After dinner that day.

As I lay on my king-sized bed, reflecting on the day's events… a thought suddenly crossed my mind, and I muttered it aloud.

“Hmm… today is Kyoko’s last day as my personal maid, huh…”

That’s right. Today was Naoko’s and my entrance ceremony… and also Kyoko’s last day serving me as my personal maid.

Kyoko, who’d started work in the afternoon…

“‘You and you will handle this task.’”

“‘I will attend to Madam, so please focus on your respective duties.’”

“‘Young master, is there anything you require?’”

As both head maid and personal maid, she carried out her duties as usual, calmly and efficiently.

From tomorrow, she would be just the head maid.

Meaning she could focus solely on managing the mansion’s maids.

Giving her a bouquet seemed odd, and it was too late to buy a cake as a thank you for her service.

A thank-you letter… seemed too much and might make her suspicious.

“Is it better to do nothing…?”

More than anything, I hadn’t raised Kyoko’s likability. She probably still disliked me. If I did something unnecessary, it would likely be perceived as bothersome.

For now, doing nothing seemed safest…

Just as I reached that conclusion…

Knock, knock. Someone knocked on my door, and I sat up.

There was only one person it could be.

“Come in.”

“Excuse me, Young master.”

The door opened, and Kyoko entered.

She was impeccably dressed in her familiar black and white maid uniform, her expression as composed as ever.

“Young master, I’ve brought your after-dinner tea. And… I’ve come to give my final greetings as your personal maid.”

Kyoko placed the tea on the bedside table and looked directly at me.

“I see.”

I got out of bed and faced her.

To come and give her final greetings as my personal maid… Kyoko was truly diligent and responsible.

“Then, Young master, allow me to give my final greetings.”

“Go ahead.”

“I have served as your personal maid for approximately one year.”

“That’s right.”

Oh, so it had been a year.

A whole year serving a sexual harasser like the previous me…

She must have endured a lot and had many unpleasant experiences. It must have been difficult.

“Looking back, many things have happened.”

Oh? Was she about to reminisce about the original Reito?

Kyoko knew the original Reito best. I might learn something new.

“Young master, you used to address me rudely, with ‘Omae’ and ‘Oi.’”

“…!”

Seriously, Reito, you… How could you? To treat a woman… and the one who took care of you the most, so disrespectfully!

“And when things didn’t go your way, you would immediately shout at me in a demanding tone.”

Why resort to lashing out at others?! Things not going your way was a normal part of life!

“Insults and condescending remarks were also commonplace.”

Seriously, what was he doing…?

The more I learned, the more villainous his personality seemed. It was questionable on a fundamental human level.

“However, recently, Young master, you have completely stopped such behavior. You no longer order me or the other maids around, nor do you shout at us.”

Of course.

Because I was originally an ordinary high school student. That was normal behavior.

“In fact, you suddenly started scrubbing the floors and exercising, which surprised the other maids… and, well, recently, your gaze has been… troubling. This seems like a good time to say this, but please refrain from the floor scrubbing from now on.”

Huh… was floor scrubbing bad?

Mom had also said something strange about my “suggestive pose” with my “butt sticking up”… Could it be that floor scrubbing was counterproductive?

“Also, your tone towards me has become gentler… To be honest, I’m surprised.”

Indeed, compared to the original Reito, I was quite different. Well, partly because the original Reito’s behavior was so atrocious. I was just acting like a normal human being.

“…I…”

Kyoko paused, as if about to say something, but a hesitant expression crossed her face.

“Kyoko?”

“…”

After a moment of thoughtful silence… Kyoko spoke.

“…Can I… trust you?”

“…”

I gasped at her words.

Silence fell over the room.

She was… waiting for my answer.

Even though Reito looked the same on the outside, the inside was different.

Spending time together would naturally reveal those differences…

Kyoko was… asking if she could trust the current me.

As a villain loaded with downfall flags, I wanted to be trusted quickly. It would make things easier.

But for me, it was a little different…

I took a breath and spoke from the heart.

“Whether you trust me or not is not for me to decide, but for you, Kyoko. However… I will strive to earn your trust.”

“!”

Kyoko’s eyes widened in surprise.

I intended to face Kyoko and the others head-on and raise their likability. I had to work hard enough to earn Kyoko’s trust!

“Then, I shall look forward to it.”

“!!”

I stared back at her in surprise.

Because Kyoko’s expression seemed to have softened slightly.

“Young master, you have school tomorrow. Please rest well.”

“O-okay.”

“Then, I’ll excuse myself. From tomorrow, I look forward to working with you as the head maid.”

Kyoko bowed politely and left the room.

For her to ask if she could trust me…

“I wonder if her likability has gone up a little. I hope so.”

With that thought, I drifted off to sleep.

◇Brief Character Introductions◇

Nijo Kyoko

A beautiful woman with long silver hair and sharp, clear blue eyes. She works as both a university student and the head maid. She doesn’t often show her emotions and carries out her duties as a maid efficiently… but lately, she seems to be bothered by Reito’s behavior.