3. Tenku Salon
3. Tenku Salon
Ever since we met, Kirara told me so many other things in details about this Academy. So I thought I was prepared but I was wrong. Because Amanotsuka All-girls' academy is truly something, something completely different from ordinary school.
Because the Home economics course is for students who wants to study and learn to become a maid, not so many general education classes are offered.
The first three classes in the morning are usually general education class such as writing, reading, English, and algebra. But that's about it and all the other classes after that are practical trainings to become a maid. Maid is not as simple as I thought.
There are so many different roles. Kitchen maid, nursing maid, laundry maid, housekeeping maid and so on. It is endless if it is broken down into details, but the most popular one is the one called as ladies' maid. Ladies' maid is a maid who serve lady or mistress of the family directly to assist their personal needs. It is just like a personal assistant.
Most of the students are dreaming about becoming a ladies' maid to serve one of the ladies in the socialite course. That's the reason why becoming a Seraph is very special for them.So it is very natural that everyone feel jealous for the students who are already someone's Seraph. To be honest, it is too much and too heavy for me now.
With my big sigh, I heard the bell rings to tell the end of the classes of the day.
Today it was the first day so no more classes in the afternoon. It was a student orientation day, so it went quickly while we toured the school buildings and listened to Introduction of some classes.
Normally, all we need to do is going back to our dorm room after lunch and getting to know each other with our roommate but not for me.
I had somewhere else to go. The elevator hall that I was told to meet Ms. Himeko at. I had so many things I wanted to ask her, and also I wanted to thank her again for helping me.
“I better take off, see you later.” I said it to Kirara who were seeing me off.
“OK, looking forward to hear all about it.”
She said and waved her hand at me. I headed to the elevator hall located on the upper floor of the auditorium.
****
“This must be it.”
I found the place after going two floors up the stairs located on the side of the auditorium entrance. A vintage red sofa was on the shiny marble flooring. At the center front, I could see the vintage elevator with a gate door looked like an antique entrance gate.
Just like this castle-like school building, most of the things here are not in a modern style. It is kind of giving me an illusion that I got lost in the medieval times. This school is really wicked.
“I guess I can sit here.”
I said it to myself. Ms. Himeko was not here yet so I decided to sit on the luxury looking antique sofa.
....... This is not really a comfortable situation.
Straight across from me I could see a school building from the half circle shaped window beside the elevator.
It is a school building but not an ordinary square shaped building. Just like this building, it looks like a castle. I stood up from the sofa and walked up to the window. What I was looking out from the window was nothing but a castle from medieval times.
Originally, regular classrooms were in this building which is currently used for the auditorium. But when the socialite course was newly established about 10 years ago,the new school building was built to cover the increasing number of the students. To be honest, I don't know if it was required to build a new school building for extra hundred students.
Because this building was built as a copy of St. Vitus Cathedral and it is very huge. Nowadays it is used only for events or ceremony and other classes which requires special room. Also have some salons to have tea parties. But this building is too good to be used only for special occasion. Speaking of the new school building, it was built as a copy of Chambord castle and again this is very huge.
It is surprising that the dorm buildings for both the socialite and the home economics course students to live were newly built when the new school building was newly constructed. I assume that all the expenses required for the development were covered by donation and contribution from the family of socialite course students. It almost made me shout, “Hail! Disparate society!”
Kirara said that students in the socialite course live in the different world. They all belongs to the highest social class. Now I agree with her.
“Ms. Himeko is an acting executive director of the academy where all those students belongs too....”
I re-realized that she is a big deal.
When I was standing there daydreaming for a while, I heard a voice.
“Oh, did someone get lost here?”
“Oh, did someone get lost here?”
”!?”
Or voices I should have said. I heard two identical voices sounded like a stereo.
Suddenly someone held me from my back.
Ms. Himeko...? ...no it's not her.
“W-who is it?”
I tried to turn around in panic but I could not because I was being held from my both side.
Are there two people?
As I struggled to get free, I heard the stereo sound again.
“So cute. She is so desperate.”
“So cute. She is so desperate.”
And the owner of voice chuckled.
“Who on the earth are you?”
When I tried to get free from them hardest with my all strength, they finally let me go.
“Hard to take care of stray cat.”
“Oh, wait, it looks like someone gave her a cat collar though.”
Wow...
When I turned around I could not stop comparing the two people standing in front of me.
They were twins!
Standing in front of me, there were twin sisters who look exactly the same to each other.
The only difference was the color of the bow they were wearing. They both have silky long hair in traditional princess haircut.
One of them wore a bow with music notes printed on it on the top of her head, and the other wore the bow with roses and lily printed on it above her both ears. They both wore black uniforms so I guessed they are in the Home Economic course but the design of their uniform was slightly different from mine. Maybe because they were wearing red bow on their chest which means that they were in Junior year. Not only what they wore was different but also was their vibe different from all the other Home Economic students. Obviously they didn't seem to be the ones who serve someone else as maids. More likely they better belong to the Socialite course. But their uniform were the ones for the Home Economic course students so I felt very strange.
Looking at them closely, I found the Golden school badge on the collar of their uniform.
It was the same “proof of Seraph” as the one I'm wearing.
Assuming that they are in junior year, I tried not to be rude and tried to speak in a polite way. I said
“Excuse me, could I help you with anything?”
“Hmm, maybe or maybe not.”
“I think she is the one. Shall we take her with us because she doesn't seem to know how to use the elevator?”
“Yes, that's a good idea. Let's take her if she is the one”
The twin sisters talked alone and looked like they agreed to each other on something. And they looked at me and nodded.
“Are you Misaki Hotaru?”
Their voice was synchronized perfectly this time.
Wow. I didn't expect it to synchronize that much.
“Well, yes, but I'm meeting someone here...”
If I don't say anything, I might be taken to somewhere as they agreed to each other to do.
I thought I was able to prevent getting into trouble in advance but I was wrong.
“We thought so! Then let's go!”
They said so in synchronized voice. And I was held from the both sides and forced to get on the elevator.
“I told you I'm meeting someone here!”
Prevention didn't work at all.
“Yeah, yeah, you don't scare us.”
“We are only helping a lost cat.”
“I'm not lost!”
Without having a chance to ask them why they knew my name, the elevator, which I was forced to get on, quietly went up.
****
“Have you seen Misaki around here?”
It was about ten minutes after the twins kidnapped me, when I heard the familiar voice which sounded little panicked.
“Ms. Himeko!”
I ran to the owner of the voice Ms.Himeko.
This is exactly what is called a life saver.
“Oh, too bad.”
“She got away”
It seemed that the place I was kidnapped to was the place where Kirara called “Tenku Salon” and the twin sisters were ‘playing' with me like I was their toy.
The room itself is not that big but it is full of greens. The place looks very comfortable and perfect to spend down time.
There was a big table in the center of the room, and some smaller tables and chairs were placed as if they were hiding behind plants.
This is exactly the place that can be called as a hanging gardens. It even have some mysterious atmosphere.
There were some other students in the salon, but they all were looking at us like we were something heartwarming so none of them offered me a help.
Probably they wanted to avoid putting themselves into trouble by interrupting the twin sisters.
They were supposed to be in the Home Economic course, but they have a weird vibe that other don't have.
“Oh, I'm relieved. I didn't see you in the elevator hall so I thought you decided not to come.”
“I wanted to thank you for saving me, and also I'm not that heartless.”
“You are right. You accepted to become my Seraph.”
Ms. Himeko chuckled and smiled.
“Um, well, about that, I have so many thought but for the moment, will you do something with that twin sisters? Who are they? They kept touching all over my body. It's a sexual harassment.”
This is perfect actually. Even though they have some weird vibe it is an unchangeable truth that they are still students in the Home Economic course. So if Ms. Himeko, who are in the Socialite course, warn them, they will feel guilty about what they did for sure.
But I was wrong.
Ms. Himeko said,
“Was that right? It was good for you that Ms. Ayaka took care of you.”
“What part of my explanation made you think in such a positive way?”
How Ms. Himeko reacted was totally unexpected. She didn't seem to get mad at them at all.
“How was my Misaki? Don't you think she is great?”
Moreover, she even started bragging about me just as if I was her pet or something.
“Yes she is. She was like a wild cat just as you described about her.”
“It was very refreshing that she glared at us or she was very hard on us.”
When the twin sisters said so, Ms. Himeko clapped her hand once in front of chest from a joy and said
“Wasn't it so? That's what I like about her!”
Sounds like Ms. Himeko spread around about me yesterday.
“Hey Ms. Himeko, don't talk to them so peacefully. No sexual harassment should be allowed.”
“Oh? We are very offended that you called it sexual harassment.”
The twin sisters said so and tilted their head together.
“We just saved a lost cat.”
“We just fed a lost cat and took care of her until her owner shows up.”
“You did not take care of me! You touched me all over and tried to undress me too. I would win if I suit you two.”
I don't know what would happened to me if Ms. Himeko didn't show up.
“Calm down. They both enjoy body contact.”
Ms. Himeko would be on the twin sisters' side no matter what.
Comparing myself, who just met Ms. Himeko yesterday, to the twin sisters who seemed to know Ms. Himeko since long time ago, I guess I can't win over her trust yet.
“By the way, I would like to introduce Misaki to Ms. Kagura. Has she arrived yet?”
“Here she is.”
When Ms. Himeko looked around for someone, the elevator arrived and one student came in.
She was wearing the white uniform which is a proof of being student in the Socialite course.
She was elegantly walking toward us brushing her blonde curly hair back with her fingers. She had a long bangs that almost covers her left eye. It added on mysterious atmosphere to her. Sparkling tiara was on her head and she was just as gorgeous as if she was wearing a large flower on her back. She must be in her senior year because she was wearing purple bow on her chest.
“So this is her.”
“Yes, she is my Seraph.”
She said “okay” to Ms. Himeko and looked and observed me from my head to toe.
“Okay, I see.”
After she said so, she clapped her hands twice slightly stronger.
“Ladies, would you please gather around here for a moment? Ms. Himeko will introduce the girl to us.”
After the signal of her hand clapping, the people, who were having tea or enjoying talking here and there in the room, came to gather around.
At the large table in the center of the room, more than ten students were gathered. Half of them are the Socialite course students and the other half are the Home Economic course students. All the Home Economic course students were wearing the golden badge. It means that all of them are someone's Seraph. And another thing I noticed was all the students in the Home Economic course there were wearing the same white apron and white headpiece.
They truly looked like nothing but maids.
Oh, Okay I see.
The school uniform for the Home Economic course students will turn into a maid uniform with a white apron over it.
Now I remember I have received the apron but I haven't tried it on yet.
Got to try it on when I go back to my room.
I was thinking about something like that while I sat down on the main guest seat of the table with Ms. Himeko.
“Well then, Ms. Himeko, please.”
As the girl with curly hair called Ms. Himeko, she stood up joyfully.
“Ladies, thank you very much for your time to gather here today. I would like to introduce Misaki, whom I told you a little bit about yesterday, to you all.”
Ms. Himeko lightly touched my back so I thought I would be better stand up.
“I have been causing you trouble for a long time because I didn't have a Seraph. But finally I have found the one, the perfect girl for me. Please welcome Misaki to this salon as a new member from now on.”
Because Ms. Himeko lowered her head, I followed her to do the same.
Then, small but warm applause was given to us.
“Good for you Ms. Himeko. Not only a Seraph you have been denying to have but also have you been denying to have even a housekeeping crew.”
“I never thought that anyone could meet your demand, but who knew. You found the one.”
“Now you don't have to sneak into this salon anymore.”
Everyone who talked to Ms. Himeko was all the Socialite course students. All the Home Economic course students were only having a light smile on their face but never speak a word.
Does it mean that they shouldn't interrupt conversation between their ladies?
“The Tenku Salon is a sanctuary where only exclusives are allowed to enter”
What Kirara said about the salon suddenly came back to my mind.
The Socialite course students who are here must be the ones belong to the top of the social hierarchy.
That makes the Seraph who support those ladies the best of the best maids.
.... Okay. I feel I'm completely out of place. This shouldn't be the place for someone who are not willing to become a maid.
However Ms. Himeko was chitchatting joyfully and happily.
****
“Misaki, let's go to a different table.”
After Ms. Himeko chitchatting for a while, she took a break and stood up holding my hand.
“Well then ladies, I appreciate your continuous support for Misaki.”
Should I get continuous support here?
I know I shouldn't say this because she helped me by choosing me for her Seraph, but I think she should be more careful about her selection.
Now that I understand how important to have someone as a Seraph, I strongly believe that she shouldn't make a contract easily with someone she just met.
“This way Misaki.”
Ms. Himeko, who doesn't notice how anxious I am, is taking me to the table by the window. The table was separated from the rest of the room by a partition.
“This table has the best view.”
“Whoa!”
I was amazed by the view from the window.
It was a truly a view from heaven. Entire academy can be looked over from here. The approach in red bricks straight from the school building to the main entrance gate, and well-landscaped garden on the both side.
As I looked carefully, I noticed that many students were enjoying their tea time just like us here and there in the garden.
Now I can see how far the main entrance gate is. If I kept running to get to the gate, it may have took much longer than I thought.
On the left, there is a dorm building for us, and I also saw three more buildings that might be dorm buildings for student students in the Socialite course.
I could see some of more large buildings. It might be the school buildings for the junior high school of the academy.
The view reconfirmed that the academy has the humongous premises.
The facilities of the Amanotsuka All-girls' academy are scattered all over on the top of the hill. And from here, we could dominate the view of the entire academy. No wonder why they are called as Tenjobito.
“You shouldn't show that kind of damn face.”
“Everyone will know where you came from.”
When I was fascinated by the view almost sticking one the window, I heard the voice of the twin sisters.
“I will treat you like a guest just for today.”
“Starting from tomorrow, you will be learning how to serve.”
When I turned around, the twin sisters were serving teas for us and brought a box looked like it had something sweet inside.
I wonder if this sisters' dream is to become the great maids.
It doesn't seem to be though.
“Thank you very much.”
“Thank you.”
I thank them in little panic, but on the other hand Ms. Himeko was very relaxed.
It is natural that Ms. Himeko is someone who are used to be served by maids.
“Excuse us”
As the twin sisters walked away, Ms. Himeko said
“Have a seat” to me
“Excuse me, the sisters who just served us, they are someone's Seraph, aren't they?”
I asked Ms. Himeko while I was looking at them walking away.
“Yes. They are Ms. Kagura's Seraph.”
“Ms. Kagura is ...”
“The senior student who came after me when I introduced you.”
“The gorgeous girl with blonde curly hair?”
“Yes. Her name is Kagura Mikage. Her grandfather is a commander-in-chief of Mikage Group. The twin sisters' name are both Ayaka.”
“They both have the same name?”
“Yes, written in different Chinese character though. Their family name is Kokonoe. The one wears bow with music note print is older Ayaka. Her name is written with Chinese character meaning literacy and songs. And the other one wears the bow with flower print is younger Ayaka. Her name is written with characters meaning color and flowers. They both are from the family wealthy enough to enroll in the Socialite course but they are serving Ms. Kagura as her Seraph enrolling in the Home Economic course for some reasons.”
I thought so. They are not an ordinary Seraph.
“And this Tenku Salon is currently in a possession of Ms. Kagura. The tiara is the proof of the possession.”
“She was wearing the sparkly one.”
“Yes. There are some other salons in this academy and all the possessors are wearing a tiara. They are the queens of the salons.”
“It means that you, Ms. Himeko, don't posses any salon?”
“I'm just a sponger here.”
Ms. Himeko smiled but looked little sad.
“Anyway, let's have some tea. I prepared some deserts especially for you.”
“That's very sweet of you but before that, I want to make it clear about something. Can I ask you some questions?”
“Oh, okay. What is it?”
Ms. Himeko put down her tea cup after she sipped it once.
“About becoming your Seraph, didn't I tell you when we first met that I won't become a maid?”
“Yes you did. I remember that.”
“Then why did you pick me as your Seraph?”
“Because you said you won't become a maid.”
“It makes no sense at all.... Are you harassing me by any chance?”
“No, I'm not. Don't get me wrong. I am not willing to have any Seraph.”
“???”
Now it makes me confused even more.
“I'm not willing to but it put me in so many trouble if I don't have a Seraph. Since I don't have a Seraph, I receive so many silent proposal from students in the Home Economic course saying ‘please pick me for your Seraph' silently. And if I actually talk to some of them for just one or two words, they will have a huge expectation that I might pick them for my Seraph.”
“Then, why don't you let them know that you are not willing to have one?”
“If I do, they will definitely ask me for the reason. And I don't want to tell the reason.”
“Why is that?”
“It's a secret.”
Ms. Himeko smiled and refused any further questions.
“Misaki, you are like a scapegoat.”
“A scapegoat?”
“It's like a substitution. You are not willing to become my maid, so I don't have to actually hire you in the future after I graduate from the school. It is a temporary contract between us only while we are the student of the academy.”
What she meant was that she wanted me to pretend being her Seraph.
“I understand your situation, Ms. Himeko, but I have my life too. I told you the reason why I came to this school, didn't I? It hasn't changed a bit even now.”
“To study hard in order to enroll a major university and then to get a job at a major company.”
“Yes. So I'm so sorry but I don't have a time to serve and support you. This school doesn't offer general education classes as many as other ordinary high school does. So I would like to use my free time at recess to study on my own.”
“You are right. It is so true that taking only classes offered in the Home Economic course wouldn't be enough. But as long as you are in the Home Economic course you will not have a lot of free time.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“All the students in the Home Economic course are obligated to serve students in the Socialite course as their housekeeper. At recess you would be ordered to clean their room or go run for errands for them.”
“And if I deny....”
“You can't deny to serve them. Students in the Home Economic course take turns and serve new Socialite course students as their housekeeper every month. It's the arrangement by the school offering more opportunities for students in both courses to meet new girls.”
“Okay....”
“Don't you think it is very tough to have new person to serve every month? You have to change the way you serve depending on their personalities and their taste. There may be more opportunities to meet new people but for someone like you, Misaki, it just makes your school life even tougher. On the other hand, for those who are already someone's Seraph or Exousia, they clearly have a specific person to serve continuously. Isn't it obvious that as soon as you get used to it, it will be much easier for you to serve one person?”
“......”
“And I can be very considerate for your situation as well. What do you think?”
Ms. Himeko gave me a cute smile.
What Ms. Himeko said makes sense. I agree that it may be way tougher to serve new person every month.
“By the way, what is Exousia?”
Kirara mentioned it too, but I haven't heard anything about it in detail yet.
I could guess that it was something similar to Seraph...
“Exousia is another type of contract which is also called as Silver contract. The importance of Exousia contract is ranked just below the Golden contract. Sometimes a student in Socialite course have someone special to serve her as her maid while she is in the school but she is not sure if she can hire the maid after her graduation. In such case, a silver school badge is given to make a contract as Exousia. However most of the case, they ended up hiring the Exousia after their graduation because they don't want to let go their favorite girls.”
“I see. It doesn't sound like it is easier than Seraph.”
“No, it is not.”
Hmmm, looks like there is no way out for me.
Ms. Himeko continued as she pour slay on my wound.
“By the way Misaki, reason why you want to get a job at a major company is because you want to make a lot of money?”
“Yes”
“Do you think it would be great if you can earn money while you are still in this school?”
“Well, Yes, if I can. I was thinking about getting a part time job.”
Because if I don't, I won't be able to afford daily necessities.
“Okay.”
Ms. Himeko fearlessly smiled.
“Well then you even better stay being my Seraph.”
“Why is that?”
“First reason, there is a special allowance for a Seraph.”
“Special allowance?”
“Yes. Because the students in the Home Economic course work to serve other students while they are studying and training. So they get paid for that. It is not a lot but addition to that, for those who are Seraph or Exousia, a special allowance is paid as a personal contract fee. They make probably about twice as much as regular students make.”
“Wow”
I never heard about it before but it is very interesting information.
“And another reason, you can make the most use of your privilege to use the Tenku Salon if you become my Seraph.”
“?”
“Misaki, I know you are gradually understanding how special the Tenku Salon is for this school.”
“It looks like an exclusive place that not many students, even Socialite course student, can easily be qualified to enter.”
“Yes. I know it sounds kind of nasty to brag about myself but this place is for only exclusively chosen people. Of course sometimes we invite some guests. Anyway, what I wanted to say is that, among those who qualified to use the Tenku Salon, there are some ladies from the family who owns “major company” which you are hoping to get job at. You will have a chance to get to know each other with them by serving them here. I can even casually introduce you to them if you want me to. They probably consider you as a well-skilled and well-educated person just because you work here. Don't you think you can take an advantage of it for your bright future?”
“Are you saying that I should make some connection?”
“Yes. If I say it badly. But I don't think there is nothing wrong about making the most out of the chance or the environment you are offered.”
“That's true...”
Ms. Himeko sounded like she was saying “done deal!”
She opened the box which seemed to have something sweet inside and pulled out something from it.
It is so true that this offer is nothing else but a fantastic opportunity.
“By the way, do you like this kind of snack, Misaki?”
“Yes! I love them!”
As soon as I saw what Ms. Himeko pulled out from the box, I exclaimed.
I was allured by the pleasant smelling aroma of sweet chocolate and strawberry.
Then I just noticed that I hadn't had a lunch yet. So it made my mouth water even more.
“Good! Since I first saw your hair accessories, I have been wondering if you may like it or not. I'm so glad that I ordered them for you.”
Yes. What Ms. Himeko pulled out from the box were donuts.
It is my favorite snack!
The fascinating sweet snack which I can only afford when there on sale price!
The special desert I want to eat even if I have to eat less for meals!
I love them so much that I'm even collecting donuts shaped hair accessories.
Aww, looks so delicious.
Ms. Himeko chuckled and said “looks like you love it.”
She cut the chocolate donuts on her plate into some small pieces by fork and knife just as if she was eating French cuisine.
Wow, that's how real lady do. I was amazed. I didn't know there is the way to eat donuts other than eating it with a hand.
“If you become my Seraph, you can even eat the most tasteful donuts everyday.”
Mysteriously, Ms. Himeko used her finger to pick up one of the donuts she cut into pieces elegantly by fork and knife and raised the height of my eyes.
“Why don't you eat it?”
“Awwww”
Ms. Himeko was swaying the donuts right in front of my eyes.
If I eat it, it must be considered that I accept her offer to be her Seraph.
“Are you going to feed me like your pet?”
“On don't take it that way. I'm only offering food by myself for a hungry freshman student.”
Ms. Himeko brought the donut even closer to my face.
“Well, taking your situation into consideration, what about serving me as my Seraph for a year?”
“A year?”
“Yes. Things may change within a year I may turn out to be free from the obligation to have a Seraph, and also for you, a year as my Seraph won't take too much time away from you to study, right?” And at last but not least, I need something back from you, Misaki, for saving you from being expelled.”
That was the last shot. I owe her a big.
There was no way that I can getaway from the beginning.
“Okay” I made up my mind and answered.
“Let's have great time together” Ms. Himeko chuckled.
I feel the sweet taste in my mouth.
The donut Ms. Himeko fed me was the most delicious donut I have ever tasted in my life.