Chapter 7: Dragon? Maid?44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSwf8hxwuo
After hanging up the phone, a new email soon arrived in Kouya’s inbox with a cheerful notification sound.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgO4YdMTVUj
“Kouya, my apartment is in Aomori Complex, room 302 on the third floor. Make sure to arrive before seven!”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dqZZf6YHB
Kouya read it carefully and realized that his cousin’s place wasn’t far from his own apartment. He’d actually passed through that neighborhood before during one of his leisurely strolls—it was roughly a thirty-minute walk if he took his time.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53iP71kl94
“I got it. I’ll be there on time,” he replied quickly and then leaned back on the bench, stretching lazily before deciding to take a detour around the city.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ePujkOWzr
His cousin worked as a programmer, which likely meant long hours and late evenings at the office. That gave him plenty of time to wander and take in the scenery. The city was peaceful in its own way—people rushing home from work, students chatting with friends, the smell of street food drifting from a nearby stall.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qfltqII2A
As he walked aimlessly, the sun slowly dipped toward the horizon. The orange glow spread across the buildings, tinting glass windows with soft reflections, and the first few streetlights flickered to life. The air turned cooler, brushing against his cheeks with the faint scent of blooming cherry blossoms carried from somewhere far away.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNhFkSr8oX
When he reached the area near Kobayashi’s apartment, the sky had already dimmed to a deep amber. He found a quiet park close by, the kind with a single bench and an old playground. The rhythmic creak of a distant swing filled the air. He sat down, pulled out a small book from his bag, and began to read under the fading daylight.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgXcyome9A
As time passed, the world around him turned tranquil. The chatter of children faded, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the buzzing hum of street lamps. By the time he closed the book, night had fallen. The glow of nearby windows and the soft flicker of neon lights gave the area a faint warmth against the cool breeze.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4IXyKKVkj
He spotted a red-haired woman entering the apartment building, her silhouette familiar even from afar. That must be Kobayashi. He stood up, brushed off a few cherry blossom petals that had landed on his shoulder, and headed to a convenience store nearby.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HZxzxznnM
It would be rude to show up empty-handed on a first visit.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqFITKCNYo
For a Demon King, courtesy and manners were trivial concepts—but living a quiet, normal life meant following human customs. It was easier that way. No unnecessary trouble.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4kiEb2qhq
He bought a neatly wrapped box of fruit and was about to leave when something metallic caught his attention. There, stacked in a cold display, was a tower of beer cans marked with bright red discount tags.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQESAkUQ8V
“Beer, huh?” he muttered under his breath. “It’s been ages. Kind of nostalgic.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRZPAc8mB0
After a brief pause, he shrugged and picked up two cans. Technically, minors weren’t allowed to drink in Japan, but his tall frame, sharp eyes, and calm expression made him look far older than his age. The clerk didn’t even question it. He paid, bagged the items, and stepped back into the cool evening air.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMdupR1LLU
With fruit and beer in hand, Kouya made his way to the Aomori Complex. The building was modest but clean, three stories tall with neatly kept hallways. He climbed the stairs to the third floor, stopped in front of room 302, and pressed the doorbell.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeITkwX6nA
He barely had time to blink before the door opened with a crisp click.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6soz95oEG
But standing there wasn’t the petite, glasses-wearing, flat-chested cousin he expected.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkt4vv3aXqR
It was a blonde girl in a deep blue maid outfit with a frilly white headband, her long hair tied neatly into twin tails. She looked radiant—her face glowing with energy as she beamed at him, her eyes curling into playful crescents.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRsjvOLs0R
“Welcome! You must be Kobayashi-sama’s cousin, Kouya-kun! Please, come in!”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZK8pJ8oC5
Kouya: “……”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWi0YTmzc4k
‘Wait a damn second. I might not read much, but I’m not stupid.’44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdr7lkab9Z
‘Where the hell is my nerdy, antisocial cousin? Who’s this… massive-breasted, overly cheerful maid?’44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvolOdUxoBb
His gaze flicked upward—and froze.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWhqAqhWCY
Two curved horns jutted out from her golden hair, and behind her swayed a thick, scaled tail. It shimmered faintly in the hallway light, the scales reflecting a dragon-like sheen.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsBFQMuiV8
‘No way… that’s a dragon. A full-on dragon, pretending to be human. And she’s wearing a maid outfit?!’44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3efiAdbfyn
Even if she was a young dragon, one breath from her could probably turn the entire building into rubble.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnKjsQNXZq
Kouya’s fingers twitched. He briefly considered releasing his sealed power, just in case he needed to blow her halfway across the district. But before he could act, a calm, slightly husky voice called out from inside the apartment.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CQEosMtnG
“Kouya? Come in already. It’s been years—you’ve really grown up. You look good.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPSjk31Ofz
The speaker emerged—a red-haired woman barely reaching his shoulder, wearing simple home clothes and rectangular glasses. Her expression was neutral, almost detached, the kind of calm that came from someone who’d seen far too much of the world already.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3iP5DbOAi
And yes… her chest was impressively nonexistent.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XGRWJ8sKe
Kouya wasn’t ogling her. It was simply a habit formed from playing too much “Spot the Difference.” His eyes automatically took in details.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSlIDfudPi
‘Weird. She’s human. So how the hell does she have a dragon maid under her roof? Was she a dragon knight or something in her past life?’44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFw8gMSojl
He kept his face straight. “Good evening, Cousin.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIgGtWtWfs
“Don’t stand there, come in already.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUgOHMMbMr
Kobayashi tugged him inside gently and went to the shoe rack. “I bought you some slippers earlier. Try them on.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0Y0RMb2r7
He slipped them on, took a few steps, and nodded. “They fit.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vnuXqaGqm
“Good.” Kobayashi smiled faintly, her eyes softening. “You’ve really grown. You used to be so quiet, barely spoke to anyone. Even to me. And look at you now—so polite and calm.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUD4xwC8oG
Kouya smiled lightly. “People change.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SS3AMT0vw
“I’m sorry, though.” Kobayashi suddenly bowed deeply. “I was supposed to pick you up on the first day of school, but something came up at work. By the time I got free, you’d already started classes. I’m really sorry, Kouya.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6O6cf0qM52
Before he could respond, the blonde maid suddenly appeared beside her, hands clasped in front of her chest, eyes glimmering with tears.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ktoSIbNp6
“Kouya-kun, please don’t be angry with Kobayashi-sama! It’s all Tohru’s fault for distracting her!”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwC35PIXE1
Kouya’s mouth twitched.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IHgPyIekq
‘Oh, for the love of—those things are practically defying gravity.’44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBUz01mxHF
Every time she moved, her chest bounced like it had its own will—like twin waves crashing endlessly against his sanity.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzXWsaEH2X
Tohru noticed his expression, her cheeks flushing as she fidgeted. Her fingers touched the ribbon on her maid uniform, and she whispered shyly, “I-if showing my chest helps calm you down, then I-I don’t mind if—”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpygIew97MF
“Shut. Up.” Kouya glared, fighting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. ‘Who in their right mind would want to mess with a walking disaster like you?!’44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVGNmQOPSF
“Kobayashi-sama…” came a frigid, razor-sharp voice.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4m87GI6qc
Tohru froze instantly as Kobayashi stepped forward and bonked her lightly on the head.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnXDWI8MPg
“Ouch! That hurts, Kobayashi-sama!” The dragon maid whined pitifully, her eyes watering.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY4vl9P13W
‘Oh please,’ Kouya thought. ‘That didn’t even hurt. Worst acting I’ve seen in centuries.’44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvEDYnr73x
Kobayashi adjusted her glasses, her tone calm but icy. “Kouya’s still a kid. Keep it decent.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObrA40jNIW
“Yes, ma’am! I’m sorry!” Tohru said immediately, standing straight like a soldier.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXEKcxba1S
Kobayashi sighed again, then glanced at the bag in Kouya’s hand. “Wait, is that… beer?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWeqaXDssm
Kouya nodded. “The store downstairs had a sale. I wanted to try it. I hope that’s okay.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3N2UAeYZPl
Kobayashi’s face lit up. “Of course! You’re almost an adult anyway! Hahaha!” Her laugh was a bit too excited, but Kouya pretended not to notice.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhbUbP0EDz
“Wash your hands, Kouya. Dinner’s ready.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEIfjDGAX7
“Okay.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUmt4T6xSe
Dinner turned out surprisingly lavish: salmon hot pot, grilled fish, beef steak, fried chicken, tuna rice, even some homemade miso soup. The aroma filled the air, rich and mouthwatering.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gPBxJKfYy
“I made all of it myself!” Tohru said proudly, puffing her chest out again. “For Kobayashi-sama and her adorable cousin!”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUnTLlHKJa
Kobayashi glanced at her plate and nodded casually. “Not bad.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdEXQTPZ8u
“Hehehe! Then as a reward, Kobayashi-sama, how about a date tomorrow?” Tohru said with a hopeful sparkle in her eyes.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvY5IPCszq
“…What did you just say?” Kobayashi’s voice turned flat, her gaze deadly.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1bzmxF7IX
“A-ahahaha… I mean, like a friendly outing—ouch! Ow ow ow!”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiacgxYfLb
After giving Tohru a quick smack on the head, Kobayashi exhaled and turned to Kouya with an awkward smile.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1eRdPgfRW
“She’s actually a coworker of mine named Tohru. She lost her job and couldn’t afford rent, so she’s staying here temporarily. She has this thing for dressing as a maid and saying… well, weird things. Don’t mind her, haha…”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdNwBRkqWX
Her forced laugh was dry as sandpaper.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySNr9TTEli
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