Chapter 6: The Maid’s Home Cooking

The roast pork dinner was genuinely delicious, each dish bursting with flavor.

“Thanks for the meal, Sayaka. You’re seriously good at cooking, huh?” I said, leaning back in my chair.

“What, you were still doubting my skills?”

“N-No, I mean, breakfast was great, but it was kinda… basic dishes, right? Not like this spread.”

Sayaka adjusted her maid outfit with a deliberate flourish. “I’m not wearing this just for show or some whim. And it’s definitely not to entertain a high school boy obsessed with maid cosplay.”

“That’s not about me, right?” I shot back.

It’s not like I’m particularly into maids or anything. Sure, I didn’t dislike them—cute is cute, after all. Probably just the internet brainwashing me into thinking maid outfits equal charm.

“By the way, Sayaka,” I ventured, glancing at the table.

“What?”

“The food was amazing, but… are you seriously trying to burst my stomach from the inside?”

She tilted her head, feigning innocence. “You’re a growing high school freshman, aren’t you?”

“…”

Here at the Kiyomiya family’s old manor, the dining table stretched out absurdly large, practically a runway for dishes. Empty plates were lined up in neat rows—roast pork, beef, chicken, rice, bread, soup, salad, even dessert. It was a relentless onslaught of food, like wanko soba with no end in sight.

“Who could eat this much?!” I groaned.

“But you ate everything, didn’t you?”

“W-Well, yeah, I can’t just leave food someone made for me!” I protested, feeling a bit foolish.

“For someone who gets called trash at school, you’re kind of a good guy.”

“…”

Wait, did I really have to wolf down every single bite like an idiot? I wondered, staring at the battlefield of empty plates.

“Coffee or tea after dinner? I can prepare some green tea, too.” Sayaka offered.

“I’m so full I can’t even handle liquids. Sorry, I’ll pass. But… you didn’t eat anything yourself, did you, Sayaka?”

“I got plenty full just from taste-testing.”

“Taste-testing? Isn’t that supposed to be, like, a single bite?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Well, if Sayaka’s not hungry, I guess that’s fine…

“You dragged me along to go shopping, so why are we eating separately?”

“The whole ‘ahh’ feeding thing comes after you officially hire me as a maid, okay?”

“I didn’t ask you to feed me!” I protested, feeling my face heat up.

“It’s fine.”

“What is?”

“Just watching you eat so eagerly, Kiyomiya-kun, already fills me up.”

“…”

For a split second, a smile flickered across Sayaka’s lips—genuine, unguarded. This standoffish classmate of mine can actually smile like a normal person, huh.

“This is taming…”

“Hey, did you just mutter something!?”

“Nope, I’m just feeling confident that I can make it as a maid,” she added quickly, brushing it off with a smirk.

“Is that so?” I replied, skeptical but amused. Honestly, with cooking skills like hers, it wouldn’t be surprising if she got hired as a maid somewhere.

“There were servants at the Kiyomiya family’s main residence, right? How do I compare to them?”

I didn’t hesitate. “The main residence, hands down.”

“Can you not say it so instantly?” Sayaka shot me a glare.

“The chef at the main residence is a legit pro,” I explained. “Like, they could work in the kitchen of a fancy hotel.” I’m pretty sure they actually had experience at a high-end hotel restaurant.

Her eyes narrowed with determination. “Fine, that’s a challenge. I’ll surpass that main residence chef.”

“N-No, you don’t have to go that far!” I stammered, waving my hands. Between today’s insane portion sizes and her relentless energy, Sayaka had a tendency to overdo things. If she started neglecting her studies to focus on cooking…

“Right, you can’t waste your precious scholarship student time on cooking,” I said, trying to steer the conversation back to practical matters.

“I’ll balance housework and studies just fine,” Sayaka replied, her voice brimming with confidence as she placed a hand on her chest with a firm pat. “I’m certain I can handle both.”

Her self-assured gesture drew my eye for a moment—her confidence was undeniable, and, well, she had every reason to be proud of her assets. Wait, I mean her skills, not… anything else!

“Your cooking’s already more than good enough,” I continued, shaking off the distraction. “But let’s talk about something more serious.”

“Huh?” Sayaka tilted her head, her curiosity piqued.

“We should eat together,” I said plainly. “Even if I end up officially hiring you as a maid.”

Her large eyes widened, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.

“Aren’t you supposed to be some kind of young master?” she probed. “Don’t you have any sense of being above your servants?”

I shook my head. “There’s no above or below. We pay servants for their work. They cook and clean, and we provide a salary in return. It’s a fair exchange.”

Sayaka’s eyes grew even wider, her gaze locking onto me with an intensity that made me pause. She seemed to be weighing my words, searching for something beneath them.

“And besides—” I added.

“What?”

“I want to see you eating eagerly too, Sayaka.”

“…Are you a pervert?”

“What? No!” I sputtered, caught off guard. “Not like that!”

Okay, maybe joking about watching a girl eat wasn’t the smoothest move. It sounded creepier than I’d intended, and I could feel my face heating up. I’d only meant to tease her a little, to ease the tension.

“Alright, I get it. From now on, I’ll eat with you.”

“Nice, do that,” I said, relieved by her easy acceptance. She was surprisingly reasonable, which was a pleasant surprise.

With that settled, Sayaka gathered a towering stack of dishes onto a tray, making several trips to the kitchen before starting on the washing. Her movements were brisk and efficient, a testament to her confidence in balancing her responsibilities.

“…Man, maybe I should’ve gone for that after-dinner tea she offered.”

Sprawled in the living room, aimlessly scrolling through my phone, a faint thirst nagged at me. My stomach had finally settled from dinner, so I figured I’d head to the kitchen for a drink.

“Phew, cooking that much really takes it out of you. I might’ve overdone it…”

As I neared the kitchen, her voice drifted over, and I caught an unexpected sight.

Our kitchen, remodeled into a sleek island-style setup, gleamed under the soft lights. In the passageway, a single stool stood, and there was Sayaka, perched casually atop it. She’d shed her white apron, the top button of her blouse undone, her posture relaxed. A glimpse of her ample cleavage peeked through, and her knee-length skirt had ridden up slightly, revealing a stretch of her thighs as she stretched out her legs.

“Sayaka.”

“Eek!?”

She jolted upright, nearly toppling the stool. Even in her startled state, her movements carried an effortless grace.

“You talk about being ‘common,’ but your poise and manners are on point.” I remarked, genuinely impressed by how she carried herself even when caught off guard.

Her cheeks flushed faintly as she smoothed her skirt. “Is that sarcasm? T-To be seen in such an… indecent state!”

“Nah, I’m serious. It’s moments like this where your natural elegance really shines through.”

“T-that’s beside the point.” She fidgeted, her voice tinged with embarrassment. “I-I’m sorry, I wasn’t slacking off, I swear. Don’t… don’t dock my points or anything.”

“Points?” I blinked, caught off guard. “I’m not grading you, Sayaka.”

What kind of jerk would I be, having a classmate cook for me and then judging her like some strict examiner?

She let out a small breath, visibly relieved. “So… I’m still in the clear, then?”

The genuine worry in her eyes—over imaginary “points”—stung a little. Did she really think I’d be that harsh?

“Um, could you… not stare so much?” she muttered, her tone shifting to a quiet rebuke.

“Oh, my bad.” I averted my gaze, realizing my eyes had lingered a bit too long. I hadn’t meant to focus on her chest, but they’d wandered there instinctively.

“Kiyomiya-kun,” she said, her voice steadier now as she deftly rebuttoned her blouse, her movements precise.

“Yeah?”

“I’m serious about this maid thing, you know. I promise you won’t catch me slacking off like this again.”

“…”

Her earnestness caught me off guard. It didn’t bother me in the slightest that she’d taken a moment to relax—honestly, it was kind of endearing to see her so at ease. But clearly, it mattered to her.

“Sayaka, it’s really not a big deal if you chill out a bit,” I said, hoping to ease her concern. “If anything, it’s nice seeing you like that. Kinda cute, even.”

Her eyes widened briefly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she masked it with a composed smile.