A Guy Who Thinks He’s a Villain in a World Where Gender Ratios Are Broken - Chapter 03: Side Story - Kyoko Nijou ②

Chapter 03: Side Story – Kyoko Nijou ②

The moment I stepped into the mansion, I could feel the tension in the air.

“W-What do we do…?”

“C-Calm down. Take a deep breath!”

“It’s okay… It’s going to be okay…”

The maids lined up in the hallway had pale faces, their trembling voices betraying their fear.

Their usual polite and composed demeanor was nowhere to be seen.

Everyone was visibly shaken.

I approached one of the senior maids and addressed her.

“What happened here?”

“H-Head Maid! T-The thing is…”

Her voice quivered as she briefly explained the situation.

Apparently, the young master slipped on the stairs and hit his head.

The family’s regular doctor was contacted immediately and provided treatment.

Thankfully, it wasn’t a serious injury—there was no bleeding, just a bump on his head. That should’ve been a relief… but it wasn’t.

The severity of the injury didn’t seem to matter.

The real problem was that a precious male had gotten hurt.

In a society with so few men, any harm to the Hazumi family’s only son could jeopardize the family’s standing itself.

And it wasn’t just the family’s reputation at stake.

The mental toll on the lady of the house, Mika-san, was a huge concern.

After losing her husband, Mika-san had poured all her energy into raising her son. She worked tirelessly to ensure his future, doing everything she could to protect him.

If something were to happen to him… it’s impossible to predict how the Lady would cope.

The maids understood this, and that’s why their anxiety was so intense.

Although the young master’s condition was stable and the doctor had said there were no major issues, his most crucial symptom remained unresolved.

For some reason, he still hadn’t regained consciousness.

No matter which doctor examined him, none could identify the cause.

The heavy atmosphere inside the mansion was suffocating.

“The young master… doesn’t seem like he’ll wake up today either.”

“And if he does, what will he say to us?”

“Maybe his behavior will get even worse…”

“Knowing him, he might even fire all of us on the spot…”

Although the maids continued with their daily tasks as usual, their unease was plain to see.

◆◆

On the morning of the fourth day.

Another maid and I went to the young master’s room to clean.

When we opened the door, we found him lying on the bed, just as always.

But there was one thing different this time—his eyes were slightly open.

“Young master…!”

The maid beside me raised her voice, and she quickly ran off to call the others.

Soon, the maids gathered in the room, and as if his consciousness had stabilized, the young master slowly sat up.

When the young master finally woke up, a wave of relief spread through the assembled maids as they murmured words of comfort.

I, however, remained calm and watched him carefully.

His eyes scanned the room and the maids around him, but there was a clear hint of confusion in his gaze.

“…Where is this?”

I didn’t miss the moment he muttered those words.

Could it be…?

“—Everyone, please quiet down. Young Master, are you feeling better now?”

I addressed the maids, who were starting to chatter loudly, then approached the young master with a composed tone.

“Erm… young master?”

At my words, he tilted his head slightly, looking puzzled.

“We, the maids of this household, exist to serve you, Reito Hazumi-sama.”

“Reito Hazumi…?”

Even after I said his name, the young master’s expression remained filled with confusion.

“Is something wrong, Young Master? Are you feeling unwell?”

He mumbled something under his breath but then closed his mouth without responding.

“…Young Master.”

I decided to find out what was going on.

“Do you happen to remember my name?”

“Your name…?”

The young master tilted his head with a puzzled expression, clearly struggling to answer.

But I already knew what his response would be.

After all, the young master had never bothered to call me—or any of the maids—by name before.

What he usually said was, “Hey, you,” or “Listen, you.”

He never used names because, to him, we were nothing more than pieces on a board, tools to be used as he pleased.

After thinking for a moment, the young master hesitantly spoke up, as if forcing the words out.

“Y-You’re so beautiful, so… um, maybe something like Reiko?”

“…!”

I widened my eyes in surprise.

The other maids around us began murmuring in astonishment.

None of us could have imagined the arrogant young master saying something like that.

And then it hit me—

The young master must have lost his memory.

That thought flashed through my mind.

“Beautiful… you say. Thank you for the compliment. However, my name is Kyoko.”

I said, keeping my tone composed as I replied to him.

“I see… this must be a side effect of the accident,” I muttered quietly to myself.

Afterward, I quickly contacted the doctor, and the examination began.

“Since he’s only just woken up, it seems there are still some gaps in his memory. However, there are no physical abnormalities. He should be able to go about his daily life without any issues.”

Hearing this, the maids standing nearby visibly relaxed, their faces lighting up with relief.

But I…

“Memory loss… so that’s the case. I thought your tone and demeanor seemed different from usual, Young Master.”

My suspicions about amnesia were confirmed, but there was no relief in it for me.

On top of everything else…

I needed to report this entire situation to the Lady.

And I had to do so carefully, in a way that wouldn’t upset her or cause unnecessary distress.

Just as I felt my thoughts starting to spiral—

“If you’re still concerned, we could arrange for a more thorough examination at the hospital. Or perhaps you’d consider being admitted for observation, Reito-sama?”

“Huh?”

Both the doctor’s sudden suggestion and the young master’s surprised voice reached my ears.

“Admitted to the hospital…?” the young master asked in return.

As the doctor said, if his memory is unclear, it would make sense to admit him and try treatments that could help his memory return.

However… there was something unsettling about the way the doctor’s expression changed.

“If you choose to be hospitalized, I could… um… personally take care of your every need. A-And, well… even at night, I’d be happy to—”

“—That’s enough.”

I cut her off sharply, stepping in before she could continue.

“Thank you for examining Reito-sama, Doctor. However… anything beyond that is unnecessary, wouldn’t you agree?”

“B-But…”

She seemed flustered, trying to make excuses, but having excuses only proved she had ulterior motives.

In that case, there was no point in listening further.

“If you insist on providing any unnecessary treatment to the Young Master… we will not stand idly by.”

“Hiee…!”

My firm tone made her visibly nervous.

“Well then, please take care on your way out.”

“Ugh… I finally had a chance to care for a male patient…”

Her reluctant departure only confirmed her intentions. It was clear she wanted to care for the young master—no, for a man—for her own personal reasons.

Afterward, I left the mansion to report everything to the Lady.

About an hour later, when I returned to the mansion, I noticed the maids acting strangely excited.

I decided to find out the reason later. First, I headed to the young master’s room.

Knocking on the door, I immediately heard his voice from inside.

“Yeah, come in.”

“Excuse me, Young Master. I’ve just returned.”

I said, bowing as I entered the room.

The young master was rummaging around his room.

Was he searching for something to help him regain his memories, even in his current state of amnesia?

“Young Master, the doctor said there’s nothing wrong, but since you’ve only just woken up today, it might be best to rest for now.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

The young master nodded to my words without any resistance.

That alone was surprising, considering how different it was from his usual behavior.

“Kyoko. There’s something I want to tell you.”

“Yes, what is it, Young Master?”

There was a look of resolve on his face, something I wasn’t used to seeing.

“I won’t treat you cruelly anymore. So… I hope you’ll continue to stay as my maid.”

His words, spoken with an unwavering gaze, took my breath away.

“Continue to be…”

I… don’t like this man.

He’s commanding, speaks in an unpleasant tone, looks down on women, and does whatever he pleases.

People say, “Humans don’t change easily,” and he’s been the same since childhood.

No one knows that better than I do.

“…”

I stayed silent, and the young master looked at me with a hint of unease.

But… the aura he has now feels different from the one I knew before.

Without saying anything, I gave him a small nod.

If, by chance, the young master truly has changed…

Then what would this “dislike” I feel for him turn into?