The Carnivorous Maidens Living with Me - Chapter 66 & 67

Chapter 66: Lunch Tastes Like Intimacy

Kiin koon kaan koon

“Finally lunch… Hey, Shoma, wanna eat together?”

The one talking is Haruki, making a rare appearance.

(Been a while, huh. By the way, what’s his full name again…?)

“…Feels like someone’s badmouthing me.”

“Haha! No way, Haruki! What’d you say?”

“Whatever! Just thought we could grab lunch together.”

Back in the day, I’d have nodded to that, but things are different now.

Maybe sensing my hesitation, Haruki gives an awkward apology.

“Ah! My bad… You’re eating with Kisaragi, right?”

“Sorry, that’s the deal. Don’t you eat with Ai, Haruki?”

I toss a simple question at Haruki.

Ai’s his girlfriend, by the way! …Also making a rare appearance.

“Yeah, Ai’s out with a cold…”

“Gotcha, that’s lonely.”

“Yeah, I might visit her after school.”

With that, Haruki heads to the cafeteria, leaving the classroom.

“Sho, Shoma~ Help me~”

Sofia calls out to me in a pitiful voice.

Looking over, I see members of Sofia’s fan club waging a battle over her.

Blue Team: Sofia-sama’s Stomping Squad

“Sofia-shi will dine with us!”

“Buhehehe, she’ll eat this pork skewer!”

“I offer dried mackerel!”

Red Team: Sofia-sama’s Guidance Seekers

“Gross, and why mackerel of all things?”

“Sofia-sama will have tea with us!”

“And teach us how to make our boyfriend super submissive…”

Looks lively.

Let’s ignore the conversation details.

Unlike the old Sofia, she’s now surrounded by people, enjoying herself…?

Is she enjoying it?

“…Shoma~”

Surrounded by the girls seeking her advice, Sofia’s plea for help is softer than usual, almost cute.

I step forward to rescue her.

“Eek, the Demon King…”

“The Demon King’s arrived!”

“R-Run!”

The Stomping Squad members scatter at the sight of me.

“Who’re you calling Demon King! Jeez. …Sorry, I’m borrowing my girlfriend.”

At my words, the Guidance Seekers hesitantly let Sofia go.

Sofia says, “Next time,” winking at the girls.

“God!”

“So beautiful…”

Seems Sofia’s a natural charmer.

Without preconceptions, her easygoing charm makes it impossible for her not to be popular!

It’s just that others didn’t notice before…

“Where do you wanna eat, Sofi?”

“Hmm, it’s nice out, so how about outside?”

“Cool. Let’s hit the place with terrace seats.”

“Yup! It’s like a little private room, so no one’ll notice if something happens.”

She’s as bold as ever.

Finding her adorable and lovable, I resist the urge to hug her and reply.

“…Kissing’s the limit.”

“Wow! Shoma’s getting all lovey-dovey lately! What a treat.”

“I’m fully aware I’m sinking into your swamp.”

“Sofia Swamp?”

“The bottomless Sofia Swamp.”

“Pfft!”

Hahaha!

We laugh together, walking under a pleasant sky.

Around us, shouts from the school store bread battle…

People enjoying a moment in the classroom…

Kids playing volleyball in the courtyard…

The scent of coffee wafting from the staff room…

Glimmers of light spilling through the trees…

It all feels like irreplaceable moments unique to now, and for a bit, we both pause.

“Feels…”

“Yeah…”

““Nice…”””

We look at each other, smiling.

Lately, I’ve noticed Sofia and I share similar values.

“I’m so glad I met you, Shoma.”

Her voice slips out softly beside me.

It seeps deep into my heart, warm and comforting.

“I’m glad I met you too, Sofia.”

That’s why I’ll do my best to match her!

“Yup! Let’s go!”

“Right! You made today’s lunch, right, Sofi? That’s extra exciting!”

We hold hands and head to the terrace seats.

※

“…Hey, Sofi.”

“What, Shoma?”

“So, I’ve been able to move my hands a lot better…”

“Hm? And?”

I look at Sofia seriously, my voice dead serious… but our distance is… practically zero.

“So… uh…”

“Hm?”

“Could you maybe stop feeding me mouth-to-mouth?”

“No way! Chuu!”

What food just went into my mouth?

All I can taste is Sofia.

(The Sofia Swamp is terrifying…)

Side note: Sofia’s been training with Hazuki lately, learning self-defense… and bondage techniques.

So, naturally, I’m tied up during lunch, unable to resist, and Sofia feeds me as she pleases until we’re done.

※

After School

“Alright, everyone, head home safe~”

“““Yes! Goodbye!”””

Our class finishes homeroom and disperses.

“Oh, and the day-duty folks, write the log and clean before you go!”

The teacher leaves after saying that.

“Who’s on duty today?”

A guy near the blackboard checks the duty roster.

Month X, Day (Wednesday)

Day Duty: Kamizuki, Kisaragi

“Oh! The Demon King and the Queen!”

“Husband and wife on duty, huh… Didn’t even notice.”

“…First I’m hearing of it.”

I don’t recall doing any duty tasks today…

No wonder—Sofia took charge of everything.

“Sorry, Sofi… I left it all to you.”

“It’s fine, Shoma, it’s a wife’s job to take care of her husband!”

The class reacts:

“Whoa!”

“As expected of the couple.”

“Shoma’s the type to be whipped.”

(Well, I am pretty whipped…)

“See you all tomorrow!”

At Sofia’s words, the remaining classmates head home.

We grab cleaning supplies and start tidying the classroom.

“Hey, Sofi.”

“Hm…? What, Shoma. Feeling like getting a kiss now that we’re alone?”

“Not that… Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

Sofia’s been worrying about something lately.

I don’t know what, but I want her to feel at ease.

My next words are a small gesture of that.

“Let’s go on a date tomorrow.”

“Eh! A date?”

Sofia seems a bit slow to catch on, but as she repeats my words, her snow-white cheeks start to blush.

(She’s so cute…)

While waiting for her reply, I gently gaze at her face.

Kokuri…

She nods slowly, a bit shyly.

Surely, my tomorrow will be dyed silver.

Chapter 67: Feelings with Nowhere to Go

“Sofi, you ready?”

“Just a bit longer! My heart’s not ready…”

“We’re just heading to the lockers from the classroom, it’s not that different from usual, you know?”

We’re about to leave the classroom for the lockers, but Sofia’s heart apparently needs more prep.

We’ve already told Hazuki and the others we’re skipping the club today.

“Getting invited on a date by you, Shoma… it’s kinda the first time, isn’t it?”

“A proper date, huh? Hmm… yeah, maybe so.”

“So nervous!”

“What’s there to be nervous about now… but, well, I kinda get it.”

“Are you nervous too, Shoma?”

“…”

Sofia’s words make me realize my face is heating up.

“Your face is red!”

“It’s the sunset…”

“The sun’s not even setting that much yet.”

“…”

“We’re the same!”

“Well, yeah. Lately, I’ve been realizing just how amazing you girls are.”

“Ehehe~”

Seeing Sofia’s shy smile, I feel a warmth in my chest, wondering if I’ve managed to protect that smile even a little.

“So, where are we going today?”

“Well, uh… I’m not great at fancy stuff, so… I was thinking a café.”

“That honest side of you is what I fell for.”

She’d already changed into her shoes and now spins around to face me, smiling.

My heart can’t stop racing at the sight.

(…Being alone together with her is seriously dangerous.)

“…That’s cheating.”

“Hm? Did you say something?”

“Nothing! Let’s go!”

I grab her hand, since she’s not carrying a bag, and start walking.

My heart, wanting to feel her skin even a little, is slowly being dyed in her colors.

“Wah, Shoma, slow down a bit!”

“Haha, gotta hurry or the daily special’ll be gone!”

Under a bright, sunny sky, we laugh and jog a bit, believing it’s never wrong to want her to keep smiling.

※

Café Brother

“…Shoma, here?”

“Yeah! Apparently, it’s run by our boss Okama-mama’s brother.”

Karan karan!

“Welcome! Party of two?”

“Yes, that’s right. Um… is the daily special still available?”

I ask the kind-looking male waiter.

“Yes, we still have it! Let me show you to your seats.”

Relieved the daily special is still available, I glance at Sofia, who’s crouched down playing with a dog.

“Wan!”

“Shoma, look! A cute doggy!”

“Whoa! It’s adorable! As cute as our Shiratama and Zenzai.”

I crouch down with Sofia, meeting the dog’s gaze.

Its glossy black eyes are like jewels, so deep they could pull you in.

The way it stares at me feels almost human, full of affection.

“Excuse me, what’s this one’s name?”

Out of curiosity, I ask the waiter who guided us.

Sofia’s fawning over the dog, petting its head.

She’s basically an animal lover!

“That’s Inumaru-san! Our shop’s mascot dog.”

““Inumaru-san…”””

I look again at the dog introduced as Inumaru-san.

“Inumaru-san… so cute.”

Sofia, hearing the name, fawns even more, rubbing her cheek against it.

Inumaru-san looks slightly put off, but it’s probably my imagination.

“…Alright, let me show you to your seats.”

After thoroughly enjoying Inumaru-san, Sofia and I excitedly head to our table.

“Two daily specials… Sofi, anything else?”

“Nope… I’ll leave it to you today, Shoma.”

“Got it. Milk cocoa for you?”

“Yup! I’m happy you know my tastes.”

“Y-Yeah! I’m your boyfriend, after all! So, waiter, one milk cocoa and one coffee, please.”

“Got it! Ice or hot?”

“I’ll take ice!”

“Hot for me, please.”

The waiter bows with a smile and heads back to the kitchen.

“Tests are coming up soon, huh.”

“I never thought you’d be that bad at studying, Shoma…”

“And I didn’t think you’d be that good at it…”

““Pfft… hahaha!”””

We chat like that for about ten minutes until the daily special arrives.

Kotori…

“Today’s Thursday special, ‘To the Silver Sky.’”

“Wow…”

“This is…”

Seeing the dish, Sofia and I are overwhelmed with indescribable emotions.

On a sponge cake, cotton candy shaped like clouds is topped with dolphins and seagulls “swimming.”

The cake has a faint blue tint, sparkling with candy coating.

Is it sugar work?

This three-dimensional creation is practically art.

“Our boss looks tough, but he’s got nimble hands!”

The waiter says, glancing at the kitchen.

There stands a burly, muscular man.

It’s painfully obvious he’s from Okama-mama’s family…

Gu!

The boss winks at us, gives a thumbs-up, and returns to the kitchen.

“Kinda…”

“Yeah…”

““Like Okama-mama, huh.”””

“Enjoy your meal,” the waiter adds before returning to work.

“Did you know about this place, Shoma?”

“The boss recommended it… Said, ‘Sofia-chan will definitely love it.’”

“I see… thank you.”

“You’ve seemed down lately, so I wanted to come here to cheer you up.”

“Yup! Thank you!”

Sofia and I struggle to “treasure hunt” this masterpiece, spending time at the café until the silver sky turns crimson.

※

“See you, Inumaru-san!”

“Wan!”

I finish paying and greet the boss (Okama-mama’s brother).

“Come back, Shoma-kun. My brother’s told me about you!”

“Yes! Thank you! It was beautiful and delicious.”

“Hahaha! Glad to hear! My brother’s… well, you know, but take care of him!”

“Of course. He’s… a lot, but I trust him.”

“That’s good to hear. And… cherish your girlfriend!”

“…Yes.”

After saying goodbye to the waiter and Inumaru-san, Sofia and I leave the café.

“…Wanna walk home?”

“Yup! Let’s take it slow.”

We decide to walk the two-station distance home slowly.

The breeze feels nice, and Sofia, reflected in my eyes against the crimson sky, looks mystical…

A famous photographer would probably never stop snapping.

But I want to keep this sight sacred, just for me, saving it as a mental screenshot… locked away.

“…Sofia.”

“Hm…?”

Sofia walks beside me, looking content, squeezing my hand as if savoring its warmth.

There’s something I need to ask her.

That’s why I planned this date.

Hesitating slightly, suppressing my racing heart, I look at her seriously and speak…

“Are you… regretting it?”

“……………Huh?”

Gently unraveling feelings with nowhere to go.