Chapter 1: School Angel
“GOOD day.”
“Good day. Isn’t this weather lovely?”
Such greetings filled the beautiful April morning air. There was a gentle spring breeze and bright sunbeams danced gently through the tree leaves. The sunny voices of schoolgirls were a delight to the ears as they echoed throughout Saikai Private High School for Girls.
The young ladies smoothly slid from an endless procession of luxury vehicles that stopped in front of the student entrance. Moving with grace as they spoke with ladylike ease, each one hailed from the crème de la crème of prestigious families.
Pick up and drop off was generally restricted to outside the front gate at most schools. However, the distance between the gate and the main building was abnormally long here. Taking into account the fact such delicate flowers couldn’t be forced to walk such a great distance, a two-lane road was paved in front of the student entrance specifically for pick up and drop off.
The white school building was reminiscent of a foreign mansion. While famous as a school for blue-blooded ladies, it was also known for its intense academic curriculum that resulted in high test scores. It was so highly respected that people claimed the world would be an oyster for any of its alumni and the prestigious families they belonged.
The drop off zone was bright and cheerful with the sound of laughter filling the air like the singsong chirping of birds. But the moment a certain car pulled into the pathway leading to the drop off, that joyful atmosphere suddenly changed as tension spread throughout the crowd.
It was a beautifully lustrous obsidian black Mercedes Benz. When the vehicle smoothly eased to a stop, everyone around it was frozen in place. A young man stepped out of the driver’s seat. A chorus of something resembling sighs briefly rose from the schoolgirls the moment their eyes fell upon him, but their attention swiftly shifted to the backseat.
The young man opened the rear passenger door and offered his right hand to the girl sitting inside. She rested her right hand upon his, accepting his assistance as she gracefully slid out of the car.
“Good day, Miss Satsuki!” piped a young lady standing nearby, excited she got to see Satsuki.
In return, Satsuki offered the young lady one of her renowned “angelic smiles” and replied, “Good day to you, too.”
The school uniform was an adorable sailor dress with a dark gray and pink checkered bowtie neckerchief. Not only did the dickey go all of the way up to the collarbone, the slightly flared hem extended clear down to the knee. The dress was designed to reveal as little skin as possible.
Satsuki was on her third year wearing that somewhat stoic uniform for Sakai Private High School for Girls. After maintaining stellar grades that put her leagues above her peers and displaying mastery of social etiquette, she attained the position of High School Student Council President this spring.
“If you’ll excuse me, Miss, I shall go park the car,” Shindo said while still holding Satsuki’s hand. In hopes to reassure the young lady looking at him somewhat apprehensively, he added with a smile “From there, I will be on standby in your private suite. I may stop by your classroom as well. If you have need of me while I’m not present, please feel free to call for me.”
“You don’t have to go to the office today?” she asked.
“No, I did not receive any such instructions from the master,” Shindo answered. He looked as if he were folding himself in half as he bent into a deep bow before kissing the top of Satsuki’s hand. “I will be forever at your side...”
“Good.”
Touched sighs ushered from the surrounding girls watching the scene reminiscent of a prince and princess from fairy tales unfold. Why, a portion of the school’s students secretly harbored feelings for Shindo. The desire to see him drove some to wait each morning for Satsuki’s personal car to roll up.
With her looks, personality, and prestigious lineage, Satsuki was always loved by those around her. Serving as the retainer at the beck and call of this ideal heiress was the very foundation of how others viewed Shindo. On top of his good looks, he was a perfect gentleman with Satsuki. The way he served her was just like a knight serving his princess. Compounded by the fact this was an all-girls school, there was no way the hearts of some hormonal girls wouldn’t flutter over such a dashing figure.
“Honestly, Miss Satsuki is always so beautiful,” one girl said. Gah, I could just scream. I feel like I really am insignificant with Little Miss Perfect in my class.
“Not only can she do anything, she’s also nice. I wish I could be like her,” said another girl. Isn’t it all just an act? I bet she’s a real bitch at home...
“And she’s blessed with such an outstanding butler. I truly am jealous,” chimed a third. He’s seriously just a butler? And nothing more?
“It must be wonderful to have such an amazing person look after her 24 hours a day. She must feel like a princess!” exclaimed another. They’re together 24/7... People seriously believe they aren’t doing things?
They may hail from wealthy families, but they were still teenage girls. Piggybacking on the rumors, indecent ideas began to swirl around their heads.
“Miss,” Shindo called. Catching the disagreeable expression that briefly flashed across Satsuki’s face, Shindo figured she read the minds of the surrounding students. Looking her in the eye, he cut his right thumb straight across his chest. It meant “close the door to your heart.”
Shindo used this simple hand motion many times since she was little. Human “thoughts” would flow into Satsuki, as would the “emotions” of plants and animals. She could see a person’s true nature and intent whether she wanted to or not.