My Beautiful Childhood Friend Is Working in a Maid Cafe For Some Reason - Chapter 97

“…It’s so hot. It’s hot~…Yuu-kun, it’s so hot…”

One day, Yukina started whining like a child. And for good reason. The TV had said it was a rare scorching day.

It really is hot. Even though I have the air conditioner blasting, I’m still sweating.

…Well, it’s not just because of the summer heat, though.

“If you’re so hot, why don’t you move away a little? Actually, can you? It’s too hot.”

“Mm—no!”

Yukina is acting a bit odd today. She keeps complaining about the heat but is strangely clingy. Now, for some reason, she’s stuck to me while I’m reading a book, and she’s glued to her phone.

“Are you coming down with a cold or something?”

“Eep!”

I placed my hand on her forehead to check, but while it was warm, it didn’t feel like she had a fever. And why does she look at me so resentfully?

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!”

Despite saying that, she’s puffing her cheeks. Is she in a bad mood? Looking back, I don’t think I’ve done anything to upset her…I spend time with her every day…Yeah, I should be fine.

“Uh, Yukina?”

“…Yes?”

“Are you mad?”

“Aah!”

I poked her puffed-up cheeks with my finger, making the air escape. This is amusing. Her cheeks are so soft and squishy that I want to keep touching them. It feels nice.

“Aah, aah…Jeez, Yuu-kun!”

She grabbed my finger in irritation.

“W-what?”

“Don’t ‘what’ me! It’s exactly that!”

Exactly what? I gave her a confused look, and Yukina started lightly hitting my back.

“Not noticing things like this is your problem, Yuu-kun!”

…No, seriously, what am I supposed to notice?

“Why are you so dense, Yuu-kun? When you suddenly touched me, it made my heart race!”

“Your heart raced?”

“Yes, it raced!”

I see. I think I understand now. I shouldn’t have touched her forehead so suddenly.

Still, something doesn’t sit right with me. Just a little while ago, she was talking about how embarrassed she was after we shared an indirect kiss, and now she’s talking about her heart racing?

“Ugh, because of that, I’m even hotter now!”

She said that as if it were all my fault. Yes, yes, I get it, it’s my fault, so please stop making that scheming face.

“Take responsibility! Responsibility!”

“Responsibility…? Should I lower the air conditioner more? Or get you a soda? Maybe some ice cream—”

“Let’s go to the pool. The pool!”

She cut me off mid-sentence…Wait, the pool!?

“Uh, Yukina. By ‘pool,’ you mean…the pool?”

“What are you talking about?”

It seems she’s serious. She’s not confusing it with something else, like a poodle.

“You know people wear swimsuits at the pool, right?”

“Ahaha, of course, they do!”

It’s not like I think swimsuits are inappropriate. Not at all. Really, not even a little. But seeing Yukina in a swimsuit…I don’t think I could handle that.

“The pool will be crowded, and it’ll be even hotter. We’d be better off relaxing here—”

“I want to go to the pool. With you, Yuu-kun…”

…That’s unfair.

When she pleads with such a soft voice, how could anyone refuse?

“…Fine, we’ll go.”

“Yay!”

Yukina started hopping around in joy. Just as I was thinking how happy she must be, my phone chimed. A message had arrived from Tadokoro in the Maid Club group chat.

“Let’s all go to the pool together soon!

By the way, this is non-negotiable! Especially you, Akiba-senpai!”

So, it’s already decided. Well, it’s perfect timing. It’s much better to go with the group than with just Yukina. I wouldn’t be able to enjoy myself if it were just the two of us.

“Yukina, Tadokoro says we should all go to the pool together.”

Suddenly, Yukina, who had been so excited a moment ago, darkened.

“…I wanted to go with just you, Yuu-kun. What bad timing. I wish my selfishness was only limited to my body.”

It seems the timing was perfect for me, but not for Yukina.

When I gently patted her head, she looked up at me, her eyes already slightly teary.

“Well, we can only hang out with Tadokoro and the others like this for another year at most. Besides, playing with everyone should be fun too, right?”

“Yeah, I know…Ugh, I guess it can’t be helped. I’ll put up with it as long as I’m with you.”

When I patted her head, she narrowed her eyes, looking satisfied. I’m sorry, Yukina. When I feel more at ease, we’ll go together, just the two of us.

I sent a reply to Tadokoro. Akiba hadn’t responded. He probably realized there was no escaping and decided to just stay silent.

“Hm, what’s up?”

While I was replying, Yukina was staring intently at her phone.

“I’m picking out a swimsuit.”

“…What?”

“I said I’m picking a swimsuit. Hey, Yuu-kun, which one do you think is good?”

Yukina pressed up close to show me her phone. I see. So this is what she was talking about earlier. Being this close is making my heart race more than usual…Wait, haven’t I experienced this before? Every time she clings to me, my heart races—wait, I’m confused.

“Uh, Yukina…you’re really close.”

“Well, I can’t show you if I’m not!”

She gave me a mischievous smile, making my heart skip a beat. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that devilish smile.

“So, what kind of swimsuit do you like, Yuu-kun? Something frilly? A bikini? A one-piece?”

How would I know? Last year, when I went home during summer break, my family went on a trip, and Akari showed off her swimsuit at the hotel pool. It was a bikini, and while it looked cute on her, as her older brother, I was a bit worried. But right now, it’s about Yukina. Compared to Akari, Yukina hasn’t really…matured.

“A, a school swimsuit should be fine, right?”

Just wearing a swimsuit is already dangerous enough, but if she wears the one I pick, it would be as powerful as a nuclear bomb.

“Do you like school swimsuits, Yuu-kun?”

“No, it’s not that…but, well, your size hasn’t changed, and it’d save you from wasting money.”

Yukina suddenly pulled away from me.

As I sighed in relief, I heard her muttering softly.

“I have…grown a little…”

Before I realized it, Yukina grabbed my hand and guided it to a certain place.

“!?”

“I have grown!”

A small, soft swell fit into my hand. It didn’t take long to figure out what it was. At the same time, my mind went completely blank.

“A school swimsuit would fit just fine. My size hasn’t changed much since last year! But I’m not a kid anymore!”

She pressed it firmly against me as if to prove she had grown, and I felt the softness each time.

“S-sorry! I was wrong!”

I quickly pulled my hand away and bowed my head. There was no way I could look at her face.

“…Do you get it now?”

“I get it. I understand perfectly. Yukina is a grown-up. A mature lady. So please don’t do that again…It’s bad for my heart.”

“Good. But it’s your fault, Yuu-kun. You get it, right!?”

“Y-yeah, I get it. It was my fault.”

My heart wouldn’t stop racing after that, so there was no way I could hold a proper conversation with Yukina afterward. As a result, I still had no idea which swimsuit she ended up buying.