83 – Unknown Maid
Shiraishi’s face was dark.
She had expected it since she saw the limousine parked in front of the school gate. She didn’t show much. Even when Haruna, who is sensitive to other people’s feelings, approached her and asked worriedly what was going on, she shook her head.
I am the only one who knows what happened.
However, since Shiraishi was quiet, she couldn’t make a fuss in the first place.
Even when the bell rang signaling lunch time and everyone gathered together at the rooftop, which was now a familiar place, she was watching her.
She spreads out her mat and sits down.
We chatted, opened lunch boxes, looked at each other’s side dishes, and shared them. We also talk about the upcoming cultural festival.
I hoped that today’s lunch would pass just like that.
“……… Ah.”
When the door to the rooftop opened and Shiraishi’s voice sounded like a sigh, I had a feeling that things would not go so smoothly.
“Elena….”
She appeared on the rooftop, the girl I met yesterday.
It was the tall blonde maid, Elena.
“…… Nice to see you.”
She approached us and slowly lowered her head and said hello.
“My name is Elena, and I am an employee of the Shiraishi family.”
At her sudden appearance, Yuuki looked up at her with a puzzled expression.
Haru I was looking back and forth between Shiraishi and her with anxious eyes.
“No, the first time… A long time ago… “Have you seen it before?”
When Yuuki asked curiously, she tilted her head for a moment, but
“…… “You remembered.”
She then spoke calmly.
“Yes, that’s right…” When we were kids… When we all played together in Aki-chan’s garden….”
Haruna also muttered as if her memory was vaguely recalling her. It seemed like the corner of her expressionless mouth rose slightly for a moment, but I couldn’t tell if it was an emotion coming from her joy at seeing the little kids she hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Ah… hello… !”
Haruna stood up and greeted me brightly.
Because I saw her as she was yesterday, I couldn’t greet her so warmly. Rather, like Shiraishi, she looked at the woman in front of her as nervously as possible.
“Yes…. Nice to meet you. “Miss Kato.”
“Ehehehe… By the way, what’s going on at school? Did Aki-chan leave his lunch box and came to pick it up? ?”
If this is a reunion after a long time, the atmosphere should be a little brighter. The maid in front of her had an expressionless expression that showed no emotion, and Shiraishi was also frozen. And even me.
Although there was an inexplicably tense atmosphere, Haruna smiled brightly and tried to continue the conversation.
“Ho, if so, how about you sit down and eat with us, Elena? Oh, I can’t help it if you’re busy… !”
“No.”
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She coldly cut off Haruna’s words and firmly denied it.
There was silence for a moment, but Haruna hurriedly continued her words.
“Oh, right? Then there is nothing we can do. It’s a pity, but next time….”
“There is no next time.”
With the second rejection, the atmosphere that Haruna was trying to create was hardened.
She said as she looked at Haruna and us who were embarrassed as if she had intended that too.
“I came to pick up the young lady.”
“Well, that’s…” .”
“Because we judged that it was not right for the Shiraishi family’s daughter to maintain her dignity to eat in such a narrow and unhygienic place.”
Looking down at us who gather every day to eat in such a place.
“I came to take Lady Akira away from this place as quickly as possible.”
“Ah… ….”
One day, I looked at her with her wide-open eyes, as if I didn’t understand what she meant.
And us too.
“Okay, let’s go. Miss.”
“……….”
Shiraishi lowered his head and was frozen in place, unable to move.
Shiraishi looked at the floor with hesitant eyes and clenched his fists.
“……… Miss?”
At that one word, she flinched and her body trembled.
It was just a call, but I felt like I knew the meaning contained in that single word.
If you don’t listen, I will drag you back to your home.
It felt like it had such a forced meaning.
“…… Hey. When you listen to it, don’t you think it’s a bit harsh?”
At that moment, it was Yuuki who spoke out her barbed words towards her.
“……… ….”
Elena quietly looked at Yuuki.
Yuuki frowned slightly at that look in his eyes, but soon opened his mouth.
“What a narrow and dirty place. “We gather here every day and eat.”
“…… I know.”
“The Shiraishi family’s young lady is also there. “I’m now used to getting together as a group.”
Good job, Yuuki.
Keep showing your cool side like that.
Yuki stood in front of Shiraishi, who was hesitant.
Even Yuuki, who was oblivious to her, knew that her Shiraishi was hardened and stepped forward to protect her.
“……… “I won’t tell you twice.”
With those words, Elena looked down at Yuuki and spoke quietly.
“I came to pick up the young lady.”
“……… Nice… Ugh….”
“Get out of the way.”
I had a hunch from the beginning, but this maid was no ordinary maid. There was pressure from looking down on her due to her tall body, but when I met her head on, I felt an unusual spirit.
The person in front of you is a simple maid, but it feels like you will be stopped immediately if you act arrogantly.
Yuki also seemed to sense that and hesitated and retreated.
Then her gaze landed on Shiraishi who was behind Yuuki.
Shiraishi carefully stood up, and with an expression of helplessness, she slowly approached and stood in front of Elena.
“Ah, Aki-chan….”
As Haruna raised her voice in concern, Shiraishi also looked at us.
That moment felt like a call for help and a foreshadowing of our future relationship with Shiraishi.
“Wait a minute… wait for me.”
Senior Takase, who had been looking at us silently as if observing, stood up.
The senior quietly approaches and stands in front of Elena.
“Elena. My name is Takase… “I’m Takase Eriya.”
“…… “I’ve heard that name before.”
“I see.”
The senior smiled quietly and continued her words.
“I understand your intention. But… “I feel like I’m forgetting the most important thing.”
“……… “What is that?”
Her senior did not back down as she made eye contact with her. She turned her head and looked at Shiraishi with a rather nonchalant look.
“Shiraishi’s own intention… “I mean.”
I could have known that even without asking.
Shiraishi was frozen with tension and was unable to express it.
Senior Takase stepped forward on her behalf and asked her that question.
“It would be difficult to arbitrarily take away our precious friend without going through an important process.”
“……… ….”
“So… “We want to hear Shiraishi’s opinion.”
What would happen if Shiraishi rejected Elena?
I didn’t even want to imagine what might happen.
“Shiraishi. “Can you tell me?”
Her senior asked her in a hint.
Shiraishi hesitated and looked at Elena.
Her expression did not change. As if to convey that no matter what answer is given, the conclusion is the same.
“Oh, I…” ….”
Her eyes met Shiraishi’s as she turned her head.
For a moment, yesterday’s events came to mind.
‘If you show any behavior that goes against the dignity of the Shiraishi family, even tomorrow, you will have to leave this place immediately.’
Elena spoke sternly towards me and her.
Even then, her eyes were trembling.
Just like now.
“I… I am….”
Shiraishi lowered her head and continued stuttering.
“That’s right. I agree with Elena’s opinion… therefore….”
As Shiraishi turned around, his voice became increasingly quieter.
“Okay, Miss Elena…” . “Let’s get out now.”
Following Shiraishi, Elena slowly walked her steps.
Neither the senior nor we could do anything other than just look at her back.
As the rooftop door closed, Yuuki raised her voice.
“Damn… ! What are you talking about, that woman! “He suddenly appeared!”
“Aki-chan… ….”
Haruna sat down weakly and muttered.
Even so, it’s just that we can’t eat lunch together, and it’s not like we can’t see each other at school.
It was because, just like I did, they realized it while facing her.
This maid came to separate us from Shiraishi.
The senior quietly approached me and sat down.
“……… Uh, sister. Are you okay?”
She asked Haruna, worried about her senior, who was facing her directly and seemed to be on the verge of colliding with her at any moment.
“Ah… huh. Are you okay. “Because I don’t mind.”
The senior looked at the closed door with a faint smile.
“I thought I would see my sister fight big for the first time in a long time.”
The senior opened her lunch box, lightly laughing at Yuuki’s words, not knowing if it was her worry or anticipation.
If such a situation were to occur, it would no longer be possible to resolve it.
For me, it was a great relief.
When I looked at him with such relief, the senior smiled at me.
“Manager, don’t worry. “I’m not the type of person who carelessly fights or punches others.”
“……… Yes. “I know.”
The only time a senior uses his fists is to protect someone else.
When you say it like this, you sound like a great hero of justice. Actually, my senior is that kind of person.
Shiraishi left the scene as if being dragged away, but we continued to eat sparsely for a while, unable to escape the awkward atmosphere we had just experienced.
At that time, Shiraishi and I were clearly thinking about the same moment.
What I was worried about, Shiraishi was equally worried.
She didn’t want to leave this place.
Knowing her heart, she knew that I was the only one who could help her.
Besides, I told her. Just trust me.
There is nothing she can do about it after she pretends to be so proud.
Elena’s… He pondered a plan to make her wish come true while avoiding the eyes of the Shiraishi family.