Chapter 14 When I Go Out on My Day Off

When I Go Out on My Day Off

Saturday afternoon.

My rice cooker had broken down at home, so I headed to an electronics store in the city to buy a replacement.

“Wow, I found such a great deal on a quality product!”

Feeling pleased, I stepped out of the store with a large paper bag in hand.

Luckily, they had some older models in stock, so I managed to snag one at a huge discount. What a win!

“Alright, I’ve still got some money left. Why not grab a drink before heading home?”

Deciding on a little detour, I pulled out my smartphone and searched for nearby cafés.

“Oh, look at this place! The reviews are amazing—four stars? That’s pretty impressive!”

My search led me to a café called “Étoile,” which wasn’t far from my current location.

The reviews painted a glowing picture: the café had a charming, classic atmosphere that was calm and inviting. The tea was made with high-quality, fragrant leaves and was described as absolutely delicious. On top of that, several comments mentioned the staff’s meticulously designed outfits, which seemed to leave a strong impression on visitors.

“Huh, sounds like a fantastic spot. But what exactly do they mean by ‘meticulously designed outfits’?”

Curious, I muttered to myself. Perhaps the staff just wore aprons over casual clothes—it was a café, after all.

“Well, now I really want to find out. Alright, let’s go check it out!”

Intrigued, I decided to head straight to Étoile.

“Oh, so this is Étoile.”

After about a five-minute walk, I reached the café. Its exterior had a nostalgic, retro Showa-era aesthetic, making it look like a true hidden gem.

“Alright, let’s head inside…”

—Ding-ling!

As I opened the door, a bell hanging on it chimed softly. Surely, someone would come out to greet me soon.

While waiting, I glanced around the interior.

“Wow, this place really does have a nice vibe.”

The café was fairly spacious, with a cozy retro ambiance reminiscent of the Showa era. For some reason, it gave off the impression that their custard pudding must be delicious.

As I took in the surroundings, I heard the sound of quick footsteps approaching from the back.

“Welcome. How many in your party—eh?”

“Ah, just one—wait, huh!?”

Turning to face the staff member, I was struck by an unexpected wave of surprise.

(No way… She’s wearing a full-on maid outfit!)

The staff member was dressed in a classic maid uniform, complete with a black long skirt and a white apron.

The fabric looked high-end, and the outfit was tailored to fit her perfectly.

Could it be… this wasn’t an off-the-rack maid uniform but a custom-made one?

(Oh, so that’s what the review meant by ‘meticulously designed outfits’!)

The memory of the reviews clicked into place. Now I understood why they mentioned it so prominently.

“Wow, this is impressive. Huh? Is something wrong? You seem frozen.”

“…Eh? Ah, n-no, it’s just…”

The staff member seemed startled and stood frozen for some reason.

Taking a closer look, I realized she was a beautiful young woman with long black hair, probably around my age.

(Wait a second… Do I know her?)

Something about her felt oddly familiar. But if I’d met someone this stunning before, there’s no way I’d forget.

(Hmm… Who could she be…? Oh!)

That’s when my eyes landed on her name tag, pinned neatly on her chest. It read “Yuuki.”

…Wait. Yuuki? Isn’t that…?

“…Ah!”

In that instant, it hit me.

This staff member bore an uncanny resemblance to my friend, Yuuki Nagi!