Chapter 16

"Kitahara... Izumi..." she said while she looks at me with a dazed expression.

"Oh if you already know me then there is no introduction required. What's your name Shinomiya's maid?" I asked.

"..." She didn't say anything, just looking at me thinking about something.

"Hello?" I said as I wave my hand in front of her eyes.

"Oh! What?" She said.

"I asked what is your name, Shinomiya's maid?" I asked again looking at her

"You know my mistress?" She asked back

"Well, we just became a friend not too long ago," I answered with a shrug

"I see... My name is Hayasaka Ai." She said

"Then Hayasaka-san, why are you sitting alone in an empty park with a sad and lonely looking face? Did something happen?" I asked with a concerned tone.

".....No. I just sit here looking at the sunset." She thought a bit before answered.

"Hee...You aren't good at lying," I said. No, Hayasaka Ai is extremely good at hiding her emotion, lying, or acting. Like in the story. She's even capable to become a completely different character than she essentially is to fool Miyuki and Chika. But, she can't conceal her sorrowful eyes from me. Her eyes looking at me like its seeking someone help, there is also guilt feeling mixed in there.

"I-I wasn't lying." She said.

"Okay then, can I sit here? You look like you need a company." I said.

"You can do as you want," she said then I sat beside her.

We look at the sunset in silence for some time. To be honest, usually at a time like this I just directly talk to anyone, but this time it seems she requires a silence company for a bit. This continues until the sun switched to the moon.

"I'm here if you need someone to talk. Maybe talking about your problem to someone can make you at least ease down your heart a bit?" I told her.

"No.. There isn't any problem." She said still not saying anything just continues looking at the nonexistent sun that has switched its place with the moon.

"..."

The silence continues for some time before I can't stand it, because if she didn't say it, I can't help her directly. Therefore, I decided to take any action that I knew I am capable of. For the sake of reaching someone's heart.

"*sigh* You come with me then" I stand up and seized her hand then started walking back to my ryokan

"W-wha-? W-where are we going?" She asked

"To my ryokan," I replied without looking back.

Maybe because she knew me, she didn't resist my hand at all, she just lets me take her and brought her to the Grand Piano room. At a time like this, piano is a very good Instrument to touch people's hearts. I think I can trust my skills at least that much because even I feel touched by my play. While I was thinking we arrived at Grand Piano room in no time.

"You sit here, I will perform a song for you," I said as I tell her to sit right beside me when I play.

She didn't say anything, just sat right beside me as I said. The song that I will play this time also one of the songs that I like the most, Claire de Lune. Fortunately, there aren't any people at this time as usually as they're taking a bath or chilling in their room waiting for dinner.

As I press the key after key, beautiful sounds coming out from the piano making a harmonious melody that gradually reaching the heart of someone. Under the light of the moon, Hayasaka, who cannot hold back her emotion this time, crying soundlessly on my shoulders. She probably is reminiscing about her past and her mistake. Hearing her cry I continue to press key after key until the song finished.

After the song finished, we stay like that for some time. I just let her calm herself first before talking to her. Before I can talk, Hayasaka talks to me first.

"Kitahara-san, can you walk outside with me?" She said while looking at me with the trace of tears that haven't gone yet.

"Sure thing," I said subsequently Hayasaka stood up and slowly walk outside. I went following her, then we walked side by side slowly on the empty street without aim.

"I love my mistress. But I betrayed her."

She talked to me about her past, how she was born to be a servant of Shinomiya's household. About how she loves her mistress as a sister, and about a betrayal that she made to her mistress.

"In the end, I'm just a coward..." She said.

"Do you know a story about the cowardly bird?" I look at her and asked.

"I don't..." She answered looking at me seriously

"Well me too."

"..." She looked at me with 'Are you an idiot?' face

"Haha, don't look at me like that. Just trying to lighten the atmosphere. Okay, I listened to your story, yes you're a coward Hayasaka. But it can't be helped, a child mind isn't that hard to scare after all. The fact that you're here right now talking with me about your problem means you possess the will to overcome your cowardliness and finally able to talk with your mistress without feeling guilty. Right now, I ask you Hayasaka Ai, what do you want to do?" I put my hands on her shoulders and said while looking directly into her eyes.

"I want to.. be a normal friend of my mistress..." Hayasaka said quietly.

"Say it loudly Ai!" I said as I unconsciously call her with her first name.

"I want to be a normal friend of my mistress, talking with her without guilt, I want to be just Hayasaka Ai, not the private maid of Shinomiya Kaguya!" This time she shouts her wish loudly.

"Good, there you go. The proof that you are not a coward. Listen Ai, no one is perfect in this world, so there is no fault in fear. The only fault is someone who didn't think or do anything with fear as reason, that's what I called a coward."

"But... what if it doesn't work... what if in the end, I cannot achieve what I wish to do..."

"That's not a problem... Because I will be there for you."

"..." Ai looked at me with dazed eyes. Her emotionless eyes gradually regain its light, then tears slowly coming out from her eyes. Without hesitation I hug her lightly, so she can cry on my shoulder.

"Can I...depend on you?" She asked looking at me with tears in her eyes. And she places her hands on my back to respond to the hug.

"Anytime you want, Ai," I answered as I look at her with a gentle smile as I gently wipe her the tears from her mesmerizing eyes.