Chapter 7: Dragon? Maid?177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfnaIEllRk
After hanging up the phone, a new email soon arrived in Kouya’s inbox with a cheerful notification sound.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxA1Ph3E58
“Kouya, my apartment is in Aomori Complex, room 302 on the third floor. Make sure to arrive before seven!”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlhEKnReGP
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhUTtn00nA
“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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrJuKiw898
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XNiNlHWlx
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64Kta78zUM
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LNjFHQDsQ
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2yu9uKuXC
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBQ3myDJ06
It would be rude to show up empty-handed on a first visit.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibWc2jbUnf
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0nUCFiOfe
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVarxQ1yPIC
“Beer, huh?” he muttered under his breath. “It’s been ages. Kind of nostalgic.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcNGd5tH9a
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB5n60oWD8
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4aaKvuxJ7
He barely had time to blink before the door opened with a crisp click.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uHhxfNdbE
But standing there wasn’t the petite, glasses-wearing, flat-chested cousin he expected.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PYqcxxfsg
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO4Q1GPi3v
“Welcome! You must be Kobayashi-sama’s cousin, Kouya-kun! Please, come in!”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBf0Im8kPN2
Kouya: “……”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4YsCJThrg
‘Wait a damn second. I might not read much, but I’m not stupid.’177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSIbwqpfwt
‘Where the hell is my nerdy, antisocial cousin? Who’s this… massive-breasted, overly cheerful maid?’177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59TdVl1oqQ
His gaze flicked upward—and froze.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa56ojZwGzl
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPM4sgztFq
‘No way… that’s a dragon. A full-on dragon, pretending to be human. And she’s wearing a maid outfit?!’177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdMyxXI9do
Even if she was a young dragon, one breath from her could probably turn the entire building into rubble.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldvg1AI2g8
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXow5LhaOJ
“Kouya? Come in already. It’s been years—you’ve really grown up. You look good.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sNX1rU087
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGwhA38v3z
And yes… her chest was impressively nonexistent.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOJ0ngbvtZ
Kouya wasn’t ogling her. It was simply a habit formed from playing too much “Spot the Difference.” His eyes automatically took in details.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqfsAk5BxZ
‘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?’177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCDp7wdS8z
He kept his face straight. “Good evening, Cousin.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW6ORTaKdp
“Don’t stand there, come in already.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuiToWLYB9
Kobayashi tugged him inside gently and went to the shoe rack. “I bought you some slippers earlier. Try them on.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YLxE5FC48
He slipped them on, took a few steps, and nodded. “They fit.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8OphBbLnk
“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.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMLDLHfWa1
Kouya smiled lightly. “People change.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SFKXQKuFq
“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.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvyMxQNf2S
Before he could respond, the blonde maid suddenly appeared beside her, hands clasped in front of her chest, eyes glimmering with tears.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYXbpQxYsV
“Kouya-kun, please don’t be angry with Kobayashi-sama! It’s all Tohru’s fault for distracting her!”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm9Pkg4MF7
Kouya’s mouth twitched.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCKTcKQpUX
‘Oh, for the love of—those things are practically defying gravity.’177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGbgEXDrVE
Every time she moved, her chest bounced like it had its own will—like twin waves crashing endlessly against his sanity.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjvIEVRywy
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—”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LCBmOQui7
“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?!’177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzvPKdFuxt
“Kobayashi-sama…” came a frigid, razor-sharp voice.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh1SRqzDbi
Tohru froze instantly as Kobayashi stepped forward and bonked her lightly on the head.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPxqJaWPvE
“Ouch! That hurts, Kobayashi-sama!” The dragon maid whined pitifully, her eyes watering.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6raRraJ0i
‘Oh please,’ Kouya thought. ‘That didn’t even hurt. Worst acting I’ve seen in centuries.’177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jkP3H1eGU
Kobayashi adjusted her glasses, her tone calm but icy. “Kouya’s still a kid. Keep it decent.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97Aw3ZVPSr
“Yes, ma’am! I’m sorry!” Tohru said immediately, standing straight like a soldier.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3UbYcmnnJ
Kobayashi sighed again, then glanced at the bag in Kouya’s hand. “Wait, is that… beer?”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9IdNBHGXJ
Kouya nodded. “The store downstairs had a sale. I wanted to try it. I hope that’s okay.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QDXv6X5QU
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA7wmMT2z1
“Wash your hands, Kouya. Dinner’s ready.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWHR0A6QDB
“Okay.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcp7VjSUAew
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.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM8wvfhy1W
“I made all of it myself!” Tohru said proudly, puffing her chest out again. “For Kobayashi-sama and her adorable cousin!”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiJu9aUrPN
Kobayashi glanced at her plate and nodded casually. “Not bad.”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9zDcxd4RY
“Hehehe! Then as a reward, Kobayashi-sama, how about a date tomorrow?” Tohru said with a hopeful sparkle in her eyes.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbA0WOXA8J
“…What did you just say?” Kobayashi’s voice turned flat, her gaze deadly.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG87RiMAd0B
“A-ahahaha… I mean, like a friendly outing—ouch! Ow ow ow!”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqRA9z1E8k
After giving Tohru a quick smack on the head, Kobayashi exhaled and turned to Kouya with an awkward smile.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTspUGeRZFm
“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…”177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiQYT7nwCQ
Her forced laugh was dry as sandpaper.177Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRxwE5CCDW
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