My Beautiful Childhood Friend Is Working in a Maid Cafe For Some Reason - Chapter 25-26

Chapter 25: I Met My Childhood Friend Again at the Maid Cafe (3)

“What?” I don’t need to say it. She knows.

Yukina’s face is bright red, and pointing it out would be cruel. Though, if I wanted to tease her and see her cute reaction, I might say it. But doing that would likely get me banned by Miyuki-san and the others.

I glanced at Yukina, who was fidgeting with her head down. As I’ve mentioned before, there’s a part of Yukina that hasn’t grown much. Many people in the world prefer bigger, well, certain things. But, there are also those who like smaller ones. I’m in the middle.

“Ah, well, maybe someday you’ll grow.”

It’s almost hopeless, though.

“What, are you telling me to give up?!”

“I’m not saying that. Don’t lose hope.”

There’s a faint chance, after all…

“Hmph, whatever. I can never be like Miyuki-senpai anyway.”

Yukina pouted.

Seeing Yukina like that made me think of something.

“Well, I think you’re fine as you are.”

“What… do you mean I’m attractive enough as I am?”

“To the public, yes.”

It’s true that Yukina is cute, and she does have some charm. Besides, if Yukina became like Miyuki-san, something inside me might break.

I don’t know why Yukina turned into such a tsundere queen, but recently we’ve been interacting more. It feels like fate is meddling again, but I can’t say I dislike it. Annoying as it is.

If Yukina suddenly became like Miyuki-san, I’d be confused and might start avoiding her again. It wouldn’t be a huge problem, but it would be somewhat unpleasant.

So, I want Yukina to stay as she is… what am I thinking? Childhood friends can be really troublesome. Getting reconnected after being distant brings back old feelings and makes me think weird things.

But Yukina and I aren’t like that anymore.

“What do you think, Yusuke? Do you find me attractive?”

“Huh? What are you saying all of a sudden…”

“Answer me!”

If you’re embarrassed, don’t ask…

Yukina looked at me with upturned, teary eyes. That’s unfair…

“…I think you’re cute.”

Embarrassing…!

“Really?!”

Yukina’s face lit up, but then she quickly turned away.

“Just so you know, that doesn’t mean I’ll do anything special for you!”

Though she sounded angry, her quivering mouth suggested she wasn’t really upset. She actually seemed somewhat happy.

“I get it. By the way, there’s something I’ve been wondering.”

“What?”

“You weren’t here for the past two weeks. What days do you work?”

Asking indirectly shouldn’t upset her. Even though I know she doesn’t work on Fridays, I need to find out for future visits.

“Do you really want to come on the days I’m here?”

“No.”

Actually, I’d prefer to come on the days you’re not here!

“Just making small talk. Also, it’s unfair you know my work days and I don’t know yours.”

By Yukina’s logic, I have the right to know her schedule too. So, tell me.

“Monday and Wednesday.”

“Monday and Wednesday… then why are you here today?”

“That doesn’t matter! Anyway, your omelet rice should be ready soon. Just wait a moment!”

“Hey…”

Yukina hurried to the kitchen, trying to cover her embarrassment.

Maybe, like with Miyuki-san, she’s covering for someone’s shift. Asking further would be pointless.

Yukina returned with my “delicious omelet rice.” A ketchup bottle nearby brought back unpleasant memories.

“Hehe, what should I do?”

Yukina laughed, probably recalling my previous suffering. Cold sweat ran down my back.

“H-Hey, not again…”

“Just kidding. I’ll do it right today.”

“Huh?”

Yukina opened the ketchup and poured a reasonable amount on the omelet. She didn’t say “delicious, delicious” like before, probably embarrassed since it’s me.

Instead…

“Taste good…!”

She added a typical tsundere phrase to the dish.

I took a spoonful of the omelet. The taste was as perfect as always, but it felt different somehow.

“How is it?”

Yukina asked nervously.

I see, it’s because it’s Yukina’s cooking.

“Not bad.”

Yukina smiled, satisfied with my response. I managed to finish the omelet rice without any suffering.

—

Chapter 26: My Childhood Friend Comes to Visit Me on My Days Off (1)

“Alright, time to stop here and make some dinner.”

I closed the light novel *”Welcome to the Maid Cafe” after reaching a good stopping point, and I placed it on my desk. It was just past evening, the perfect time for dinner.

What should I make today…?

I can’t cook anything too complicated, but I can handle simple dishes. Ever since I started living alone, I thought it wouldn’t be good to rely solely on convenience store meals or eating out, so I started cooking.

Since I have tomorrow off, maybe I’ll make curry. Curry is convenient. With minimal effort, I can make enough for several meals. If I get tired of eating it with rice, I can just boil some udon.

I should still have the ingredients.

I stood up from my chair and started heading to the kitchen.

Then, the doorbell rang, announcing a visitor.

Who could it be?

I don’t mean to brag, but hardly anyone visits my apartment. I don’t have any special relationships within the building, and I haven’t told any friends about where I live. The only friend who knows where I live is Haru.

None of my family members mentioned they were coming today…

As I was thinking about this, the doorbell rang again.

Persistent, aren’t they…

Feeling annoyed, I headed to the entrance. The bell kept ringing, with shorter intervals each time.

By the time I reached the door, instead of the bell, there was a loud, continuous knocking on the door.

Whoever it is, they’re kind of scary…

I cautiously opened the door halfway.

“Yes, who is—?”

I quickly tried to shut the door as soon as I saw who it was. But the person outside started banging on it again.

“Hey! Why did you close the door?!”

A voice came from the other side of the door.

Why didn’t I just pretend I wasn’t home? But if she keeps making a fuss, it’ll bother the neighbors…

Reluctantly, I opened the door.

“You’re slow! Hurry up and let me in!”

Standing in front of me was Yukina, dressed in a tracksuit, looking pale. Her hair was messy, and she was wearing glasses—just like the day I first found out she lived next door.

“Wh-What is it?”

I asked nervously, noticing Yukina seemed a bit frantic.

Then, Yukina said—

“I’m coming in!”

“Hey, wait a minute!”

Without asking for my permission, she pushed her way into my apartment.

I could sue you for trespassing!

I closed the door and hurried after Yukina.

“Hey, what’s the big idea just showing up like this?”

I yelled at Yukina, who was now standing in my living room.

Seriously, barging into my place without permission… doesn’t she have any common sense?

“It came out…”

Yukina’s body trembled as she answered.

“It came out…? What did?”

Yukina made a bitter face, as if she didn’t even want to say the words.

“That creepy black thing… The enemy of humanity that makes a rustling sound.”

The creepy black thing… The enemy of humanity that makes a rustling sound—

“Oh, a cockroa—”

“Don’t say that word!”

Before I could finish saying “cockroach,” Yukina shouted, stopping me.

“Saying that word is a serious offense. Got it?!”

“O-Okay, I got it… But still, why did you come to my place?”

Not that it matters, but barging into someone’s place without permission is a serious offense too, Yukina. You should understand that.

“Well, obviously because I had nowhere else to go!”

“Why didn’t you just go back to your parents’ house? It’s not that far, right?”

“I can’t. My mom and dad went to my grandma’s place today and won’t be back until tomorrow.”

“But you have a key, right? You could just go home and stay there alone.”

“I’m scared to be alone! What if the enemy shows up at home too?”

“Then why not go to a friend’s house—”

Wait, Yukina doesn’t have any friends she could visit. That was close. It would be cruel to say something like that to someone who’s a loner.

“How about going to an internet cafe?”

“It’s dangerous to go to an internet cafe at this time of night!”

“Then why did you come to my place…?”

“Because you’re the only one I can rely on, Yusuke…”

“…!”

As a guy, it doesn’t feel bad to hear that. I might just be flattered, but it doesn’t feel bad… I’m simple like that.

“So, what do you want me to do?”

“Well…”

Yukina seemed embarrassed as she hesitated, fidgeting. Then, with a determined look, she lifted her head and stared straight at me.

“I want to stay here tonight!”

“Huh?”

Yukina, staying here? In this apartment?

“That’s out of the ques—”

“No refusing! It’s already decided!”

It seemed like Yukina had already made up her mind. Her face was bright red as she said it.

“If you refuse, where am I supposed to go? Tell me a place that’s safe and secure, and I’ll go there instead!”

Even if I tried to think of somewhere, nothing good came to mind. Besides, anything I suggest would probably be shot down with some ridiculous reasoning…

But who decided my apartment was a safe place?

“…I live here too, you know. Are you telling me to leave?”

“I’m not saying that! What do you take me for?”

An annoying, bossy tsundere childhood friend.

“Actually, I don’t want to be alone, so stay here with me.”

It seems like I’m allowed to stay in my own apartment.

But still, spending the night under the same roof with someone of the opposite sex, especially at our age… that’s just not right.