Chapter 2: Forgetful Angel
“YOU really had me worried,” said a young woman with pretty auburn hair. Although not as soft as Shindo’s hair, it still held a shine. The slightly wavy hair dangled to roughly the middle of her back.
A smile as gentle and kind as a spring sunbeam rose upon her fair visage that was lightly colored with makeup. She radiated such sweetness, she practically melded with her pastel pink dress.
“I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard about your accident at school,” she continued with a giggle as she exquisitely added each of the ivory roses held in one hand to the vase. Upon putting together a beautiful arrangement, she turned and offered a smile to Satsuki, who was sitting propped up in bed.
“May I leave this at your bedside?” she asked. Her warm smile filled Satsuki with a sense of ease.
“I’d love that! After all, it was so sweet of you to bring them, Miharu,” Satsuki answered with a soft grin.
The smile still upon her lips, Miharu Kono put the vase of roses on the nightstand at the side of the bed. Then she leaned toward Satsuki and held her pointer finger between them. A look of mischief was suddenly written all over her face. “Now listen! Don’t abuse the bed, okay? You’ll knock over the vase if you do!”
“I-I don’t abuse my bed! It’s not like I toss and turn that much in my sleep!” Satsuki cried.
“Mr. Shindo doesn’t warm your bed? But doesn’t he stay with you until you fall asleep?” Miharu continued naughtily.
“N-No! We don’t do anything like that!” Satsuki protested.
“Really? You don’t?” Miharu confirmed, disappointed.
“Miharu!”
The sight of Satsuki so indignant threw Miharu into a fit of giggles. Who beyond these walls could ever imagine that the president of the Tsujikawa Corporation’s only daughter, whose levelheadedness and outstanding talent earned her the title of “Tsujikawa Sacred Blade,” was flustered with cheeks blazing red over such a simple comment on her sex life or rather lack of one.
This was a side she could never show in public. Just as there were sides she could only reveal to her most trusted retainer, she was only able to turn into a girl in love before Miharu, the sole person aware of the fact Shindo had stolen her heart.
As the corporation president’s daughter, it was essentially taboo for her to confide with anyone about her feelings for an attendant. But as these feelings threw Satsuki’s heart into turmoil, Miharu’s kind nature drew the words out of her. Upon learning the truth, Miharu didn’t make her the talk of the town, nor did she reprimand her for “harboring indecent emotions.” Rather, she became a close confidant who offered Satsuki her full support.
As a result, Satsuki loved and respected her like an older sister. The two met right before Satsuki turned fourteen, almost exactly four years ago. Not only was the older woman Manabu Hayama’s fiancée, she was also his secretary.
“Teehee! I’m sorry.” The mischievous look was instantly replaced by a sweet smile as Miharu apologized and patted Satsuki on the head. “Please don’t look at me with those big, sad puppy eyes. If Mr. Shindo found you like this, he’d never let me hear the end of it.”
Did I look like I was about to cry? Satsuki wondered, cupping her cheeks in both hands. The warmth of her cheeks burning traveled to the palms of her hands.
She found it embarrassing for her cheeks to flare such a bright red over the mere mention of Shindo. Normally when someone raved about how they were “jealous such a wonderful attendant waited upon her every beck and call,” it didn’t bring the least bit of color to her cheeks. But it was a different story when it came from Miharu. After all, Miharu knew how Satsuki felt about Shindo. So whenever she heard the older woman say his name, it made her heart pitter-patter.
She was only able to entertain feelings like a normal girl when she was with Miharu. And she loved Miharu for taking it in stride as if this was perfectly normal.
“Who would never let you hear the end of it, Miss Miharu?” Shindo asked, apparently only catching the tail end of the conversation. He knocked three times on the partially open bedroom door before letting himself in. “I brought some tea, ladies. I hope it is to your liking.”
While balancing the tray on his left hand, he set the teacups on the small table beside the nightstand. As he was placing them down, he noticed the roses decorating the nightstand.
“I see Miss Miharu brought a bouquet of roses. Thank you for arranging them so beautifully. I’m certain they will help comfort the Miss’s heart,” Shindo said, expressing his gratitude with an endearing smile.
Miharu returned it with a smile of her own. “Why, it was nothing. Just don’t wallop the mattress so hard it knocks them over, Mr. Shindo!”
“Wallop? Me?”
“M-Miharu!” Satsuki frantically cut in, putting an end to Miharu’s attempt to involve Shindo in her dirty jokes.
Even though Shindo was always at Satsuki’s side, it was nevertheless a rare sight to see the young lady so flustered. Satsuki was beet red as she glared daggers at Miharu, who was giggling with her mouth hidden behind her hands. The conversation completely flew over Shindo’s head. He could tell they had been talking about him while he stepped out, but he didn’t particularly mind since there was a sense of happiness in Satsuki’s frantic protests. If Satsuki was smiling, he was content.
Offering Miharu his hand, he escorted her to the heavily cushioned chair brought in by another attendant. Upon easing into the chair, she looked up at him and asked, “Not to change the subject, but have you seen Manabu, Mr. Shindo? Is he done yet?”
Miharu naturally came to the mansion with Manabu. Catching word of Satsuki’s accident, the couple decided to put their Sunday morning to good use and pay a visit. Going by the way Manabu bailed on visiting Satsuki with Miharu in favor of meeting Tsukasa, he already had plans to come see her father anyway. Manabu claimed it’d only take “half an hour,” but that was nearly an hour ago.
“I’m afraid I haven’t, but I believe he should finish any time now,” Shindo replied as he ran his eyes over his watch before slowly returning his gaze to the somewhat disgruntled Miharu. He suspected she was slightly annoyed that Manabu was taking forever to make his appearance after they came to cheer Satsuki up together.