01x01 - The Perfect Young Lady

[bunniefuu]

It's huge.

So this is Kiou Gakuin.

It's one of the three
best schools in Japan.

A lot of kids from
rich families attend here,

and its graduates include some of the
most important people in the country,

from prime ministers to the
heads of huge companies.

Konohana-san!

Konohana-san, good morning!

Good morning to you.

Konohana-san is always so beautiful.

Yes, she's so dignified!

She really is a different person.

What's the matter, Tomonari-kun?

Uh, nothing... It's fine.

Then shall we proceed?

S-Sure.

Who's that?

Does Konohana-san know him?

Before yesterday, I never would've
dreamed of being part of this world...

Hey, Tomonari!

You're free to go now.

Yes, sir!

This is your last day, right?

Your pay's already in your account.

Thank you, sir!

I appreciate the opportunity!

Well done, kid!

He looked a bit scrawny,
but he's really got spirit.

Yeah, he's been taking on multiple
jobs, working morning 'til night...

But why? Isn't he in high school?

Apparently he has to pay his own tuition.

My parents were drinkers and gamblers,

so I'd always lived in poverty.

But I always managed to make it work...

Until that day.

I'm back!

Wow, they're both still asleep?

Sheesh, I heard them sneak out last night.

Wonder where they went
drinking this time...

What's this?

- SEE YA

- "See ya."

Man... that's a weird thing
to hear from your parents.

My bankbook!

No...

It's gone.

See ya!

You're kidding me...

They were broke enough
to decide to skip town?

The two hundred yen in my pocket...

This is all the money I've got.

I've got to eat something.

But what will I do from now on?

Oh, really?

- I'd love to use your products
for my father's company!

- Those uniforms...

- They're from the big school on the hill.

- Of course, please do!

- My opening ceremony's tomorrow too.

- Great!

But I guess I won't make it now.

I was so honored to get to walk
with you today, Konohana-san.

Not at all. I'll see you tomorrow.

Of course! Good day to you.

Good day to you.

It's like a totally different world.

A student ID?

Kiou Gakuin?

It's that girl...

Excuse me!

You dropped this!

Get her in the van! Now!

W-Wait a minute!

Who the hell're you?

Uh, I really don't think my parents
will be able to pay a ransom.

Shut up! We didn't come for you!

My parents ran out on me.
Now I'm caught up in a kidnapping.

What'd I do in my
past life to deserve this?!

- KONOHANA HINAKO

- Hey, she's from the Konohana family!

Awesome! We're in luck, boss!

That's the best target we could've landed!

Best in Japan!

Look, she's the Konohana Group heiress!

Konohana?

Modern-day princesses really do exist.

She's as poised as she is pretty.

Hey.

I gotta pee.

Well, it's a scary situation.

She's probably pretty shaken, right?

Even modern-day princesses
are still human!

I'm gonna pee myself.

Hold it in! For my sake too!

Gonna pee myself.

Excuse me! The lady here
has something to say!

You better not try nothin'.

All emptied out.

We didn't need to hear that!

She's not at all the person
I thought she was at first...

Hey boss, is this girl even rich?

She seems kinda...

Hey.

What now?!

I demand tea and sweets.

She's unflappable!

Here, have some water!

I asked for tea.

Forget this!
You look after the little brat!

Why me?!

Why are you spilling so much?!

I'm not used to drinking
out of plastic bottles.

That's like a problem on
a whole other level...

Here, I'll help you. Hand it over.

You won't steal it?

Of course not! Jeez, you're annoying!

There's a puddle on the ground there,

so can you come over this way?

That hurt.

How'd you manage to trip over nothing?

Can you get up?

Let's have a look.

Okay, you just scraped it a little.

You don't want to get bacteria in it,
though, so try to avoid touching it.

- TASTY WATER

- Hey. Why'd they take you too?

Oh, right...

Did you drop this?

Oh, my student ID.

Help should come any minute now.

What do you mean?

Sleepy time.

Wh-What now?

Just sleep if you want!

Need a pillow.

Man, I've never had a girl this
pretty ask me for help...

Though it's hard to feel too thrilled
when she's acting this goofy.

Go ahead.

It's a good height.

Hey.

I want a lullaby.

Sorry, I don't know any.

Then tell me a funny story.

She's so demanding!

Team C here. We'll arrive
at the location soon.

Copy that.

Hold off until you receive orders.

Cut the crap!

How many times do I have to tell ya?!

Quit givin' me the runaround!

Somehow, she's fast asleep.

She's in her own little world.

But it's also helped me to
keep calm despite everything.

You probably shouldn't drool, though.

Sorry, did I wake you?

I'm fine.

Get a grip already!

I want an answer now, or I'll
start roughing up the girl!

Don't worry.

I can be a decent shield
if it comes to it.

Why would you do that?

Well, because...

SEE YA

With such a dark future ahead of me,
I can at least help someone out...

That's what I really need right now.

I'm not really sure.

You're good.

You're comfortable.

You smell like a futon
after it's been dried.

Is that a compliment?

I've had lots of caretakers,

but they were all really uptight.

But you're chill around me,

which lets me be chill too.

I like it.

What's your name?

Tomonari Itsuki.

Okay.

I'm Konohana Hinako.

You are going to be my—

All forces, charge!

Two culprits secured!

How'd you know we were here?!

Hang on!

I'm a victim!

Acting Commander!

We've neutralized a third!

Third?

The advance team said there
were only two kidnappers.

A m-maid?

Shizune.

He's not a kidnapper.

He isn't?

Are you all right, milady?

Yes.

I apologize for
the lateness of our rescue.

But you really must tell me
when you wish to go outside.

It's too annoying to do that.

And that's how you get yourself kidnapped.

Now, let us leave the aftermath
to Konohana family security

and return home.

Hey, Shizune.

I want this guy.

As you wish.

I will make all the arrangements promptly.

Arrangements?

I see.

Um, do you mind if I ask
where you're taking me?

There is someone to whom you must speak.

Your background check is complete.

Tomonari Itsuki, sixteen years old.

No siblings. Both parents living.

A respectable person, earning your own
tuition despite your family's poverty.

But last night, your parents ran
off with the money you earned,

leaving you in a hopeless position.

H-How'd you know all that?

Do not underestimate the
House Konohana network.

You would have begun your second
year at Ryugu High tomorrow,

but you have not paid the tuition.

Yeah... I won't be able
to go to school after all.

You appear to owe back payments on
your rent and utilities as well.

I'm gonna lose my house!

Thus, I wish to offer a proposal.

Will you work for her ladyship?

Y-You mean...

As a maid?

No.

A butler would be
a possibility, of course,

but that is also not the case.

H-Hey...

Incidentally, if you do anything
inappropriate with her ladyship...

I'm chopping it off.

Chopping...

Your employer will explain the
particulars of the job later,

but we would like you to
serve as her caretaker.

We have arrived, milady.

This is...

The Kohohana family's second home.

S-Second home?

Makes my place look like a doghouse!

Welcome home, milady.

The Konohana Group is a conglomerate
with a variety of holdings,

from municipal banks to trading companies.

Its net worth is approximately


Her ladyship is the sole daughter
of the Konohana family,

and this house is her primary residence.

What is it?

Um, it's just...

It's so different from anything
I've known. I got goosebumps.

I suggest you adapt.

Once you begin to work for her ladyship,

you'll be seeing this every day.

I-I haven't agreed to that yet, though...

Pardon us.

You're Itsuki-kun, then?

Y-Yes, sir.

I'm glad that both you
and Hinako are safe.

I am Konohana Kagen,

Hinako's father and head
of the Konohana Group.

I see.

She does seem comfortable with you.

She fell asleep on her feet!

For her to warm up so thoroughly
to someone she's just met...

It appears my daughter's found
the caretaker she's been after.

Um, what exactly is a "caretaker"?

To explain that, I'll need to
tell you more about Hinako.

Shizune.

Sir.

A movie? Is that Kiou Gakuin?

Good day to you.

I've finished.

Who's that?!

It is Hinako-sama.

That, too, is Hinako-sama.

No freaking way!

Hinako is capable of playing
the perfect lady around others.

But at the same time...

M-Milady, your next class
is in another room...

Pass. I'm sleepy.

Milady?!

It appears this is more
like the Hinako you know.

Yes, this is the true Hinako.

- Milady, please get up!

- When no one's around, she
reverts to this state.

Milady, please, you have to get changed!

Milady!

Milady!

This was her last caretaker.

The other day, she was hospitalized
with a stress ulcer,

and submitted her
resignation shortly after.

Hinako's caretaker must support
Hinako from the shadows,

ensuring that her slovenly side
is never revealed to the world.

Well?
I would very much appreciate your aid.

U-Um...

I'm getting paid, right?

Of course. You'll be given
lodging and three meals a day.

And you'll be paid 20,000 yen per day.

Twenty thousand?!

Not enough? What about 50,000, then?

Y-You've got it backwards!

Normally I'd expect more
like 8,000 per day...

Itsuki-kun.

The duties of a caretaker are far
beyond what you are imagining.

Do you know why Hinako must present
the image of a perfect lady to the world?

To find her the best husband possible.

Additionally, the Konohana Group
has been struggling lately.

We're dealing with complicated problems,

from power struggles within the group
to pressure from rival companies.

It's of the utmost importance
that my daughter marry well.

Her performance must be perfectly
maintained at school and society parties,

and her caretaker must enable that.

In other words, it's a crucial job for
maintaining the Konohana Family brand.

Itsuki-kun.

You may name your price.

He wants to know how determined I am.

I request 20,000 yen.

Very well.

You'll begin work tomorrow.

Tomorrow?!

Without a caretaker,

Hinako will get lost inside her own house.

Shizune, you handle the rest.

Yes, sir.

Oh, and if you do
anything to my daughter...

Y-You'll chop it off, right?

Chop it off?

I wouldn't dream of such a thing.

I'll just m*rder you.

This is your room, Itsuki-san.

I've stocked your uniforms.

Please test the size later.

My servant's uniform?

No.

Your Kiou Gakuin uniform.

You want me to attend Kiou Gakuin?

Yes. Her ladyship attends that school,

and I believe you're in the same year.

Um, but I'm kind of a commoner...

This is your transcript.

The heir to an IT company?

It's not a background that will
be particularly noteworthy there.

To better maintain the ruse,

it's not one of Konohana
Group's direct holdings,

but an affiliate.

Um, b-but...

The classes there are pretty tough, right?

Are you sure I can keep up?

You got excellent grades, did you not?

I assume you are studious.

But...

Are you nervous?

That is what I'm there for.

I've failed to introduce myself.

My name is Tsurumi Shizune.
I am her ladyship's maid.

I will instruct you
in your caretaker duties.

It is a pleasure
to make your acquaintance.

R-Right...

Let us begin with the caretaker manuals.

So thick!

And your textbooks and reference books.

So heavy!

Every day henceforth,

you will spend your time until dinner
preparing for the next day's lesson.

And not just academics.

You will learn manners, comportment,

and self-defense.

Self-defense?

Oh? Does that frighten you?

N-No, I've done plenty of physical labor.

I'm pretty strong, at least.

Then, after your lessons, we
will see what you can do.

Don't underestimate a working student!

I failed. Forgive me. I don't wanna die.

I see.

We'll conclude for the day, then.

Well done.

M-Much appreciated...

What a crazy day.

H-Hinako...sama.

What are you doing here?!

That's my bed!

Caretaker's bed is my bed.

Right. The caretaker manual...

Let's see, where is it...

Wanna walk to school together tomorrow?

Crap. I never had time to tell Yuri.

If you don't wanna, it's fine.

I'll walk with someone else!

How do I explain this?

C'mon, don't leave me on read!

Some stuff happened,

and I'm not gonna be able
to go to school there.

Huh? Can you take a call?

INCOMING CALL
YURI

Sorry, I'm tired. Another time, maybe?

Why aren't you picking up?

Hey.

Hey?!

Hey.

You're awake, miss?

Who's that?

Ah, a childhood friend who
attends my school, that's all.

Confiscated.

Now things will be quiet.

Quiet?

I really must ask for that back.

No.

I can't do without it. I'm asking
that you please give it back!

Hate you talking that way.

Go back to normal.

But Shizune-san told me to
speak more appropriately.

Go back to normal, or I'm keeping it.

Okay, how 'bout this?

That's better.

Itsuki...

What now?

See you tomorrow.

R-Right!

But seriously, don't sleep there!

Hey, that's my bed!