My Beautiful Childhood Friend Is Working in a Maid Cafe For Some Reason - Chapter 58

“So, Senpai and that beautiful woman are childhood friends!”

Tadokoro from the Maid Club said this, grinning in a way that was already irritating for some reason.

“So what if we are?”

“Nothing! I just want to hear all about the romance between childhood friends!”

“Huh?”

“Come on, come on!”

She looked at me with shining eyes full of expectation. She resembled a dog eagerly waiting for its treat.

“I’m pretty sure there’s some duct tape in this classroom, right?”

“What are you planning to do with duct tape?”

“Shut your mouth.”

“Wh-what are you planning to do after shutting my mouth?!”

Tadokoro struck a defensive pose, much like Yukina used to do. Because of her more developed figure compared to Yukina’s, the stance somehow suited her.

…Are all high school girls like this these days?

“Senpai, you’re staring too much. Should I tell your girlfriend?”

“It’s just your imagination. I’m not interested. And she’s not my girlfriend.”

“Then why are you leaning forward like that?”

“It’s just bad posture. Don’t worry about it.”

Yeah, my back suddenly started hurting, so I was just slouching. I definitely wasn’t glued to my kouhai’s chest.

“Senpai, even if you’re not interested in my body, that childhood friend of yours should be enough for you. Have you gotten bored with her already?”

“Alright, let’s step outside. And don’t come back in.”

“Isn’t that a bit harsh for a fellow club member?!”

“Sigh… Listen, Yukina and I don’t have the kind of relationship you’re imagining.”

Yes, our relationship has changed a lot compared to the distant state it was in recently. We’ve been talking more and more every day—nothing like how we used to not speak at all.

But it’s just a return to how close we were as childhood friends. We’re not anything more than that.

“But you call each other by name?”

“That’s just how Yukina and I are.”

“Hmm, I see.”

She continued to grin up at me. I sighed and sat down in my chair.

“Senpai, you really care about your childhood friend, don’t you?”

“Why are you bringing that up all of a sudden?”

“Because, you helped your childhood friend out of trouble in front of so many people! And you even stood up for her!”

“Y-you saw that…?”

“Yup, perfectly clear.”

It’s embarrassing enough to be seen by strangers, but when it’s someone you know, it feels a hundred times worse. Did Akiba see it too?

I’ll ask him about it later…

“There was a huge rumor going around about how the two most popular people in school confessed their feelings to each other. I got dragged along to watch it.”

“The speed at which news spreads is scary… That happened in the middle of the homeroom and it had already spread?”

“I was shocked too! It’s like that cafeteria incident recently—crazy, right?”

“Yeah, totally. The crazy part is that people don’t know they have a right to privacy.”

“Exactly! Because of that, I…”

Suddenly, Tadokoro’s voice trailed off.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s… nothing. Anyway, back to you, Senpai!”

I recalled that she had looked gloomy the other day too, but I pushed that thought aside as I focused on the cheerful Tadokoro in front of me now.

Maybe it was just my imagination?

“That guy who confessed to your childhood friend was the worst. He was so persistent, even though she turned him down. I hate people like that!”

“You’re really letting him have it. But yeah, I agree.”

“He was getting bashed on the message boards too!”

“Well, that’s unfortunate.”

I thought to myself that he deserved it, but as someone who had faced similar ridicule, I couldn’t help feeling a bit sorry for him. Rest in peace…

“Well, it’s inevitable. He grabbed her arm after she turned him down. Senpai, it was a good thing you stepped in when you did. If he had kept holding onto her arm, he would have felt your childhood friend’s chest too.”

Tadokoro clasped her hands together and closed her eyes as she said something outrageous, making me burst out laughing.

Y-Yukina’s chest…!?

“From that reaction, I guess you didn’t know? Apparently, a girl’s upper arm feels just like her chest.”

“R-really…? Well, that’s… good, I guess?”

“Of course it is!”

Tadokoro puffed out her chest confidently.

The feel of an upper arm is the same as a chest… Yukina may be small, but she’s still a girl. I should definitely avoid grabbing her upper arm.

“Anyway, while that guy’s reputation took a nosedive, yours shot through the roof, Senpai!”

“Huh!?”

“Yeah! After you helped your childhood friend out, people in class were saying how cool you were. Even I felt a tiny bit of excitement.”

“Why… do I not feel happy about this at all?”

To begin with, just watching Yukina makes the idea of being popular terrifying. The fact that I’m even thinking like this means I’m beyond help. My brain must be broken.

“Hey, Senpai.”

“What is it?”

“Just hypothetically… Hypothetically, if I were in the same situation as your childhood friend, would you help me?”

Tadokoro’s expression suddenly looked anxious, making her seem oddly vulnerable.

If Tadokoro were in Yukina’s place…

Honestly, this annoying kouhai would probably handle things herself. She’d thrash around, maybe even bite them.

“Who knows?”

“Come on, give me a proper answer!”

“Well, if I saw it happening, I might help out. As your senpai.”

“What kind of answer is that?”

Tadokoro pouted, clearly dissatisfied with my response.

She stretched out her arms on the desk and lazily stared at me.

“Senpai, if you do help me out, I’ll make sure to properly thank you—with my body, as much as you want.”

“Hey, you shouldn’t say things like that so casually. It could lead to misunderstandings that you’ll regret later.”

“You’re not interested in my body? You were staring so much earlier.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. If you get misunderstood, you’ll find it harder and harder to be your true self. That’s why you should stop.”

“It feels like you’re dodging the issue… but fine, whatever. Just promise me this, then.”

“Alright. If you want help, stop being so annoying.”

If she were a kouhai I genuinely found cute, I’d have no problem stepping in to help her.

“That’s not happening.”

“Why not?!”

“Because your reactions are too funny.”

“Alright, I’m not helping you if you get into trouble.”

Tadokoro is truly lacking in charm. As a kouhai, she should be a bit more respectful to her senpai. Is she really going to be okay in the future?

“Are you sure you want to say that? I’ll tell your childhood friend that you were looking at my chest with naughty eyes.”

Tadokoro… she’s planning to blackmail me by holding that over my head. Even though I haven’t done anything wrong, just hearing that would make me feel guilty toward Yukina.

“Yeah, fine. I definitely wasn’t looking at you like that, but don’t say that to her, okay?”

“Then, promise you’ll help me out when I’m in trouble?”

“Alright, alright.”

“Hehe, thanks.”

Despite her almost threatening way of getting me to agree, Tadokoro smiled cheerfully, seemingly unbothered. Watching her, I couldn’t help but think how scary girls could be.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, twice.

Tadokoro and I exchanged glances.

“Is it Akiba-senpai?”

“No, he wouldn’t knock.”

“That’s true. Maybe it’s a teacher. I’ll go check.”

Tadokoro stood up and opened the door.

She let out a small cry of surprise.

“What?!”

I turned to look and couldn’t believe my eyes. Standing there was Yukina, holding her bag in front of her with both hands, her head slightly bowed.