anwhile, in the Shinomiya residence, Kaguya was sitting in her room, looking at Hayasaka Ai with concern as the girl finally returned ho.
"Where have you been all day?" Kaguya asked, her brows furrowing with worry. She noticed the slight unsteadiness in Hayasaka's walk.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I'm fine," Ai said, attempting to sound nonchalant. But inside, she was conflicted. She had known sorcerers possessed great power, but she hadn't expected it to be this overwhelming.
Of course, she had woken up much earlier but had delayed her return to familiarize herself with her newfound abilities. If she now had the power of a sorcerer, it only made sense to learn how to control it. Even though she had only had a short amount of ti, Ai discovered that she was talented enough to already create basic objects using her newly acquired construction technique.
However, her limited cursed energy prevented her from making much before she reached her limits. It was a start, but she was already doing better than Zenin Mai, who struggled to even make a few bullets without exhausting herself.
"So things ca up," Ai said, trying to sound casual.
"Alright then," Kaguya replied, relieved. As long as Hayasaka was okay, that was enough for her. Kaguya returned to fiddling with the smartphone she had recently acquired, trying to master its features. Despite her inexperience, Kaguya's natural intelligence allowed her to adapt quickly.
"Oh, Hayasaka!" Kaguya said suddenly, her eyes lighting up with a question.
"Yes, Miss?"
"Do you think Ryuji would like soone like ?" she asked, her voice soft with anticipation.
Ai blinked, montarily taken aback. If this question had co up before today, she would have given an answer to comfort Kaguya without a second thought. But now? Now that she knew Ryuji on a deeper level, the question felt more complicated.
"Hayasaka?" Kaguya asked again, noting her maid's silence.
Ai cleared her throat, snapping out of her thoughts. "Miss Kaguya, you're beautiful. I'm sure Ryuji would find you appealing."
Kaguya blushed a little, a rare sight. "But Ryuji's not the type to be drawn in just by looks. He's... too upright for that."
Upright? Ai struggled not to react. Ryuji? Upright? If only Kaguya knew the reality.
But as she watched the hopeful look on Kaguya's face, Ai's heart sank. Kaguya truly believed in Ryuji's noble character. Well, if that's what she wants to think... Ai thought, suppressing a sigh. In the end, she was just a maid, who was she to challenge her lady's beliefs?
Besides, while she may have her reservations about Ryuji, there was one thing she was sure of: if Kaguya did end up with him, she wouldn't have to worry about being manipulated or used by the Shinomiya family ever again. With Ryuji by her side, Kaguya could live as she wanted, unafraid of the power struggles and sches that surrounded her.
"If it's you, Miss Kaguya, I have no doubt Ryuji would care for you," Ai said, and this ti, she ant it.
Kaguya's cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink. "It's not so certain as you make it sound," she said bashfully. Only with Ai did Kaguya let down her guard enough to show this side of herself.
Ai noticed this and felt a pang of guilt. She had been considering how best to confess her true role in Kaguya's life. Originally, she was sent to report to Shinomiya Oko, Kaguya's scheming older brother. But now, after everything, after gaining power as a sorcerer, Ai wanted out. She wanted to be loyal to Kaguya and not be an unwilling pawn for the Shinomiya family's internal power plays.
But seeing Kaguya's innocent and trusting face, Ai felt her resolve waver. She needed to tell Kaguya, little by little, so the shock would be easier to bear.
Just then, her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Was it from Ryuji? A small smile crept onto Ai's face at the thought. She glanced at Kaguya, who was still imrsed in her phone, before taking out her own to check. Her heart sank when she saw the sender—Shinomiya Oko.
The smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared. She unlocked her phone and read the ssage:
"Get to imdiately, no matter where you are. Now."
Ai's eyes narrowed at the terse command. She had no intention of answering Oko's summons. Not now, not ever.
Then another ssage ca through, this one with a photo attached. Ai's face turned pale as she saw it. It was an image of Oko sitting in the main seat at the Hayasaka family ho, her parents positioned like subordinates across from him. His caption was brief but clear:
"If you're not here in half an hour, you know the consequences."
Oko put down his phone, smirking at the anxious glances exchanged between Hayasaka Ai's parents.
"Master Oko," Hayasaka's father began hesitantly, trying to bridge the tension. "If we've failed in any way, please—"
"Enough," Oko snapped, cutting him off coldly. His smile was sharp, predatory. "Your daughter has proven... disappointing. But don't worry, I only want to have a chat with her."
Hayasaka Ai's mother cast a worried glance at her husband, then stood up. "I'll fetch so tea," she said, needing a mont to think. She moved to the kitchen, pulling out her phone as soon as she was out of sight:
"Don't co. Leave imdiately, Ai. We saved so money for you. Get out of the city, out of Japan. Don't co back."
---
Ai stared at her mother's desperate ssage, the weight of their sacrifice settling in her chest like a stone. "Mother..." she whispered, eyes hardening with determination.
There was no way she'd let her parents face the consequences alone. Before, she might have felt powerless. But now? Now, she had choices.
"Miss," Ai said, her voice cutting through the silence.
Kaguya looked up, surprised by the intensity in her voice. "What is it, Hayasaka?"
"There's sothing I need to tell you," Ai said, her heart pounding. This was it.
Kaguya's eyes widened as Ai explained how she had been sent to serve as Oko's spy. The room felt like it was closing in as Kaguya's face shifted from confusion to disbelief.
"No... it can't be. You wouldn't betray , Hayasaka," Kaguya said, her voice breaking.
Ai's throat tightened, but she forced herself to continue. "I never wanted to betray you. I've always done my best to protect you. I swear it. The only reason I'm telling you now is because... because Oko is threatening my parents. He wanted to seduce Ryuji to keep you away from him, but I didn't. I couldn't. And now... he knows."
Kaguya sat back, eyes hollow as she tried to process everything. The maid she trusted, who was like a sister to her, had been planted by her own brother.
***
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