Chapter 7: Dragon? Maid?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjS55wkQPm9
After hanging up the phone, a new email soon arrived in Kouya’s inbox with a cheerful notification sound.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC5xCRyBeZ
“Kouya, my apartment is in Aomori Complex, room 302 on the third floor. Make sure to arrive before seven!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReBERjpvV3
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuFUZZYfOz
“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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezVHXo48p6
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9G8J2rmpv
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSPtNDMO4J
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIdP6fOS9z
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3Lt3btF4s
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVCnPhX5HP
It would be rude to show up empty-handed on a first visit.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSI2uuoJlH
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HqzGtuUf2
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtEvaUEKxc
“Beer, huh?” he muttered under his breath. “It’s been ages. Kind of nostalgic.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyBd4gCguC
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbNpeR2QVl
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LzbTkpOKl
He barely had time to blink before the door opened with a crisp click.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RnAyguQQm
But standing there wasn’t the petite, glasses-wearing, flat-chested cousin he expected.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1lL4zFq2O
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbpgdLOrrt
“Welcome! You must be Kobayashi-sama’s cousin, Kouya-kun! Please, come in!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEejxdgQvp
Kouya: “……”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD18jgcSGPr
‘Wait a damn second. I might not read much, but I’m not stupid.’125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnv6O2cHHH
‘Where the hell is my nerdy, antisocial cousin? Who’s this… massive-breasted, overly cheerful maid?’125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakqE8q6Wey
His gaze flicked upward—and froze.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkh6dlsOBQC
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Io7VORnaZ
‘No way… that’s a dragon. A full-on dragon, pretending to be human. And she’s wearing a maid outfit?!’125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThIQGLbEaN
Even if she was a young dragon, one breath from her could probably turn the entire building into rubble.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78FuBffVyL
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFQnXSAuPW
“Kouya? Come in already. It’s been years—you’ve really grown up. You look good.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN4SNAmJuD
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE3Y8PMPks
And yes… her chest was impressively nonexistent.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpQyMzjqTP
Kouya wasn’t ogling her. It was simply a habit formed from playing too much “Spot the Difference.” His eyes automatically took in details.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5Ctzw6RBl
‘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?’125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELOqgCFhJN
He kept his face straight. “Good evening, Cousin.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkxlMISco3
“Don’t stand there, come in already.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ntkhU8ivp
Kobayashi tugged him inside gently and went to the shoe rack. “I bought you some slippers earlier. Try them on.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrb5SLYYbA
He slipped them on, took a few steps, and nodded. “They fit.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn4Nv3el3o
“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.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyUNA7Xdis
Kouya smiled lightly. “People change.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8y8wggWaT
“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.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsI5hj2Uvs
Before he could respond, the blonde maid suddenly appeared beside her, hands clasped in front of her chest, eyes glimmering with tears.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRDsEPwAqq
“Kouya-kun, please don’t be angry with Kobayashi-sama! It’s all Tohru’s fault for distracting her!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmaVrHUxPx
Kouya’s mouth twitched.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWvxC5YBCD
‘Oh, for the love of—those things are practically defying gravity.’125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHp7HyBydzk
Every time she moved, her chest bounced like it had its own will—like twin waves crashing endlessly against his sanity.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPv8Kh9YsoE
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—”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhW8bQpZiu
“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?!’125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoc4f8CHVZ
“Kobayashi-sama…” came a frigid, razor-sharp voice.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHqNKFgJS2
Tohru froze instantly as Kobayashi stepped forward and bonked her lightly on the head.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmMylOj1Kl
“Ouch! That hurts, Kobayashi-sama!” The dragon maid whined pitifully, her eyes watering.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3V275R5aB
‘Oh please,’ Kouya thought. ‘That didn’t even hurt. Worst acting I’ve seen in centuries.’125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1amtBKdzz
Kobayashi adjusted her glasses, her tone calm but icy. “Kouya’s still a kid. Keep it decent.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfojTeF5Ez4
“Yes, ma’am! I’m sorry!” Tohru said immediately, standing straight like a soldier.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngiyPrC2QR
Kobayashi sighed again, then glanced at the bag in Kouya’s hand. “Wait, is that… beer?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3G7ITRfuS
Kouya nodded. “The store downstairs had a sale. I wanted to try it. I hope that’s okay.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXMphgM1wc
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP6Gh87qyr
“Wash your hands, Kouya. Dinner’s ready.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFsPX5dGUU
“Okay.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDQACkOZBx
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzat0tlWBxY
“I made all of it myself!” Tohru said proudly, puffing her chest out again. “For Kobayashi-sama and her adorable cousin!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDdsvVKYcj
Kobayashi glanced at her plate and nodded casually. “Not bad.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOFu2jSLM5
“Hehehe! Then as a reward, Kobayashi-sama, how about a date tomorrow?” Tohru said with a hopeful sparkle in her eyes.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FqIzXvvNe
“…What did you just say?” Kobayashi’s voice turned flat, her gaze deadly.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeHQlnttA0
“A-ahahaha… I mean, like a friendly outing—ouch! Ow ow ow!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkH0YE1v71
After giving Tohru a quick smack on the head, Kobayashi exhaled and turned to Kouya with an awkward smile.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJKhRwZLbA
“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…”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO2be0PW0H
Her forced laugh was dry as sandpaper.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaic5mh5SK
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