My Beautiful Childhood Friend Is Working in a Maid Cafe For Some Reason - Chapter 50

I was living my school life feeling somewhat uncomfortable due to Yukina’s continued behavior. At school, I spent much more time with Yukina. I didn’t understand her intentions.

However, for coming and going to school, I didn’t go with Yukina. I’m not sure if Yukina understood that it would be unwise, but she didn’t get involved with that. That felt like my only relief.

As this life continued, Friday arrived. I had planned to talk about Yukina’s sudden change at “Poplar,” which I couldn’t ask about at school. But that didn’t happen.

“Hm, a message?”

I received A message on the communication app “LEIN.” It was from my younger sister, Akari.

The message said she would come to make dinner tonight.

I have something I always do. Every Friday, I go to the maid cafe “Poplar” and eat omurice as a reward for the week.

But I wouldn’t refuse my blood-related sister coming over just to go there. After all, she’s my sister.

I sent a reply saying I understood and waited for Akari to arrive.

After a while, the doorbell rang.

When I opened the front door, there stood a girl with black hair in a side ponytail—my sister Akari.

“It’s been a while, big brother.”

“Yeah, it has. Oh, let me take your bags.”

“Thanks. I bought ingredients and stuff, so they’re heavy.”

I took the supermarket bags with food ingredients from Akari’s hands. Indeed, they were heavy. It would be tiring for a girl to carry them all the way.

“You must be tired. You should have called me.”

“Well, it’s like… exercise?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Akari showed off her thin, white arms and laughed, saying “Hehe.” I laughed along with her.

When Akari entered the room, she took off the backpack she was carrying. The loud noise it made caught my attention.

“What did you bring?”

“Hmm~ A change of clothes. I’m staying over tonight.”

“What!? I didn’t hear about this!”

“Well, I didn’t tell you, did I? Is it not okay?”

“It’s not that it’s not okay, but… Does Mom know?”

“Yeah. Actually, Mom told me to come. She was worried about your nutrition, so she asked me to come cook for you.”

“I-I see.”

While thinking Mom should have told me beforehand, I felt her concern.

“More importantly! Big brother, don’t you have anything to say to me?”

Akari spun around once. Her uniform skirt swayed gently.

“Huh, what?”

“Geez. My uniform. Your sister’s u-ni-form!”

Akari puffed her cheeks. Not sure what the big deal was about the uniform, I decided to compliment her anyway.

“Oh, right. It suits you.”

“That’s right. That’s what I wanted to hear. Thanks, big brother.”

Good. It seems complimenting her was the right choice.
I felt relieved seeing Akari happy, saying “Hehe.”

“I’ve only seen it in photos, but seeing it in person really makes me realize you’ve become a high school student.”

“Right? I’m finally a high school girl!”

Akari had just entered an all-girls high school a few months ago. I had seen a photo of her in uniform taken in front of the school gate on the day of the entrance ceremony, but seeing it in person is something else. It really suits her, and I’m not just saying that.

“Well then, I’ll start making dinner now.”

“What are you making?”

“Meat spaghetti!”

“Oh, sounds good. I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’ll show you how much my cooking skills have improved!”

Akari put on the apron she brought over her uniform. Then, she took the ingredients she bought and headed straight to the kitchen.

Akari has always been good at cooking. I sit quietly in a chair, trying not to get in her way.

“How’s school?”

“It’s fun! Everyone’s nice.”

“I see.”

“You know, I joined the cooking club.”

“Even though you’re already good at it?”

“Well, I didn’t have anything else I particularly wanted to do. I thought if I could get even better, why not?”

“Hmm.”

So that means Akari’s already good cooking skills have improved even more. I’m looking forward to it even more now.

After a while, the skillfully prepared meat spaghetti was served. A fragrant aroma tickled my nose.

“Let’s eat.”

I picked up my fork and took a bite. Mm, it’s delicious. The most delicious thing I’ve eaten recently.

“How is it?”

“It’s super delicious!”

“I’m glad!”

“Akari, you’ll make a good wife.”

“G-geez. Stop saying weird things and hurry up and eat.”

I meant it as a compliment, but Akari didn’t seem to take it well, either because she was happy or embarrassed.

“I’ll do the dishes, so you can go take a bath first.”

“Okay, got it. Thanks, big brother.”

“I can’t leave everything to my little sister. There are towels in the washroom.”

I headed to the kitchen with the dishes, while Akari was taking out a change of clothes from her backpack.

I need to be careful not to end up like last time with Yukina. Even if it’s family, seeing someone naked is worse than seeing a stranger. But seeing my sister naked is absolutely not okay.

“Big brother, don’t peek, okay?”

“What kind of brother peeks at his sister in the bath?”

“Haha, that’s true. Well, I’m going in then.”

While Akari was in the bath, I finished washing the dishes and sat in a chair waiting for her to come out.

A little while later, Akari came out drying her hair with a towel. Her beautiful black hair was let down. Its length was not much different from Yukina’s, and I found myself staring.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“No, I was just thinking how similar…”

“Similar to who?”

Asked that, I shook my head. That was dangerous. I’ve started thinking about Yukina unconsciously. She’s not here now, so I shouldn’t be thinking about her.

“It’s nothing.”

“Hmm. Well then, it’s your turn to take a bath, big brother.”

“Ah, right.”

I went to take a bath.

When I came out of the bath, Akari was dozing off on the sofa.

“Akari. You can use my bed if you want.”

“Okay…”

“Alright. Well, wake up for a moment.”

“Mmm, carry me on your back. Piggyback. I don’t want to walk.”

Thinking she did cook for me, I gave Akari a piggyback ride.

“Big brother…”

Carrying Akari on my back as she leaned her weight on me with a sweet voice, I went to the room and sat her on the bed before laying her down.

I covered the now soundly sleeping Akari with a thin blanket and left the room. With nothing else to do, I decided to sleep too. I lay down on the sofa and closed my eyes.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of a continuously ringing doorbell. I had a bad feeling. Feeling a chill, I approached the front door.

On the way, the doorbell sound stopped, replaced by loud knocking on the door. My bad feeling turned into certainty.

I opened the door and silently confirmed who it was.
As I had expected, it was Yukina. She seemed angry and barged in without a word.

“Why didn’t you come yesterday?!”

“Uh, well, that’s…”

“I was worried something might have happened to Yusuke!”

Apparently, she was worried because I didn’t come to “Poplar” without notice. I felt sorry, but it couldn’t be helped. After all, I don’t know Yukina’s contact information.

“S-sorry. Actually—”

“Mmm~… What’s with all the noise so early in the morning…?”

Akari came out rubbing her sleepy eyes, probably disturbed by Yukina’s loud voice.

“Ah, Aka—”

“W-who is that girl…?”

It seems Yukina didn’t recognize Akari, probably because they hadn’t met for several years. Even though they used to play together so much in the past.

As I was about to explain that it was Akari, Yukina had an end-of-the-world expression on her face.

“Yu-Yusuke… Yusuke brought home a girl I don’t know—!”

It seems Yukina has made a huge misunderstanding.