My Beautiful Childhood Friend Is Working in a Maid Cafe For Some Reason - Chapter 9

Yukina and I walked down the hallway in silence, not saying a word to each other.

Ugh, why did I offer to help…?

It’s not that I regret helping out. It’s not a particularly hard task, and I don’t mind doing it. I just don’t know why I offered in the first place, and that’s what’s bothering me.

I mean, I really want to say something to the guy who was supposed to be on trash duty with Yukina today. Why did you have to be absent?! You could’ve been alone with Yukina! Even if you’re not feeling well, you should’ve come!

Trash duty is supposed to be done in pairs. It rotates every day, and today it was Yukina and some other guy. But that guy was the student who said he was taking the day off because of a cold when the teacher was checking attendance this morning.

…And why does she look like she’s enjoying this?

Looking at Yukina, she seemed like she might be having fun. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but she looked like she was smiling a little, even though nothing about this is funny.

It’s been a long time since Yukina and I walked side by side like this. We used to do it every day when we were younger. Maybe that’s why I feel so weirdly ticklish inside.

“Oh, sorry.”

Since we were walking next to each other, my shoulder brushed against Yukina’s.

I apologized, expecting her to complain.

“Walk a little farther away from me.”

“Yeah, yeah…”

“It’s the worst, bumping shoulders with you. The worst.”

Even though she said that, her tone didn’t sound angry.

That’s odd… Is she in a good mood today?

I had been bracing myself for her to lash out at me, so I was a little taken aback.

“Hey, why are you walking so fast?”

“Why do you think…? If I walk faster, I won’t bump into you, Himemiya-san. Besides, I want to get this over with and head to the club.”

“If you walk that fast, you’ll tire me out.”

“Well, then just take your time, Himemiya-san. I’ll go on ahead.”

“What… why would you…? Anyway, wait. I won’t let you go on ahead.”

Why not…?

Yukina glared at me, so I reluctantly stopped walking. She quickly caught up to me, and once she was beside me again, we started walking together.

But even then, we didn’t say anything. We both just walked in silence.

“…The world sure is a small place.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“You know what I mean, right? About Saturday.”

Even though we see each other at school every day, we didn’t know we lived next door to each other until two days ago. How could we have been so oblivious, even with our long history? Why didn’t the universe give us a hint earlier? If I’d known, I would’ve gone home ages ago!

“Oh, that. Our moms really put us in a tough spot. They set it up for us, even though we’re not like we used to be…”

“It’s beyond annoying.”

“You haven’t told anyone, right?”

“Of course not. I don’t want anyone to know we’re childhood friends.”

“Yeah… right…”

“From now on, we need to make sure no one finds out we’re childhood friends or neighbors. So, let’s hurry up and get this over with. I don’t want anyone to see us together and start spreading rumors.”

“It’ll be fine… People will just think we’re on trash duty together…”

“Still, I don’t want to take any chances. I want to get through the last year of school peacefully.”

“Yeah…”

“And you’d hate it too, right? If people started spreading weird rumors about us?”

“…Yeah, I would.”

Do you see it, Haru? Yukina doesn’t want anything to do with me. So, I have no intention of talking to her after today.

“Phew, that’s the last of it.”

We reached the garbage disposal area, which was a bit away from the school building, and dumped the trash bags there, finishing our job.

“Well, I’m off then.”

We hadn’t spoken since earlier, but I figured I should at least say goodbye.

“Wait a second.”

“What is it?”

“Um… well—”

Yukina called out to me, and her hesitant manner reminded me of what happened on Saturday.

She was fidgeting again, looking like she wanted to say something but finding it hard to get the words out.

If you’ve got something to say, just say it already. The club members have already seen us together a few times, and it’s getting awkward.

Then Yukina reached into the pocket of her skirt and rummaged around before holding something out to me.

“Th-this.”

Confused, I held out my hand, and she dropped a wrapped candy into my palm.

“It’s… a thank you for helping me.”

“…You know, Himemiya-san, you’re supposed to be the model student, so you shouldn’t be bringing candy to school.”

“Wha… You’re so irritating! If you don’t want it, give it back!”

Yukina turned red as she said that.

She really is cute, isn’t she…?

I stared at the candy for a moment before answering.

“…No, I’ll take it. Thanks.”

“Hmph. You should’ve just said thanks from the start. Anyway, see you later!”

With that, Yukina turned and ran back toward the classroom. I watched her go and then popped the candy into my mouth. It tasted sweeter than any candy I’d ever had before.