Chapter 9

Hinako, who had fallen asleep in my room, was eventually carried by Shizune. The confiscated smartphone was placed in my pocket, so I casually retrieved it.

The next day, I put on the black student uniform of Kikou Academy and went outside the mansion.

A black car was parked in front of the gate. In front of it stood Hinako.

"I want to go home."

"I will grant your request if you say the same thing after eight hours."

"......Muuu"

Shizune, who was used to dealing with a tantrum-throwing Hinako, calmed her down.

"Mr. Itsuki, please come this way."

Shizune looked at me.

Right, from now on, I am the heir of a mid-sized company. I realized that my public identity had changed when Shizune addressed me with the honorific "sama."

"Well, Mr. Itsuki, which seat will you take?"

As I was about to get in the car, Shizune asked me.

This is... a review of the etiquette lesson from the other day, isn't it?

"...The front seat in the back."

"That's correct. When there is a driver, the order of seating is: the back seat farthest from the door, the center of the back seat, the front seat in the back, and then the front passenger seat."

"If the driver is also a companion, the front passenger seat is the highest seat, right?"

"That's right. You've studied well."

That's because I've been subjected to an unimaginably strict Spartan education...

"Normally, it's the job of the caretaker to guide the young lady to the car, but I will gradually entrust tasks to you, Mr. Itsuki. ...Now, please get in the car."

Hinako got in the car, and then I entered the back seat.

Shizune sat in the front passenger seat.

"Ne-mu-i... ..."

You've slept enough, haven't you?

I managed to suppress the comment that was on the tip of my tongue.

The car started moving slowly.

"You two are supposed to live in different houses, so I'll drop you off a little before the academy."

"Are we going to walk to school together? But if we do, we might get kidnapped again—"

"There's no need to worry. We always provide security around you. ...The incident the other day happened because the young lady went out without informing us. As her caretaker, you should prevent such situations from happening."

"...Understood."

This is my first day on the job.

I'll have to be very careful as a caretaker.

"By the way, am I in the same class as Hinako...sama?"

"Of course. As her caretaker, you will always be with her."

It seems that Hinako and I are classmates.

"Mr. Itsuki... what about the way you speak?"

"Uh..."

Did she hear that...?

However, I feel resistant to calling Hinako without the honorific in front of Shizune.

As I made a face like I had bitten a bug, Hinako spoke to Shizune.

"Shizune, let Mr. Itsuki speak to me as he used to."

"But, young lady, that wouldn't set a good example for the others."

"Then... only when we're alone and when Shizune is present."

"...Understood."

Reluctantly, Shizune complied.

"That's great, Mr. Itsuki... you can speak to me informally."

"...I'm not really happy about it."

Shizune's gaze was painful.

Besides, I don't mind using polite language. After all, I'm used to hierarchical relationships from my part-time job-filled life.

"Mr. Itsuki, to avoid slipping up, I ask that you generally use polite language at the academy. Being the heir of a mid-sized company, you have a relatively low status at Kikou Academy, so it would be better to avoid unnecessary friction."

"Understood."

Being the heir of a mid-sized company means I have a low status.

Even without being told, I think I'll naturally use polite language. Probably, all the students at the academy are in more privileged circumstances than me.

"Ah... the academy is getting closer..."

Hinako said with a thoroughly lazy tone.

"Mr. Itsuki..."

"...What is it?"

"Piggyback ride."

The car shook violently.

What is this young lady suddenly saying?

The driver is also flustered.

"Young lady, that's not a behavior befitting a lady..."

"Mr. Itsuki smells so good..."

"...R-Really?"

Shizune's eyes widened.

"Mr. Itsuki, for educational purposes, may I smell it too?"

"No... I don't think I smell good at all. Please spare me."

"...But I do."

As she said this, Hinako brought her nose close to my sleeve.

I sniffed it myself just to be sure. ...No, I don't smell anything. If anything, it's just the scent of the detergent used by the Kihana family.

"Miss Hinako, I'm a guy, so having you this close is..."

"Way of speaking."

"...Hinako."

"Yoroshii... ..."

It seems like no matter what I say, it's useless.

I sighed, and next to me, Shizune sighed even more deeply.

"Young lady, we're almost there..."

"..."

About thirty minutes later, the car arrived at our destination.

We were dropped off in a quiet, deserted alley. There were no people around, but apparently, many of the Kihana family's guards were hiding nearby.

"Mr. Itsuki, I'll give you this."

Shizune handed me a black bag whose contents were not visible.

"What is this...?"

"If the young lady is particularly disobedient, use this."

I wasn't sure what she meant, but I ambiguously replied "haa" and accepted it.

The bag was light, and when I tried to put it in my bag, I heard a rustling sound.

"Then, have a good day."

I bowed slightly to Shizune, who bowed respectfully, and started walking towards the academy.

"...I want to go home."

"Do you not need to act?"

"No one has seen us yet... I can relax."

It seems that Hinako has a function to detect people's gazes.

She says so, but as her caretaker, I must maintain her image as a young lady. I carefully looked around and headed towards the academy.

"...It's huge."

Facing the majestic, mansion-like school building, I couldn't help but mutter.

Kikou Academy, one of Japan's most prestigious schools. The name sounds like it might be a bit silly, but it's actually an excellent educational institution.

I hesitated to take a step forward.

Next to me—

"Good morning, Miss Kihana."

"Good morning."

A girl with amber hair fluttering in the wind was politely responding to the greetings of passing students.

"Miss Kihana... you look beautiful today."

"Yes, she has a very noble presence..."

Such voices could be heard from everywhere.

I secretly glanced at Hinako, who had apparently started acting. She was completely different from before. The girl standing there, with her intelligent and dignified demeanor, was hard to believe was the same one who had drooled in my room last night.

"Is something wrong, Nishinari-kun?"

"Ah!"

Hinako looked at my face with concern.

I was genuinely surprised. I quickly covered my mouth and told her it was nothing.

We entered the school building and first headed to the staff room.

Fortunately, Hinako and I are the same age. So we can be in the same grade without lying about our age. Thanks to Shizune's connections, we ended up in the same class.

"I've been waiting for you. You must be Nishinari Itsuki."

When we entered the staff room, a female teacher called out to me.

"I'm Fukushima Misono. I will be the homeroom teacher for 2-A, where you will be enrolled. Please take care of me."

"Likewise, please take care of me."

I bowed slightly.

Fukushima-sensei turned her gaze to Hinako, who was standing next to me.

"Do you know Miss Kihana?"

"Ah, well..."

I couldn't come up with a lie on the spot and hesitated.

Then, Hinako, who was standing next to me, spoke up.

"My family and Mr. Nishinari's family are close, so we have been interacting for a long time. Through this connection, I will be guiding him around the school."

"Oh, I see."

Fukushima-sensei was convinced by Hinako's polite explanation.

"Mr. Nishinari, having Miss Kihana as your guide is quite a luxury."

"Hehe... yes, it is."

Teacher, do you know?

This girl tends to get lost in the school even when she's alone.