Vol 1 Chapter 10 – Yuuma’s Maids

The surprises continued even after I was inside the building.

The moment I stepped inside, I was met by a long line of maids waiting for me.

As soon as they confirmed our entry, all the maids bowed in unison.

“Welcome home, Yuuma-sama.”

Their voices were perfectly synchronized.

The sheer pressure of it made me flinch.

Ignoring my reaction, Sakurai-san began to speak.

“Yuuma-sama, these are the maids who will be taking care of you. If there is anything you require, please let them know.”

“Ah, yes… I understand.”

Tachibana-san, Sakurai-san, and I walked down the path between the two lines of maids.

At the end of the line, a woman who appeared to be the head maid stood in the center of the walkway. She addressed me directly.

“Welcome home, Yuuma-sama. My name is Misa Satsuki, and I am the head maid. I will be in charge of your care from this day forward. Please do not hesitate to ask for anything at all, no matter what it may be. It is a pleasure to be in your service.”

Satsuki-san spoke in a polite, measured tone and then gave a deep, respectful bow.

Her uniform was a classic style, with a long, black-based skirt. It wasn’t overly chic, however; the dress was adorned with frills, giving it a very cute design. It was the kind of outfit that might look a bit plain on someone else, but on Satsuki-san, perhaps because it was imbued with her personality, it looked incredibly elegant.

And Satsuki-san herself was stunningly beautiful.

She had short-cropped black hair and upturned eyes that gave her a somewhat cool and aloof impression, but her features were perfectly composed. Her chest was modest, but her slender figure and perfect posture gave off a subtle, undeniable allure.

To put it in a single phrase, she was an incredibly beautiful person.

“Um… is something the matter?”

She must have found it strange that I was just staring at her, dumbfounded, because she tilted her head to the side.

“Ah, I’m so sorry! Um, my name is Yuuma Kisaragi. I’ll be in your care from now on. It’s nice to meet you.”

I felt a sudden wave of embarrassment for having been caught staring at Satsuki-san and rushed through my own introduction.

“Yes, the pleasure is all mine. Also, there is no need for you to use such formal language with us maids. We are all here to serve you, Yuuma-sama. So please, speak to us casually. We would be delighted, as it would feel as though the distance between us has shrunk.”

“Okay, I understa—…I understand, Satsuki-san. I look forward to working with you.”

“Yes, and I with you. Also… this is simply a personal request, but… if you would… please, call me Misa.”

I don’t know, looking at Satsuki-san’s… no, Misa-san’s face, I can feel this incredibly expectant gaze…

I feel like I don’t really have a choice here… Oh, well…

“Um, okay… Misa…”

Calling an older woman I’d just met by her first name felt a little awkward.

Instantly, her entire expression lit up.

“Yes, I am Yuuma-sama’s Misa! Eeeeeee!”

Misa-san suddenly let out a shriek, a massive smile spreading across her face.

I was completely taken aback, seeing the cool and collected Misa-san suddenly squeal with joy like a little kid.

“Whoa! Misa?! What’s gotten into you?!”

“Ah, my sincerest apologies. I was just so happy that you called me Misa… I got a bit carried away.”

You’re seeing me at my most embarrassing, she seemed to say, laughing it off as she blushed.

The gesture was incredibly cute.

Tachibana-san cleared her throat with a small cough, dispelling the strange atmosphere that had started to form.

“Well then, now that introductions with the head maid are complete, let us proceed to your room on the top floor. This way, Yuuma-sama.”

I followed Tachibana-san’s lead toward the elevator.

On the way, I noticed all sorts of expensive-looking furnishings placed here and there. Paintings and vases that looked like they belonged in a museum. A chandelier, of course, hung from the ceiling. And the floor was made of marble.

It was another reminder that I was in some truly unbelievable place.

“Here we are, Yuuma-sama. Please, step inside.”

Apparently, we had arrived in front of the elevator at some point.

Tachibana-san held the door open, gesturing for me to get in.

I cautiously stepped into the elevator.

Sakurai-san, Tachibana-san, and finally Misa followed me in, and the doors closed.

The first thing that surprised me inside the elevator was the sheer number of floor buttons.

Misa pressed a button labeled ‘120,’ and the elevator began to move.

“Yuuma-sama, the 120th floor is your personal living space. Therefore, only your sister, Yukina-sama, myself, and the male security detail are permitted to exit on this floor. The elevator will not respond if an unauthenticated fingerprint presses the button. Basically, the higher a person’s status, the higher the floor they are able to access.”

“In other words, the more important someone is, the closer they get to be to you, Yuuma-sama! Also, there is a heliport on the roof of this building, so an emergency escape via helicopter is possible.”

Sakurai-san added a supplement to Misa’s explanation.

“I-Is that so… It all just feels so extravagant, like it’s a total waste on someone like me…”

“That is not true at all! For you, Yuuma-sama, even this is not enough! You are far too humble! Please, have more confidence in yourself!”

“It is as Sakurai says. You are a treasure to Japan… no, to the entire world, Yuuma-sama! Therefore, you must learn to value yourself more.”

I appreciate them praising me, but I think they’re laying it on a little thick…

Besides, when they talk like that, it just makes me feel all awkward and embarrassed.

Misa was nodding along enthusiastically, as if in complete agreement.

After a while, the elevator continued its ascent until a ding announced our arrival at the destination floor.

When the doors opened, a corridor that looked like it belonged in a luxury hotel spread out before us. A carpet was laid out on the floor, and the walls had a simple, white-based design.

And at the far end of it was a single, large, wooden double door.

Standing in front of it, I could really appreciate its size.

It had to be at least two meters tall. The door had a heavy, profound presence, yet its design was simple and refined.

Misa slowly pushed the door open.

I swallowed nervously, watching the doors part.

A brilliant white light poured out from the gap, so intense that I had to squeeze my eyes shut.

When I opened them again, the first thing that flew into my vision was…

“Onii-sama!!!!! I missed you so much!!!! I wuv you!!!!!”

Smooch!

It was Yukina, who had thrown herself at me with incredible force.

I couldn’t react to the sudden assault and was knocked right off my feet.