You have to listen to what people say until the end… was it the same? Ohana was waiting for me to finish speaking.
“Yes, I was hired by Miss Iori’s family, and I live there.”
“Ah! I see… Yeah, I think I know why you asked me to keep it a secret!”
“Huh? Why do you think I asked you to keep it a secret?”
“It was a secret between the two of you, right? So… a master-servant relationship? Is that it…?”
Ohana suddenly started shaking her head, her face turning red.
What the hell is she thinking?
“No, no, no! I think you’re misunderstanding something, Hana-chan! It’s not what you think!”
“What I think… is different?”
“Yes, I think you’re misunderstanding, so listen closely. I’m just a member of Miss Iori’s household… meaning, I simply work for Lionheart. It has absolutely nothing to do with what you’re imagining!”
“Do you know what I’m imagining?”
Ohana smiled strangely as she spoke.
No… is it just my imagination, or did the mood suddenly shift to a different genre?
“Ah, anyway! The reason I’m explaining all this now is… I need to go back to the mansion right away.”
Hearing my words, Ohana—who had been so energetic just moments ago—suddenly looked dejected.
“As expected… Yeah, that makes sense. We can hang out next time.” Ohana stood up as she said that.
“Sorry, Hana-chan. I can’t spend more time with you today.”
“It’s okay! I had plenty of fun today… Besides, you have your circumstances, right? I can’t hold you back.”
Ohana was being considerate.
Well then, shall we go?
After I got up and helped Ohana clean up, I decided to stop by the train station to retrieve my uniform before returning to the mansion.
***
[Ohana’s POV]
When Hyunjin, went home, Ohana packed up her things and sat alone on a bench.
‘Why… did he say something like that?’
Until now, her feelings for Ryunosuke had been stronger, but Hyunjin’s actions today made her feel as if he was telling her to like him instead.
Ryunosuke had never truly given her anything.
Every moment she spent with him only made her feel dejected.
Was it okay for her to keep loving him unrequitedly?
She woke up early every morning to wake Ryunosuke. She even prepared breakfast for him, just in case he was hungry.
And yet, Ryunosuke would only smile and say, “Thank you.”
He never noticed her feelings.
But Hyunjin was different. No one had to tell him to approach her—he did so naturally after their chance meeting.
Ohana thought about this and muttered to herself.
“Obviously… it must have been annoying for him.”
She knew her own personality well.
She was timid, slow, and foolish.
She kept putting in effort only to fail in the end.
Maybe that was why she had so few friends. That was also why she clung to Ryunosuke so desperately.
He always accepted her presence with a smile.
In fact, she had even deliberately failed her most recent test.
When she first saw the questions, she knew she could answer them.
But she still failed on purpose.
Why?
It was simple—she had realized that Hyunjin, who had studied with her, would fail the test.
If she failed too, wouldn’t they have to take supplementary lessons together?
That was the thought that crossed her mind.
And in the end, her plan worked.
Since they both failed, she found the courage to suggest a picnic.
Hyunjin had readily agreed.
“Ah…”
As cherry blossoms fluttered in the breeze, Ohana looked down at the white-ribboned hairband Hyunjin had given her.
Something precious.
A gift from a friend.
It was the first time she had received something from someone, rather than being the one to give.
“Jin-chan… he’s been kind from the very start.”
Ryunosuke always responded to her half-heartedly, never noticing her feelings.
She didn’t want to focus only on him anymore.
For once, she wanted to deceive herself.
Maybe it was time to let go of her childhood friend and set her sights on someone else…
“Both… is it too much for me? Can I ever win even one person’s heart?”
Ohana muttered to herself.
Ryunosuke never looked her way.
Hyunjin already served Amelia.
But if she could have just one of them…
She thought of Amelia.
“Miss Iori is definitely a noble lady.”
A blonde girl with a strange smile.
Someone like her—wealthy, beautiful, and refined—could easily seduce Hyunjin with money alone.
“I won’t lose, Miss Iori.”
Someday, she hoped she could stand before Hyunjin and speak to him with confidence.
Ohana fastened the white-ribboned hairband onto her head.
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