“No… that’s not it!”
Momoka Aoi was the first to react, the shock on her face slowly turning into urgency.
She quickly tugged at Yuuma Tsugumu’s arm, trying to continue persuading him.
“Yuuma-kun, think about it again! The school sports meet only happens once a year, and it’s super lively! Everyone’s signing up. Won’t it be boring for you to just sit alone in the classroom?”
Akiba Sakura also snapped back to attention and quickly chimed in, following Momoka Aoi’s lead.
“That’s right, Tsuguo-kun! Just sign up for any event to join in the fun!”
As she spoke, she was screaming internally.
‘Damn it, just sign up! Even for the most insignificant fun event! Otherwise, Momoka Aoi’s special privilege is useless, and my plan goes down the drain too?!’
The thought that her ‘NTR Plan’ was once again being hindered by a single sentence from Yuuma Tsugumu made Akiba Sakura so anxious it felt like her heart was being clawed at.
Her tone even softened a few degrees without her realizing it.
However, Yuuma Tsugumu just shook off Momoka Aoi’s hand, his tone unwavering.
“I said it—I’m not interested. And whether it’s lively or not has nothing to do with me. I’d rather just be by myself, nice and quiet.”
“But… it’s only fun and happy when everyone participates together!”
Momoka Aoi persisted, leaning in closer, starting to play the childhood friend card.
“Weren’t you really happy when you participated in the sports meet with Sakura-chan before?”
Hearing the word ‘before,’ Yuuma Tsugumu’s eyes flickered slightly.
His Adam’s apple bobbed gently, and his gaze involuntarily swept over Akiba Sakura, a trace of complex emotion flashing in his eyes, but it was gone in an instant.
Before Akiba Sakura could react, he continued.
“Before was before. I don’t want to participate now. There’s no need to force it.”
Hearing this, Akiba Sakura’s heart sank heavily.
The five words “no need to force it” inexplicably felt like a tiny thorn, pricking her heart with a mix of anger and frustration.
She bit her lower lip, unwilling to give up so easily, so she decided to try a different angle.
“Tsuguo-kun, just do it to accompany me and Little Aoi, okay? If it’s just the two of us signing up with no one to join us, won’t that be super boring? Just join in to make up the numbers for us, alright?”
Yuuma Tsugumu still just shook his head.
“It’s not like I’m your only friend. You can ask others, can’t you?”
He paused, looking up at the two of them.
“So, I won’t be participating in this year’s sports meet. In middle school… let’s just say I was young, hot-blooded, and wanted to try everything back then…”
‘Liar!’
The smile completely vanished from Momoka Aoi’s face, her head drooping.
‘You only participated back then because you wanted to be with Sakura-chan!’
It was precisely because Yuuma Tsugumu always signed up in middle school that Momoka Aoi never imagined he would choose not to when she came to ask.
She had already planned to put them in the same group, watching their feelings slowly warm up.
But now, if Yuuma Tsugumu wouldn’t even sign up, all those plans would vanish into thin air.
Akiba Sakura looked at Yuuma Tsugumu’s stubborn, unmovable expression but felt powerless.
She knew—even though Yuuma Tsugumu seemed like a shut-in, once he made up his mind about something, it was hard to change.
If she kept pushing, the result might not change, and she might even end up annoying him.
‘That might… be bad for the follow-up plan…’
So, Akiba Sakura quietly tugged on Momoka Aoi’s sleeve, signaling her to stop trying.
Then, forcing herself to sound calm, she said to Yuuma Tsugumu.
“Alright, since Tsuguo-kun doesn’t want to sign up, we won’t force you.”
‘Damn it! You blockhead Tsugu, are you deliberately opposing me? So what if you don’t sign up for the sports meet? I don’t believe I can’t win you over without this opportunity!’
Seeing they had finally stopped trying to persuade him, Yuuma Tsugumu gave a slight nod, then slowly stood up.
“I’m going to the restroom.”
With that, he turned and walked out of the classroom.
Only after Yuuma Tsugumu’s figure had completely disappeared down the corridor did Momoka Aoi finally let her expression fall, anxiously grabbing Akiba Sakura’s hand.
“Sakura-chan, what do we do… If Yuuma-kun really refuses to sign up, all our plans are ruined!”
Akiba Sakura stood in place, her face alternating between pale and flushed.
“There’s nothing I can do either…”
‘The current Yuuma Tsugumu is different from before. The current him couldn’t be pulled back even by nine oxen…’
***
The final school bell rang. Suppressing the irritation in her heart, Akiba Sakura bid a hasty farewell to Momoka Aoi and Yuuma Tsugumu and hurried off to the ‘Soft Cat Cafe.’
The sense of defeat from failing to persuade Yuuma Tsugumu during the day still lingered.
The thought that her ‘NTR Plan’ was once again blocked made her grind her teeth.
‘Blockhead Tsugu… you damn…’
After changing into the frilly lace-trimmed maid uniform, putting on the fluffy cat-ear headband, asking Hoshikawa Chinami to reapply the light makeup, and adjusting her skirt in the mirror, Akiba Sakura instantly switched into ‘Bratty Girl’ mode.
The defeat faded from her face, replaced by a hint of cunning in her eyes.
The cafe in the evening was bathed in warm, soft yellow light, with few customers.
Melodious light music filled the air.
Taking a deep breath, Akiba Sakura reached out and turned the handle of the staff room door, preparing to go out and serve customers.
But just then, the cafe’s bell jingled, and a familiar figure pushed the door open.
Akiba Sakura instinctively looked up—standing at the entrance was Yuuma Tsugumu.
‘Why the hell are you here again?!?!?! Didn’t I tell you not to come?’
The calm she had just regained vanished instantly as a surge of nameless anger rose in her chest.
‘Fine, fine. Since you’ve upset me and still come asking for it, don’t blame me for mercilessly humiliating you with my words!’
Suppressing her somewhat annoyed expression, Akiba Sakura shook her head slightly and deliberately walked over to Yuuma Tsugumu’s table, dragging out her tone, her voice ending with a teasing, coquettish lilt.
“Well, well, if it isn’t our little Small Fry Master, welcome~ What would you like to drink? Or perhaps—our Small Fry Master is just here to kill time again, and will be as slow as last time even with ordering?”
Yuuma Tsugumu looked up at her, a hint of ease in his eyes.
“One Raw Coconut Latte, please.”
After saying this, Yuuma Tsugumu looked at the girl before him, seemingly waiting for her reaction, completely unaware that this ‘Bratty Girl’ was his acquaintance.
Seeing that Yuuma Tsugumu’s emotions weren’t affected by her words, Akiba Sakura felt even more displeased.
She originally wanted to say something even nastier but ultimately didn’t dare go too far.
After all, Yuuma Tsugumu was a customer.
If she stepped out of her ‘Maid Persona’ and launched a personal attack, she’d be scolded by the manager.
Losing this part-time job would mean her plan was blocked again.
She pouted, deliberately leaning in close to him, her voice carrying a deliberate provocation.
“You look like you’re in a bad mood, customer. Could it be you’re worried about something? Like… being too scared to join the school sports meet, perhaps?”
The moment the words left her mouth, Akiba Sakura regretted it.
What if this made Yuuma Tsugumu sense something was off?
Sure enough, Yuuma Tsugumu’s expression froze for a moment as he looked up at her.
“You go to our school?”
‘Ahhhhhhhhhh, I’m such an idiot!!!!!’
“So what if I am? Don’t change the subject!”
Akiba Sakura decided to just go for broke, directly admitting she was from his school.
“Oh ho?”
Yuuma Tsugumu looked at Akiba Sakura with interest.
“I didn’t expect the maid to be from our school. Do you act like this at school too?”
“Shut up! School is school, and you are you. That’s none of a small fry’s business!”
Akiba Sakura puffed out her cheeks, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Yeah, yeah—”
Yuuma Tsugumu chuckled and shook his head, then returned to the previous topic.
“Just not interested, that’s all—”
“Oh? Not interested?”
Akiba Sakura raised an eyebrow, deliberately tilting her head, her face showing exaggerated confusion, her tone growing increasingly annoying.
“But looking at you, Small Fry Master, it seems more like a lack of confidence~ After all, if you really had what it takes, why wouldn’t you dare sign up for the sports meet? Could it be you’re afraid of being laughed at?”
“I just don’t want to waste time.”
Hearing Akiba Sakura’s provocative words, Yuuma Tsugumu’s brow furrowed slightly.
“A lively event like the sports meet isn’t for me.”
‘I’ll show you! Who are you trying to fool!’
“What waste of time! I think you’re clearly just too scared to join! If you have the guts, then sign up! If you dare sign up for the sports meet, no matter what event you pick, I’ll make you an ‘Exclusive Coffee’ every day, and I’ll even pay for your drinks for three days out of my own pocket! How about it? Dare to take the bet?”
The words were out before she could stop them.
Akiba Sakura immediately felt a pang of regret.
She had only meant to provoke him, never expecting to dangle such bait.
But the words were spoken; taking them back now would be too embarrassing.
Yuuma Tsugumu looked at the exquisitely beautiful yet somewhat arrogant girl before him, and a competitive spirit stirred within him.
‘Well, well. I’m being looked down on by a bratty maid?’
Yuuma Tsugumu looked at the girl puffing her cheeks with a haughty expression, a faint curve lifting the corner of his mouth.
“A bet it is. What’s there to be scared of?”
Akiba Sakura was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting him to agree so readily.
For a second, she was at a loss, then a wave of wild joy surged up, though she still forced herself to act tsundere, snorting.
“Know your place, Small Fry Master! Don’t you dare go back on your word later. If you chicken out, I’ll mock you in the shop every day, letting every customer know you’re a coward!”
“Go back on my word? I’ve never had the habit of backing out.”
Yuuma Tsugumu leaned back in his chair, his gaze firmly locked on Akiba Sakura.
“However, I have one condition.”
“Another condition?”
Akiba Sakura raised an eyebrow, her heart skipping a beat with a sense of foreboding.
“Spit it out! As long as it’s not too outrageous, I’ll agree!”
Hearing this, the smile on Yuuma Tsugumu’s lips deepened.
“Since you’re betting I won’t sign up for a competition, if I actually do participate, you have to show up at the competition site in person and cheer for me loudly. And I mean loud enough for me to hear you clearly. How about that?”
“Wh… what?!”
Akiba Sakura instantly bristled, her tsundere expression almost cracking.
“In your dreams! I’m not going to cheer for you! Who do you think you are, you stupid small fry!”
Akiba Sakura hurriedly refused.
If Yuuma Tsugumu discovered that the ‘Bratty Maid’ from the cafe and the girl from school were the same person, both her image and her plan would be ruined simultaneously!
However, Yuuma Tsugumu seemed to have anticipated her refusal.
He spoke unhurriedly.
“What’s wrong? Don’t dare to agree? Or were you just provoking me on purpose, with no intention of keeping your promise?”
He paused, deliberately emphasizing his words.
“If you don’t dare, then this bet counts as you losing—”
“You!”
Akiba Sakura was provoked into gritting her teeth, feeling both anxious and angry.
She knew this was an opportunity to get Yuuma Tsugumu to sign up for the sports meet.
If she missed it, finding another chance would be difficult.
She clenched her fists, her mind racing.
‘But then again… even if I cheer for him, he won’t recognize me, right? I can just stubbornly claim I was there cheering… Worst case, after I win him over, I’ll just come clean!’
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