All I knew was that he said he would need my help at lunch and dinner on the same day.
But why was my schedule booked for three full days? Didn't he realize he'd have to pay for all three days too? I had just checked the updated schedule from the okiya's assistant.
"Mayumi, wasn't the event Saturday afternoon? Why am I booked through Monday?" I ended up calling Mayumi afterward, unable to shake my curiosity.
"I don't know, Kanna-san. I was told to book your schedule through Monday. There may be another event that requires your presence. Something informal."
Mayumi didn't know, and I couldn't be bothered to call Hisao either. As long as he understood that he couldn't just touch me whenever he pleased, maybe he was trying to bring me to an informal event.
I arrived there at nine on Saturday after taking a two-and-a-half-hour train ride from Kyoto. I was still sleepy, so all I did during the journey was sleep; my schedule hadn't ended until two in the morning. Today was going to be a long day since I would be working until night as well. I had no idea what event was planned for Sunday, but I wasn't scheduled to return to Kyoto until Monday afternoon.
The driver picked me up at the station and took me to his house. Saturday wasn't a workday. This was a house visit and an informal lunch.
I arrived at his house in Minato-ku. The modern-style home was beautiful and surrounded by lush greenery.
"Good afternoon, Kanna-san. I'm Kento Kanagawa, the head administrator. I'll show you to your room." He bowed as he introduced himself, then helped another woman carry my bags and suitcase to the second floor.
"Mr. Hisao said you could take your time to rest and get ready. He'll be waiting for you in the living room at eleven-thirty." Thank goodness. I had time to do something about my dark circles.
"Have you eaten, miss? There's food available in the dining room. But if you'd rather eat in your room, Nanao can bring it to you."
"Oh, could you bring me a little onigiri at ten? I'd like not to be disturbed for a while."
"Understood, miss. I'll come back at ten." Nanao immediately understood my request. She left after telling me about everything provided in my room.
I could use the time to get ready. I showered and applied something to help with my dark circles. By eleven, I was ready to meet Hisao.
"Hisao-san, it's nice to see you again."
"Kanna-san, are you ready? Lunch will be casual, just with friends at my level." He looked bright and cheerful today.
"Yes, Mayumi-san told me."
"How was your trip?" He seemed to be in a good mood and wasn't trying to make me angry today. He wasn't acting arrogant anymore. Usually, he came across as an important person who liked showing everyone how powerful he was.
"It was fine. I arrived at nine."
"You were still working last night."
"My schedule was the usual." He nodded. Why was he being so nice all of a sudden?
"Hmm, Kanna-san... How about we just be friends today? I don't want to seem too arrogant in front of my friends our age, so don't introduce yourself as my companion. Let's just act like we're close friends, but of course, we're not dating. Can I ask you to do that?"
"Oh, all right. I don't have a problem with that." He was asking politely and explaining himself properly this time. Usually, he gave orders like some stiff boss.
"All right, let's go." Even the bodyguards following him had changed into ordinary clothes, as if they didn't want to be seen as bodyguards.
He explained who we would be meeting and emphasized that this was a gathering of friends and peers. He didn't want to look ostentatious.
"Hisao-san, are there meetings on Sunday and Monday? With whom? Informal meetings?"
"Oh, no. Consider it paid time off. You can go wherever you want. I'll be meeting my uncle tomorrow, so I won't be home from the afternoon onward. And Monday is a workday, so you can go wherever you like..."
"Paid time off?"
"Hmm..." He didn't look at me. He was playing with the phone in his hand.
"You know my okiya is going to charge you for that, right?"
"I know. It's fine." Again, he answered me without looking up. Why had he suddenly started being so nice to me? Was he trying to find a way to get my attention? I immediately started wondering what his real motive was.
"I can't accept this... You don't have to do it. I'll pay you back." He let out a long sigh and looked at me.
"Kanna-san, just consider it a bonus I'm paying out of my own pocket. My grandfather paid your okiya yesterday, and what I'm paying now is my share. I don't have any ulterior motive. It's a token of my appreciation for you. Go wherever you want; you don't have any schedule with me. If you accept my kindness, all you have to do is say thank you. We're not arguing about this anymore..."
After saying that, he sighed again. "Why is your pride so damn high?" He was irritated now. Maybe I had gone too far.
"I'm sorry..." He didn't answer right away.
"Please forgive my rudeness, Hisao-san." I bowed to him. I felt like I'd offended him.
"Forget it. Next time, don't reject someone's gift so rudely. Was I awful to you last week? I'm sorry too. Are we done now? Peace?" He extended his hand to shake mine.
"All right, peace..." I smiled a little.
"I can finally see your real smile."
"My real smile?" I looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"Yeah. Usually, you only put on that fake smile for me." I laughed. Well, it was his own fault for being so annoying.
"I'm sorry..."
"You usually apologize too, but you still curse me out in your head." I pressed my lips together to hold back a smile.
"I don't do that. That's just how it feels to you, Hisao-san." He only glanced at me with an unbelieving look.
I sat quietly beside him afterward. Fine, I would just assume he was being kind. It would make our work go more smoothly. It really was exhausting, having to hide our irritation from each other every time we met, wasn't it?
"I'm lucky to have your help. After our first meeting, I admit that bringing you along as my companion has been a huge help. Like my grandfather said, having your assistance is an honor. Thank you, Kanna-san."
I looked at him. I never expected someone as arrogant as him to say something like that.
"I'll do my best not to disappoint you, Hisao-san. Thank you for the time off."
Now he was smiling at me again.
"That's better. We're friends now, right?"
"Hmm. Friends. All right."
"As my friend, you don't have to keep up that polite attitude anymore. If you're angry or disagree with me, just say so."
"I can do that?"
"Of course. I'd much rather have you yelling at me than smiling at me while secretly plotting to kill me."
I burst out laughing at the sharpness of his words.
"Fine. Don't regret asking me to be like that."
I thought maybe we really could be friends now.