CH 24

Chapter 24 – Reason for the Maid Uniform

“……”

“……”

Fujisaki-san’s face is red as she sips her iced coffee. She’s blushing…

By the way, the iced coffee at this coffee shop is delicious. I don’t usually drink coffee, and the only coffee I’ve had recently was from a maid cafe, but I can still tell it’s good.

I enjoy drinking coffee. It’s nice to spend a peaceful time, but could she start talking to me now? I’m an introvert with few friends, so I would appreciate it if she could be considerate.

“……”

I don’t think she read my innermost thoughts, but Fujisaki-san stared at me with her mouth full of iced coffee. I’m not scared, though, because she’s still blushing.

It’s not that she was told off, but the shop owner came just as Fujisaki-san started shouting. For an honor student like her, even something like that could have been a bitter pill to swallow. It’s too bad she cared so much even though the owner didn’t really mind.

Now, even though I’ve regained a little more leeway, I’m still in a pinch…

I’m being questioned by the older Fujisaki sister about dating her little sister.

She’s Kotone-chan’s sister, so what the h**l! I wish I could have come on strong, but unfortunately, if she asked me why I went out with her sister, it’s over. If I said I threatened her to get into a relationship with me, that’d be the end of the story.

“Um, you see…”

I tightened my expression and opened my mouth.

Fujisaki-san has not yet lost her shame. Now that I think about it, this is an opportunity.

I didn’t know what I would have said if she had continued to press me hard at the rate she was going. Sometimes I’m the one who says things in a hurry. I know that better than anyone.

So I have to make the first move.

“I like Kotone-chan. I really like her.”

My voice was a bit shaky. But I managed to say it.

I can’t hide the fact that I’m dating Kotone-chan from Fujisaki-san. Misrepresenting it would only amplify the sense of distrust.

Then I should be upfront about the fact that we’re in a relationship. I said it out as fully as I could to divert her attention from the fact that should never be known, which in this case is that I threatened Kotone-chan. In other words, I have to hide the fact that Kotone-chan is working part-time as well.

From the way Fujisaki-san talks, she probably doesn’t know that. I, who belongs to the introverted group in the class, am dating her cute younger sister. She probably doesn’t like it, that’s for sure.

“I know I’m not compatible with Kotone-chan. But I still fell in love with her. I tried my best to get her to like me and… Now Kotone-chan is kind enough to let me be her boyfriend.”

No matter how much I say, I might end up tearing the relationship apart now, but…

“Kotone-chan gave me a chance. It’s until before the summer holiday starts. We’ll be going out until then and she’ll make a decision.”

What’s the point of not trying?

“Please. As her older sister, I know how angry you are. But can you still wait until the agreed period without saying anything? …Please!”

Then I bowed my head.

“……”

Fujisaki-san was silent. I kept my head down so I couldn’t see her face.

I said it with as much feeling as I could muster. I feel like I said something embarrassing, but that’s exactly the point.

“Then…”

Finally, Fujisaki-san opened her mouth. I’m sitting in the chair, but my knees are shaking with nervousness.

“I wonder what made Kotone wear this maid uniform?”

That’s…

No, I had nothing to do with the maid uniform. I mean, Kotone-chan wore it on her own.

I raised my head. Fujisaki-san’s eyes were cold. She was blushing with embarrassment just now. I would have preferred it that way.

“That’s…”

Kotone-chan brought it and put it on herself! Would she believe me if I told her the truth?

Those cold eyes had no doubt that I had forced Kotone-chan to wear a maid uniform. Even if I shout “I’m innocent!”, she’ll say I’m lying.

Besides, I don’t think Kotone-chan would want her sister to know that her hobby is to serve in a maid uniform. Kotone-chan has quite a few hobbies, but the fact that she owns a maid outfit should be a secret.

I let out a sigh of relief, and I could see Fujisaki-san’s eyebrows rising.

“…Okay. I’ll confess.”

“What will you confess to?”

She gave me a look that said she wouldn’t tolerate lies or deceit. But well… What I’m about to say is a lie…

“That maid outfit… I gave it to Kotone-chan as a present.”

“Huh?”

Yeah, that maid uniform was a present I gave Kotone-chan. That’s what I told her.

“I like maids. That’s why I gave Kotone-chan a maid uniform. But please don’t worry. She only received it, she didn’t wear it. She was merely holding my feelings for me.”

I’ve turned into a real jerk…

I gave her a maid outfit because I said I like maids… This kind of push is an instant recipe for catastrophe.

But now the keywords Kotone-chan and maid no longer match. Rather, the relationship between me and the maid has become more solid.

“Then why did Kotone take this maid’s uniform to the laundry? If it’s new and she doesn’t even want to wear it, she doesn’t have to do that, right?”

She’s right.

If Kotone-chan was going to put it in the laundry, it would have been better if she had done it secretly.

Thanks to that, I ended up crossing the line.

“Actually, that’s not brand new.”

“Eh, what do you mean?”

I gulped. I’m really quite the ballsy guy!

“That maid uniform…it’s my second-hand!”

Fujisaki-san froze. This is the first time I’ve seen someone else freeze up.

“I like maids so much I bought a maid outfit. I wasn’t satisfied with just that…well, I ended up wearing it.”

I said it with all the cuteness I could muster.

At that moment, Fujisaki-san made a rattling sound and fell back in her chair. Her reaction was quite shocking.

Fujisaki-san has her mouth agape. Is she imitating a goldfish?

Her pale skin was busy turning blue and red. I could tell just by looking at her that her emotions were going back and forth intensely.

“Y-Y-Y-You…! Just what the—!”

“There, there, onee-chan, calm down.”

Someone’s hand stopped Fujisaki-san from hitting the table again.

Her flaxen hair was flowing smoothly in twin-tails. The person had a face similar to Fujisaki-san’s, but a different face.

The one who appeared out of nowhere was the one in the story. It was Kotone-chan, with a big smile on her face.