A Peculiar Pattern

“It seems… it seems to have stopped?!”

“Y-yes, it seems so, haah—haah—”

Just moments ago, as Leidi and I fled the bathroom, wrapped only in towels, we were assailed by wave after wave of “heavy rainfall.”

Splashing everywhere, the bathroom floor became utterly drenched. (Though, a wet bathroom floor isn’t exactly out of the ordinary, I suppose…)

However, once we escaped, this bizarre supernatural phenomenon had the good sense to cease.

Now, Leidi and I cautiously peered into the bathroom from just outside the doorway.

“Miss Leidi! Miss Piengo! What happened?! Why have you both come out without even drying yourselves?!”

The Head Maid, who had been dusting a vase just moments before, rushed forward with a worried expression upon seeing us, still dripping wet and wrapped only in towels, our hair completely undried.

“We were just playing, please don’t worry!”

Colt quickly fabricated a rather capricious excuse to brush her off.

‘I absolutely can’t drag the maids into this!’

Upon hearing my explanation, the Head Maid paused briefly before addressing us with a slightly stern smile:

“Miss Leidi, Miss Piengo, even though summer has just passed, the mansion’s temperature is not suitable for such light attire.

Please be careful not to catch a cold.

Furthermore, please refrain from needlessly increasing the workload of the hardworking maids within the mansion.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“My apologies.”

Leidi and I apologized in unison, our gazes falling upon the patterned carpet we had drenched.

‘She truly lives up to her title as Head Maid, doesn’t she? To even reprimand the young ladies she serves…’

‘Still, it’s my fault for coming up with such a foolish excuse. I feel terrible that Leidi had to apologize because of me…’

“Yamashiro, do not ask for reasons.

Before I issue another command, inform all maids in the mansion not to enter the bathroom.

Also, please tell Ruka sister to come find me in my room.”

“Understood, Miss Leidi.”

Adjusting the towel wrapped around her chest, Leidi spoke to the Head Maid.

‘There’s a strange—an inexplicable—aura of authority about her…’

‘And… is the Head Maid’s surname Yamashiro? Have I gotten it mixed up again?’

****

“So this time it was water that fell…”

Ruka sister murmured, her fingers tracing the puddles along the edge of the bathtub, lost in thought.

After reuniting with Ruka sister, we re-entered the bathroom.

Of course… Leidi and I merely stood to the side, drying our hair…

“Ruka sister, have you found anything?”

Leidi asked, pulling her hair forward as she continued to dry it.

“Regrettably, nothing at all…”

Ruka sister shook her head, then walked towards Leidi, her brow furrowing.

“But it still feels very strange…”

“Strange?”

Leidi and I murmured in unison, a faint whisper.

“This time, the target of the attack was Leidi-chan again, wasn’t it?”

Ruka sister glanced between us before her gaze finally settled on Leidi.

“Hmm… that should be correct.

Xiaobai, being close by, was merely caught in the crossfire.”

Leidi paused her actions, then, after a brief moment of thought, offered her conclusion.

“Indeed… it’s still too peculiar…

Not only in Class A and Class D, but here too, I sense no spiritual presence, nor any trace of suspicious individuals…

And… water, which can’t cause harm, is falling? What kind of prank is this? Does the so-called culprit truly exist?”

“I also find myself at a loss regarding this strange phenomenon that targets only me…”

‘Leidi’s expression right now seems so helpless…’

“Did you notice anything amiss when the phenomenon occurred?”

Ruka sister pressed, urging her further.

“Hmm—”

Leidi closed her eyes, her brow lightly furrowed, as she meticulously recalled the events.

Then she spoke:

“The first time happened after Xiaobai placed her hand on my shoulder.

The second was when I was next to Xiaobai, helping her with her homework.

The third was just now, while bathing with Xiaobai, when I was stroking her head… Huh? Eh?!!!”

Suddenly, Leidi’s mouth clamped shut, her eyes wide with a ‘no way’ expression as she stared at me.

Ruka sister’s gaze immediately followed suit.

Still in the midst of drying my hair, I blinked at them, utterly bewildered.

‘What is happening?!’

‘Is this my fault?!’