I am Kaguya Shinomiya, currently on a school field trip. I never imagined that my personal maid and childhood friend who grew up like a sister to me, Hayasaka Ai, would betray me.
Rewind to the moment Kitagawa Marin left to change into her yukata. At that time, Kaguya Shinomiya was hiding behind a wall like an incompetent husband, staring fixedly at Hayasaka Ai and Diego, tearing at her handkerchief with the ferocity of a Nile crocodile with maximum bite force clamping down on its prey.
Hayasaka! Why are you with that bastard Brando, laughing and chatting like that?!
You clearly know that guy and I don't get along—this is blatant betrayal!
Is a man really that important? Are you that desperate? Would you throw away over ten years of our bond just for love?
No no no, relationships between men and women aren't only romantic, right? They just happened to be assigned to the same group, that's all… there's nothing to it…
Kaguya Shinomiya shook her head furiously. The last remnants of her reason pulled her back, constantly convincing herself.
She calmed down, went to a nearby stall to brew herself a cup of black tea, narrowed her eyes slightly as she took a sip, and savored it with an air of complete indifference.
Seriously, scaring myself like this~ This embarrassing behavior isn't worthy of the Shinomiya family. Looks like I didn't sleep well last night. I need to catch up on rest…
When Kaguya Shinomiya opened her eyes again, Kitagawa Marin had already eagerly run off to change clothes, and Hayasaka Ai…
Hm?
Bastard!!! Why are you leaning in to whisper in his ear?!
Do you have any idea what my mood is right now?! You horny cat!!!
The second Kitagawa left, you couldn't wait anymore?!
Pure friendship between men and women is ultimately just a fantasy!! I already know all this!
Kaguya Shinomiya bit down hard on her handkerchief. Humiliating tears flowed out. Powerlessly, she leaned against the wall behind her and slowly slid down to sit.
What is this feeling of defeat like a husband catching his cheating wife…?
No, what is that stupid woman who left midway and caused Hayasaka to cheat doing? Wearing a yukata doesn't mean you can go soak in the pond!
What appeared before Kaguya Shinomiya's eyes was Kitagawa Marin stretching out her foot to test the pond water's temperature—only to slip and fall in.
Splash…
Oh no, she fell in. I need to find a rope. I have to go save—
[The pond water is filthy. Why go to so much trouble to save that commoner's daughter? She's of no help to you at all.]
Kaguya Shinomiya, about to carry out the rescue, stopped. Her thoughts tangled like a knotted ball of wool.
Stupid. Getting myself all dirty for no reward—why would I even think of doing something like that?
No—she has utility value!
I have to save her. She's very close to Diego Brando. I can get information from her mouth to take back the Shinomiya family's glory without fail.
Kaguya Shinomiya found a far-fetched reason to convince herself, but Diego moved faster than she did.
Splash!
A golden figure scooped the drowning Kitagawa Marin out of the water. Once on shore, Diego draped his removed shirt over her soaked yukata and walked straight toward the inn without deviation.
Kaguya Shinomiya watched their departing backs for a while.
So that's how it is. Sure enough… I really don't get along with this Diego Brando guy.
We're the same kind repelling each other…
Faced with someone falling into the water, at that moment, he performed the act far better than my pretense—he rescued without the slightest hesitation…
We're the same kind. Our future confrontations will be spectacular. I'm really looking forward to it…
After Diego left, intense discussion erupted around her.
"Wow, so cool. The hero-saving-the-beauty scene—I thought that only happened in storybooks."
"Brando-kun isn't as bad as I imagined. I thought he was just a straight-up delinquent."
"Hey hey hey, look at those muscle lines—slurp, so hot—"
Hmph!
Kaguya Shinomiya left.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side…
—At the inn—
After Hayasaka Ai helped Kitagawa Marin finish her bath, Diego chose not to go out sightseeing again. Instead, he firmly pinned Kitagawa down on the bed to rest.
"Kitagawa, swimming is prohibited in the pond." Diego held Kitagawa's hand, putting on a completely serious face.
"I slipped, I really thought I was going to die." A muffled voice came out—Kitagawa Marin, feeling embarrassed, had buried her head under the blanket.
Hayasaka Ai sighed, eyes blank, set her phone down, and muttered gloomily: "By the way, Marin-chan, you really can't swim at all. Even though you took so many photos of going to the beach."
"Ai-chan has no right to say that about me…" Kitagawa Marin's voice was weak. Suddenly she poked her head out, trying to startle the two. "I just—really like sitting on the beach, listening to the sound of the waves while gazing at the sparkling points of light in the sea."
"Ahahaha! Saying you love the ocean even though you can't swim—isn't that completely shameless?" Kitagawa regained her usual energy, rolled around wrapped in the blanket.
By that logic, I probably shouldn't like flower field magic either.
Slice slice slice…
The continuous sound of apple peeling came from beside her. Diego casually swung the small knife a few times. The apple was cut into several pieces that precisely landed on the plate.
"Thank you, Dio-kun, but no need. I have no appetite. I'm already full from drinking water." Kitagawa Marin waved her hand. When she lifted her head, she saw Diego had already stuffed an apple slice into his own mouth.
Munch munch… "Huh?" Diego blinked in disbelief, clutched the plate of apples tightly to his chest, and let out a low threatening growl. "Agemasen (not giving)! Absolutely not giving!"
Food-guarding…
"Dio-kun—! I hate you. I've decided not to talk to you for three days… no, one day. Hmph!" Kitagawa Marin instantly puffed out her cheeks in anger and shrank back into the blanket. "You two go have fun. I want to be alone!"
"Yes yes…"
"Marin-chan, make sure to rest well."
Creak—
Footsteps gradually faded. Once the door closed, Kitagawa Marin poked her head out, resentment written all over her face.
"Seriously… huh?"
From the corner of her eye, she noticed the neatly arranged apple slices on the table. Kitagawa Marin froze for a moment, then dazedly picked up a piece with a skewer and savored it slowly.
"I really… still like Dio-kun the most."
So sly. Now I can't possibly ignore Dio-kun even for a single day, can I?
Right—how could Diego, who likes eating apples with the skin on, possibly peel them?
...
The "Like Dio" squad—formed by Kitagawa Marin's "Mari," Hayasaka Ai's "Ai," and Diego's "Di"—officially disbanded on the spot.
The team name faced strong protests from Kitagawa Marin and Hayasaka Ai, but was ultimately vetoed by Diego's single vote.
The down-and-out noble Diego, now kicked out, was leaning over the lakeside railing, staring blankly at the drifting clouds in the sky.
"Dio, what's wrong?"
"Nothing… just a bit of a headache."
Suddenly, like a child spotting something fun, Diego grabbed Hayasaka Ai's hand and pointed. "Whoa, that cloud looks exactly like a pile of shit. Maid-san, look quick."
Before Hayasaka Ai could respond, he immediately lost interest, stood dazed for a moment in thought, then spoke:
"…Hey, how about we go to Yokohama instead?"
"Huh? Yokohama? Why? Even though it's only about half an hour by train, it's getting late. We'll miss tonight's roll call." Hayasaka Ai blinked, opened her phone, and shoved the time in Diego's face.
"Kyoto is so boring. You made such a detailed itinerary—if we don't use it, it's a waste." Diego slightly lifted his chin, then gave a confident nod, fully confirming the plan to go to Yokohama.
"But the time…"
"That's why I said—with me, it can be done!" Diego turned his face, raised an eyebrow with a grin, and whistled into the distance.
"'Silver Bullet'!"
Neigh—!
With an energetic whinny, Silver Bullet came galloping from afar. In mere seconds, it arrived before the two.
"My beloved horse is still full of energy. Get on." Diego mounted the saddle and extended his hand toward Hayasaka Ai on the ground. "Or are you planning to waste time in this place with no good memories?"
"Don't worry. My horsemanship is beyond reproach!"
Hayasaka Ai froze for a second, then reacted instantly. A smile gradually spread across her face. She grabbed the offered hand and was pulled up onto the horse.
Once Hayasaka Ai was settled, Diego urged Silver Bullet forward at extreme speed. The wind howled past their ears. His eyes narrowed, and they galloped straight toward Yokohama.
"First destination: Sakuragicho Station."
"Haha—I don't care what happens anymore." On horseback, Hayasaka Ai clung tightly to Diego's back and buried her face against him.
What the—this means she heard everything…
(When Diego got home and wrote his postscript: Soft, but a bit pokey on the bones.)
...
—Yokohama, Sakuragicho Station—
"Ugh— No more, let me catch my breath…"
The originally half-hour journey had been shortened to five minutes. Even Hayasaka Ai, who had trained in all kinds of stunts since childhood, couldn't handle it. The moment she dismounted, she ran to a trash can and threw up.
"How about it? Ko no Dio's beloved horse." As he spoke, Diego tossed a bottle of mineral water to Hayasaka Ai and sat sloppily on a bench in front of the station. "No one's ever ridden its speed without vomiting."
"Definitely… something you only want to ride once…"
"Then next time we'll use a gentler method."
Like asking wind sprites or something. I remember wind sprites like chicken heads. Last stock's used up—gotta prepare more.
"No… I want to ride again!" Having recovered, Hayasaka Ai grabbed Diego's wrist. Her gaze was full of determination. Blushing, her voice grew smaller and smaller. "Just… can the back saddle… belong only to me…"
"Huh? Uh… fine! Maid-san, wait a sec." Diego scratched his head, turned, removed Silver Bullet's saddle, and handed it to Hayasaka Ai. "Here."
Weird. Why would someone want a saddle?
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Hayasaka Ai couldn't hold back and—rarely—swore.
"Hahaha, am I, Dio, really that oblivious to romance?" Seeing his scheme succeed, Diego tilted his head and chuckled lowly before putting on a serious face. "But this request—I can't grant you."
"W… why?" Hayasaka Ai's tone couldn't hide her disappointment.
"My horse never carries only one woman. The goddess who governs money and fortune favors me, Dio. She always enjoys riding my horse for a spin. If I agreed to your request, I think she'd leave in jealousy."
"Pfft… what kind of reason is that?"
"Anyway, being broke is painful."
Diego put the saddle back on, patted Silver Bullet's thigh. The beloved horse shot off with a whoosh, leaving only rising dust behind.
"Anyway, we should cross the tracks and go eat lunch at Hungry Tiger in HAMMERHEAD." Diego raised an eyebrow, took Hayasaka Ai's hand, and headed toward the restaurant.
Everything was proceeding exactly according to Hayasaka Ai's plan.
Watch a movie, go to the amusement park, make custom cup noodles at the Cup Noodles Museum, play an escape game in Chinatown, taste Chinese cuisine, go sightseeing, skate…
This was the most relaxed and happy day she had experienced since birth. Hayasaka Ai thought so from the bottom of her heart.
Night fell. The bright moon governed their heartbeats. Diego's long hair rose and fell in the gradually chilling evening breeze. The two arrived at the final stop of the plan—the hill park overlooking the harbor.
"Maid-san, the night view really is nice…"
"Yeah, tonight's moonlight is beautiful. Even the wind feels gentle…"
"Hehe… too bad there are no couples making out here. Just the two of us."
"I'm a perfectionist. If I make a plan, I have to complete every step. We've reached the final stage."
Hayasaka Ai swallowed hard. Her heartbeat fell out of rhythm. She could no longer hear the gentle breeze. She tilted her head slightly, not daring to look at Diego anymore.
Then she slowly closed her eyes, lifted her head, placed her hands on Diego's waist, unconsciously gripped his clothes tightly, and assumed a completely surrendered posture.
"The distance from Chinatown to this hill park is so far, yet I still made time to come to this sacred kissing spot. Dio… what do you think that means? Please give me an answer…"
Hayasaka Ai's voice trembled slightly. It didn't escape Diego's ears. He glanced at the full moon hanging high in the night sky and gave a faint smile.
"The moon represents my heart, and a full moon naturally means completing the plan perfectly. Isn't that right… tsundere maid-san?"
"Yeah…"
"Let me be clear first—I'm not an ordinary person. I'm just a terrifying beast." Diego extended two fingers and tapped Hayasaka Ai's forehead. A flood of memories poured into her mind.
"Look at me clearly first—then like me."
After a long while, under the protection of the Memory Spirit, Hayasaka Ai finished digesting the memories. Tears streaming down her face, she shouted: "Then I'm willingly going to be eaten…"
"Crying coward!"
Hayasaka Ai carefully gazed into Diego's azure eyes and finally asked the question she had kept in her heart for so long: "Dio… why are you helping me? After spending this time together, I don't think you're the type to show random kindness, nor do I think a single bottle of water's worth of gratitude would make you go this far."
"Maybe because… I couldn't save my own mother." Diego lowered his eyes, leaned against the railing, raised his hand high as if trying to grasp the moon in the sky, and gave a lonely laugh. "So you, who share the same fate, absolutely cannot end up like me.
Look—we're so alike. We both have golden hair, both have mothers who loved us deeply, both struggled endlessly in the vortex of a great family.
But the only difference is—you have me.
While I… had nothing."
"Dio…" Hayasaka Ai's reaching hand froze in midair. She couldn't find any words of comfort.
In the end, she stood on tiptoe, grabbed Diego's clothes, closed her eyes, and pulled downward.
The two kissed under the moonlight.
"How surprising…" Diego froze.
"With this, the two of us… have become the same again." Hayasaka Ai's cheeks flushed slightly. Light of shyness sparkled in her eyes. Hand on her chest, she shouted firmly: "Now—you have me too!"
In the end, if this were a romance galgame, Hayasaka Ai's affection gauge would have already been maxed out the moment her mother was taken in.
Today's outcome: Kitagawa Marin. Defeat.
(Kitagawa Marin, lying in bed, had the vague feeling her house had been stolen.)
(Number of people who know Diego's otherworld identity +1.)
...