The air in the living room seemed to freeze the moment Karuizawa Kei finished speaking.
The wary, assessing looks on Chisato Nishikigi, Runa Inoue, and Walnut's faces shifted ever so slightly.
They watched Karuizawa Kei clutching Mazumi Mami's arm, the tears and determination glimmering in her violet eyes. For a moment, none of them said a word to interrupt her.
The feelings in her words were so heavy, so sincere, that even Chisato Nishikigi, who loved joking around, had dropped her usual playful expression.
Mazumi Mami looked down at the hands clutching his arm. Her knuckles had turned faintly white from the pressure, and her fingertips trembled as if she were holding onto something precious that might disappear at any moment.
He fell silent for a moment, then reached over and gently covered her hands with his other hand.
"Kei." His voice was calm and gentle, soothing in a way that put her at ease. "Could you loosen your grip a little? You're hurting me."
Karuizawa Kei froze, then realized she had gotten carried away and unconsciously tightened her grip.
She quickly eased up, but didn't let go completely. She kept hold of his sleeve, as if afraid he would disappear again the moment she released him.
Mazumi Mami didn't pull away. He let her hold on and looked at her gently. "I never knew you'd been looking for me like this."
"I looked for you for so, so long..."
Karuizawa Kei's voice trembled, and her eyes reddened. "You left without saying goodbye. I didn't even know your name. I asked everyone around me, but no one knew you."
"I even wondered if I'd imagined you... But I knew I hadn't, because the people who bullied me really did disappear, and my life really did get better."
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. "So I kept thinking that I had to see you again, and thank you in person—and then stay by your side."
"Because you're the only person I can rely on now."
Karuizawa Kei said.
"This may be a little rude, but your parents..."
Mazumi Mami didn't finish, but his meaning was clear.
"They separated. There was no argument, no warning. One afternoon, when I got home from school, my father told me he'd pay child support until I came of age—that is, until I graduated from high school. After that, he and I would have nothing more to do with each other."
"As for my mother, she packed up and left long ago. I don't know where she went, but I do know the car that came to pick her up was incredibly luxurious."
"Ever since I started at this school, I haven't had anywhere to belong."
"So please let me stay by your side. I don't care if it's as a maid or something else. If even you abandon me, I really..."
Karuizawa Kei hadn't finished when Mazumi Mami cut her off and patted her head.
"Of course you can. But as a maid?"
Mazumi Mami raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"
"Completely serious."
Karuizawa Kei nodded without hesitation, her gaze as resolute as a burning flame.
"I looked into this school. I know those three ladies are your maids. If they can do it, so can I. I'm willing to do anything and endure any hardship—as long as I can stay by your side."
"Hey, hey, hold on."
Chisato Nishikigi finally couldn't hold back. She stood up, hands on her hips, her tone carrying a hint of disapproval and challenge.
"You can't just decide to become a maid because you feel like it! Do you know what a young master's maid needs to be capable of? Protecting him, gathering information, managing his daily life—none of that can be done with passion alone!"
"I can learn."
Karuizawa Kei held Chisato Nishikigi's gaze without backing down. "I'll work hard to do everything you can do. I won't be worse than anyone else."
"Oh? You've got quite a bit of confidence."
Chisato Nishikigi narrowed her eyes, the corners of her mouth curling into an amused smile. "Fine, then answer me this—can you fight? If someone tried to hurt the young master, could you step in and protect him?"
Karuizawa Kei faltered for a moment, but gritted her teeth and forced herself to answer. "I... I can learn martial arts! If you teach me, I'll definitely learn!"
"What about gathering information? Can you pick useful details out of people's casual remarks?"
"I... I can learn..."
"And managing his daily life? Do you know what the young master likes to eat, what he doesn't, his routine, or what he's allergic to?"
"I... I'll remember all of that..."
Karuizawa Kei's resolve wavered more and more, and her voice grew quieter, but she never looked away.
There was a stubbornness in her that said, I know I can't do it yet, but I will.
Watching her struggle to answer and still refuse to give in, Chisato Nishikigi suddenly burst out laughing.
"All right, all right, I admit it—you've passed at least one test."
"Huh?"
Karuizawa Kei blinked.
"I kind of like that stubborn streak of yours."
Chisato Nishikigi folded her arms across her chest and tilted her head, sounding unusually approving. "You can't do anything yet, but at least you're serious about it. Unlike some people, who make all sorts of grand promises and then run faster than anyone when it's time to actually do something."
She turned to Mazumi Mami. "What do you think, young master?"
Mazumi Mami pondered for a moment.
He looked down at Karuizawa Kei again: at those violet eyes full of anxiety and hope, at her hands clutching his sleeve as if it were her last lifeline, at the girl who had disguised herself as someone else to find him and searched through crowds for who knew how many days and nights.
He sighed softly.
"Kei, you should know that staying by my side won't be easy. The people around me could face danger at any time. I'm not just an ordinary student. I may have far more enemies than you can imagine, and they may be far more dangerous."
"I'm not afraid."
Karuizawa Kei answered without hesitation. "As long as I can stay by your side, I'm not afraid of anything."
"Even if you might die?"
Karuizawa Kei's body trembled slightly, but she still bit her lip and nodded firmly. "Even if I might die."
Mazumi Mami gazed at her for a long while, then slowly smiled.
"Then I'll give you a trial period."
Karuizawa Kei's eyes lit up at once.
"If, over the next little while, you can prove your determination and ability to me and my maids, I'll seriously consider letting you become one of us."
"And you look fine as you are now. Be who you want to be. You don't need to change your appearance to suit me."
Mazumi Mami said.
"Really?! That's wonderful! I'll do my best!"
Karuizawa Kei was so excited she nearly jumped. She still clutched Mazumi Mami's sleeve, but now the light in her tearful eyes was one of joy.
"But—"
Chisato Nishikigi leaned in and patted Karuizawa Kei's shoulder with a bright smile. "The trial period won't be easy. I'm very strict, and if you don't pass, I'll kick you out without hesitation."
"Me too."
Runa Inoue nodded calmly.
"I'll keep monitoring your performance data."
Walnut nodded. "If your efficiency is low, I'll record it accurately and report it."
Karuizawa Kei looked at the three distinctive "senior maids" before her, took a deep breath, and nodded solemnly. "I look forward to working with you! I won't let you down!"
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains and spilled into the living room, falling on four girls and one boy.
A new story was quietly beginning.