The Beautiful Girl Who Asked Me to Pretend to Be Her Boyfriend Didn’t Want to Break up With Me for Some Reason - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: What Do You Take Me For?

“Thank you for waiting, Master—or should I say something like that to fit the role?”

After spending some time in the changing area with the maid outfit she had brought, Shirafuji emerged. She was dressed in a full-length skirt-type maid outfit, holding the hem of her skirt as she curtsied before me.

The maid outfit wasn’t the short-skirted, cosplay-like type. It was a genuine, traditional style. The headpiece, a modestly frilled white brim, added to the delicate atmosphere. The sight of Shirafuji in the maid outfit left me captivated.

“…It really suits you, the maid outfit.”

“I’m honored by your compliment, Master.”

“So, is today’s theme role-play or something?”

“Please don’t call it a theme. I thought it might be fun to give role-playing a try since we have the chance. If you dislike it, I can stop, of course. There are careless maids in the world too, I’m sure.”

“…Let’s continue the role-play.”

“That’s more like it. As expected of Master, you truly understand the finer points of things.”

I was expecting some teasing like, “Guys really love this kind of thing, don’t they?” but Shirafuji showed no such behavior. Instead, she seemed genuinely enthusiastic about playing the role of a maid.

Shirafuji enjoys manga and anime, so she’s likely very tolerant of such hobbies. Her purchase of the maid outfit was probably an extension of that. It wouldn’t be surprising if she had wanted to try cosplay.

As for showing it to me, that was probably incidental. The reward was merely a convenient opportunity she decided to use.

…In that case, doesn’t this mean I’m getting two rewards? She’s wearing such an adorable maid outfit, and on top of that, she’s going to provide some sort of service. If I were a little older, this would be worth paying for.

“Well then, let’s move on to the service. However, we haven’t decided on what kind of service it will be. The obvious ideas are a massage, a lap pillow, ear cleaning, cuddling, or maybe washing your back—”

“That last one’s clearly for the bath.”

“Caught me.”

Though she murmured with a disappointed tone, her expression remained composed.

But, deciding on the content is indeed tricky. While washing my back was obviously a joke, the other suggestions—massage, lap pillow, and ear cleaning—were appropriately modest. Physical contact would be within acceptable bounds if Shirafuji was okay with it.

…Cuddling, however, might be a bit too much. At our age, sharing a bed could lead to various complications. Moreover, Shirafuji seemed more assertive than usual today, likely due to her desire to give me a proper reward.

If she were to lie next to me and notice me flustered, she might exploit the maid role to tease me.

“Then let’s go with something other than cuddling.”

“Are you sure you don’t want cuddling?”

“…I’m sure.”

“I feel like I just witnessed some internal conflict, but if you’re fine with that, I’ll accept it.”

She seemed rather smug for a maid, but we decided to move to the bedroom.

Shirafuji, familiar with the room, rummaged around to fetch a bamboo ear pick and some cotton swabs. She then seated herself on the bed with a sense of ownership, adjusted her skirt over her knees, and said:

“Here you go, Master. Your exclusive maid’s lap pillow awaits.”

She patted her lap invitingly, gesturing for me to lay my head down.

The “Master” part I could reluctantly let slide, but calling herself “your exclusive maid” was another level.

…Whether it’s appropriate or not, it did stir a sense of satisfaction.

Even though Shirafuji and I were only pretending to be a couple, her wearing a maid outfit and offering her services felt like something the boys at school would envy. Imagining their reactions left me oddly pleased with myself.

I sat next to her first, then gradually leaned back to place my head on her lap. Carefully, so as not to rush, I rested my head.

“…It’s so soft.”

“Fufu, of course. I am a girl, after all. And it’s not because I’m fat, okay?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Good, then.”

Her warning made me realize how glad I was to have kept my mouth shut. Resting my head on her soft thighs, I adjusted slightly to find the most comfortable position.

The smooth fabric of her skirt brushed against my skin. I could smell what seemed to be fabric softener—maybe she had washed it beforehand.

As I adjusted, Shirafuji made a slight, ticklish noise.

“Sorry, am I tickling you?”

“You’re just trying to find a comfortable spot, right? Feel free to play with my thighs as much as you like.”

“Why does that sound so wrong?”

“It’s just your imagination.”

It definitely wasn’t my imagination, but I let it go.

Eventually, I found a comfortable position, laying on my side with my left ear up. I glanced up to find Shirafuji looking down at me.

“First, I’ll pamper you with a lap pillow and ear cleaning. Then, I’ll give you a massage. Don’t expect your knots to completely loosen, though—it’s more for mental relaxation.”

“That’s fine. But you’re not denying you’re not very strong.”

“…I’ll give you the massage with all my strength.”

While her determination was commendable, her strength was likely limited.

Still, such an opportunity doesn’t come often, so I was looking forward to it.

“Oh.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t poke my ear with the ear pick, okay?”

“What do you take me for?”

“Well, you’re pretty clumsy—”

“Ugh, that’s it. Brace yourself! I’ll make sure you admit it feels amazing!”

Uh-oh. I might’ve provoked her too much.

…Here’s hoping my eardrum survives intact.