Kaguya-sama Love is War
Ai Hayasaka Wants to seduce
Chapter 15: Ai Hayasaka can(not) reset
A/N:
Narration
"Dialogue"
Monologue
*sfx*
Next Monday,
after the Rap Showdown, Ai Hayasaka took a leave of absence and went off the radar with Miyuki.
Shuchiin rooftop,
A few days later, Ai was sitting on a nearby bench when the door suddenly burst open and Miyuki Shirogane panted heavily at the entrance.
"Oh, you got here fast?" Ai asked with a pleased expression and a teasing smile.
"Don't give me that crap" Miyuki replied as he showed her his phone. "you said to come here ASAP!"
"I said as soon as possible," Ai replied, fixing her hair with a mischievous smile. "Not right now or immediately." Miyuki took one step back as the smile on her face widened.
"T-they are pretty much the same!"
"Really? Or maybe..." Ai pauses for a moment before returning to her deadpan expression. "You want to see me that badly?"
"I'm leaving." The maid's usual deadpan turned smug expression returned as Miyuki felt foolish for even worrying about her recent cold attitude towards him.
"Wait!"
"What?" Holding one hand to the door, an irritated Shirogane takes a side glance at the blonde maid.
"Did Kaguya-sama know that you came here?"
"Hm? No,"
"I see..." For a moment, Miyuki saw a relieved expression on the face of the maid who usually wore a deadpan expression. That in turn caused guilt to well up within him.
The Shinomiya heiress already knew of their interactions as she was with them during the rap battle. Yet here he is, meeting said maid in secret and even lying to her when asked where he is headed.
"Haah... I know you already have more free time than before," Miyuki sighed, scratching the back of his head with his other hand. "But don't waste it on pulling pranks, would you?"
"Subject F is tiring and I'm almost with Kaguya-sama," Ai replied honestly. "That's where you come along, palate cleanser."
*clunk*
The blonde student, too tired to even retort slowly closed the door
"Haaaaah..."
With a heavy sigh, Ai stretched her arm upward as she looked at the clouds passing overhead. She bit her lower lip before dropping her facade. "I..." She wanted to turn the clock back before the bet began. She tried to remain a loyal servant and friend to her mistress, yet the small relief she felt made her realize that that was no longer an option.
To have Miyuki only have Kaguya in his mind and eyes, she needs to ruin the bonds she has developed with him. Just acting cold won't cut it; she needs him to completely forget about her, at best, or, if worst comes to worst, hate her guts.
I'm the worst!
She bit her lip while tears fell from her eyes. She planned to end their interaction today. Yet after seeing his panicked look, she once more waver on her decision. Worst is that she was relieave he lied to her mistress.
"Haaaaaaah"
Once more the blonde maid breath a heavy sigh as she placed her bento onto her lap while looking at a separate bento she prepared for him with regret. Regret for chickening out of calling him back to join her for lunch.
"I might need to burn these extra calories later."
Ai said as she began eating her lunch.
The week went by without much of an incident, minus Miyuki getting another female friend in the form of Maki. While Kaguya worried that the little shrimp of a distant relative would steal the president away from her, Ai knew of Maki's one-sided affection towards a certain someone and chose to keep that piece of information to herself for the time being. The way her mistress fumed with jealousy, while once again denying it, was in its own way helping her get over her internal turmoil.
And while she wants to move on and leave it behind her, a certain someone has no intention of letting it go.
Student council Room, afternoon
"Sorry I'm late!" Shirogane finished his papers as Treasurer Ishigami burst into the room in a hurry. "Eh? President, where are Vice President Shinomiya and Secretary Fujiwara?" Ishigami asked.
Shirogane answered without looking at the bewildered treasurer. "Second years have a parent-teacher conference today," he said. "Since I'm last, I decided to drop by and handle some paperwork for the cultural festival."
"Oh! So it's today, huh?" Ishigami mumbled as he sat slouched in his chair, much to the irritation of Ino, who was seated across from him.
"But seriously, why do it in our second year?" Ishigami grumbles before taking out his portable game device.
"It's because we are in high school that we should already have a concrete plan for our future," Iino glared at Ishigami yet he chooses to ignore her. "But you seem so lax as if the future doesn't matter."
"Can't be a CEO and take over our family's business since they are already prepping my big brother for that," Ishigami replied casually. "SO I might as well go NEET after graduation."
"Stop fooling around!" Miko said darkly, causing Ishigami to pause the game he was playing. "Go to college at least. You might figure out what you want in life there. As long as you don't waste it on some new useless course that's been popping up recently."
At the same time, at the main building's second floor.
Kaguya and Ai waited for their turn while Chika is inside the counselor's room along with her father.
"They're late," Ai said lowly while checking her phone.
"Doubt my father will come, lest my older brothers," Kaguya replied.
"They'll likely send someone to fill in then,"
Kaguya said, "You seem to be in a foul mood." She was curious as to why her maid had been acting this way lately; usually, her maid's demeanor was more pleasant.
"You may need to get an eye exam if you think so."
"Is Nao not coming?"
Kaguya probe. Seeing her sadistic maid's ear twitch and suddenly tighten the grip of her phone says more than what she needs to know about her current behavior.
"That cold-hearted woman's too occupied in her job to come here," Ai scowls further as she looks intensely at the screen message on her phone. "She bailed during the sports fest and as if she has time to visit her and care about my future."
"Oh my, that's cruel!" A third person said. While Kaguya had already identified the third person, Ai was too absorbed in complaining to notice the person standing in front of her. The woman was in her thirties, wore a white sunhat, a long-sleeved blouse tucked into a high-waisted skirt, and white ankle-strap heels.
"Hmph." Ai continued to sulk while fidling with her phone furiously as Kaguya just stare at the two and waited how long before she realize the person she is bad mouthing is right infront of her. "She rarely fulfills her promises and most of the time she calls, it's to ask for an update on my duties. She didn't even ask how I am doing!"
"Oh you poor child!" the woman tilts her head and with a sad expression, "Is there something I can do for you.
"Forget it, its not like your my-" Ai closes her phone and look at the interlooper to their discussion, ready to shoo her ayaw only to freeze on the spot after notocing who the woman is. "M-mama..." as her mouth open and close like a robot.
"Good afternoon Nao," Seeing her maid's mental faculty hangs for a bit, Kaguya greeted Nao.
"Good afternoon, Kaguya-sama" Nao greets back with a gentle bow. "It's been a while."
"So are you their substitute?"
Nao look at Ai first before noding.
"Bmph! Figures you're here for work!" Ai scowls and cross her arms.
"oh, that's not the case Ai-chan,"
"Really?"
"Why yes, they just ask me to reptesent Kaguya-sama knowing I will attend yours,"
Main building , ground floor.
"You can go ahead of me,"
After attending their session for career counseling, Maki's guardian stopped on his tracks as he exited the building. "I still have an appointment to attend to."
"You sure you're going with a run about way like this?" Maki huff tiredly as she look at the substitute guardian the Shinjou family sent. "It wont work that easily you know."
"Is that based on your experience perhaps?" the young lad asked as he shifted his gaze towards the couple a few feet away from them.
"... I'll let you off the hook right now," Maki grumbled, her hands curling into fists. "It wouldn't look good for you to have a visible bruise." She walked slowly to his side.
"Ha ha ha! Thank you for being considerate-ack!," the teen said as he curled up in pain after Maki elbowed his abdomen. He was so preoccupied with her fist that he missed the fact that she could inflict more pain on him. "I... I thought you left me off the hook?"
"Hmph!" Maki flicked her left ponytail to the side. "I said no visible bruises, didn't I?"
Main building, 2nd floor
"Serious, she's such a mama's girl,"
As the previous sulking maid made a complete 180-degree phase shift, Kaguya felt relieved none of her siblings would be there for her. "It would be a mess if..." she trailed off.
The young Shinomiya turned her sight to the other side and saw the very last person she didn't want to meet. And that person seemed happy to see her.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-"
He's here!
"It's been a while," an elderly man in his forties greeted. "How have you been?"
"A... I.. I'm fine..."
"Any progress yet?"
"P-progress? wawawhat are you talking about?! Mr. Shirogane!"
"Come now, you can call me Papa you now,"
No, I won't!"
"Don't be shy now," Papa Shirogane smile as he puts his hand on her shoulder before leaning in his head. "So how far have you two gone? When will I see some grandkids?"
"G-Gra- We Haven't gone on a date yet!"
"Such a shame," Papa Shirogane said, sighing. He removed his hands from her and put them in his pockets. "You two are both young. If you procrastinate, he will surely fly to another flower."
"W-what?"
Just as their conversation heated up,
"Who's that older man there?" Seeing how Kaguya reacted, Nao leaned in and whispered to her daughter. "He seems friendly with Kaguya-sama."
"T-that's Mi-President Shirogane's father," Ai corrected herself. "The father of the one Kaguya-sama likes."
"I see," Nao whispered as her lips turned to a smile. "Now this is interesting..."
hiiii
Kaguya shivers as she felt something ominous behind her. But because of Papa Shirogane, she could not easily look away.
He-help me...
"Hayasaka!"
"Yes?"
"Yes?"
Kaguya facepalm with her right hand seeing how the two are enjoying the situation.
Like mother like daughter.
"Now then, where are your parents?" on her side, Papa Shirogane fixed his coat and look at the almost empty hallway. "Isn't it bad that they will be late for this?"
"They won't come," Kagiya replied darkly. "As if they'll come."
"How about I come in as your father?" Papa Shirogane step forward after seeing the dejected look of Kaguya. "We're future inlaws so that should not be an issue."
"Oh my!" she exclaimed with a smile on her face. "That's an interesting idea." With a smile still on her face, Nao walked towards Kaguya who was shrinking even more in embarrassment. "I'm Hayasaka, Nao," she bowed before Papa Shirogane. "The Shinomiya household sent me to be a stand-in for her guardian."
"I see," Papa Shirogane fix his neck time and bow politely in response to Nao's introduction.
"As her potential father-in-law, you don't mind that I came along as well?"
"Hmmm I dunno..." Nao playfully said while eyeing Kaguya's reaction.
Kaguya in the othar hand furiously shakes her head. Hoping the older Hayasaka rejects the offer while forgetting this is an Hayasaka she is dealing with.
"I may not look like it, but I have credentials as a career consultant before," Shirogane took a card from his card wallet and politely hand it over to Nao. In response, Nao politely gave him her business card as well.
"I guess he's joining us, Kaguya-sama,"
"What!?"
"W-what do you think you're doing, Mom?!" behind Nao, Ai leans forward and whispers to her ear.
"This looks fun, so why not?"
"Aren't you teasing her a little too much?"
"Are you jeal-"
and before Nao could even finish her statement, the councilor called for Kaguya.
"Next Shinomiya and her guardian."
"Right here"
"Here,"
Nao and Papa Shirogane both said in unison.
Main Building, 2nd floor hallway
After finishing a few more papers, Miyuki decided that it was his turn to go next, so he decided to leave the student council office and head to the second floor of the main building for his meeting.
Not like anything will change there,
Miyuki thought.
My decision over that matter is already set.
"You sure take your time, Miyuki-kun"
breaking him from his line of thought, Ai greeted him casually.
"Ah! Your turn's not over yet, A-Ai?" Miyuki replied nervously.
"Kaguya-sama is taking her sweet time, it seems,"
"I see," Miyuki replied as he casually sat beside the blonde maid. "Say, have you seen my father? He message me that he is on his way and-"
*slide*
"Next, Hayasaka and her guardian,"
"Eeeeeh?" Miyuki exclaims after seeing his father and an unknown woman with blonde hair exit the council room. "Dad?!"
"Oh, you're finally here,"
"Wha-why are you?"
With a grin, Papa Shirogane looked at Kaguya, who was furiously shaking her head and forming both arms into an X.
"Very well," Papa Shirogane said calmly. "His parent's didn't-come so I decide to tag alone."
While this is happening, Nao tilts her head to the side and places a hand on her cheek. She looks at the individual in the hallway, including her own daughter who looks anxious over the whole situation. Her lips curl into a smile as she whispers. "Oh my... so this is it..."
Ai shivers upon seeing her mother's smile. The same smile she had with Kaguya earlier.
"Haaaaai~" Nao raised her hand. "Let's go."
"C-can I skip this?" Ai said nervously.
"Mou~ Sensei will be right there in a sec," she slowly walks toward her and leans in near her ears. "Don't worry, I got your back." this further increases Ai's unease. Nao turned around and faced Kaguya. "Kaguya-sama, I have a message from your brother,"
Kaguya knotted her eyebrows and with a frown asked "The usual?"
"Yup," Nao said before walking straight back into the council room much to the councilor's shock.
"Uhm ma'am?" the councilor asked.
"I'm Hayasaka, Nao," Nao replied, placing both hands on her chest. "Kaguya's family is pretty busy right now. Rather than not showing up today, they asked me, one of their employees who has a child in this school, to come in their stead." She then wiped away the fake tears that had built up in her eyes. "Isn't that just sad?"
"A... I see."
Ai feared that her mother will embarassed her on her turn or even reject her plans for the future; ie leaving the Shinomiya, but to her surprise, Her mom was relatively normal and supportive of her.
I guess the worst is over, Ai thought as they walk outside the room not knowing the worst is avout to come.
"Shirogane and his guardian," the councilor called.
"I guess it's our turn," Papa Shirogane said. He dusts his clothes and look to Miyuki. "You sure you're ready?"
*nod*
"Uhm, is it okay if I join as well?" As Miyuki stands up, Nao faces Papa Shirogane and asks.
"Ooooohhhh..." For a second, Papa Shirogane was confused until he noticed Ai's reaction. His smile grew. "Who knew you had it in you?" He then look back at Miyuki followed by a thumbs up.
"W-what? It's not like that!" Miyuki refuted, but his reaction pretty much told both adults that it was indeed the case.
"If that is the case, you're more welcome to come," Papa Shirogane said. With a bow, he proceeds to go in first and leave the three at the hallway."
"I have yet to formally introduce myself, Miyuki-kun," Nao said as her smile grew wider. "I'm Nao Hayasaka; it's a pleasure to finally meet you."
"A... nice to meet you too, Mrs. Hayasaka."
"No need to be that formal with me," Nao replied. "You can address me by my name or... "She looked at Ai and quickly grabbed her arm before she could even run away. "Mom sounds nice, right?"
Miyuki and Ai's faces quickly flush profoundly. "Oh yeah, change of schedule for dinner later."
Ai was the first to get beck to her sense as she quickly frown, "You canceling on me?"
"Oh heavens no!" Nao replied. She clap her hands once playfully while looking at Miyuki. "You won't mind joining us right, Miyuki-kun?"
"Eh...?"
Ai froze on the spot while Nao uses the opportunity to drag Miyuki into the councilor's room. Much to the councilor's confusion.
"Y-you again?" the councilor ask in a tired tone. "What is it this time?"
"I'm representing as myself," Nao replied playfuly. "As Miyuki-kun's mother-in-law." she clung to his arm as they walk towards Papa Shirogane.
Aaaaaaaaand cut!
With that the chapter came to a close.
For the review, likes and follow, thanks!
