“Ah, Kent, good morning.”
“Good morning, Catherine.”
Since there was a little time before I had to get up, I decided to let Marie and Hanako sleep a little longer. Kent crawled out of bed, got changed, and then went to the living room. Catherine was already awake and preparing breakfast in the adjoining dining kitchen. Seeing Kent, she greeted him with a smile.
“I’m sorry to have you prepare breakfast by yourself. I’ll help too.”
“Really? In that case, I’ll take you up on that. Kent, could you prepare the drinks?”
“No problem.”
Kent began preparing breakfast with Catherine in the kitchen.
“Come to think of it, I’ve been curious about it for a while, but that black object hasn’t been on the table recently, has it?”
“Are you picking a fight with me? When I think about it now, it was so bad that I don’t know how I used to put such a thing on the table. That’s a dark chapter in my past.”
In the past, Catherine’s home-cooked meals always featured a large plate with a mysterious black object on it. Everyone would share and eat it. Remembering it now, Kent felt a sense of nostalgia for that dish.
“Is that so? It might not have looked great, but it was quite delicious, wasn’t it?”
“I don’t know if you’re complimenting me or not, but if you really think so, I’ll consider it.”
Catherine’s black object looked terrible, but its taste was acceptable. Catherine pondered for a moment, and since it was Kent’s request, she started thinking that she might try making it again.
“Mm, good morning.”
“Good morning, Hanako.”
“Oh, good morning, Hanako.”
As the two of them were preparing breakfast, Hanako woke up. She had none of the captivating beauty from last night, rubbing her sleepy eyes with her usual expressionless face. However, Kent remembered last night and his greeting became a little awkward.
“Hanako, you seem to be in a good mood today. Did something happen?”
“Mm, it did.”
Catherine said, looking at Hanako’s face. To Kent, it looked like her usual expressionless face, but Catherine could tell the difference. Hanako simply replied that something had happened to Catherine.
“I see, I see. I’m preparing breakfast now, so please sit down and wait.”
“Mm, got it. I’ll wait.”
Catherine looked satisfied, said that to Hanako, and returned to her work.
“Fffaaah, Kent, Al, I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I couldn’t wake up today.”
After finishing breakfast preparations, I tried to wake Marie in Kent’s room, but she resisted more than usual and wouldn’t wake up. Kent, Catherine, Hanako, and Al joined forces, and they finally managed to wake her. When they tried to wake her, Marie unexpectedly entered Kent and Al’s space, hugged them tightly, and knocked them out. Kent and Al lay on the floor.
“M-Master, I can’t anymore. M-My back…”
“M-Me too! My back is killing me!”
“Yes, yes, don’t lie on the floor forever, we don’t have time, so let’s eat breakfast quickly.”
Aided by Catherine, Kent somehow managed to reach a chair in the dining kitchen.
“Kent, you were late yesterday, weren’t you? I was waiting up, but I must have fallen asleep without realizing it?”
“Huh?”
With the back pain subsided, everyone except Al started eating breakfast when Marie said that. From Kent’s memory, he had been seen in the bathroom last night. Judging by Marie’s way of speaking, it seemed that part of her memory was completely gone.
“M-Mom’s snoring could be heard in my room. You must have been very tired.”
Catherine said, as if trying to cover something up.
“Hey, Hanako. Did you alter my memory again?”
“Mm, I don’t recall.”
“Catherine, did you say something?”
“N-No, I didn’t say anything?”
Catherine and Hanako were conversing in low voices when Kent asked, but Catherine denied it with a flustered expression, saying she hadn’t said anything.
“Oh, right. Kent, I know it’s not the best time to talk about work, but for the event report for store number 2, which concluded yesterday, please do it when you have time.”
“Understood. I’ll try to get it done as soon as possible.”
Marie said to Kent as if she had just remembered. It seemed that the decision for what to do next year would be made based on this report.
(I need to create a report that will satisfy Marie.)
Kent thought this as he brought the food on the table to his mouth.
“Good morning, everyone. Let’s start the morning meeting.”
After breakfast, everyone moved to the store and began preparations for opening. Once the preparations were complete, they gathered and started the morning meeting. Today, all of the current store number 1 employees were present: Kent, Marie, Catherine, Rachel, Josette, Elnet, Caro, Patty, Emily, Al, and Hanako.
“First, the event held at store number 2 until yesterday has concluded successfully. We will evaluate it after Kent submits his report. Thank you all for your cooperation as help for this event.”
“Josette, Patty, and I couldn’t help due to circumstances. I apologize.”
Marie said her thanks, and Elnet, who couldn’t help this time, spoke up.
“That’s understandable. Elnet and Josette have been promoting our products for a long time, and regarding Patty, considering future prospects…”
Marie thought it was unavoidable that they couldn’t help. Elnet and Josette were generally not supposed to help at store number 2. This was because they were promoting products at party venues frequented by aristocrats, and there was a risk of an accidental encounter at store number 2. If they were rumored to be staging an act, it could affect the store’s credibility. As for Patty, it was Catherine’s decision that it would be better not to have her work at a store frequented by many aristocrats, considering future implications. Therefore, these three were ultimately excluded from being dispatched for this event.
“Also, regarding store number 2, although the event is over, it seems like help will be needed for a few more days. I don’t know the trends of the aristocrats, but there are knowledgeable people here, so I will incorporate their opinions. Therefore, Rachel, the store manager, please do your best at store number 2 for a little longer.”
Marie ordered Rachel to continue working at store number 2.
“Eh, then, can I bring Older brother too?”
“That’s not allowed. For the past few days, Elnet and Josette have been in a bad mood because Kent isn’t here.”
Rachel tried to bring Kent along to help, but Marie refused.
“W-Well, I’m not, I’m not in a bad mood at all.”
“T-That’s right. Even without Kent…”
“Oh really? Elnet, I believe you broke three, ah, and Josette, two?”
“Ugh!”
Elnet and Josette claimed they weren’t bothered, but when Marie mentioned a number, they suddenly fell silent.
“They seemed irritated because Master wasn’t here, so they broke plates.”
“Hey, Al, don’t say unnecessary things!”
“Ah, Al, that’s not true!”
Al whispered to Kent. Hearing this, Elnet and Josette denied it, but Kent thought it was true based on their flustered reactions.
“Well then, I’ll go with Rachel.”
“Really? I’m sorry to trouble you. Can I ask you to do that?”
“Y-Yes, understood… ucks.”
Believing that the conversation wouldn’t progress if it continued like this, Caro volunteered to go to store number 2.
“Since we also have preparations for store number 2, we’ll be leaving first.”
“Please count on us.”
Although the meeting was still in progress, Caro seemed to be thinking about the opening preparations for store number 2 and intended to leave immediately. Marie didn’t stop her and seemed to be seeing them off.
“No, I want to stay with Older brother too.”
“Alright, alright, we’ll go without any fuss.”
Caro grabbed Rachel, who was reluctant, by the scruff of her neck and dragged her out of the store.
“Rachel really seemed to want to be with Kent.”
“It appears so. Seeing that, I feel a little bad for Rachel.”
Josette and Elnet, the sisters, said while looking at the door that had shut with a click.
I had intended to post according to the season, but I couldn’t write as much as I expected, so this is my last post for the year. The continuation will be after the new year.
