Chapter 7: Dragon? Maid?8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4cdYN3MMx
After hanging up the phone, a new email soon arrived in Kouya’s inbox with a cheerful notification sound.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5pt9u5dIe
“Kouya, my apartment is in Aomori Complex, room 302 on the third floor. Make sure to arrive before seven!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPorEkjSQ0p
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4bwStX6co
“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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAq6WlE663
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5af58Bf8X
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEv35qPpsg
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUO91MH55F
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjw80AIGps
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTzhvxwt9A
It would be rude to show up empty-handed on a first visit.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWaaz0BKHU
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eTYFjncwx
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRrSswxjts
“Beer, huh?” he muttered under his breath. “It’s been ages. Kind of nostalgic.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixHByfSC64
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Aloj5tJaS
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXPvwlIZNJ
He barely had time to blink before the door opened with a crisp click.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpie7cPiSrj
But standing there wasn’t the petite, glasses-wearing, flat-chested cousin he expected.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0EJQkchkC
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCTdbgALa6
“Welcome! You must be Kobayashi-sama’s cousin, Kouya-kun! Please, come in!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iIh6M9qcW
Kouya: “……”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8Vdjgfuo7
‘Wait a damn second. I might not read much, but I’m not stupid.’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UWrTpMprg
‘Where the hell is my nerdy, antisocial cousin? Who’s this… massive-breasted, overly cheerful maid?’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwu8DEUZJJ
His gaze flicked upward—and froze.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUMb8UGJaO
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmJeDSw7jE
‘No way… that’s a dragon. A full-on dragon, pretending to be human. And she’s wearing a maid outfit?!’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hc7XKK4BR
Even if she was a young dragon, one breath from her could probably turn the entire building into rubble.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qITNiWmut
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9k0gGdice
“Kouya? Come in already. It’s been years—you’ve really grown up. You look good.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGY6zfzvlJB
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnb9hUGiQ3
And yes… her chest was impressively nonexistent.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKCBxAXNMN
Kouya wasn’t ogling her. It was simply a habit formed from playing too much “Spot the Difference.” His eyes automatically took in details.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMkgW52L7t
‘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?’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNxuymLinE
He kept his face straight. “Good evening, Cousin.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEMHeaYR06
“Don’t stand there, come in already.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkViPAoaSNw
Kobayashi tugged him inside gently and went to the shoe rack. “I bought you some slippers earlier. Try them on.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy0rEsSUhM
He slipped them on, took a few steps, and nodded. “They fit.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9gpUTnW7j
“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.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzEy4jutvH
Kouya smiled lightly. “People change.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRBrctakg4
“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.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDci595SJ5
Before he could respond, the blonde maid suddenly appeared beside her, hands clasped in front of her chest, eyes glimmering with tears.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdsuznsb94
“Kouya-kun, please don’t be angry with Kobayashi-sama! It’s all Tohru’s fault for distracting her!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHtGUesApS
Kouya’s mouth twitched.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNxQvbcAhE
‘Oh, for the love of—those things are practically defying gravity.’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ62W2cwy5J
Every time she moved, her chest bounced like it had its own will—like twin waves crashing endlessly against his sanity.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwM9ITANoB
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—”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGbus3bWgV
“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?!’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQ9HQOqRbA
“Kobayashi-sama…” came a frigid, razor-sharp voice.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfD800N9xs
Tohru froze instantly as Kobayashi stepped forward and bonked her lightly on the head.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MM2pDEDp9
“Ouch! That hurts, Kobayashi-sama!” The dragon maid whined pitifully, her eyes watering.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHv3CqnCgg
‘Oh please,’ Kouya thought. ‘That didn’t even hurt. Worst acting I’ve seen in centuries.’8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aK0af6p4H
Kobayashi adjusted her glasses, her tone calm but icy. “Kouya’s still a kid. Keep it decent.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KJVAQyDTv
“Yes, ma’am! I’m sorry!” Tohru said immediately, standing straight like a soldier.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM79K7sU13
Kobayashi sighed again, then glanced at the bag in Kouya’s hand. “Wait, is that… beer?”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT15WkhUUX8
Kouya nodded. “The store downstairs had a sale. I wanted to try it. I hope that’s okay.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HX8Llg8UP
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpG481gXs2
“Wash your hands, Kouya. Dinner’s ready.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeFQeYDQVP
“Okay.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjHK8SMrjt
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.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU34tpm8JI
“I made all of it myself!” Tohru said proudly, puffing her chest out again. “For Kobayashi-sama and her adorable cousin!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWJzwoYFyV
Kobayashi glanced at her plate and nodded casually. “Not bad.”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TJJbAFKbM
“Hehehe! Then as a reward, Kobayashi-sama, how about a date tomorrow?” Tohru said with a hopeful sparkle in her eyes.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlebssQwAG
“…What did you just say?” Kobayashi’s voice turned flat, her gaze deadly.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZwplBrP5A
“A-ahahaha… I mean, like a friendly outing—ouch! Ow ow ow!”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OQoPHNlvd
After giving Tohru a quick smack on the head, Kobayashi exhaled and turned to Kouya with an awkward smile.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TDnHpACxH
“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…”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I8SYuDF88
Her forced laugh was dry as sandpaper.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uqwiuMidS
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