Naturally, Shin didn't know what was happening in the Service Club.
Shin and Kato Megumi walked out of school together, then almost exactly as Shin predicted, he saw a familiar figure at the school gate.
However, it wasn't Fujiwara Chika as Shin initially expected. Standing at Toyosaki Private School's gate was Hayasaka Ai.
"This is... Hayasaka-san, right?"
Kato Megumi recognized Hayasaka Ai—the girls at Shin's house all knew about the Shinomiya family's situation. Shin had also explained several important figures related to the Shinomiya family to them.
Among the several people Shin emphasized besides Shinomiya Kaguya were Hayasaka Ai and Fujiwara Chika, so naturally Kato Megumi guessed these girls' relationships with Shin.
However, when Shin introduced Hayasaka Ai to the girls at home, the photos he showed had Hayasaka Ai wearing a maid outfit.
The current Hayasaka Ai standing at Toyosaki Private School's gate was dressed as a gyaru in Shuchiin's uniform, no wonder Kato Megumi didn't immediately confirm.
"Hello, Kato-san."
Although not wearing a maid outfit, of course Hayasaka Ai clearly remembered her identity—she was Shin's maid, so behaviorally maintained etiquette.
Although by order of arrival, she was among the earliest girls who'd done those kinds of things with Shin, she always maintained behavior that didn't overstep, being a qualified maid.
"Just you alone today?"
Shin scanned the surroundings, then looked at Hayasaka Ai somewhat surprised.
He'd originally thought if Hayasaka Ai appeared here, she must have come together with Shinomiya Kaguya or Fujiwara Chika, so he'd specifically sensed surrounding "ki."
But after sensing around, Shin was rather surprised to find there was no "ki" of Shinomiya Kaguya or Fujiwara Chika nearby. Hayasaka Ai came alone to see Shin.
"What's wrong? Can't I come alone? My rest time is quite precious~"
Hayasaka Ai looked at Shin, a trace of resentment showing on her calm face—she'd finally found an opportunity to temporarily escape from maid work to come find Shin.
This feeling reminded Shin of Kato Megumi. Kato Megumi's expression also always looked very calm.
However, although both Hayasaka Ai and Kato Megumi's emotional fluctuations weren't large, the auras they gave people were completely different.
Kato Megumi gave a feeling of gentleness mixed with a girl's docile quality, while Hayasaka Ai gave a feeling of coldness mixed with seriousness.
"Not at all. Of course you can come alone. Of course I don't mind."
Shin heard Hayasaka Ai's resentment and couldn't help smiling as he rubbed her head, then asked:
"But as Kaguya's maid, you generally can't leave, right? Why could you spare time to come see me alone?"
"Because the Shinomiya family's order is still in effect."
Hayasaka Ai answered matter-of-factly—this answer reminded Shin that the Shinomiya family had previously issued orders to prioritize him.
So although from the Shinomiya family's perspective, Hayasaka Ai was still Shinomiya Kaguya's maid, if it was for Shin's sake, Hayasaka Ai could indeed temporarily put aside things on Shinomiya Kaguya's side.
In other words, Hayasaka Ai used "serving Shin" as an excuse to escape from work with Shinomiya Kaguya—even Shinomiya Kaguya might not know about this, only some people in the Shinomiya family knew.
"So you used me as an excuse to leave Kaguya's side."
Shin raised an eyebrow, looking at Hayasaka Ai playfully.
"Being clearly Kaguya's maid yet doing this kind of thing... really a bad maid."
"Because you are my master, right—although superficially I'm Miss Kaguya's maid, actually you're my master, aren't you?"
Hayasaka Ai didn't feel ashamed at all. Instead, she seriously told Shin, even turning around to tease him.
"If we're really speaking, I was also led astray by Master Shin."
Just like that, Shin, who'd planned to go home with Kato Megumi after school, was pulled by Hayasaka Ai to the shopping mall.
Naturally Kato Megumi followed too—of course she didn't want Shin, who'd originally been moving with her, to just be snatched away by Hayasaka Ai like this.
Although unable to monopolize Shin made Hayasaka Ai feel somewhat regretful, as a maid she didn't complain much but accepted Kato Megumi joining. The originally planned two-person activity became three people.
"Shuchiin's Hoshinomatsuri... should be the cultural festival, right?"
Arriving at the mall, Kato Megumi watched Hayasaka Ai come to a clothing store filled with various theatrical costumes and asked somewhat curiously.
After Hayasaka Ai pulled Shin to the mall, she also gave a proper reason—she was already preparing for Shuchiin Academy's Hoshinomatsuri.
"...Mm, the Hoshinomatsuri isn't different from other schools' cultural festivals. It's also a festival where classes and clubs conduct activities as groups."
Hayasaka Ai nodded. Cultural festivals were relatively formal activities at various schools. Many students looked forward to their respective cultural festivals.
However, Shin knew well that Shuchiin's Hoshinomatsuri should start not long before winter break. There was still quite a while until the Hoshinomatsuri. Hayasaka Ai preparing now was too early.
"Our class plans to do a theatrical café, dressing up as characters from plays to provide service to guests."
Although Shin knew the Hoshinomatsuri's timing was still far off, Hayasaka Ai still seriously described her class's preparation work and told Shin:
"So I want Master Shin to help see which outfit suits me best."
As she spoke, Hayasaka Ai looked at Shin with meaningful eyes—though not speaking, Shin could see what Hayasaka Ai wanted to express.
Probably not just wanting Shin to help see which outfit suited her best, but more importantly, seeing which outfit Shin liked on her, right?
Shin could almost imagine that if he showed interest in a particular outfit, before long Hayasaka Ai would appear on his bed wearing that outfit.
"Eh? That sounds quite fun. Can I also try on these clothes?"
However, to Hayasaka Ai's surprise, Kato Megumi also came closer. Looking at the surrounding outfits, she also seemed eager to try.
"...Of course you can."
Naturally Hayasaka Ai wouldn't refuse, but her gaze toward Kato Megumi also became slightly more serious.
Although as a maid she wouldn't hold hostility toward Shin's other girls... as a girl, she still had a bit of competitive spirit in her heart.
To be continued…