My Beautiful Childhood Friend Is Working in a Maid Cafe For Some Reason - Chapter 90

“Hey, Yuu-kun. I’m on trash duty today.”

“Who’s your partner?”

“A girl.”

A girl, huh…

Because of the letter that was placed in my shoe locker yesterday, I don’t want to leave Yukina alone. But there’s also the issue with Tadokoro’s stalker. When I think about both Yukina and Tadokoro…

“Yuu-kun, I’ll be fine, okay?”

Yukina doesn’t know anything, so she says that to reassure me, but I’m still anxious.

Maybe my worries are unfounded, but since there’s a real stalker involved with my junior, I can’t help but think, “What if…?”

“No, I’ll help with the trash too.”

“But, that’s…”

“It’s fine. I’ve thought this through properly this time.”

I want to do something for both of them.

When the end of the day came, Yukina and I were walking together, each carrying a trash bag. Yukina’s partner didn’t mind when I said I’d help, so she threw everything at us and left right away. She was so carefree. Well, three people aren’t really needed to throw out trash, so I guess it’s okay.

“It feels like it’s been a while.”

“Yeah, it does.”

Back when I had just found out that Yukina worked at a maid café and lived next door, I helped her throw out the trash just like today. She was still so prickly back then, and she would get annoyed if our shoulders even touched. That brings back memories.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Well, I was just thinking about how you really didn’t like it when our shoulders bumped back then.”

I know it’s inappropriate to think like this at a time like this.

But when I think about those days, I can’t help but feel nostalgic.

“Ugh… Sorry. B-but, that was just me trying to hide my embarrassment. I was actually really happy that Yuu-kun was helping me… and that I got to touch you…”

Yukina hurriedly corrected herself as if she was flustered. Does she think I’m mad?

“You didn’t really do a good job of hiding your embarrassment, Yukina.”

“R-really?”

“You seemed like you were having fun from my perspective. The fact that I noticed it probably says a lot, doesn’t it?”

I wasn’t really aware of Yukina’s feelings back then, so I can’t say for sure. But it seems like my impression that she was having fun wasn’t entirely wrong.

“D-do I usually show my feelings on my face?”

“Hmm, maybe. Or maybe it’s just because I’m your childhood friend, so I pick up on those things.”

“Y-yeah, I need to be more careful.”

We chatted like that as we walked to the trash area behind the school. We tossed the bags into the designated spot, and with that, trash duty was done. Just as we were about to head toward Tadokoro, my phone rang.

It was from Haru.

“Hello?”

I listened to what he had to say and then hung up the phone.

And then—

“Yukina, we need to hurry to the club room. They’ve caught him.”

I grabbed Yukina, and we started running toward the empty classroom.

When we opened the door, inside were Tadokoro, Haru, Akiba, and a male student I didn’t recognize. He was probably the stalker. He looked nervous, maybe because he had been caught.

“Thanks, Haru.”

“It’s no problem. I can’t stand stalkers. Anyway, Megu’s waiting for me, so I’ll head out.”

Haru said that and left quickly. Even as a guy, I couldn’t help but be impressed by his cool behavior. Apparently, even the way good-looking guys leave is stylish.

I was worried about Yukina, but of course, I was also worried about Tadokoro. That’s why I asked Haru and Akiba to help out. They both readily agreed.

I had informed Tadokoro about the situation through LINE and told her to hang around the empty classroom area. Haru was supposed to loiter around the classroom as well, just in case. Akiba was on standby inside the room.

“Do you know this person, Tadokoro?”

When I asked her, Tadokoro shook her head.

As usual, I didn’t care much about others, so I had no idea who he was. I checked with Yukina and Akiba, but they both said no.

“What’s your name? What grade and class are you in?”

The stalker briefly glared at me but then resigned himself and spoke up.

“I’m Kurano… a first-year in Class 3.”

So, the stalker… no, the boy who called himself Kurano. I needed to find out why he was following Tadokoro.

“Why were you following Tadokoro?”

Kurano glanced at Tadokoro, then turned his gaze back to me.

“I thought she might spill some secrets about you two.”

He shifted his eyes between Yukina and me.

“What do you mean by that…?”

“I posted pictures of you three. Everyone got really excited over them, so I thought I’d try posting some more secrets about you two.”

Yukina, frightened, hid behind me.

“But you two are never alone together. Besides, there are probably plenty of people protecting the princess, so I didn’t want to risk getting caught.”

He looked over at Tadokoro again.

“So, I thought she might spill some secrets. I wasn’t interested in her at all.”

His smug attitude made me feel a surge of anger, and before I knew it, I had grabbed him by the collar.

“Y-Yuu-kun, no violence!”

“Y-yeah, I’m okay with it, so it’s fine!”

Both of them stopped me, and I regained my composure. I let go of Kurano, and he started coughing.

“Ugh, this is the worst. I even went through the trouble of writing that letter yesterday to get rid of the nuisances that have been lurking around lately.”

Now I understand the meaning behind the letter I received yesterday. It was all to eliminate Yukina and me, who were in his way, so that he could uncover more secrets about us.

And I fell for it completely. I should have gone to Tadokoro’s side… but instead, I prioritized Yukina.

Once again, anger welled up inside me—at Kurano and at myself for being so pathetic.

I didn’t understand why he was so desperate to learn our secrets.

“What drives you to do all this? Just to learn a few secrets about us?”

“It felt good. Seeing so many people react to the pictures I posted… it was fun. That’s all.”

I guess it would be entertaining to watch people react to something you casually posted. People feel happy when others acknowledge them.

But that doesn’t give him the right to make Tadokoro feel anxious just for his own amusement.

“Tadokoro has been scared all this time because of your stupid reasons.”

“How was I supposed to know? I didn’t do anything. I was just walking behind her.”

“Y-you…!”

My anger kept growing at Kurano, who showed no sign of remorse. But I didn’t know how to resolve the situation.

“This was such a waste of time. Following someone unattractive, only to get nothing out of it… Maybe I should’ve aimed for the princess directly—”

At that moment, a loud slapping sound echoed through the room. No one expected what had just happened, and for a second, the room fell silent.

“…What do you mean, ‘unattractive’? You scared a girl, and now you’re whining? Just apologize already!”

The prickliness Yukina used to show… no, it wasn’t just that. She had slapped Kurano across the cheek with her own hand—something she once swore only I would ever touch her with.