Chapter 9
My Hiro

Butlers for Hire was a huge success, since it was produced in three months. As the company grew, the profits went up. The perfect servants in the world have been sold around the Japan area. Everyone bought a Butler for Hire, whether they had a Maiden or not. These high-class Butlers were top of the line. They have pleased users, helped users, even love users… in any way.

But on very rare occasions, someone tends to marry a Maiden or Butler for Hire, just to make them happy. Let's find out.

It happened on a brisk October morning, Minamo Kurosawa, a Phys Ed teacher from Yomi's old high school, had a phone call from her mother. She wanted to know if she was ready to find a suitable husband for her.

"I know… I do want to get one, but it's just…" she said, "I just don't seem to feel up to it yet. I may be at my thirties, but I'm just not ready yet… And what's worse is that everything is fading."

Her mother said from the phone, "Well, how about you take a test? I hope you'll find the right guy. When I say test, why not rent a man?"

"You mean those Maiden for Hires that Miss Mizuhara, my former student, produced?"

"No. They're Butlers for Hire. They tend to serve people, almost as much as the Maidens. Well, if you buy one and test him, maybe you'll find the right man."

"I should check it out, when I can."

She hung up, as she heard the doorbell.

"Yeah, yeah," Kurosawa muttered, "Door's open."

The door busted open, showing a woman with a green casual dress.

"Yo, Nyamo!" She cheered, "I wanted to talk to you!"

This woman with the rowdy complexion is Minamo's friend and English teacher, Yukari Tanizaki. Growing up, she and Nya-, uh, Minamo were best friends, or lack thereof. They went to the same college together. Uh, why was she called Kurosawa the name "Nyamo"? Simple, it was a nickname given by Yukari, herself.
Like Nyamo, Yukari is single. She also cared for her former students… if she weren't making the newer ones miserable enough.

She approached her and said, "Can you believe it? It seems two of our alumnae, Takino and Mizuhara, had produced Maidens for Hire. It's nothing more than a whole bunch of machines."

Minamo then sighed, "Yeah. Who'd guess that there was a future for them in automation? I was just thinking of one, too."

"Dude! I SO want one! Maybe I'll have a Maiden like you."

"SHUT UP! I don't want to talk about it! Besides, you couldn't even hold your money!"

"OH? Maybe you'll get a Male Maiden! Oh, wait! They DON'T produce them! HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!"

"They do."

"Huh?"

Minamo then remarked to her, "Have you ever heard of a new item called Butler for Hire?"

"Butler for Hire?" Yukari asked in disgust, "What the hell is that? Is it some kind of new beverage?"

"It's Mizuhara's newest innovation," Minamo said, "I heard that it is the next idea for Maidens. They say that they provide guaranteed service, just like Maidens, but different."

Yukari ranted, "I never even heard of these Butlers or Maidens… but one of my ex-students owning and creating a Butler? How perverted!"

"At least it's equal," Minamo said, "And here I thought it would be feminine only. I've heard all about it on the news. It turns out that Yomi had a partner, I think namely Miss Takino, unless she had long blonde hair."

Yukari then snuffed, knowing that Nyamo is doing this, just for having a lover. She then laughed at her and jeered at her.

"Nyamo is dating a robot! Nyamo is a robo-fetish!" She taunted, "You can't even handle a single guy. It's no wonder that you're single."

Minamo began to fight at Yukari. They were brawling for a while in her room.

"SHUT UP!" Minamo shouted, "It's only a test! I'm just trying it out!"

Yukari blasted, "You think a mechanical man will please you? HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!"

XXXXX

That evening, Minamo went to her computer and looked for the Maiden for Hire site.

"I wonder if the company has online shopping," she thought.

Now, we're gonna show you how you get a Maiden or Butler for Hire, via internet.

She found it. It was a small site, which has a flashy display and a slideshow. She found a link that says "Shop". The shopping site showed a display of pre-made Maiden/Butler avatars on the page. She couldn't decide, until she then clicked on a small link that says "Customize".

"I guess this is it," she said, "I'm going to need to learn more about this."

The screen showed a small cartoon-style Maiden that looked like Eri, speaking in beeps. Her speech balloon said: "Welcome to Maidens for Hire Online. We are here for your guaranteed service. Before we do, we would like to make the choice of which type would you want."

"Oh? Who's she?" She informed, "She looked cute."

She then clicked "Butler", "Customize", and "Delivery". She then chose what type of customizing items she chose:

Hair: Short and black
Eyes: Blue
Height: 6'0"
Personality: Casual
Mode style: Adult, Family, Teen, or Other

Minamo chose "Other".

"I wonder what Mode style means?" She thought, as she clicked "Order".

The Eri avatar appeared and her speech balloon said: "Thank you for your creation! Customized Models go up to 2,500 Yen, depending on whom or what you own. Before we depart, please leave your name and information for delivery."

She typed in her information and smiled, "This is wonderful! Yukari isn't gonna ruin it."

The speech balloon said: "Thank you for your purchase, Miss User. Delivery occurs in one week. Your payment will be billed after the first month of his service. Thank you for shopping at Maidens for Hire."

"One week," she thought, "I hope they use that time to install him newer functions. But what the heck does a Butler do?"

She then found the FAQ screen to learn about the Butlers. She read it all, including its own programming; she also learned that a girl named Eri Sawachika created the concept of Butlers for Hire.

"Oh. So, Mizuhara provided the authorization," she thought.

She was shocked by its Pleasure Mode and smiling about its faultless driving.

"Awesome!" Minamo cheered, "He'll be a better driver than that road hog/road rage expert, Yukari. I think I showed that lazy English teacher about messing with my life."

She laughed sadistically, knowing that she has not only one-upped Yukari, but she has a guy of her own… or somewhat.

XXXXX

One week later, her Butler arrived inside a giant cardboard box. However, there were two cardboard boxes.

"Where's Yukari when you need her?" She thought, "Maybe then, I'll need some help carrying these two boxes."

All by her lonesome, she brought the two boxes in. One of the boxes said:
"To Minamo Kurosawa, of Tokyo, Japan; From Maidens for Hire Co. in Yagami."

The other box was unlabelled. She opened the box and pulled out his new Butler, who was wearing a bright black tuxedo and with short black hair and black eyes. She stood her straight and plugged him in. She then looked at the other box and opened it, pulling out a woman with long brown hair and a sweater. She was gasping for air.

"MAN! How many minutes did it take to wait for you to guess?" She spoke at Minamo.

"What the hell are you doing here, Yukari?" Minamo shouted.

Yukari was actually playing a trick on Nyamo. That explains the extra box. She was about to jeer at her, until she took a glimpse of the Butler.

"Huh?" She asked, "Is he the robot you ordered?"

"Yes," Minamo said, "and I'll thank you not to treat him like garbage! He's brand new. Help me turn him on, okay?"

"Whatever," Yukari scoffed.

She then read the pamphlet:

"Congratulations on your new Butler for Hire. His name is Hiro. Model #H-170. He is here for your guaranteed service."

"Hiro?" Yukari asked, "What a lame ass name."
"SHUSH!" She shouted, "It says here that we must turn him on by pressing his button on his-."

CLICK!

Yukari found it, before Minamo said that it was in his back.

"WAIT UNTIL I FINISHED!" Minamo shrieked.

They looked at the Butler, as he stood straight with his eyes opened. He bowed to them and introduced himself.

By the way: Hiro is completely identical to School Rumble's Hiroyoshi Asou.

"Good evening, ladies," he introduced himself, "I am a Butler for Hire. My name is Hiro."

Minamo blushed, as she looked at his serious face, "Hello, Hiro."

"Oh, brother…" Yukari snuffed.

"I am here for your guaranteed service, by serving to your every whim, Miss Kurosawa," Hiro added.

Yukari gasped, "How did he know your name?"

Minamo scoffed, "I guess it's because I own him! No, duh…"

"Would you like to be seated, madam?" He asked, "I want to serve you tea."

He left in a calm and steady step, as Yukari was in disgust. She mimicked sarcastically, "I'm here for you guaranteed service, Nyamo. Please have some tea, Nyamo."

She jeered, "He's nothing but a boring robot."

"Get used to the name calling, Tanizaki," Minamo snuffed with a smirk, "He's going to be my steady. Yep, Miss Mizuhara and her partner have outdone themselves."

Yukari was stifled in giggles. She then laughed, "YOU? You're dating an android? This is so funny! I cannot believe that this is happening! Next thing you'll tell me is that you're taking him for a trip to Kurosawa Country!"

Kurosawa was so livid that she threw Yukari into the box, which she came in with earlier.

"Oh, go soak your fat head," she huffed, "Now, get out!"

She closed the box and kicked it out of her house. The box slid off to the front door, as Minamo slammed it.

"And keep your love life to yourself, thank you!" She cried out.

Yukari popped out and growled, "She'll never get married; even with that thing. Stupid Butthead for Hire, or whatever you call it… You'll be sorry, Nyamo. It won't last."

XXXXX

The following hour, Hiro served her some tea. She took a sip and ordered him to rub her feet.

"Anything you say, Miss Kurosawa," he said, as he kneeled down.

He proceeded to rub her feet. Minamo sighed, as she felt relief in herself.

"Madam… Who was that girl that left?" Hiro asked.

Minamo sighed, "Oh, her? That was Tanizaki. She is such a rowdy one. I suggest that you stay away from her."

"Nonsense!" Hiro called, "Every human is equal. We live to serve, even the friends of a user for a Butler for Hire."

"Trust me… oh… ah… she's the only… AH! The only tension I need… ooh… removed…" she moaned.

"Does she bug you?"

"A lot."

"How rude. How long have you known her?"

"About over ten years. We used to go to the same college together. We also go to the same school together as staff."

She then thought of what Yukari said in the past:

"P.E. Teachers are so stupid!"

"I… I'm a P.E. Teacher," she muttered.

"It's all right, Miss Kurosawa," Hiro replied, "P.E. teachers are always perfect for exercise. They're never for smart teaching, but that's why the schools teach Physical Education. You, Madam Minamo, are no stupid woman; your smartness in athletics shows prowess."

"Really?" She was astonished, "You're the first person, since ever, to tell me that."

He stood up and held her shoulders, "Was it bad?"

"Oh, no. You were honest."

"Indeed, I am."

They went closer to each other's faces.

"Oh, Hiro…" she blushed.

She approached his face, closed her eyes, and was about to kiss, until…

DING!

"The cookies must be done," he said, as he went to the kitchen.

Minamo flopped down on the couch and sighed in disappointment, "Well, not today…"

She then sat straight and said, "Well, I hope its Pleasure Mode will do the trick. But not tonight, or any night; I want to see how long I'll get used to him."

She shook her head and fixed her hair, "Maybe I'll pop the question to him, but not yet. Besides, I almost lost myself there."

Minamo surely wants to marry this Butler for Hire. Sadly, is it right to marry robots? The answer is no. It'll offend Miss Mizuhara and Miss Sawachika.

Next week, we'll see how she'll work out with Hiro… and Yukari…