Chapter 16 – The Day My Girlfriend Serves Me

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Yuji-senpai! No… Yuji-sama!”

Kotone-chan came to my house.

I was thrilled to welcome her and the first thing she said was, “Can I change clothes?” and she looked me up and down. I couldn’t help but shake my head as hard as I could. Vertically, of course.

I showed her to a suitable room and waited in the living room, where Kotone-chan came out dressed in a maid’s uniform.

Kotone-chan looks very good in a maid’s uniform, as I had thought from the way she worked at the maid cafe. She’s like an energetic and cheerful young maid.

“That maid outfit… Is it different from the one you wear part-time?”

“Yes, that’s right. I saw it on sale the other day and wanted one myself, so I bought one. I’m surprised you noticed.”

That’s right. The colors are the same, but the frills and lace are less ornate and the shapes are slightly different. They’re not exactly maid cafe material.

I’m happy to see Kotone-chan in her maid costume. I’m really happy, but…

“Kotone-chan, Kotone-chan.”

“What is it, Yuji-sama?”

“Why did you change into a maid’s uniform?”

It’s a natural mystery. I’m naturally addressed as ‘-sama.’

When asked, Kotone-chan smiled wryly.

“Today, you see, I didn’t just come to cut Yuji-sama’s hair.”

“W-What did you say!?”

I was surprised at once. My reaction made Kotone-chan smile, perhaps because she liked my reaction.

The bag that was placed on the table with a heavy thump was Kotone-chan’s. It was an eco-bag that could be used for shopping.

“I thought I’d treat Yuji-sama to a home-cooked meal. I’ve prepared the ingredients, so please look forward to lunch.”

“Ooooh!!!”

Home-cooked meal!? Seriously, a home-cooked meal! My brain instantly boiled over and my vocabulary died.

I’m soooo happy! …I’m happy, it isn’t all about unseasoned chicken breast and broccoli again, is it?

I remember the contents of her homemade lunch box. She has made them often since then, but they were similar diet menus. Sometimes I want to eat something with a strong flavor.

But I’m still happy! The destructive power of her home-cooked meal is still tremendous. It’s a different kind of joy from homemade lunch boxes. I’m confident that even all raw vegetables taste good. That’s how good the spice of her homemade cooking must be.

“Thank you, Kotone-chan. Now I can live another ten years.”

“I don’t really understand that, but I’m glad you’re happy with it.”

She’s a really sweet girl…

“…And so, why does that lead to a maid outfit?”

I feel like I’ve been kind of swept away, but I don’t think I’ve heard the answer to that question. She hasn’t told me, has she? Looking at Kotone-chan’s confident face, I’m starting to lose my confidence.

“Mou~, don’t you understand?”

“Sorry, I don’t understand.”

I understand the apron because she’ll be cooking, but did she have to change into a maid’s uniform? I don’t get it.

“So, um…”.

Kotone-chan said while lowering her face for a moment.

“It’s a service from a girlfriend that wants to do her best for her boyfriend today.”

Those words were spoken with red cheeks. I could tell that she endured her embarrassment to say them. I could feel it in her expression.

“……”

Even though she had said that much, I couldn’t give her a sensible reply.

No, honestly, what am I supposed to say back? I wish my school teachers had taught me these things.

In any case, including the fact that she changed into a maid outfit, it seems like she’s giving me a service. Today is such a great day…

Kotone-chan cleared her throat. Her face was bright red. I’m sorry, I didn’t say anything back, so all I did was embarrass you.

“Anyway, let’s cut your hair first, shall we?”

“Y-Yeah. Please!”

With that, I’m getting ready to get a haircut.

I laid out newspaper on the flooring, placed a chair on top of it, and placed a full-length mirror in front of it.

“Yuji-sama, I’m going to put this on you, please sit down.”

She was holding a hair apron. It’s a hassle if you get cut hair on your clothes. I’ve only seen them at my barber shop, so I stared at them. I didn’t know some people had one.

I sat down on the chair and she wrapped a towel around my neck and then put a hair apron on me. I became like a Teru Teru Bozu doll. It’s sunny today by the way. (T/N: This doll is believed to bring good weather and prevent rain.)

“So you’ve got one of these too.”

“I don’t use it when I cut my own because it gets in the way, but I use it when I cut my sister’s hair. How is it? Does it smell like my sister?”

“I’m not that much of a pervert.”

But let’s keep it a secret that I’m a bit nervous. Only a little, really. I’m definitely not thinking that…this hair apron was wrapped around Fujisaki-san’s body.

Through the mirror I saw Kotone-chan take out a pair of scissors.

Those scissors look like they are used in a hairdresser’s shop. I don’t know much about them, but she must have good tools.

“Dear customer, how may I serve you today?”

She switched from maid mode to hairdresser mode. Somehow it’s exciting.

“I-I leave it to you.”

I don’t know what to say in these situations… I mean, really, isn’t it really difficult to explain hairstyles? Should I have prepared a cool photo?

“Yes, leave it to me.”

She smiled at me without looking annoyed. Thank you.

“Well, I can only do so much to shape it.”

She ran a comb through my hair as she said that. It’s a nice sensation, different from when I do it myself.

“Well then, I’m starting…”

“Y-Yeah. I’m ready whenever…”

Kotone-chan held up a pair of scissors. I made a serious face and braced myself. Everything was reflected in the mirror.

After a few seconds of silence. The sound of a shallow exhale reached my ears clearly.

“Hah…”

Clip. I could clearly hear the sound of my hair being cut off.