Preparing to take a walk with Luka and Gakuko, Miku bundled up in her favorite coat. Their last class of the semester had gotten out half an hour ago, and the girls decided to change and spend the evening together before they went their separate ways for break. Luka would be staying at the academy for the holidays, Gakuko would be returning to her family, and Miku would be going home with Kaito. When Miku told her parents about him, they were thrilled Miku had already managed to find someone she fancied. Although they would miss her, both father and mother encouraged Miku to go to the Summer Continent and meet Lord Shion's family.
"Is that all you have?" Miku asked when she noticed the thin jacket Juliet CV02 wore.
"As I replied the last dozen times you asked," Juliet CV02 answered, buttoning the jacket, "yes, Ms. Hatsune, this is all I have."
"It's Miku. Do you want to borrow one of mine?"
"Thank you, but it wouldn't look good if someone noticed I was wearing one of your nice coats. Besides, the district I'm from is colder than this. I'll be fine."
Frowning, Miku turned away from Juliet CV02 as she slipped on her walking shoes. It didn't seem fair Miku could have whatever she wanted if she simply asked while Juliet CV02 had to make do with what was given to her.
That's the way of the world, I suppose.
"Miku!" Gakuko exclaimed, walking into Miku's rooms without knocking. "Are you ready yet? I want to take one last look at every bush in the garden before dinner."
"Just a minute more, Gakuko," Miku said as she tied her hair into her twin tails. "Is Luka ready yet?"
"Maybe. I don't know. I wanted to check on you first. You're the one who's always late."
"I wouldn't say 'always late.'"
"Okay, how about 'almost always late'? Is that better?"
Miku laughed. "It's perfect."
The two girls, and Juliet CV02, met Luka in the ladies' room. As they walked towards the gardens, Luka teased Miku about spending the holidays with Kaito.
"He must be serious about you," Luka said. "It's not that common for a man to ask a girl to come home with him. If he's asking you to visit, he must be seeking his family's approval before he considers marrying you."
"I know," Miku replied, feeling a little warm despite the snowy weather. "I get it. This is a really big deal."
"No kidding." Gakuko lightly elbowed Miku. "Please tell me that I'll get to be a bridesmaid in your wedding."
"It's too soon to be thinking about that, isn't it?" Miku felt her face and neck growing hot enough for her to want to take off her coat. "Let's just see how this visit goes. After all, his family might not even like me, or I might not like them, or we might agree we aren't as compatible as we thought we were."
"That kind of negative thinking is going to guarantee one of those things will be the case," Luka stated.
"I'm not being negative. Just realistic. I want things to work out, but I have to accept there's going to be a problem sooner or later. It will ultimately come down to if we like each other enough to work through the problem."
"Very mature thinking, coming from you," Gakuko observed.
"What do you mean by coming from me?" Miku nearly shouted, but she laughed all the same.
It never occurred to Rin what to expect when the holidays came around. The school would closed for three weeks, and most of the Cinderellas would return home. Ms. Hatsune would be one of those Cinderellas who left, but Rin never once stopped to think about what that would mean for her.
"Of course she's going to stay." Mistress Prima said the words with finality. She, Master Tonio, and Rin all sat in Master Tonio's office while Ms. Hatsune was in the ladies' room with her friends. Rin struggled to remain in her seat; she felt she would slip right off the leather chair if she didn't keep her toes firmly pressed onto the floor.
"She's our property, not Miku's," Mistress Prima continued. "Whatever happens outside of school property and events is not of our concern."
For whatever reason Rin was sure had to do with her spying abilities, Master Tonio pushed. "We're already overstaffed for the holidays as is. Keeping Juliet CV02 around will just be another mouth to feed. With so many of our students going away for the break, there won't be much upkeep for the Juliets to work."
Mistress Prima rose a slender, well-groomed eyebrow. "Pray tell, why are you so insistent we send this particular Juliet away? I'm certain if I relent halfway and suggest sending another Juliet, you would still fight me on this."
"Who says I only want to send this Juliet away?" Master Tonio challenged. This had both Mistress Prima and Rin furrowing their brows. "I have run through the numbers multiple times, darling, and we simply cannot afford to keep so many Juliets staffed throughout the break. The others we can send away by contracting their service to bakeries and tailors and anyone else who will need the extra help prepping for Christmas. This way we'll not only be saving on our own expenses but also earn profit for it as well.
"As for Juliet CV02, keeping her with Miku will guarantee the shadowing relationship will not weaken. What if Miku returns and Juliet CV02 is sick or dead? Miku's parents specifically requested Juliet CV02 be the one to watch over their daughter - they will not be happy to learn we found either a replacement or a substitute regardless of the situation."
Pursing her lips, Mistress Prima simply requested, "Show me your numbers. Prove to me that what you say is true and that we will have to shrink in size if we're to financially survive during break."
Mistress Prima blinked when Master Tonio produced a spreadsheet budget on the spot. She looked over it once, twice, thrice. A finger tapped against the desk. Clearing her throat, Mistress Prima asked, "Have you tried reducing certain costs in order to keep us within budget?"
"That spreadsheet already applies cut costs," Master Tonio answered.
Mistress Prima made an unladylike sound in her throat. "These economic troubles are hitting us harder than I thought. Even with the greater number of students this year, we are still struggling to make ends meet."
"That is exactly what I have been trying to tell you for weeks," Master Tonio said, "but do you listen to me? No. You have to let Lord Wil and Lady Mew being here get your panties in a twister and make you too uptight to speak with me when all I'm trying to do is keep you from sinking this ship because for some goddess forsaken reason you think you know everything about everything. Grow up, Prima."
Biting the inside of her cheeks, Rin tried to not let any sound slip out lest the couple remember she was there.
As she curled her fingers into fists, Mistress Prima sickly sweetly said, "I beg your pardon?"
"Mew didn't ruin your relationship with our daughter," Master Tonio replied. "You did. And if Zola Wil is guilty in your eyes because he chose to marry Mew despite your open dislike of her, then I do not think I'm in the wrong to call you out on being childish."
"You know how they openly oppose me!" Mistress Prima snapped. "If I remember correctly, I'm not the only guilty party here. Everything started with you."
"Correct," Master Tonio admitted, "but no one reacted as vile as you did. What you did to that poor girl, and what you did to her daughter – how do you sleep at night?"
"With Pet Juliet, of course," Mistress Prima spat, and Master Tonio visibly flinched. "She's a better companion than you ever were."
"Does she know the truth?"
"What does it matter? It's not in my better interest to tell her, so I won't waste energy opening my mouth. What about you? I'm not stopping you from telling her, or anyone else for that matter." When Master Tonio didn't respond, Mistress Prima grinned wickedly. "You can't tell others my faults without also confessing yours, honey. I might be the wicked witch of this story, but you're the beast who drove the witch to commit the crimes she did."
For a beat too long, Master Tonio and Mistress Prima stared at each other. Rin squirmed where she sat, unsure what to do. Maybe she was meant to hear this, or maybe she wasn't. It was hard to know when Master Tonio was concerned. Even if this argument was unplanned, it was hard to think Master Tonio would forget about Rin when she sat right across from him.
Taking a deep breath, Master Tonio was the one to break the silence. "I shall put my plans into motion immediately. The newer Juliets shall be contracted out for the holidays, and Juliet CV02 shall stay with Miku."
Mistress Prima opened her mouth, but Master Tonio cut her off. "Are you really going to argue with me and deny me because of our little dispute? Will you really let the whole academy suffer out of spite for me?"
When Mistress Prima shut her mouth, Master Tonio added, "That's what I thought." To Rin, "I suggest you begin packing your belongings. Lord Shion and Ms. Hatsune shall be leaving tonight."
Kaito's heart raced, pounding so hard against his chest it was a wonder it didn't explode. When his mother sent him away with the task to return with a girl, Kaito thought she was asking for too much. Now here he was, returning with a girl for his mother to meet, a girl who was more than just a friend.
As she oohed and ahhed at the ocean below, Miku kept her face all but pressed against the hovercraft window. They took a luxury hovercraft, with comfortable seats, tables for dining, and carpets and painted walls to keep up with décor expectations. A far more stylish mode of transportation than the dark, uncomfortable-seats-lined-against-the-wall hovercraft Master Tonio had him and the others ride in whenever they needed to travel to another location.
Pouring himself another glass of wine, Kaito smiled at the childlike wonder of this girl. It was as if she had never been on a hovercraft before, that was how impressed she was by looking at the world from so high up.
"Even the clouds are below us!" she exclaimed in a whisper at some point.
"Such a shame we were too late for the sunset," Kaito said, hoping to receive at least some of her attention before the flight ended.
Miku turned her eyes onto Kaito, and she smiled a warm, sweet smile at him. "It's all right. I much prefer looking at the stars. They're so beautiful, I could stare at them for hours."
"Do you search for the constellations?"
"Oh, um, not really." Miku looked at her lap, cheeks turning pink. "I much prefer to connect the dots and create my own pictures. I think it's more fun that way."
"Here," Kaito moved closer to Miku, "why don't you show me some of the images you see?"
"Of course!" Kaito suppressed a chuckle at the sight of Miku's cheeks reddening further. She began pointing at the stars, telling him what she saw and indicating attributes to the shapes – a cat's tail, a bird's wings, and other such things.
Slowly, ever so slowly, he began dragging his fingers towards Miku's shoulder. The tips of his fingers craved the feel of her skin. He wanted to pull her in for a kiss, bring her closer to him despite already sharing the same air to breathe.
"Ahem."
Startled, Kaito and Miku both turned around to find a short blonde sitting in a chair across from them, book in hand. She shot Kaito a knowing look, so subtle that Miku must have missed it.
I completely forgot she was there. Kaito mentally swore. As much as he tried, he couldn't understand why Master Tonio request this Juliet go with them. Miku was perfectly safe at the Shion manor, and Kaito vowed to do nothing to dishonor her, yet Master Tonio still insisted on the escort. When he tried to argue, Master Tonio did not relent. Juliet CV02 was going, and there was nothing Kaito could say or do to make the master of the school reconsider.
"Where did you get that book?" Kaito asked the Juliet, confused. Juliets shouldn't have been able to read, so the prop didn't make sense.
"From the library in my rooms," Miku answered. She frowned. "Although I'm not sure we were allowed to take any of the books with us when we left."
The Juliet simply shrugged in response.
"We are not on campus grounds," Kaito pointed out. "We are not even on the continent anymore. The no speaking rule does not apply at this point."
When the Juliet rose an eyebrow, Kaito tried not to growl, "Please, I do not wish to spend our time together trying to understand your body language. Speak when you are spoken to, and speak out if necessary. While you remain in my services, communication shall be strictly verbal."
When the Juliet still didn't speak, Kaito asked, "Do you have anything to say?"
"Only that you must give Ms. Hatsune some space," Juliet CV02 answered. "I don't think we want her to pass out from lack of oxygen."
Kaito got the underlying message. Back off. If he could in that moment, Kaito would curse Master Tonio.
"How are you faring?" Miku asked the Juliet, pulling away from the window and settling into her seat.
"Fine, thank you," Juliet CV02 answered, speaking sweetly to Miku and even smiling at her. It wasn't obvious, but Kaito saw how her demeanor changed.
He got her other message. I don't like you. The desire to prove this Juliet wrong about his intentions with Miku did rise up, but Kaito quenched it before it could really become anything. He was a lord, and no lord would stoop so low just to prove anything to a Juliet.
He was about to ask Miku to keep pointing out her stars, but she had already stood up and moved to sit beside the Juliet. To his surprise, Miku stated she was happy to be able to speak with the Juliet in public.
"She is so smart," Miku bragged to Kaito, "but I can't ask her help in my classes in public."
"You communicate with this Juliet in private?" Kaito struggled to hide his surprise.
"On my orders," Miku quickly explained. "Please keep that information amongst the three of us. I would hate it if she ever got into trouble for my sake."
"I promise. Only, why would you want to talk to a Juliet?"
"To feel less awkward about her having to follow me around nearly everywhere I go." Miku turned back to Juliet CV02. "This is going to be so much fun! I hope we get to visit the beaches."
"As long as we stay off any castles," Juliet CV02 said.
Miku nodded as she replied, "Oh, no, that won't be happening again."
"Ms. Miku," Kaito said, gently trying to cut in, "it shall be a few hours before we land, and it's late enough already. Would you like to retire for the night?"
"I suppose I shall." Rising, she told the Juliet, "I shall be there momentarily."
The Juliet took it as her cue to leave. "Yes, Ms. Hatsune." She closed her book and left. For a split second, she and Kaito made eye contact.
She wants to speak with me in private, he childishly taunted in his head.
But I'm the one who gets to sleep in her room, Juliet CV02 seemed to taunt right back. Kaito couldn't be sure. Their eye contact was broken as quickly as it was made.
After the Juliet left the room, Miku told him, "No harm is to come to her while she remains with me as a guest in your home."
"Pardon me?" Kaito furrowed his brows. Of all the things he expected Miku wanted to tell him in private, this wasn't on the list.
"It is important to me that I return Juliet CV02 to Master Tonio in the same condition I left with her in," Miku explained. "If she were to get hurt, it would be a great grievance to me."
Kaito understood what Miku meant. "Not because Master Tonio would make you pay for the damage done to his property."
"Because I care for her," Miku confirmed. "I want to enjoy spending time with you and meeting your family, but I can't do that if I worry for Juliet CV02's safety."
"I shall do all within my power to keep all harm from Juliet CV02," Kaito vowed, if only for Miku's sake, "yet why waste the energy caring for a Juliet?"
"Juliets are people, too," Miku stated so matter-of-factly that Kaito blinked. "I care for her as I would any other person. Is there anything wrong with that?"
"No, there isn't," Kaito said, half-agreeing. With the Thorn rebellion, he wasn't sure he could trust any Juliet. The Juliet on his hovercraft was no exception. If she was as smart as Miku said, and Master Tonio insisted Juliet CV02 come with them, Kaito didn't doubt she was here for a purpose Master Tonio hid from him. It would be something he would have to discuss with the master the next time they talked.
Miku smiled, showing her perfect white teeth, and said, "I'm glad we can agree on this. Now, I must retire for the night. I'm impatient for tomorrow, so I need to sleep to shorten the wait. Not that I'm sure I can sleep anticipating meeting your family."
"They are going to love you," Kaito promised, smiling at the thought. His cousin Akaito would find her charming, and his other cousin Kaiko would undoubtedly click with Miku right away. It was only his mother Kaito was unsure about. However, he knew whatever his mother's first impression of Miku would be, she would fall completely in love with Miku before their time together came to an end. Miku had that charm about her.
"As I hope to love them." Miku curtsied. "I believe I must now bid you a good night, Mr. Kaito."
"Pleasant dreams, Ms. Miku." Kaito bowed. He offered his hand, and she slipped hers into his. Kissing the back of her hand, he said, "I cannot wait to share everything I have planned with you."
"I am eager." Leaning forward, she pressed her lips against his. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and she around his neck. The deep desire for more flowed through Kaito, and he had to restrain himself from keeping the kiss from getting too aggressive.
In that moment, Kaito truly wished his family loved Miku as much as he expected them to. If they adored her, they would want her to be a part of the family just as much as Kaito did.