A girl in dark blue hair and a green suit was in a colorful background, as she spoke to the audience.

"Hello. I'm Hanako West, head of Tokyo's Branch of Maidens for Hire. Thank you for using our newest project for over five years – the revolutionary device in all of Japan.
Our Maidens for Hire, Butlers for Hire, and Children for Care provide guaranteed service. Maidens serve and cook and clean, while Butlers tend to serve you well, while our Children work hard, for those who want a child. These beautiful androids are long-lasting, and can perform at 100% efficiency.
As part of our five year celebration, of one of the greatest inventions of all-time, we're offering half-price for a Maiden, Butler, or Children, for the next two months."

She showed a display of Maidens and Butlers, standing in attention, as Hanako continued, "For 2,500 Yen a month, rent your Maiden, Butler, or adopt your Child, today. Act now, and you can also receive FREE repairs, for one month, provided if they are working good. Maidens for Hire – guaranteed service, or your money back."

A girl with long black hair and a gray school uniform was watching the commercial. She asked, "Amazing… A Butler for Hire?"

She thought, as she remembered her moments with Mamoru Chiba, a boy she dated, long ago. She then said that it'll be closure, plus to get back at her friend, Usagi.

This is the continuing story of Maidens for Hire and its successful follow-ups, Butlers for Hire and Children for Care. These androids tend to serve humans well, including others. Maidens for Hire offer cooking and cleaning, and giving happiness. Butlers for Hire serve them, to make their lives enjoying. And Children for Care are the latest creation, as they are introduced to perform routines and acts, as a child does.

For five years, the Maidens and others have become a very successful product, at 2,500 Yen a month, in rental fees. However, they were overlooked, as they were replaced by newer inventions, such as iPhones, iPads, and social internet, and were overshadowed by other means of the robotic kind (but you already know what we're talking about). Of course, Hanako West, daughter of Takana West, who serves as partner to Founder and Creator Koyomi Mizuhara, decided to take things one step further. The Maidens and Butlers are all reprogrammed and rebuilt, with the newer functions, as does the proper social media. She created a brand-new software, a predecessor to Pleasure Mode, called "Host Mode", similar to how Skype, Facebook, and Twitter does, Host Mode is to contact the company OR those who also own a Maiden, Butler, or Child. This was the start of a brand new beginning, as Miss West promises to make things smoother and better.
The Maidens for Hire… are back.

Maiden Universe #17:
Rei & Mamoru's Romance Mode

In Tokyo, a girl was on the computer, typing in her name and address. She said that since her grandfather is busy handling the shrine, a robot butler may be perfect to watch over her shrine and small house. She even stated that she'd love to create a new Maiden or Butler, as a gift for Mako and Minako. She didn't bother giving one to Usagi, of course.

"Maidens are delicate girls, despite being robots." She said, "Usagi wouldn't handle one. She wouldn't last a whole month, since she spends it on snacks and stuff. More importantly, it'll be great to talk with Mako about this."

Her name was Rei Hino, age 16. She is a shrine maiden in the Hikawa Shrine, and works there, full-time. While she is a beautiful high school girl, she also has a secret within her. She is actually Sailor Mars, the Sailor Guardian of Passion.

Rei finished, as she was given the window on her computer screen:
"Congratulations. You may now choose what your Butler for Hire will look like. NOTE: Custom-Made Models are 500 Yen extra."

"500 Yen extra? Hmm… … …I suppose I should."

She was upset that she had to create a Butler that resembles her former crush, Mamoru, who left her for Usagi, since Sailor Mars, her alter-ego, is bodyguard to Sailor Moon, the Moon Princess, or Usagi, for short. She then smiled and said, "Good. And done."

The Butler order was set, as she said, "All that's left is to wait. I mean, someone needs to help out in the shrine. Besides, Usagi would love one, if she matures enough."

Suddenly, she felt a chill within her, as she said, "Strange… Why do I feel something? Could it be a monster, again?"

She sat up and said, "No… I guess not. Anyway, I'm not that worried."

She went to another room, as she was relaxing in her bed. She waited a whole month for her new Butler.

XXXXX

Time went on, as Rei was talking to Usagi, a girl with long blonde hair, done in long pigtails and buns. Usagi gasped, as she cried, "WHOA! You ordered a brand-new Butler for Hire? I thought those things were obsolete!"

Rei said, "Oh, it's nothing, Usagi. The commercial said that the Maidens for Hire have improved. Thanks to the new technology that was installed within them, Host Mode will be a thing of beauty."

Usagi giggled, "Ohhhh, I'm so jealous of you, Rei-Chan. I wish I can afford one… but my allowance sucks…"

Rei said, as she giggled, "It's alright. I'll let you see him, one day, when I get the chance."

Makoto, a girl with brown hair, done in a ponytail, dressed in a green jacket, long blue skirt, and a scarf, appeared at the shrine, as she asked, "Oh, hey, guys. Were you talking about those Maidens for Hire?"

Usagi smiled, "Oh, yes, Mako-Chan. Rei here bought herself a Butler for Hire, and she-."

Makoto stated, "Uh, yeah, sure. I'm surprised that you had to go to the trouble to get yourself a domestic robot."

"Well, I had to do something." Rei explained, "Personally, I'm aware of that they look human, and they can be trusted, since they obey the laws and rules of their programming. But in Butlers, in general, I don't trust in men, all the time."

Usagi asked, "What about Mamoru?"

Rei said, "That's ancient history. I told you, Usagi, I'm over him. He's your boyfriend, after all."

Makoto said, "She's right."

Usagi blushed, "You think so?"

She asked Makoto, "OH! Hey, Mako, you think you can get yourself a Maiden and Butler for Hire, maybe?"

Makoto said, "Nah, I'll pass. In fact, I don't ever buy something like that."

Usagi stated, "Oh, right. I forget that you do the same duties as a Maiden for Hire. You give guaranteed service, to us and to Motoki."

Makoto blushed, as she whispered, "At least I'm human…"

Rei smiled, as she giggled, "Well, I am waiting for my Butler to arrive, soon. The email I got said that it would take about 3-4 business weeks. Maidens and Butlers don't get built, in a rush. Plus, like Tuxedo Mask, they have wonderful tuxedos."

Usagi blushed, in awe, but then whined, "AW, WHY ME? I WANT ONE! I WANT ONE! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

She started to bawl, as she wept, "WHY DOES MY MOM GIVE ME MONEY THAT CAN ONLY WHISTLE IN MY POCKETS? I CAN'T AFFORD TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED YEN A MONTH!"

She continued to bawl, as Rei giggled, "Jealous…"

Three weeks passed, as Rei was at the front door of her house, bringing in her new Butler for Hire. It was in a tall large box, as she opened it. It showed a huge silver capsule, with the name "Mamoru" on the front, in black lettering. Rei stood it straight up, as she said, "Beautiful. My Butler…"

She held up the instructions, as she read:
"You are now in possession of your brand-new Butler for Hire. As requested, he is a custom-made Butler Model, for 3,000 Yen a month. His name is Mamoru Model #D1R136.
Please follow the instructions to activate him: Step one – open sealed capsule of your servant, by pressing the red button on the side. Step two – plug your Butler for Hire in, close to a wall, and wait about 30 minutes; for superb and faster results, please wait an hour, while he is plugged in. Step three – activate by pressing the button on his waist; NOTE: DO NOT strip your Butler down. Just press the button, above his hip."

Rei nodded, "Works for me. Welcome, Mamoru…"

She pressed the red button, as the capsule opened. A gust of spewed out of the capsule, as Mamoru, a Butler with black hair and a black tuxedo was inside. He has a rose on the front of his suit, as Rei blushed. She even said, "If I had a mask and top hat, he'll be my very own Tuxedo Mask. Beautiful."

She slapped herself in the face, as she grumbled, "No! You're over that. It's not right of my to think of her, but…"

She smiled, "Maybe it's for the best."

She held up a plug and said, "For the best… Plugged in, and we're good to go. Thirty minutes will be fine. I'm surprised that they improved on the product, not after the rumors I heard about defective merchandise, runaway androids, and virus issues. It's not a computer, well, sort of. I wonder if it runs on Windows 10."

She waited a whole half an hour, as Rei decided to turn him on. She then said, "Okay. Time to activate my new Mamoru Butler."

She hugged him and said, "Mamo-Chan… As Usagi called him… I am over him. But I want to remember him. All that is in the past, but I still have friends, like her. Usagi, forgi-."

She gasped, as she suddenly felt a jolt of her memory. She saw a vision of Mamoru, in the same Butler Uniform, as he extended his hand to her.

"Rei… I love you… Don't leave me, now… not after we have met. Please… I love you, so much…"

The vision ended, as Rei shook off. She whispered, "What was that about? Was this your doing?"

She smiled, "No, of course not. You were turned off. At least, for now. Awaken!"

She prayed, as she felt the button, "Please… Guardians of Mars, please do not give me a defective Butler. Rin. Pyo. Tou. Sha. Kai. Jin. Retsu. Zai. ZEN!"

She pressed the button on his waist, as Mamoru opened his eyes, showing a faded reddish brown shade. Rei looked up, as she blushed, "Mamoru…"

Mamoru bowed and said, "Hello, Miss Hino. My name is Mamoru Model D1R136. I will be your Butler for Hire, for today, madam."

Rei was shocked, as she said, "M-m-m-m-m-Madam? No one ever called me madam, before… How regal and noble."

She smiled and calmed down, "Hello. My name is Rei Hino. Welcome to my home."

Mamoru said, "Thank you. Shall I assist you, Madam Hino? I am here for your guaranteed service."

Rei smiled, "Oh, well, yes. In fact, I'd like to ask you about your Host Mode, before we begin."

Mamoru said, "Say no more, my dear. You see, once you order a Maiden for Hire, online, your account is saved to your email address, and to learn more about the products that the Maidens for Hire has to offer. I, of course, am already recorded with your name and address. Would you like to update your profile, before we begin?"

"Maybe later. In fact, shall we begin? You're like a Maiden for Hire, actually, right?"

"Yes, ma'am. However, I do not clean or cook. But I do, however, serve you well. Either way, I do not wish to push myself, unlike the others that came before me. I live to serve, ma'am."

Rei smiled, as she said, "Well, you do tend to serve to guests. I can enjoy cleaning and cooking, by myself. You're more than welcome to make yourself at home."

Mamoru sat down, as he said to Rei, "You know, you're a friendly woman… And I do wish I could learn more about you… Although…"

"Although what?"

"You are very familiar. Do I recognize you from somewhere?"

"Oh, that was probably a glitch. Anyway, since you enjoy serving to guests, do you always perform tasks?"

"Well, not to be boring, but Butlers have very little jobs than Maidens. Maidens tend to cook, clean, and do anything that the user desires. Butlers, on the other hand, we don't cook. But we still do chores."

Rei said, as she stood up, "Good. In that case, how about you look around the house for any clutter you find. While you're here, you can look around the house, to know the place, really well."

She then asked, "By the way, I was wondering… My grandfather would be a bit stickler, seeing you here in the shrine. Do you wish to help us out, one day, in the Hikawa Shrine? We've always wanted to assure a steady service, seeing that we welcome visitors for prayers."

The Butler asked, "Miss Hino, are you offering me a job?"

"Yes. I happen to work at the Hikawa Shrine, myself. And I needed new hands, since Yuuichiro left to travel the world. But then again, I doubt Maidens and Butlers would disapprove of outside jobs…"

Mamoru shook his head and chuckled, "Miss Hino, I'd be delighted. But according to bylaws of Maidens for Hire Inc., the proprietor must declare consent and permission, in order to have the proper Maiden or Butler for Hire to work for the user's employer. In short, your grandfather must sign his name on a written permission slip, and it'll be sent to the offices of Maidens for Hire HQ in Higashimurayama, the birthplace of my older models."

Rei bowed and said, "So be it. I think we have a printer at the shrine. Allow me to be your likeable and mild-tempered user. I can always invite Grandpa over, and he'll sign it here."

She thought, "If I bring the Butler with me, then I'd run into Usagi, or anybody, along the way… Imagine what they'd say about me…"

Ami, a girl in blue hair, said, as she was saddened, "Oh, Rei… How could you?"

Mako said, as she was shocked, "NO WAY! You and Mamoru?!"

Usagi pleaded, as she was crying, "I HATE YOU, REI! YOU TOOK MY MAMO-CHAN AWAY FROM ME?"

Rei thought, as she calmed down, "But we talked about it, before. Butlers for Hire resemble humans, exactly. And it's no joke, after all. Maidens and Butlers are human-like, but they're all mechanical. Usagi wouldn't do that… Right?"

She was worried, as Mamoru asked, "Is something wrong, Ma'am?"

Rei said, "Uh, yeah… I'm gonna go lie down. Enjoy your stay, Mamoru… I mean… … … Mamo-Chan."

He gasped, "Is that a pet name?"

Rei said nothing, as she walked to her room. He looked around said, unplugging himself, "Well, since I am here, I shall now scope her domicile, for any bad signs of dirt, dust, and clutter. Luckily, I can't have a Butler for Hire soil himself, with these hardcore chores."

He looked around the front room and began cleaning the room in a swift matter. His Dirt Tracker spotted a lone patch of dust on her coffee table, as he used his duster to clean it off. He finished, and then moved on to the next room.

As he was cleaning, Rei was in bed, lying down, thinking. She then said that it was a great idea to own a Butler for Hire, but is it wise to create a Butler that resembles Usagi's boyfriend? As she thought, she fell asleep. She then whispered, in a quiet voice, "Mamo-… Ungh… Mamo-Chan… Why did you leave me?"

After that, she passed out. Mamoru approached the room, as he placed the covers over Rei. He nodded and said, "Rei… Sleep well… madam…"

To be continued…