When Two Wounded Hearts Find Solace In Each Other, Snow White (The School's Beauty) And I Were Mistakenly Labeled As A Silly Couple. - Chapter 33: Snow White, An After-School Date, And An Innocent Junior.

Snow White, An After-School Date, And An Innocent Junior.

“You want to go somewhere of my liking?”

After school, Himeno and I were walking hand in hand towards the station.

As a way of thanking me for standing out together, she suggested going to my favorite place.

It’s inevitable that Himeno, known as the most beautiful girl in school and nicknamed Snow White, would attract attention when she’s with a boy. However, she seemed determined to express her gratitude.

“Yes, I want to know the places Taka-kun usually goes.”

Her sweet words, combined with an upward glance, felt like cheating, making me squirm internally.

Despite knowing I like Marika, today my thoughts were occupied by Himeno. Even during class, I couldn’t get her out of my head, and I even got scolded by the teacher for being too distracted.

Thanks to that, my classmates teased me, saying, “You’re really in high spirits.”

“I don’t usually go to places that would interest girls, though…”

While it’s not entirely true, the places I frequent are mostly male-oriented, especially those with a love for anime.

Even though I’m not particularly excited about taking her there, if she wants to go, I have no choice.

“Is this place okay?”

We walked a bit into the back alley from the station, and there’s a shop I visit once a month.

“A maid cafe?”

The sign clearly states “Maid Cafe,” and Himeno, upon seeing it, had a somewhat indescribable expression on her face.

For Himeno, who doesn’t have much interest in anime, a maid cafe is probably uncharted territory.

“Yeah. If you don’t like it, we can change our plans.”

“It’s okay. It’s a place Taka-kun likes.”

For a brief moment, she blushed, perhaps thinking it was a shady place. However, she quickly returned to her usual expression.

After all, with our school uniforms on, we wouldn’t be allowed into any strange places, and she probably never expected me to suggest such a place.

For someone new to it, a maid cafe might seem a bit shady. After all, there are pictures of maids on the stand sign, and many of them are cute girls.

But in reality, maid cafes, as occasionally featured on TV, aren’t shady at all. It’s a place where customers can talk with maids and enjoy their performances.

It may have a slightly higher cost for food and drinks compared to a regular family restaurant.

“Let’s go in.”

“Got it.”

Himeno seemed a bit nervous, perhaps because it was her first time entering, and we stepped into the maid cafe.

“Welcome back, Master, and Your Highness.”

The maids inside greeted us with a friendly tone.

Himeno looked a bit bewildered when addressed as “Your Highness,” but she’ll need to get used to it as that’s how things work in maid cafes. Whether she’ll come here again with me is uncertain.

“You started working in a place like this…”

The maid who greeted us turned out to be a junior from my middle school days, Kasugai Miki whom I knew well.

Well, saying “knew well” is a stretch; we only got acquainted through Marika, so we’re not particularly close.

“Geh… Senpai.”

My junior, Kasugai Miki, visibly made a displeased face. She has a strong admiration for Marika, and whenever she sees me, who often hangs out with Marika, she treats me coldly.

Marika used to be the student council president in middle school, so many girls admired her. However, Marika’s personality changes when I’m around, and I ended up joining the student council thanks to Marika’s influence.

Miki, with her shoulder-length flaxen hair, long eyelashes, caramel-colored large eyes, and flawless fair skin, is undoubtedly a beauty. However, if the maids working at the cafe give her a hard time, it won’t be good.

Despite her strong admiration for Marika, she chose to attend a different high school because she’s surprisingly smart, always ranking first in our middle school exams. Miki got into a private high school through recommendations.

Starting part-time work implies that she’s already sixteen. Apparently, the high school Miki attends allows part-time jobs.

“Do you know each other?”

“Yeah, she’s a junior one year below me.”

As if to say “this one,” I pointed at her, and Miki puffed her cheeks discontentedly, “Muu…”

“Please don’t point at girls. By the way, Senpai, this is the first time I’ve seen you with a girl other than Marika-senpai. Did you get rejected?”

“Yeah, got rejected.”

“Oh dear. My condolences.”

For some reason, she clasped her hands together, looked at me with pity, but undoubtedly she’s thinking, “Served you right, you were monopolizing Marika-senpai all this time. Take that.”

Though she usually acts coyly cute, she’s undeniably sharp-tongued when it comes to me. She must really dislike seeing guys around Marika.

“Did you get rejected by Marika-senpai and decided to switch to a silver-haired beauty?”

“Could you not put it like I’m changing jobs?”

“Right, my bad. It must be challenging when you’re used to being around a girl like Marika-senpai. You better handle it properly.”

Miki, who was smiling while spewing poison, is truly devious. She never displays a sharp tongue or says anything negative when in front of Marika.

“Oh, I’m Kasugai Miki. And you?”

“I’m Shirayuki Himeno, a classmate of Taka-kun. I don’t seem to like Kasugai-san. Because you are saying bad things about Taka-kun.”

Himeno, making a declaration to a new acquaintance, looked visibly displeased, likely because she heard something negative about me from the other person.

Since she previously trusted this person, hearing something negative about someone she values would naturally put her in a bad mood.

“U-um… I’m sorry.”

Seemingly surprised or intimidated by Himeno’s intense presence, Miki took a step back and apologized.

“Anyway, can you guide us to our seats already?”

“Sure thing. Follow me.”

With an immediate return to her smile, Miki guided us to our seats.