Ring-ring, ring-ring.

The sound of a phone ringing comes from a distance.

“Mmm...”

Ring-ring, click.

I stretched my hand out from under the futon on the bed and fumbled for the receiver.

“Hello...”

“Good morning, Miki-sama.”

“Y-yes, good morning...”

“Are you awake?”

“Yes, I’m awake.” ← Is that weird?

Actually, I’m terribly bad at waking up. My head always stays fuzzy for a while.

“Well then, breakfast is ready, so please come to the dining room.”

A gentle voice came from the other end of the line. What a difference from my mom!

“Okay. Huh? Where’s Midori-san?”

“Lady Midori is currently taking a bath. Would Miki-sama also care to?”

“Umm... I-I’m fine, thank you.”

It’s not like we’re at a hot spring inn. Normally, people don’t take a bath in the morning~!

“Is that so? Then we shall await you in the dining room.”

That’s right, I stayed over at Midori-san’s house yesterday, didn’t I? But she really is a young lady. A marble bath in the morning, huh?

It took me a while to get into the unfamiliar uniform, and when I went down to the first-floor dining room, Midori-san had already finished her bath, gotten changed, and was waiting.

“Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?”

“Not at all. More importantly, were you able to rest well yesterday?”

No, I couldn’t sleep till dawn because of you! I screamed that in my heart while smiling brightly and saying, “Yes, like a log.”

“Really, I’m glad. Then, how about you just stay over forever?”

Yikes, what is she saying!

“No, I couldn’t possibly...”

“I see, too bad. But about four days a week would be okay, right?”

“Ahaha.”

“Hohoho.”

Haa~ This young lady seriously means it.

“Now, young ladies, if you don’t finish your meal quickly, you’ll be late for school.”

“Yes. Well then, Miki-san, please help yourself to whatever you like.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Wow. So a young lady eats such luxurious food even from the morning.

Eating just a little of something delicious—I guess this is what real luxury is.

Now, after finishing that gorgeous meal and waiting in the living room, yesterday’s Rolls-Royce pulled up silently to the porte-cochère.

“The car is here. Now, let’s go.”

“Right.”

Hey hey, is it really okay to live like this from such a young age?

If I hadn’t taken that drug, I would never have known this world. This world really is unfair.

“Now, Miki-sama, please.”

And on top of that, the elderly butler even opens the car door for me.

I’d never even considered there was a difference between men and women in how you get into a car, but so as not to give myself away, I imitated Midori-san and elegantly lowered myself onto the seat.

“Takase-san, please take us.”

“Certainly, young lady.”

Even the chauffeur seems like such a refined person...

As expected of a world-class luxury car. After just five minutes, the wonderful ride lulled me completely to sleep, and just as I was starting to doze off, Midori-san asked me a question.

“By the way, whereabouts is your house, Miki?”

“Hmm? Ah, going straight down the Coastal Road, there are those three big pine trees, right?”

“Ah, near the family restaurant?”

“Yeah, that’s the spot. About 100 meters after turning right at that intersection.”

“Hmm.”

“Ah, it’s a small house, so you probably wouldn’t notice it.”

I never imagined at the time that telling her my house’s location would lead to such a situation.

The car then turned right at an intersection midway, entered through the back gate of Fujimigaoka Junior High, went around, and stopped in front of the entrance (on the staff room side).

Immediately, the chauffeur, Takase-san, opened the door.

Honestly, it would be quicker if I opened it and got out myself, though.

This must be what upper-class life is like.

And the second day of school passed peacefully and boringly, with no P.E. class where I could shine, and before I knew it, it was after school.

Alright, I didn’t sleep well yesterday, so I’ll just go home quickly and sleep.

Thinking that, I changed my shoes and started walking toward the main gate when—

“Mikiiii!!”

From far away, Midori-san came running at full speed.

“Midori-san. What’s wrong? In such a panic.”

“Haa, haa. I mean... leaving without telling me... haa, haa... that’s so mean... wheeze... don’t you think?”

“Huh? Did we have some kind of plan?”

“Haa, haa. I had been thinking of making one just now!”

Ugh... Please give me a break today.

“But, I have something to do today.”

“What kind?”

Hey, hey, do I have to divulge that much to someone else?!

“I’m supposed to go shopping with my mother.”

Well, that reason should work. Please let me off the hook quickly.

“W-well, if that’s the case, it can’t be helped.”

Whew. Thank goodness.

This young lady is surprisingly good at giving up.

“Well then. Goodbye. I truly had fun yesterday.”

“Goodbye.”

At that moment, I hadn’t the slightest inkling that Midori-san’s eyes, fixed on my retreating figure, had glinted sharply.

Now then, I’m getting a little used to wearing this uniform, so maybe I really will do some shopping on the way home.

It’s a pain, but I need girls’ underwear, clothes, and such.

I thought Mom had gotten me a pretty good amount of clothes, but looking closely, they were all way too cute and unwearable for everyday use.

* * *

From the bus stop in front of the school, I got on a bus heading to Fujimigaoka Station, the opposite direction from home.

It takes just over ten minutes from here to the station, so it’s relatively convenient.

In front of the station, there’s a big department store that opened about two years ago, and around the station there are some pretty famous boutiques.

Making sure I didn’t walk like a guy, I looked through the windows and searched for clothes that might suit me.

“Hey, you there, young lady. Just a moment.”

Hmm? Me?

I turned around to see a man standing there who looked the very picture of a “woman’s enemy.”

Whoa, talk about a bad vibe!

“Wh-what is it?”

“Excuse me, do you have a moment?”

“Well, I’m in the middle of shopping...”

“Ah, I won’t take up your time. Just five minutes. That’s okay, right?”

This kind of thing is the most dangerous, I hear!

“No, I’m sorry, I can’t.”

“I see. Well then, at least let me give you my card. Here, this is the contact info for our production company. If you ever want to become an idol, give them a call here.”

Looking at the business card I’d been handed, it bore the name of a fairly famous agency in show business.

‘No way. That was a scouting? Ah~ could I actually be pretty cute?’

In the end, I bought a plain one-piece dress and some socks and went home that day.

* * *

Since I’d never bought girls’ clothes before, I was incredibly drained mentally, and I was slouched on the sofa watching TV when—

Ding-dong. Ding-dong. The doorbell suddenly rang.

“Com~ing!”

Mom hurried to the front door.

Who could it be at this hour?

Pitter-patter, pitter-patter.

Mom came back at a surprisingly quick pace.

“Miki. It’s your friend. She says she’s Kanzaki-san.”

Urgh, Midori-san. How on earth did she figure out where I live?

A-and what’s she here for?

“Tee-hee. Miki-san. I came over.”

“‘Came over’... What for?”

“Ehh— That’s so mean. I came all this way to stay over.”

Saying that, Midori-san had a large bag in her hand...

“Wh-what did you say?” I found my words slipping.

“See, yesterday was at my house, so today it’s your place’s turn!”

“Turn... B-but our house isn’t big like your house.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that.”

You might not worry, but we sure do!

“That’s right, Miki-chan. She let you stay over yesterday, didn’t she? So it’s only right she stays over at our place today.”

“M-Mom...”

Wh-what are you saying!

“Please, come in, come in. It’s a small house, but please stay the night.”

“Wait just a...”

“Thank you very much, Auntie.”

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Looks like I won’t be sleeping again tonight!