Can't We Skip Dating?

Nanami had left.

Although Akira had said that food and lodging would be covered, she wasn't ready to move in just yet. She hadn't brought any clothes or daily necessities.

As she left, she stood nervously at the doorway and looked back—Akira wasn't one to see guests off, and Utaha, as a guest, clearly didn't need to either. 

So she saw no one.

Thus, Nanami quietly departed the Ogiwara residence, returning to Sakurasou with a dazed expression the entire way.

She really wanted to believe in the purity of that night, and she also wanted to believe what Utaha had said before—that she hadn't accepted the "deal." But...

Even when she left, Utaha was still deeply immersed in playing house.

For someone as pure-hearted as Nanami, it was all a bit too overwhelming.

No wonder, upon returning to Sakurasou, Jin-senpai commented,

"Aoyama-san looks just like someone who saw the guy she likes walk into a love hotel with another girl—hahaha… ha… hic."

That last weird hiccup came from Jin choking on his own laughter after making eye contact with Nanami's broken, unreadable expression.

In a mess of confusion, Nanami spent a sleepless night.

She didn't wake up early the next morning. Judging from the term "villa" in the address, the place she was headed to was probably someone's residence rather than a mere training center, so arriving too early might be inappropriate. 

Akira hadn't mentioned a specific time for her to report, either.

So she rested a bit longer to regain her energy, tidied herself up, and headed for the address Akira had indicated in his email—at her most presentable state.

And then, in front of that luxurious villa, she stood dumbstruck.

A massive iron gate with not a speck of rust, towering courtyard walls, carefully arranged stone paths within, rare ornamental plants unlike anything on the street, and further ahead—an imposing three-story mansion of grandiose design.

How much would a villa like this cost? Tens of millions? Hundreds of millions? Billions?

Just thinking of those astronomical numbers made Nanami feel dizzy, like she had a fever.

She double-checked the address repeatedly to confirm that this was indeed where Akira had told her to go. 

Then, filled with anxiety, she pressed the intercom by the gate.

The call connected quickly, and a calm, emotionless voice answered.

"Hello, this is the Shinomiya residence. Oh, Miss Aoyama, correct?"

"Yes!" Nanami answered nervously. "Mr. Ogiwara asked me to come here for training!"

"Understood. Please come in."

With a soft click, the massive iron gate began to slide open with barely a sound.

Nanami swallowed hard and nervously followed the stone path toward the massive villa.

Just before she reached the front door, a blonde maid about her age stepped out and stood under the eaves, waiting.

Although they were the same age, the sheer pressure from the opulent mansion behind her and the maid's calm demeanor made Nanami quicken her steps up the stairs and bow politely.

"Hello, I'm Aoyama Nanami!"

The blonde maid's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly before she returned the bow and said, 

"Hello, I'm Hayasaka Ai, maid of the Shinomiya household. I welcome you in a personal capacity."

That subtle formality only made Nanami more nervous. 

She quickly waved her hands. "You don't need to be so formal, Miss Hayasaka a! I—I'm not a guest, I'm only here for training."

Seeing the tension on Nanami's face, Hayasaka a Ai's composed expression finally shifted a little.

"Mr. Ogiwara didn't tell you anything?"

"Eh? Tell me what?"

"…Come. This isn't the right place to talk."

Following Hayasaka Ai, Nanami entered the extravagant mansion, where the luxurious interior design continued to redefine her understanding of what "wealth" could look like. 

She grew more and more reserved, barely daring to breathe.

They eventually arrived at a room she found just as lavish.

"This is my room. Please, have a seat, Miss Aoyama. Before we begin your training, I'd like to explain a few things."

Hayasaka Ai closed the door, gestured for Nanami to sit on the sofa, and took a seat opposite her. 

Noting how stiff and nervous Nanami still was, she sighed quietly.

Then she bowed her head and closed her eyes.

One, two, three...

"Hi~ Miss Aoyama, does talking like this help you feel more at ease?"

Hayasaka Ai raised her head, smiling cheerfully as she greeted her.

Seeing this once-cold maid suddenly become warm, bubbly, and even her voice now bright and cute—Nanami's first reaction wasn't relief, but shock.

Had she not seen the transformation with her own eyes, she would've assumed they were two different people—perhaps twin sisters.

Even now, watching the persona shift right in front of her, she found it hard to accept.

"Eh? Miss Hayasaka …?"

"Yep, it's still me~ Putting on different masks for different situations is basic training for a maid, you know? 

At home, I'm usually like before, but since you seem uncomfortable with that, I'll go with how I act at school. 

Of course, please keep it a secret that I use this persona there, okay?"

Hayasaka Ai poured a cup of tea and gently placed it in front of Nanami. Her hand was so steady, the tea barely rippled.

"Now then, to explain. I agreed to train you because I owe Mr. Ogiwara a favor and accepted a personal request from him. 

The location happens to be this house, with the young lady's permission. So you don't need to treat me as a Shinomiya maid, nor concern yourself with the Shinomiya family's status. 

Between you and me, this is strictly personal."

Nanami visibly relaxed a little at this.

"Next, you probably don't really know who Mr. Ogiwara is, do you?"

Nanami hesitated, then answered, "Um… a kind of very rich onmyoji?"

Hayasaka Ai sighed tiredly and flopped sideways into the cushions beside her.

"Haaah… I knew it. He left everything to me, didn't he? Just to confirm—Mr. Ogiwara hired you long-term, right?"

Nanami thought for a moment. "I think so… he didn't mention a contract length. Oh, and I'm still in the probation period."

"Hmm. In that case, yes, it's probably a long-term hire. Makes sense—if it weren't, he wouldn't have sent you to me or told me to train you to the highest standard."

Hayasaka Ai straightened up, her hands resting on her knees. Her once-friendly expression abruptly returned to being calm and composed.

"In that case, I can explain Mr. Ogiwara's identity to you—so you'll understand your own position, and why I've been using honorifics when addressing you."

That sudden shift made Nanami instinctively tense.

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