The Maid Café

"Take this! Etsuka, don't let your guard down! This time, my attack will be the wildest yet!"

Nakanishi Jiro sat cross-legged on the floor, shaking his body as he gripped the game controller.

Behind him, Amikura Mako sat by the bed, propping her head up with one hand and looking utterly helpless.

What? How did Nakanishi know...

She'd never imagined this would happen. She'd thought she could spend the first day of summer vacation alone with Etsuka and get closer to him.

But somehow, Nakanishi Jiro had found out and come over, making a fuss about challenging Etsuka to a game of King of Fighters.

At first, Etsuka hadn't thought much of it. He played while chatting with Amikura Mako, but as time went on, he noticed that Nakanishi Jiro's gaming skills were getting better and better.

Before long, he was completely absorbed in the game, his attention entirely focused on it. He had no time to pay Amikura Mako any mind.

Amikura Mako sat alone by the bed like someone who'd been abandoned, looking utterly forlorn.

"Ah, I lost again!" Nakanishi Jiro set down the controller with a dejected look. He stared up at the ceiling, mouth hanging open, completely crestfallen.

"It was just luck." Horikita Etsuka patted Nakanishi Jiro on the shoulder. "You were this close to beating me. I feel like I'm definitely going to lose next round."

"No!" Nakanishi Jiro looked at Horikita Etsuka in despair. "I finally get it. This is, what, the tenth time? Every time, you say you only won by luck, and every time I'm just a hair's breadth from winning. Do you get a kick out of beating up beginners?"

Horikita Etsuka guiltily rubbed his nose. "Come on, that's not true. I really do think I'm about to lose every time."

Amikura Mako asked curiously,

"Is Nakanishi not good at games?"

"No, no!" Nakanishi Jiro hurriedly shook his head. Pointing at Etsuka, he said, "Etsuka's just too good. It's not that I'm bad."

Nakanishi Jiro insisted that people could question anything about him, but not his gaming skills.

Amikura Mako eyed Nakanishi Jiro suspiciously.

Unable to stand that doubtful look questioning his abilities, Nakanishi Jiro picked up the controller and said to Amikura Mako, "If you don't believe me, why don't you try, Amikura?"

"Huh? Me?" Amikura Mako looked at the game screen. "But I don't know how to play."

Etsuka smiled.

"It's fine. Give it a try. We're just playing for fun."

"Mm, all right." Amikura Mako took the controller and knelt beside Etsuka, her little feet in white socks twitching.

Seeing that his plan had worked, Nakanishi Jiro smirked.

Heh heh, Amikura. I'll show you how cruel the world can be. Don't blame me! You're the one who questioned my skills!

Round, Fight!

The game began.

Amikura Mako controlled her character with a serious expression.

Etsuka looked just as serious as he played.

Nakanishi Jiro nodded and sipped his drink.

At first, Etsuka's character kept pressing Amikura's, and her health bar steadily dropped. She could barely manage to keep defending.

Nakanishi Jiro nodded in satisfaction again and took another sip.

He swallowed, then looked back at the screen.

Amikura's character had won, making a comeback with only a sliver of health left!

"What the heck! How is that even possible?!" Nakanishi Jiro stared in disbelief. If he hadn't just swallowed his drink, he would probably have spat it out.

"Oh yeah!" Amikura Mako's eyes curved into crescents as she clenched a tiny fist and gave herself a little cheer.

"Not bad. You even turned the tables on me." Etsuka smiled and held up his hand for a high five.

"Heh heh, of course!" Amikura Mako proudly raised her little hand and slapped it against Etsuka's.

Their high five seemed to forge a bond between them, its brilliance so dazzling that Nakanishi Jiro could barely keep his eyes open.

"Etsuka! You're playing favorites!" Nakanishi Jiro protested angrily. "You went all out against me, but you barely attacked Amikura at the start!"

Hearing Nakanishi Jiro's words warmed Amikura Mako's heart. Being treated differently made her very happy.

Girls were emotional creatures. When someone treated them differently from everyone else, they usually felt delighted, because it meant they were special.

Words like "the only one" and "unique" could make girls happy.

Etsuka spread his hands. "Less talk. If you're bad, practice more."

"Ugh! Damn it!" Nakanishi Jiro could only let out an angry, frustrated roar.

As noon approached, Amikura suggested going out for lunch.

Nakanishi Jiro was eager to return to the dorm and practice his skills until he could redeem himself, so he left first, grumbling.

That left Amikura and Etsuka to have lunch together.

They walked side by side down the hallway, keeping a polite distance of a fist's breadth between them.

"By the way, Etsuka, after lunch, let's go pick out some clothes, okay?"

Amikura suddenly sped up, turned to face Etsuka, and walked backward in front of him, her hands clasped behind her back.

"Sure. But what do you want to eat?"

Etsuka wasn't picky about food; anything that filled his stomach would do. Still, he added, "It'd be best to have a proper lunch."

"A proper lunch... Hmm..." Amikura lowered her head and pondered.

Just then, a girl in a maid outfit who was standing outside a restaurant and inviting customers in noticed Etsuka. Her eyes lit up, and she cheerfully approached them.

"Moshi moshi~ Would you two masters like to dine at our maid café?"

Etsuka and Amikura, who had been lost in thought, both froze.

"Sorry, we're not really looking for that right now." Amikura hurriedly waved her hands in refusal.

"Ehh~ Is that so?" The maid looked disappointed. "We happen to have a special offer today, too. What a shame."

She pointed to the sign outside the restaurant, which read:

"Limited-time offer! Meals 50% off!"

(50% off all meals!)

"Fifty percent off?" Amikura glanced at Etsuka, and seeing that he didn't seem interested in the maid, she spoke up. "Etsuka, we're in luck. How about eating here?"

Etsuka raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Are you sure?"

Amikura tilted her head in confusion. "Have you been to a place like this before, Etsuka? Was the food bad?"

"Not that."

"Was the service bad?"

"Not that either. You could say... the service was almost too good."

"Then why...?"

"Never mind. You'll understand once you experience it yourself."

Before Amikura could continue asking, Etsuka gently tugged on her sleeve and led her inside.

"Welcome! Master~!"

As soon as they entered, two girls in maid outfits bowed in greeting. Amikura's face turned bright red.

Etsuka, on the other hand, remained completely unfazed.

The maid café was decorated entirely in white, pink, and black. Dolls and other cute decorations had been stuck all over the walls; even the tableware was pink and frilly.

After the two sat down across from each other, a maid wearing a mask, her purple hair neatly pinned up, came over.

For some reason, her body trembled slightly before she quietly handed them the menu.

"Master, please order..."

Etsuka studied her masked profile with a hint of suspicion.

Amikura, meanwhile, focused on the menu and began choosing what to eat.

Soon, they finished ordering, and the maid hurried off to the kitchen with the menu.

Etsuka continued staring thoughtfully at the maid's retreating figure.

Watching him, Amikura pouted. She seemed to regret coming to this café, but in the end, she said nothing.