A lot of work

The next day I wake up quite early. I yawn briefly, get up and get ready for the day.

Then I go out of my room to pick up the others.

First I open Hermione's door. Hermione is already dressed and sitting on her bed, reading her book.

"Good morning" I say to her. She takes the book down and answers "good morning" with a smile. She is in a good mood.

"If you want you can come down for breakfast. As I said yesterday, I'll leave the door open from today, as a small sign of trust."

"I'll be happy to come down, I'm already a little hungry" she laughs briefly, marks her side where she stopped, and stands up.

I walk out of the room and she follows me. We walk together to the other two's rooms. Ikumi, like Hermione, is already ready and a little sore, since she usually gets up earlier and has already eaten. Ram is also already awake, but sits quietly on the bed and looks at the door.

"Good morning," she says on her own and I return it.

So we all go down to the kitchen together and prepare our breakfast. Ikumi, who is a bit pissed off because of the small selection and, for her, low quality of ingredients, keeps complaining.

We all sit down together at the table in the dining room and eat our prepared sandwiches. Ikumi has made some scrambled eggs for all of us.

The meal goes quietly. After we are finished and have put our things away, I call everyone into the dining room again.

"I told you yesterday that you would be given more and more freedom if I trusted you and you followed my rules. To prove that I am willing to trust you, you may move freely within the house. You may go swimming in the pools, look at books in the library or work out in the gym" I begin my little speech.

"However, since this house is quite big and I don't trust you 100% yet, there are some rules.

1. If I order you to do something, please don't nag me and do what I tell you.
2. You must do your daily chores.
3. When you are outside with me or without me, behave yourselves and come back at the latest when I tell you to.

If you follow these 3 simple rules, then after a while you will be allowed to do more and more and I will trust you. If you do not follow the rules, then you will be punished depending on what you have done, do I make myself clear?" I look at everyone individually and stop at Hermione at the end.

"You said something about daily chores. What do you mean by that?" asks Ram and I turn to her.

"Ah right, that's what I was going to tell you next. Each of you has a few daily chores you have to do. I have a little piece of paper here that has your chores for today on it." I take out the piece of paper I was working on last night and place it on the table in front of the 3 of them.

The 3 characters bend over and read through the note.

"I based it on your backgrounds, of course, and what I like to do.

Ikumi, you are in charge of the food. You will prepare the meals for us starting at noon today and see that we always have enough food available. For that, you will go with me to the nearby market to choose ingredients and negotiate some contracts with the merchants so that we will be supplied by them."

Ikumi looks somewhat pleased that she gets to take care of the food.

"Ram you take care of the housekeeping. You clean the house and make sure we always have all the other things like cleaning supplies toilet paper and the like in stock. You also receive guests in case someone comes over. With your maid experience, that should be pretty easy for you."

Ram nods eagerly, clearly happy to be doing her former job again. I think her sister's pillow encourages her a bit.

"Last but not least Hermione. You take care of the library and everything related to it. Buying new books, keeping the library clean, and so on."

Hermione looks at me, smiles and nods. She's a changed woman from yesterday.

"If you guys have it all figured out, then get to work. Oh one more thing, I asked you to write down your dress sizes for me. Please give me the slips of paper yes?"

All 3 of them take out a piece of paper on which they wrote down their dress sizes. I collect them all. I guess they all want some different clothes to wear.

"Then get to work. Ikumi, you stay here please, we'll leave for the market right away."

Hermione and Ram get up, say their goodbyes, and walk out of the room. Ikumi remains sitting in her chair with her arms crossed.