It's been a few months since my brother Alex's coming-of-age party.
　I just finished my sophomore year, and I'm about to start my junior year.

　Oh, and your brother Alex is getting married.
　They looked great together. Fiona was beautiful.
　I'm just sad that Ivan couldn't be there for the wedding.

　It's the last test of his training and he's taking on a dungeon somewhere.
　Well, it's his job, and he's probably most disappointed about it, so I can't say for sure.
　I'm sure he'll bring back a report on how he killed the dungeon as a wedding present.

　While I was thinking about this, I was preparing for my dormitory life.

　I'll be a junior soon, and I'll start living in the dorms next month.
　So today is the day I'm supposed to bring my stuff in.

　It looks like the furniture is already in place, so I packed my clothes, books, and the junk I made into a backpack, and the packing didn't take long.

''Alright, let's head to the dorms.
　I said this to Belle, who was packing with me.

"Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of dormitory it is.

Yeah, I guess so. I hope there's plenty of room.

'Miss Amelie told me that each class has a different size room.
　Huh?　I have mixed feelings when you say that: .......
　I'm sure the lower classes are forced to live in smaller rooms .
　Well, maybe it's because of the amount of money they're donating to the school or something: .......

　Then we headed to our assigned dormitory on the school grounds.

'This is my room?'
　I stood in front of the door, which would be my room, and I asked Belle.

"I guess so.
　Then it's a good thing.
　I was on the top floor, in a sunny spot.

Oh, there's Frank next door. I'll look in on him later.
　Frank Baudelaire is listed in the next room.

"Is this a friend of yours?

Yeah, we're cousins, like friends.

Yeah. You're lucky to be next door.

Yeah. You can come hang out now. All right, let's go inside.

Okay. I'll pick the lock up now.

　Then I walked into the room with Belle.
'Oh, it's just as big as I thought it would be!　I mean, how many rooms did you have?

There are five: Master Leo's room, Master Leo's bedroom, the maid's room, the living room, and the dining room.
　Five or five rooms?　You're going to find a room that you're never going to use.

That's too many. If they have a dining room, doesn't this dormitory have a dining room?
　Do you want them to bring it in here?

Yes. But it's only used by the sons of the lower classes.
　Huh?　Is this a privilege reserved for the upper class?

Why do you try to differentiate up and down that much: ......
　Your aristocratic pride is a waste of money.

Well, let's just put all the things we've brought with us on the table.

All right. But that's a lot of work to keep track of. Can you handle this by yourself, Bell?
　There's a lot of room, it's hard to clean.

We'll be fine. We'll take care of it.
　When I asked him, he said, "Yeah, I'll take care of it.

"Yeah, it's all yours.
　Really, she's a lot different from the Belle I first met .
　I wonder where that Belle, who was always making mistakes, has gone: .......

　While thinking about that, I quickly finished carrying my luggage.
　There was too much storage space for the amount of things I brought, so it didn't take me long at all.


　One week later.

　Tomorrow, I start my junior year.
　Today is the day before school starts, so I'll start living in the dorm.

Belle and I will live here alone from today. Belle will miss you so much because you'll be alone.
　Normally there are other maids and stewards while I'm at school, but starting tomorrow it's just Belle.

'That's all right. Just clean your room and you won't be lonely.

Yeah?　I'm sorry about that.
　I'm sorry about that.

That's all right. Besides, it's a maid's job.



"Yeah, ...... okay. I'll try to stay here as much as possible from now on.
　I'm sorry: .......
　From now on, let's refrain from going to the master's place.

''Never mind that!　I'm a maid.

Don't say that. To me, Belle's like family.
　You've been with me for two years now.
　Yeah, I'll give Belle a pat on the head.

Oh, thank you. ......
　Belle let me pat her head a little shyly.

'Then let's have some dinner.

Okay. Okay, I'll go get it.

'Oh, by the way, Belle had to get it, didn't she? I'm not allowed to go get it, am I?

"Yes, absolutely not. They'll say I'm a useless maid.
　I don't mind what they say about me, but I don't like it when Belle says that to me: .......
　I guess we'll just have to let it happen here .

"Yeah, okay. Let me know if it's a problem, okay?

There's no need to worry about it. Besides, I have some non-attribute magic that Leo-sama taught me about, so I can carry even heavy objects with ease.

Okay, please. So do me a favor.

Okay. I'll go get it.


　A little later, the bell came back pushing a dolly.
Here it is. I'll lay it out for you now. Oh, and Master Leo, please stay in your seat and don't help!
　The moment I was about to move, they stopped me.

"Wow, okay. ......
　I can't help it, I'm either being quiet or .......

　And then he puts the food in front of me in a neat row.
Well, then, please enjoy your meal.

Umm, yeah ...... hey, do you have any for Bell?
　Belle looked like she was going to stand behind me until I finished, so I asked her.

'Yes, I do. I'll let you eat in your room later.

Do you have it?　Then we'll eat together.
　I don't want to eat alone and under the microscope.

No, don't worry about me. I'll be in my room later at .......

I don't mind. I don't want to eat alone. Okay?

I'll be here while you eat.
　d*mn, Belle is so stubborn today.

No?

"Yes, no. I'm a maid.
　How can you be so stubborn to say no?

"Yes. ...... So here's what I'm going to do. Master's orders, sit there and eat your food with me.

'You'd go that far?　Okay. ......
　Belle gave up and sat down with the food in front of me.

'Yeah, now we can have a good meal.
　After all, rice tastes better when eaten with someone else.

Will it taste the same with or without me?

Taste is only as good as your heart, you know?

'I see. ......'
　Belle began to eat unhappily .

''Yes ......, Belle is kind of cold today! Your usual Belle would be so much nicer.
　I'm gonna cry, okay?

Oh, really?

Yeah. You don't have to feel so responsible, okay?

'No, but I'm on my own from today: ......
　Yeah, he's definitely overawed.

So I'm fine. And I'm gonna cry and I'm gonna miss you if you don't have a bell.
　Now you can get back to your normal routine for a bit.
　As I looked at Belle's face while thinking about this ...... tears began to pool in Belle's eyes and she was on the verge of breaking down.

　And then ......
Oh, uh-oh.


　I started crying out loud.

'Wait!　Don't cry!　Sorry, that was too much to ask!

'No, sir!　It's my fault!　I was asked by Amelie not to make Leo-sama miss you, but ...... I'm really sorry that I was too desperate for work .......
　I get it!
　If you can apologize for crying so much, it makes me want to apologize too!

　There's no way around it: ......
I'll be fine. ......
　I walked up to Belle and gave her a hug and rubbed her back .

"It's just the beginning, don't get so worked up on your first day. Belle's all right. Just be a bright Belle.

Gusu, yes ...... I get it.
　Huh, I guess she agreed to do it.
　Then I rubbed her back until she calmed down.

Then will you have dinner with me?

I understand.
　When she finally stopped crying, Belle smiled and answered my questions.

　Dinner was cold that night, but it was delicious.
　After all, isn't it better when we're together?