「14」

There was a face there when I opened my eyes.

“……………”

The shock of it caused me to stiffen up.

Even if it were a familiar face, wouldn’t you be surprised in this situation?

Hey, it’s the truth right?

“Her eyes are opening……”

Hayate seemed like he the verge of tears even as he let out that joyous utterance.

Ah, I must have worried him.

He’d thought I wouldn’t wake up.

I felt bad for him, so I stretched out my hand and patted Hayate’s head.

I smiled and narrowed my eyes as my deeper conscious began to stir.

Were you happy?

I see, you are happy aren’t you?

So, where were we?

I turned toward the ceiling before I glanced at the white dividing curtain.

“The clinic?”

“Yes.”

You carried me here?”

“Yes.”

Hayate nodded even though my hand remained on his head.

Why was he acting so dog-like?

Although, he was still a top-tier ikeman when he was quiet.

“I’m sorry. I must have worried you.”

“Mizuki. If you’re in pain, please say so. Only you know how much pain you’re in. We won’t know if you don’t say anything.”

“Sorry. I thought it was still okay. I was being too optimistic. You’re not wrong Hayate.”

I tried to apologetically pat his head, but he didn’t react this time.

Oops.

Did I make him worry too much?

“What time is it? What about cla.s.ses?”

“School is already over. Mari-sama already contacted the staff so it’s all right. You can go home any time.”

“I understand. Even though the end of term exams are coming up……”

Recently, studying for tests had become rather fun.

Since the cla.s.ses were interesting, it couldn’t be helped.

Better yet, these days I was starting to think I qualified for test mania.

“Your health is more important than studying.”

Hayate gave me a slightly chastising glance.

I started sulking at that.

“Ah, right. I’ll rest today. So? Where Mari-nee?”

“She’s with Tomoe outside.”

“Tomoe? Did something happen at the hospital?”

Tomeo was Hayate’s older sister and the member of the Okabe who acted as Mari’s guard.

She also had a medical license, like Mari.

Under normal circ.u.mstances, the Okabe tried to pair up members of the same s.e.x when deciding upon a Sagara’s attendant

For the Sagara daughters, in particular, the Okabe made sure to deploy their most talented members.

Hayate was a special case, as the Okabe had no daughters close to my age and he was considered the best amongst our generation.

If Hayate hadn’t become my guard, then the duty would’ve fallen to his three years younger brother.

The guard’s occupation and qualifications seemed to be established so they could always be close by.

“Nothing happened at the hospital. It because of your stress, Mizuki.”

“……Me……”

Mmm. Was it that bad? The was no helping it then.

I wouldn’t be able to hide this from Yak.u.mo and the others.

“Mari-sama called Tomoe here to see if she know of any way to relieve your stress.”

“Oh…… I’m sorry, Tomoe!!”

I would properly apologize to Tomoe later.

It was hard enough to look after Mari, but I wound up dragging her into my affairs.

“Say whatever you like Mizuki. Just down get stressed out too much.”

Hayate said that with stifling expression.

I see.

If I collapsed again, the Okabe would probably question his ability to take care of me.

“Eh…… Hayate, can you help me up?”

“Y-Yes. Understood. Give me a second.”

Unaware of my thoughts, Hayate followed obediently.

“Would the one with the backrest be better? Is the stripe too tight?”

“It fine. Hey, Hayate.”

“Hmm?”

I called Hayate over, pulled his head down and nestled my cheek with his hair.

“Soft and comfortable. I’m healed.”

Soft and curly long hair……

Incidentally, having a dog with long fur suddenly seemed like a wonderful idea.

“Mi-Mizuki……”

I ignored the fact that Hayate had frozen up a while ago and enjoyed this to my heart’s content.

“Stress relief, successful.”

“Huh?”

Hayate blank repeatedly blinking face was lovely.

Ikemen were so cuddly.

“I should have done this sooner. Sorry, Hayate.”

“N-No. If Mizuki like it, I do not mind……”

Hayate didn’t seem to understand the meaning of my behavior, but he reluctantly nodded his head.

“Now then, let’s return. I know of ways to relieve stress, will you like to go shopping tomorrow?”

“I don’t mind, but where will we be going?”

“………………Where do they sell things…… Crafts shops?”

Please tell me.

Where do they sell rabbit kendama[1] this time of year?

I decided to look into it on the Net when I returned home.

However, another invitation awaited me when I returned home.

“Otomo-sama seems to have invited you to a summer banquet because Nanami-sama is a fan of yours.”

Grandmother, the one who brought the invitation, said as much.

Nanami was Otomo’s wife and grandmother’s younger friend.

I loved her since I was a small child, but she was enthusiastic in her belief that I was a special girl.

When I was a kindergartener, I played into her delusions of grandeur. My closest brother even told me that I was a charmed person, but recent events have changed what that meant to me.

Grandma said my name should have been Yos.h.i.+ko, yet I dressed like a man at school and in private, my height meant my I fit military uniforms, I would be the first to call myself a reijin☆, and I came from another world.

I never thought that I would be invited to an Otomo party, but even if I took everything into account, I should be able to sarcastically laugh off any girl who had a problem with me.

“……but-”

“It’s scheduled during your summer vacation and there should be no problem with you attending in an elaborate dress.”

“Grandmother.”

“It’s a fun idea. Going in disguise, that is.”

“……a costume party?”

“Huh?”

Grandmother blankly looked up at me.

“What’s that……”

“It’s a costume party. It means enjoying different clothes than normal.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

Grandmother nodded and chuckled when it was explained to her.

“So what’s the theme? It’s too early for Halloween.”

“Theme?”

“Yes. Usually, when you hold this kind of event, you decide on what kind of costumes that should be worn. There are a variety of costumes after all.”

“There’s such a thing?”

“Yes, there is.”

“You appear familiar with cosplay, Mizuki.”

“No, It’s just the common sense of the young. Weren’t things like maid cafes popular before?”

“Ah, that’s right. It’s the strangest things that become popular.”

My conscience took a slight blow as grandmother nodded in admiration.

The only reason I knew about cosplay was because I use to sell light novels in my old life.

The original Mizuki didn’t know such things.

“Thought Nanami-sama told me about dressing up, I didn’t hear the details.”

“Please what a minute, Grandmother. Nanami-sama, said to dress up?”

“Yes.”

Grandmother had a delicate smile on her face as she nodded at me.

“Ahh. Nanami-sama did mention she wanted to speak with you, Mizuki.”

“Then that means I can go in my usual male clothes.”

I couldn’t help but smile wryly.

The summer banquets of the Otomo house were relatively famous.

The guests were carefully selected, and receiving an invitation was a show of one’s status.

Of course, the Sagara were invited every year.

I declined before with the excuse that I was too young, but I heard from grandfather that I would have to attend from this year on.

Nanami must have chosen a costume party under the pretexts of easing my attendance.

“It seems that way. The only thing left is the friend the invitation said you could bring.”

“Aaahhhh……”

I hadn’t invested too much time into school friends.h.i.+ps, so I wondered who I should bring with me.

“I understand. I try to think of something with my friends.”

“Something gorgeous, but nothing too inconspicuous or plain.”

While grandmother laughed mischievously, I began envisioning the friend to call on.