Chapter 6: The Maid’s Home-Cooked Meal

The dinner, with roast pork as its centerpiece, was absolutely exquisite.

“Thanks for the meal, Sayaka. You’re seriously an amazing cook.”

“So you were still doubting my skills,” she replied, a hint of accusation in her tone.

“N-no, it’s just that breakfast was… well, it was a simpler dish.”

“I don’t wear this maid outfit for show, you know. It’s not some whim, and it’s certainly not to entertain high school boys with maid cosplay fetishes.”

“You’re not talking about me, right?”

It’s not like I have a particular thing for maids. I don’t dislike them, either, but the idea that maid outfits are automatically cute is probably because the internet rotted my brain.

“By the way, Sayaka.”

“What is it?”

“The food was incredible, but… were you trying to make my stomach explode?”

“You’re a growing, first-year high school boy, aren’t you?”

“…”

Across the ridiculously oversized table in the Kiyomiya family’s old dining hall, a collection of empty plates was lined up in a silent testament to the feast. It hadn’t just been roast pork; there were beef and chicken dishes, rice and bread, soup and salad—even dessert. Like some kind of all you can eat, one dish after another had been brought out from the kitchen.

“How could anyone eat this much!”

“But you did,” she pointed out calmly.

“W-well, I couldn’t just leave food that someone made for me!”

“For someone who gets called ‘trash’ at school, you’re a surprisingly decent person.”

“…”

Maybe I didn’t have to be so stupidly honest and eat every last bite?

“Would you like some coffee or tea to follow your meal? I can also prepare some Japanese tea.”

“I don’t think I can handle any more liquids. I’ll have to pass, sorry. More importantly, you didn’t eat anything, Sayaka.”

“I got rather full from all the snacking… I mean, from taste-testing,” she corrected herself.

“Isn’t taste-testing supposed to be just a single bite?”

Well, as long as she isn’t hungry…

“You made me come shopping with you, so why are we eating separately?”

“I’ll consider doing the whole ‘ahh’ feeding thing after you’ve officially hired me as a proper maid.”

“I never asked you to feed me!”

“It’s quite all right,” she said.

“What is?”

“Just watching you enjoy your meal with such relish is enough to fill me up.”

“…”

For a fleeting moment, it looked as if a smile had graced Sayaka’s lips once again. This unfriendly classmate of mine actually has a normal smile.

“This is what they mean by ‘taming with food,’ isn’t it…”

“Hey, did you just mutter something under your breath!?”

“No, I was just thinking that I might have what it takes to be a maid after all,” she said smoothly.

“Right…”

With cooking skills like these, it was no wonder she could be hired as a maid.

“The main Kiyomiya residence has servants, right? How do I compare to them?”

“The main residence is better,” I answered instantly.

“Could you at least pretend to hesitate?” Sayaka shot me a sharp glare.

“The chef at the main residence is a true professional. He’s skilled enough to work in a high-end hotel kitchen.”

In fact, I’m pretty sure he used to work at one.

“Fine, then. That gives me a goal to strive for. I’ll surpass that chef.”

“N-no, you don’t need to get that fired up about it!”

Between the unusually massive portions and this sudden declaration, Sayaka had a tendency to take things to the extreme. If she started neglecting her studies to devote herself to cooking…

“That’s right. I can’t have an honor student like you spending all your time on cooking.”

“I am perfectly capable of balancing my studies and my duties,” she declared, placing a hand on her ample chest with a soft pat. “I have the utmost confidence.”

She certainly has reason to be confident there… and no, I’m not talking about her chest.

“Your cooking is more than delicious already. Let’s be serious for a moment.”

“Eh?”

“We should eat our meals together. That stands even if I do officially hire you as a maid.”

“…”

Sayaka’s large eyes widened in surprise.

“You’re a young master, aren’t you? Do you have no awareness of the distinction between yourself and the servants?”

“There’s no ‘above’ or ‘below.’ We pay servants for their work. In exchange for compensation, they cook and clean for us. It’s a professional relationship.”

Her eyes widened even further as she stared at me, her gaze intense.

“And besides—”

“What?”

“I want to see you enjoy your food, too, Sayaka.”

“…Are you some kind of pervert?”

“How!?”

Okay, I’ll admit that staring intently at a girl while she eats is a bit suspicious. I was just trying to lighten the mood with a joke after being so serious.

“But I understand, from now on, I will eat with you.”

“Yeah, please do.”

Her surprising willingness to agree was a relief.

After that, Sayaka began clearing the mountain of dishes, loading up the tray and making several trips to the kitchen before working on the dishes.

“…Hmm, maybe I should have taken her up on that offer for tea after all.”

I had moved to the living room and was scrolling through my phone. When I started to feel thirsty. My stomach had settled down a bit, so I decided to head to the kitchen myself.

“Hah… making that much food really is tiring. I definitely overdid it…”

“…”

Just as I was about to step into the kitchen, I heard her voice and stopped, catching sight of something unexpected.

Our kitchen had been renovated into a modern island style. A stool was set up in the walkway, and Sayaka was sitting there, taking a break. She had removed her white apron and unbuttoned her blouse, her posture completely relaxed. Her ample cleavage was faintly visible, and with her legs stretched out, the hem of her above-the-knee skirt was slightly disheveled, revealing a glimpse of her thighs.

“Sayaka.”

“Hyah!?”

She shot up from the stool in an instant.

Wow, even caught off guard, her posture is flawless.

“You call yourself a commoner, but you have impeccable etiquette.”

“Is that sarcasm? To be seen in such an unseemly state…”

“No, I mean it. True refinement shows in one’s instinctive movements.”

“T-that’s beside the point. I-I apologize, I wasn’t slacking off. Please don’t deduct any points.”

“I’m not grading you.”

Having a female classmate cook for me and then grading her on it? What kind of person does she think I am?

“Then… I’m still safe…” she murmured, looking genuinely relieved. The fact that she was worried about point deductions was, frankly, insulting.

“Um, I would prefer it if you didn’t stare so much,” she said, her voice quiet.

“Ah, sorry.”

Sayaka stared back at me intently as she began to button up her blouse. I didn’t think I’d been looking at her cleavage, but my gaze must have drifted there unconsciously.

“Kiyomiya-kun.”

“Mm?”

“I am serous about being a maid. I promise I will not let you see me in such an unguarded state again.”

“…”

I honestly wouldn’t mind if she relaxed a little, but that’s probably a matter of her own pride. Still, I’d like to see that relaxed side of her again sometime. It’s actually kind of cute.

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