My Beautiful Childhood Friend Is Working in a Maid Cafe For Some Reason - Chapter 60

“So, what did you really come here for?”

After Tadokoro left, I asked Yukina since we were now alone. The excuse about scouting for a love nest was obviously a lie. What was her real purpose?

“It’s nothing big. I just wanted to talk to you since we didn’t get to chat much today…”

Without Tadokoro around, Yukina seemed to relax a bit, losing her usual sharp tone. As I watched her fidget, I felt my cheeks grow warm.

Ever since I asked Yukina to be more “reserved,” she had stopped approaching or talking to me as often during breaks. Now, she only spoke to me occasionally. Of course, I would also start conversations with her from time to time.

Today, though, she hadn’t talked to me much and just wanted to chat more.

I didn’t feel bad about that. In fact, I started thinking of something to talk about.

Suddenly, Yukina lightly tugged at the sleeve of my uniform.

When I looked at her, she had a somewhat anxious expression on her face.

“…Yusuke. Are you close with that girl?”

If she meant Tadokoro, I suppose we would be close. Even though she can be annoying, she’s still a member of the club.

For me, as long as I can have a conversation with someone without feeling intense dislike, I consider that being close.

“Well, I guess we get along.”

“More than with me?”

“Huh?”

“Are you closer with her than you are with me?”

Her eyes glistened as she looked up at me, almost pleading. Her behavior was too cute to handle.

“N-no, that’s not true! Yukina, we’re childhood friends!”

“And the other girls?”

“Huh?”

“Yusuke, lately, you’ve been talking with the girls in our class a lot. Do you enjoy it more than talking with me?”

It was true. Recently, for some reason, I’d had more chances to talk with the girls in our class over small things.

Honestly, from the outside, it might seem like something to brag about, but talking to girls whose names I could barely remember wasn’t enjoyable—it just made me nervous.

“Not at all. Talking with you is the best… Wait, no, I mean, that just now—”

I was about to correct myself for saying something so embarrassingly honest when Yukina, blushing, smiled. She fidgeted shyly but seemed happy.

Feeling awkward, I averted my eyes from Yukina.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

It was a message from Tadokoro.

“Senpai! Is it okay to come back now? Or should I stay away a bit longer?”

As I typed a quick response telling her to come back already, Yukina asked.

“Who is it?”

“It’s from Tadokoro. She’s asking if it’s okay to come back now. I’m telling her to return, so make sure to apologize when she does.”

“No.”

“Why not?!”

Yukina turned her head away in a huff. It seemed like she had no intention of apologizing.

“Because she hasn’t apologized to me.”

“Did Tadokoro do something to you?”

“She touched you without permission.”

“You’re still on about that…”

But I couldn’t understand why Yukina was upset that Tadokoro touched me—even if it was just through my clothes. I wasn’t angry about it, so it didn’t seem like a big deal.

“Yusuke, do you want me to apologize?”

“It’s not that I want you to apologize. I just don’t want the two of you to have a bad relationship.”

“Why?”

“Because I get along with both of you. You know how it feels bad when people you know are fighting, right?”

The truth was, I wanted Yukina to make more friends. Even if she didn’t become close friends with Tadokoro, it would be nice if they could at least talk. Who knows? Maybe they’d get along really well. I didn’t want to kill that possibility.

“What is that? Yusuke, you’re so selfish.”

“Sorry.”

“But… fine. In that case, give me your contact info. Then I’ll apologize.”

“Eh, why?”

“Because that girl already has your contact info, right? That’s unfair! I want to exchange contacts too!”

Yukina leaned forward, looking determined.

If exchanging contact info with her would keep them from having a bad relationship, that was a small price to pay.

Besides, having Yukina’s contact info could come in handy. Not that I had any intention of contacting her.

“Alright, let’s exchange.”

“Yeah!”

We exchanged contact info by shaking our phones. Yukina seemed overjoyed, like she’d be wagging her tail if she had one.

After that, Tadokoro came back in less than five minutes. Yukina, in a good mood, smiled and apologized, saying she was only joking earlier.

“From now on, let’s get along, okay?”

Tadokoro cautiously took Yukina’s offered hand for a handshake. It was at least a decent outcome. Just then, the door slid open, and Akiba walked in.

“…What’s going on here?”

Well, that reaction was only natural, I thought with amusement.

With Akiba there, the four of us chatted casually, and today’s club activity came to an end.

“Yusuke, let’s go home together.”

As we left the classroom, Yukina invited me.

“You guys are childhood friends, so does that mean you live near each other?” Tadokoro asked.

“Y-yeah,” I replied vaguely.

I couldn’t tell her that we were still living next door, just like in the past.

“Well, that makes sense—Whoa!”

Suddenly, Tadokoro flinched as she looked in a particular direction.

“What’s wrong?”

I followed her gaze but saw nothing.

“…No, it’s nothing!”

She replied cheerfully, but something felt off. Tadokoro had done the same thing recently… Maybe I should keep an eye on it.

“Alright, I’m going to return the key.”

After parting with Akiba, who headed to the staff room, the three of us walked toward the school gate. After leaving the gate, Tadokoro went her separate way.

Now, it was just Yukina and me. Walking side by side, we headed toward the same apartment building.

“At this time, there aren’t many students around, so we can walk home together openly.”

The way she said that made it feel like we were doing something wrong, making me a bit uneasy.

But it was true. Normally, we didn’t walk home together because we didn’t want anyone to know we were neighbors.

It was fine if people knew we were childhood friends, but I didn’t want anyone knowing Yukina lived next door. That would make it too easy for them to find out where she lived.

“Are there really only three people in the Maid Club? You, the underclassman, and Akiba… that guy, right?”

“Akiba Taichi. Yeah, it’s just the three of us.”

“I see. Hey, can I come hang out again?”

Yukina tilted her head cutely. I had gotten used to this gesture lately, but it still made my heart skip a beat.

“Sure. It’s not an official club or anything.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I like maid cafes, Akiba likes maids, so we started talking, and Tadokoro just kind of showed up.”

I still didn’t know why Tadokoro kept coming. She wasn’t particularly interested in maids… She was a mystery.

“So, the three of us started hanging out more, and it just sort of turned into a club. You can come whenever you want, Yukina. We don’t really do anything anyway.”

We weren’t seriously committed to any particular activity. If someone who was passionate about their club or committee work saw us, they’d probably laugh at us.

But that was fine. We just gathered after school and had casual conversations that might seem pointless. I wanted to cherish those simple moments.

“Then, let me know when you’re meeting next.”

“Sure.”

Adding Yukina to those moments might make them even more enjoyable, I thought as we continued walking.