Chapter 18: The Love of a Mob Maid

Shiga Inui concluded the study session with her.

“Haaah… That was really helpful.”

For him, too, it had likely been a very meaningful time. After all, he was now able to build even further upon his own abilities. In response to his words, Abarabana Tenri offered a smile. For a time, she had been anxious about whether Shiga Inui would be able to properly understand her explanations. But all of that had been a needless worry, and she was relieved that it had ended without issue.

“Is that so… I’m glad to hear it.”

(In that case.)

She looked at the clock.

The clock showed that their study session was ending right around midnight.

Noticing her restless movements, Shiga Inui watched her, wondering what was going on.

“…?”

Seeing the questioning look on his face, she remained silent. But when Shiga Inui still didn’t make a move, she lost her patience and shifted her posture, sitting more casually. Her skirt hitched up, revealing her legs all the way to the tops of her thighs. Not satisfied with just that, she undid her top button, loosening her clothes to the point that her underwear was visible.

“Phew… nnh… It’s a little… hot, isn’t it?”

With a deliberate little cough, she spoke to Shiga Inui. The temperature wasn’t actually that high, but the body temperatures of men and women are different. Reacting to her complaint, Shiga Inui glanced around. His room had no air conditioning.

“Oh, yeah. The AC doesn’t work in my room,” Shiga Inui said.

This room was originally something like a storage closet, unsuited for living in. Belongings had been placed about haphazardly and were still unpacked. The only thing in his room was a single, casually spread-out futon. She pinched the hem of her clothes and fanned herself with it.

“I feel like I’m going to get all sticky with sweat…”

If she was going to complain that much, all she had to do was step outside. The room didn’t feel particularly hot, and the temperature wasn’t all that high. Shiga Inui had no idea what on earth she was after and just figured she was making one of her usual sarcastic remarks.

“…? Anyway, this was a big help. Sorry for all the trouble. If you have time tomorrow, let’s do this again.”

With that, he moved to quickly leave the room, completely missing the meaning behind her words. At his words, her flushed body rapidly cooled, and she looked as if she couldn’t understand why Shiga Inui was being so distant.

“…Huh? No, wait a second, please.”

Abarabana Tenri spoke to the strangely acting Shiga Inui. He tilted his head, a question mark seeming to float above it as if to say, “What more is there?”

“Huh?”

(His expression was one of pure incomprehension.)

This was a completely different development from what she had anticipated.

“No way… You can’t be… you’re not telling me this is it, are you?”

Abarabana Tenri closed in on Shiga Inui. He didn’t understand what she was saying.

“Hm?”

(She was at a loss for how to explain it.)

(For the time being, she tried to convey what she was thinking to him, but…)

“L-Like, a… a casual thing… a spur-of-the-moment… that, and then, forcefully…”

She didn’t say any more. Because if she said it out loud, she hated that it would make her sound like she was hoping for it.

But upon hearing her words, Shiga Inui was giving her a strange look, as if wondering what on earth was going through her head.

“Dude… it was a study session, right? …What were you imagining?”

To be treated like a pervert by Shiga Inui, of all people—a guy who was supposed to do nothing but perverted things—filled her with frustration, and she was on the verge of raising her voice.

“Ah, wh-… Hah! I see! So you’re just trying to tease me! I know exactly what you want to do!!”

Her face turned bright red.

(Shiga Inui is just teasing me.)

Thinking this, she once again pulled back and braced herself.

But.

Shiga Inui gave her scheme a pitying look and said.

“…Can I say one thing?”

(Here it comes.)

she thought.

Bracing herself, she responded to Shiga Inui’s preamble.

“What is it? Are you finally going to push me down…?”

And then.

Shiga Inui sighed.

His gaze was one of annoyance, as if he were dealing with a nuisance.

“I was trying to study seriously. I have plans after this, too… so I can’t meet your request… Seriously, I’m sorry.”

Regarding what she was asking for, Shiga Inui bowed his head, saying he couldn’t grant it. It was only then that she finally realized Shiga Inui wasn’t interested, and her face beet-red, she screamed.

“Wh-… ah?! Wh-what are you apologizing for…? That makes it sound like… like I’m the one who was coming on to you!”

Shiga Inui crossed his arms and hung his head. It seemed her aggressive approach hadn’t moved him much.

“I get that you’re attractive… but being the one who gets pounced on is a different story…”

That was the final blow. To say she was attractive but then not make a move on her was the same as saying she wasn’t attractive at all. Above all, the fact that she had been the one asking for it made the humiliation burn, and her entire body grew hot, filled with shame.

“Y-you… you’re the worst! You-!”

Involuntarily, her hand shot out. She slapped Shiga Inui across the face, and with considerable force.

Bwhap!!

Completely defenseless, Shiga Inui took the full force of the blow. As he collapsed onto the futon, she used her cane to stand up and moved to leave the room. As she placed her hand on the sliding door, she turned back and flung a parting shot at Shiga Inui.

“H-hmph! It’s not like I care, anyway! I have plans after this, too, you know!!”

She spat the scornful words at the scoundrel who had trampled on a maiden’s feelings and slammed the sliding door shut. With her back against the door, she tried to calm her breathing through her frustration, but her anger would not subside.

“…Aaargh, honestly!”

Furious at the anger with nowhere to go, she raised her voice as she re-buttoned her top.

As she did, she glanced down at her own underwear.

It was so thin and sheer that the color of her skin was visible through it.

Underwear she had prepared just in case, assuming her body would be devoured tonight.

(It’s like… It’s like I’m a fool, wearing something so revealing… Damn it…)

Her head had been completely taken over by the lecher.

Gritting her teeth in shame, she walked down the hallway, leaning on her cane.

As she moved away from him, the collar around her neck tightened slightly.

It was designed to constrict if she tried to use any techniques or power in this state.

Of course, depending on Shiga Inui’s command, this restraint could be loosened somewhat.

Although she was Shiga Inui’s property, she had been provided with a private room due to the magnitude of her achievements.

And so, she was to return to her own room.

Shiga Inui placed a hand on his cheek.

His eyes watered from the throbbing pain.

“Ow… Shit, she actually hit me pretty hard.”

Her violent act.

The act of raising a hand was a grave offense for one who was subservient.

However, Shiga Inui took no action against her.

In a way, he probably thought her actions were justified.

The door had been slammed shut.

Slowly, the sliding door opened again.

It wasn’t Abarabana Tenri coming back…

“Um…”

The one who peeked her head in was a serving maid.

Seeing the maid with brown hair and bangs that hid her eyes, Shiga Inui beckoned her over as if to say she’d come at a good time.

“Oh, hey, can you check if my cheek is red?”

At Shiga Inui’s words, she looked down the hall.

Seeing that no one was walking by, she entered the room and closed the sliding door.

“Ah… yes… um.”

Her slender hand went into the folds of her kimono.

Then, she pulled out a handkerchief.

Looking at her face, Shiga Inui tried to recall her name.

(What was her name again? Oh well.)

But he quickly gave up trying to remember.

It was enough to just remember that she was one of the young maids who had come with Mineki Shian.

“Are you all right? Please, wait just a moment.”

She left the room again.

After wetting a cloth at a nearby water fountain, she returned.

Then, she gently pressed the cool cloth to Shiga Inui’s cheek to cool it down.

“Oh… sorry about that. Thanks for getting the cloth.”

Shiga Inui expressed his gratitude to her.

Touching his cheek, she blushed a little bashfully, but she hid her shyness, telling herself it was her job as she pressed the cloth against his cheek.

“Does it… hurt?”

To her question, Shiga Inui answered no.

“Nah… I’m fine. Still, though… this is pretty uncool, huh.”

He let out a dry laugh, perhaps embarrassed that she had seen him get hit by Abarabana Tenri.

At his self-deprecating words, the maid shook her head from side to side.

“N-no… not at all… Other people say some really awful things about you, but…”

Then, after hesitating over whether to say what came next, she steeled herself and told Shiga Inui.

“I-I think you’re… cool.”

Was that not enough to convey her feelings?

In addition to that, she told Shiga Inui how she truly felt.

“Um, I admire you. Very, very much…”

Admiration.

A word for someone you’re interested in.

In this case, it was less about respect and more about romantic affection.

As if grasping the meaning of her words, Shiga Inui’s eyes narrowed and he spoke to her happily.

“Is that so? It doesn’t feel bad to hear that.”

His voice was gentle.

She was captivated, wondering if he could even produce such a sound.

The hand on his cheek stopped moving, and she thought that a nice atmosphere was developing between them.

“…Ah, um.”

But she had nothing to talk about.

Well, there was something, but it was just a topic of curiosity.

It might even be something that would anger him.

But she must have hated the silence.

She brought up a rumor in front of him.

“Um… is that story… true?”

A story.

Shiga Inui had no idea which story she was talking about.

“Hm?”

He asked her to repeat herself.

Then, she took a breath.

And she told Shiga Inui.

“I heard from a senpai before… that you… made love… to someone, once.”

Sexual intercourse.

She rephrased it to avoid sounding indecent.

Hearing that, Shiga Inui understood what she was talking about.

Without any lies or deception, Shiga Inui answered awkwardly.

“…Well, just once. That was it. Why?”

Why did she bring up such a topic?

Shiga Inui, in turn, showed interest.

At his question, her heart pounded.

“That’s… I-I…!”

She crushed the cloth in her hand, forming a fist.

She was so nervous that the words wouldn’t come out right.

Shiga Inui moved closer to her face, looked her in the eyes, and said.

“Is it something hard to say?”

He had an attitude that he would wait for however many hours it took for her to wring out the words.

With his eyes right in front of her, she couldn’t even hide her face, and tears of embarrassment began to well up.

“…I-I really… admire you… but, it’s no good, right? I’m not beautiful like Shian-sama…”

Mineki Shian and Abarabana Tenri were in a different league.

Their beauty was such that ten out of ten people would turn their heads.

However, she also had a well-featured face.

It wasn’t a bad face by any means.

However, Shiga Inui scolded her, but in a way that wouldn’t hurt her.

“…You shouldn’t compare yourself to others. It’s rude to the other person, too.”

Being scolded, she must have realized.

That she was disparaging her own master.

Realizing she had done something terrible, her eyes welled up with tears.

“…I’m sor- I’m sorry. It’s just, that’s not what I…”

She must have genuinely liked Shiga Inui.

Her emotions were in such a mess that she didn’t even know what she was doing.

To cut off her feelings, Shiga Inui said apologetically.

“…Sorry. My heart belongs to only one person.”

That meant that Shiga Inui, too, had someone he was seriously in love with.

Whether that was a lie or the truth, at that point, her love became one-sided.

And it indicated that her love would never be fulfilled.

“Ah… eh?! Th-that’s… right, isn’t it… I got carried away…”

She hung her head.

Her expression was hidden, but the tears flowing from her face streamed down onto her tightly clenched fists, soaking them.

Seeing this, Shiga Inui touched her hand and pulled her towards him.

“But… if you truly feel that way about me.”

Slowly, she raised her face.

“Eh, ah.”

Shiga Inui gazed lovingly at her tear-stained face.

“This one night, I will devote myself to you.”

As he pulled her body closer, the maid rested her body against his chest.

“Ngh, ah!”

She understood that this was forbidden.

But not wanting to let go of that single moment, she was swallowed by his words.

(I-I’m not as… tall as Shian-sama… I’m… I’m small, but.)

(Ah, wh-why are you patting my head…? You said I’m small and cute… Um, I-I’m happy, really!)

(I don’t really… know much about… this kind of thing.)

(Ah… um, your hands… they’re so big, aren’t they? So rough…)

(Holding hands like lovers… I’ve… I’ve always dreamed of doing that.)

(Ehehe… a lot of my dreams have come true.)

(Well then… um, please… be gentle.)

(I-I’m fine… this is nothing… ngh.)

(Ah!… Nyu, nngh~~~~! Huh? Nya!)

(Hah… ah… hah… ah, um… one more… time, p-please, one more time.)

(Hah, I’m, I’m sorr- sorry! Shian-ah, sama! Shian-sama! Ah!)

After they had finished.

The date had already changed.

As she put her kimono back on, she looked at his face from between the gaps in her bangs.

“…Inui-sama, thank you… for today.”

Her cheeks were flushed red, and she looked entranced, as if she had just had a happy dream.

If she could, she would have liked to stay with him until morning, but that was not an option.

“…I want to stay here forever, but… it would be bad if someone else found us, right? …Besides.”

She was a serving maid.

And Shiga Inui was someone precious to Mineki Shian.

It was a love that could not be, a love that must not be.

That’s why she was able to touch a moment that should never have been possible.

“It was only for one night… just for a single night… but thank you for loving me.”

She said it over and over, as if to convince herself.

She reached for the sliding door, opened it, and turned around.

“I won’t forget… so, if possible, even if it’s just once in a while…!”

Please, remember me.

But she didn’t say those words.

Because she understood that saying any more would be overstepping her bounds.

“No, it’s nothing… Well then, excuse me, Inui-sama.”

With sadness in her heart, she left the room.

Left alone, Shiga Inui stared at the ceiling and thought about her.

“…Ah—”

He reached a hand towards the ceiling.

And what replayed in his mind was the number of serving maids who had come on to him so far.

Over and over, Shiga Inui counted on his fingers.

(Let’s see… is this the tenth one?)

Ten people.

That was the number of serving maids who had come on to Shiga Inui so far.

What was it about Shiga Inui that they fell for?

For the most part, it was probably his face; none of them looked at his personality.

They held a fantasy about the existence known as Shiga Inui.

They held special feelings for him, as if they were worshipping an idol.

(I feel like I get extremely liked sometimes.)

That wasn’t a bad thing.

He could sleep with the serving maids like this.

Although it was only ever for one time.

(Well, that’s more convenient for me, so it’s fine.)

He sat up.

He went out into the hallway to wipe the sweat from his body.

Once more, Shiga Inui counted on his fingers.

This time, his fingers showed the number seven.

“Still… you don’t really meet the rare ones, do you.”

Maybe it was only natural, Shiga Inui thought.

He reluctantly accepted that women like Abarabana Tenri were probably a rare find.

And then, he remembered the last serving maid he had slept with.

“…Ah, I should have at least asked for her name.”

If he called her by name the next time they met, that serving maid would probably be happy.

But since he hadn’t asked for her name, that would not be possible.