✤
After Matsuri finished her shift at the restaurant the next day, we cornered her and asked her directly.
With a smile, she replied, “It’s true that I’m working an extra job so I can pay off the debt more quickly, but I’m definitely not thinking of quitting as Lady Saeko’s Seraph.”
“Oh, really? That’s a relief. We were worrying about what we should do if you said you were ready to quit.”
“Oh dear. It looks like I’ve caused a big fuss all because this job is somewhere you can see me doing it. Admittedly, my mistress can be harsh at times, and serving her has its difficulties, but I also owe her a lot, and I wouldn’t want to find a new mistress this late in the game. Also, not to toot my own horn, but I’ve served her for more than two years now. I’m confident that no one else would meet her exact needs.”
As bashful as she sounded while saying that, it was clear that she had faith in herself and that her connection with her mistress was based on mutual trust. No matter how it looked from the outside, their arrangement was successful. It would be one thing to hear Lady Saeko say it, but hearing it from Matsuri left no doubt whatsoever.
“Besides,” she added, “the way I see it, once I pay off the debt, we can finally have a real master-servant relationship. If I’m working for her just to pay off my debts, that’s not exactly decent in the eyes of society. I’d prefer to have an arrangement where she wants me there and I respond in kind.”
“I can see what you mean,” I admitted. “There is something really nice about the idea that you both need each other.”
“Exactly. That’s why your relationship with Lady Himeko looks like the ideal situation to me.”
“Ideal? Really?!”
“You don’t think so?”
“Well, I do when you put it that way. I couldn’t manage without Lady Himeko there, and I’m sure she feels the same way about me.”
Giggling, Matsuri replied, “You see?”
I wasn’t lying. Himeko and I truly needed each other.
Putting that aside, Matsuri got back to the matter at hand. “The truth is, I’ll finish paying off the debt in a few days.”
“Wow, really?”
“Yes. Lady Erisu has been kind enough to pay me very handsomely.” She gave a cute little wink and then giggled again. “I bet my mistress will be really surprised!”
“She sure will.”
“I hope so. For the first time, I’ll be able to face her with my head held high. I can’t wait.”
✦ ✦ ✦
✤
That night, when Himeko and I were lazing about in bed together, we talked over what Matsuri had said.
Himeko sounded pretty relieved. “I guess there’s nothing to worry about. I suppose serving someone with Saeko’s fierce temperament requires either a submissive maid like Matsuri or the veteran-style confidence of Shion’s Seraph, Aoi. No one else could do it.”
“True. I doubt I could cope, for example.”
With Lady Saeko, it might just about work. Even when she starts getting angry, it doesn’t always feel like she’s totally serious. But Lady Shion? No way!
“Indeed. I think it’s best that you’re with me, Misaki.”
“I agree!”
She giggled, while I laughed nervously in return. We smiled at each other and joined hands. I didn’t know if the sweltering midsummer heat was to blame, but I was in high spirits. I was happy for Himeko to fawn over me even more than usual, and to talk about all kinds of things I didn’t normally feel comfortable discussing. As the night wore on, we spoke about all the places we wanted to go and things we wanted to do during the vacation.
✦ ✦ ✦
✤
Just two days later, we got word that Matsuri had squared away her entire debt. Actually, she came to us herself and told us about her plan, which was to formally return the last of the money to Lady Saeko and ask for a new contract so she could keep working for her. Beaming, she asked if Lady Sakura, Sara, Himeko, and I could join her to witness it. Hence we all gathered at the Sky Salon.
Even with the AC running, all the windows made the salon kind of like a greenhouse. The air was stiflingly hot. Maybe that was the reason Lady Saeko didn’t look like she was doing so well.
She and Matsuri stood facing each other near the central table while the rest of us watched from some distance away. The contrast between them was striking. Matsuri was positively beaming, while Lady Saeko was gazing down at the table with her arms crossed. I can’t be the only one who thinks she looks uncomfortable, right? What’s the problem, though? Her Seraph is going to repay her debts and then renew their relationship with no ill will at all. That’s a cause for celebration, isn’t it?
The others wore heavy expressions too. It looked like they’d also picked up on this.
Matsuri was the only one smiling as she imagined what was about to happen. It reminded me of gears trying to turn while not being locked together properly. But that’s just my imagination, right?
When Lady Saeko spoke, she sounded more frail than usual. “What’s this about, Matsuri? Don’t you have work to do at the restaurant?”
“My shift doesn’t start until the afternoon today.”
“Oh.”
Apparently not noticing her mistress’s dour mood, Matsuri took a step closer, her cheeks flushed. “I have something quite important to tell you today.”
In perfect sync with her Seraph, Lady Saeko stepped back. “Oh? What is it?”
“First of all, I want to express how grateful I am for everything you’ve done for me and my family. If not for you, we might have been out on the street by now.”
Lady Saeko stared back with a heavy expression.
Continuing, Matsuri said, “I know I’ve been a burden to you all this time, but today I’m finally showing my appreciation. No, that’s not right. Today I’m finally able to repay what I owe you.”
She retrieved an envelope from her pocket.
“This is all the remaining money I owe you. I believe this exactly covers the last of the debt. Please check it and make sure.”
“All right.”
Quietly, Lady Saeko took the envelope and checked its contents. Then she got out a ledger and wrote something down.
“That does indeed clear the entirety of the remaining debt. Congratulations. All your hard work has paid off.”
This was the kindest tone I’d ever heard her use while talking to Matsuri.
Nodding happily, Matsuri replied, “Yes, milady! Thank you!”
Lady Saeko appeared to mentally prepare herself for a moment. Then she drew nearer to Matsuri. A gentle smile on her face, she put a hand on her Seraph’s sleeve. “That means that as of today, you’re free.”
“What? But...”
All of a sudden, Matsuri sounded disoriented, as if sensing that something was off. It took a moment for the rest of us to realize what Lady Saeko was doing as well—but when it became clear, I cried out in shock at the same time as Matsuri.
Lady Saeko reached for the golden badge shining proudly on Matsuri’s chest and pulled it off.
“Huh? Milady, what are you...?”
Her voice was trembling and had grown faint. With a look of fear, she stared at the object in her mistress’s hand. It was the special proof that she was a Seraph—and now she was no longer wearing it.
“You started working for me because I took on your family’s debts. Now that those are cleared, I can’t continue to restrain you. You held up your end of the bargain and paid back the money, which means I have to keep my promise as well.” She turned to Himeko and Lady Sakura. “Isn’t that right?”
Himeko had a pained expression on her face as she nodded. “Yes, I suppose.”
Strictly speaking, there wasn’t anything wrong with what Lady Saeko was saying, but did she have to stick to it so rigidly? After all, she obviously liked Matsuri, and Matsuri actually wanted to keep working for her.
But Lady Sakura agreed, murmuring distractedly, “A contract must be upheld. Otherwise, you might no longer be trusted in these matters.”
“Exactly. Even if other people might see it as an agreement freely made between two students, to me and those close to me, I cannot under any circumstances be seen as someone who plays fast and loose with contractual terms. This is especially true given my promise to help Kagura with her business. You understand, don’t you?”
That last question was directly firmly at Matsuri herself.
Her voice wavering, Matsuri replied, “I don’t recall any terms that required me to stop being your Seraph as soon as I paid off the debt.”
“That would be trying to get by on a technicality. Anyway, aren’t you happy to be free at last?”
Lady Saeko put a hand on her (former) Seraph’s shoulder and slowly turned her around—to face the elevator.
“Thank you for your excellent service. I know you’ll find a new mistress, and she’ll be perfect for you. I hope everything goes well in the future.”
She pushed her all the way to the elevator.
“But milady!”
Ignoring Matsuri’s cries of protest, she put her inside and pressed the button.
Then Matsuri disappeared from the Sky Salon.