060. Maid Café

After thoroughly scolding Mai for a while, Jiang Yu still couldn’t bear to see his little sister with a tearful face, clutching her stomach and declaring how hungry she was. He quickly grabbed Mai, urging Runya to hurry and lead the way.

When they arrived at the restaurant Runya had chosen, Jiang Yu’s temples began to throb as he watched the young girls in maid uniforms moving busily about inside.

So, Runya, you really are that kind of person, aren’t you? An otaku through and through? Even when eating, you have to come to a maid café?

Although Jiang Yu considered himself a homebody, he wasn’t exactly familiar with maid cafés—in fact, he harbored a subtle sense of aversion towards them. Despite calling himself an otaku, he had always kept a respectful distance from such places.

It was one thing to see maids in anime or games, calling out “Master” in their frilly uniforms. But to encounter them in real life? Jiang Yu felt he might be too embarrassed to utter a single word.

After all, growing up under the red flag, he couldn’t quite imagine being addressed as “Master,” and he was never quite able to accept most maid outfits. Cute, yes, but the designs were often too revealing—hardly the sort of thing one could look at directly.

What’s more, in his former country, if you told anyone you went to a maid café—unless they were fellow otaku—the only reaction you’d get would be disgust or a disdainful look.

So, in his previous life, Jiang Yu had only been to a maid café once—and that was when he was still naive, dragged there by the friend who’d lured him into otakudom. The impression left was not particularly positive.

In short, for whatever reason, Jiang Yu had always made a point of avoiding maid cafés.

Yet now… He glanced up at the sign reading “Cure Maid Café,” then looked down at Mai’s pitiful eyes.

He caught Runya’s questioning look—“Why aren’t you going in?”—and then glanced at the busy waitresses inside, whose uniforms, at least, seemed reasonably modest.

With a resigned sigh, Jiang Yu, in a complicated mood, took Mai’s hand and stepped inside.

Immediately, gentle classical piano music floated through the café, lifting Jiang Yu’s opinion of the place considerably.

Soon after, he heard the soft patter of footsteps and a clear, lark-like voice: “Welcome! Is it three guests today?”

He looked over and was instantly captivated by the girl who appeared before him.

She wore a traditional black-and-white maid uniform, the long skirt nearly brushing her ankles. Her smooth, long, ash-brown hair was styled with a straight fringe to the left and a side ponytail tied with a light green ribbon to the right. Atop her head sat a white lace headband.

A warm, soothing smile graced her lips, and her amber eyes shone with a gentle inquiry.

Can maid uniforms really be this adorable?

For a split second, Jiang Yu thought his previous resolve to avoid maid cafés was utterly foolish.

He stared at the girl for a moment, but quickly realized his rudeness. Clearing his throat, he averted his gaze and replied, “Yes… that’s right.”

The amazement in Jiang Yu’s eyes didn’t escape the girl, but she had grown used to such looks since starting her job here. Though a touch annoyed, her face remained soft and welcoming as she said, “If you’ll please follow me, I’ll show you to your table.”

With that, she turned and led them toward a vacant spot, the three following closely behind.

When they reached the empty seats, she gestured politely. “Please sit here.”

Once they were seated, she handed them the menus. “Here are our menus. I’ll bring you some ice water right away.”

With a graceful bow and a gentle “Pardon me for a moment,” she turned and glided away, leaving behind an inexplicably excited Runya, a dazed Jiang Yu, and Mai, who eagerly pored over the menu.

After the girl walked away, Runya lowered his voice. “We’re really lucky! Last time I was here, I didn’t see Nana-chan at all.”

“Nana-chan?” Jiang Yu echoed, snapping out of his trance.

“That’s right!” Runya replied, barely able to contain his excitement. “She’s none other than the legendary maid of Akihabara—Miss Mina Nana! There are people who come to this café from all over just to meet her!”

Jiang Yu looked surprised. “Is it really that extreme?”

Runya adjusted his glasses and retorted, “What do you mean ‘that extreme’? You saw Nana-chan’s charm for yourself, didn’t you? You were so entranced!”

“Ahem… I was not…” Jiang Yu protested, feeling sheepish.

“Tsk, really? Then who was it just now, staring at her the whole time?” Runya jabbed right to the point.

“…Alright, you got me.” Jiang Yu surrendered.

With a victorious smile, Runya explained, “Actually, I brought you two here precisely because I wanted to introduce you to Akihabara’s legendary maid. I didn’t expect we’d be lucky enough to catch Nana-chan on her shift today.”

Mai lifted her eyes from the menu, curiosity shining in them. “This… Nana-chan? She’s really famous in Akihabara?”

“Of course! Adorable looks, a stunning figure, a smile that warms the heart, and impeccable professionalism—Nana-chan is an angel!” Runya declared with the typical enthusiasm of an otaku.

Jiang Yu, at a loss for words, fell silent, not knowing where to even begin with his retort.

At the same time, he found himself thinking about the girl from earlier. Was it that she happened to push all his buttons, or was she just exactly his type?

In any case, the initial impression she had left on Jiang Yu was remarkably high—it would be hard for anyone to win him over more easily.

While Jiang Yu was lost in thought, the girl returned with three glasses of ice water, placing them on the table with that same lark-like voice: “Here’s your ice water. Please enjoy. Have you decided what you’d like to order? If you have, just hand me the menu.”

Mai piped up, “Miss, it’s our first time here. Do you have any recommendations?”

The girl replied with a gentle smile, “Of course. I’d recommend our signature omelette rice, and this dessert and our tea. Our tea is certified by the Tea Association.”

“Hmm… Then I’ll have those! What about you, Brother, and Senior Runya?” Mai pondered for a moment, nodded to the ash-haired girl, then turned to Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu, seeing nothing special in the patterns on the table, waved a hand to signal he didn’t care. Runya echoed, “Same,” while fiddling with his phone.

With their orders clear, the girl smiled. “Understood—three omelette rices, three desserts and teas. Please wait a moment.”

With a graceful turn, her long hair swirled through the air, leaving a lingering sense of beauty as she walked away.