Chapter 353: Love Progress

At 6:30 AM, Hayasaka opened her eyes.

Normally, her biological clock would wake her around 5 AM, but perhaps because she had finally vented all the pressure and grievance she had bottled up for years last night, she managed to get a rare full eight hours of sleep.

As for her time being Rinji's maid, it lasted only one day and one night. That meant she still had to act as his maid for the entire day.

And so, her first job as a maid was naturally to wake her master and prepare breakfast.

Hayasaka knew her way around cooking well enough—making breakfast was no issue. She put on the maid outfit laid out beside the bed and got up to leave the room.

Just as she was about to wash up in the bathroom, she opened her bedroom door and heard the sound of cooking from the kitchen—sizzle sizzle—along with the mouth-watering aroma of food.

"Hayasaka, you're awake?"

Rinji poked his head out of the kitchen, wearing an apron, a frying pan in hand with eggs sizzling in it.

"Go wash up first. Breakfast will be ready soon."

"…Okay."

Watching him return to the kitchen, Hayasaka let out a small sigh.

By rights, a maid's job was to serve her master. But judging by yesterday evening and this morning, working for Rinji was clearly going to end up with her being the one taken care of.

Was she even a maid anymore if the master was the one taking care of her?

After brushing her teeth and washing up, she put on her contact lenses and came back out to find breakfast already set on the table.

During breakfast, Rinji turned on the TV to check the morning news or catch a drama.

Hayasaka quietly ate while watching TV with him.

Back when she worked for Kaguya, as a servant she wasn't allowed to dine at the same table as her master. She had to eat quickly in a corner. But here, things were shockingly casual.

Even though Rinji had a status and background far beyond Kaguya's, he never once flaunted himself as nobility or some highborn elite.

"Rinji, are you really planning to send me back to work with Kaguya-sama?"

"Yeah, I'm not thrilled about it, but it's your own wish, right?" Rinji replied while eating. "You said you still worry about her. Only by staying by her side will you feel at ease, right?"

"What if one day I stop worrying about her?"

"Then it's up to you. You're a free person now."

"Can I come work for you?"

"Of course." Rinji nodded. "Though… what would make you finally stop worrying about Shinomiya? When she turns eighteen? Starts college?"

That's too far away, Hayasaka thought.

She replied, "Probably when her relationship with President Shirogane finally progresses."

"…"

The bread in Rinji's mouth suddenly stopped moving.

That was exactly the issue he was struggling with. Despite all the help he'd given Shirogane, there hadn't been any visible progress between him and Kaguya. If anything, they seemed stuck in place.

"Just to ask… how does Shinomiya see the president?"

"She's head over heels for him, And the president feels the same?"

"Of course. He adores her."

"…Seems like we'll have to intervene a little."

—

"You dragged me out this early—what's going on?"

Inside a family restaurant, Kaguya sat dressed in casual clothes, sipping a drink with a blank expression. She glared at the two across from her—Rinji and Hayasaka—also in plain attire.

She'd rushed out thinking something serious had happened, only to find… this.

"Well, Shinomiya, there's something I have to tell you."

"Speak."

"Last night… well… I may have said something reckless to your family and then…"

"I got fired," Hayasaka finished bluntly.

"Eh!!?"

Kaguya's expression instantly shifted. She looked back and forth between Hayasaka and Rinji, her disbelief evident.

Their expressions didn't lie.

"Why would you get fired!? I never heard anything about this!"

Of course she hadn't. Shinomiya Oko probably wanted to keep it quiet. If word got out that Hayasaka was dismissed, other factions would try to dig for dirt—especially since she knew too much about the Shinomiya family. With no family agents allowed in Tokyo, losing her would be a big blow.

"So… that means…"

Kaguya's eyes turned teary.

"Hayasaka won't be by my side anymore…"

Rinji: "Not exactly…"

Hayasaka: "Seems like it."

"Unforgivable!"

Kaguya slammed the table, drawing attention from other diners.

"Rinji! You stole the president from me, and now you're trying to take Hayasaka too!?"

"Don't just make stuff up! When did I ever steal the president?"

Rinji rubbed his temples, annoyed.

"And I never said Hayasaka wouldn't work for you again."

"Eh?"

Kaguya blinked in surprise.

"Since Hayasaka's still worried about you, I've decided to fund her continued service at your place."

"…"

"What do you say, Shinomiya?"

"…Thank goodness."

Tears finally fell from her eyes, but now they were tears of joy.

She truly cared about Hayasaka. Losing her felt devastating, but having her back brought immense relief.

"Oh, and one more thing."

"Yes, Rinji-kun?"

Kaguya's tone had become noticeably softer.

"Then I'll ask—when exactly are you and the president becoming a couple?"

"Eh?"

"As in—when will you two start dating?"

"D-Dating!!?"

Kaguya's face turned red in an instant.

Looking around nervously, she stammered, "W-We're not dating or anything, Rinji-kun, you really love to joke. The president and I, we just…"

"Here we go again."

"Kaguya-sama's usual brand of foolishness."

Rinji and Hayasaka exchanged the kind of look usually reserved for dealing with the mentally challenged.