-Hinata Inn-
"Isn't that a little…ya know…excessive?" Su says as she swigs around a bottle of soda on her lap.
"Sure it's out of the blue, but it is well within his rights. Gotta say, I like you making your intentions clear out of the gate." Mitsune smirks slightly. "Go a little easy on me though please. I already work two jobs as it is and I'm working towards my dream right now. So I don't exactly have tons of free time."
"Your schedule shows me that you already do quite a lot for this inn despite the fact you already work the two jobs you mentioned. Those being a waitress and a cashier, correct?"
She nods.
"So, in all honesty, you're the most responsible and diligent of the five of you here. The rest of you could follow her example. Especially you Su-san."
"Heh? I'm getting by just fine. Someday I'm going to be taking over as ruler of Molmol. I'll have plenty of money so I'll just hire maids to do all the work for me!" She crosses her arms, shuts her eyes, and grins proudly.
Keitaro can't help but smack his forehead lightly, "That's not how it works. Being a ruler is hard and grueling work. If you just sit back and relax while letting everyone else do the work they'll rebel against you sooner rather than later. Also, where is Molmol? I've never heard of this country before."
"Whaaaaat?! Are you serious?! My country is well known throughout Japan thank you very much!"
No it isn't. You just believe that yourself. We all didn't know what that country was until you told us. Motoko thinks.
"Anyway, it's located around 30 miles or so north of Japan. We're a pretty small island nation but we got loads of tanks!" She once again grins proudly.
"…right. Thanks for the info Su-san." Keitaro says in an unimpressed tone.
"Alright, so what exactly do you have in store for us?" Shinobu asks.
Keitaro raises his eyebrows, "Wow, I wasn't expecting you to comply so quickly Maehara-san."
"Well, you are the manager. So I have to do what you say."
"Please be mindful of my kendo when handing out the chores." Motoko pleads a little.
"As long as I can study a lot I'll happily help out!" Naru says cheerfully.
Already having thought out and written their schedules beforehand, Keitaro hands each of them a piece of paper detailing exactly what is expected of them. They are all expected to upkeep their own rooms by default. Beyond that, these are the expectations of each member.
Naru is to keep the 2nd floor bathroom and hallway clean. The bathroom is to be cleaned once a week and the hallway once every few days. She is assigned lawn maintenance for the perimeter of the inn.
Motoko has to keep the roof tidy as well as do the shopping for the entire household. She is also assigned lawn maintenance alongside Naru.
Mitsune's duties aren't changed much. She'll continue to keep the hot springs clean. Whenever she's unable to clean that, Keitaro will do it for her. Instead of slowly and poorly cleaning the entire inn, she'll instead be relegated to just the living room and downstairs hallway.
Su is in charge of keeping the unused guest bedrooms from becoming too dirty and she is also responsible for keeping the laundry room and dining room clean.
Shinobu is in charge of cooking and cleaning up after meals as before. Additionally, she'll continue doing laundry. Adding onto that is general maintenance of the kitchen, which she has been doing to some extent but not fully.
Finally, Keitaro will be repairing any holes in the inn since he is the only one with any craftsmanship skills. He'll also do whatever the other residents are unable to do depending on the circumstances. Any financial responsibilities will also be on him, since he has access to the official Hinata Inn bank account. He'll collect the rent from all the residents except Shinobu due to her specific contract she made with Hina.
Shinobu's contract basically states that she is allowed to stay at the inn for free as long as she is able to cook for everyone and do everyone's laundry.
"This is going to cut into my study time! Keitaro-kun, can you please give me fewer chores?" Naru complains.
"Manager-sama, I'm not sure I can carry the bags from the store all the way back here." Motoko says in a concerned tone.
He shakes his head, "Sorry Naru-san, but I believe you're doing too much studying as it is. Don't take it the wrong way, studying is definitely very important towards getting into Tokyo U. However, you have to set aside time to do other things. With this revised schedule, I believe you will have time to get the chores you need to get done, done while also having plenty of time to study."
He turns to Motoko, "Aoyama-san, you can take someone along with you. Also, Urashima-san is fine. No need to be that formal with me."
She nods, "Alright Urashima-sama."
"Drop the sama."
She shakes her head, "In the name of the God Cry School, I cannot do such a thing."
"Why not?"
"Because we are to address our superiors with the proper level of respect. As you are our manager, you are my superior."
"I see. Well, I don't wish to disrespect the values your school holds, so it's fine."
She smiles, "Thank you."
Mitsune and Shinobu accept their duties without any complaint. However, Su is a different story.
"Are you serious? I gotta clean the unused guest rooms? Why do I have to do that?"
"Because you are a tenant who lives here and you have to do your share of the work. There is no getting out of it, unless you wish to leave of course."
"Big sis isn't letting me out until I get to know Japan more, so that ain't happening."
"Well, I hope you get used to your new duties." Keitaro tells her indifferently.
"No one even uses those rooms anyway! It ain't like anyone is going to see how dirty they are!" She whines.
"Even if no one sees those rooms, they still exist and they get dirty and nasty with time. You know how those abandoned buildings wear down, rust, and break over time? Same deal here. If we leave those rooms alone forever, they may break down and cause problems for the places we DO actually mingle around in."
Su raises her index finger upwards and opens her mouth, but no words come out. Rather embarrassingly, she lowers her finger and says, "I'll just make some robots and have them clean it for me."
He shakes his head. "No you aren't."
She's shocked at his refusal. Also, since when was he the boss of her like this? This causes her to get a little aggravated. First, he wants to invoke some new duties on her all of a sudden. Now he won't let her use her robots? Just how brash is this guy?
"What?"
He explains, "I can already tell by your schedule and your current behavior that you are quite lazy. That behavior is not going to fly anymore. You will either put in the effort yourself, or you can see yourself out the door."
She counters, "Building robots does take a lot of effort! Do you know just how difficult it is to delicately put together each and every part? Plus the time and effort it takes to program the AI? I'm sure you don't!"
"And just how often do you build one of these robots?"
"Once every 5 months about. I'd do it more often but ya know, laziness gets in the way."
"So you do admit you're lazy!"
She awkwardly shifts her gaze a little, "…Just focus on what you need to do and let me deal with the cleaning my own way."
After a bit more arguing back and forth, Keitaro was finally able to convince Su to work on her chores by herself without the assistance of her robots.
Motoko, Su, and Shinobu leave for school shortly afterwards. Keitaro and Naru head off for cram school. Mitsune in the meantime heads off for her waitress job, leaving the inn completely empty.
-Hinata Restaurant-
Mitsune has been working hard for the past hour serving customers at the Hinata restaurant. Having worked there for the past several months, her co-workers respect her for her diligent and hardworking attitude.
"Thanks for the food Konno-san." One of her regular customers thanks her after she delivers them their order of food.
"You're welcome." She smiles back.
She seems to be in a good mood today! I don't think I've ever seen her smile like that before. That just makes her all the more cuter! The customer thinks right before he digs into his meal.
She makes her way to the back room as it is now time for her break.
Sitting in a chair, she stretches out her arms, closes her eyes, and grins. Several moments pass by while she is in this state.
"Someone seems to be in a good mood." A person says to her in a tone that felt like a deep secret was revealed to them.
"Huh-wah?!" Her eyes instantly flicker open and she quickly recognizes the person speaking to her.
"A-Ayaka-senpai?"
"Don't act so surprised seeing your boss walk up on you like that. What if I was a thief coming to steal all of this delicious food?!" She winks and smiles in response.
The woman, known as Ayaka Hashimoto, is Mitsune's boss at the restaurant. However, despite being her boss, she is rather carefree and relaxed. She also doesn't like to be overly formal either. At her insistence, everyone who works there calls her Ayaka-senpai. She has short orange hair and is around 6 feet tall. On top of her head she wears a small green bow with a pink circle on the center part.
"Knowing you, you very well might do that."
"Wha?! How rude!" She flicks Mitsune's forehead and pouts, which shows that she isn't all that offended.
"Come on, admit it. You know you just want to dive straight into everything we've made and eat up all our profits, right?" She gives a slightly smug grin.
Ayaka gives a long, defeated sigh. Mitsune is often times smarter than she gives her credit for. "Oh whatever. Enough about me. What I want to know is why you're in such a good mood today. You usually work with such indifference that it seems like I'm working with a robot. You're much more livelier than usual."
"Am I? I haven't noticed."
"What do you mean you haven't noticed?! I've heard from the other employees that your regular customers have seen you become more cheerful. What happened?"
Mitsune immediately thinks back to the various events between earlier that morning and yesterday when she met Keitaro. She unconsciously smiles a little at the thought of him.
Her boss picks up on that smile, "See? You're smiling. You're obviously thinking of something good." Suddenly, she gasps. "Wait…don't tell me…you finally got a boyfriend?!"
"No you idiot!" She shouts while blushing, which causes the other employees in the back room to gasp in shock at how rude she is being to her superior.
She suddenly realizes her grave error, "I-I'm so sorry for my rudeness! I…"
She waves a hand, "Nah don't worry about it. I'm friendly enough overlook this. If you did this to any other boss though, they would fire you in an instant."
Ayaka then puts her hands on Mitsune's shoulders and while her expression doesn't change from its usually happy look, her aura suddenly becomes much more sinister. "Though just make sure you don't insult my genes, k?"
Glancing down at her chest, she understood what she was implying, even if it is very subtle. Having been an A-cup for the longest time, she is very sensitive about that and won't hesitate to clobber anyone who makes fun of it.
"R-right. I understand."
Ayaka lets go of her shoulders, "Good! Now as you were saying?"
"I wasn't saying anything, but I guess I can tell you. You see, you know the all-girls dormitory I'm staying at, right? Well, we got a new manager yesterday."
"Really? How's she holding up with all of you?"
"He appears to be a strict, but kind person. He's actually trying to get all the other tenants to work instead of lazing their butts around all day. I think we share a similar mindset with how to run things."
A devious smile suddenly appears on her lips, "Oooh, a man huh? He's bold for weaseling his way into a maiden's garden like that. I guess that's why you're in such a good mood today! So, how far have you two gone?"
"What in the world are you picturing you pervert?! We haven't done anything! Sheesh." She crosses her arms annoyed, "Besides, he didn't weasel his way in. I think his grandmother planned for him to take over for quite some time. It all just happened to line up for him to take over now apparently."
"But you are interested in him, right?" She keeps her grin.
"He does pique my interest, but not in that way. Get your mind out of the gutter already."
"Fine. Now skedaddle back to work or you'll be here doing overtime!"
"Yes Ayaka-senpai!"
-Su and Shinobu's school-
Maehara-san seems even grumpier than usual today. No doubt it's because of Urashima-san. But I wonder why she dislikes him so much. All he's done is ruin dinner once. It's not worth getting that upset over. Though it's not like she's very kind to any of us either. It's just him she's especially rude to.
Su thinks of these things as she stares at Shinobu three seats to her left, reading a book as they wait for their teacher to enter the classroom.
She even came to me to help her get rid of him. Normally I wouldn't bother with such a thing, but she's offering to buy me an all-day pass at the local casino if I can do this. I can't just pass such an offer up! I'm fairly certain the plan I thought up will work flawlessly. I'll just have to wait till dinner tonight to set it up.
Shortly after she sees a girl enter into a seat next to Shinobu and they begin to talk. She begins to listen in on the conversation.
"Hey Shinobu-chan! How was your weekend? I hope you were able to finish your paper in time. We need to present them in class today." The newly seated girl starts. She is about the same height as Su. She has short brown hair on the front and back while she has a ponytail on both sides of her head.
Shinobu smiles, "Hi Akiko-chan. Don't worry about it, I was able to finish it the day after it was announced. My weekend was utter crap. How was yours?"
She frowns, "Huh? Why? I know you've been struggling to adapt over there, but it's surely gotten better, hasn't it?"
"The opposite." She grumbles. "This male came by completely uninvited yesterday and somehow, he became the manager of the inn! Like who does he think he is?! Barging in like he owns the place and ordering us as he pleases!"
Akiko holds her hands up and waves them, "Wait wait wait. That's too little info, start from the beginning and explain it properly."
Shinobu does as she is asked and explains what happened yesterday in detail. She does do it at a fairly quick pace as she knows the teacher will be entering very soon.
"Ah I see. From how you described it, I can definitely see why you're so upset. But isn't this a great opportunity to try to make some new friends? Besides, I don't think you've ever had a male friend before."
"I don't need one! I don't need any friends aside from you. You're my best friend Akiko-chan and the only one I can trust with anything."
At this point the teacher comes in and the two are forced to stop chatting.
So she really doesn't trust any of us. Su frowns. Wait. Why do I care about any of this? That's right, I'm just in this for that all-day pass! I don't need to get caught up in Maehara-san's personal life problems. What was I thinking?
-Base of Hinata Inn-
"Which cram school do you go to Naru-san? I have some time so I can give you a lift there if you want." Keitaro asks her as he starts to put his helmet on.
"The one right on the edge of the town. Are you sure you can do something like this? What about your cram school?"
"That's the same one I attend. It'll be quicker if we travel together there."
"Um…sure. As long as I'm not a bother."
Keitaro proceeds to have her put on his spare helmet and once again holds onto his waist from behind. Along the way Naru wonders what he wants her to do. He clearly wants her to study as he's praised her study habits and is willing to drive her to cram school. But at the same time, he wants her to give up her precious studying time to take care of tasks around the inn. Tasks which she doesn't believe to be that important.
What's his overall goal? Why does he want us to clean the inn so badly? I know it was a big mess but…is it really that bad? It's not like there was anyone besides us five before now.
She also thinks about her own current state during their trip. Aware that she has amnesia, she knows that there must be a reason why she is staying at Hinata Inn and is studying super hard to get into Tokyo U. Unfortunately, she just cannot remember anything no matter how hard she tries.
I wonder if I should contact my parents somehow. Maybe they would know something. She thinks.
-Outside Cram School-
The two arrive at cram school in no time flat. As soon as the two get off and put their helmets on the motorcycle, Keitaro is about to walk towards the building when Naru says, "Wait a second, let me do something really quick."
He simply looks at her with a slightly interested look on his face. Over the next minute she proceeds to wrap her hair into two large braids and she puts on large circular glasses that she pulled out of her purse she brought with her. All of a sudden, she looks like a stereotypical nerdy girl instead of a beauty who could possibly put idols to shame.
Once she finishes, she says a bit nervously, "Sorry. I tend to get a bit of unwanted attention here when I look like my normal self. So I decided to start fashioning myself like this whenever I go to cram school. I hope it isn't too weird…"
He gasps a little seeing her like this.
"W-what is it…? Why are you surprised? I knew it! I totally look weird!" She tries to hide her face with her hands a little.
"No! That's not it. I just suddenly recognized this look of yours. I've actually seen you here before! You were always so quiet and never socialized with anyone. I think we share the same class even."
"Y-y-you were stalking me?!" She both gives him an angry look and blushes at the same time.
"No! I swear I didn't. I just observed a little, that's all. Nothing creepy."
"W-well…if you say so. Still, what a coincidence we both go here on a regular basis. I've never noticed you before at all. I feel bad all of a sudden."
"Don't worry about it. We didn't know each other at all then. I try to not stick out too much as well. I can't have a bunch of idiots trying to get all up in my face after all."
"Wow, that's harsh!" A voice says in the distance.
"Yeah! We had no idea that is what you truly thought of us!" Another voice says slightly closer to them.
They turn around and spot Kimiaki Shirai and Masayuki Haitani walking towards them. Keitaro puts on a slightly shocked expression while Naru has a disgusted look.
"Kimiaki?! Masayuki?! When did you two appear?" Keitaro starts.
"We've been listening for a while in that nearby bush." Kimiaki says, pointing one not too far behind them.
Masayuki hits him on the back of his head, "Idiot! They weren't supposed to know that!"
"Why?" He innocently asks.
"Ew, not only do you two hit on girls, but you stalk them too? Disgusting…" Naru says while keeping her disgusted look.
"That's why." Masayuki says while sighing. "Listen, it may have looked bad, but we weren't purposely trying to stalk. We were gonna say hi to Keitaro when we noticed you two having a conversation and we didn't want to bother you."
"You know them?" Naru asks Keitaro.
"Yeah, I met them some time back in a prep school when they wouldn't shut up about their woes of not getting a girlfriend and whatnot."
"Why are you so cold?!" Kimiaki complains, "We are your best buds! And we care about more than just getting a good view of girls!"
"I highly doubt that." Keitaro and Naru both say in unison. When they realize this, they look at each other and laugh a little.
Kimiaki grumbles while Masayuki tries to steer the conversation in another direction. "How do you feel you'll do on the prep exam today Keitaro?"
He shrugs, "I think I'll do fine. And you?"
"We're aiming for A+ baby!" The two try to make an A using their fingers but fail miserably and end up embarrassing themselves.
Naru whispers to Keitaro, "Can we go now? I know they're your good friends but I'm honestly quite creeped out by them…"
He nods and whispers back, "Good friends is a stretch. But yeah, let's go."
Looking back at the two boys he says, "Sorry, but me and Naru-san have an exam to catch, so we'll see you two later."
"Huh?! Why are you on a first name basis with Narusegawa-san?" Kimiaki asks jealously.
"Are you two dating? How could you betray us Keitaro?!" Masayuki adds.
"You're misunderstanding! We aren't dating at all. She simply asked me to use her first name and that's that. Don't just to conclusions like that all on your own. Now, we're going." Taking Naru's hand, he leads her towards the cram school building.
"Yeah…real convincing. Holding hands like that." Kimiaki grumbles. "And I've been into her too."
Masayuki puts a hand on his shoulder, "I know how you feel. I was hoping we could ask her out to eat or the arcade or something. Keitaro beat us to the punch though. Nothing we can do about it."
"He did say he isn't dating her though."
"True…" Masayuki strokes his chin. "Maybe we still have a chance!"
-Cram School-
"Wait, so you're telling me those two constantly look at you and sometimes ask you out to places or to study with them?" Keitaro asks Naru who has been explaining her experiences with the two of them while they are walking towards their designated classrooms.
She nods, "Unfortunately. They are the only two who pay any attention to me. I keep declining their requests but they are rather pushy. I feel like it's getting harder and harder to say no to them…"
"I'll have a stern talking with them." He declares in a bit of a low tone, which scares her a little.
"N-nothing too rough, got it? I'm sure they're trying to get into their dream school as much as we are. I just don't want them unnecessarily bothering me."
"Don't worry. I'll be gentle with them…probably."
Naru gulps as that doesn't reassure her very much.
A little while later they reach the door for their classroom. This is when Naru realizes that she is in the same classroom as him. She has just never noticed until now. Keitaro chuckled a little when she freaked out slightly upon learning this.
The two enter and go to their regular seats. Naru gulps as Keitaro confidently starts to bring out his books. Today would be a more important day than usual.
"Listen up!" The teacher suddenly shouts, "Today is the day of your mock tests! These will gauge how prepared you are for the entrance exams of your school of choice. So remember to do well."
Naru looks at Keitaro, who gives her a reassuring thumbs up. She smiles and him and nods as they both begin to take their tests.
-Author's Corner-
A/N: Writer's block has been kinda getting at me so that's why this is way later than usual. I hope to get the next chapter out sooner than this.
KJC71790: I'll consider it. I'm not sure I'll have them go on an overseas trip yet but if I do I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the suggestion!
Under Of Flower: Glad you love this so far! By rereading, do you mean this one story or the last story I did? Haha yeah, Naru is suddenly all nice while Shinobu is super grumpy and rude. Although unlike Naru, Shinobu doesn't hit people (at least, as far as we can see).