My Beautiful Childhood Friend Is Working in a Maid Cafe For Some Reason - Chapter 79

“Yukina, I’m sorry. The other day, I called you scary and gross…I hurt you without considering your feelings. And I’m sorry for blaming everything on you.”

I bowed my head. Regardless of the cause, I said something I shouldn’t have. I had to apologize for that.

“Yeah…It hurt, you know. It made me sad.”

Even though I knew it, hearing it out loud made me feel guilty all over again. I truly felt sorry.

“…But I’m sorry too. I didn’t think about your feelings, Yusuke-kun, and just rushed ahead on my own. I’ll be careful not to do that again. So, please…don’t say we shouldn’t talk anymore.”

Yukina kept bowing her head, pleading repeatedly.

“Can I take back what I said about not talking anymore, as long as you’re okay with it?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.”

I almost reached out to pat Yukina’s head but held myself back. No, I can’t, I told myself. I took a small breath and moved on to the next topic.

“About your feelings, Yukina…They made me happy.”

As I said that, Yukina blushed visibly.

“O-Okay…”

“I’m really glad that you wanted to be friends with me again, Yukina.”

“T-That’s not it! Well, it is, but it’s not.”

“It’s okay. I understand. I haven’t forgotten.”

I think I understand Yukina’s feelings. Maybe she doesn’t want to hear this, but I need to say it. I don’t want her to do anything reckless anymore.

“I just…didn’t want you to sacrifice so much for me, Yukina.”

“…I don’t see it as a sacrifice. I did it all for myself. It’s because I’ve always loved you, Yusuke-kun…that’s why I acted the way I did.”

“…Even if I couldn’t return your feelings, you wouldn’t regret it?”

“Yusuke-kun, you’re so mean. Of course I would regret it. But it’s okay. Regret is part of love too.”

“I see…”

It’s wrong to impose my way of thinking on her. I have my thoughts, and Yukina has hers. There’s no need to deny them. So, I won’t say anything more.

“…Yusuke-kun, do you hate me now?”

“I don’t.”

“Then, do you…like me?”

“I do.”

It’s true that I like Yukina.

Now, I understand what my mom told me. Somewhere in my heart, I’ve probably liked Yukina ever since we were kids.

“I like you, Yukina.”

“Even though I’ve been acting like a stalker?”

“It’s because you wanted to be close to me, right?”

“Well, yeah…but I’m a lot to handle, and I’m clingy.”

“Wasn’t it all just an act?”

“No, I think this is the real me. I get all jealous when I see you getting close to other girls, and every night, I imagine you and do dirty things by myself…”

“I-I see…”

The truth was more than I expected. I barely managed to keep myself from laughing.

“Honestly, even now, my body feels so hot. Just being touched by you makes me heat up, and being alone with you in this small room is driving me crazy.”

What is she saying with a straight face!?

“And it’s not just now. Even at school, I tried to behave because you told me to, but really, I always wanted to be with you. I wanted to be close to you all the time!”

“O-Okay…”

Hearing her determination made me instinctively flinch.

Yukina seems to like me much more than I thought. While that makes me happy, it’s also starting to scare me a little.

…But that’s understandable. We’ve been so close for years, yet we couldn’t even talk. It’s only natural for her feelings to grow stronger. Now that she’s finally confessed, it’s no wonder she can’t hold back.

“The reason I asked you to behave is because I didn’t want you to stand out and get into trouble like before. But if that happens again, I’ll protect you, Yukina. I’ll protect you before it even happens, so…you can do what you want.”

“Does that mean…”

“Being glued to me would be embarrassing…but if you want to be with me, we can stay together.”

“Are you sure? I might stay with you so much that everyone else starts to hate us. They might even think we’re creepy.”

“Do what you want, Yukina.”

As long as she doesn’t bother anyone else, there’s no harm in Yukina being with me. I’ll accept whatever she wants. I’ve decided that.

“I just want to be with you as much as possible, Yusuke-kun. Will you allow that too?”

“S-Sure.”

Being with me as much as possible sounds scary, but…whatever happens, happens.

“Yusuke-kun…I love you!”

“S-Slow down, Yukina!”

Yukina suddenly moved closer to me. She pushed me against the wall and threw herself into my chest, rubbing her cheek against me. She looked so satisfied and happy, but her rubbing felt too ticklish.

“S-Stop it, Yukina…Don’t cling to me.”

Yukina immediately stopped and moved away.

“Sorry…I couldn’t hold back again. You don’t like it when I cling to you, do you, Yusuke-kun?”

Seeing her look so sad, I quickly shook my head.

“N-No, that’s not it.”

“Then why?”

“Why…? B-Because I end up wanting to touch you too, like before…”

“…Huh? Y-Yusuke-kun, you want to touch me too?”

“Of course I do. When a cute girl like you shows me affection, it makes me want to…touch you.”

I can’t deny that I want to touch the girl I like. I’m happy about everything Yukina’s done for me, and I’m actually thrilled by her single-minded devotion.

“I’m fine with you touching me as much as you want. Actually, I’d love it if you touched me a lot and showed me affection.”

Yukina has clearly developed in a rather perverted direction. Even now, I don’t know what she’s imagining, but she’s wriggling her body.

“It’s me who has a problem. I don’t want to seem too desperate.”

If I told her to offer herself to me, Yukina would probably do it immediately…and I hate that I’m even thinking like this. But more importantly, I don’t want our relationship to go in that direction.

“But I want you to be desperate…I want to see wild Yusuke-kun.”

Yukina’s face turned red as she spoke. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, but I can’t let myself be swayed. I can’t give in.

“T-Things like that need to be handled more carefully!”

“Yusuke-kun, you’re kind of like a girl, aren’t you? Usually, it’s the other way around.”

Yukina put her finger to her cheek and thought for a moment. Seeing her puzzled expression made me sigh, but I couldn’t help smiling.