It happened about ten days ago. In the ruined casino on the sinking cruise ship, after the battle with Chameleon…
"I apologize for the delay," I said to the girl's back. Her shoulders flinched. "…It's you, hm?" The black-haired girl turned to look at me. A little of her hair was tied up on the side with a red ribbon. She was sitting on the floor,
and a sleeping boy in a suit jacket was resting his head on her lap.
"It's been a very long time, Mistress Siesta." She didn't look the same anymore due to certain circumstances, but this was the mistress who had created me.
"By the way, what were you just about to do?"
"What do you mean?" Mistress Siesta looked away from me pointedly. "It seemed as if you were leaning closer to that boy's face."
"…I don't know what you're talking about." "Nagisa will be angry with you."
"—Look, I told you, I don't know what you're talking about." My mistress is completely adorable.
"Still, this is strange. I'm right in front of me." Shifting the boy to the floor, Mistress Siesta got to her feet and studied me.
To tell the truth, I currently have the exact same face as the real Mistress Siesta. I am a living android who's borrowed her body.
"That maid outfit looks good on you. I'm sure my assistant would fall for you in a heartbeat."
"? That isn't something I particularly want. Mistress Siesta, could it be that you want—"
"Now, about why I had you come here today." Yes, my mistress really is adorable.
"I have another request regarding the plan we discussed." Then Mistress Siesta told me why she'd summoned me.
It was a certain program that she had left behind. A plan to transplant part of her memories and abilities into me, then further develop the four people who would carry out her last will.
"There's just one small change. I'd like to add this." Mistress Siesta held an IC chip out to me. "It's data about a mistake I once made."
"…? It's unusual for you to make mistakes, Mistress Siesta."
"…You're right. Apparently I really wasn't good at reading human emotions." Mistress Siesta smiled wryly. "And so, for the specifics, I'd like you to install that and look over the contents. There are new instructions on it as well."
"Understood, Mistress." That was how Mistress Siesta worked. She never told you everything on her own. I would go over this carefully later.
"Now my job really is over, isn't it?" As Mistress Siesta murmured, her face seemed somehow radiant. She sat down right where she was and began gazing at the sleeping boy's face again.
Yes, this was Mistress Siesta's final job, the one thing she'd said was still troubling her: watching over and raising the four who were her legacy. She'd entrusted that job to me, and now she would truly go to sleep.
I looked at her. She'd accomplished everything, her expression was peaceful, and—
"Mistress Siesta, a moment ago, you said you didn't understand human emotions. Do you understand your own?"
Mistress Siesta was still looking at the boy. Her shoulders flinched again. "You… Just…do what I've told you to do." That was all she said. She
spoke without turning around.
"Very well." I was only a maid, there to help and serve my mistress. I bowed, turned, and left.
However, for just a moment, a thought skimmed through my mind.
If it is a maid's duty to wish for her mistress's happiness, then what should I actually do next?