Hayasaka sat in front of him with two cups of hot tea, her long legs hidden beneath her English maid dress.
Shinichi didn't have loose tea at home, so Hayasaka liked to make the black tea she brought.
"After drinking this cup of tea, I'll return to work."
Sipping the tea, Hayasaka looked calm, even though her tone seemed careless.
Faint white smoke drifted across her fair cheeks, giving them a slight blush despite the moderate temperature.
She seemed to expect him to take the initiative, but she didn't say anything explicitly.
Shinichi interpreted her words superficially to make himself appear less intelligent.
"There are no holidays throughout the year, and even personal time is sad..." After drinking the black tea, Shinichi sighed deeply:
"It's very hard for a maid in a big family."
"...Yes." Hayasaka's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction. It seemed like it was all just an illusion. When Shinichi looked closer, her expression remained as calm as ever.
"Salary isn't that great. I really don't want to do exhausting work like this again."
"Aren't you going to resign?" Shinichi remembered Hayasaka mentioning this to him.
Hayasaka wanted to say something, but after an unseen pause, she curved the corner of her mouth.
"Yes, the 'Freedom Day' will soon arrive... Although I'm not sure if it will go smoothly, my family seems to have made a decision."
"Ten years have passed, and the job as 'Kaguya-sama's personal attendant' will finally come to an end..."
She said this, but her tone was stiff and dull, even she didn't realize it.
Not wanting to show the turmoil of emotions she deliberately concealed, Shinichi focused on the confusing sentences.
"Not sure if it will go well? Why do you say that?"
The tea cup was placed on the table, and the playful attitude disappeared. He stared at Hayasaka seriously.
"What will happen after you're freed from your duties?"
"It's just a regular labor dispute." Hayasaka closed her eyes and sipped her tea.
"Don't worry, if everything goes well, I might be free after the school picnic."
Shinichi replied, "What if it doesn't go well?"
Squeezing the tea cup with a little force, she opened her slightly cold eyes, showing clear dissatisfaction.
"Are you cursing me?"
"Do you think I'm someone with such interests?" Shinichi's stance was stronger than hers, and he countered, "You tell me not to worry, does that mean you know what I'm worried about?"
"Although I don't understand the ecosystem of the wealthy like you, behind Hayasaka's mask, no one can see worries and doubts better than me."
Hayasaka stared at him with a blank look.
"You yourself don't think this will go smoothly? This isn't a situation that can make you relax. It's a completely different emotion from the sadness and loneliness of leaving Shinomiya-senpai. No matter how well you hide it, I still know.
"Let me guess, your resignation this time isn't voluntary at all? Or, are you actually just a pawn in the big family. If you leave Shinomiya-senpai, there will be people from the Shinomiya family who want to deal with you—"
*Pong*
The tea cup slammed onto the table, and tea splattered onto the table, causing Shinichi to unconsciously stop talking.
Hayasaka bit her lip, and looked at him with complex eyes, revealing a faint sadness.
But it was just like before. Shortly after, she took a deep breath.
"Don't think too much. Even if there are problems, what can you do? Fight against the Shinomiya family?"
"Like the brave man in fairy tales, snatch me back from the Shinomiya family and live happily ever after?"
"..."
Shinichi stopped talking, bowed his head, and drank the tea in the cup.
Maybe he could do it in the future, but it's clearly impossible now... He only lives in this small, dingy apartment now, and he can't do anything for Hayasaka.
"If you can't do it now, don't worry about me. Besides, I won't tell you." After glancing at him expressionlessly, Hayasaka said coldly, "I'm not a princess, and you're not a hero. We're all just ordinary people, and there are many things we can't control."
She was glad for her feelings, but she didn't want him to have any connection with the Shinomiya family... Honestly, Hayasaka regretted telling him that she was going to leave her job.
This person, when it comes to matters related to women, becomes very sharp and smart.
If she were secretly sent far away by the Shinomiya family, Shinichi would surely do his best to chase her back.
Then whatever the consequences, he wanted to be a hero, even if it offended the Shinomiya family.
Clearly that's not what Hayasaka wanted to see.
"Okay, stop talking about this and change the subject."
Feeling the atmosphere getting too serious, she softened her tone.
Suddenly thinking of something, Hayasaka laughed and looked at him with a pair of slightly shining big eyes.
"Let me tell you, after I'm free, do you want to travel abroad together?"
"Just the two of us, traveling."
"Go abroad...?"
Looking at her hopeful childish smile, Shinichi nodded, although his heart was still a little dull.
"Okay, I can accompany you to any country you want to visit until you're satisfied."
"Really?" Hayasaka leaned her face towards him, looking very happy.
"Of course." Shinichi straightened his back and said honestly:
"The premise is I have to communicate this with them first..."
"..."
The cheerful atmosphere finally dropped to zero.
"That's true. It's not an easy task to snatch you away from them. Moreover, if they firmly refuse, you may not agree, right?"
Her bright smile instantly faded, and Hayasaka's voice remained flat.
She took the tea cup with an expressionless face. After realizing there was no tea inside, she placed her cup aside and just rested her chin on her hand, staring at him coldly.
"As expected of you, with just one sentence, you crushed a girl's dream and made her very sad."
Although on the surface, there was no sadness at all.
"Um, it's better than lying to you..." Listening to her annoyed tone, Shinichi turned his face away in embarrassment and coughed twice.
"Don't worry, if that day comes, I'll definitely work hard to get their approval!"
"Oh? Can I trust you?" Hayasaka raised her eyebrows with disbelief on her face, "You should know that you're 100% a scoundrel who likes to play around. Do you dare to trust yourself if it's you?"
"If you don't like it too much, who would want to be a scoundrel?"
Shinichi said earnestly.
"Anyway, trust me, babe! I'll never lie to someone I like, and I'll do what I say. In return, I also want to be alone with you overseas, fall in love, and spend our honeymoon!"
"..."
There was only a low table between the two of them, and Hayasaka met his gaze with fiery eyes and determination in his words.
The phrase "honeymoon together" hit the girl like a bomb, making her awareness slightly blurry. When she regained consciousness, her ears and cheeks began to heat up.
"W-What are you talking about!"
Scolding him in panic, she turned her face away, trying to hide her expression. Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest, and she placed her fingers under the table, nervously pinching the edge of her skirt.
"It's just a trip abroad. It's too early for a honeymoon..." Hayasaka said softly, looking down at the table.
"Although I've been thinking of not going to China when traveling around the world, I'll just wait until I go on a honeymoon..."
Shinichi nodded and smiled, "Right. I can see what tourist spots are suitable for honeymooners in China, or I can propose to you on the Great Wall. How about that?"
He mentioned the word "proposal" naturally, as if their future together would never change.
Hayasaka was entranced, as if imagining such a scene.
Next, she picked up the cup and suddenly stood up.
"Oh, that's not good. We haven't even dated yet, but you're thinking a lot about it."
After saying this quickly, she walked to the hot water kettle and returned with another cup of tea.
Shinichi chuckled as he held the empty tea cup in his hand, watching her back.
During the back and forth, Hayasaka relied on her determination and long-term skills to save her almost faltering mentality.
She would never let her feelings control her because of emotions like excitement or a racing heart, and rush towards him to say something like, "I really like you~", "I want to be together all the time~", "I'm waiting for you to propose to me~".
Those were disgusting and undignified words.
That wasn't Hayasaka Ai's style. If she wanted him to act spoiled and flirtatious like that, it would be better to kill her and scatter her ashes in three days!
Not at all!
Not even death!
So, when she sat back in front of him, she set aside the still steaming tea.
Hayasaka stared straight at him, her face as red as if it had just been burned by the sun, but her expression was very serious.
"Truly, I will give you the chance to prove those words."
"What?" Shinichi was surprised.
Then, in the calmest tone, she said the words that made him uneasy.
"Prove your determination by kissing me in the most erotic way imaginable and for more than a minute."
Hayasaka paused for a moment and then added, "Meanwhile, whatever you do, I won't resist. If you need my cooperation, it's okay, but you have to take the initiative to guide."
She took out a small square package with "ultra-thin 0.01cm experience" written on it from her pocket and placed it on the table. Her movement was as graceful as handing out a cup of black tea.
"Don't worry, this is your home, everything is safe, just relax."
Finally, the corner of her mouth lifted slightly, and she admired his shaken gaze, speaking in a teasing tone.
"Or are you just brave enough to say it but not brave enough to do it?"
"..."
This provocation clearly reached Shinichi's ears.
The puzzled expression initially caused by surprise slowly disappeared from his face, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
He stood up calmly and walked around the table towards Hayasaka.