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“Hey, Kirumi, why are you a maid?”
Shuichi sat in the canteen for his usual afternoon tea, as always served by the one and only Kirumi Tojo. The tea she brewed reached a whole other level, tasting nothing like any of the tea Shuichi had ever had before.
Their third tea time Kirumi gave an explanation on the origins of tea, which she claimed would greatly improve the experience, and admittedly, the drink did taste even better from then on.
Aside from the great taste, the simple act of holding a warm cup of tea calmed Shuichi in a way that allowed his mind to rest momentarily from the responsibility of finding a way out of this dome. It appeared to mimic the touch and recognition any human craved, in this case one specifically received by Kirumi. Despite the somewhat basic shared tea moments, it made Shuichi feel close to the maid.
Or at least close enough to ask her the big question of why she is who she is.
Kirumi had just walked up to him, holding a slice of Victoria sponge cake. Another part of Kirumi’s history lesson on tea related to how in the Victorian era specifically, the event was carefully curated and included an armada of food. The Victoria sponge cake was one Shuichi had yet to try, though he already knew he’d hum in satisfaction as soon as it were to meet his taste buds.
Her expression changed from its politely smiling one to that of light surprise. Clearly she did not know how to react. Perhaps because it was a question that could only be answered in relation to your own desires, something Kirumi never expressed. “That is… Where does this question come from exactly?”
Shuichi gave her a nervous smile, already regretting putting it on the table, but being too far in to back down. “A-ah, I’m sorry if it’s a weird question… It’s just that, maids were originally people of low status employed to do all kinds of things like cooking and cleaning, right? But you, Kirumi, can do just about anything. There are so many other careers you could have followed, so I’ve been wondering why you wanted to be a maid of all things.”
The look of surprise continued to rest for a little longer, before she closed her eyes and put the cake in front of him, by the earlier served cup of tea. “It is different for me,” she replied, soft yet determined. “The reason I can do anything is because I am a maid.”
Now it was Shuichi’s turn to look surprised. While he didn’t have any specific answer in mind to expect, this paradox threw him off.
She continued, turning the plate about 10 degrees so it showed its best side. “Imagining myself not being a maid is rather difficult, because it would not be me. Being a maid is what I am. It is not something I chose, but rather what I was born for. That’s why I can do anything - this is how it was meant to be.”
Her attention on the cake shifted to Shuichi, meeting his eyes in the hope of seeing his understanding. Though they still stood big, burying into her as his fingers shifted to his chin to caress, he slowly looked away in deep thought. Kirumi knew that face - it was one of a detective who had yet to put the puzzle together.
Admittedly, she wasn’t sure how else to describe the feeling to him. “I apologize for being rather vague.”
A soft hum of acknowledgement escaped his lips, “No… It sounds a bit vague, but it is logical enough. It’s just… What can I say? It is just difficult for me to understand.” His hand released from his chin, took to the tiny fork and buried it in the cake, the fluffy texture slowly breaking in half. “Maybe I don’t have an actual understanding of what a maid truly does. All I’ve got to go off is what I learned through novels and movies - those Victorian ones, you know.”
Novels, another subject beyond tea that in the past sparked conversation between the two. It brightened Kirumi up, letting the soft giggle she at times produced display her joy. “Even if your understanding of me is based on novels and movies, I appreciate your continued interest. Are you interested in that era of British culture as Ultimate Detective?”
The cake was just as delicious as expected, the combination of the soft base with strawberry jam and whipped cream providing a refreshment. He put the fork down to continue with his cup of tea again - using that final sip to understand why exactly the Victorians insisted on spending their afternoon tea this way. “As detective?”
“Why, yes. I don’t believe it’s necessary for me to mention the likes of Sherlock Holmes to you.”
She must be wondering if, when consuming the media, he was secretly picturing himself walking around those streets wearing a deerstalker and the Invernness Cape. While an amusing image, actually taking the place of such a famous investigator - finding himself equally adequate to a fictional sleuth - Shuichi had a hard time imagining. He'd feel out of place in those old streets. A fraud.
Not unlike Kirumi who might have as well stepped straight out of a time machine. When moving past the dark gloomy streets where a maid like her certainly had no business, going somewhere much further into the countryside, her truest match stood risen from the ground.
A typical Victorian mansion with its complex architectural details; steeply pinched roofs, towers, intricate exterior trim - roses climbing up. The inside looked just as beautiful thanks to its high ceilings, hard wood floors and open floor plan. The high windows connected that rich inner world to the outside.
And past those grand windows, you might also catch a glimpse of the maid working there. Early in the morning already she'd open the first curtains, inviting the trails of the rising sun inside and exposing the dust particles which will soon be cleaned. Her polite steps would return to the lower floors, to the kitchen, readying the grande breakfast. The mere aroma of the fresh baked goods, meat, fish and eggs would guide the household down to the grande table and start their day perfectly. The maid would afterwards carry on her duties so her masters have nothing to concern themselves over. Even any of the other maids working there, taken under the main maid’s wings, would move like a well oiled machine.
Everything would be taken care of, and when the day ends, the maid closes the curtains again, waiting to repeat it all the next day without a fault.
Shuichi smiled a bit to himself, “You would’ve been much more popular in that time period, Kirumi… I could see you working at a big mansion in full efficiency.”
“I’m honored. However, that era would suit you just as much - solving cases as a detective in the foggy streets of London.”
So she had it in her head regardless of Shuichi's own opinion on the matter. He knew Kirumi well enough for this - the Victorian detective and him were the exact same person.
Arguing against that wouldn’t do anything though. While always open-minded, Kirumi could also be incredibly stubborn if she saw fit. And him being worthy of a title that equalled the most well known private investigator, is one he could never talk out of her mind. The best thing to be done now was move the conversation elsewhere.
He raised his cup lightly, “Do you have any tea left? If it's not too much trouble-”
“No such thing exists.”
Kirumi left to the kitchen and swiftly returned with her copper kettle, pouring Shuichi's cup to a filling while resting one hand lightly on the warm cover. Somehow, she’d grown even more satisfied than before.
She, uncharistically, spoke in a hushed voice, “A large mansion is nice, but… working for a detective as maid would not be bad either.”
“... What was that?”
“Ah… Nothing. How about I serve you a new flavor of tea tomorrow?”