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

“Um, Yuu-kun, here, please take this.”

At night, Yukina handed me a cutely wrapped box, and though I didn’t fully understand, I took it.

As I stared at the box, Yukina, looking uneasy, fidgeted and nervously glanced at me.

Today is February 14th—Valentine’s Day.

“Ah, thank you.”

Usually, this day doesn’t mean much to me, and I probably would have forgotten about it. But today, I immediately remembered because earlier, I had been at the maid café “Poplar,” where they were celebrating Valentine’s Day by serving desserts made with chocolate.

Even the “Delicious Omelette Rice” I ordered had been specially made for Valentine’s Day. Instead of ketchup, they topped it with chocolate sauce. At first glance, it seemed like a strange combination, but it was surprisingly tasty. I’m sure it was because Yukina had put her heart into saying, “Delicious, delicious!” while serving it.

I had thought the chocolate sauce was the Valentine’s Day gift, so having Yukina give me something else made me even happier.

“I’m really happy. I didn’t expect to get something from you, Yukina.”

“Of course you would. I’m your girlfriend…Besides, this isn’t the first time, is it?”

That’s right. As Yukina said, this wasn’t the first time I’d received something from her on Valentine’s Day. We’ve been neighbors and childhood friends for so long that it’s only natural. At moments like this, being a childhood friend comes with its perks.

But this time, it wasn’t just because she’s my childhood friend—I received it as her boyfriend. I couldn’t be happier.

“…Besides, there hasn’t been a single Valentine’s Day where I didn’t give you chocolate, Yuu-kun.”

Yukina mumbled those words, which gave me a strange feeling.

At least, I don’t remember that. Since we drifted apart, I haven’t received any chocolate from Yukina until today.

But I didn’t want to ruin the nice atmosphere, so I swallowed my words. Still, it must have shown on my face because Yukina giggled and softly said, “Right?”

“Of course, Yuu-kun wouldn’t notice.”

“Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. More importantly, open it.”

Encouraged by Yukina, I carefully unwrapped the neat packaging. Inside was a ball-shaped chocolate made from melted store-bought chocolate. It was topped with things like soda candy and peanuts, and it looked delicious.

It’s probably homemade.

I didn’t want to think about the state of Yukina’s kitchen, but she likely made it herself.

“Can I eat it?”

My brain urged me to eat it quickly, so I eagerly asked for permission. Yukina, looking a bit embarrassed, gave me the go-ahead, and I popped the chocolate topped with soda candy into my mouth.

As I bit down, I heard an unusual crunch—like a gritty sound.

“H-How is it? Is it good?”

It’s bitter. So bitter that I can’t even taste the soda candy. And what could have caused this gritty texture?

To be honest, it didn’t taste good.

But there’s no way I could say that. Yukina, who isn’t good at cooking, had made this for me. How could I hurt her by saying it wasn’t good?

Besides, I could see how much effort she put into making it.

I swallowed it without making a bitter face.

“Y-Yeah, it’s good.”

“Phew, I’m so relieved. I was worried it might not taste good.”

Which means…she didn’t taste it herself? That must be it. If she had, she surely wouldn’t have given this to me.

“Y-Yuu-kun, say ‘ahh.’”

“Mmgh!”

Yukina shoved another chocolate into my mouth. Once again, that overpowering bitterness spread through my mouth. This time, instead of a gritty texture, it felt gooey. And where did the peanuts go?

Maybe there are chocolates like this in the world that I just don’t know about. I began to wonder if I was the weird one.

“Y- Yukina…I’ll eat the rest later.”

“Did you not like it?”

“N-No, it’s not that…It’s just that since it’s from you, I want to cherish it.”

“Oh, I see! Don’t worry! I can make more for you, so you don’t have to worry if it runs out!”

“R-Right…”

Why doesn’t she understand? If I eat any more, who knows what will happen to me later. But I couldn’t say that, so I quietly put another piece of chocolate in my mouth.

“Yuu-kun, can I have one? Watching you eat them made me want to try one too.”

“Ah, wait…”

Before I could stop her, Yukina popped a chocolate into her mouth. The moment she did, her face turned pale.

“B-Bitter…and disgusting.”

She muttered that as she snatched the box away from me.

“Y-Yuu-kun, you can’t eat any more!”

“Why?”

“B-Because if you keep eating something this bad, you’ll get sick…”

“Who decided that?”

Instead of answering, tears started to well up in Yukina’s eyes.

“I-I knew it. It was a mistake for someone like me to try making sweets…I’m just going to throw this away. I’ll go buy some new chocolate from the store, so Yuu-kun, just wait here.”

“Sorry, but I won’t wait, and I won’t let you do that.”

“W-What…no, stop!”

I popped another chocolate into my mouth. No matter how much I chewed, it still didn’t taste good.

But—

“It’s true, I can’t say it’s delicious, not even to be polite.”

“T-Then, you shouldn’t eat any more!”

“No, I’ll eat it. It’s not delicious. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to eat it.”

“Why?”

“Why, you ask…it’s obvious.”

Yukina’s hands were covered in multiple band-aids.

Seeing that, I could tell just how hard Yukina had worked.

“Because it was made by the girl I love. Isn’t that reason enough?”

Yukina isn’t skilled at cooking, but she made this just for me, for today. That’s reason enough to eat it.

“But earlier, you said you’d eat it later…you were planning to throw it away, weren’t you?”

“I’d never do that. I just thought, like you said, eating it all at once might make me sick. I’m going to eat every bit of it.”

“…But still, you shouldn’t. You’ll get a stomachache.”

“Then why don’t you make it taste better, Yukina? That way, I’ll be fine.”

“I can’t make it taste better. I’m not good at cooking.”

“You don’t have to cook well. You’re good at making things taste better, right?”

At that, Yukina seemed to realize something and nodded.

She placed the box back on the table and faced me.

Then, she turned to the chocolate and opened her mouth.

“M-Make it delicious. Make it delicious.”

Yukina’s magic words.

Whenever she says that, the food somehow always tastes better. Maybe it only works on someone foolish like me.

I put another piece of chocolate in my mouth.

“Yeah, it’s good.”

The taste hadn’t changed.

But I felt something. Even though the chocolate was bitter, there was a sweetness in it.

“I’ve made up my mind. No matter how many times Yukina messes up a dish, I’ll eat every last bit. Now and forever.”

“Is that…the power of love?”

“…Well, I guess it’s the power of love.”

It’s embarrassing to admit, but in a way, it’s also a promise.

“Then that means I can mess up all I want when I’m with you, Yuu-kun.”

“Well, I’d like it if you made an effort to get better.”

“I’ll try…but I love the food you make, Yuu-kun. And I love you even more!”

“Hey, wait…”

“Hehe, Yuu-kun, Yuu-kun, Yuu-kun.”

Yukina hugged me tightly, rubbing her cheek against me in her signature move. It tickled my chest.

Suddenly, I remembered something.

“Come to think of it, it didn’t happen this year.”

“What didn’t?”

“Well, for years, I’ve found store-bought chocolates in my desk on this day. There was never a name on them, so I couldn’t return the favor, but it always made me happy that someone gave me some.”

“I see…Yuu-kun is quite popular.”

“Well, I mean, I’m happiest getting chocolate from you, Yukina.”

“You don’t need to say that, I already know.”

She hugged me even tighter.

“I’ll keep giving you chocolates forever.”

With those words, she gently pressed her lips to mine.

“Hehe, it’s a promise, okay?”

“…Please make them a little better next year.”

“Okay!”

She smiled softly, and I returned the smile.

Is this what people call a happy Valentine’s Day?

I’m not sure, but it’s fine. I’m happy.