Chapter 8 - Maid Cafe

"What is it?" Haruka asked.

Utaha took a deep breath, calmed her mind, and said, "My book will be published in two weeks. I'll have to do a meet and greet to push my book sales so..." She looked at him unsurely and said, "Can you accompany me?" I'm a bit scared since it is my first time." She was a beautiful girl and she was sure that there would be strange people who would try to flirt with her or do something annoying. She wanted someone who could protect her from such people during that event. She didn't really want to do such an event, but who made her a new writer in this publisher's house?

"Alright, I don't mind. I'll accompany you at that time," Haru said.

"Thank you."

Utaha smiled and was happy when she heard him agree. She knew that Haru was very good at night and she would be reassured with him around her.

"Can you give me your phone number? It'll be quite inconvenient for me to not have it later," Haru asked.

Utaha smiled and felt happy, but she wanted to tease him. "My... are you trying to flirt with me?"

"Well....." Haru nodded and said, "You can interpret it that way if you want."

Snorted, Utaha was quite annoyed looking at Haru's reaction. "Hmph! You're not fun!" You should act like a virgin and blush since you have exchanged numbers with beautiful girls!!!"

"........."

Haru was speechless. He only rubbed his nose while listening to her complain. He also wondered whether there was a beautiful girl who called herself beautiful. Though, he had to admit that she was indeed beautiful.

Haru didn't intend to have a girlfriend until he had confirmed that Sora was alright. He knew that when he had a girlfriend his time would be divided. If his girlfriend was Sora then it would be alright, but he knew that it was impossible since both of them were siblings.

Haru looked at Utaha and had to admit that she scored high points on his mind. He also knew her very well since both of them sat next to each other during middle school. It was also the reason why he didn't want to play with her feelings since he knew even though she was quite cold on the outside, but she was very naive inside.

Utaha didn't end her complaint and "bla, bla, bla..." for 10 minutes telling him the advantage of acting as a virgin shy boy.

Haru just sat down on the sofa nodded and nodded several times and didn't even listen to her explanation.

"Anyway, here's my Connect's account, email, and phone number."

Utaha shared all of the commutations that she usually uses.

"Here's mine too."

Haru also did the same as Utaha did.

Utaha nodded with a satisfied smile looking at his number on her phone. Though, she was quite unsatisfied when he used her family name to call her rather than her name directly.

"Kasumigaoka...."

Haru wanted to say that he needed to go back, but...

"Utaha..."

"Hmm?"

"Call me Utaha! And I will call you Haru," Kasumigaoka said to him.

Haruka thought this girl was really cute. He smiled and nodded.

"Sure, Utaha-Chan."

"You don't need to add -Chan suffix!!" Utaha said while pouting.

"Okay, okay, you don't need to pout. I will call you Utaha from now on," Haruka said.

"You should be thankful to have had such a privilege to call me by my first name," Utaha said.

"Yeah, I'm sure I'm a lucky guy to have that privilege."

Haru nodded several times.

Utaha smiled and they continued to talk for a while.

Haru decided to ask her out since it had been a while for both of them to talk together.

Utaha told him that she knew a good place and told him to come with her.

They said goodbye to Machida before going out together.

Machida looked at their back with a weird expression before shaking her head.

Walking next to each other, Utaha couldn't help but ask, "How close are you with Machida?"

"She helped me at the time. But if you ask me how our relationship is... then she is something of an akin to an older sister to me," Haruka said.

"Hmm..."

Haruka felt the atmosphere felt a bit strange. He decided to change the topic and asked, "So where are we going now?"

Utaha smiled and said, "The paradise of men."

"............."

Haru raised his eyebrow and wasn't sure what she meant by that.

---

Haruka looked at the strange cafe in front of him. He had heard about this place but he had never come. He wanted to come before, but he had never gotten a chance. Though, he didn't expect he would come to this place with Utaha for the first time.

"This is?"

Haru looked at Utaha unsurely. He didn't understand why she brought him to this place.

"This is a Maid Cafe, how is it? Do you feel excited?" Utaha asked with a smile.

Looking at her teasing smile, Haru teased her back and said, "I'm more excited to spend time with you."

Utaha looked away with a blush. "D, don't say such a stupid thing! let's go inside."

"Sure."

Haru nodded while thinking about how cute Utaha's reaction was.

They entered the store together and were greeted by a beautiful girl with a maid uniform.

"Welcome home! Master! Mistress!"

Haru nodded and understood why this place was being called a 'Maid Cafe'. Though, he had to admit the maid in front of him was very beautiful.

She has long khaki hair with two ponytails and has Saffron eyes. She wears a typical maid outfit, consisting of a black undercoat and a white, frilled-trim apron, and a white knee-length white with black shoes.

She looked at both of them and thought they were a pair of lovers. She smiled cutely and said, "Please, let me show you, your table."

"Thank you," Haru said.

Utaha nodded in response. She looked at Haru and looked at the maid in front of her. She had to admit that the maid was really beautiful. The maid in front of her gave a feeling which made everyone want to protect her. She looked at Haru again and sighed in relief when he didn't seem to show any interest in the maid, but thought, that it was normal when she was a beautiful girl.

"What do you think?" Utaha asked.

"It's good."

"Do you like maid outfits?" Utaha asked.

"It's... normal?" Haru answered unsurely. It was a bit embarrassing to admit that he loved it. It was his first time seeing it, but it was awesome. He looked around the store and thought that it was quite full of customers. He had to admit that it might be a good business idea since he felt that he was too free during this one year.

'Should I create a maid cafe too?'

His thoughts were broken when he heard Utaha's question.

"Do you want me to wear it?" Utaha asked, waiting for his response.

Haruka raised his eyebrow and asked back, "Will you?"

Utaha smiled and said, "Of course. It'll be your prize after you've helped me later."

Looking at Utaha's expression telling him to be grateful, Haru twitched his lips and replied, "I don't need that kind of reward!!"

"Really? I can give you a lot of services, you know?"

Utaha offered him once again a sweet smile. She could feel that Haru had an interest in maid outfits, but he was too shy to admit it.

Haru was tempted and wanted to give her a nod since he wanted to see her in a maid outfit, but someone suddenly interrupted him...

"We have arrived at your table, master, mistress."

Both of them forgot that there were still people around them.

Haru and Utaha looked at the maid who was blushing and her face had turned red hearing their conversation.

"..............."

Haru and Utaha had a tacit understanding and sat down quietly on their table without saying anything.