My Beautiful Childhood Friend Is Working in a Maid Cafe For Some Reason - Chapter 70

I couldn’t comprehend the situation. I was just supposed to help Yukina to bed, but now, I was frozen, unable to move, captivated by the bizarre sight in front of me.

Why are there pictures of me all over Yukina’s room…!?

The walls were covered with photos of me. I recognized them—all taken during school events.

“Ah…”

I flinched. Yukina made a small sound next to me, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at her.

“Y-Yukina…”

I forced out words from my dry throat as my gaze remained fixed on the photos. Yukina let out a heavy sigh.

“Hah…you’ve found out.”

Then, Yukina forcefully freed herself from my grasp and, despite having a cold, moved with surprising speed behind me.

She pushed me with all her might.

Normally, unless I was caught off guard, I wouldn’t be moved, let alone fall. But right now, things were different. I was too shocked to put any strength into my body. That’s why, with Yukina’s weak push, I easily stumbled into her room, tripped, and fell.

“W-What are you…?”

I quickly tried to regain my balance, but as soon as I turned to face Yukina, she collapsed on top of me, pinning me down. I couldn’t move.

“Haa…haa…Yusuke-kun…”

Yukina looked down at me, her eyes glazed over, and her mouth curled into a creepy smile. Her hair brushed against my cheek, tickling me.

“G-Get off me…”

“I’m not getting off. No way.”

Yukina kept smiling eerily. I was scared.

“If you want me off, you’ll have to use force.”

She spoke as if daring me, knowing full well I wouldn’t. And she was right. If it were someone else, I’d resist with all my strength. But this was Yukina. I couldn’t do it because it was her.

“Hehe, what’s wrong? You’re not going to try?”

“Of course I can’t…”

“Yup, Yusuke-kun is still Yusuke-kun.”

Yukina giggled, but I couldn’t tell what she was feeling. There was no reason for her to be laughing.

“Then, let’s kiss.”

“Huh…?”

Yukina leaned in closer. Reflexively, I tried to stop her.

“Geez, stay still. I can’t do it right.”

“W-Why are you doing this all of a sudden…?”

“Why…? You’ve already realized how I feel, haven’t you? Or do I have to say it out loud?”

Yukina leaned in again, getting closer.

For a moment—no, ever since I saw this room—the thought that Yukina might like me had been lingering in my mind.

But I didn’t understand. She hadn’t said it out loud, and all I had seen was this obsessive display of my photos.

“Yukina…do you like me—”

Yukina smiled brightly.

Then, she closed her eyes and slowly leaned in.

So, it’s true…that’s what my gut told me.

I knew I should run. My head told me to. But for some reason, part of me was ready to accept it.

My heart, which had been pounding loudly all this time, grew even louder.

Yukina’s lips…they look soft, and it might feel nice…

As those impure thoughts crossed my mind, a memory came back to me, clear as day.

“Yusuke-kun, a first kiss should be romantic, right?”

“Yeah, definitely.”

“That’s why, no matter how close we get, we can’t just kiss each other! Promise, okay?”

It was a conversation we had after making that cringeworthy promise.

Yukina wants a romantic kiss.

“S-Stop it, Yukina…”

Where’s the romance in a forced kiss like this…That’s what I thought as I tried to stop her.

But before I could, Yukina’s strength gave out, and she collapsed onto me.

“Y-Yukina!”

Freed from her weight, I quickly sat up and checked on her. She seemed to have passed out.

Left in the quiet room, I lifted Yukina in a bridal carry and laid her down on her bed.

“What do I do now…”

Part of me was telling me to run out of this creepy room. But another part of me couldn’t leave Yukina behind.

For now, I decided to keep some distance so that nothing like earlier would happen again. But even as I tried to pull away, Yukina grabbed my arm.

When I tried to pull free, she weakly mumbled, “No…”

She’s asleep…right?

Worried, I checked Yukina’s face, but she didn’t seem to be awake. Left with no choice, I sat down beside her.

“But seriously, this room is terrifying…”

The countless photos of myself staring back at me made me feel uneasy.

“Isn’t that…my underwear?”

A pair of underwear I thought I’d lost was lying near Yukina’s bed.

I never gave Yukina my underwear as some kind of perverted gift. Which means…she stole them.

The realization that my childhood friend had stolen my underwear sent a chill down my spine. This is what it feels like to have the blood drain from your face.

It seemed my childhood friend had taken a very twisted path in her development.

“…Mmm.”

After a few hours of pondering how to deal with Yukina from now on, I heard her voice.

“You’re awake?”

I stood up to check, and Yukina looked up at me.

“…This isn’t a dream, is it?”

“No, unfortunately, it’s reality.”

“I see…”

Yukina tightened her grip on my arm, as if she was determined not to let go.

“Yukina…you’re thirsty, right? I’ll get you something to drink.”

“No, if I let go, you’ll run away, Yusuke.”

Her grip tightened even more, as if she were trying to make sure I couldn’t escape.

“You’re disappointed in me, right? You think I’m creepy, right? You’re scared of me, aren’t you? You’re definitely going to run away…”

Yukina was on the verge of tears.

Everything she said was true. I had thought all of those things. But even though I didn’t fully understand yet, I didn’t want to run away.

“I won’t run. So please, let go.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah.”

I didn’t pat her head. The truth was, I was still scared of her.

Reluctantly, Yukina let go of my arm. I left the room briefly. Everything I had bought had already gone lukewarm.

I opened the fridge and put the items inside. Then, I grabbed a bottle of tea from the fridge.

I returned to the room, watching Yukina as she drank the tea. I took a deep breath.

“Yukina…can you tell me why things ended up like this?”

“…Okay.”

Yukina nodded slightly. I sat down, keeping as much distance between us as I could. Seeing this, Yukina looked a little sad.

Seeing that pained my heart, but I couldn’t help it. I had to protect myself too.

Then, Yukina began to explain how things had ended up this way.