Rich Girl Caretaker: I'm Secretly the Caregiver of the Most Popular Girl in This Rich Kid School (才女のお世話 高嶺の花だらけな名門校で、学院一のお嬢様（生活能力皆無）を陰ながらお世話することになりました)

Hinako, it's morning.

Itsuki?

Yeah.

Morning.

Morning.

Don't wanna go to school.

You say that every morning.

Hinako, look up for a minute.

I'll wipe off the drool.

Drool?

What's wrong?

I can't do it unless you—

I-I'll wipe it off myself.

Give it. Don't look at me.

Well, this is new...

Now you need to get dressed.

Leave.

Get out of the room! Now!

Itsuki-san, has something happened between you and Her Ladyship?

No...

Her Ladyship has said she no longer wishes you to provide her wake-up call.

I see.

Um, is it possible I've done something to make her dislike me?

No, I do not believe so.

I will keep an eye on things.

Okay.

Same as usual, right?

Hinako had been acting a bit strangely since the night of the party...

RICH GIRL CARETAKER

TENNOJI MIREI'S PROPOSAL

Good morning.

Has something happened?

Hey, morning!

I guess you haven't seen this before, huh?

They've put up the midterm results.

MIDTERM TEST RESULTS SECOND YEARS TOP FIFTY SCORES RANK NAME SCORE 1ST KONOHANA HINAKO 997 2ND TENNOJI MIREI 991

But it's only the top fifty, so you won't find my name on there.

I figured Konohana-san would be number one again!

Nice work!

Thank you very much.

Konohana-san!

Congratulations on taking first place!

Congratulations!

She really is impressive.

T-Tennoji-san?

O-Oh, Tomonari-san...

Congratulations on placing second.

I'm unable to celebrate as long as that odious name appears above mine!

But the result is not without its upside.

I've narrowed the gap between us!

At last, victory is within my grasp!

Where did you place, may I ask?

I'm not on the board.

I'm probably in the middle, or maybe a little below average...

What? What did you say?!

Despite instruction from yours truly, you placed below average?!

Y-Your tutoring in math was extremely helpful, but...

Silence!

You must not give up before you've even begun!

No matter how earnest you may be, you'll never improve without lofty goals!

Posture!

Ma'am!

Heaven's sake.

Allow me to make a proposal.

Would you care to spend time with me after class?

I will continue to tutor you.

My first time teaching anyone was at the recent study group.

It made me realize that tutoring another improves my own understanding.

Thus, I improved my standing in relation to Konohana Hinako.

I see.

But are you sure you want me to be your student?

Oh, yes! No one in my social circle has grades as low as yours.

And, if I may be blunt...

You feel an inferiority complex regarding your place at this school, yes?

At first, it felt like such a different world

that "inferiority complex" didn't begin to describe it...

But lately, I feel like I've had all these little reminders

about how much I'm lacking.

Tennoji-san, you're very perceptive when it comes to others.

It's hardly a trait worth lauding.

I simply...

Well, once you've obtained appropriate confidence,

you'll be able to more boldly engage with this world.

Do you think so?

I do admire Tennoji-san's confidence in all situations...

But I don't think I could ever...

You can achieve it.

You wear your true feelings so plainly on your face and in your attitude.

I do?

That said, as I'd consider this a favor you're doing for me,

I should hope to aid you somehow in kind.

Having you tutor me is more than enough.

Unacceptable!

Is there anything troubling you, or that you're struggling with?

So she'll be teaching you etiquette?

Yes.

Tennoji-sama is a very conscientious person.

Agreed.

Um, do you think it's all right for me to do that after class for a while?

What do you wish to do?

I'd really like to try it.

I think Tennoji-san's teaching

will make me a more suitable caretaker for Hinako.

Understood. I have no objections.

Tennoji-sama may teach you etiquette better than I can.

I also have a message for you from Kagen-sama.

In addition to your duties with Her Ladyship,

he'd like you to continue to expand the Konohana Family's network of connections.

Kagen-san said that?

I guess that means he trusts me a little more, at least.

I'll speak to Her Ladyship myself.

S-Sure.

Hinako was in a bad mood after Shizune-san gave her the message, but...

So good.

Gotta love ice cream in a hot bath.

Do you forgive me now?

You're doing it for me, right?

I don't really like it,

but if it's for me, I forgive you.

It is partly for you,

but I also want to become a better caretaker.

So it's also for me.

I'm happy to turn her down if you don't like it.

Don't wanna get in your way.

Really?

That's honestly a bit of a relief.

Relief?

It feels like you've been avoiding me lately.

Avoiding you?

What makes you think that?

Well, you apparently don't want me waking you up in the morning,

and sometimes it feels like you're pulling away from me.

I don't mean to pull away.

Then what's it about?

Don't wanna say.

I wonder why...

I thought the month we'd spent together gave me insight into her thinking, but...

You want a shampoo?

By the way, Hinako.

Yes?

Why'd you pick that swimsuit?

N-No reason.

You tend to get overheated.

Are you okay?

Just wash my hair already!

I need to move this strap for a sec.

Your hair's caught.

There we go.

Hinako?!

You...

You?

You insensitive clod!

Insensitive clod?!

I'd grown unable to anticipate Hinako's reactions.

Meanwhile, my after-school lessons with Tennoji-san had begun.

First, let us set our goals.

My goal is to defeat Konohana Hinako on the next major exam!

When is that again?

One month from now.

I'd like to see you place within the top fifty.

I-In just one month?!

I can see you're studying well every day.

I'm flattered that you noticed.

Um, but may I ask why you're so competitive with Konohana-san?

Allow me to state in advance that

there is no bad blood between Konohana Hinako and myself.

It is merely that, as daughter of House Tennoji,

I cannot allow myself to be outstripped by anyone.

So it's more like a family ethos?

No, it is a rule I have set for myself.

For yourself?

Don't you find it stifling to live that way?

Not at all.

As a daughter of the Tennoji family, I must contribute to that family.

That is my mission, and where I find my happiness.

Now, shall we move to the etiquette lesson?

Actually, would it be possible to make one request?

What is it?

Could we focus on table manners first?

Do you have a reason for asking that?

Yes. Um, a rather personal reason.

Very well. In that case...

We decided to hold the etiquette lesson over dinner at the café.

I called Shizune-san and received her permission.

You're still studying?

You're awake?

Were your lessons with Tennoji-san fun?

Well...

She's uncompromising, both with herself and with others,

so I guess I find it very motivating.

I'll get you back to your room.

Wanna sleep here today.

You can't.

Pat my head.

You didn't seem to like it when I did it at the party...

You want it now, though?

I liked it just fine...

Don't think I've ever seen his sleeping face before.

Guess he's pretty tired.

This is his caretaker manual.