Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 170

 The morning of a maid is early.

 "...!!"

 Her body, already accustomed to waking up at a fixed time, was awake even earlier than usual. The maid, who served the Hotoya family, got up with a somewhat sulky expression. She rubbed her eyes to clear her mind.

 "Face..."

 She washed her face with the water from the water bottle she had prepared the night before. She brushed her teeth. She stretched her shoulders and neck to loosen up her stiff muscles. She got her blood flowing again after a night of stagnation.

 "Clothes and hair too, I suppose."

 She changed from her nightclothes to her work clothes, and then styled her hair. She also did some light makeup while looking in the mirror. This took her about half an hour. As a maid of the Hotoya family, she couldn't afford to look sloppy. Even if the masters laughed it off, it was a matter of etiquette.

 "However..."

 She had more time than usual, but she couldn't start work early. No, that would earn her a scolding. It wasn't just her own work, after all. Onitsuki and Oumi's maids, as well as the laborers, would gossip about her. And if she were to rush her master, that would be even worse. Someone who couldn't read the atmosphere would be ostracized.

 "...I'm troubled."

 She was at a loss, not knowing what to do. Hmm, was there something she should be doing in secret? No, she was diligent. She had already done all the necessary work beforehand. So, how should she kill time....

 "..."

 She took out a letter from her luggage. She carefully unfolded the single sheet of paper and read its contents over and over again. As she read, she smiled....

 "Hehe."

 "What are you looking at?"

 "Eh? Kyaaaah?"

 Suzune, who had been suddenly called out to, turned around to see a face right in front of her. It took her a moment to realize it was her friend.

 "Iruka, what time did you come in?"

 "Just now?"

 The wolf girl pointed with a carefree gesture. At some point, the shouji paper door had opened without making a sound. It was as if she had used her half-youkai physical abilities to move stealthily.

 "~~~~! At least call out before entering!! What if something important is happening inside?!!?"

 "What were you doing?"

 "What are you talking about!!?"

 Suzune retorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm, as Iruka poked her head into the room. Iruka let out a pained "Ow!" as Suzune's hand came close to her head. Suzune had seen through Iruka's overreaction, knowing that the girl was prone to exaggerating. A simple slap from a normal person wouldn't even leave a scratch.

 "You're really bad at this, Suzune... If you don't take jokes, men will look down on you. If you're not used to playing around, they'll think you're easy woman."

 "I don't plan on getting used to it, and I don't have that kind of money from men anyway!!"

 Suzune cut her off sharply, without hesitation. She wasn't bluffing. As a matter of fact, Suzune sent most of her part-time job earnings back to her family, and only kept a small amount for emergencies. From her childhood experiences, Suzune had developed a negative view of using money for leisure.