Buttered toast, a fried egg, bacon, and a salad- this was the breakfast Togawa Sakiko had prepared for Chihaya Tetsuya.
Though not complex, it was a nutritionally balanced meal.
And for Tetsuya, such a breakfast could already be called a feast.
However, just as he was about to thank her, he suddenly noticed that there seemed to be only one set of cutlery on the dining table—
"Um... Sakiko?"
"Yes, Master?"
"Have you already had break—... lunch?"
Tetsuya asked.
Standing by the table, Sakiko shook her head.
"No, I have not."
"Then why aren't you eating with me?"
"What are you saying, Master? How could a maid possibly eat with her master?"
In response to his question, Sakiko asked back in a tone of disbelief.
"I will naturally find time to eat on my own after you have finished your meal. Please do not worry."
"No, no, no, wait, Sakiko. No matter how you look at it, this is going a little too far."
Tetsuya quickly shook his head.
"I did say you were to be a maid for a day, but I never intended for you to go this far for me!"
"Master, you should know this, shouldn't you? With my personality, I would never be negligent in my duties, not even for a single day."
However, faced with Tetsuya's soft-heartedness, Sakiko sternly rebuffed him.
"Besides, this is my punishment from you, is it not? Since it's a punishment, it ought to be strict."
"Ugh..."
Once Sakiko used her personality and dignity as an excuse, Tetsuya couldn't find any reason to refute her. Moreover, the idea that a "punishment must be strict" was a point he himself had made earlier. He couldn't very well go back on his own words...
"E-even if you can't eat with me, there shouldn't be a problem with just sitting here, right?"
Tetsuya attempted to compromise.
"You were standing in my room long enough this morning, Sakiko. How about you sit and rest for a bit?"
"I cannot."
Sakiko once again shook her head in refusal.
"As a maid, I must stand by and wait to serve while my master is dining. This is the most basic requirement."
"Alright, alright, I get it."
In the end, Tetsuya had no choice but to helplessly accept her service.
"I'll go back to my room to work on sketches as soon as I'm done eating, so don't forget to prepare your own lunch, Sakiko."
"Thank you very much for your consideration, Master."
Sakiko bowed slightly.
"Now then, please continue to enjoy your breakfast. Oh, and for the sake of your health, please do not intentionally speed up your meal."
"..."
Stopped before he could even act, Tetsuya froze for a moment. Under Sakiko's watch, he could only continue his meal with a conflicted expression.
Meanwhile, behind Sakiko's placid expression, a completely different set of emotions was churning fiercely—
(Tetsuya-kun seems quite troubled.)
After all, for someone as gentle and considerate as him, her actions must be making him feel quite guilty, right?
Looking at his unsettled expression, Sakiko's hands, crossed in front of her, couldn't help but gently grip her apron.
(You're so easy to read, Tetsuya-kun.)
This conflict of not wanting to hurt her but having to respect her feelings... it must be confusing for him, right?
If she acted even more "humble," would it make him call off the punishment and apologize to her instead?
Just thinking about that scene, Sakiko felt something stir deep inside her.
Even though she was the maid, she held the initiative, controlling his emotions and thoughts... The pleasure brought by this reversal of power is an undeniable part of human nature. Especially when she considered that his current turmoil was born entirely out of his care and concern for her, Sakiko felt an unprecedented sense of delight.
If every mistake she made from now on could earn her such a sweet "punishment," then she would be more than happy to make them deliberately.
...
Speaking of which, I wonder what Tetsuya-kun is like when he's drunk? Would he also become the complete opposite of his usual self, just like she did?
The gentle and considerate Tetsuya-kun might suddenly become rough and loyal to his desires...
(Ah, that wouldn't be so bad either...)
Sakiko couldn't even imagine how excited she would become if Tetsuya were to proactively make a move on her.
...Sigh.
In the end, as long as she was with Chihaya Tetsuya, she would be happy whether she was the passive one or the one in control.
That's just how infatuated with him she was.
(Now I finally understand what it feels like to love someone so much you want to be with them forever.)
Realizing this "dark side" of her heart had been thoroughly unearthed, Sakiko could only helplessly admit:
(Perhaps, in a way, I'm the same type of person as Hoshino Ai...)
If this continued, would there come a day when she couldn't hold back and would have to take matters into her own hands with him?
Sakiko herself wasn't sure.
She only knew that if she wanted this happiness to last, she had to keep working hard.
(To make all these delusions a reality... I have to work hard, too.)
Sakiko thought to herself.
...
After the meal, in order to let Sakiko have her lunch as soon as possible, Tetsuya immediately returned to his room and prepared to start on his design sketches.
But when he picked up his pencil, ready to get into the design mindset as usual, the faint rustling sounds from outside his door immediately reminded him that there was a cute, dignified, and slightly risqué maid in the house. The moment he entered his design state, Tetsuya's thoughts subconsciously veered in that direction.
Maid... servitude... loyalty... canine... collar... choker...
Just like that, his racing thoughts and abstract inspirations began to piece together into a concrete image.
Right, if I added a lace choker to Sakiko's maid outfit, the visual impact and tension of the ensemble would surely be amplified, right?
Come to think of it, he had never included such separate accessories with his previous designs.
Should he try adding one?
Knock, knock, knock-
Just then, a rhythmic knock sounded at the door, not at all startling.
"Master, may I come in?"
"Mhm, come in, Sakiko."
Having entered his zone, even Tetsuya's tone of voice had become calm.
When Sakiko pushed open the door and saw the serious expression on his face, her heart couldn't help but skip another beat.
(Although the gentle Tetsuya-kun is wonderful... the him who is serious about his work is even cooler.)
While Sakiko was lost in her own daze, Tetsuya suddenly spoke.
"Sakiko, there's something I need to ask of you."
"Please speak, Master."
Her attitude remained respectful and serene.
However, just as she thought he was merely going to ask her to bring him a cup of tea or fetch something else, Tetsuya's next words completely shattered her composure—
"I want to see what you look like wearing a collar."
"...Eh?"