that, Usagi-chan? I couldn't hear you."
"You can hear me just perfectly! And don't call me that!"
I giggled a bit, but composed myself as the dining room was getting closer. Right, Usami-san helped me get over my… troublesome start to this morning, but I have act cool, now. Though I don't know how well I'll be able to do that once I see Jirou-kun. That dream… I've never had one quite like it before, and it felt all too real. Although, guessing by where I found my hand, I can guess as to why that is the case. Before I realized, I was standing by the door to the dining room. I took a deep breath to calm myself and clear my thoughts, before opening the door and entering the room with a smile on my face.
"Good morning, everyone." I said and my four servants bowed their heads in response.
"Good morning, Mistress." They all said in unison, though I could only hear Jirou's voice. It feels good hearing him call me that, but… I would prefer he call me something else.
"I apologize for my lateness, it seems I may have overslept a little. But, that's not the only reason you all had to wait here for me." I glanced behind me, where Usami was still hiding on the other side of the door. "Before we start on breakfast, I have an announcement. I have temporarily taken on another maid! Today is her first day here." Usami realized that was her cue, and entered the room, her face crimson red.
"Masamune?! What are you doing here?" Jirou was the first to react. I must admit, I was always a little jealous of how easily she got him to use her first name, but now that I was in the same position, I didn't mind it at all. "And what's with the outfit?"
"My boss at the cafe sold me out! And the outfit wasn't my idea! Suzutsuki Kanade forced me-" Before Usami could finish, I interjected by grabbing her from behind.
"Whatever could be wrong with the outfit? It looks so darling on you!" I teased her a little by cupping her ass and moving my finger along her stomach.
"H-hey! S-shut up! A-and stop t-that!" Usami protested and freed herself from my grasp.
"If you really didn't want to, why not refuse?" Jirou asked her.
"Well… I… uhh..." Usami failed to make a coherent sentence, but the glint in her eyes gave everything away. Greed is a powerful force. I thought and smirked.
"Ah, I see. She's paying you a heap of money." Jirou said and glanced in my direction. I nodded slightly to him, keeping the smirk on my face.
"How did you know?!" Usami-san shouted, then closed her eyes and turned her head away from Jirou, her face overcome with a blush. "W-well. That's part of the reason. But I heard your house burned down! So I just wanted to make sure you're okay!" I see what she's trying to do. Even if she herself doesn't see it.
"Hello, new maid." Ichigo said to Usami as she walked up to her. You should really stop being so cold towards everyone. You're acquainted with Usami-san, for heaven's sake.
"Um… hello." Usami replied to her, perplexed by Ichigo's behaviour, no doubt. I noticed that Jirou raised an eyebrow at their exchange.
After that, he looked towards me, his face having a confused expression on it. I didn't look back at him, but kept him in my peripheral vision. He looked to the deep in thought, before a brief blush appeared on his face. I wonder what you're thinking about, Jirou-kun..? I thought and yawned.
"Did you have trouble sleeping, Ojou-sama?" Ichigo asked as she walked up to me.
"No, I'm fine." I replied to her with a smile. Can't be telling anyone about what happened this morning – and what I suspect happened last night – but especially not Ichigo.
"All right, now that everyone is here, we'll begin the day breakfast. Normally, given that you are all my servants, I wouldn't eat together with you, but I will make an exception today." I said and clapped my hands together.
"If our Mistress would allow it, I would request pancakes for breakfast." Ichigo said and sent a glare towards Jirou. Heh, I can almost guess how this would've went had I not been here with them.
"Eh? W-why are you looking at me? You're the chef, aren't you?" Ichigo's glare only became stronger with Jirou's response.
"Now, now. You are correct, Jirou-kun. However, I think I would like to taste something different for a change, too." I said and took a seat at the end of the table.
"O-okay..." Jirou sighed and turned to look at Usami. "Sorry, Masamune, could you..?"
"Wha-? Why me?!" Usami replied, shocked by Jirou's plea for help.
"I don't know how. And even if I could make pancakes, yours would be better." Jirou put his hands together and bowed, while Usami-san was blushing fiercely. Oh, Jirou-kun. You have no idea what effect your words have on us girls…
"W-well… if you put it that way..." Usami replied and fidgeted.
"Thanks! And we'll help you, right, Kureha?"
"Huh? Making pancakes with Usami-senpai and Nii-san? Sure!" Kureha replied enthusiastically.
"I'm looking forward to the pancakes, Jirou-kun." I said with a smile.
I kept my eyes on Jirou the whole time as he worked with his little sister and Usami. Their coordination was admirable, and I felt a little jealous that Usami was able to this with Jirou. No need to worry. It may seem counterproductive, but having Usami-san here, close by, means that I can keep and eye on her. She also has to obey my orders, so I can make sure she and Jirou-kun don't get the chance to be in contact. It's a dirty tactic, but in love, anything goes. At one point, Kureha became more of a hindrance for the two of them, so she reluctantly came to sit at the table. It didn't take long after that for the pancakes to be ready.
"I couldn't make a massive amount, but there should be enough for everyone." Usami said as she laid two plates of pancakes onto the table. "Hurry up with the washing up, chicken-brain! You don't want them to get cold." She then said to Jirou.
"I'll be right there, I'll just finish washing this first." He replied to her as I took a pancake onto my plate. I took a bite and had to admit, it tasted good. Usami-san is a great cook, so I expected nothing less.
"Pancakes are one of my favourites." Ichigo said as she took three pancakes onto her plate.
Usami sat down next to Kureha and took a pancake onto her plate as well. I noticed that Ichigo kept her gaze on Usami for a good while, all the while she was chowing down on multiple pancakes at once. Subaru finished first and took her leave, with Jirou taking her seat.
"Hmmm… So, are you two dating?" Ichigo suddenly asked, her gaze shifting between Jirou and Usami.
"EEEHHHH?!" The two of them let out in unison. Usami's face was crimson red, while Jirou spat out the drink he had taken a sip from. Even I was surprised by her sudden question, as I nearly choked on a bit of pancake.
"Is that a 'yes'..?"
"N-no! Who'd want to date a chicken-brain like him?!" Usami said as she turned to face Jirou. I, for instance. And you do too, Usami-san. Subaru, too, but she's… given up for my sake. I banished the negative thoughts by drinking some water. "I-I'm gonna go start work!" Usami said and stood up from where she was sitting, then quickly darting out of the room.
"Masamune..?" Jirou looked at where she had run off to, then moved his gaze to meet mine. I shook my head at him.
"That's a shame. It would be better if you were." Ichigo said as she rose up from her seat as well, then looking towards me, expecting approval, so I nodded at her. "Excuse me, Ojou-sama, underling. I need to take my leave now. Kureha-san, come with me, I'll show you what to do today." With that, Ichigo left with the younger girl behind her. Leaving just the two of us.
"She's a real pain, you do know that?" Jirou said to me after a moment of silence, then sighed before continuing. "Guess I'd better eat and-" His sentence was cut off when he noticed the empty plates. "Uh… where'd my pancakes go?"
"You seemed to have taken too long with your washing, Jirou-kun." I said and giggled. "Ichigo already ate all the pancakes that were left."
"Really?! Come on… I haven't eaten anything since yesterday… Could really do with some food right now..."
"Since yesterday..? What about the dinner I had Ichigo prepare for you?" I asked, puzzled by his statement.
"Oh, that? Well… it had 'die' written all over it, sooo… I didn't really feel like testing my luck by eating it."
"Poor you, Jirou-kun. Say… if you don't mind, would you… come to my room? I might have something to ease your hunger." I said and awkwardly poked my index fingers together.
"Huh? You do? Gladly! Anything for some food!"
"Great to hear that, Jirou-kun. Now, if you'll follow me, I'll show you to my room." I said and stood up.
I put my plate away and left the room with Jirou just behind me. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't nervous about Jirou coming to my room. However, I was also excited at the opportunity. It like Jirou was more nervous than I was, especially given his body language as we got to my room.
"We're here, Jirou-kun." I said and opened the door to my room. "Don't hesitate, you're welcome to come in."
"P-pardon my i-intrusion." Jirou said as he entered after me.
"Don't be so formal, Jirou-kun. You're my servant, now. It's perfectly normal for you to come into my room." I said and walked over to my bed to sit down on it, but blushed as I remembered what happened this morning.
"Y-you're right. I-it doesn't change the fact that I-I'm alone with a pretty girl in her room..."
I froze in place as I heard his words. He just… called me a pretty girl… Jirou-kun… the things you do to my heart… The grumbling of his stomach interrupted my thoughts, as the reason as to why he came here with me in the first place made itself known.
"Um… you said something about something to… ease my hunger?" Jirou asked awkwardly, his face covered with a slight blush.
"O-of course. Wait just a moment." I stood up and made my way over to the small fridge that I had set up in my room. "If I remember correctly, there's a specific brand of instant noodles that you're fond of, correct?" I opened up the fridge and fetched two packets of instant noodles from it.
"Wait, you've got those here? Really?! Thanks so much, Kanade!" Jirou happily accepted the noodles from me. His genuine smile made me happy as well. "But… don't you get basically gourmet-level food here? Why would you have cheap instant noodles in your room?" He asked from me, then muttered something about 'why I even had a fridge in my room in the first place'.
"Well, it came to my attention during Golden Week that you liked them. One day, when I was out with Subaru, I noticed them in the store and decided to give them a go. Surprisingly, I liked it a lot. I never knew cheap food could be so tasty. Just… don't tell Ichigo. Or, anyone else, for that matter." Jirou laughed a little as I said that. I then made my way back to my bed and sat down on it, patting the space next to me.
"Heh, I guess when you get nothing but the best quality every day, it might get a little boring." Jirou said as he made his way over to me and sat down on the bed.
Using the disposable chopsticks provided with the package, we ate together in silence. It was very comfortable sitting next to Jirou on my bed like this. I was constantly reminded of the dream I had last night, where Jirou and I were also on a bed, though what we were doing was way different from our current situation. Jirou was much more used to eating instant noodles, so he finished before I did. As I glanced over to him, he seemed to be nervous about something.
"Is there something on your mind, Jirou-kun?" I decided to just ask him about it.
"Huh? O-oh, um… well… I-it's about… what happened yesterday… i-in the bath..." Jirou responded and awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
"O-oh? In… the bath… yes..." I took a deep breath and faced Jirou. "I'm… sorry. I… may have… gone a bit too far." What happened next caught me completely off-guard.
Jirou came a little closer to me on the bed and faced me. I could see the nervousness in his face as he spread his arms and moved even closer to me. Wait… what is he..? Before I realized it, Jirou had captured me in his embrace.
"...I won't hate you for it. You don't have to worry." He said to me reassuringly. "You were… trying to help with my gynophobia, right? T-thanks."
"Jirou-kun..." I placed a hand on his head and rested my own on his shoulder. This feels… so nice.
"Uh. S-speaking of which… I-I know I suddenly h-hugged you, but… C-can I let go?"
"R-right, of course." I said and we disentangled from each other. It was good while it lasted. I'll never forget that sensation. "Ahem. Yes. I may not show it that much, Jirou-kun, but… I do actually care about you, and honestly want to help you with overcoming your gynophobia."
"That's… good to hear, I guess. Though… there has been… some progress." I tilted my head slightly in confusion, then remembered the 'revelation' I had yesterday that resulted in me having a very… interesting dream last night. I turned away from Jirou in embarrassment as I recalled the event. I could… feel... it. There was very little to separate us…
"O-of c-course I mean the h-hug just now! I-I couldn't have b-been able to d-do that some weeks ago." Jirou said and laughed awkwardly.
"Y-yes, of course, w-what else would you mean." I joined in his awkward laughter for a bit, before the silence fell over us again. "Hey, Jirou-kun..." I said after I couldn't bear the silence any more.
"What is it?"
"Maybe we could… work on curing your gynophobia a little. You know, while we've got the chance and all."
"What… do you have in mind?"
"Well..." I smirked at his question. What do I have in mind? Oh, I've got lots of things on my mind, but… I do need to genuinely help him overcome his phobia. After all… he did say that he wouldn't accept any girl's feelings until its cured… "How about something like… making your body used to the feel of a girl's body?"
"W-what d-do you m-mean by that?" Jirou leaned backwards defensively.
"N-nothing too rash, okay? Just…" I stood up and began to slowly take off my dress. "Don't… panic, okay? I'll only be taking off a few layers. You've seen much worse, haven't you?" I said and smirked as I completely removed my dress, leaving me only in my underwear.
"K-Kanade..." Jirou said and swallowed.
"Stay still. Your Mistress orders it." I said and moved towards Jirou.
Jirou took a deep breath and looked me in the eyes, looking determined. I took that as my cue to make my move on him, so to speak. I placed both of my hands on his shoulders and moved to sit on his lap, like I did yesterday.
"Hug me again, Jirou-kun. And hold out as best you can." I said to him quietly.
"I-I can do this." Jirou said and took a deep breath, before taking me into his embrace again.
We stayed like this a for a few moments, my heartbeat increasing with each passing second. I can't believe he's actually doing this. I have to stay calm. This is all to treat his gynophobia. Suddenly, a knock on my door interrupted us.
"Mistress Kanade? Are you there?" Ichigo's voice came from the other side.
Augh! Just when things were getting good! I quickly rose up from the bed and grabbed Jirou by the wrist, dragging him with me to the small toilet adjoined to my room. Knowing Ichigo, she won't wait around or knock again. I left the door slightly ajar, so I could peek at she was doing. Meanwhile, Jirou was pressed against me, as the toilet was not made to accommodate more than one person at a time. Unless one person stood of the toilet seat itself, that is, but that would have made too much sound, so I simply told Jirou to stay quiet. As I had expected, I soon heard the door open as Ichigo entered my room I couldn't see much, but she was glancing around the room, before her eyes locked onto my bed. For once, I witnessed her expression changing, as a grin made its way onto her face. Why is she… wait… my clothes! I quickly turned to Jirou again and made a 'shush' motion with my hand, then opened the door to the toilet a little more.
"Ah, Ichigo. What brings you to my room." I called out to her as I peeked my head from the toilet. Ichigo stopped in her tracks and turned to face me, the grin gone from her face.
"Mistress Kanade… May I ask you a question?" She asked and took a few steps closer to me.
"Certainly! What is it?"
"Why are your clothes on your bed? And what are you doing in the toilet?"
"Ah, you see… I was… thinking of trying out some new clothes, but then suddenly felt the need to go the toilet, that's all."
"...I see."
"Now, I doubt that's all you came here for, Ichigo." I glanced back at Jirou, who was holding on quite well. He was still conscious, and I couldn't see any blood anywhere.
"You would be correct, Kanade-sama. You've been acting very unusual lately. And it's because of him, isn't it?" Yes, indeed… Jirou-kun told me something about you noticing that. And I know exactly who you're talking about.
"'Him'? To whom are you referring?" I decided to feign ignorance and lied to her with a smile.
"You can't hide it, Mistress. I don't know the specifics, but he does have some influence over you – and you're suffering for it!" Ichigo… I'm... Suffering? I guess that in a way, I am indeed suffering. But the situation could be much worse than it is. At least, I have a chance to make things go the way I want. To have the kind of future I want. But, still…
"If – If – that were true, then what?"
"As your loyal servant, I could not permit it to continue. I would eliminate-"
"That's enough, Ichigo." I cut her off before she could say anything more. "I must ask you to leave me now. And I will warn you only once, Ichigo. Nothing like that is going on, and if you even suggest the idea..."
"..." Ichigo stayed silent for a few moments. "Understood, Kanade-sama." She then said and bowed to me, before leaving the room.
"Are you alright, Jirou-kun?" I asked as I turned around.
"I'm… fine, for now, at least. I managed to h-hold out without an attack. B-but enough about me, are… you alright, Kanade? What Ichigo-san said..." Jirou replied to me as we exited the toilet.
"...We will talk about this another time, Jirou-kun. You should… get back to your duties now." I said and made my way back to my bed to put my clothes back on.
"All right, Mistress."
"You should probably wait here a little while, in case Ichigo is still close by."
Jirou simply nodded to me as an answer. I put my clothes back on and sat on my bed, with Jirou sitting down next to me. We sat there for a few minutes, until I deemed the coast clear, so Jirou left. I walked back over to my bed and threw myself on it. Why must everything be so complicated… I wish it could be just me and Jirou-kun… then everything would be easier… I sighed to myself as my hands started to roam my body. It didn't take long until I was replicating what had happened in my dream last night, without Jirou, of course. Jirou-kun…
I wish I could tell you how I feel… But I must work hard. I need to work hard, for your sake, but also for my own, so that I may one day confess. I only hope that day comes sooner rather than later.
AN: And that's another massively long chapter. I really need to keep myself in check. Oh well, starting from now on, the chapters shouldn't be this big. Hopefully, at least.
