Ever since I confessed, she has been acting strange. - CHAPTER 2:THE RUNAWAY SONGSTRESS ARC

Episode 7: Meeting the Diva

“I’m bored…”

I’m happy to get anything from the young lady, but there’s one thing I’d have a hard time getting.

It’s a day off.

I’ve rarely thought about wanting time to myself. If possible, I’d even prefer to serve at the young lady’s side all the time. But for some reason, the young lady herself insists on giving me regular days off.

Surely she thinks that if I don’t take regular days off, it will be harder for the other servants to take theirs. While I can somewhat understand the young lady’s thoughtful reasoning, the reality is that I am often at a loss as to how to spend my days off.

If I stay at the mansion, I end up working, so I was eventually shoved into a car and tossed out into the city.

“Meow.”

As I wandered aimlessly through the city, a cute meowing sound reached my ears.

When I looked, I saw a cat curled up in a dimly lit alleyway, visible through a gap between buildings.

“What is it? Do you want attention?”

“Meow.”

The cat yawned and then trotted off into the depths of the alley.

…Seeing this somewhat bizarre behavior, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the young lady.

Since I have no destination and nothing to do anyway, I might as well follow this cat.

“Meow.”

“Ah.”

The cat dashed away lightly, sliding its body smoothly into a narrow gap.

There is no way I can follow it that far. Too bad.

“…………So, where is this?”

It seems that I ended up deep, deep in the back alleys while chasing the cat.

Oh well. If I just wander around aimlessly, I’ll probably find my way out eventually.

“–……! Move…!”

“Huh?”

The voice came from directly above. A humanoid silhouette was literally falling down.

Almost reflexively, I stretched out my arms and caught the mysterious falling figure.

“Whoa…!”

For a moment, the memory of the other day’s “Life Game (Tentative)” flashed through my mind, the time I carried the young lady like a princess.

Just like then, an amazingly light girl now rested in my arms.

I couldn’t see her face clearly because she was wearing a hat, but… as far as I could tell, she seemed to be about my age.

“Whoa… are you okay?”

For now, I gently set the girl I was holding down on the ground.

Though she wobbled slightly, she managed to steady herself and stand on her own two feet.

“I’m fine.”

After confirming that the girl was unharmed, I looked up and saw a rope hanging from the roof. She had probably tied it to a railing or something and was trying to climb down.

“Are you okay? Your arms…”

“Don’t worry about it. I redirected all the impact into the ground.”

“You can do that?”

“As someone who serves the young lady, it’s only natural that I can do that much.”

“…………”

If I were to describe the reaction of the hat-wearing girl in front of me, the word “kyoton” would probably be the most accurate.

“…Hehe.”

But she immediately burst into laughter, and a small, faint giggle escaped her.

“…What was that? Hehe.”

“I don’t remember saying anything particularly funny…”

“Sorry. It was just a bit amusing, that’s all.”

“Well, that’s fine, but… by the way, who exactly are you?”

“…………”

Before she could weave her words together, a violent gust of wind blew through. The sudden wind sent her hat flying into the air, and as her hair spilled out, the girl’s true face was revealed.

Her long hair cascaded down her back, and her pale skin reminded me of freshly fallen snow.

Her delicate, cool-looking face and slender body reminded me of a snowflower.

And then her true face – identical to the face on the giant billboard reflected in the hat floating in the air – was that of a girl famous as the “Songstress”. No, it wasn’t just similar – it was exactly the same.

“That face… I’m sure her name was …………”

“…Habataki Otoha.”

Her tone carried a hint of resignation, and at the same time, it was proof that she was indeed the real “Songstress”.

“…Nice to meet you.”

“Uh… nice to meet you too.”

I couldn’t help but respond with a greeting. On the other hand, the girl – the “Songstress”, Habataki Otoha – picked up her fallen hat and pulled it back down low over her eyes.

“Habataki-san, why did you come down from the roof like that?”

“I’m on the run.”

I didn’t quite follow. She had probably escaped from a hotel or somewhere and was being chased by employees or something… or so I guessed.

“I see. Then you should hurry back. Before you fall again.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m running away from home.”

“You’re running away from home?”

If that’s the case, it’s all the more reason for her to go back.

“Thank you for helping me.”

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know. I’m just running away, that’s all.”

Habataki Otoha walked away briskly as if nothing had happened.

It would be easy to just let her go and watch her背影 disappear. But this is a girl who tried to climb down from a rooftop with a flimsy rope just to escape… in other words, someone who’s willing to take reckless risks.

“To see it, to know it, and to encounter it…

Turning a blind eye while harboring worries and concerns… That can’t be the right behavior for someone who serves the young lady.

For a stray like me to stay by her side, I must act in a manner befitting a proper person.”

“Please wait.

What is it?

I am worried, so let me accompany you. At least until you get home safely.

‘…You’re a strange one, aren’t you?

Not at all. I’m just trying to act in a manner befitting someone who serves the young lady.

Let me know if you need any more help! 😊

“‘…………’

After a short moment of silence, Hanabata Otoha nodded and said,

“…Alright. Fine.’

With that, she gave him permission to accompany her on her runaway journey.

—-♪♪♪”

“A ringtone echoed from the smartphone in my pocket.

When I looked at the screen, it showed that the call was from the young lady. However…

“…No.

As soon as Hanabata Otoha grabbed my phone, she immediately ended the call.

‘Ah-‘”

“…It’s okay if you come with me, but you’re not allowed to contact anyone else.

You’re being pretty careful, aren’t you?

‘…I just want to avoid any trouble.'”

“Did she think I would talk about something unnecessary? Or was she considering the possibility of someone coming after her? …Well, it can’t be helped. It would be irresponsible to leave such a reckless ‘singer’ alone – someone who tried to climb down from the roof with such a flimsy rope. I might as well go with her for now.”

“(I’m sorry, young lady, I’ll explain everything later.)

Apologizing to the young lady in my heart, I turned off my smartphone and put it back in my pocket.

Is that okay?”

“…Mhm.’

Hanabata Otoha nodded with satisfaction and without hesitation, began to walk briskly towards the back alley, leaving it behind. I followed her closely.”

“☆

“…Hey. Were you able to get in touch with Eito (Kagehito)?

“Nah, I tried calling him too, but no luck. Seems like his phone is turned off.’

‘Ugh…! I have a really, really bad feeling about this…!”