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

It had been raining since morning. It was June, the rainy season. There was nothing unusual about it.

Yes, there was nothing strange about the rain getting heavier as the afternoon went on.

But if there was one thing that was strange—

“Hey, Yusuke.”

“…What?”

“You can move closer if you want. Your shoulder is sticking out of the umbrella and getting wet. You’ll catch a cold.”

“…Idiots don’t catch colds.”

The strange thing was that Yukina and I were sharing one umbrella, walking home together.

It all started after the homeroom ended. Yukina came to me as soon as she finished packing her things.

“Yusuke, did you bring an umbrella today?”

“I did. I’m not stupid enough to go out without one on a day like this.”

“Phew, that’s a relief.”

Did Yukina really think I was dumb enough to forget an umbrella on a rainy day? She underestimated her childhood friend too much.

“Yusuke, let me under your umbrella.”

“…Huh? You didn’t bring yours?”

Yukina nodded. Not bringing an umbrella on a rainy day like this—what an idiot. She’s way dumber than I am.

“I’m telling you, it wasn’t raining when I left. That’s why I didn’t bring it.”

“Yeah, but the weather forecast—”

“I didn’t watch it, so it’s not my fault. Hey, let me under. Let’s go home together.”

She tilted her head and asked in a sweet voice, like she was begging. I didn’t have the courage to say no to such a request.

But if we went home like this, someone would definitely see us. Even if I didn’t care about the rumors, I couldn’t help but worry about Yukina getting caught up in them.

As I hesitated, Yukina misinterpreted it as indecision and leaned in closer, whispering something outrageous in my ear.

“Today… I’m wearing the underwear you saw the other day.”

“…What?”

For a moment, I didn’t understand what Yukina was saying. But I quickly realized. Under her skirt, she was wearing those black panties…!

“W-Wha— What are you saying…!? And besides, why would you bring that up now?!”

Panicking, I blurted out something incoherent. Yukina giggled softly and leaned in again.

“You know, girls’ underwear often comes in sets. You get what I mean, right? Or are you some kind of pervert who enjoys seeing me soaked in the rain?”

My ears burned with embarrassment.

That’s unfair. Way too unfair. I couldn’t look Yukina in the eyes.

Just then, an announcement played over the speakers. The message was that the rain had gotten so bad that all students should head home immediately.

“If everyone’s leaving at the same time, it’ll be crowded. People probably won’t notice us. Right, Yusuke? Let’s go home together?”

She gave me a sweet look, her eyes gazing up at me. At that point, I didn’t have any choice but to nod.

Yukina’s face lit up, and she quietly whispered, “Yay!” She looked so happy, unlike my exhausted self.

And so, here I was, walking home with Yukina under one umbrella—

“There are a lot of couples like us.”

That was exactly right. Looking around, all I could see were pairs of boys and girls sharing umbrellas, walking close together.

But hold on—Yukina and I weren’t that close. To avoid that, I was giving her most of the umbrella, letting my shoulder get wet.

“Do you think they’re all couples?”

“I don’t know.”

“Hey, are you even listening?”

“I’m listening.”

That was a lie.

I was more worried about someone seeing us than about Yukina’s conversation.

Yukina didn’t seem to care. She looked happy—maybe I was imagining it—but I was keeping my head down, trying not to be recognized.

“Do you think we look like a couple to the others?”

Why would you ask something so embarrassing…?

I didn’t answer, and Yukina said, “Don’t ignore me.” She looked embarrassed herself, her cheeks slightly red.

“…Hey, you’re not answering me. Do you hate sharing an umbrella with me?”

Her voice sounded anxious, making me look over at her. Sure enough, Yukina was gazing at me with a worried expression.

It wasn’t that I hated it. I just didn’t want to be seen because I was embarrassed.

But my hesitation hurt Yukina. I’d made her anxious.

I used to think I was the one protecting Yukina. But even now, I didn’t want to make her worry. If there was something I could do as her childhood friend, I wanted to do it for her.

“It’s not that I hate it… I’m just… nervous because my heart’s racing…”

It wasn’t just the embarrassment or the fear of being seen.

The truth was, I was nervous about being so close to Yukina.

We’d been close before, but never this close. And under the umbrella, it felt like we were the only two people in the world. My heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

That was how I honestly felt.

Hearing that, Yukina smiled with relief. Then she wrapped her arm around my right arm.

“S-Sakuyina!”

Tadokoro once said that a girl’s upper arm feels just like her chest…

“I don’t want you to catch a cold, Yusuke… So let’s get closer…”

Yukina tightened her grip and pressed herself against me as closely as possible.

“I’m not as big as Miyuki-senpai, so it might not feel as good… But I can still do this much…”

Right. If it were someone like Miyuki-san, who’s more obvious, it might be easier to handle. I don’t even know what would be better.

But the truth is, Yukina wasn’t as obvious. I guessed that’s probably what it was.

But not knowing for sure was the real issue.

With Yukina pressing her arm against mine, it made me imagine things. Was this soft feeling the same as Yukina’s small chest…?

“S-Sakuyina!”