2. Golden Contract
2. Golden Contract
Wow, what a surprise! Little did I dream that Ms. Himeko was an acting executive director.
The entrance ceremony was over and we have moved to the classroom where we all spend together for a year.
Kirara was sitting next to me, just like she was at the ceremony.
Of course all the students in the class are in the Home Economic course so we are all in the black uniform
Finding about Ms. Himeko and her family was very surprising but I had to focus on myself for now.
Because everyone was being kept under teacher's watch at that moment, they were calm, but I could still feel that they were giving me the fish eyes.
I was having stomachache thinking about highly possible situation that I would be surrounded by all of them with numerous questions soon after the teacher leaves the room.
Just hoping that I can make it through or escape from here, but there is no way.
I felt hat I'm just like a dog food in front of a dog who is on hold. All I can do is just to wait to be eaten.
“That's all from me for today. Let's have a great year together starting from tomorrow, ladies.”
The time had come.
A second after we greeted the teacher for the end of the day, everyone in the room turned to me all at once.
How scary.
They all looked like wild animals ready for hunting.
And as soon as the teacher left the room, they all came together to surround me at once.
“Ms. Misaki, whose Seraph are you?”
“Is it Lady Himeko?”
“You were already wearing the badge at the entrance ceremony. Does it mean that it had been promised since long time ago?”
“It's not fair!”
They were throwing so many questions as it came up to their minds, I could even hear some screaming and screeching voice.
“Um...well.... that's....”
I couldn't answer all of them one by one. There were nothing but chaos in this room. The storm of questions never seemed to stop.
“Is your announcement done already?”
“What is the Tenku Salon like?”
“What kind of shampoo Lady Himeko is using?”
“Have you met Lady Kagura already?”
“It's not fair!
And here goes the screeching voice again.
It's all panicked.
I never thought that this small school badge could cause such a big trouble.
Even though because it was the only way to save myself from being expelled, I was too easy and unprepared to throw myself into this.
First of all, I wasn't even sure if it was true that I would be expelled for being late. It is possible that it was Ms. Himeko's trick for me to accept this golden badge.
I also couldn't stop wondering why Ms. Himeko gave it to me
“Please calm down everyone. Ms. Misaki cannot answer so many questions all at once.”
Surprisingly, it was Kirara who came to rescue me when I was out of any idea how to deal with all of them.
“Kirara....”
I completely thought that she would be the first one to make everything clear by asking questions, but she's trying to help me even though we just met.
Without being noticed, a deep bond of friendship has been found in between me and Kirara.
I was little touched by her.
“I totally understand what you all want to know. Would you please leave it to me now? I will take time and get all the answers to make everything clear.”
Never mind of what I just said.
Kirara was on fire.
She glared fiercely at me and was fully motivated to disgrace me in public.
All the students were looking at each other in agreement saying,
“That's right. Ms. Hoshino is her roommate.
” “Maybe it's the best to leave it to her.”
“Yes let's do it.”
Is it better to be questioned here and now? Or is it better to be questioned by Kirara?
There seemed to be no choice for me anyway.
****
“Why don't you have a tea and relax a little bit?”Said Kirara.
She served me a tea. It looked delicious but it could hardly help me relax. Sitting right in front of me were Kirara and two other roommates.
This is Palace Chambord, a dorm building for the Home Economic course students, located within the premises of Amanotsuka Al-girls' Academy.
It looks like a bed-and-breakfast in a highlands and it is also very stylish for dorm.
Of course it is very popular for the students, most of them came to register to move in as soon as they were allowed to check in.
I was placed under house arrest in one of the room.
Maybe I couldn't call it a house arrest because it is Kirara's room but at the same time it is also my room. But I dare to call it an arrest because I didn't think it was possible for me to get out from here even if I wanted to.
This one bed room unit with living room, dining room, and kitchen is large enough for four of us to live together.
We have to share a bed room to sleep and to study but the living room is big enough to have some friends over.
“Never mind. You are very welcome that if you want to talk before you relax.”
Kirara said to me because I didn't pick up my cup of tea to drink it. And she sipped her tea once.
“So, you will tell me how you became a Seraph, won't you?”
“Um, yes I will. But first of all, I need to know what Seraph is”
I started to understand that it is something very special for students in the Home Economic course, but I still didn't know about it in detail.
Since I found out that Ms. Himeko was not a principal of student council, I could guess that it didn't mean that I was selected as a board member of the council.
“Okay, I will teach you because you are annoyingly clueless.”
Kirara stood up and cut off the air horizontally with her right hand.
“First of all, you are unbelievably looney for being here without knowing anything about a Seraph or even about this academy. You need to understand that. Ms. Misaki, why did you take an entrance exam of this school?”
“Why? Well, of course because everything is free.”
It is true. No educational fee like enrollment fee or tuition is required to enroll in the Amanotsuka All-girls' Academy. Moreover, all the other living expenses as a student including costs of textbooks and school uniforms, and even meals are free. It is like a paradise for a student like me, who is financially challenging.
“Was that the only reason?”
“Um, y-yes.” When I nodded, Kirara ostentatiously sighed loud.
“You are unbelievable. It is too good to be true that everything is free for doing nothing.”
“What? Will I receive bills for all later? Or is there a forced labor waiting for me?”
“The latter is correct somehow. Okay, think about why we are in the Home Economic course and Lady Himeko and others are in the Socialite course.”
“I already did and still have no idea at all.”
“Well, it would probably hard for you to understand. Listen to me carefully with your open ears. All the students in Home Economic course are here to become a maid.”
“M-m-maid?”
“You know at least what a maid is, don't you?”
“Yes, I do.”
A maid.... I know that it is a person who serves a master. She cleans house, does laundry, cook and takes care of other housekeeping chores for her master. I don't know since when, but nowadays it is publicly accepted to have a maid even at the ordinary family, like it was in the Victorian Era.
May or may not be true but I have heard that it began as a woman, who were helping out her own family by doing housekeeping chores, decided to take a better way to earn money by working as a maid instead.
“I see. Now I know what the Home Economic course is for.”
“Yes, and we are not here to become a mere maid. We are aiming to become better maid...like highly qualified maid who are allowed to serve wealthy family in upper social class. Ladies in the Socialite course are them, our goal. We will study hard every day to meet our goal to serve those ladies.”
“Ahhhh, I totally understand!”
That explained why all those students in the Socialite course looked very gracefully.
“Listen, Ms. Misaki., you said it is all free here but have you ever thought how it is even possible?”
I know where this is going...
“Thanks to the ladies in the Socialite course?”
“Exactly! Everything including our tuitions and other living expenses are covered by donations and contributions from their family. Therefore, we all have to pay the greatest respect to those ladies in the Socialite course and appreciate them.”
“I see.”
“As long as you are in this school, you have to understand that every single part of yourself from the last drop of your blood to the last piece of your fresh belong to those ladies!”
With the highest excitement, Kirara said it loud being proud.
“Oh, wow. Is it that much?”
“Of course it is. We all, except you, are feeling the same way.”
Okay. I looked at the other two. They looked slightly troubled with empty smile.
Hmmmm, I assume Kirara is little too passionate about it, but still, I understand that I need to appreciate the students, or I shall call them ladies, in the Socialite course.
“Now, you understand what we are here for, I will tell you about the most important thing, a Seraph.”
“Yes please.”
“Seraph, which is also called a golden contract, is a person who signs an exclusive contract with one of the ladies in the Socialite course.”
“Oh, Okay.”
“...and you don't understand how special it is to become someone's Seraph, do you?”
“...no I don't...”
I nodded repeatedly.
“Here is the thing. Our ultimate goal is to serve those ladies or someone else in the same social class, but obviously not all of us can achieve the goal. Of course we need to be highly skilled to be qualified, but also we have to be admired by those ladies to be hired. You understand that, right?”
“Yes.”
“We study and live in the same premises with them. It is natural that we have so many opportunities to serve them while they are in the school. If we are lucky enough, it is possible that one of them may like you and she would tell you ‘Serve me after you graduate from the school.' We will strive hard for three years in order to make it happen in real. You understand? Even for those ladies, it is not easy to hire a maid for them. They are very careful about selecting the right person because it may cause a bad reputation of themselves if they hire a weird maid.”
“Um.... yes, that's right!”
“So, it is very honor to be promised for employment while you are still in school. Not all of us come across with such a luck. However, you, Ms. Misaki! You have already seized the luck on the very first day, even before the entrance ceremony.”
“Um...well, you mean...”
“Yes. Seraph is a proof of promised future. Signing an exclusive contract means that you are promised to be treated as a private maid of your lady. It also promises you a guaranteed employment by your lady after you get out of the school. Additionally, to inform that you are already taken for an exclusive contract with your lady, you wear the golden school badge.”
“Wow, that's what it means.”
It is official that I actually was given something very special.
Now I understand why everyone was going crazy about the situation.
But now that I knew about what Seraph is, I couldn't help myself wondering why Ms. Himeko chose me as her Seraph.
Moreover, because I didn't understand about this academy at all, and I told her that I am not willing to be a maid. So isn't it odd to pick someone like me for her Seraph?
What on the earth Ms. Himeko is thinking.
“Okay, now I think you fairly understand about this academy and Seraph.”
“Y-yes, I do”
“Then, it's your turn to answer my questions. Tell me when, where, and whom you signed the golden contract with to become a Seraph. Is it Lady Himeko? I'm all ears. You must tell me everything!”
Kirara's face with ghastly look was getting closer and closer.
She would kill me if I said “it's a secret, hahaha”.
“Well, actually....”
I decided to be honest and tell everything about what happened? about how I met Ms. Himeko and about how I ended up being told by Ms. Himeko to become her Seraph.
****
“UNBELIEVABLE!!”
When I was done telling my story about becoming a Seraph, Kirara overreacted putting her hand on her cheek and looked up to the sky.
“You climbed the wall because you were running late and Lady Himeko was at the other side, and boom! She made you her Seraph even though you said you are not willing to become a maid?” Doesn't make sense AT ALL!!!”
“Yeah, I feel the same way.”
When I said so being very honest, Kirara roughly grabbed my uniform at my chest.
“Are you trying to pick a fight on me?”
“No, no. Absolutely not!” I shook my head.
“Aww, I absolutely cannot believe it. How on the earth it could happen to you, who don't even know Lady Himeko. Let me tell you that Lady Himeko has never had anyone as her Seraph, not even once. Moreover, she even has never made anyone her Exousia.”
Another unknown word that I have never heard before was spoken, but I better shut my mouth and listen to Kirara's complaints for now. This is how I smartly make through this situation.
“I can't stop wondering why she picked you, who didn't even know about Seraph, to sign the golden contract with. I totally understand if you were from the family which has been serving The Amanotsuka family for years and years, and it was promised since long time ago to have you as her Seraph. And I totally understand that it was the reason why Lady Himeko has not had Seraph until now. But this is not fair that she picked you randomly to become her Seraph.”
Kirara was staring at the ceiling but now she was dropping on the floor with her hands and her knees. She seems to be in a great shock.
“I have done everything to become a professional maid since a long time before the entrance ceremony. I researched a lot about the ladies, and about the academy because I wanted to be the first Seraph of freshman of this year so bad. But how could such a thing like a fake fairy tale destroy my dream so easily?”
“Um....well.... I....”
I tried to say something to comfort her but didn't know what to say.
No matter what I say to her, it may sound sarcastically to Kirara for now.
Okay, I had no idea that Kirara was so serious about becoming a Seraph. That's why she was mad about me not knowing about anything.
“Well, by the way, when is your official announcement party?”
“Official announcement party?”
“Yes, it's their tradition to have an official announcement party with their friends and school news department people in order to inform that you are chosen to be her Seraph. Becoming Seraph is that much important.”
“Hmm, I wasn't told anything like that yet. But, oh yes, Ms. Himeko told me to meet her at the elevator hall tomorrow. She was saying something about a place for tea party on the upper floor, and she will introduce me to her friends or something like that....”
“OH MY GOD!”
Suddenly Kirara started to shiver and stepped back for about three steps.
“How amazing that you are invited to the Tenku Salon on the second day of your freshman year.... well, it is normal because you are Lady Himeko's Seraph. But it doesn't sound like an announcement party. It also has not been informed to public yet, so maybe it will be only introduction to her friends...”
Now I am getting used to this situation, I am not surprised by little things. I'm even relaxed enough to be able to think how knowledgeable Kirara is for knowing so many things.
“The Tenku Salon is the nickname for the Milk Hall located on the top floor of the old school building.”
I really appreciated Kirara for explaining about everything even if I didn't ask for.
“That's the salon located on the highest place of the academy. Only exclusive members are allowed to enter. It is a true sanctuary. Students call it ‘Tenku Salon' and call those chosen ones, who are allowed to enter, as ‘Tenjobito'. Lady Himeko is one of those Tenjobito and so is you because you are a Seraph of Ms, Himeko.”
She hatefully said so with her teeth grinder. Kirara's Eyes were bloodshot with anger.
“No way. I am overestimated.”
“Of course you are! It's so frustrating. You can be qualified as Tenjobito just by being late and climbing over the wall? This is just not right.”
Yes, I agree to that part. And now I understand being a Seraph is a big deal. I felt dizzy thinking about being called as Tenjobito.
I wonder if I will have to visit the salon the regularly. What will happen to my dream then?
“Anyway I have told everything about how I became Ms. Himeko's Seraph.”
“Yes. Although it gave me a headache, I clearly understood.”
Kirara was actually massaging her temple.
“So there you are. How will you explain to everyone in our class?”
She will have to report back the result to them. However if she tells all to everyone as I did to her I think it will cause a huge trouble. It only provokes everyone's antipathy.
“Well, yes, I think I should not tell everything honestly.”
It seemed that Kirara was on my side for the moment.
“You should ask Lady Himeko for her help as well to pretend that it was promised to make her Seraph before the entrance ceremony.”
“I agree. That will do the best. I will ask her tomorrow.”
“Well, you can leave it on me, I would explain it perfectly fine to everyone”
“Really? Thank you very much Kirara”
“Please tell me all about the people in the Tenku salon in exchange. I could not make my dream comes true by becoming the first Seraph of this year, but I still have my dream to become a maid to serve a wonderful lady. So you better tell me immediately if you find out that someone in the Tenku salon is looking for a Seraph, Okay?”
“Yes. I can help you with that as much as you want”
Next day, thanks to Kirara, no one came to blame me for what happened. Instead, they said something like “you're so lucky to be promised to become Lady Himeko's Seraph” one after another. I was relieved but little anxious that I might be falling into worse situation because my ultimate goal was to enroll major university and to get a job at major company, not to become a maid.
Ms. Himeko is still a mystery. I don't know what she's thinking. So I think I need to figure out.