Epilogue
"I want to go to the beach! I want to, I want to—!"
The words burst out in the student council room, on an afternoon that strongly signaled the arrival of summer.
Flinging open the sliding door, Yuika pleaded with the rest of us who had arrived earlier.
"That sounds fun, but midterms are approaching, so we need to focus on reviewing."
"Exams are one thing, but aren't you Senpais all dealing with open campuses, too?"
"Exactly. Plus, we have exchange meetings with other schools' student councils, and honestly, we're pretty busy…"
"Considering I'll be in the same position next year, I think I'll make this summer one of rest…"
"Alright, alright! Stop all the realistic talk, it’s boring!"
Yuika stomped her foot, grabbed a soda ice pop from the freezer, and crunched down on it.
"The student council room is cool, but step outside the school, and what happens? The temperature is scorching hot, everyone's kind of high-energy, which means it’s summer. And what comes to mind when you think of summer?"
"Perhaps Summer Comiket. I'm planning on securing my favorite artist's new release again this year."
"Buzzer! That's totally wrong, and besides, I heard they have that in winter too!"
"Stream fishing or firefly viewing? I'd like to do those if I had the time."
"Ehh…? Well, fine, I guess… Seishirou, you sound like a grandpa or something."
"Hey! At least deny it! Unlike Miran's suggestion, mine was a real putdown!"
"Well, you did suggest something boring, though."
"Miran, don't betray me too!"
Yuika tottered over to me, who had just been relentlessly insulted. She also showed me her smartphone.
A website compiling beaches in the Kanto area was open on the screen.
"Hmph. It seems you didn't listen carefully, so I’ll say it again… Summer means beach, and beach means summer. Yes, that means we have no choice but to go to the beach! Swimming, beach volleyball, eating yakisoba and shaved ice at a beach hut, and then BBQ. That's what summer is all about!"
"Half of your suggestion, from the middle onwards, is just about eating, though."
"Ugh, alright, alright… at the very least, let's just do a BBQ, okay?"
Yuika greatly compromised. If that's what you want, that's fine, but doesn't that miss the whole point?
"Okay, Seishirou, organize the schedule then. Make it look like a student council retreat, alright?"
"I don't mind, but shouldn't the person who brings it up take the lead?"
"The planning is annoying, but I still want to go! I wish you could understand the feelings of a young lady…"
"In Atori-senpai’s case, it sounds more like the feelings of a child than a young lady."
"Hey, you're annoying!"
Sensing an impending argument, I stepped in at the right time.
"Miran, do you know when you might be free during the summer break?"
"I don't know yet, and besides, I'm not going."
Seriously? Now? In the middle of all this?
"I swore to never approach the sea again after I was stung by a jellyfish in Okinawa."
"Hmm, that's a bummer… Well, fine, I guess we’ll just go without you."
"No. Since I don't want to be excluded, the Senpais shouldn't go either."
"Huh?! How can you be so selfish, you indoor poseur!"
"I'm not posing!… It just so happens that everyone naturally adores me!"
She has to be included even if she doesn't swim, I calmly judged.
"Well then. Yuika and Miran aside, then there’s…"
Where the sofa once stood, a system desk was now located.
Seated in the chair there was the newest addition to the student council—Nawagami-san—with an ice pop stick in her mouth.
"Nawagami-san, you're coming too, right?"
"…"
"Hey, Seren! Don't just sit there with your headphones in, listen to us… Ah!"
Yuika leaned over to peek at the laptop screen, her excitement rising a notch again.
Miran and I also checked it out, and the monitor displayed an online shopping site featuring swimwear.
"…I vaguely heard you talking. It's about going to the beach, correct?"
Nawagami-san discarded the ice pop stick, took off her headphones, and said:
"Under conditions, yes."
"Really? What are your conditions, Seren?"
"A discreet swimsuit, and one that is perfectly acceptable for those riff-raff around me to stare at."
"Ah… I see. Nawagami-senpai, you’d certainly draw attention, wouldn't you?"
"Yes, exactly. If I'm to expose my figure to all those common people, a certain number of vulgar eyes will inevitably be on me—and yet, choosing an over-equipped swimsuit is also out of the question. If I’m going to wear one, the design must be suitable for the sublime me."
"…Does this person think she's some kind of goddess?"
Unlike Miran, who was put off by the grandiosity, Yuika didn't seem to mind at all.
"I should probably get a new swimsuit too. Hehe. I've grown a bit, after all, you know?"
"Hah! Stop making such brazen remarks! Atori-senpai, the school-designated one should be fine for you, right?"
"This school doesn't even have pool classes!… Though they do have a pool, which is strange. Hmph!"
"Rest assured, Atori-san. You shouldn't have to try too hard; you should be popular enough as you are."
"Somehow, that's an encouragement that's not exactly cheering."
I'm getting used to their three-way banter, I thought.
I looked at the computer screen vaguely, without interjecting even one of my usual sarcastic comments.
As I scrolled, a sexy swimsuit suddenly popped up.
Just recently, I had seen her wear that exact type of swimsuit.
Because of that, if she were to wear that to the beach, I knew she would mind all the attention. And also—
I only want her to wear things like that in front of me… That’s what I felt.
As if she could smell my feelings, Nawagami-san poked my shoulder and mouthed the words:
‘I'll only wear swimsuits like that in front of Master…♥’
The single moment of her sultry smile was enough to set my mind at ease.
"By the way, I’m surprised Nawagami-senpai is even willing to go. I thought she'd find it too bothersome."
"Well, if Hachisuka-san and I were absent, Imashino-kun and Atori-san would go together, wouldn't they?"
"A-Ah, true."
"See? I couldn't possibly allow that."
"So it was the process of elimination in the end…"
Hey, if you have something to say, I'd like you to say it clearly and loudly, please.
Immediately after returning to the apartment from school, I was ironing my butler suit.
…Both my ability to iron and the fact that I was still here were sanctioned.
‘The dismissal is revoked. I would like you to continue your support for Seren as her exclusive butler.’
After the discussion between Nawagami-san and Sayuki-san, the verdict was overturned at the highest level.
I was allowed to continue working here. I was relieved and happy when I was told, but at the same time:
‘I won't force anything. Just know that I trust Imashino.’
‘Furthermore, you may feel relieved about not being fired now.’
‘It’s the opposite. The fact that I won't fire you means that you can't withdraw your involvement now.’
‘As the person who knows Seren's proclivities, you must accept the corresponding responsibility—You'll be of service for a long, long time.’
…Sayuki-san's pressure came through vividly, even in a text-only email.
"Well, well, I can't really complain, though… wait, what?"
Nawagami-san, who should have been relaxing in her room, suddenly walked into the living room and said:
"Hey. About the beach outing we discussed earlier today, could Imashino-kun… not come?"
"Huh…? Why?"
"Pardon me, I misphrased that—Imashino-kun, I hereby expel you from the student council party."
"That didn't correct anything! If anything, you just made it more awkwardly formal."
"It’s too late to mourn and weep now."
"That's the line I'm supposed to say, in the spirit of a running gag!"
It was a sudden move to ban me, but she seemed to have a justification for it.
"Because I realized something! Going to the beach means that you'll inevitably see an unspecified number of women in swimsuits, won't you?… I mean, that's just out of the question, right? How can that kind of ridiculousness be allowed when a Master like I am right here?!"
She was still a complete tyrant, and she wailed it at me. She continued with the same fervor:
"So, that's how it is. Take care of it. If you still want to go to the beach, I will only permit it if it's just the two of us. Something like… the time on the cruise ship."
That’s no longer a beach outing at all.
Having finished changing into my suit instantly, I took the opportunity to regain my professional butler composure.
"Ojou-sama. I've already invited Yuika and Miran based on the assumption we're all going. Telling them now that it's no longer possible will earn us enormous resentment from them."
"I know that. Well, I'll let you choose which one you want to deal with: their complaints or my complaints. Though, if you choose the latter, I will truly sulk, you know."
"…—"
"What is it? You weren't enthusiastic about it at all in the beginning… Could it be that you're excited to see a wide variety of tits and asses at the beach? I’m right here, the soft, full-figured beautiful girl Imashino-kun loves, and yet you still reach higher, or desire more. That's just unacceptable."
I don't recall ever mentioning I like full-figured, but honestly, that's not even the point now.
I sharply snatched my blazer necktie, which was left lying nearby.
My expression, of course, shifted to that of a D.S. Master. I captured her eyes and continued.
"E-Ehhh! S-Stop it, not so suddenly!/////”
"I know the difference between when you really don't want something and when you truly want something now—"
Using the necktie, I skillfully bound her wrists together, swirling it around them.
I had done something similar before.
I had even loosely looped the tie around her neck and given a light tug.
The difference today was her wrists, and this time—I tied it significantly tighter than before.
"T-To bind me so tightly like this… I-I’m happy!♥♥"
"Good for you. If it makes you happy, here—I’ll tug it, just like this."
"Agh! Ughh, uuuhh~~!!♥♥ Th-Thank you! I'm so happy…♥"
With a move that balanced rudeness and determination, she was dissolving in bliss.
Taking advantage of her state, I tugged the necktie and drew her entire body closer to me.
"I’m not looking at anyone but you anymore. Whether we're at the beach or anywhere else."
"!! ………………"
"And let this choker be your proof. Your proof that I am your Master—"
I peered into Nawagami-san's eyes, our foreheads nearly touching.
I traced the line of her neck, gently touching the choker I gave her, and caressed her skin.
I was completely sure now. She would obediently accept this, satisfied and convinced.
But—the subsequent reversal of dominance was, for some reason, executed better by her.
"…Yes. My Master will be Imashino-kun forever. Absolutely, absolutely!…!"
Nawagami-san's expression when she said those words was no longer the D.M. look of moments ago.
She seemed bashful, but in reality, she was accepting me face-on.
Despite me being the one to command her, just that single reply left me—
"…………! Nnngh~~~~~~~…………!"
"Oh, Master? What's wrong?… I-Imashino-kun?"
"U-Uhh… Nnh… (First defeat)"
"H-Hey, are you alright? Your face is so red. Wait, could it be you’re blushing?"
"I’m n-not blushing! My body just suddenly got warm, I'm fine, really!"
Despite my self-imposed rule to use polite language when wearing the suit, I broke it. I stumbled onto the floor and laid down.
"I-I'm sorry, Ojou-sama. Just for a little bit, for five minutes, please let me rest…"
"E-Eh, I don't mind… Heheh."
Perhaps finding my rare panic amusing, she slowly came right next to me again.
"Please take care of me from now on, too… My Master Imashino-kun?"
She said that with a smile, a combination of Sadistic and D.M. charm that was perfectly her.
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