1. Trouble Monday
1. Trouble Monday
“Please! I'm begging you. Please make me your Seraph!”
It happened on one afternoon about two weeks from our first day at the Amanotsuka All-girls' Academy.
It happened in cafeteria where all the students in the Home Economic course were working busy preparing lunch for the ladies in the Socialite course.
Here in Amanotsuka All-girls' Academy, there are two educational course. One of them is the Socialite course which is for students from very wealthy families, and the other one is the Home Economic course which is for students who wants to study and to be trained to become maids that serve those ladies in the Socialite course.
The students in the Home Economic course need to learn how to become professional maids obtaining knowledge and gaining experience by serving the Socialite course students while they are in the school.
Cooking, doing laundry, and cleaning is just the basics. Furthermore they will be well-trained to be able to take care of everything for the ladies in the Socialite course.
Sometimes, they are offered an exclusive contract from a lady in the Socialite course.
They are called as Golden contract or Silver contract. Those who accept the offer are called as ‘Seraph' or ‘Exousia' to exclusively serve the lady who offers the contract.
Seraph or Exousia are very special title for us, the students in the Home Economic course. The students who signed for the exclusive contract are considered to have superb skills as a maid.
So they are granted for privilege of getting good grades and getting paid way better than regular students.
Furthermore, for those who signed the Golden contract to become a Seraph, the bright future is promised. Because upon their graduation the most of them will be offered a position of maid by their ladies to serve her and her family as a professional maid.
Of course there some exceptions, but becoming and having Seraph means very special in this school.
A student in the Home Economic course made a proposal offering herself as a Seraph.
This girl was begging so hard by lowering her head as deep as she can, I thought she would bang her forehead on the floor.
Instantly, a hush fell over everyone in cafeteria.
All the students in the Home Economic course who were moving around and working busy in the cafeteria stopped at once. While all the ladies in the Socialite course who were starting to gather in the cafeteria were fascinate by the scene and kept staring at it.
The atmosphere has become tense all at once.
I could feel a cold sweat running down on my temple while I was looking at the scene.
Even I, who have been in this academy only for a very short time, could tell that what this girl was doing was obviously very very bad idea.
And the reason why I could understand how bad the situation, is because my friend Kirara taught me so many things about this academy.
But....
Ladies in the Socialite course are all from very wealthy families which can afford huge donation to this academy. Some of them are surrealistically wealthy ladies such as daughters of CEOs at major companies, famous artists, or doctors of major hospitals. You can find them everywhere in this academy.
On the other hand, the students in the Home Economic course including me, are from ordinary families.
All of them are here to achieve their goal which is to become a maid serving at wealthy families such as ladies in the Socialite course are from.
Ladies and maids, the one who serve is served and the one who serve, that's how we relate to each other.
Additionally, all the tuition and other living expenses of the students in the Home Economic course are paid with the donation from the Socialite course students' families. So it is obviously unacceptable to interrupt them while having pleasant lunch.
Furthermore, Kirara told me that there is nothing more unacceptable and forbidden than making a proposal to be picked as a Seraph by begging like “please make me your Seraph.”
It is natural that they choose their maid among us, instead of us choosing who we serve.
Naming someone in the Socialite course to be your lady to serve is nothing but impolite and ingratitude.
Kirara was the one who told me these things again and again but....
Kirara was the one but....
But now Kirara is the one who is lowering the head to beg right in front of me.
I felt little dizzy, but tried to hold myself from fainting and looked at the person who Kirara was begging to.
Lady Kagura Mikage. That was the person.
The lady who is on the top of hierarchy among the Socialite course students in this academy.
Lady kagura's family has been donating incomparably humongous amount of money, it is said to be more than several hundred millions.
As an evidence, she possesses the Tenku Salon, which is the most popular salon in the academy. She is being respected, recognized, and called as Tenjobito as a special person even from other Socialite course students.
Becoming a Seraph of such a special lady means more secured and brighter future than getting a job at a major listed company.
Lady Kagura is a lady that everyone longing to be close but she already has two Seraphs for herself.
They are Ayaka Kokonoe and Ayaka Kokonoe.
The twin sisters, who have the same name written in different Chinese characters, are always around Lady Kagura.
They are little different from other ordinary students in the Home Economic course, but I will set it aside for now.
As long as Lady Kagura already has those two Seraphs, there is a very small possibilities that she is in need of having another Seraph.
Of course there are no limitation on the numbers of Seraph that one student can have. Moreover, such a wealthy family like Lady Kagura's can afford to hire ten or twenty maids.
But no one have ever heard of Lady Kagura saying that she needs Seraphs other than the twin sisters.
Are you wondering how I know so much about?
It is because fate intervened me and I became a Seraph of Ms. Himeko Amanotsuka, who is a member of the Tenku Salon.
As you can guess from her one of a kind family name, Amanotsuka, Ms. Himeko is a daughter of the Amanotsuka family which established this academy. So she is a distinguishably special student in the Socialite course.
Speaking of myself, I visit the Tenku Salon on daily basis because I became Ms. Himeko's Seraph. There, not only do I serve Ms. Himeko but I also serve other Tenjobito.
So, even if I'm not willing to, I hear so many stories and rumors about everyone. That's how I learned that Lady Kagura does not seem to be in need of finding a new Seraph.
But that doesn't mean there is no possibilities for Kirara.... I think.
Lady Kagura is a lady of dignity like a queen just as the possessor of the Tenku Salon should be.
I'm not saying that I know everything about who Lady Kagura is but I believe that she cannot be someone who turn down a serious proposal.
I think she will answer Kirara ‘a proposal after taking what Kirara needs to say into her consideration.
Perhaps she will be touched by how serious Kirara is and make Kirara one of her Seraph.
“Please!”
Kirara lowered her head to beg again.
More and more students came into the cafeteria to see where this situation was going to.
To see what Lady Kagura would do with Kirara.
But who made a move before Lady Kagura take any action was the Kokonoe sisters who were standing on the both side of her. They both stepped out in between Lady Kagura and Kirara with their arms crossed like gate guards.
“How rude. Step back.”
“You cannot present yourself to be picked as a Seraph. Don't you forget your place!”
It was completely understandable but they spoke harshly to Kirara.
Because it might cause some confusion and chaos among other students, it they didn't scold Kirara as junior students and as Lady Kagura's Seraphs as well.
Such a reckless action cannot be tolerated.
I know that. And Kirara must know that too. But she took an action even though she knew it would be reckless.
I've heard so much about how passionate and ambitious Kirara is to become a Seraph directly from herself.
Moreover, I know she works hard as twice as other students do to become a professional maid. Her hard work will be wasted if Lady Kagura blames her on what she is doing just like the Kokonoe sisters already did.
No one would want Kirara who would be labeled as insane student to serve them as their Seraph.
Kirara is my first friend I ever met since I came to this school.
I wish I could do something to help her. At least I'm not stranger to Lady Kagura, so if I beg her with Kirara, the worst case may be avoidable.
But I was not sure if it was a good idea. Because I didn't think Kirara wanted me to help her. If she did, she wouldn't had been doing something like this all by herself.
Obviously she wanted her skills to be recognized. That was why she made an action alone.
However I couldn't stand just being there doing nothing for Kirara and Lady Kagura because I knew both of them.
As I was trying to determine what I should do, someone touched my shoulder.
“What's wrong Misaki?”
I heard the familiar voice.
“Ms. Himeko.”
It was my lady, Ms. Himeko Amanotsuka.
Ms. Himeko may be able to settle down this situation nicely.
I asked Ms. Himeko for her help as I turned my head to her.
“Ms. Himeko, please help. Kirara is begging Lady Kagura to pick her as a Seraph, and both Ms. Ayaka are trying to reject her, and Lady Kagura doesn't say a word.”
“Hmm, Misaki, calm down. I don't understand what you are trying to say.”
Ms. Himeko put her hands on my both shoulder and massaged them gently to loosen up.
As I cool down, I explained the current situation to her again, but this time I carefully chose words for her to understand clearly.
“Okay, I see. The freshman girl who is lowering her head to Ms. Kagura there is your friend.”
“Yes. Her name is Kirara Hoshino.”
Even though Kirara was scolded by the Kokonoe sisters, she didn't seem to step back and she kept appealing to Lady Kagura.
The longer she sticks with what she is doing, the worse Kirara's situation gets.
“She is doing such a crazy thing just because she is dying to become Ms. Kagura's Seraph, isn't she? I'll give a credit for her courage but I should say what she is doing is nothing but reluctant behavior.”
Ms. Himeko sighed shortly by my ear.
“Kirara must have known it because she is the one who taught me everything about this school.”
“Oh, okay...”
Ms. Himeko was looking at Lady Kagura and Kirara for a while but then she lifted her hands from my shoulders.
“Looks like it is something I should not put myself getting involved. Let's leave it to Ms. Kagura.”
“What? Are you not going to help her?”
“Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to turn her down. I'm just leaving it as it is because I don't think it is something that might need my help.”
“Nooooo.”
I don't understand how and which part of this situation can she judge as something that doesn't require her help.
It is obviously critical condition to Kirara.
Ms. Himeko chuckled looking at sulky look on my face and then pointed at Kirara and the others.
“Look. It seems like Ms. Kagura will hold both Ms. Ayaka back.”
She told me so I looked at where Kirara was.
Lady Kagura raised her one hand to hold the Kokonoe sisters back just like it was finally her time to make a move.”
“Ayaka, go back to your work and finish up the preparation for the lunch. Ladies, please don't mind and enjoy your lunch break.”
Latter part, she said it louder to surrounding students but she never looked at Kirara, not even once.
“Certainly”
The Kokonoe sisters replied in harmonized voice and went back to do their own business.
Neither Kirara raised her head the whole time, nor Lady Kagura said a word to Kirara.
The students in the Socialite course was going back to what they were doing just like nothing happened, and the students in the Home Economic course is also going back to where they were but very nervously.
“The problem solved?”
“As for now, yes.”
Yes? I don't see it was resolved at all.
“What will happen to Kirara?”
“Nothing. Ms. Kagura decided not to do anything. So this is it.”
“Whaaat?”
I am totally confused. What is happening in here.
“Come on Misaki, take me to my seat and prepare the lunch for me. Of course for yourself too.”
“O-Okay, I will but.”
I felt a cold sweat running down on my temple again.
Basically we can sit wherever we want to eat at cafeteria. There is no seat chart.
But there are some unspoken rule. So most of the time, students who belong to the certain salon, just like Lady Kagura and Ms. Himeko, sit together as a group on the certain table.
As Ms. Himeko's Seraph, I am considered to belong to the Tenku Salon. And while Ms. Himeko is having a meal I have to serve her, so I don't have any other choice than sitting on the same table to have a lunch with them.
I wish I could enjoy my lunch with my own friends but I just have no choice.
Serving Ms. Himeko should always comes first.
Therefore taking Ms. Himeko to her seat, which is close to Lady Kagura's seat, means that there will be Kirara who are still keeping her position with her lowered head.
Very awkward.
What should I say to her? Or, should I talk to her in the first place?
“Let's go.”
As I could not move at all, Ms. Himeko took my hand and pull me towards the seat.
“Ms. Himeko, What should I do with Kirara?”
“I already told you. We do nothing. As long as Ms. Kagura decided not to do anything, we also should not do anything to her.”
“Are you saying we should leave her like that?”
“Yes I am.”
Ms. Himeko finally reached to Lady Kagura and said “Hello” to her. Then Ms. Himeko sat down on her usual seat which is right across from Lady Kagura.
“Here I am, Misaki. Will you bring my lunch?”
“C-certainly.”
Should I really leave Kirara like that?”
Whatever the circumstances may be, isn't it cruel?
I kept glancing at Kirara, but she never looked back at me and has been staying still.
I wonder if she will keep doing that for the entire lunch break.
I want to talk to her. I really do, but as long as Ms. Himeko said not to, I cannot disobey what my lady said.
The only thing keeping me away from saying something to Kirara was the fact that I could not see her eyes due to the position of her head. If I see her face I would definitely say something to her.
I didn't remember what I ate and how it was for the lunch of the day.
****
“Excuse me Kirara.”
“What is it?”
As I went back to my classroom after the lunch break, I decided to talk to Kirara.
She ended up keeping her head down until Lady Kagura left the cafeteria so she did not have a chance to have her own lunch.
I respect her for having such a strong gut and courage but unfortunately I don't think it worked well.
Lady Kagura did not deal with Kirara at all. And it was the same to all the members of the Tenku Salon. They just had their lunch quietly probably because they understood how Lady Kagura felt about this incident.
Among them I, a only freshman student and Kirara's friend in the group, was the only one in panic.
Now, I regretted that I should have asked Ms. Himeko more to help Kirara.
“Um, I'm sorry.”
“I can't think of any reason that you should be sorry for me.”
Kirara gave me a curt response.
“Um, I guess you don't, because I know you don't count on my help. But I just feel bad about not asking Lady Kagura to at least listen to what you needed to say, even if I would be punished.”
“Mind your own business. This is what I decided to do. It's my own business. I just wanted to become Lady Kagura's Seraph so bad, so I did take an action even though I knew it was insane. That was the only way for me to be recognized by Lady Kagura.”
Kirara was staring at straight ahead.
In her eyes, I saw neither regret nor hesitation.
“Hey, um, I can talk to Lady Kagura about you if you don't mind.”
“I said mind your own business. You just behave as usual. Tomorrow, you can do the same as you did today, Okay? I'm serious. This is my war.”
Tomorrow?
“Are you going to do the same thing tomorrow again by any chance?”
“Yes. I won't give up until Lady Kagura directly tell me to back off.”
“Awww...”
I would praise her strong will that never give up even though she was completely ignored. But I would the first one to be beaten by the tense atmosphere.
“Why do you keep pushing yourself to far?”
“Why?”
Kirara said so raising her one eye brow. And then she gave me a fierce look.
“Who are you saying that to me?”
She sharply pointed her finger at me.
“D-did I do something wrong to you?”
“Yes, oh yes. I knew it! I knew you have no idea how sinful you are.”
“Sinful? Me? I don't know what you are talking about.”
“I won't let you say you have no clue. Try to recall what have happened to you ever since you became Lady Himeko's Seraph. And also what you have said about it.”
About things happened to me since I became Ms. Himeko's Seraph?
“Um, well...”
I tried hard to recall what I have told Kirara.
Oh, yes, for example, something like the following story.
****
“Misaki, why don't you stay over tonight?”
“Pardon me?”
It was the first weekend ever since I became Ms. Himeko's Seraph. After having a tea at the Tenku Salon, I walked Ms. Himeko to her room as I always do.
Ever since I became her Seraph, I visit Ms. Himeko's room almost everyday because she was being selfish asking me to clean her room and help her get changed. Seemed like Ms. Himeko was longing so much for her life with Seraph, because she has been trying to have me around always by giving me so many tasks here and there.
I told her “you should have picked someone appropriate as your Seraph doing their favor if you wanted to have Seraph that much” but she always said “it is so much more complicated than you think” and she changed the topic.
I guess she prefer not to talk about it so I won't put it to hard, but I'm little confused.
Because I accepted her offer to become her Seraph under the condition of serving only for a year, just like a contractor, perhaps, it is natural that she doesn't want to tell me about it.
Give and take. We are having a well-balanced symbiotic relationship.
Anyway....
Ms. Himeko offered her idea of sleep over when I was undressing her to help her get changed to a room wear.
“Stay over tonight? In your room?”
“Of course.”
Ms. Himeko fully smiled while she was putting on the blouse with frills on, which I selected for her.
“I don't mind but am I allowed to sleep over?
Since it was just the beginning of Spring, it was little chilly so I had her put on purple poncho with lace trim over her blouse.
The skirt I chose was a sophisticated gray flared skirt.
These are all part of the gift from her parents. They look like something you can buy it anywhere but I can tell they actually are very expensive ones from how soft and silky they feel.
I can't believe they were almost wasted being left in the boxes.
“Of course it is not allowed for regular students. Only Seraphs are allowed to stay over, not even Exousia are allowed.”
Sleep over....
It means that I have to be with her until she goes to bed, so I have to serve her for longer hours.
Ms. Himeko continued as if she was reading my mind.
“Are you thinking that you will not have a enough time to study?”
“Yes, a little....”
I enrolled this academy just because all my tuition and other living expenses are free.
How could I imagine that I ended up having to study to become a maid?
The school does not offer many general education classes so if I want to study as much as an ordinary high school student does, I have to take care of myself.
Therefore I would like to use my free time to study, but....
“But I don't mind staying over in your room for tonight.”
“Really?”
Recently my mind has been changed a little.
I actually think that working as a maid can be fun.
Before I came to this school I was doing housekeeping chore, including cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry for myself. And I don't hate doing them.
Also the best thing of being Ms. Himeko's Seraph is that it is somehow very profitable.
It is not too late to study harder to catch up when I'm in junior year. So I began to think that it is not bad to enjoy the extraordinary environment during my freshman year.
“I don't mind staying for the night but I'm afraid how reckless your order will be...”
Because Ms. Himeko dreamed about her life with Seraph, the sleep over must be one of her dream.
“How rude. I have never said anything reckless. My order is always within a common range of ordinary maid's tasks. Moreover it is good for you, Misaki, because you should be getting an extra hour allowance if you stay overnight.”
Ms. Himeko had a sulky look on her face.
“I was just kidding.”
Just like I do Ms. Himeko's favor, she always be considerable to me.
I admit that Ms. Himeko is the best mistress for me, or should I call her my lady.
“But if I will stay over the night in your room I need to go back to my room once to get my stuffs.”
Obviously I need to bring my underwear and a pajama. May be I can borrow toothbrush and towels. What should I do if I want to take a shower? I also want to bring my clothes to wear tomorrow. I should go back to my room once to get ready for tomorrow anyway.
“You don't need to do that. You can just buy everything you need.”
Ms. Himeko smiles just like she is proud of herself.
“Buy everything?”
“Don't you know that there are some shops on the first floor of this dorm building? We can buy almost every daily necessities there.”
It is true, as Ms. Himeko said, that there are some nice shops just like the ones in hotels on the first floor of Palace Francoise, which is the dorm building for the Socialite course students.
I have peaked the inside off those shops from the window, and I saw nicely displayed merchandises which all looked very expensive and unfamiliar to me.
There is also a gift shop which makes me wonder if any students would need to buy gifts.
However it is there for the ladies in the Socialite course to shop so it must be in need for them for the situation that ordinary people like me cannot imagine.
Among all the luxury shops, the only place I may be able to use is the mart looks like a nicer convenience store. They offer daily necessities like snack and other stuffs as Ms. Himeko mentioned.
But....
“I'm broke though.”
Sad, but that's my reality.
Well, actually I do have a very few cash but it is for emergency, not to buy fancy stuffs.
I was told that I will get paid at the end of the month, so I will have to patiently wait until then.
“I know that”
She said and sighed as I told Ms. Himeko about my sad reality.
“Who said that you have to pay for it? I'm the one who suggested and asked you to stay over the night with me. It is obvious that I'm the one who are responsible for taking care of you.”
“Oh”
“Forget it, let's go.”
Ms. Himeko grabbed my hand, while I was still confused, and walked toward the entrance door.
“What does it mean?”
“I said I will pay for it.”
“No, it is too much.”
I felt bad.
I cannot be spoiled by her even if she is an acting executive director and have a lot of money to spend.
“You don't have to feel bad. I told you to stay for the night suddenly so it naturally make sense for me to take care of you.”
“But, I won't need you to take care of me that much, if I can go back to my room and bring my own stuffs....”
As I tried hard to turn down her offer, Ms. Himeko said,“Agh, enough!” in bad mood and turned to me.
“Can't you understand how I feel? I'm saying that I want to go shopping together with you to prepare for the sleep over!”
“....”
Okay, I see. She meant that it is Ms. Himeko's desire to do that together so I should come with her.
It's not easy to read her mind.
“I understand what you are trying to say. However, I will pay for my own stuff.”
“Even though you are broke?”
“C-can I pay you later?”
“No you can't.”
Ms. Himeko cooed at me just like she was saying “you give up?”
“You are very stubborn in strange way. It's not good for you Misaki. You can be spoiled in this kind of situation. First of all, there will be a huge rumor that I am a good-for-nothing because I can't even take care of my own Seraph, if I made you pay.”
“Oh no.”
“It happens. Anyway, even if you have some cash with you, it is useless there. You need a special card to shop there.”
Ms. Himeko said so and pulled out a card from her wallet.
It didn't look like a credit card but it was a black gorgeous card.
“You can pay by cash at the stores in your dorm building but we all pay by this card here.
“Wow”
The certain amount of the points are added to the card monthly and she can shop for whatever with those points. It's like a monthly allowance.
Perhaps, it is to help those students not to carry large amount of cash, or not to spend too much, or some other reasons.
“How much can you shop with it?”
I asked her and she replied, “I don't know” sounding like she is not interested in.
“Because I have never maxed out the limit. I cannot guess how much I have in this card. And because, all the prices are shown in points, how do I know how much actually they are?”
“Oh okay.”
I don't know if it is because either Ms. Himeko doesn't shop a lot, or she has as much points as she can't even use up.
“Let's go if you understand. If you still don't want to owe me, you can pay me back with your hard work.”
As she said that, I was easily able to accept her offer.
“Okay.”
Finally we left to go to shopping.
****
“Let's start with your underwear.”
The first store Ms. Himeko took me to was a general store.
I saw some aroma pot and tea sets with very sophisticated designs in the display window. They obviously looked very expensive. I was mesmerized by them.
I looked for the price tag and found a very tiny ones which I may not notice if I don't look carefully.
“Aroma pot 1200 points, tea sets 40000 points....”
It was true. They are all shown in the points.
I wonder if one point is equal to one yen.
I assume that what they offer at the stores located inside school, usually priced lower than regular price. I often see that cafeterias for students or employees offer meals in much cheaper price than regular price.
If the pricing at this store is under the same condition, it is unexpectedly reasonable for those ladies.
It may be some kind of training purpose for them to know how regular people live.
“What are you doing Misaki?”
“Oops, Yes, I'm coming!”
I was relieved knowing that it is not very expensive store and I followed Ms. Himeko.
Immediately after the entrance I saw some dishes including the tea sets I just saw in the display window, stationary, and other goods for interior decoration.
Then, all the way to the back of the store, there was a space, which was separated from the rest of the store by partition with store's logo, looked like a boutique.
Once I stepped inside the space, I was suddenly surrounded by very glorious atmosphere.
In the center of the space there are many dresses? yes, gowns, not a regular casual dresses, in many different colors.
Who will buy those? I thought but there must be a huge demand for them because they occupied such a huge space.
These are something that are definitely not sold at the store in my dorm building.
As I was mesmerized by them, Ms. Himeko asked me,
“Do you want a gown too?”
I don't know why but she looked happy about it.
“No, no, I don't have any opportunities to wear them to.”
“Really? You will need it for a ball.”
“I don't have any plan to attend any ball.”
I could guess there must be actual ball because Ms. Himeko said it so naturally.
“If you want to go, Misaki, I can take you to as many time as you want.”
“I respectfully decline your offer.”
It is too obvious that I would be embarrassed if I attend a ball.
“That's too bad. I thought it could be fun if you are coming with me.”
It made me realized deeply again how much different the world where they comes from.
“Let's go get a underwear.”
“Okay we will get a dress next time.”
I don't think there will be a next time.
As I encouraged Ms. Himeko to move to where underwear are, she was not willing to but finally she did.
The space for underwear was as much glorious as the space for dresses.
I know usually a lingerie store is like a flower garden but it was way beyond here.
From the one with cute designs to the one with very sexy details, everything was beautifully displayed in the glass case.They are just like precious stone display.
“Hello...wow welcome Lady Himeko.”
As we were looking inside the glass cases, a female who looked like a sales clerk ran toward us in hurry.
If she was a sales clerk she must be used to help students in the Socialite course, but Ms. Himeko must be very special for them as well.
Ms. Himeko effortlessly draw people's attention because she is a surrealistically beautiful girl with silky longhair and distinctive feather hair accessories.
Additionally, she is entitled as an acting executive director of the academy, so there is no way that she can be treated in the same way they treat other students.
“How may I help you today?”
The sales clerk who looked as young as I am bowed deeply.
Did she just glance at me like she was trying to estimate how much I worth for?
“Would you please select some underwear for her? We need the one that comes in as set of bra and panty.”
Ms. Himeko put her hands on my shoulder and pushed me a little forward.
“Certainly. Well then, shall we measure what size you are?”
“Huh? Oh no no, no thanks.”
I shook my head in panic. I do know my own size.
“I'm 30B.”
I'm embarrassed to say it loud because my breast is not big. It made me even more ashamed to say that in front of Ms. Himeko.
“I didn't expect it to be so small.”
“Oh my god! What are you doing?”
All of the sudden someone grabbed my breast so I shouted in a very silly voice. There was no one but Ms. Himeko who would do something like that.
“I thought it would be little bigger....but hey, they are in good shapes.”
She said it like as she was trying to see how rotten a fruit is and touched my breast without any hesitation.
“I'm trying to push them together and up.”
As I calmed down, I told her being discouraged.
Nowadays, I got used to this kind of casual harassment so I did not get panicked so much. The Kokonoe sisters would be much worse than this.
“Your breast don't need to be pushed up, Ms. Himeko.”
Ms. Himeko's breast pushed against my back has obviously more volume than mine.
“Well, Yeah, I have not concerned about it so much.”
Ms. Himeko put her hands a way from my breast and she was thinking seriously.
“But may be I can do that just like you.”
“No you don't have to.”
What would she want to do with even bigger breast?
“If she would like to pump up the size of her breast, what about this one for her?”
As soon as the sales clerk found her chance to cut into our conversations, she made her suggestion.
Pointing at the bra in the glass case, she started to explain about it to Ms. Himeko rather than me.
“It's not too bad but don't know if Misaki will like it.”
Everything the sales clerk suggested were very elegant and gorgeous with embroidered roses on.
They all looked very expensive, and I was pretty sure it wouldn't look good on me.
Ms. Himeko would look good on any gorgeous and flashy underwear but I would be beaten by them.
For ordinary people like me, simple white underwear or ones in plaid would be the best choice.
But there are very few, or should I say none of those simple ones offered in this store.
Well, of course it is the store for the students in the Socialite course, they only carry merchandise to suit their tastes and needs.
“I need something more subdued.”
“Oh, don't hesitate.”
“I'm not hesitating. It is just that I never worn such a gorgeous underwear before.”
I don't really care about designs of underwear as long as it fit me, so I always wear something that are sold for 1000 or 2000 yen. I have never been able to afford fancy underwear. Even I would accept the ones that are sold at 100yen shop.
“Oh dear, I will choose for you then.”
Ms. Himeko said so and picked about three kinds of underwear from the glass case. Then she told the sales clerk that “I take those. With the matching shorts too.”
As I looked at them to see what kind she chose, I could see Ms. Himeko took my consideration into her count. She picked a cute one in white color with pink flowers on it. However, other two were different.
They were flashier with very detailed embroidery all over.
One of them was in light blue color with embroidered roses. And the other was in gray color with embroidered bows. Both of them had frills on the straps.
These bras, which has very mature and somehow erotic feeling, would look perfect on Ms. Himeko.
But I would look hideous wearing those. Even wearing only the bra can be a disaster to me, I can't embarrass myself wearing it with matching shorts.
“Is there anything else you want?”
“No no, three kinds are enough. Even only one is enough for staying one night.”
“Oh, I'm planning to have you stay overnight more often so you better leave some extra underwear in my room, don't you think?”
“Oh I see.”
“Shall we go buy other stuff like toothbrush and chopsticks? Let's buy matching glasses too.”
Am I moving in? I almost said it out loud.
“I would be able to prepare before if you let me know in advance.”
“Then prepare to have a sleepover every weekends.”
“Every weekends?”
“You don't want to?”
Ms. Himeko gave me an upper gaze with mischievous smile.
“I'm not saying I don't want to, but what are you going to need me for overnight?”
“Well...”
Ms. Himeko put her finger on her chin and posed as if she was thinking.
“For example, to have dinner together or stay up late to chitchat.”
“Are those included in Seraph's job?”
“Of course they are. Not only do you have to take care of me, but also is your important job to enjoy my free time together. Seraph always stay together with her lady.”
It sounds almost like a friend more than a maid, or may be it is like a little sister to her. But I could feel that she was longing for that kind of relationship.
“And you will prepare a hot tea to wake me up gently in the morning. Don't you think it would be a perfect beginning of a day?”
“Um...”
Yeah, for the one who are being served, it would be perfect.
“I will try my best to meet your expectations but don't expect too much from me.”
Unfortunately, I'm still a beginner maid, so I'm little worried that I can satisfy her.
“It's alright. No one is perfect from the beginning. It's one of my pleasure watching you growing up.”
She smiled very gently.
“Now we got your underwear. Let's go get daily necessities next. Shall we buy some snacks?”
“Yeah yeah. It's all up to you, Ms. Himeko.”
“Very well, then let's go for a checkout. Oh wait before that...”
Ms. Himeko said to sales clerk who were pulling out the selected underwear from the glass case,
“Could I get the same ones? My size is 32D.”
32D....I knew her breast is that big. I knew but now I realize again how good her body shape is.
I unconsciously put my hands on my breast to check the size. I wonder if mine is little bigger, would I look good with those flashy underwear on?
“What are you doing touching your own breast?”
As Ms. Himeko done checking out, she looked at me with confused face.
“N-nothing.”
I put my hands away from my breast in hurry.
“Oh, I will carry the bag.”
“Really? Then I will leave it on you.”
“Yes”
I got a paper bag with underwear for both of us from Ms. Himeko. At the same time I got a receipt so I checked the price.
It said 13000 points total.
They were about 2000 points per set.
Wait, it's not that expensive? I didn't really think further at that time.
Even though it is for wealthy ladies to use, perhaps they don't offer their merchandise in such extraordinarily expensive price. Or there may be a daughter of CEO at a major lingerie manufacturer in this academy and discount is offered for all the students.
Anyway, no mater what the reasons are, it is fascinating that we can buy such a nice stuff in that prices. For such a good deal, I was even thinking about something calculating that I would ask Ms. Himeko to bring me here again when I get paid.
Later, because Ms. Himeko was in the mood for shopping, she bought us matching toothbrushes and glasses. And those are for 100 or 200 points. So I continued to be pleased by such a reasonable pricing.
“Hmm?”
It was about the time we stopped by at the food court as Ms. Himeko said, “let's bring back some snacks”, I began to notice that something is wrong.
The store which offers many kinds of snacks from pastries to Japanese traditional pastries and bagged snack seemed to be very popular. I could see ladies in the Socialite course who looked serious to select the best snacks here and there.
Even they are from very wealthy family, they are still teenagers who love something sweet and other snacks.
Some of them were here alone and some others were with other students in maid costume just like me.
They probably are someone's Seraph because if they aren't they may not be here.
It seems to be true that ‘Seraph always stays together with her lady' just like Ms. Himeko said to me a moment ago.
I wonder if those Seraphs will stay overnight at their ladies' room because it is kind of late already.
Well, anyway...
I, myself, also is a teenager girl who has a sweet tooth. Especially I have a thing for donuts.
Luckily there supposed to be a donuts shop in this food court, so I decided to ask Ms. Himeko to get some.
“Yes, I know. That's the reason why I came here for with you.”
Ms. Himeko laughed and led me to the display case of donuts.
Then I saw something very weird there.
All kind of donuts displayed in the case looked so delicious that they made my mouth watering even just by looking at them. I assume that the donuts Ms. Himeko brought when I visited the Tenku Salon for the first time was from here.
They should be expensive for such a great taste.
But the points shown as the prices of those donuts were unusually low, like somewhere from 10 points to 30 points.
That's weird.
For donuts taste like that, it should cost at least couple hundreds yen per piece.
If one point calculated equals to one yen, they should cost at least more than 100 points.
Even with special offer only for this school, this pricing should be below its cost.
“Ms. Himeko!”
As I became very anxious about the pricing, I went to Ms. Himeko to check how much those donuts are. But Ms. Himeko was surrounded by several students and looked like they are having a socializing party there.
Ladies in the Socialite course came to say hello to her one after another as they found her. Ms. Himeko was smiling and greeting back to each one of them.
It may take a while
There was no other way so I checked out the prices of some other snacks around me.
And I learned that most of them are 10 or 20 points.
Although I don't know the actual price of the underwear or the tea sets I saw before, I precisely know the price of bagged snacks that can be found at regular convenience stores.
I gulped.
Looked like I misunderstood something very important.
One point is equal to one yen?
NO WAY!
These bagged snacks and donuts would cost at least more than 100 yens, that means...
I stared at the shopping bag I was holding with the underwear inside.
10 points for the snacks which cost 100 yens...
It means that one point count equal as ten points....
The underwear Ms. Himeko just bought for me was about 2000 points per set.
In other wards, it costs more than 20000 yen per set and 60000 yen for three sets.
“Eeeek...”
My hand which was holding the shopping bag was shaking.
I didn't realize Ms. Himeko bought me thee sets of underwear's which cost as ten times as expensive than the ones I usually wear.
I'm pretty sure that if I had that much of money it will be enough for me to eat for several months.
“Ms..Ms. Himeko...”
I felt fainted and almost falling on Ms. Himeko.
Not enough energy left for me to be considerable not to interrupt ladies socializing.
I must have had teary eyes at that moment.
“W-what's wrong Misaki?”
Even Ms. Himeko was surprised by how panicked I was. Her eyes were widely opened.
“This! This!”
I showed the shopping bag to her with my shivering hand.
“What about it?”
Of course Ms. Himeko didn't have any idea that I was panicked by how much they cost.
As the only thing I could at that time was to open and close my mouth without saying anything, she said
“Wait here for a second” and pet my head.
Then she lowered her head to the ladies whom she was speaking with and said,
“I'm very sorry ladies. I just recall a very important thing to do. Will you excuse me? I'm going to finish it up first.”
“Oh we are very sorry to keep you.”
“You don't show up such a place like here so often, so we are too happy to be able to consider if you have a time.”
“Oh no, no worries. Please enjoy rest of your time at shopping, ladies.”
The way she left the scene was so elegant that it even soothe my feeling.
“Misaki, come follow me.”
As Ms. Himeko brought me to the place with no eyes from other people, I lunged toward her with the shopping bag in my hand. And I said.
“These are very expensive.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
Ms. Himeko had confusing look on her face.
“I'm telling you that those underwear you bought for me are very expensive. I didn't know it cost that much. I can not accept them.”
“What's the matter with you? They are not as much as you should be surprised with.
“Yes they are as expensive as I should be surprised with! They are 60000 yen total for three sets.”
Ms. Himeko must lost her sense for the real value of actual money.
I thought so, but....
“So what? It is not too much at all. I just picked from what they had had there today, but to tell you the truth, we should get made-to-order ones for the ultimate quality. If we do so it costs as twice or three times more than what we bought today. The ones we got today were in very reasonable price, weren't they?”
“No, they are not.”
Now I realize even more that we are from different planet. There is no way that these underwear can be called cheap.
“Let me tell you something, Misaki. I don't accept returns. These are the gift for you. You would disgrace my name if you refuse to accept them. There will be a bad rumor about me that Himeko Amanotsuka is miserable mistress whose Seraph didn't accept her gift.”
“Oh no...”
Ms. Himeko smiled like a little devil as if she is having fun to see how I react.
“You don't need to worry about it. I didn't pay by my cash anyway. If I don't use those points they will be wasted. They are for me to spend. I bought those underwear for you to show my appreciation to you for doing great jobs as my Seraph. You earned it, so just accept them, okay?”
“Mmmm.”
I feel like I'm getting into a trap I can never get out of.
A scapegoat Seraph is becoming a real Seraph. That's what I see in my near future.
One of my belief is not to owe anyone anything that I cannot give back but this is definitely something I cannot give back to her.
“Don't get panicked so easily by such a small thing like the price of underwear. Seraph should have the same sense of value as her mistress has. If you get panicked every time I get something expensive for you, everyone else may think that I don't educate you appropriately.”
“I understand what you are saying, but...”
“Listen, you are like ladies' maid now. A ladies' maid is responsible for taking care of her lady's gems and jewelry, and attending evening parties or going shopping with her lady. There may be a lot of things which don't align with your value. But do not get panicked every time and pretend it is nothing or else I get embarrassed.”
“O...kay...”
I started to understand that it may be something inevitable for me to stay as Ms. Himeko's Seraph.
“If you understand me, let's go back to shopping. When we go back to my room, we need to have a meeting regarding what just happened. You are in need of getting know me more.”
“Okay
“I knew we need to have a sleepover to prepare for something like this.”
For some reason, Ms. Himeko smiled really happily when she said that.
****
So something like that happened one day...
“I was grateful that she bought me those underwear, but sometime Ms. Himeko can be very selfish. And also I still cannot get used to how she value the money....”
I said so and sighed quietly.
“WHAT DID YOU SAY???”
Kirara started to grind her teeth and glared at me fiercely.
“She would not do that much for you if she doesn't trust you! Why can't you understand? It's been only two weeks and you are so much closer to her. How much are you being admired by her?”
“I don't think we are that close yet.”
Ms. Himeko still hasn't told me the reason why she didn't have a Seraph before.
“Huh? What are you talking about? It is obvious for everyone that Lady Himeko and you are having a great maid-mistress relationship.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Even a Seraph usually is not allowed so soon to stay overnight to serve her lady. It means she trusts you enough to show you her privacy. You bragged about your sleepover night too.”
“I didn't mean to brag.”
“Huh? What else it can be, if you don't call it bragging?”
Mmm what did I say to her?
I tried to recall what happened after we went back to Ms. Himeko's room.
“Umm, we had some tea in her room, took a bath together, and then we tried on our new underwear she bought. Oh and by the way, the flashy ones didn't look good on me as I predicted. Even Ms. Himeko gave me a wry smile. But they were very comfortable on. The softness was incomparable to what I used to wear. I realize that expensive product has a quality which is worth for what it costs...oops!”
I came back to the reality feeling very sharp eyes on me.
Kirara was so furious that she was almost about to jump on me.
“And you don't call it bragging?”
“Hahaha, you are right. It may sounded like I was bragging”
“It is not ‘may sounded like,' you were completely bragging!!”
“Yes I was. If I think back carefully.”
I promised not to do it again in my mind.
“Oh I envy you. I really envy you so much. Well, is there anything else happened since you became her Seraph?”
“Let's see. What else?”
I already told her that I'm allowed to stay overnight at her room, I am able to shop at the stores located in the dorm building for the Socialite course students, and about the Tenku Salon. Other than those...
“She also helped me study, gave me her used clothes.... and... oh, you know what there is another thing. In the wood behind the dorm building for the Socialite course students, there is a small French restaurant. It's Ms. Himeko's secretly favorite restaurant and she sometimes takes me there for a dinner.”
The restaurant is the another place which the only way for the Home Economic course students to visit is being Seraph for the ladies who go there.
“It's only been two weeks so that's about it. She said she would take me to the other salons when I get used to my school life a little more. Supposed to be someone who she would like to introduce me to.”
“Ugh, enough! How lucky are you?!”
Finally, Kirara's anger exploded.
“If you get so much benefit from being Lady Himeko's Seraph, you understand how special being Seraph can be, don't you? You said you didn't know anything about Seraph when you entered this school, but you actually became the first Seraph among freshman students, and now you are enjoying your life with your lady.”
“I was just lucky. Or there may be some kind of Karma.”
“Being Seraph is not as easy and simple as you can become just with your luck! The only student who has a professional skill as a maid will get recognized by ladies, and be able to become a Seraph. It is not fair and it is completely wrong that a student like you, who didn't even know anything about being a maid or a Seraph, to be chosen to become a Seraph of the lady in the top social class like Ms. Himeko.”
“Don't say that to me, say that to Ms. Himeko...”
“Shut up! I can't take it anymore. I have been studying really hard and doing my best to become a Seraph. But why can't I become one yet?”
“Come on, it has only been two weeks. I'm pretty sure that you will meet someone who really likes you, Kirara. Besides, soon you will start meeting new ladies in the Socialite course while serving them as their housekeeper, won't you?”
“I can't wait until then. I will beat my own path! And you, Misaki Hotaru! I won't let you be a winner anymore!”
Kirara was on fire.
No words from me can reach to her.
Only thing I can do is to watch over her... as she told me to.