Vol 4 Chapter 11 – To Think That the Person of My Destiny Would Appear Right before My Eyes (【Revolver Maid】 Arc)

“Haa… I’m dreading the meeting after this.”

Arriving at the hideout where the executives were gathering, Hirata Shizuku let out a sigh as she muttered a complaint.

“I don’t think you need to worry that much.”

“Who do you think is to blame…?”

Arisu, as always, remained expressionless.

Yet to Hirata, the woman beside her was a completely different person.

“By the way, we’re planning to share exactly what happened as it was. That’s okay, right?”

“Okay…? Is something wrong?”

At Arisu’s response, Hirata let out a small sigh.

“Of course there is something wrong! If you suddenly tell the other executives that there’s a new candidate for an executive position, they’ll lose it.”

“Really?”

“Exactly! Besides, it isn’t like this is word from the Boss either…”

With a nearly tearful expression, Hirata recalled the conversation from a few hours earlier.

——————————————————

A few hours earlier.

It had happened immediately after Arisu introduced Anemi Kyouka.

“If it’s been discovered, then it can’t be helped.”

The one with Arisu’s appearance—a mysterious figure—offered a faint smile. Hirata remained on high alert, as this person was completely unlike her usual self.

“Should I say ‘Nice to meet you’…?”

“Well, this is our first time talking like this, isn’t it?”

This was the second personality of Arisu that Takanashi Hitomiko had mentioned. Unlike her usual self, who never showed any expression except in front of the Boss, she now sported an eerie smile. Hirata swallowed hard.

“Is it alright if I still call you ‘Meido-san’?”

“No problem. After all, I am indeed Meido Arisu.”

“Then I shall continue calling you ‘Meido-san’.”

Upon hearing Hirata’s words, Arisu nodded slightly. Then, using the hair tie on her right wrist, she tied her hair back.

“Well, does this at least help you tell us apart?”

“There’s no way you can tell the difference by something like that…”

Hirata felt a slight unease at the sight of Arisu, who was speaking in a casual, joking manner—so unlike her usual self. Clearing her throat, Hirata continued.

“So, what exactly are you?”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“Exactly as I said. After spending several years with Meido-san, it’s the first time I’ve seen her personality completely change. Are you some kind of demon possessing her?”

Hearing Hirata’s words, Arisu shook her head.

“A demon? I’m not some character from a storybook world. I’m simply another personality that had been suppressed within her. I don’t know why, but the power that had been held down suddenly vanished, and I emerged.”

“Suddenly, huh…?”

Hirata remembered the events in Hokkaido. The operation, which she thought would be a breeze, ended in failure and caused extensive damage. Among everything, the worst was that Arisu lost her right arm. At that moment, the shock might have caused something hidden inside Arisu to burst forth. Or perhaps it was when she saw the Boss, lying unconscious, and cried out in anguish. Either way, she must have suffered tremendous damage to her mental state.

“So, does that mean the perpetrator of that high-profile incident everyone’s been talking about is also the current personality of Meido-san?”

At Hirata Shizuku’s question, Arisu shook her head once more.

“No, the mass murder incident was carried out by her original personality.”

“…I see.”

“Would you have preferred it if I said this personality was responsible?”

Hirata Shizuku smiled at Arisu’s words.

“On the contrary. I’m delighted that you’re telling me this now.”

“I don’t understand what you mean….”

Arisu fixed her with a sharp look.

“I’m relieved to know that her original personality is still alive.”

“…I see.”

Hirata Shizuku’s cheerful tone carried a hint of loneliness.

“So, next time I’ll go see her in the midst of the crime. That way, I can meet her original personality, right?”

“…How amusing. I just can’t understand you—even though there’s the risk of being killed.”

The image of Arisu’s true self flashed through Hirata Shizuku’s mind.
Devoted entirely to her beloved, Arisu was not only a rival but also a cherished friend to her.

“Well then, shall we go?”

“Where to?”

“Well, to… ‘our hideout,’ of course.”

“I see… That sounds fun.”

Arisu said that as she stood up.

“By the way, I hear her original personality is a maid. Should I speak like a maid too?”

“…Do as you please.”

“Hehe, understood, milady.”

Hirata Shizuku’s spine shuddered.

“Please stop with ‘milady.’ It makes me uncomfortable.”

“I see. My apologies.”

Hirata Shizuku left the shop, puzzled by the sudden change in demeanor of Arisu’s second personality—of course, with the maid trailing behind.

——————————————————

“I’ve finally brought her here, but now that I think about it, I’m being such an idiot…”

“Is that so? I’m looking forward to it.”

“Well, that’s good then…”

Before them stood the Empress’s hideout.
Hirata Shizuku moved forward with heavy steps, while Arisu trailed along with a bright expression reminiscent of a kindergartner on a field trip.

“Well, since we’ve come this far, there’s no helping it. First, let’s go see the Boss.”

“The Boss is an unconscious man, isn’t he? I’m sick of that other personality constantly calling him ‘master’ for life.”

“But to us, the Boss is an important figure.”

On the top floor of the hideout—where only those permitted may enter—Hirata Shizuku decided that if she were to interact more with Arisu’s second personality, she might as well have a proper look at her.
Arisu herself showed little interest, instead wearing a disapproving expression.
Though Hirata Shizuku felt a surge of anger at that look, she held it in.

“Within here, the Boss is sleeping. If anything happens to his body, it’d be disastrous, so please, do nothing.”

“I won’t do anything. I’m not a child, after all.”

“I see…”

With an exasperated air, Hirata Shizuku inserted her card key into the card reader by the door.
Then, the large door before her quietly opened.

“Boss, excuse me.”

Before her lay Sakata Yuuto, still in bed—his presence always enough to bring Hirata Shizuku to the verge of tears.

“Boss, I’m not sure if I should call this a new executive or what… but I’ve brought Meido-san’s second personality.”

No matter how much she tried to speak, his eyes remained closed—his mouth and hands unmoving as well.
Sakata Yuuto had become like a lifeless doll, yet the EKG monitor confirmed he was still alive.

“Meido-san, please greet him…”

Arisu did not respond to Hirata Shizuku’s words.

“…Meido—”

It was then.

“———!!”

Arisu suddenly leaped toward the still sleeping Sakata Yuuto.

“———What the—?”

Hirata Shizuku could hardly fathom what was unfolding before her eyes.
Right there, Arisu clung onto Sakata Yuuto with all her might.

“Wha—? Wha—?”

While still holding onto him, Arisu burst out,

“To think that the person of my destiny would appear right before my eyes!! I’m so excited I might just lose control!!”

“What the hell are you doing?!”