Convince her, that you want her to be your friend

“Mitsu, come to me!” you order gently, “I have a task for you.”

“With pleasure,” Mitsu agrees immediately, “do you want a drink or …”

Instead of answering, you silence Mitsu by taking one of her hands in yours. The girl is immediately silent and completely overwhelmed. She hasn’t had a lot of caring attention in the last few years. You use her mental paralysis and push her gentle but firm on the chair next to yours.

“I order you to sit right here next to me, eat and tell me about yourself,” you reply and sit down again, “do you understand?”

“I … but … young mistress,” Mitsu stutters, “that’s not appropriate. You are the daughter of the master of the house, I’m just a servant. We shouldn’t eat or socialize together.”

“Mitsu, please,” you say begging, “I’m not some kind of noble. And I thought you are my friend. Do me the favor, please!”

“I … well … if you insist,” Mitsu mumbles and stares at the food, “it … it looks really good. Simple but good.”

“It is really simple,” you say and smile, “if cooking were art, this would be a children's coloring book.”

“My parents … they never wanted me to have a coloring book,” Mitsu mumbles and takes the food in her hands, “they said this is silly. It ruins creativity. I should paint on normal paper. And whatever I paint it would be good. My mom still keeps some of my drawings from the time I was two years old. I could barely hold the pencil.”

“Yes, mothers do such things,” you mumble, while Mitsu takes the first bite, “mine always kept an ugly macaroni picture pinned on the fridge. I did it in summer camp when I was five years old. It is so ugly I can’t even remember what I wanted it to look like.”

“Are your … I’m sorry if it is too personally, but why has your mother left this house?” Mitsu asks carefully, “was it because of … master William?”

“Maybe partly,” you mumble, “but the main”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Mitsu quickly says, “I’m not asking questions. I was told to mind my own business. I’m sorry.”

“Calm down, please,” you say and finish your food, “let’s just say she couldn’t live with the way my father earns his income. And I guess one day the arguments got too heavy and she saw no other way than leaving. But I was a baby and my mother hasn’t liked the topic that much, so I don’t know any details. Well, I guess we are done here. Thanks for eating and talking with me, Mitsu. I will no longer distract you from your duties.”

“Mistress,” Mitsu suddenly says and holds your hand, “do you … do you really want to be friends with me? You are very different from my other masters. Much more … personal. I appreciate your kindness. And your help and protection even more. But … you don’t have be my … friend, if you don’t want. I would totally understand this.”

“Ok, fine,” you say a little confused, “but I like you. I think we can be both. Friends and mistress and servant. I see no problem with this, as long as you do your duty. And I’m sure nobody else too. Except from William maybe, but he is not important. Why do you ask? Don’t you want us to be friends?”

“I … well, I was told this is not appropriate,” Mitsu mumbles, “my parents are very traditional. They told me that people like you can be good masters and mistresses. But never more. Our … worlds are not compatible. And you are the first one I met who acts different.”

“I see,” you say and give Mitsu a calm smile, “well, I guess I am different then.”

Mitsu nods and smiles shy while you leave. You see her take the empty plates to the kitchen while you leave the room. You must say, it feels great to have a normal friend in this house. Who knows where this will lead you in the future.