My Beautiful Childhood Friend Is Working in a Maid Cafe For Some Reason - Chapter 38

“Why do you look so tired?”

“Shut up… I’m stressed out.”

Mainly because of you!

Right now, I’m being served by Yukina, whom I’ve run into for the third time at the maid cafe “Poplar.” As usual, she’s sitting right next to me.

I have no idea why I keep bumping into Yukina like this.

I came here on Friday for a reward—to eat some omelet rice—yet here I am, dealing with Yukina again.

As I try to ignore her and look forward, I see Miyuki and Aoi peeking at us from behind a corner, smiling as if they find this amusing. That just adds to my frustration.

But what’s really bothering me isn’t any of that.

The biggest thing weighing on my mind right now is the upcoming midterm exams.

Taichi warned me about daily supplementary lessons during summer vacation. Just hearing those words makes anyone realize it’s hell. It’s exactly as it sounds—hell.

Daily supplementary lessons during summer vacation make it feel like there’s no summer vacation at all.

It’s not like I want to have a typical summer experience by going to the pool, the beach, or summer festivals. That all sounds like a hassle. The best way to spend summer vacation is lazing around in an air-conditioned room.

But just because I don’t have plans doesn’t mean I want to attend supplementary lessons every day. I’d rather stay indoors if I have nothing to do, so daily lessons are absolutely out of the question.

That’s why, just as Taichi told me, I’ve been studying even after school. I’ve been trying my best within my limits.

But I haven’t made much progress.

Since I never really paid attention in class, I knew this would happen, but facing my own stupidity is nothing but regretful. I should’ve studied more seriously.

Just as I let out a sigh, Yukina leans in to look at me.

“Hey, are you really okay? If you need special advice, I’m here for you.”

I must be at my wit’s end if even Yukina is worried about me…

“…I don’t understand my studies.”

“Studies?”

Yukina looks puzzled, as if it’s rare for me to mention the word “studies.” But then she claps her hands as if she’s figured it out.

“Oh, right, the midterm exams are coming up.”

There’s no hint of worry on Yukina’s face as she mentions the midterms. She seems completely confident she’ll get through them again this time, and I can’t help but feel a bit envious.

“What, are you actually studying, Yusuke?”

“…Just a little. But I don’t understand anything. I’m not even sure what it means to understand something anymore.”

Studying alone is pointless for someone as stupid as me.

No matter how much effort I put into working with my limited knowledge, it’s useless.

And the more I struggle, the more my mind gets tangled in a mess of confusion. Just like now.

“You really are an idiot, Yusuke.”

Ouch… I want to argue back, but there’s nothing I can say.

“…Hey, do you want me to help you study?”

“Huh…?”

To be honest, if Yukina’s willing to teach me, it would be a huge help. Her smart brain explaining things to me would be much better than me struggling alone.

But why is she suddenly offering this?

Yukina shouldn’t care whether I fail or not. So why is she suddenly offering to help me study… There must be some ulterior motive!

“…What’s your angle?”

“W-What are you talking about?!”

“Well, you don’t usually act nice out of nowhere. I can only think you’ve got something in mind.”

“How can you think that far ahead when you’re so dumb? What? Is it that strange for me to be nice to you?”

“Yeah.”

You act so high and mighty all the time. It’s your own fault.

“Jeez… I was just trying to be nice since you said you wanted me to be kinder…”

Yukina mutters, sounding a bit deflated.

Wait… Is she really not up to something?

Is this just a kind gesture?

Seeing the somewhat sad expression on Yukina’s face makes me feel guilty. Maybe I hurt her feelings with my assumptions.

“S-Sorry, Yukina… That was rude of me.”

“It’s fine… It’s not your fault. My behavior caused this, so I can’t blame you.”

So she does realize it… in a way.

It’s true that Yukina’s usual behavior led to this, but this time, I’m clearly the one in the wrong. Apologizing is the right thing to do.

Besides, if she’s willing to teach me, I should take advantage of that for my own sake.

“I-I know this is selfish after what I said, but…”

“Yeah?”

“If you’re okay with it, could you teach me? To be honest, I really don’t want to spend every day of summer vacation in supplementary lessons.”

“Yeah, you’re in your third year. The midterms don’t decide everything, but you want to minimize the things that make you anxious, right?”

“Yeah, exactly.”

This is a very selfish request.

I’m just using Yukina so I can enjoy my summer vacation.

“Sure. I’ll help you study.”

Even though it’s a totally selfish request, Yukina agrees without hesitation.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Today, Yukina is unusually kind.

It’s like she’s returned to the way she used to be.

Maybe I need to change my biased view of Yukina.

“Thank y—”

“So, on the last day of exams, we’re going out for ramen!”

“…What!?”

Wait, ramen? On the last day of exams?

Where did that come from?

“What? Did you really think I’d help you for free? No way.”

Yukina says this as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world, seeing my dumbfounded expression.

“But you’re being kind…”

“That’s why I’m helping you, right?”

“Then why ramen?”

“It’s my payment, of course.”

…I knew it. I knew something was off.

It’s impossible for Yukina to be nice to me without any reason.

And yet, I misunderstood, thinking she looked sad… I’m such an idiot. Not just in studies, but also in reading my childhood friend’s intentions.

“Just so you know, teaching you is a special favor!”

There’s no need to act all tsundere now…

“So, do you want my help, or do you want to spend your summer vacation miserably?”

An ultimatum.

But I have no other choice.

“…Please.”

“Good. And remember, you’re paying for the ramen!”

“…Yeah, I got it.”

And so, I ended up getting Yukina to help me study, at the cost of something important.