After signing, Horikita Suzune put the pen back on the table. As she stood up, the chair legs made a faint scraping sound against the floor.
"I have something to do, so I'll be leaving first." Her tone was stiff. Clearly, she did not want to spend another second in this private room filled with humiliation.
Uesugi Hara did not make things difficult for her. Leaning back in his chair, he added with a smile, "Miss Maid, remember to pick out your maid outfit soon. You can ask Kushida to help you choose a style."
Horikita Suzune ignored him. Her departing footsteps quickened as she practically fled through the private room door, even shutting it with a touch of impatience.
The room fell quiet again. Looking at the tightly closed door, Uesugi Hara smiled faintly. "Looks like our Miss Maid is embarrassed."
"I thought you'd be even more excessive." Kushida Kikyo set down her pen, propped her chin on her hand, and looked at him with a teasing glint in her eyes.
"What kind of person do you take me for?" Uesugi Hara raised a brow, sounding somewhat helpless. "Don't judge me by your own dark thoughts."
Kushida Kikyo scoffed, her gaze full of disdain. "Tsk, you're pretty convincing when you put on an act. If I didn't know what you were like in private, I might have actually believed your nonsense."
Rather than refute her, Uesugi Hara leaned forward and lightly hooked a finger under her chin. Applying a little pressure, he drew her face toward his, his tone playful. "Oh? Then tell me, what am I like in private?"
His fingertips were warmly against her skin. With the distance between them shortened, Kushida Kikyo could clearly smell the faint scent of coffee on him. Her cheeks slowly flushed