"That's all for today. Apologies, my lord, I need more rest…" Renka said, stepping to Kagura's side, sinking silently into his shadow like dark, still water, leaving no ripple.
"Fine, we'll talk later." Kagura scratched his head, noting the matter mentally.
"If you understand, go. I'll return the phone," Rumi said, still crouched, ears covered, eyes shut, speaking calmly. "Piano… it's not fun at all."
Sighing twice, Kagura strode to the piano, pulled out the bench, and sat unceremoniously. His hands deftly touched the keys, testing a few notes to confirm the tuning, then, eyes closed, he began playing Maid's Skirt, the piece he'd asked Rumi to perform.
Crisp notes flowed like a clear, winding stream, filling the music room. His nimble fingers danced across the keys with apparent ease but precise intent, enlivening the atmosphere. It was as if a playful maid scampered behind, pausing to twirl, her skirt flaring gracefully, swaying with her elegant form.
Rumi started to speak but fell silent within half a minute, entranced. Her hands dropped from her ears, and sunlight slipped through the half-drawn linen curtains, bathing Kagura in a warm glow. His confident, immersed demeanor, paired with the captivating melody, left her spellbound.
Maid's Skirt took about ten minutes. Kagura looped and varied two sections, extending it to nearly twelve. As the final note rang with his last press, he straightened, eyes snapping open. —Rumi's bench is too low for my height!
"So beautiful…" Rumi murmured, lost in awe.
"Right?" Kagura propped a leg up, left hand on the bench, right pointing to the piano. "And pretty cool, too."
"…"
Rumi snapped back, pouting and covering her ears, feigning defiance. Kagura rose, smiling, and crouched beside her, extending his right hand. "Come, let me see your beauty…"
Rumi slowly looked up. Sunlight bloomed behind him, his face shadowed but, to her, his silhouette alone radiated warmth.
Yet, maidenly reserve held her back. She didn't take his hand, standing by pushing against the door, her cheeks faintly red. "I can't play well… just copying others."
"No matter. Everyone's performance is unique. Let me hear yours."
Unfazed by her refusal, Kagura stood, watching her approach the bench.
But—
"Eh…?" Rumi gasped, startled, as her left leg buckled. She swayed left, steadied, but her right leg gave way, toppling her rightward.
Kagura, a step behind, lunged forward, catching her shoulders. Her hair's fragrance brushed his nose, but he focused on concern. "Miss Tsurumi, are you alright?"
"I… I… I'm fine—" Rumi answered, eyes shut, avoiding his gaze.
Kagura realized she'd crouched too long, causing poor leg circulation and positional low blood pressure. No major issue—young and healthy, Rumi clung to his sleeve, regaining her footing soon after.
Though flushed, she stubbornly sat at the bench, rubbing her temples. "I'm okay. Thanks."
"Tch, not cute at all~"
"Ugh…" Rumi shot him a look, her eyes seeming to say, "Are you a lolicon?" but she held back.
As she eased her dizziness, Kagura moved to the window. She asked, "You held me so long and didn't even blush?"
"Hey, little lady, watch your words, or you'll land me in jail!" Her phrasing rattled him.
"…Wah!" Rumi realized her slip.
In Japanese, "hold" could imply sex, especially male-dominated intimacy. Her words could mean, "You fucked me so long and didn't blush?"
"Oh-ho, you're young but know a lot, huh?" Kagura teased, bordering on harassment.
"N-No, that's not what I meant…" Rumi coughed, cheeks burning. "I meant… when I almost fell, you kept holding me. Why didn't you blush?"
"Good question." Kagura snapped his fingers, raising an eyebrow. "Why should I?"
"Even if I'm a kid, I'm still a girl, right? Only I got embarrassed—so unfair! You're shameless, Kagura!"
Mid-sentence, Rumi raised her right hand to her eyes, perhaps intending a goofy face but stopping, deeming it childish.
"Hahaha, you think I'm the type to blush passing a girl?" Kagura laughed heartily, recalling his childhood among maids, pulling pranks with youthful impunity. No way he'd blush now.
"My classmates… if they touch a boy's hand borrowing an eraser, they blush for hours. You held me so long with no reaction. Shameless…" Rumi's expression dimmed. —Now, I can't even borrow erasers. Even Miu, my best friend, ignores me.
"Don't compare me to kids."
"Are all high school boys like you?"
"Depends on the person, not age. Figure that out when you're in high school." Growing impatient, Kagura checked his watch, pointing to the Steinway. "Rested? If you're ready, start. I'm waiting for your performance."
"Hoo—" Rumi said nothing, straightening and breathing deeply.
Metronome, pedals, keys—the touch, the wood's scent, the state—all familiar, but—
"What's wrong?" Kagura asked, seeing her pause.
Rumi turned, frowning as if he were an idiot, pointing to her music stand with an exasperated air.
Her silent gesture spoke volumes. Kagura realized she couldn't play without sheet music.
Not everyone had his photographic memory for scores, especially for Maid's Skirt, his own creation. Forgetting his own piece would be laughable—better to farm potatoes in Ireland. Northern Ireland, not the south.
Luckily, Maid's Skirt was in textbooks. He grabbed Rumi's Advanced Piano Pieces from a nearby shelf, flipped to the piece, and set it on the stand.
Through the piano's glossy reflection, Rumi caught Kagura smirking, embarrassing her. She glared. "What? Is it weird for a kid to need sheet music?"
"Not at all." Kagura stifled laughter, waving.
"Not everyone memorizes pieces like you."
"Oh, you know me so well?"
"I…" Rumi stopped short, clamping her mouth shut.
—Admitting you're my piano idol is too embarrassing.
"In Chiba, kids my age learning piano grow up on your legend, don't they?" she said, finding a decent excuse.
"Oh, my apologies then. Sheet music's ready—begin." Kagura crossed his arms, stepping back.
Rumi took several deep breaths, placing her hands on the keys.
Studying the score, memorizing a segment, rehearsing with her fingers, she pressed the first note.
Kagura observed silently from the side.
As someone focuses on a task, their aura often sharpens. Rumi's did, briefly resembling Yukino Yukishita's confident, smiling fingerwork to Kagura.
Yukino exuded poise. Kagura thought if he'd first met her playing a mastered piece, he might've fallen for her.
But true love was Ai Hayasaka.
"Posture and presence pass. Technique…" Kagura closed his eyes, listening.
Hm… Like dancers chasing laughter on tender grass—not stellar, but a raw gem. Her emotion felt stiff, understandable for a first performance before a pro like him. Tension was excusable. Could she shine?
Kagura waited for her expressive section.
At the mid-piece, where he'd varied and improvised, Rumi began, seemingly to show off, mimicking his approach. Due to nerves, speed, and rustiness, she hit three wrong notes and missed two, yet Kagura enjoyed it.
—Go on, show me how far you can mimic!
He waited eagerly.
But fate disappointed. Rumi's playing halted after an eighth note.
Kagura opened his eyes.
Rumi's fingertips froze on the next keys, eyes unblinking, breath seemingly stopped, like a seated loli wax statue.
"Rumi…?" Kagura called softly.
No response.
"Ugh, no wonder she can't pass exams… Probably dismissed as a mental issue. Not in therapy yet—she should play Only Mom is Good."
Kagura didn't intervene, recording on his phone. After three minutes and seventeen seconds, Rumi "awoke," gasping and collapsing onto the keys, eliciting a heavy piano sigh.
Her "frozen" state was exhausting—holding arms level for three minutes, like a statue game, would tire anyone.
"Now… you see…" Rumi hid her face with her hair, teeth clenched in shame. "Take your gift and go. Don't bother with me."
"No, I think you're a promising student." Kagura approached, gently ruffling her head. "If your mom suggests therapy, tell her I said it's unnecessary. Rest two weeks. Practice when you can. The second weekend, I'll send someone to fetch you to my place for lessons. I'll guide you personally, assessing you for a period I'll determine."
Thus, Kagura decided to take Rumi as his student.
Back home, he found the maids bustling. Asking, he learned Ai was directing them to clean—not the bath, but the pool.
The pool resembled two fried eggs in a pan, partially merged. Ai stood meticulously by the edge… uh, on her phone?
Hearing Kagura's steps, she hid it, turning expressionlessly. "Welcome home, my most esteemed Master Kagura."
Kagura wanted to retort, "Esteemed, my ass!" but refrained, ignoring Ai's slacking. Glancing at the ten maids scrubbing, he asked, "Why the sudden pool cleaning?"
The maids, overhearing, thought: Yeah, I wanna know too!
The pool saw use a few times yearly, cleaning unavoidable, but humans procrastinate when possible.
"Here's the thing, Master Kagura." Ai straightened, pointing to Eriri's third-floor room. "Per the latest forecast, the next three days will exceed 30°C. Miss Eriri has decided on a swimsuit event tomorrow."
"What?!" Kagura gasped. "Isn't tomorrow the club meeting?"
"Meet…ing…?" Ai blinked, deadpan. "What meeting? A no-holds-barred orgy?"
"Screw you! Uh, did I forget to tell you? The galge club meeting. Club's called Golden Apple Software."
"First I'm hearing of it… You're telling me the day before?"
"Sorry, slipped my mind."
"No matter." Ai stood tall, hands at her abdomen, looking up. "What should I do?"
"Nothing much. Switch to 'ojousama mode,' head out early, return by 1:30 PM. Lunch out okay?"
"You make me sound like a mode-switching robot," Ai replied flatly, her eyes faintly scornful.
"Ahem… Basically, you're 'invited to my house' as the main heroine, got it?"
"What does the main heroine do? Anything I need to prep overnight?"
"No all-nighters. Rest well. As for what… uh, act cute?"
"…Understood. Any other girls present?"
Ai calculated: 1:30 PM, pool—swimsuit needed?
"Just me, the guy."
Kagura patted his chest.
"Understood. I'll prepare casual clothes and a swimsuit. Should I wear it under?"
"As an 'ojousama,' that's too eager. Bring it, change here."
"Got it." Ai saluted, then muttered, "Training's not over. You, a fusion of lust and flesh, please restrain yourself seeing my swimsuit."
"My right palm's itching to meet your butt. What do I do?"
"…That's maid harassment."
"Bullshit." Kagura raised his right hand, grinning. "I wanna spank you silly."
"That's severe maid harassment! Moshi moshi—" Ai whipped out her phone, feigning a call.
Kagura apologized; the call didn't go through. Her act was for the cleaning maids' benefit.
Ai valued her dignity. She slept with Kagura out of affection, not duty, and didn't want gossip from other maids.
Skipping the mansion's rear, Kagura left supervision to Ai and returned to his room.
Opening the door—Qiong was there?
The vibe was off. Not just Qiong—Nao was too, seemingly scolding her. Qiong, head bowed, clutching her black rabbit plush's ear, pouted sulkily, clearly reprimanded.
Only Nao, unaware of Qiong's true identity, treated her as Eriri's maid. Otherwise, she'd likely overlook Qiong's mischief.
Seeing Kagura, Nao softened, taking deep breaths. Qiong, head low, darted past her, aiming to slip by Kagura.
"Qiong? What's up?" Kagura tried grabbing her hand, but she ducked, weaving under his arm with her small frame, clutching the plush, and bolted.
"…?"
Kagura turned to Nao for answers.
"What happened, Nao?" he asked calmly, closing the door.
"Well…" Nao hesitated, rubbing her hands. "When I returned to your room, I noticed the wardrobe ajar. Checking, I found Qiong hiding something, stuffing it away."
"What…?" Kagura's shock rivaled seeing Mrs. Yuihama on the toilet.
"I have reason to suspect Qiong stole from you. How should we proceed?" Nao said, hands at her abdomen.
"Qiong stealing from me?" Kagura tilted his head, disbelieving.
Why would Qiong, wanting for nothing, steal? She could ask their father for anything. What's her motive?
Suspecting a misunderstanding, Kagura silently checked the wardrobe, soon finding something odd.
A mosquito repellent device—the one he gave Qiong, returned, and a new one too. "Tch… What's her deal, sneaking to return this?" he muttered.
"Well…" Nao eyed the device hesitantly.
"What?"
"To be frank, the device is one thing, but I saw Qiong hurriedly stuff something into her plush's back."
Kagura knew the spot—a deep seam in the rabbit for her universal key.
"Hm…" He glanced at the wardrobe, considering his bond with Qiong, then waved it off. "Let her take it. I don't mind."
She was his sister, like Eriri taking something from his room—trivial. He'd buy another.
"Such leniency with servants risks their arrogance," Nao warned.
"It's fine. I allow it."
"If you say so, I'll pretend nothing happened."
Nao bowed slightly.
Unbeknownst, Qiong had stuffed her own panties into the plush. She wore Kagura's instead.
Without further talk, Kagura headed to Eriri's room.
Knock knock—
He rapped on the door.
Creak— Eriri opened a narrow slit, peeking up sneakily. "What?"
"Qiong…"
"Why're you always on about Qiong? What, playing house now, swapping maids?"
Kagura barely said her name before Eriri cut him off rudely.
Eriri was peak holiday slob: black-rimmed glasses, yellow slippers, pilled white tee, poop-green striped track pants, hair and makeup squandering her cute face.
"No… not that," Kagura stammered, choked. Eriri grabbed his collar aggressively. "Then what?!"
"I… Forget it."
Kagura rolled his eyes, dropping it.
"Spit it out, don't clam up! Spill it all, Kora!" Eriri squeezed through the gap, yanking his collar, hopping.
"…" Kagura pried her hand off, sighing. "It's not about you. Where's Qiong?"
"Oh-ho? Want my maid without asking me? No way!"
"Shoo." Done with the topic, Kagura pushed Eriri's shoulders, nudging her inside, closing the door. "Why the sudden pool cleaning? Tomorrow's the club meeting."
Scanning the room—hm, fresh-scented but chaotic. Her art desk was a mess of strewn panties and stockings.
"Meetings at home are dull. Chatting poolside, soaking—way comfier, no?" Eriri, unfazed by her scattered underwear, stood hands on hips, slightly blocking his view.
Her height made it futile.
"Hey, you…" Kagura's fists became drills, grinding her head as she yelped. "You're thrilled, but what about Kato Megumi and Senpai Shiwa coming? This swimsuit plan—Ai's fine, but them?"
"What's it to Dollface… Oh, oohhh!" Eriri froze, mid-yelp, realizing.
"You told them? Swimsuits?"
Kagura stopped drilling.
"I don't have their numbers, emails, or LINE. How'd I tell them? Telepathy?" Eriri muttered inaudibly, "I didn't want to talk to them anyway!"
"…Your unilateral plan won't embarrass them?"
"Choose!" Eriri pointed dramatically at his face. "Embarrass two near-strangers or your dearest sister?!"
"I side with the guests. Two outweighs one. Scrap the pool meeting."
"Normally, you'd pick sister! Pick sister!!" Eriri thrashed her hair, forgetting her lack of twintails, flinging dandruff and jabbing his eyes.
"Pfft! How long since you washed your hair?" Kagura grabbed her hair, spinning her into a chokehold.
"I… How dare you ask a girl that?! Let go—owowow!" Eriri twisted, wincing, tiptoeing.
"Go wash." Kagura pinched her neck, tossed her hair, and shoved. She stumbled, flopping onto her bed's edge, butt up, track pants outlining her panties.
Eriri blushed, playing dead.
Slap! Kagura smacked her butt. She sprang up, clutching it, darting forward. "That hurt!!" Glaring, she snarled, "Trying to kill me?!"
"Spanking a girl to death? Your SM doujins would get banned."
"No way! Mind your own!" Eriri looked ready to bite, turning to face him, rubbing her butt, whining in a pouty tone, "How low am I in your heart?"
"It's just rude."
"Hmph~" Eriri ignored him.
"Fine, you don't have their contacts. I'll handle it."
Before Eriri, Kagura called Megumi Kato.
Eriri sprawled unladylike, hair flung aside, head toward Kagura, feet forward, muttering, "Calling a girl out of nowhere? Clueless jerk. She's in Hokkaido—won't pick up!"
Two seconds later, the call connected.
"Moshi moshi? Sawamura-kun, right?" Megumi's voice held a playful edge, as if mocking Eriri's doubt.
Eriri's smug "watch you flop" face froze. Kagura smirked at her.
Tch, vixen… Eriri cursed inwardly, listening quietly.
Kagura put it on speaker, raising the volume, sitting by Eriri. "It's me, Kato. Enjoying your trip?"
"Mm~ Checking out of the hotel, planning to shop for souvenirs before the airport. What's up? If it's a meeting reminder, I'm not that forgetful."
Background noise—her parents and a clerk—didn't obscure her voice.
"The meeting's on, but, uh, though it's sudden, could you prepare something before coming?"
"No need to stress the suddenness. You have my email, LINE, everything, yet you call a girl mid-family trip. That's sudden enough, no?"
"Hehehe… Pfft!" Eriri stifled laughter.
Kagura chuckled, coughing. "Sorry, it's urgent."
"Mm… Alright, go ahead."
"I mean no offense, just—could you bring a swimsuit tomorrow? Might need it."
"Swim… swim…" Megumi repeated, trailing off, likely with parents nearby.
"Yeah, you heard right. Swimsuit."
"Um… Could I hear the reason first?"
"Reason." Kagura shot Eriri a glance, flipping her the bird. "My idiot sister Eriri heard you're coming and had the maids clean the pool for a private pool party to welcome you. You get it."
Eriri stuck out her tongue at his gesture.
"Uh… I see…" Megumi sounded dazed, pausing before asking, "Who's joining this party?"
"Only me as the guy. Four girls: you, Utaha Kasumigaoka, Eriri, J-class's Hayasaka, maybe Qiong."
"I…" Megumi toyed with her hair over the phone, hesitating long before saying, "Bringing… uh, it's not mandatory, right? Not a 'bring it or get lost' rule?"
Before Kagura answered, Eriri drawled, "Of course not~~ You don't have to. Stay dry on the shore while we splash!"
"Eh? Is… Sawamura Eriri there too?"
"Yeah, her dumb idea."
"Dumb?! Lounging in the pool, swimming, snacking on ice, discussing the club's future—how's that not classy?! Your brain's rusted to oppose me!"
Eriri lunged for the phone, but her short arms missed twice, and she gave up.
"I understand. I'll consider it. I'll definitely attend the meeting, don't worry."
"OK~"
"What time should we arrive? Your road's private, right? How do we get there?"
"Just take a—" Eriri started, but Kagura muffled her mouth, rushing before she bit, "Send me your address on LINE. I'll send someone between 1:00 and 1:15—owowow!"
"Uh… Sawamura-kun, you okay?"
"Fine, just Eriri biting my hand—ouch!" Kagura yanked her hair.
Eriri let out a banshee wail into the mic.
Megumi, startled, sighed and hung up.
Minutes later, they called a truce.
Eriri, teary, curled up like a victim, while Kagura, nursing a bitten left hand, called Utaha.
After ten seconds, Utaha answered leisurely.
"Moshi moshi, Kaguya-kun. I'm changing." Her voice held a hint of resentment.
"Oh, sorry, I'll call back."
"No need. I'm putting on stockings—mostly dressed, not naked. No need to fantasize."
"…"
Kagura was speechless. Eriri stopped sniffling.
Stockings?! Plot point detected!
"Why's Kaguya-kun, who never contacts me except to reschedule, suddenly calling?"
"Sorry, my idiot sister Eriri planned a small pool party to welcome you. The meeting's poolside, so… could you bring a swimsuit tomorrow, Senpai?"
"Swimsuit? You said swimsuit, right?"
"Uh… Think so."
"You're proposing a one-guy, multi-girl swimsuit party. That's fine?"
Utaha tucked the phone between jaw and shoulder, rolling her pantyhose up her left leg.
"Should be… fine? It's just swimsuits."
"True, swimsuits are like 'innerwear you can show off,' but calling a girl you've barely met thrice to bring one—your shady motives are a bit obvious, no?"
Utaha spoke rapidly, multitasking. "It's not my idea. If you don't want to, Senpai, no pressure."
Kagura glanced at Eriri, giggling silently, and shoved the phone to her mouth. Eriri snatched it, stifling laughter. "Yup, it's all my jerk brother Kagura's shady plan. As a fellow girl, I warn you—don't come. If you must, no swimsuit, or some creep's eyes will feast."
Despite proposing the party, Eriri pinned it on Kagura.
"Oh, Sawamura Eriri? Eavesdropping like a prairie dog peeking from its burrow? Bad habit. The gentle world where kids' mistakes are forgiven doesn't exist~"
"No way! Why a prairie dog?!" Eriri flipped up, yelling into the phone. "You're a shady spider! And who's a kid?! We're both 17, high schoolers!"
"Hehe… Your figure screams anything but high school. Fine, if you insist I show what a mature woman's body is, I'll indulge you."
"Gah—" Eriri froze, words stuck in her throat.