SCIAW: Chapter 375/376

Chapter 375: Are You Free?

The next morning was a weekend morning—a time when most people were still asleep, enjoying their rare day off.

For working adults, weekends were precious rest days.

That was even more true for students.

But for Hayasaka, things were different. As a maid, she was used to waking up early every morning, without exception.

Today, too, she woke up by habit before sunrise.

However, despite being accustomed to this rhythm, Hayasaka made an unusual mistake.

She sat on her bed, staring blankly.

"...Ah, I woke up too early."

It was the weekend, yes—but that didn't necessarily mean she was off work. Her duties to Miss Kaguya usually continued regardless of the day.

But today was different. Today was her birthday.

And last night, before going to bed, Miss Kaguya had said:

> "Hayasaka, since tomorrow is your birthday, I'm giving you the day off. Take a walk, go relax."

It was rare for Kaguya to be so considerate of her emotional and physical well-being.

And yet, even with the gift of a day off, Hayasaka found herself at a loss.

Had she still been carrying the secret of her undercover identity, she'd likely be under constant emotional strain. The pressure and guilt of living like that every day would have left her mentally and physically drained.

But ever since she cut ties with her double life and gained Kaguya's understanding, Hayasaka felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Work felt less suffocating. Without the guilt, her mood was more stable. The emotional stress that had once built up relentlessly had finally found outlets.

She even had new ways to relieve pressure.

Especially after obtaining the Door-Door Fruit—she had tested out several methods. For example, using the Door ability to travel the world and take in different views.

The island that Kaguya had purchased, despite being a volcanic region, had become her go-to stress-relief spot when it wasn't active. Her physique had also improved significantly since eating sea king meat with Miss Kaguya recently.

Nowadays, she took time out each day to teleport to the isolated island and practice the Six Powers.

But because she had too much free time today, she didn't know what to do with herself.

Sure, she could go train on the island, but physical strength didn't improve overnight. Her daily training needed to be kept within limits, especially since the Six Powers weren't techniques suited for the average human body. Overexertion could lead to injury.

As a result, even though today was her birthday and she had the day off, she was stuck with nothing to do.

"Should I go travel the world...?"

But she shook her head and dismissed the thought.

Sure, the world was vast, but traveling aimlessly with nothing in mind? That didn't sound interesting at all. It felt less exciting than it used to.

Even going overseas should be done with some purpose.

"No, I always feel like I'm just aimlessly wandering when I go out alone."

"The scenery abroad isn't that different. Besides, traveling alone is... kind of boring."

Over the past two months, Hayasaka had come to realize she was actually quite social.

She enjoyed doing things with others. Being alone just made her feel... alone.

"Besides Miss Kaguya, does anyone else even remember today's my birthday?"

Ring Ring~

Just as Hayasaka was sinking into boredom, her phone on the nightstand rang.

She glanced at the caller ID and immediately answered with a hint of surprise.

"Ren? You're up early today."

"Yeah. It's your birthday today, right? Just wanted to say happy birthday."

Hayasaka paused for a second. Her previously dull mood brightened a bit.

"So you remembered it was my birthday, huh?"

"Of course I did. I remembered it the first time you told me."

He's referring to back when they first met in the club. He must've seen it on her club application form... Hayasaka always kept strict control over her personal information.

While she had joined the Occult Research Club back at Shuchiin Academy, she never let it interfere with her duties to Kaguya. It wasn't until transferring to Teitan High that she let her guard down slightly.

Still, he'd remembered something as small as her birthdate from the form. Hayasaka couldn't help but feel that Ren was incredibly observant.

"Other than Miss Kaguya... you're the only one who remembered my birthday."

"Don't be silly. I'm sure your mom and dad remembered too."

Hayasaka curled her lips slightly. A small smile appeared.

"Yeah. Mom and Dad remembered. But since Miss Kaguya became the head, they've been busy with internal affairs at the Shinomiya Zaibatsu. They've been overseeing every detail, and just haven't had the time to celebrate."

"Even though Miss Senzanin's help has stabilized things within the Shinomiya group, there's still a lot of cleanup to do. Evaluating who can be trusted, who needs to be replaced... all of that takes time."

"My whole family's been working around the clock. My parents haven't had a real break in a while."

It was a happy kind of problem.

Thanks to Ren, both she and Kaguya had shaken off the awkward circumstances they were once trapped in. They were finally beginning to reclaim the positions they were meant to have.

And while this status came with responsibilities, Kaguya no longer needed the approval of the Shinomiya group.

Even Shinomiya Gan'an had no choice but to yield to Kaguya.

While Kaguya had used her presence like a spiritual anchor to calm the internal chaos of the group, it was still the Shinomiya family that held the strings of actual control. Shifting that power structure would take time.

Kaguya and Hayasaka were still too young to manage the conglomerate directly, so those responsibilities had been passed to Nao Hayasaka and Masato Hayasaka.

Naturally, that meant her parents didn't have time to host a birthday party for her.

But Hayasaka understood. She had already received their well-wishes yesterday.

"...So, Hayasaka, are you free today?"

That simple question instantly lit a fire in Hayasaka's previously aimless mood.

"I am."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 376: Birthday Gift

Once Hayasaka had a goal for the day, she immediately got up, did her makeup, and changed into casual clothes—completely different from the usual Teitan High School girls' uniforms or her maid outfit.

After preparing, she opened a door to the Amamiya residence.

Through the door, she saw Ren still dressed in his loungewear.

Hayasaka stepped out from the dimensional space and walked forward, arriving before Ren.

They exchanged a few polite greetings, and Hayasaka immediately noticed the beautifully wrapped gift box in Ren's hands.

"So you brought me a birthday present?"

"Yeah, it's a gift for you."

Ren didn't deny it and handed her the wrapped box.

Hayasaka paused slightly before accepting the gift.

"I'll open it then."

She slowly lifted the lid, revealing a silver necklace with a green gemstone inside.

The necklace was exquisitely crafted, and the gemstone's vibrant green stood out.

With her eye for detail, Hayasaka could tell it wasn't from a luxury brand, but its design was elegant and refined.

"I thought, since you're always helping Kaguya and doing housework, you're often dealing with water and using your hands a lot. So, I figured things like bracelets or watches wouldn't be very practical. A necklace seemed more suitable."

Listening to Ren's reasoning, Hayasaka nodded slightly.

Indeed, with her line of work, bracelets or wristwatches would be in the way. Wearing them might hinder her movement.

"Thank you. I really like it."

She lifted the necklace from the box, her expression genuinely happy.

"Well then… it's a bit hard for me to put it on myself. Could I trouble you for a moment?"

"Sure."

Can a girl not wear a necklace by herself? Ren found the thought a little funny.

Still, he nodded and took the necklace from her hands, walking behind her.

Standing behind Hayasaka, he had a clear view thanks to his slightly taller height. Her fair skin practically glowed under the morning light.

His hands reached around to bring the necklace forward, and his fingers accidentally brushed her neck, causing her body to flinch slightly.

"Sorry."

Hayasaka shook her head. The warmth of his fingers on her neck had made her unusually sensitive—maybe because he was behind her.

"It's fine. That's just normal contact."

Ren carefully fastened the clasp, doing his best not to touch her unnecessarily.

Once the necklace was secured, Hayasaka slowly turned around. As she did, a faint blush had already crept onto her face. She was clearly a bit too sensitive.

Lowering her head, she gently pinched the green gemstone with her fingers.

"How does it look?"

"It's beautiful. The green gemstone really brings out the blue in your eyes. And with your skin tone, it stands out even more."

Ren didn't hold back his praise. Beauty deserved acknowledgment, and there was no need to exaggerate.

After all, Hayasaka was indeed beautiful.

She was the perfect blend of East and West. Her blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair complexion had a Western charm, while her delicate, doll-like face had the elegance of the East. Her personality, much like Kaguya's, leaned toward traditional refinement.

In short, Hayasaka's charm wasn't inferior to Shinomiya Kaguya's in the slightest.

The praise was genuine and direct, and a radiant smile bloomed across her face.

It wasn't one of her usual practiced smiles, but a sincere one from the heart.

"Well, now it's even prettier."

Ren admired her smile and couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Just like I said before, you should smile more often, Hayasaka. Your smile is really beautiful."

"That's a very straightforward compliment"

Even so, Hayasaka's joy only grew. She was truly happy.

It feels nice to have someone remember your birthday… Hayasaka suddenly realized the value of birthdays.

She had never cared much about when her birthday was. Or rather, she had never taken birthdays seriously.

Her parents had always been busy with their own affairs and rarely had the time to celebrate her birthday. In the past, under Shinomiya Oko's surveillance, that scumbag never cared about her birthday. He only cared whether she was still keeping an eye on Kaguya.

That's why she never paid much attention to her own birthday.

But now, she understood how meaningful a birthday could be.

"…But I do like compliments, so I'll accept it."

"So, is there a cake today?"

"I did prepare a cake. But are you sure you want to eat it?"

"Well, cakes are sweet and not great for maintaining your figure. But since it's just once a year, it's okay to indulge a little."

With that, Hayasaka raised her arm. Her slender figure looked no different from usual, but the strength behind it had increased significantly.

"Lately, since I've been eating sea king meat every day, my body's been getting stronger really fast. As my physical ability improves, my daily calorie intake has increased a lot too. Naturally, my weight's gone up."

Hayasaka's expression dimmed slightly as she spoke.

Now she could understand the kind of troubles Ran often faced. As a girl, she cared about her weight. But increased muscle density meant the most direct result—gaining weight.

"Even though it's not as noticeable as Ran's case, I've definitely gained a lot."

Her face was full of melancholy.

"Because we've been eating sea king meat more frequently, the amount I eat has also increased. I feel like it's going to be hard for Miss Kaguya and me to manage our weight from now on."

"The only good news is that, even though we've gained weight, we haven't put on any visible fat."

That was probably the only thing Hayasaka could find comfort in.

(To be continued.)