Vol 3 Chapter 11 – Your exclusive maid, at your service  (【The Exonerator of the Maritime Nation】Arc)

It’s the third day of our stay in Hokkaido.

The time is 9 a.m.

Kuroda had messaged earlier, saying, “I have errands in the morning.” With that, the three of us began preparing to focus on our individual tasks.

“Then, I’ll search around the coastline,” Kuzuryuu said.

“I think I’ll check out the shopping district,” Satsuki added.

Our goal, of course, was to establish friendly relations with Kaneshiro Honoka.

Though, the fact that the person we’re trying to befriend might also be a psychotic murderer is… well, troubling.

“What about you, Boss?” Kuzuryuu asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Let’s see…”

I hadn’t thought that far ahead.

To be honest, I’d rather just toss all this trouble aside and go home. Better yet, how about we dedicate the rest of our trip to sightseeing?

That way, no one gets hurt, and everything stays peaceful.

“I’ve got a few things to take care of, so I’ll stay here for now.”

“I’m too busy, so you two can handle it yourselves.”

After yesterday’s chaos, my mental and physical energy were completely drained. I deserve a break—at least for the morning.

“Understood. I’ll head out now,” Kuzuryuu said, unbothered.

“I’ll call if anything comes up,” Satsuki added.

With no objections, they both set off for their respective destinations.

They probably realized I was just slacking off, but chose not to call me out on it.

Watching them leave, I was finally free.

“Alright, time to slack off.”

I pulled out my phone, lay down, and opened a video I’d been meaning to watch.

Maybe because I’d just had breakfast, sleepiness started creeping in.

But I knew if I ended up napping and those two found out… yeah, not worth it.

I focused on staying awake as I lay there.

“…!”

Crap! I fell asleep!

Just as I jolted awake, a voice reached my ears.

“——Are you finally awake, Master?”

The familiar voice sent chills down my spine.

“Wha…?”

“Master, you don’t seem fully awake yet.”

Before my eyes was the face of Arisu, one of our organization’s higher-ups.

At the same time, I felt a soft sensation beneath my head.

Completely bewildered, I hesitantly asked:

“Don’t tell me… Arisu?”

“Yes, your ever-loyal maid, Arisu, at your service.”

Why?! Why is she here?!

Not only was she here, but I’d been sleeping on her lap!

I quickly sat up, putting some distance between us.

“Why are you here, Arisu?”

“Under orders from Hirata,” she replied without missing a beat.

“Hirata…?”

“Yes. As part of a certain experiment, Hirata said, ‘The Boss is tangled up in trouble, so go help.’”

“I see…”

It must be because I told Hirata about sheltering Kuroda.

This is bad. Arisu doesn’t know the details of the situation.

If she finds out about Kuroda…

“Obstacles must be eliminated.”

“Ahhh! I’m defeated!”

…Yeah, it’ll definitely turn out like that.

With the target already being a pain, I don’t need things getting even messier.

I glanced at the clock. It was almost 11 a.m. Kuroda could show up at any moment.

“Arisu, how about we go out for a bit? I found a nice café nearby.”

“If you’d like, I can prepare drinks or meals for you myself, Master.”

“You must be tired from traveling. Sometimes dining out can be refreshing.”

“If you insist…”

Her expression was neutral, but there was a slight hint of dissatisfaction as she followed me out of the inn.

After walking for about three minutes, we reached a bustling shopping district.

“This town is lively,” Arisu remarked.

“Yeah, everyone seems happy and smiling,” I replied.

“…Though it’s a bit depressing,” she muttered.

The shopping district was as crowded as ever.

Arisu’s gaze as she watched the people was cold, almost as if she were staring at trash.

Feeling slightly unnerved, I led the way toward our destination.

“Here we are. This is the place.”

We’d arrived at the café Sugiyama-san recommended yesterday.

“This is Master’s favorite café?”

“Not really a favorite—I only visited for the first time yesterday.”

I opened the door, and the same masked owner from yesterday greeted us.

“Welcome. Oh, Sakata-sama, thank you for coming two days in a row.”

“Good to see you again. Thought I’d stop by.”

“So this is the owner. Quite an eccentric outfit they’re wearing,” Arisu remarked bluntly.

She was probably unaware of how cutting her words could be. Then again, she’s always like this with anyone who isn’t me.

“It’s true, first-time visitors often say that,” the shopkeeper nodded. “But this is actually my formal attire.”

“I see… I can relate,” Arisu said, meeting the shopkeeper’s gaze. “When I wear this maid outfit, I often get strange looks.”

She continued, her eyes unwavering.

“But this outfit is more important to me than my life. Wearing it is what allows me to keep living.”

“What an admirable sentiment!” the shopkeeper exclaimed.

The two of them shook hands in front of me.

It had been a long time since I’d seen Arisu shake hands with anyone.

“My name is Kuroko Satou, the one in the mask. May I ask your name, maid-san?”

For a moment, Arisu glanced at me.

I gave her a small nod, and she turned back to respond.

“I am Meido Arisu, the personal maid of my Master sitting here.”

Wait. Personal maid? I don’t remember making her that.

I tried to silently protest with my eyes, but she didn’t notice.

“Sakata-sama, are you perhaps some kind of modern-day aristocrat?”

“Not at all. I’m just an ordinary person.”

“Ordinary people don’t typically have personal maids, though.”

“No, Arisu isn’t a personal maid—”

Just as I was about to deny it, Arisu stepped on my foot.

“Master…?”

Arisu turned to me with a chillingly serene smile.

Terrifying.

She kept that same smile fixed on me.

It was a smile, but it was scary.

For now, I decided to just keep quiet.

“Please, sit wherever you like.”

At the shopkeeper’s invitation, I chose the same table as yesterday.

The seating had one chair on each side, so Arisu and I ended up facing each other.

“It’s been a while since we’ve eaten out together, hasn’t it, Arisu?”

“Yes. Not since the day we first met, Master.”

“It’s been that long already…”

It wasn’t common for me to eat out with the organization’s members.

Especially with Arisu, who actively disliked dining out.

That made this rare occasion even more noteworthy.

Thinking back, she wasn’t wearing a maid outfit when we first met.

But ever since I jokingly gave her one, she’s been wearing it constantly, as if making some kind of statement.

And now, she’s even calling herself a “personal maid”… What is happening?

“Master, have you decided what you’d like?”

Lost in thought, I hadn’t even looked at the menu.

“Let’s see… I’ll have an iced coffee and a sandwich.”

“Then I’ll have the same as you, Master.”

“I tried the sandwiches yesterday; they’re really good.”

“If you like sandwiches that much, I can make them for you every day.”

That’s not what I meant, though…

Looking at Arisu’s earnest expression, something came to mind.

“—By the way, the sandwiches here are made with meat.”

“Sandwiches with meat? Isn’t that normal?”

“Well, the meat here tastes very similar to the kind you use in your cooking, Arisu.”

“—…I see.”

Her expression shifted slightly, though I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination.

At that moment, the shopkeeper came over to take our order.

“What would you like?”

“Two iced coffees and one sandwich. That’s all.”

“Understood.”

Something about her order felt off to me.

“Huh? I thought you were getting the same thing as me,” I asked.

“I decided against it. I don’t feel that hungry,” Arisu replied calmly.

“I see.”

If she’s not hungry, there’s no helping it. Leaving food uneaten would be rude to the café, after all.

Arisu, ever the picture of discipline, sat with perfect posture. Seeing her like this, I realized just how composed our organization’s higher-ups were.

Well… except for the fact that they commit crimes without batting an eye.

“Boss, is something wrong? Is there something on my face?”

Arisu’s voice was tinged with slight embarrassment.

Crap. I must have been staring at her without realizing it.

“Sorry, I was just thinking… your posture is really nice,” I said, attempting to cover for myself.

“Is that so? I’m honored to hear that,” she replied, her tone flat but polite.

Was that considered harassment? Would she sue me for this?

The thought sent a chill down my spine.

Thankfully, our order arrived at just the right time.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Here are two iced coffees and one sandwich.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“Please, enjoy.”

The sandwich in front of me was the same as yesterday’s, yet for some reason, it seemed even more appetizing.

“Let’s dig in—wait, what’s wrong?”

Arisu was staring at the sandwich with a piercing gaze.

Her intensity made it difficult to take a bite.

“Master, may I ask… is this sandwich truly delicious?”

Was she doubting the sandwich, or was it her self-proclaimed maid instincts kicking in?

Either way, I took a bite without hesitation.

“Yes, it’s good. Want to try it, Arisu?”

I held out the sandwich to her, and for a moment, her expression faltered. She looked conflicted, as though battling with herself over something.

“Are you alright?”

“Apologies for causing you concern. I’ll take a bite.”

She took the sandwich from me and hesitantly brought it to her mouth.

“…”

“How is it?”

“…Delicious. Your taste in food is impeccable, Master.”

She handed the sandwich back to me, and that’s when it hit me—I had just given her a sandwich I’d already bitten into.

An indirect kiss with my subordinate… That must have been what she was conflicted about earlier.

Still, she didn’t say anything and took a bite. Was that her way of being considerate?

“I’m sorry for forcing you, Arisu.”

“Forcing? Not at all. If anything, it was a pleasure—no, forget I said that.”

So, she was forcing herself.

On closer inspection, it looked like she hadn’t touched the meat in the sandwich.

I silently apologized to her in my head.

At that moment, Arisu spoke up.

“Master, your phone is ringing.”

“Ah, sorry.”

The caller ID showed it was Satsuki.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Satsuki. I’ll take it.”

I answered the phone, and her voice immediately filled my ears.

“Boss, good work. Where are you right now?”

“At a café. Arisu is with me.”

“Arisu? What’s she doing there?”

Satsuki sounded surprised.

Honestly, I didn’t know either. She had just shown up out of nowhere.

“I’ll explain when I get back. What’s the situation?”

“Kuroda-chan is at the inn. She couldn’t find you, so she contacted me instead.”

“I see.”

This is bad. If we go back now, Arisu will find out about Kuroda.

“Oh, and Kuroda-chan says she’s found some valuable information.”

Valuable information?

If I frame Kuroda as just an information broker, maybe Arisu won’t kill her…?

“Got it. I’ll head back right away.”

I decided to take the risk.

“Master, what did Satsuki say?”

“I’ll explain later. Let’s return to the inn.”

I quickly shoved the rest of the sandwich into my mouth and washed it down with iced coffee.

“Let’s go, Arisu.”

“Understood, Master.”

We stood, and I bowed my head to the shopkeeper.

“Thank you for the meal, shopkeeper.”

“Thank you. Please take care.”

Praying silently that Arisu wouldn’t lose control, I left the café with her in tow.

Please, let her not go on a rampage…