Chapter 317: News from the Shinomiya Household
Morning at the Shinomiya mansion.
Hayasaka Ai was sitting before the dressing table in Kaguya's room, combing her hair.
"Ai-chan, you come visit me every week like this — are you really sure it's okay?"
Shinomiya Kaguya lay on the bed, turning her face to look at her.
"Kaguya, the way you said that sounded strange." Ai-chan felt as if Kaguya's tone implied she was having some kind of affair.
She was clearly just here to chat.
"That's not what I meant. I meant… what if you come over here, and Sakurai-san brings another woman home to sleep with?" Shinomiya Kaguya felt that possibility wasn't entirely out of the question.
"Probably not, right?" Hayasaka Ai replied while untangling a few strands of her hair.
"All men are unfaithful creatures."
"I'm not denying that. But I doubt he's got the guts to bring a woman home — unless someone offers herself at his doorstep."
But these days, finding such a proactive girl wasn't easy.
Nino: (๑>•̀๑)
"That's true. When Sakurai-san moves nearby to live with you, we'll basically become neighbors — it's less than a ten-minute walk, almost like living across from each other." Shinomiya Kaguya imagined that future with a look of excitement.
She rarely visited other people's homes, so this was something she genuinely looked forward to.
The main Shinomiya estate was far too big — the concept of "neighbors" didn't even exist there, so she'd never had the chance to visit anyone.
"Umu, that's right. The Shirogane family will also be living nearby."
"This is the Minato area, you know. Does President Shirogane's family even have that kind of money?" Kaguya asked worriedly.
The Shirogane family's financial situation was never exactly good.
She didn't know that Shirogane's father had recently made a lot of money as a YouTuber and streamer.
While the two were chatting,
a knocking sound came from the door.
"Come in!!" Kaguya sat up and called out.
Soon, a woman wearing sunglasses and dressed in a maid's outfit stepped inside.
Shinomiya Kaguya recognized her — she was from the main house.
That summer, she hadn't been able to go to the beach precisely because of these people.
The servants of the main house were always arrogant and condescending, and in the past, they had never shown Kaguya any respect.
Even though she was a young lady, being the daughter of a concubine meant her status was low — at best, she was considered a dependent of Shinomiya Oko, the eldest son of the Shinomiya family.
The Shinomiya clan was extremely conservative.
Women in the family had no freedom; even going out for leisure during summer vacation was restricted — let alone love or marriage.
Even in the 21st century, the outdated custom of "political marriage," treating daughters as bargaining chips, still existed within the Shinomiya Corporation.
"Kaguya-sama, please return to the main house tomorrow. Oko-sama wishes to discuss something with you," the maid said respectfully, bowing slightly.
Now, within the main house of the Shinomiya family, Shinomiya Kaguya's position was no longer as lowly as before.
Although the maid didn't know why, Shinomiya Oko had issued orders that no one was to treat Kaguya with disrespect.
Since the master's command had been given, the servants quickly adjusted their attitudes — for if they angered their master, they might very well end up feeding the fish at the bottom of Tokyo Bay by the next morning.
"Going back to the main house again?" Hayasaka Ai spoke, her tone full of irritation.
She still clearly remembered the last time she accompanied Kaguya back to the main house.
After all the trouble of traveling that far, it ended up being over some trivial nonsense — could it be the same this time too?
Wouldn't that just make her look like a fool?
"Yes, Hayasaka-sama." The maid turned respectfully toward Ai-chan, who was sitting in front of the dressing table, and replied.
The Hayasaka family had already separated from the Shinomiya main house, and recently it had even shown signs of rapid growth — she absolutely did not dare offend her.
"Sama...?" Ai-chan muttered.
That form of address was new to her — it was the first time she'd ever been called that.
Regaining her composure, she turned to Kaguya and asked:
"Kaguya, are you really going back?"
Hearing that, Shinomiya Kaguya turned to the maid and said,
"I will return. Report that to my brother."
That answer also resolved Ai-chan's question at the same time.
Kaguya had no choice.
Even if Shinomiya Oko summoned her over some trivial matter, she couldn't refuse.
"In that case, Kaguya-sama, Oko-sama will be available tomorrow afternoon. He hopes you will grace him with your presence." Having said that, the maid bowed and left.
After the uninvited guest had gone,
Kaguya rubbed her temples, looking puzzled — mainly because of that last line the maid said.
"My brother is so busy he barely has time to eat, and now he's free for an entire afternoon? What kind of joke is that?"
And that word — "grace him with your presence" — if it hadn't come directly from Shinomiya Oko himself, the maids from the main house would never have said such a thing.
In other words, her brother was acting humble toward her?
Why?
From beginning to end, something about this felt off — it gave the exact same feeling as a royal banquet.
"Strange, isn't it, Ai-chan? People from the main house actually spoke to me like that."
Shinomiya Kaguya lowered her gaze to her pajamas.
"It's already almost nine in the morning, and I'm still wearing pajamas. If those hateful maids from before had seen me like this, they would've locked me up and not let me out."
Maybe they'd even make her take etiquette lessons again.
"Their attitude now is what's normal. The way they used to act — that's what was absurd!" Hayasaka Ai said angrily.
Servants trying to discipline their master — what kind of nonsense was that?!
"Anyway, I'll find out what's going on once I'm there tomorrow."
Shinomiya Kaguya sighed — she truly couldn't understand. This whole thing felt like something out of a fairy tale; if she could make sense of it, that would be strange.
"Kaguya, let me go with you."
"Really?!" Shinomiya Kaguya was so moved she froze in place.
"Of course. You don't have any maids with you anymore. If that bastard tries to force you into doing something you don't want, I'll stop him for sure!" Hayasaka Ai said sternly.
"Forget it, the more I think about it, the more tiring it gets. Let's not talk about it anymore."
Shinomiya Kaguya stood up, stretched, and began changing clothes.
Recently, she no longer had maids to help her dress, so she had to pick and change by herself.
"Good thing the Disneyland outing with Fujiwara-san isn't canceled."
Upon hearing that, Hayasaka Ai frowned slightly, her beautifully tied-up hair slipping loose and cascading down her fair shoulders.
"Disneyland?"
She had been wondering — when she found out she was going to Disneyland with Sakurai Saki, why hadn't Chika reacted at all?
So this was what she had been waiting for!
"Fujiwara-san invited you too?" Kaguya guessed.
"Umu. Also, my boyfriend's coming." Hayasaka Ai replied, her face expressionless.
"Oh, so Sakurai-san likes amusement parks too? That's great."
Shinomiya Kaguya, unaware of anything, simply assumed Fujiwara intended to invite everyone.
After all, amusement parks were more fun with more people.
This was also Kaguya's first time going to Disneyland — she was really looking forward to it!
...
That afternoon, Hayasaka Ai didn't return home.
Sakurai Saki received a message from her, saying that tomorrow she would go to Kyoto with Kaguya to visit the Shinomiya main house, and that she needed to go shopping this afternoon, so she wouldn't be back tonight.
'The Shinomiya family's scheming again, huh?'
Impossible to predict.
"Why haven't they texted me yet?"
In the living room, Nino sat beside Sakurai Saki, holding her phone, waiting for messages from her sisters.
Sakurai Saki could only sigh helplessly.
'If you want to go home, just go home!'
This kind of pride was really troublesome!