In truth, maids and butlers are not a standard feature in the average household.
Back in the days of old Akihabara and Ikebukuro, they were common as part of themed entertainment experiences—but even in the modern era, that culture hasn’t truly died out. It hasn’t, and yet... at least within Inari’s observable world, they simply don’t exist. But putting that aside—
For Inari, who had no such background knowledge, her image of maids and butlers was entirely defined by the members of the “Servant Uniform Workshop,” such as Eri and Sebastian. It wasn’t that she disliked them. If anything, she held them in high regard. But in a word, their vibe was just different. Inari believed that entering their world wouldn’t be good for either party. She had believed that—until now.
“So you said you were coming to my house, and now this... what in the world is this?”
“It’s a Japanese-style maid outfit!”
A few more days had passed since Yasuno’s visit. Spread out in front of Inari was a literal maid uniform… but with a distinct Japanese flair.
Yes—it was a fusion outfit: a loose kimono-style top, a hakama-style skirt, and a cute apron reminiscent of the Taisho Roman era. Of course, the signature white brim—the helmet of a maid—was not forgotten. And since it was crafted by the Servant Uniform Workshop, the white brim was said to be sturdier than some cheap metal helmets.
This entire outfit was a custom combat-ready maid uniform made just for Inari, forged with the workshop’s finest techniques.
“The materials were carefully selected too! By the Awakener Association’s standards, this places between Lower-Intermediate and Upper-Initiate Tiers—truly top quality for your current stage!”
“Mm, I see…”
Considering that most so-called first-rate equipment sits around the Lower-Intermediate Tier, this was undeniably impressive. You could feel the overflowing sincerity that went into it. Of course, whether Inari would actually wear it was another matter—but judging by the maids posing behind Eri, it was clear they had come ready to help her dress.
“Um, and those behind you would be…?”
“I’m Ririka, in charge of dressing.”
“I’m Shizuna, in charge of skincare and nails.”
“I’m Mei, hair and makeup.”
“I’m Jane, final adjustments.”
“And I’m Eri, the team leader!”
“Today, we’re gonna make you shine—so look forward to it!”
Striking synchronized poses, the maids beamed with pride. Eri cleared her throat.
“That said—if Miss Kogami doesn’t want this, we’ll take it all back. Honestly, I admit we may have gotten a bit carried away…”
“Hmm.”
Inari was genuinely impressed. No matter how much love and care went into this, they had clearly drawn a line: “This is what we made—but we won’t force it.” It’s not easy to maintain that kind of balance. Most people can’t help but push their goodwill too far.
And frankly, that kind of gentle consideration was exactly what made Inari weak to this sort of thing.
“And besides… I can feel how much they thought about me while making it.”
It was a garment that clearly said, “We made this for you.” Inari just couldn’t bring herself to reject something that heartfelt. The sincerity had already reached her.
“Mm. I won’t use it in combat, since I’ve already got gear for that… but I’ll wear it with care. Thank ye kindly.”
“Yay!”
“We did it!”
Eri and the others cheered and celebrated. Seeing their joy filled Inari with warmth—but just then, all of their eyes glinted ominously, and Inari reflexively yelped.
“Muooh!?”
“Then! May we give you a makeover too? For future reference, of course!”
“Uh… sure?”
Eri stepped forward as the representative, and Inari responded cautiously. That was all it took—Ririka slapped open the suitcase she’d set aside. Out came brushes, combs, cosmetics—all of which Shizuna, Mei, and Jane grabbed with lightning-fast coordination.
It was a breathtakingly efficient maneuver.
“Let’s begin! We’ll craft the ultimate Japanese-style maid! Don’t fall behind, girls!”
“Aye!”
“…Were ye ninja or somethin’…?”
The maid squad launched into action with such precise movements that even Inari struggled to keep track. Brushes swept, combs glided, makeup was applied—all with extreme delicacy and professionalism.
“I-It’s incredible… baby-smooth egg skin…? No, this is what true ‘egg skin’ means…”
“This hair… this gloss… it’s silkier than anything I’ve seen.”
And what emerged at the end of it all was a refined Japanese-style fox-eared maid, her hair gently tied at the back, elegance and dignity woven into her very form. The outfit was lightweight, allowing ease of movement, and clearly designed with Inari’s combat style and her weapon Kogetsu in mind.
Eri and the rest let out a collective, impressed sigh.
“Amazing… it suits her way more than I ever imagined…”
“Some people are just blessed with good genes… just a little polish and she’s flawless. Not fair.”
“I want to take her home…”
“I’ll report you.”
“Still, I get it…”
They were clearly satisfied. Even Inari, peeking into the full-length mirror they’d brought, couldn’t help but admit—it wasn’t bad at all. Despite normally caring very little about clothing, she had to admit… this outfit was really well-made. And more than that, she could feel the affection behind it. So she gave them a faint smile.
“Thank ye… I’m truly grateful.”
That smile—it was so radiant, so dazzling, it seemed to enchant everyone who saw it.
And it was a smile so pure and divine… that even Inari herself wouldn’t be able to recreate it later, no matter how many times Eri and the others asked her for another photo.