"Hayasaka."
"I'm here."
"Occasionally, you can be quite full of yourself, too."
Kaguya Shinomiya spoke with deep emotion, her little expression perfectly illustrating what one might call pure stupidity.
Faced with this mentally overloaded Kaguya, Ai Hayasaka remained utterly composed.
It was something she'd long known - that her young mistress occasionally acted foolish. Facing such a Kaguya had become second nature to her.
Yet for some reason, today's Kaguya Shinomiya left her with a faint sense of irritation.
"You don't believe what I just said, do you, young mistress?"
"It's not that I don't believe you." Kaguya tilted her head, speaking with an air of foolish innocence. "I just suddenly realised that Hayasaka also has thoughts of reaching above her station, which I find quite amusing."
"Reaching above my station?" Ai Hayasaka's eyebrow twitched, her expression visibly stiffening for a moment.
Between Familia and Chief God, wasn't that already a relationship destined to last a lifetime? How could it be called reaching above one's station?
"Ah, my apologies. That seems to have been an unnecessary remark. Please don't mind it, Hayasaka."
Kaguya waved her hand dismissively, completely missing the subtle irritation on Hayasaka's face.
"Speaking of which, Hayasaka, you mentioned that Director Luo Shu hinted about the secretary because of you? What exactly is going on there?"
Someone occupying the high position of SDS Director - Kaguya didn't believe for a second that Luo Shu was a fool.
If he was willing to let his secretary interact with Hayasaka, even to the point where the secretary was willing to leak information to her, then it must mean he had some purpose that could only be achieved through such leaks.
Considering this, Kaguya couldn't help but feel nervous.
After all, Luo Shu's messages sent through his secretary didn't seem directed at her.
'Was it aimed at the Shinomiya family?'
'Could it be some kind of hint regarding that so-called assassination attempt by Elder Brother?'
'But didn't Father say Elder Brother was being manipulated?'
'Surely the SDS Intelligence Department wouldn't fail to investigate something like that properly?'
'Or perhaps, even knowing Elder Brother was being used, Director Luo Shu still wanted to pin the blame on the Shinomiya family and take a bite out of them?'
The thought made Kaguya tense up immediately.
Just as she was lost in these wild speculations, Hayasaka tugged at her side ponytail with visible annoyance:
"It seems Mr Luo Shu wants me to serve as his personal maid, which is why he said something to the secretary."
Though she dearly wanted to claim outright that Luo Shu had Yukino Yukinoshita drop hints specifically for her sake, Hayasaka hadn't lost her mind. She couldn't just casually pin the blame on Luo Shu - if her lie was exposed, things would become troublesome.
After all, the information had originally come from Yukinoshita's leaks in an internal chat group. If she tried to pin it on Luo Shu, Hayasaka strongly suspected he would actually admit to it and then proceed to torment her mercilessly.
Considering the potential consequences, Hayasaka opted for the safest response.
Luo Shu simply fancied her and wanted her as his personal maid. It wasn't like he hadn't expressed such intentions before, right?
Meanwhile, the still-speculating Kaguya visibly relaxed upon hearing this:
"I see, he just wants you as his maid? That's... that's fine, not a major issue at all."
What a relief it wasn't about targeting the Shinomiya family for complete annihilation. Thinking this, Kaguya felt significantly more at ease.
Wait a moment?
Director Luo Shu wants Hayasaka as his personal maid?
Finally, the gears in Kaguya's mind turned, bringing her to the most serious realisation...
Even after telling his secretary not to worry about confidential information, he was dead set on stealing her best friend away from her!!!
Kaguya Shinomiya immediately panicked, and just then, something even worse happened.
"So the young mistress thinks this matter is unimportant?"
Hearing the utterly resentful tone, Kaguya's heart skipped a beat. She looked up and saw Ai Hayasaka's thoroughly displeased expression.
This is bad. Hayasaka misunderstood.
Kaguya froze completely.
Compared to Kaguya, Ai Hayasaka only felt that her loyalty had been misplaced.
She had refused Luo Shu's invitation and voluntarily stayed by her best friend's side precisely to protect her, ensuring she wouldn't be swallowed by the Shinomiya family's vortex during school, all to preserve their sisterly bond.
But now it seemed that while she valued this bond, Kaguya Shinomiya considered it unimportant?
Fine. If you think it's unimportant, then I'll resign immediately. No point being an eyesore.
"In that case, young mistress, I'll submit my resignation letter shortly..."
Before Hayasaka could finish, a quick-witted Kaguya hastily interjected:
"This way, Hayasaka, you won't have to follow me when I'm married off!"
"Eh???"
Hayasaka was momentarily stunned. Before she could process this, Kaguya forced a smile and continued:
"Because of the severity of the incident caused by Eldest Brother this time, Father has decided to have me inherit the position of Shinomiya family head and marry into a faction capable of protecting the Shinomiya family."
"I didn't know how to tell you earlier, Hayasaka. Normally, you'd be expected to accompany me as part of the marriage arrangement. But since you now have a better opportunity, I naturally want to help you leave the Shinomiya family."
This tactic was called overwriting a crisis with an even bigger crisis—she was truly brilliant...
Kaguya mentally punched the air in triumphant laughter.
Compared to the accidentally hurtful implication that 'Kaguya Shinomiya considers Ai Hayasaka unimportant', the revelation that 'Kaguya Shinomiya is being married off for protection' was clearly far more serious.
With this as the foundation, Hayasaka surely wouldn't dwell on her earlier unintended mistake, right?
Of course, letting Hayasaka become someone else's maid was out of the question. Her marriage was merely a transaction of interests anyway, so there was no need to worry about Hayasaka being part of the dowry.
Not only would she keep Hayasaka from being taken away, but she'd also resolve the earlier blunder—killing two birds with one stone...
Just as Kaguya was congratulating herself on her cunning scheme—
Silence fell as Hayasaka processed Kaguya's words. After a moment, comprehension dawned, and Hayasaka couldn't help but ask:
"Has the master already begun screening candidates?"
"Yes." Kaguya nodded, barely suppressing her amusement while feigning solemnity.
Seeing Kaguya confirm this, Hayasaka immediately grabbed her hand and declared firmly:
"I'm taking you to see Luo Shu."
"Huh?"
Kaguya blinked, then laughed incredulously:
"Hayasaka, what nonsense are you spouting... Even if Director Luo Shu intends to hire you, someone like him isn't someone we can just meet whenever we want..."
"Besides, Director Luo Shu is still in a missing in action state!!"
...
Twenty minutes later.
Hidden Management Department, third floor.
Kaguya Shinomiya stared blankly at the handsome, black-haired, black-eyed young man seated behind the office desk.
—She actually got to meet him directly just like that!!!!