Can't We Skip Dating?

This time, Hayasaka Ai didn't try to put her at ease. 

She said seriously, "Mr. Ogiwara is someone who, when displeased, can tell the head of the Shinomiya family to 'get lost.' 

While this is partly due to his unique identity, it still means they are equals."

Thinking about the luxurious Shinomiya estate around her, Nanami vaguely grasped what that meant. 

Her brain began to short-circuit. 

"Eh…?"

"And the Shinomiya family is one of Japan's top four zaibatsu groups, with assets exceeding 200 trillion yen and over a thousand subsidiary companies. 

This mansion is merely a villa assigned to the young lady for school convenience."

"…"

"There are ranks among servants too. You are currently Mr. Ogiwara's only maid—essentially his personal maid. 

That makes you the head maid or steward of the Ogiwara household. 

People in that position typically hold extremely special authority—sometimes even over the children of the family."

"…"

"I, on the other hand, am merely the personal maid of the Shinomiya family's youngest daughter. So your position is far above mine. Do you understand now?"

"…"

Hayasaka Ai had spoken in a clear and logical way, using no difficult vocabulary. It wasn't hard to understand.

But whether Nanami could accept it was a completely different matter.

Seeing her eyes glaze over, Hayasaka Ai sighed again.

"Mr. Ogiwara really told you nothing?"

Nanami's overwhelmed brain scrambled to retrieve anything that might count as information.

"He said… that while I should act with courtesy here, I never need to bow to anyone."

Hearing the words "never need to" rather than "must not," and sensing the implicit protection behind them, Hayasaka Ai understood even more.

"Mr. Ogiwara treats you very well, doesn't he?"

"Yes… he's encouraged me and even given me a really well-paid job."

"That gives me one more reason to address you with respect."

A personal maid so carefully looked after might very well become the lady of the house someday.

Hayasaka Ai didn't say that aloud. Thankfully so—otherwise, the barely-recovered Nanami might've broken again.

"What Mr. Ogiwara said is true. You never need to truly bow to anyone here. 

Even if you meet the young lady herself—or even the head of the family—you only need to observe proper etiquette. There's no need to be afraid."

Hayasaka Ai smiled again, warm and friendly, like a caring friend. 

"Anyway, have some tea and take your time adjusting to your new position. Luckily, we still have plenty of time. We can go at your pace~"

"Mm… thank you."

Nanami took the teacup with trembling hands, unable to describe her feelings.

She was just a girl from a regular family, always grounded, never ambitious. Normally, when faced with a giant like the Shinomiya family, all she needed to feel was respect.

But now she was suddenly told that she stood above that—that she should consider herself respected—it was all too much...

"If possible, Miss Hayasaka , please don't use honorifics with me. We're, um… in a personal relationship, right?"

"If Miss Aoyama wishes so, I have no objection."

Hearing that, Nanami finally let out another sigh of relief.

She'd worry about the future later. For now, she just wanted to study in a more peaceful environment.

...

"Hmm, your build is similar to mine. You can wear my clothes for now. Uniforms help people immerse themselves in their roles more easily."

After resting, Hayasaka Ai opened her wardrobe and took out a spare maid uniform, checking Nanami's measurements as she did.

"Mr. Ogiwara has already asked me to custom-order your uniform. It should be delivered in a few days. Until then, feel free to use mine."

As she stepped out of the room, she added meaningfully before closing the door, "Even if it gets stained, it's fine. If that happens, you don't need to return it."

"I'm already really grateful you're lending it to me. I'll make sure it doesn't get dirty," Nanami replied quickly. 

Then she hesitated, "But with cooking and cleaning, it might get a little dirty… Is it okay if I just wash it properly?"

Hayasaka Ai pulled the door almost shut and murmured from behind it, "That kind of dirty is fine. I mean... if it gets stained by Mr. Ogiwara..."

Nanami was confused. "Why would Mr. Ogiwara stain my clothes?"

"Yeah… why indeed…"

With that cryptic remark, Hayasaka Ai closed the door completely, leaving Nanami with no chance to ask more.

While changing, Nanami puzzled over it but still couldn't make sense of it.

Outside, Hayasaka Ai sighed, then sent an email to Akira asking why he hadn't explained anything to Nanami. 

She really wasn't sure if what she was doing was right.

She didn't want to call at this hour, but surely an email wouldn't disturb his rest—unless he had the sound turned up.

To her surprise, Akira replied not long after.

[I've never considered myself someone important—only that I don't treat others as more important than they are. As for little Nanami, she's just a hardworking ordinary girl. If I tell her too much, what if I scare her away?]

From that one email, Hayasaka Ai caught a whiff of something sweetly sour and mentally exhausting.

A rich heiress with a hardworking commoner boy over there, and now here—a respected man with a hardworking commoner girl?

Was this kind of setup trending lately?

Hayasaka Ai replied again.

[But as your maid, Miss Nanami is no longer that "ordinary." She doesn't need to be. She need not be humble before anyone. So please allow me to explain these things for you, Mr. Ogiwara.]

[Of course, that's fine. Just don't scare my maid away. I'm counting on you, Miss Hayasaka .]

Yep… this was the kind of troublesome, but not really burdensome, favor she'd expected...

Hayasaka Ai put away her phone and waited calmly once more.

Troublesome as it was, she knew that letter would help Nanami more than anything. So she wasn't annoyed, and was happy to do her best.

The only thing that bothered her a little… was the faint fear that her heart might become even more exhausted than it already was.

"Miss Hayasaka , I'm done changing."

Hearing the voice from inside, Hayasaka Ai opened the door. 

She saw Nanami standing there, nervously pinching the hem of her maid dress, her face tinged with blush, filled with shyness and unease.

Ah, this bashful, timid, helplessly adorable look…

"Let it be stained,"

Hayasaka Ai muttered a cursed wish she hadn't meant to say out loud.

Even if it meant sacrificing a uniform—it'd spare them both so much trouble.

"Eh? Why?" Nanami asked, completely puzzled.

Looking at that innocent face and remembering the affection in Akira's message…

Hayasaka Ai knew her wish was doomed.

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Don't tell me you failed to understand what staining her uniform means..

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