Yuto understood why Kato Megumi was wearing a hat.
The sun was intense, without one, you'd get tanned in no time.
"Heading home?" Yuto asked.
"Mm," the girl nodded.
Politeness dictated that Yuto should offer to walk her home.
But his gaze was drawn to a figure not far ahead.
He felt a flicker of confusion.
'Isn't that Kaguya's maid? Why is she dressed like a delinquent?'
Just then, Hayasaka's eyes met Yuto's.
Her expression froze for a moment. She said something to the two girls with her, who then left and she started walking toward him.
Kato watched the two of them, her gaze growing focused. "Kamisaka-kun, do you know her?"
Her tone was calm, but her hand tightened around the rose she was holding.
The rose had begun to wilt, yet she hadn't thrown it away.
"Hello, Hayasaka-san."
Though Yuto was puzzled by Hayasaka's attire, he had no intention of asking about it.
Their relationship was barely better than nodding acquaintances.
He didn't have the right to question her choice of clothing. Still, he felt a mix of surprise and speculation.
'Could it be that Kaguya's maid is actually a delinquent in her free time?'
The thought was jarring.
"Hello, Boss." Despite her delinquent appearance, Hayasaka greeted him with impeccable politeness.
This contradiction left Kato, standing beside them, bewildered.
"She's a customer of mine. She's eaten at my restaurant before," Yuto explained, answering Kato's earlier question.
The girl knew Yuto owned a restaurant.
Hearing his explanation, the subtle tension she had felt dissipated. The shift in her emotions was so fleeting that even she didn't notice it.
Hayasaka glanced at Kato, a flicker of realization and surprise in her eyes.
She hadn't even noticed there was someone else beside Yuto.
"Is this the Boss's girlfriend?" she asked directly.
Both Yuto's and Kato's expressions shifted.
"No, just a friend," Yuto explained with a hint of resignation.
'Why does everyone assume we're a couple just because I'm out with a girl?' he thought, frustrated.
'Can't people believe in pure friendship anymore?'
Hearing his answer, Hayasaka nodded with a look of understanding.
Her gaze swept over Kato and Yuto as she mulled over her own thoughts.
"Are you heading home now?" she asked, her eyes falling on the shopping bags they were carrying.
As a competent maid, keen observation was a must.
"Yeah, we are," Yuto confirmed with a nod.
Upon hearing his reply, a thoughtful flicker crossed Hayasaka's eyes. "Boss, do you have a moment?"
"What is it?"
"There's something I'd like to ask you, Boss. It won't be any trouble, and it won't take long."
Yuto considered his schedule.
It was still early, with plenty of time before the restaurant opened for the evening. He did have time, but... he glanced at Kato.
"It's fine, Kamisaka-kun. Don't worry about me," Kato said at the right moment.
The girl was considerate.
Yuto looked embarrassed. "Still, it doesn't feel right to let a girl go home alone."
"In that case, I'll escort her," Hayasaka declared, her tone carrying an air of authority and confidence.
Her words made Kato's eyes widen in surprise.
The girl wondered how Hayasaka planned to escort her home.
Yuto, however, wasn't surprised.
'People from these prominent families always have their ways. Even if they bent the law, no one would care. After all, they were the ones who wrote it.'
"Then I'll leave her in your hands," Yuto said with a smile, accepting her offer.
Since she was asking him for a favor, he figured it wouldn't be a big deal to have her act as a chauffeur for a bit.
"Eh? Is that really okay?" Kato asked, surprised.
"It's no problem. Please, follow me."
Hayasaka moved with an efficiency that matched her demeanor—clean, decisive, and swift.
It reminded Yuto of a soldier.
He briefly wondered if she had served in the military.
For an ordinary person, he would have dismissed the thought. But with Hayasaka, his intuition told him it was possible.
The three of them made their way to a nearby underground parking garage.
They stopped in front of a luxury car as Yuto sighed.
'This luxury car is different from the one last time, but it still looks expensive enough to buy my restaurant ten times over.'
"Get in," Hayasaka spoke, then opened the driver's door and slid inside.
Yuto followed suit, opening the rear passenger door.
He smiled at the still-surprised Kato, extending his hand with gentlemanly grace to invite her into the car.
"Is this really okay?"
"It's fine."
Though Kato had been looking at Yuto, it was Hayasaka who answered, having rolled down her window from the driver's seat.
Hearing the confirmation, the girl hesitated no longer.
She climbed into the car, and Yuto followed, entering from the other side.
"Alright. Miss, where is your home?"
"Take me to..." Listening to Kato's directions, Yuto felt a flicker of confusion.
"You're not going home?"
"No, I want to visit Granny." Instead of giving her home address, the girl had directed them to the supermarket.
"Understood," Hayasaka acknowledged with a hum, started the luxury car, and executed a drift out of the parking space.
"Hayasaka-san, does she have a driver's license?" Kato whispered to Yuto from the back seat.
Yuto's eyes crinkled into a smile.
'A license? She probably does... but I have no idea either.'
At this time of day, the roads were clear.
Even so, it took over twenty minutes to drop Kato off at her destination. Though traffic was clear, this was still Tokyo, after all.
"Thank you, Hayasaka-san."
"You're welcome." Kato first thanked Hayasaka, then turned to Yuto. "Kamisaka-kun, thank you for coming to the mall with me today."
Yuto gave a wry smile.
Granny had ordered him to go, so thanks weren't necessary.
...
After they said their goodbyes, Hayasaka drove away with Yuto.
Kato stood there for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, her eyes filled with curiosity and contemplation.
After a brief silence, she returned to the supermarket to find her grandmother.
"Megumi! You're back!" Granny looked at Kato, her expression a mix of pleasant surprise and eager anticipation.
Her eyes held a glint of delight.
The girl let out the faintest of sighs. "Mm."
"So, how was it today? What did you and Yuto do?"
"We went to the mall."
"That's it? Nothing else?"
"Mm."
"Don't young people these days like watching movies? Why didn't you two go see one?"
"..."
"Megumi, did you notice that Yuto is different from other young men? Isn't he exceptional?"
Hearing her grandmother's words, Kato couldn't help but recall the scene at dinner.
"Mm."
She nodded in response, which made Granny's face light up with joy, as if she were admiring a satisfying achievement.
"Next time, you two... should go see a movie. I'll even buy the tickets! You must spend more time with Yuto. That boy is a real treasure. In the future, so many people will be fighting over him..."
Granny rambled on, while the girl stood quietly beside her, listening without a word.
It was impossible to tell if she was taking any of it in.
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