Now that I think of it,
this is my first non-work outing since becoming a caretaker.
Yesterday, when I invited Tennoji-san...
I suppose.
I'll accompany you at your request.
It was like she was trying to make one last memory before leaving Kiou Gakuin.
I have to work hard to keep that from happening.
Do forgive the wait.
Tennoji-san...
RICH GIRL CARETAKER
EPISODE 9: THE LADY'S DAY OFF
Did I surprise you?
It's a disguise!
You'll be taking me to the kinds of corners I rarely frequent, correct?
It is my intention to be inconspicuous.
I see...
Are you perhaps dazzled by my beauty?
Er, no, I...
Which do you prefer? My usual self, or as I am now?
You look amazing today too,
but if I have to choose, I'd say your usual self.
I see.
So this isn't to your preference?
It's not that.
It's just, your usual self feels more like "you"...
More natural.
By the way, Itsuki-san.
May I interpret this outing as a date?
W-Well... I guess it would be.
I have never before been on a date with a gentleman.
Therefore...
My expectations are quite high.
S-Sure.
I'll show you how the commoners have fun.
By the way, your hair really is dyed, right?
Wh-Where did that come from?
No lies between us, right?
...is ...ed.
It is dyed!
When I was young,
I thought hard about how to best be a suitable heiress to the Tennoji family,
and dyed it.
I adopted this manner of speaking as well.
I had a feeling.
Is there a problem of some sort?
You just tease me so much,
so I wanted to get a little payback.
It's not a problem at all.
Like I said before,
I like it when you're yourself.
You truly are a con man.
You have a tongue of pure silver.
Con man!
I haven't told her this...
But this is my first date too.
Wh-What is happening?
Wh-What is happening?!
Okay, first place!
What'd you get?
Last place.
It's seriously not that bad...
Do not laugh at me!
I was trying the best I could!
Well, there are plenty of other games.
1P PON-CHAN COMBO 2P POKO-CHAN COMBO
RESULTS 1P PON-CHAN LOSS 2P POKO-CHAN WIN
Okay! I win this one too.
If we were to play true taiko drums, I would surely prove your superior!
That's a unique way of admitting you lost.
Let us move on to the next!
Itsuki-san, did you often come here in your old life?
I had a part-time job here.
Though when friends would stop by,
my boss would give me permission
and we'd play the games a bit.
I see.
This is my first time here.
It is a truly stimulating place.
Oh, crap! It's Yuri!
She's mad I haven't been in touch.
But how do I explain all this?
Is something the matter?
I just saw someone from my old school.
Do you not need to say hello?
Nah.
How about we drop the video games for now and do some bowling?
Or maybe karaoke?
We shall do it all.
We shall do it all!
You shan't escape me until I've claimed victory!
That's the most fun I've had in forever.
So, what do you think of our commoner pastimes?
They're utterly miserable!
I didn't win a single video game,
and I even lost to you at bowling!
You gave me a run for my money at karaoke.
Getting a high score with a children's song is far from satisfying!
But it's just like I thought...
What is?
I had a feeling you'd like stuff that's competitive.
Indeed! I haven't felt my blood race like that in a long time!
Well? Want to go anywhere else?
As much as I would like to,
I really must return home.
Then why don't we call it here for today?
Your phrasing is intentionally cruel.
If you don't get married, we can do this again any time you like.
You cannot change my mind with such statements.
It is true that I had a fine time today.
However...
Arranged marriages are a vital matter on which the Tennoji family's future hangs.
Isn't having fun a good reason in itself?
It's not a good enough reason to turn down the engagement?
C-Certainly not!
Quitting school for this engagement...
Is that really the best thing here?
Is there anything you won't sacrifice for the Tennoji family?
I can't even imagine the incredible pressure you're under, it's true.
But meeting your parents taught me one thing...
It's not the Tennoji family they care about,
but the well-being of Tennoji Mirei!
Purely a figment of your imagination.
Father and Mother simply don't want to pressure me,
because they're so kind.
They would surely prefer me to live for my family.
That can't be true!
You dye your hair golden blonde and talk with that strange way of speaking...
Do you really think any of that helps the Tennoji family?!
I... I...
Despite all of that, your parents have never complained, right?!
I believe what they want more than anything is your happiness!
Are you sure you're really engaging with their feelings?
Mother!
If I study hard, will that help the Tennoji family?
I'd say so.
Father, if I became famous,
would that help the Tennoji family?
I'd say so.
When I was a child, all I wanted was to see them happy.
I applied myself in all aspects of life.
Mirei, you're always studying late into the night.
You can have more freedom if you'd like, you know...
No need to worry.
This is the path I've chosen for myself.
Mirei.
It's good to follow proper etiquette,
but it's all right to relax now and then, too.
It's nothing to worry about.
I can easily handle this!
At some point, I stopped really looking...
I've been running away.
I wasn't confident I could handle being their daughter,
so I chose to be "the Tennoji family heiress" instead.
Because that was simpler.
Getting good grades on tests and maintaining proper etiquette...
It was far easier than engaging with their feelings.
Your words made me realize that at last.
But why...
Why have you gone so far for me?
I want you to have a happy life, too.
Even if your experience today doesn't help the Tennoji family,
if you think it would be precious to you...
Please, don't abandon it.
Con man.
Con man, con man, con man!
I'll allow you to deceive me.
I'll turn down the engagement.
I cannot surrender something so precious.
I see...
I see.
To be honest,
I wasn't really sure if this experience today would be precious to you...
It isn't that.
You are precious to me.
After Tennoji-san turned down the engagement,
we spent a few more days doing study group after class,
and the day of the big exam came.
And one week after that...
Tomonari-kun, Konohana-san, over here!
Let us view the results together.
I'm not on the board?
Certainly not.
All the students at this school have had elite tutelage since they were children.
You were trying to catch up to all that in a month.
But the goal you set for me...
You didn't review your test and score yourself?
No, why?
It's likely that you came quite close.
I'm sure you're one of the most improved.
Now you need only maintain those efforts.
You're right.
Yes, I'll keep going.
Because Tennoji-san's staying at this school.
Gosh, I'm not on there...
Me either, but that figures.
Neither am I, just FYI.
Look...
Huh?
Wow, there's a perfect score.
So impressive!
A perfect score?!
Are perfect scores very rare?
Well, yeah. The tests here are super hard.
You almost never see 'em.
Hang on...
Two perfect scores?!
TEST RESULTS TOP 50 RANK NAME SCORE 1ST KONOHANA HINAKO 800 TENNOJI MIREI 800
You worked hard too, Hinako.
I didn't wanna lose to you two.
Truly, a performance worthy of my rival!
Konohana Hinako, I have a proposal for you!
T-Tonight...
Will you come to my house in a social capacity?!
I have awaited your arrival!
Konohana-san, Tomonari-san.
Thank you very much for inviting me today.
It's your first time having me over in a personal capacity, I believe.
Is there some reason for this?
No particular reason.
If forced to say...
I wish to be closer to you, not as the daughter of the Tennoji family,
but as a friend.
I've been hoping for a closer relationship between us as well.
I-It's quite embarrassing to hear that so directly...
You may place these in your rooms, if you wish.
I chose flowers that reminded me of you.
Oh, how delightful!
Mirei... Our Mirei's truly grown!
That's right, dear.
She's shining even brighter than ever!
I've truly, truly been looking forward to this!
We'll be having a special menu for dinner as well.
I thought it up myself, and I worked very hard—
Tomonari-kun!
A moment!
What are you doing, Masatsugu-san?
Tomonari-kun...
Rather, Itsuki-kun.
Mirei told me everything.
It seems you helped her draw out her true feelings.
Well, I...
Mirei has a fine friend in you.
I'm glad she didn't quit school.
By the way, Itsuki-kun.
Do you have any interest in the Tennoji Group?
Th-That's awfully sudden...
It's a rather roundabout question, yes...
So I'll ask you straight up.
Do you seek to marry into our family?!
Wh-What?!
Mirei appears to desire a love match.
I wish to know your intentions!
Father.
What are you two discussing?
W-Well... strike while the iron is hot, right?
If Itsuki-kun were to marry into our family—
It's far, far, far too early to discuss that!
Is it?
If you insist, Mirei...
Goodbye, Itsuki-kun. Until later.
Goodness me.
I beg your pardon.
Tomonari-sa—
Itsuki-san.
Even as a joke, it was shocking to hear.
I do not believe it was a joke.
At the very least, there is no man in my life with whom I am closer than you.
But I...
I'm just a commoner, and all...
Do you think my parents care about such things?
What would you do if you were offered the possibility of marriage with me?
That's a really big question...
I'd want to know how you felt about it.
Then, if I were in favor, would you accept?
Well...
I'm merely joking.
But if such a time were to come...
I'll see to it that you choose me.
Tennoji-san's changed.
Seems softer now.
Hey, Itsuki, what stuff did you do with Tennoji-san that day?
What day?
The day you went out.
Not much.
We went to the arcade, hit up the bowling alley,
then karaoke, I guess.
Seems like you enjoyed it.
Well, I guess...
I'd be lying if I said it wasn't any fun...
Wanna go too.
I wanna do all of it!
Okay, okay!
Ow! Don't step on my foot!
Wake up properly to eat.
You'll make a mess.
I want that one. The chocolate.
Yes, yes.
By the way, Hinako...
This sports competition guidebook they gave out in homeroom yesterday...
KIOU GAKUIN SPORTS COMPETITION
They said we can choose our events for ourselves.
What do you recommend?
They didn't do that at your last high school?
Most places don't have options like this.
There are even some off-campus venues in here.
Sports include golf, horseback riding,
even ice skating...
Don't worry so much, Itsuki.
The sports competition doesn't affect your grades,
so plenty of people slack off.
Really?
Will you also slack your way through it?
Wish I could, but I gotta win.
Is that something Kagen-san insists on?
Yeah.
So tired...
The sports competition is in three weeks.
My lady, can I assume you'll once again participate in that popular event
that will afford you a great deal of attention when you win—tennis?
Yuh.
But while I had planned to hire you the same coach as last year,
I was told he recently suffered a sprain,
so I've been looking for an emergency replacement.
However, it's been difficult to find someone to Kagen-sama's liking.
So can I just skip?!
No.
The sports competition is an ideal opportunity to prove your
well-rounded excellence to the world.
Kagen-sama is unlikely to yield.
And for your own sake, as well,
some exercise would do you good.
Perhaps, due to your recent enjoyment of dining with Itsuki-san,
you appear to have put on some weight.
What even do you intend to participate in, Itsuki-san?
I thought I'd do whatever Hinako's doing...
Tennis, then? Very well.
Then you will need a coach as well.
I-Itsuki...
What do you think of me lately?
In what way?
Do I seem... rounder at all?
Now that you mention it...
Gonna... win!
I... will... win!
R-Right!
I-Itsuki!
Narika? What's the big hurry?
Please, Itsuki! You gotta help me!
Narika?
Th-The sports competition...
I'm scared!