My Ex-Girlfriend’s Sister Ran Away to My Room, and We Can’t Stop Making Mistakes. - Chapter 21: You Can Touch Me if You Want.

You Can Touch Me if You Want.

Mii’s part-time job at the cosplay café got off to a smooth start.

When I visited the office at Apollinaire, I found Vanilla counting the day’s earnings with a greedy grin on her face.

“The days Mii-chan works, our sales go up by fifty percent. She’s practically a goddess of fortune. I’m starting to think I should have her work the night shift, too.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. How much do you plan on making her work?”

“I’m joking, mostly. But man, the power of youth is something else. She’s already got clear regulars coming in; Mii-chan is incredibly popular. It’s impressive, really.”

What Vanilla said was true. On the days I didn’t have shifts at my own café, I was being made to help with the dishwashing in the back of the cosplay café. From my vantage point, it seemed like many customers were coming specifically to catch a glimpse of Mii.

I couldn’t help but feel on edge, especially when I saw some of them looking for an opening to try and touch her hand or arm.

“Is this really the right place for her to be working?”

“What, Saki-kun, are you jealous?”

“No, it’s not that. I’m worried. I don’t like the idea of exposing Mii to the gaze of men I know nothing about.”

“Hahaha. Hearing that from a pervert like you doesn’t carry much weight.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“It’s fine. I kick out the weirdos, and if push comes to shove, I’ll call the police. Touching is strictly prohibited. It says so in big letters on the sign, doesn’t it?”

Vanilla spoke in a carefree tone as she tucked the money into the safe.

Apollinaire was a “no-touching” establishment—a wholesome shop meant for the eyes only. Furthermore, Mii was in charge of the afternoon hours, which was, for all intents and purposes, just a curry shop.

Even so, my anxiety remained.

“If you don’t call that jealousy, then what is it?”

“It’s not jealousy; it’s concern.”

“She’s just a temporary housemate, right? Who cares if she finds a boyfriend?”

“It’s not about that either.”

“Exactly. That’s jealousy.”

Vanilla laughed teasingly. Just as I was about to protest, the office door swung open and Mii peeked her head inside. She was wearing a headband adorned with frills, and the moment she saw me, her face lit up with a brilliant smile.

“Ah, Saki-nii! You waited for me.”

“I was just chatting. We’re leaving now.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Oh, look at him, getting all bashful.”

“I am not bashful.”

Vanilla gave an exasperated “good grief” and began organizing the documents on the shelf.

“Mii, is your work finished already?”

“Yeah, the last customer just left. Vanilla-san, I finished washing the dishes, too.”

“Thanks. Mii-chan, you really are attentive.”

“I’m the one who asked to work here, so this is the least I can do.”

“You’ve been a huge help. Well, you can head out now. Your boyfriend is waiting, after all.”

“Okay. Thank you very much!”

“Mii-chan is so much more honest than you,” Vanilla remarked. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she let out a sharp gasp and stood up in a panic.

“That’s right! I have to go to the bank today. I totally forgot! Mii-chan, can you watch the shop for about an hour?”

“Ah, yes. Of course.”

“That was close, the teller window almost closed. I might be a bit late since I’m going to do some shopping while I’m out. Sorry! You guys can help yourselves to the alcohol and snacks over there.”

With that, Vanilla hurriedly threw on her coat and dashed out of the office.

Mii and I were left alone. She stared intently at my face before slowly speaking.

“Saki-nii, have you had lunch yet?”

“No, not yet.”

“Do you want some curry?”

“Ah… sure.”

When I nodded, Mii gave a sweet smile.

“Have a seat. I’ll make it now.”

The rhythmic tchk-tchk-tchk of the stove igniting echoed through the quiet shop. Standing in the kitchen, Mii rolled up her sleeves and began to move with quiet efficiency.

The curry at Apollinaire used no water; it relied entirely on the moisture from tomatoes. She carefully sautéed chicken thighs—tenderized in salt—alongside onion paste. She added cumin seeds, cardamom, and cinnamon to the heated pan.

Apparently, Vanilla had gone all the way to India to hand-select the spices, insisting that if they were going to make it, they should make it authentic. Thanks to that dedication, the curry here was highly regarded, quite apart from the “cosplay café” gimmick.

“Here you go.”

The rising aroma was incredibly appetizing. Mii smoothed out the wrinkles in her apron and sat down across from me.

“Give it a try.”

I picked up the spoon. The scent alone was mouth-watering.

The spice had a sharp kick that woke up the tongue. The robust flavor that spread through my mouth was entirely different from the kind you’d eat at home. A gentle warmth began to settle deep in my stomach.

“It’s delicious.”

“I’m glad.” Mii smiled with relief. “It’s the first time I’ve made it myself.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I help with the prep, but Vanilla-san is usually the one who actually cooks it.”

“It’s great. It’s not much different from hers.”

“I still have a long way to go.” Mii shook her head bashfully. “I’ve only just managed to memorize the menu properly. My customer service is still terrible, too.”

“Are you enjoying the job?”

“Yeah, a lot.”

She watched me eat with a constant, gentle smile.

“It reminded me of the old days, when I used to help out at the shop with Onee-chan.”

“Have you guys not been doing that lately?”

“Our shop is going to close soon. There aren’t any customers left; the place is deserted.”

“I see…”

I found myself less shocked by that fact than I expected. Ever since their father passed away, the spark had gone out of that restaurant. The family stopped standing in that kitchen together. To me, that place might as well have ceased to exist long ago.

“A lot has changed, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah. While you were gone, Saki-nii.”

She started to say something more, then hesitated and closed her mouth. After a brief pause, she rested her chin on her hand and spoke.

“Hey.”

“What?”

“I know touching is prohibited, but… if it’s Saki-nii, I don’t mind being touched.”

“Don’t be stupid. Your jokes are going too far.”

“But I’m being serious.”

Mii puffed out her cheeks in disappointment. That was the most dangerous thing about her. She pulled a bottle of beer from the nearby refrigerator, poured it into a glass, and began to drink.

“How boring.”

In the blink of an eye, she had finished the entire bottle.