Hayasaka Ai
Height: 162 cm
Age: 17
Weight: Classified
A golden-haired, blue-eyed girl with one-quarter Irish ancestry. The Hayasaka family was once a prestigious name in Japan, but after losing to the Shinomiya family in corporate warfare, they were absorbed as a subsidiary. Following the collapse of the Hayasaka businesses, the Shinomiya family deemed their bloodline valuable enough to assimilate.
Born into this environment, Hayasaka Ai was destined from birth to become Kaguya's personal attendant—and, of course, a spy for the eldest Shinomiya son, Shinomiya Oko. (Planting spies among relatives was standard practice in the Shinomiya household.)
From a young age, this girl was denied the carefree upbringing of an ordinary child, forced to navigate the Shinomiya family's cutthroat politics and witness the grime of the adult world. As a result, despite being younger than Kaguya, Hayasaka appeared far more mature—and colder. She also possessed a chameleon-like ability to mimic personalities (a skill Kaguya lacked), effortlessly impersonating anyone regardless of age or gender with the right disguise.
Unlike the sheltered Kaguya, Hayasaka had weathered the storms of the real world. Even after officially becoming Kaguya's maid, her life didn't get easier. To manage Kaguya's needs and the estate staff, she woke at 5 AM daily, juggled school responsibilities alongside her mistress, and worked late into the night until Kaguya slept—often past midnight.
This 5-0-7 work schedule (no weekends, 12+ hour days) had persisted for years, with fewer than seven total days off in that time. Yet she endured, serving Kaguya with genuine devotion.
Honestly? If Takakai were in Hayasaka's shoes, he'd have annihilated the Shinomiya family long ago—even if it meant mutual destruction. But personal choices weren't his business. Beyond the child labor issues, he was more interested in her potential.
Shape and curves are decent—not as good as Fujiwara Chika or Yotsuya Miko, but better than Kaguya or Maki. With some adjustments, she could reach top tier.
This was Takakai's silent evaluation after glimpsing the petite maid's prone posture.
"Uu… I… uu… Shi… young mistress…"
Trembling, Hayasaka couldn't even stand. Tears pooled in her eyes.
After three days as a dog, her cognition had degraded. Speech was difficult. Even after Kaguya draped clothes over her, it took minutes seated on a stool for her to grasp she was human again.
"You handle calming her and explaining the situation. I'll gather intel."
Though Kaguya had already dressed Hayasaka, Takakai—ever polite—recalled the firefighter (who'd also kept his back turned) into the Rescue Team Badge. Then he picked up the redacted notebook, pausing to address Kaguya before reading.
"Thank you, Takakai-san."
Kaguya's quiet reply preceded her gentle briefing to Hayasaka.
Takakai trusted Kaguya to manage this. His focus was the notebook—now safer after the firefighter's censorship.
Most entries were mundane: dog counts, trivial notes. But a few stood out:
[July 17]
3 dogs added
1 dog eaten
■■■■ says there'll be many more dogs. Can eat as many as wanted.
[July 25]
5 dogs added
2 dogs eaten
■■■■ brought a child. ■■■■ says it's a dog, not a child. But it's a child. ■■■ doesn't understand.
[August 2]
1 dog added
1 child-dog added
1 dog eaten
■■■ is raising child-dog. Child-dog won't eat. What to do? ■■■■ says it's a dog. What if dog won't eat? ■■■■ says don't know.
[August 6]
3 dogs added
1 dog eaten
1 child-dog died
1 dog eaten
Child-dog starved to death. ■■■■ says can't waste it.
Dogs and dogs taste different, but still good. ■■■■ says all dogs are edible.
[August 7]
■■■■ says child-dogs are dogs, just look different.
Dogs disobey.
■■■ will make dogs obey. ■■■■ says disobedient dogs can be eaten.
Tasty.
[August 15]
Many dogs added—small and big.
■■■■ says any unruly intruders are dogs. All dogs can be eaten.
Dogs are tasty.
■■■ loves eating dogs.
Add seasoning. Eat dogs daily.
[September 2]
Many dogs came, but ■■■■ says only entered ones are edible.
Want to eat so many dogs…
One dog said could help ■■■. Would bring other dogs. This dog likes ■■■, so ■■■ won't eat it.
Dog brought three dogs. Good dog.
[September 10]
Good dog visits daily. ■■■ likes good dog.
■■■ has many dogs to eat, but won't eat good dog. ■■■■ says must eat dogs. ■■■ doesn't want to eat friend.
Good dog gave ■■■ a spoon. A gift. Good dog is ■■■■'s friend now. ■■■ won't eat friends.
[October 20]
■■■■ took good dog away. ■■■ misses good dog.
[November ??]
Good dog returned. Gave ■■■ an apron. Another gift from friend.
■■■ and good dog are forever friends.
Skipping repetitive sections, Takakai pieced together the grim truth:
The butcher—likely intellectually disabled—had been manipulated by the researchers. Children were fed to him as "dogs."
Even after all he'd witnessed, this cruelty made Takakai grit his teeth.
"Always the same. Even if justice comes, the victims still suffer. Maybe that's why people wish for hell—death's too kind for scum like this."
Setting the notebook down, he analyzed the redacted names:
■■■■ (early entries): Probably "Mr. Sato" or another researcher.
■■■■ (later): Likely Hachiya Chiyo.
■■■: The butcher's name—a cognitively impaired man twisted into a child's nightmare.
The fragments suggested:
Under pressure, Shirasawa Elementary expanded enrollment, admitting Hachiya Chiyo—an uncontrollable variable.
She befriended the butcher (■■■), becoming the "good dog" who gifted the apron and spoon.
Takakai rolled his 20-sided die. The result—18—confirmed his theory.
Preventive measures worked.
After checking for new [Friends], he confirmed: Redacting names in documents prevents cognitive contamination.
"Find anything?"
Kaguya—now finished briefing Hayasaka—watched warily as Takakai set the notebook aside.
"Redacted notes are safe. Read it, then we'll discuss."
His reassurance eased her tension. She accepted the grimy booklet, skimming for overlooked clues while Takakai stored the apron and approached Hayasaka.
The maid had stabilized, her initial shock fading. Kaguya had explained the Sacrifice Game, previous dungeons, and their current plight.
"Yo. Long time no see."
Takakai smirked at the girl who'd once tailed him relentlessly.
"…H-Hello, Mr. Takakai."
Hayasaka shrank slightly, clutching the oversized shirt. Confusion lingered in her eyes.
"This… can it be true? That Young Mistress… endured this horror twice? And must face it monthly? This nightmare…"
Her voice broke. Tears streamed down her face.
Normally, Hayasaka would've masked such vulnerability. But now, overwhelmed, her composure shattered.
"Yep. And she still came here to save you. So pull yourself together—Crimson Moon dungeons won't wait for tears. We've got work to do."
His bluntness startled her. Yet oddly, it grounded her.
This man… fears nothing here.
She recalled how effortlessly he'd evaded her surveillance, dismantled her disguises. How he'd saved her—crushing the butcher (she didn't know it was temporary) with inhuman strength.
Absolute power breeds absolute confidence.
No wonder Kaguya admired him.
Hayasaka steadied her breathing.
I can't be dead weight.
But one discomfort remained:
The urge to strip—a cognitive scar from her time as a dog. Clothes, accessories, even nail polish felt wrong. Like Takakai's aversion to knocking sounds or cave documentaries, she'd gained a new quirk.
I mustn't let this affect me…
Forcing composure, she met Takakai's gaze as he turned to Kaguya—who'd just finished the notebook.
"Takakai-san, why remove the apron?"
Kaguya's eyes flickered over his bare torso before she caught herself.
"It's a 'gift.' Wearing it might draw unwanted attention. Your thoughts?"
"Actually, about that—if it's a gift, could we trace the giver's identity or location?"
Business first, Kaguya pushed aside distractions (and the sight of Takakai's abs).