"Takagi-chan, look quickly! The maids inside... they’re so pretty!"
"I’m looking, I’m looking..."
"Shouko, how about buying a full set to wear at ho? I bet your boyfriend other would be thrilled to see you in it."
"Ajitani! You’re so annoying! What do you even an by my boyfriend other...?"
Tsuna, still chewing his cake with his head bowed low, felt his whole face heat up. He wished more than anything to sink straight into the plate in front of him. Across the table, Nishikata’s expression was no better. His eyes darted nervously to the side as if hoping to lt into the background.
Japan was vast—so vast that bumping into soone you knew in a random part of Tokyo was already rare. If they had both been in Akihabara on the sa day, Tsuna could at least accept that as coincidence.
But this?
Akihabara itself was sprawling, overflowing with hundreds of maid cafés and an endless line of ordinary coffee shops. It wasn’t just luck anymore.
How—how could they possibly end up in the exact sa café at the exact sa ti!?
Tsuna’s mind scread the question, his confusion spiraling, when Ajitani’s cheerful voice cut in like a knife.
"Didn’t I tell you? I found this place after hours of research last night. This is a hidden gem! The highest-rated cat maid café in all of Akihabara!"
Her hands flew proudly to her hips as if she had discovered treasure herself.
"Alright, alright—just sit down already before everyone stares at us even more," Takagi muttered in embarrassnt, noticing the glances being thrown their way. She quickly pushed Ajitani toward an empty seat before she could announce anything else to the entire shop.
Beside them, Shouko hesitated. Her gaze swept toward the far-left corner, where a few custors were sitting quietly. Sothing about that direction tugged at her chest, an odd premonition making her pulse quicken.
"Shouko, let’s go."
"Oh... okay."
Before she could investigate further, Ajitani pulled her along, urging her to hurry. Shouko blinked, convinced it must have been her imagination, and decided not to dwell on it. She quickly followed the other two.
Across the café, Nishikata dared to peek up from behind his drink. His eyes went wide when he saw the three girls heading to the seats opposite them. Panic surged. He bent down closer to the table and whispered hoarsely to Miyamura Tsunayoshi, whose head was already low enough to nearly touch the cake.
"Miyamura... w-what should we do?"
...
Tsuna lifted his glass, downing half the cold drink in one gulp. The icy liquid rushed straight to his head, shocking him back into clarity. He inhaled deeply, then muttered under his breath:
"Just finish eating, pay the bill, and leave. Nothing else."
The dizziness in his chest slowly subsided. He told himself that the feeling from before—the sinking guilt and startled panic—was nothing but shock from the sheer improbability of the encounter.
After all, Japan wasn’t exactly tiny. The odds of two groups of friends bumping into each other in this café, dozens of kiloters from ho, without arranging it beforehand... were about the sa as winning the lottery.
And it wasn’t like he had done anything wrong. He hadn’t betrayed Shouko in any way. The only thing weighing on him was Nishikata’s situation. If Takagi misunderstood because of this coincidence, Nishikata’s image in her eyes might crumble—and that would ruin any chance he had of pursuing her.
If not for that... Tsuna might have just called Shouko and the others over to share a table right away. But then again, did Nishikata actually have a plan to pursue Takagi?
Logically, he should... right?
Because otherwise—what? Takagi herself would just suddenly realize Nishikata’s charm and she’d be the one to chase him instead?
That... that couldn’t possibly happen. Right...?
"We’re going to get discovered... aren’t we?" Nishikata whispered nervously after a long silence, his shoulders trembling slightly.
In truth, what he wanted most was to stay put until the three girls left on their own.
"Maybe," Tsuna admitted. "But if we just sit here frozen, waiting to get caught, it’ll be worse."
"Then... then how about..." Nishikata stamred, his words tangled.
Tsuna sighed in irritation. "Drink so water before you faint."
Obediently, Nishikata picked up his own glass and chugged down a gulp of icy soda. He let out a frosty breath afterward, calming down enough to blurt:
"How about... we go share a table with them instead?"
Tsuna stared at him, eyes narrowed. "...Are you serious?"
"Yeah—yeah! Why not?" Nishikata replied, forcing confidence into his voice.
Tsuna pinched the bridge of his nose but nodded. "Fine. I’ll call Shouko directly and ask them to co over."
Without waiting for Nishikata’s protest, Tsuna whipped out his phone and dialed Shouko’s number.
Beep... beep... beep...
After a handful of tense seconds, the call connected.
"Hello? Tsuna? What’s wrong? I’m still with Takagi and Ajitani."
"You haven’t ordered yet, right?" Tsuna asked flatly. His tone was clipped, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
"...Huh?"
On the other end, Shouko froze. His words puzzled her, but then a thought struck her—she rembered that strange feeling she had had when she first stepped inside.
Her heart thudded. Without answering, she clenched her phone tightly, stood up, and walked quickly toward the very direction she had been suspicious of before.
"Shouko, wait—where are you going!?" Ajitani exclaid, springing up to follow.
Takagi muttered a quick apology to the maid, then hurried after them as well.
...
The gray-haired, cat-eared maid watched the trio’s sudden, strange behavior with a baffled tilt of her head.
——————
"Tsuna...?"
"Perfect timing. I just ordered cake. Do you want so?"
Tsuna turned to Shouko, who was staring at him in disbelief. Unsure of what to say first, he casually changed the topic.
Drawn back to reality by his words, Shouko slowly sat beside him, her confusion mixing with relief. "Why are you here of all places...?"
As for why Tsuna was in a maid café at all—she decided not to demand an answer in front of everyone. She would ask when they were alone. Right now, she chose to trust him, but still... questions simred inside.
Tsuna scooped a spoonful of cake and held it toward her, explaining in a low voice:
"I was bored at ho, so I ca out with Nishikata. We were just going to have afternoon tea and head back. I didn’t expect to run into you here."
"Nishikata is here too...?"
Shouko took the offered bite of cake, then spotted Nishikata sitting stiffly across the table.
"Hehe..." Nishikata laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Don’t mind . You two go on—pretend I’m invisible."
At that mont, Takagi and Ajitani arrived, their faces full of surprise.
Takagi’s eyes lingered on Nishikata for a long, unreadable mont.
The two girls then squeezed onto the bench beside him, tactfully leaving Shouko and Tsuna to themselves.
As Tsuna explained the situation, the three listened with wide eyes, still amazed by the coincidence.
Before long, the gray-haired maid returned, this ti carrying a pink feather pen and three "Master Contract Papers." With a bright smile, she explained their rules and significance.
"Tsuna, what did you write in the signature section?" Shouko asked curiously, looking at him with wide eyes.
"Just the word ’Guest.’"
"Really?" Shouko tilted her head, doubtful.
"That’s right," Tsuna replied, sipping his drink. "Didn’t the maid call us ’Guest’ and ’Master’ earlier?"
At that, everyone’s eyes—except Tsuna’s—snapped toward Nishikata.
Nishikata nearly collapsed under their stares. His entire body scread to find a crack in the floor and disappear. He couldn’t even bring himself to argue.
Thankfully, the girls didn’t push it. After a short glance, they returned their focus to the papers in their hands, while Nishikata exhaled shakily in relief.
---
Please tell if didn’t like current Chapter editing and should you guys perfer I edit like the last Chapter or in which area I should improve.
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