If he remembered correctly, today should have been a weekday, right? At this hour, she should still have been in class. It seemed her morning had truly been nerve-racking. She had probably been watching her phone the entire time, and not receiving a reply from him for so long must have made her anxious.
Sorry for being such a night owl, Sakurakoji Talent silently offered a hint of apology before carefully reading what she had sent.
[I'm fine with anything! Please arrange it however you like, Sakurakoji-san!]
After thinking for two seconds, Sakurakoji Talent typed a reply.
[Then how about this afternoon?]
[I have something to do in the evening, so you may need to leave school early this afternoon.]
[If you're okay with that, I'll send you the time and place shortly.]
Considering both her commute and his own, he decided not to make her come over after school. Otherwise, he might end up late for work that evening.
He couldn't delay getting to work on time just because he was worried about her having class, could he?
Besides, she would not be attending school next semester anyway. Leaving early was no big deal! He believed that, given Aoyama Nanami's diligence, she had surely already achieved Perfect Attendance.
Soon, the phone in his hand vibrated again.
[Okay, no problem!]
Seeing that she had no objections, Sakurakoji Talent sent her the address of Ten no Yashiro. Taking into account the time she needed for lunch, he set the appointment for two in the afternoon.
After receiving another affirmative reply, Sakurakoji Talent put down his phone, climbed out of his soft bed, stretched, and headed to the washroom to freshen up.
Suimei University of Art High School, a first-year classroom.
After receiving Sakurakoji Talent's confirmation, Aoyama Nanami finally let out a sigh of relief. Ever since she had sent him a message over breakfast that morning, he had not replied. Those two hours had felt like years, and she had not even been in the mood to listen to the lessons she normally paid close attention to.
Could it be that, because she had replied too late, Sakurakoji-san had already found someone more suitable?
Aahhh, she really was an idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot... She had actually missed such a wonderful opportunity.
Aoyama Nanami wore a bitter expression, her face full of worry.
Ever since recovering from her cold two days ago, she had been constantly thinking about Sakurakoji Talent's proposal. Although she was a little reluctant to leave her current school, she probably would not find another job with such excellent conditions.
So this morning, she had gathered her courage and firmly pressed the send button.
But the long wait for a response had tormented her terribly. Every thirty seconds, she checked her phone screen to see whether there were any unread messages.
It was possible that he had not gotten up yet, but it seemed unlikely that he would still be asleep at nine.
Fortunately, it had finally been settled just now.
Aoyama Nanami felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Just as she was about to put down her phone, a voice so startling it was nearly terrifying rang out beside her.
"Aoyama, answer this question."
"Ah? Oh, yes!"
Hearing the math teacher at the podium call her name, Aoyama Nanami hurriedly put the phone in her desk drawer, scrambled to her feet, and carefully read the problem on the blackboard.
After spending a moment reading the question, Aoyama Nanami thought for a bit and quickly gave her answer.
"Mm, correct. You may sit down."
"But you still need to pay attention in class. You're not quite yourself today."
Obviously, Aoyama Nanami's frequent little movements and unusual attitude had already been noticed. When the teacher saw her Hands beneath the desk and her head lowered, clearly looking at her phone, the teacher used the question to remind her.
However, the math teacher did not pursue the matter further and simply continued explaining the problem. That was the privilege of being a good student!
"Yes, I'm very sorry..."
Aoyama Nanami sat down awkwardly, patted her cheeks, and began listening attentively.
Now that everything had been settled, she could finally focus on class without distraction.
During lunch break,
"Aoyama, what was up with you today? You actually spaced out in class. That really doesn't seem like you."
Aoyama Nanami turned around and saw the familiar figure of a classmate, a wry smile appearing on her face.
"Oh, it's Kanda-kun. Well, there's something going on."
"Something going on?" Kanda Kouta looked confused.
He knew about Aoyama Nanami's situation, but there was not much he could do. After all, he was only a student himself. At most, he could offer a little help when she was truly struggling.
Previously, Aoyama Nanami had been busy balancing part-time work and studying, but she had managed her time well and neglected neither. He could not imagine what could make someone as capable as her slip up.
Had trying to juggle work and school finally become too much for her?
"Look, didn't I mention yesterday that someone I knew introduced me to a new job?" Seeing his curious, puzzled gaze, Aoyama Nanami explained.
"The conditions are incredibly good, and it would also be very beneficial for my vocal training."
"Ah, that thing." Kanda Kouta looked enlightened. "Isn't that great? Have you decided to accept it?"
"Mm. The hours for the new job can be arranged freely, I can gain access to more professional knowledge, and the pay is very good. It's really hard to turn down." Mentioning it made Aoyama Nanami brighten up, her joy clear for all to see.
Image: "You know what I mean, right?", location: "Images/1754915944-100446961-113711093.jpg"
"The Daily Life of Attracting Bees and Butterflies, Volume One: Aoyama Nanami's Interview"
"This morning, I sent them a message to ask about it, and they gave me a positive response during class!"
"I'm going for the interview this afternoon, so I may need to leave early."
"I see. Isn't that a good thing? Things will be much easier for you in the future!" Kanda Kouta was happy for her as well.
"Mm, that's true..." Aoyama Nanami hesitated, unsure whether she should say it now. After thinking for a long time, she bit her lower lip and decided to tell one of the few friends she had in Tokyo the truth.
"Actually, they said they could help me transfer into the vocal performance department at a school near the workplace."
"So if I pass the interview, I might be transferring schools next semester."
"Huh? You're transferring, Aoyama?" Kanda Kouta's expression turned shocked. This was the first he had heard of it.
"I see. But that makes sense. Your dream is to become a voice actress, after all."
"Sui High only has an art department and a fine arts department. It does nothing to help you pursue your dream, so leaving now may actually be the right choice."
Previously, Aoyama Nanami had only said that the new job had excellent pay and conditions and that she was tempted by it. She had not explained the specifics.
Hearing that Aoyama Nanami might transfer away, he was quite surprised. After the surprise passed, regret and reluctance appeared on his face. After all, she was one of the classmates he knew best.
But after thinking it over, he gradually accepted it. Rationally speaking, this decision was probably the best one for her. Staying at Sui High would only hold her back from pursuing her dream.
"Good luck, Aoyama. I'll be rooting for you! I hope I can see a work you appear in a few years from now!"
"Mm, I will! You too, Kanda-kun!"
The two smiled at each other, offering their blessings for their friend's future.
After saying goodbye to her classmate, Aoyama Nanami went to the staff room to explain the situation. Once she received their understanding, she left school early.
Following the address Sakurakoji Talent had sent her, she used the navigation on her phone to look up the route and the transportation she needed to take.
"Wow, the location is actually in Aoyama, Minato Ward? What kind of job is this?" She could not help exclaiming after seeing just the first few words of the address.
"Sakurakoji-san said the workplace was in an apartment building. It must be a luxury apartment, right?"
As one of the three central districts of Tokyo Metropolis, Minato Ward itself was synonymous with luxury and expense. Tokyo's iconic Tokyo Tower was located here.
There were countless aristocrats, wealthy people, upscale shopping malls, and gourmet streets. It was adjacent to Tokyo Bay, making the environment highly suitable for living, and the land prices and living costs were easy enough to imagine—extremely unfriendly to a student from the countryside like her.
Aoyama, in particular, was famous for its arts scene and numerous flagship stores for high-end fashion brands. The renowned Omotesando was located here.
Although her surname was also Aoyama, perhaps her ancestors had some connection to the person behind the district's name. But now, she had practically nothing in common with this place. One Aoyama was not the other Aoyama.
That was why she normally never came here unless necessary. It was not like she could afford anything she saw anyway.
And precisely because it was her first time coming here, she had not delayed after class. She had left school immediately without even eating lunch. She had deliberately set aside plenty of time, afraid that getting lost and arriving late would ruin the interview.
As it turned out, her concerns had been justified.
Because she was unfamiliar with the route, she not only missed her stop once but also got lost among the surrounding high-end buildings that all looked similar.
Only after spotting a distinctive shopping mall on the map did she find the correct direction.
By the time she truly arrived at her destination, it was already nearly two.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness, I'm not late yet!"
Aoyama Nanami, panting heavily, jogged all the way to the entrance of Ten no Yashiro. After confirming that this was the place, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
She raised her head and took in the entire building. Her light golden eyes flickered in shock. Though she had known it would probably be a luxury apartment, its grandeur far exceeded her expectations.
Standing on the ground and looking up, she felt as though the building pierced straight into the clouds. Even among the surrounding buildings that all radiated luxury, it was particularly eye-catching.
Its orderly exterior was covered in a gleaming glass curtain wall. Its subtly curved shape narrowed inward like a slender waist standing in the city, giving it a striking beauty.
"How tall is this? It's definitely more than a hundred meters, right? Two hundred? Or maybe three hundred?"
Aoyama Nanami was filled with awe. The overwhelming sight nearly robbed her of the ability to think.
Was she really going to work in a building like this? She found it hard to believe. Was this really a place she could belong in?
She looked at the blue school uniform she had not had time to change out of, then looked around. Everyone walking nearby seemed fashionably dressed and impeccably polished. She felt as though she were the only one who did not fit in here.
"There's no point thinking so much now! Come on, Nanami!"
She gave her cheeks a light slap, encouraged herself through her reflection in the glass, briefly adjusted her hurried breathing from running, took a deep breath, then stepped onto the granite stairs at the entrance and walked straight through the automatic glass doors into the building lobby.
After entering, Aoyama Nanami looked up and took in the sight of the lobby.
A spacious, brightly lit hall came into view. Minimalist linear designs unified the entire space. Directly ahead was an information desk, with reception and lounge areas on both sides, while a prominent grand staircase stood in one corner.
Simple yet luxurious—was this the so-called urban elite aesthetic? Aoyama Nanami could not help screaming internally.
"May I ask what you need?" As Aoyama Nanami stood still and observed the furnishings around her, Yashiro Ichiyo walked over and asked politely.
"A maid?!" Seeing her maid outfit so suddenly, Aoyama Nanami blurted out in surprise before quickly recovering and apologizing.
"Ah, I'm sorry! It's my first time seeing a maid. That was very rude of me!"
"Um, I have an interview here at two. Do you know anything about that?"
Aoyama Nanami hurriedly bowed in apology. Once Yashiro Ichiyo understood why she was here, a look of realization appeared on her face.
"Ah~ You must be the young lady Young Master mentioned."
"Young Master?" Aoyama Nanami looked confused, not knowing who she meant.
Yashiro Ichiyo did not explain. Her gaze softened, as though she were looking at a junior just entering the workforce, and she continued.
"Please follow me. Um, you're Miss Aoyama, right?"
"Yes, my name is Aoyama Nanami. Sorry for the trouble."
Yashiro Ichiyo nodded and walked ahead to lead the way, occasionally looking back to make sure Aoyama Nanami could keep up.
Contrary to Aoyama Nanami's expectation of going upstairs, they did not go far before arriving directly at the business area beside the lobby, where they stopped in front of a sofa.
"Young Master, I've brought Miss Aoyama."
Image: "If there is business, present it; if not, court is dismissed~", location: "Images/1754916083-100446961-113711098.jpg"
Author's note: I received feedback saying that the previous letter to readers appeared after the latest chapter and disrupted reading. This was probably because I had set the volume number for work-related content higher than Volume One. Since most readers following along have probably already seen it, I have now deleted it from the work-related section to avoid affecting the reading experience. Readers who have already seen it can simply refresh to see the updated table of contents.
"The Daily Life of Attracting Bees and Butterflies, Volume One: What's with the Maid?"
Hearing the voice, Sakurakoji Talent looked over and could not help smiling when he saw the slightly nervous Aoyama Nanami.
Before you continue