"Shun! Wake up!" a girl's voice called out from the other side of the door. Startled, I quickly responded, "Ahh, Milady! Please don't open the door right now! I'm changing!" Hurriedly, I grabbed the butler outfit from the closet and swiftly adorned myself with it. Taking a brief moment to check my appearance in the mirror, I nodded in approval. "Good," I muttered, satisfied with my appearance, before opening the door.
"Shun, it's already 7:20 AM! We're going to be late!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a sense of urgency.
"Ahh, Milady... Did you forget that your entrance ceremony actually starts at 9 PM?" I said with a sheepish smile, lightly scratching my face with a finger. "We have plenty of time, no need to rush."
She responded with a mix of exasperation and excitement, "Still! We're gonna be late! And I'm also really excited to see my friends there!"
Understanding her enthusiasm, I couldn't help but share in her anticipation. "I understand, Milady. Let's not keep them waiting then. I'll make sure we arrive in time for your entrance ceremony. Please, allow me to assist you in any way I can."
"Ehehe~ Shun, let's hurry!" she exclaimed, her excitement evident as she darted towards the dining room. I quickly followed suit, matching her pace to keep up.
"Oh, Siesta... I see that you've woken up Shun," the old man remarked, his voice carrying a tone of slight disapproval. He then shifted his gaze towards me, his eyes narrowing with scrutiny.
"Geh, I'm so sorry," I stammered, feeling a tinge of embarrassment. Bowing deeply, I sought to convey my sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.
After a moment, the old man let out a sigh, his stern expression softening. "As a butler of the Nagazomo family, I suppose I can forgive you this once," he conceded, granting me a pardon.
"Thank you, Chief Butler!" I expressed my gratitude, bowing once more to show my appreciation for his leniency.
"Lady Siesta, the breakfast is ready," a maid announced as she placed the meal on the table. Seizing the opportunity, I promptly pulled out the chair and offered my assistance to Lady Siesta.
"Thank you, Shun!" she responded, a smile gracing her lips as she took her seat.
"You're welcome, Lady Siesta," I replied with a warm smile
After assisting Lady Siesta to her seat, I stood beside Chief Butler, ready to greet the arrival of the esteemed guests. Just then, a mature-looking man entered the dining room, followed by his elegant wife.
"Good morning, Master Ezekiel. Good morning, Lady Liandra," Chief Butler and I greeted in unison, acknowledging the presence of the head of the mansion. The maids scattered around the dining room also joined in, offering their respectful morning greetings.
"Siesta, I heard that you and Shun are classmates this year," Master Ezekiel remarked, his tone curious as he turned his attention to her daughter.
she nodded. "Yes, that's correct! Shun and I are classmates this year. It's such a wonderful coincidence, isn't it?" she replied, her voice brimming with excitement.
"Shun, please take care of my daughter... and don't let any pests touch her!" Master Ezekiel's stern gaze fixed upon me as he emphasized his words. His protective nature was evident as he voiced his expectations.
"Dear, you're scaring our butler," Lady Liandra interjected, her voice carrying a hint of amusement as she giggled. Her lighthearted response provided a counterbalance to her husband's intensity.
I couldn't help but wonder if Master Ezekiel had a complex when it came to his daughter. "Does he have a daughter complex or something," I mused silently in my mind, finding a hint of humor in the situation.
Maintaining a composed demeanor, the Chief Butler, with a sense of authority, replied respectfully, "Rest assured, Master Ezekiel. Shun will do everything in his power to ensure Lady Siesta's well-being and protect her from any unwanted intrusions, won't you, Shun?"
As Chief Butler's gaze fell upon me, his eyes seemed to pierce like daggers, conveying his strict expectations. Feeling the weight of his stare.
"Y-Yes, precisely! I won't let anyone have her," I responded, my voice carrying a tinge of nervousness. Lady Siesta let out a playful sigh, clearly not entirely pleased with my response.
"Oh, come on, Shun... not you too," she remarked, pouting in a playful manner. As her words registered, I realized my misstep. I smiled nervously, internally acknowledging my lapse in judgment. "Read the room, will ya?!" I silently chided myself, attempting to regain my composure while still maintaining my focus on The chief butler.
At that moment, as I contemplated my next move, the Chief Butler's voice cut through the air, a soft whisper close to my ear. "Shun, don't forget the lessons I taught you." I nodded as I close my eyes.
Before I started working as a butler at this magnificent mansion, the head butler subjected me to a rigorous assessment and provided extensive lessons on the art of being a butler, which proved to be more challenging than I had anticipated. I learned the importance of showing respect to the esteemed guests, maintaining a refined tone of voice, embodying impeccable manners and etiquette, and understanding the significance of the head of the mansion. However, that wasn't all. Every day after school, the chief butler also dedicated time to teach me the ways of kendo, a martial art.
"I have finished my meal now! Shun, please retrieve my bag," she commanded. I nodded obediently, swiftly picking up her bag and mine, both of which were meticulously arranged by the maids near the entrance. With the bags in hand, I made my way out of the mansion.
The service car's engine roared to life as Siesta opened the car door and stepped inside. Perplexed, I halted, my gaze fixated on the vehicle. "Wait...am I forgetting something?" I muttered to myself. I scanned my surroundings, taking slow steps towards the car, eventually joining Siesta inside. "Hmm? Shun, is something the matter?" she inquired. I shook my head and offered a reassuring smile. "No, it's nothing."
As the car glided past other vehicles on our way to school, I found myself gazing out of the window, lost in thought. A sudden headache made me clutch my head momentarily. "Shun, are you alright? Do you need some water?" Siesta kindly offered me a tumbler of water. I looked at it silently, contemplating. "Oh! I have an idea! How about we have this instead?" she suggested, opening a lunch case filled with mochi ice cream. "Ehehe~ I secretly took some from the fridge. Here you go, Shun!" She handed me a piece of mochi ice cream.
I quietly observed the mochi ice cream, my mind filled with confusion. "Huh? Wha--" I trailed off, taking a cautious bite. "It's... cold and... soft," I thought to myself, feeling a sense of familiarity but unable to place it. The nagging feeling of forgetting something or someone began to intensify, leaving me increasingly puzzled.
We finally reached the school gates, and Siesta eagerly exclaimed, "Shun, we're here!" Opening the car door, she urged me to hurry, and I nodded, quickly grabbing both her bag and mine, and carrying them over my shoulders. As I entered the school grounds, my attention was drawn to a small shrine nestled beneath a beautiful Sakura tree. I stood in silence, captivated by its presence. "Shun, what are you doing? We're going to be late!" Siesta called out impatiently. "I-I'm sorry, Milady," I replied with a bow, snapping out of my reverie. I proceeded to walk towards the auditorium, my gaze lingering on the shrine as I made my way.
"Shrine."