My Ex-Girlfriend’s Sister Ran Away to My Room, and We Can’t Stop Making Mistakes. - Chapter 19: Maid Curry.

Maid Curry.

Mii decided to wear the clothes she had bought in Shibuya the other day for her interview. She had tidied her hair meticulously and applied a slightly mature layer of makeup to refine her features.

“Finished.”

She spun around from the mirror toward me and offered a beaming smile.

“How do I look? Do you think I’ll pass the interview?”

“You’ll pass. Don’t worry, you look cute.”

“Really? I’ll hold you to that.”

She hugged me happily and pressed her lips against mine in a kiss. Even though I felt sluggish after our activities last night, Mii seemed remarkably energetic.

The cosplay café where Vanilla worked was named ‘Apollinaire.’ It was located on the second floor, right next to the café where I worked.

“I’m getting nervous.”

Upon arriving in front of the shop, Mii peered inside with a slightly stiff expression. Despite it being midday, the place was packed with customers being served by staff dressed in subdued, tastefully colored maid uniforms.

“The outfits are so cute. The black fabric… and the headbands are lovely, too.”

“I mean, can you really do this? Customer service seems like it might be pretty demanding.”

“I don’t know yet. But I’ll give it a try.”

We stepped inside and informed them that we were there through Vanilla’s recommendation. The shop wasn’t particularly spacious, with about fifteen seats including the counter. Bottles of alcohol were lined up in a neat row along the wall.

For some reason, every single customer in the shop was eating curry.

A staff member in a maid uniform guided us into the office.

“We do curry for lunch. Spice curry,” Vanilla said, sitting with her legs crossed in the cluttered, cramped office while organizing documents. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and tucked a bundle of papers into a shelf.

“Lately, we can’t make ends meet just by staying open at night. But ‘Maid Curry’ is surprisingly profitable. You saw all those salarymen out there, right?”

“It’s actually quite delicious,” Vanilla added boastfully.

“Um…”

Since Vanilla had started talking the moment we walked in, Mii had lost her opening. She finally spoke up hesitantly.

“H-hello. Thank you for seeing me today.”

“Ah, right. You’re the one.”

“I’m Hachijou Mii. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The interview. That’s right, I almost forgot why we were here.”

Vanilla leaned forward, beginning to observe Mii intently. Watching Mii shrink back as if intimidated, Vanilla gave a firm nod.

“Hired.”

“Eh?”

“Perfect. When can you start?”

“A-are you really sure?”

“Of course. I mean, since you’re the girl Saki-kun is so head-over-heels for, I wondered what you’d be like, but you’ve exceeded my expectations several times over.”

“N-no, that’s…”

Mii looked down, blushing.

“That’s not true at all.”

“I like the modesty. Plus, your hair and skin are beautiful. I think you’ll look great in our uniform. A size small should work, right? We have an extra one lying around, so go ahead and try it on.”

“L-like, right now?”

“Try it on, please.”

“Vanilla-san, you’re being a bit pushy…” I said, stepping in front of Mii.

Vanilla was being so aggressive that Mii was completely overwhelmed.

“We only came here for an interview today.”

“Oh, stop it. Anyone would get excited seeing a girl this cute. Even Saki-kun wants to see Mii-chan change, right?”

“I don’t particularly care.”

“Look at you, your face is turning red.”

It wasn’t.

I stole a glance at Mii, and found her staring intently at me with an upturned gaze.

“Do you… want to see?”

“No.”

“Your face says you do. Oh, here it is. The changing room is just outside that door on the left. Go on, give it a try.”

“Y-yes.”

Clutching the maid uniform Vanilla had tossed to her, Mii hurried off to the changing room.

“What are you playing at?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“What’s so fun about making her change in front of me?”

“I’m just teasing. It’s entertaining.”

Vanilla pressed a finger to her lips and giggled.

“Mii-chan was a little jealous of me, wasn’t she? Wondering if something was going on between you and me.”

“Ugh.”

“I knew it. How cute. She was so obviously on guard at first.”

“That’s why I have to help her relax,” Vanilla said, crossing her arms. “It can’t be helped. Jealousy is like an instinct.”

“Thanks for the consideration.”

“You’d better be grateful. Though, I have to say, I’m relieved you two are much more ‘normal’ than I’d heard.”

“She has a good personality. She’s generally pleasant to be around.”

“Not that. I mean the relationship between you and Mii-chan.”

Vanilla turned toward me and smiled.

“You look much more like a real couple than I expected. I didn’t even need to meddle.”

“Hah.”

“Why don’t you two just start dating for real?”

“It’s not that simple. Our relationship is strictly temporary.”

“Temporary… sounds like ‘friends with benefits’.”

“Temporary housemates. Nothing more, nothing less.”

At my words, Vanilla shook her head regretfully.

“I see. But what a waste.”

Just as she let out a deep sigh, the sound of pitter-pattering footsteps echoed from the changing room.

“Um, I’ve finished changing.”

Looking down shyly, Mii appeared before us in the maid uniform.

“H-how is it?”

The grey apron stretched smoothly over her frame. The color served to emphasize the porcelain whiteness of her skin. The level of skin showing gave off the impression of someone trying to look a little more grown-up.

“Ohh. It’s very good, Mii-chan.”

“Thank you. This outfit is so cute.”

“My eyes didn’t deceive me. Let’s go with this. It’s lovely yet mature. I could eat three bowls of rice just looking at you.”

I didn’t quite understand why she was using food as a metaphor, but Vanilla looked satisfied.

“Um, hey…”

Mii turned toward me hesitantly.

“What do you think?”

She flared her skirt slightly, looking embarrassed.

I could see Vanilla smirking beside me. It was annoying to give in under these circumstances, but there was no point in lying.

“It looks very good.”

Mii smiled bashfully and pressed her hands together with a happy “Wow!” I couldn’t help but think that even a gesture like that was incredibly charming.