Chapter 107: Maid Fund Card!
[Notice: Career Mission (Transmigrator): Alter the life trajectories of story characters (3/3)—Completed. You have received the item: Maid Fund Card!]
[Maid Fund Card: Each of your maids can receive a generous monthly salary of ¥500,000, provided by the Maid Foundation.]
[Maid requirements: Obey orders, handle daily duties, and wear maid attire.]
[Maids currently eligible for funding: None.]
Mikasa and Annie could certainly obey orders and handle daily affairs.
The only problem was the maid attire.
Luke looked around the clothing store but did not see anywhere selling maid outfits.
'I'll ask a clerk later.'
After making up his mind, he continued looking at the system screen floating before him.
[Notice: You have received a new Career Mission (Transmigrator): Establish a romantic relationship with one story character: 0/1.]
Luke glanced at the notice, then raised his eyes toward Yumiko across from him.
They had only just confirmed their relationship, yet the mission had appeared afterward.
'This system really knows how to choose its timing. It's unbelievably unintelligent.'
"What's wrong?"
Yumiko looked strangely at his changing expression while browsing clothes.
"Nothing. How about this one?"
He picked up a sky-blue shirt nearby.
"Hmm?"
Yumiko brushed the hair beside her ear aside and leaned closer to examine it.
Looking at her fair face from such a short distance, Luke became slightly dazed.
Compared with her usual sharp eyes and forceful personality, she now seemed quiet and gentle, somewhat like the outward impression given by her fujoshi friend, Ebina Hina.
"Yumiko, are we currently dating?"
"Eh? Are you an idiot? Didn't we agree to try dating first?"
Yumiko lowered the shirt and looked at him with concern, as if regretting that she had selected the wrong option.
Good.
The moment she opened her mouth, that calm aura shattered, and she returned to normal.
Luke thought for a moment.
"No, that isn't right. I haven't confessed yet. How about we start over from the beginning?"
"Start over? Why?"
Yumiko looked confused. Seeing his slightly serious expression, she became unsure of what to do.
"No particular reason. Let's begin with a confession. How about it?"
Yumiko broke eye contact and stared at the marble-patterned floor beside them.
"…Fine."
She muttered softly.
"Uh—I like you. You're reckless and arrogant, but you have a perfect face and perfect body, especially those legs. They look like they'd feel really nice to touch. So… would you be my girlfriend?"
"…"
Yumiko was left speechless.
After a long while, her face turned red, and she pulled down the hem of her jacket.
"What kind of confession was that?! No normal girl would agree after being insulted first!"
She might even call the police.
Mikasa and Annie were exceptions.
"I was joking."
Although joking at a time like this was not ideal, Luke enjoyed seeing Yumiko display that embarrassed, flustered expression.
"The main point is that you're too cute."
He looked at her widened eyes and red-and-white face as he spoke sincerely.
"If you put it that way… then I don't exactly…"
Yumiko relaxed slightly. Her lips gently pouted, and her eyes drifted to the side.
Luke stretched out both hands and pressed one finger against each of her reddened cheeks.
"Eh, eh, eh?!"
Yumiko's frightened eyes trembled violently under his touch. Her face turned scarlet, and she could not speak for quite some time.
"Your expression was too cute, so I couldn't resist pressing them."
Her cheeks felt soft and springy, while her skin was warm and smooth beneath his fingers.
"Let go!"
Yumiko hurriedly spoke, anxiously looking at the nearby customers as her body stiffened.
"Agree first."
"You let go first!"
Luke said nothing and even lightly rotated his fingers.
"Mmm~"
Yumiko squeezed her eyes shut, feeling her cheeks being held between his fingers.
It was terribly embarrassing.
"Fine, fine! I agree, so let go already!"
[Notice: You have completed Career Mission (Transmigrator): Establish a romantic relationship with one story character (1/1). You have received the item: Carve the Boat to Find the Sword!]
[Carve the Boat to Find the Sword: This item takes the form of a sword. Use it to draw a mark on an object. Drawing the same mark in the air from another location will summon that object.]
[Notice: You have received a new Career Mission (Transmigrator): Alter the life trajectories of story characters: 0/5.]
My, my.
This system truly was very systematic.
Luke released Yumiko's slightly squashed cheeks, which quickly returned to normal.
"Honestly, don't you have cheeks of your own? Why do you insist on pressing mine?"
Yumiko unhappily took out the small pink mirror she carried and examined her face, preparing to touch up her makeup.
"Stay bare-faced. You look better without makeup! You don't need cosmetics to decorate yourself."
Luke hurriedly spoke, remembering what she had looked like when taking out the trash before.
"How could that be? Makeup obviously looks better than no makeup."
Yumiko looked puzzled.
That was generally true, especially when looking at strangers.
But with someone familiar…
"I still prefer seeing your natural face. Besides, you're already very cute. I also really like seeing you blush."
"My makeup is very light. It can't hide blushing…"
Yumiko put away her mirror and could not help muttering.
As if proving her point, the redness that had yet to fade deepened slightly again.
"Then when I want to get closer to you, I'd rather kiss your bare skin and see your real expression."
Luke threw another fastball.
"Eh! Isn't that too fast? Shouldn't we start by holding hands?"
Yumiko widened her eyes and said something completely at odds with her confident appearance.
That was why Luke increasingly enjoyed teasing her.
She dressed stylishly and carried herself boldly, yet when their relationship truly moved forward, she became unexpectedly shy and innocent beneath that exterior.
Yumiko looked at him helplessly, but Luke's direct gaze did not seem dishonest, forcing her to look away.
"I'm going to pay!"
Yumiko hurriedly spoke, grabbed the clothes she had selected, and fled.
'Seriously, why does he insist on throwing fastballs at me?'
Luke nodded in satisfaction after his victory.
However, his preference for her natural appearance had not been a lie.
As his distant ancestor Li Bai once said:
"Clear water brings forth the lotus, naturally free of carving."
Something already beautiful did not require excessive decoration.
That was also why Mikasa and Annie rarely wore makeup at home.
Luke quickly selected several clothes for Annie and Mikasa, completing his clothing purchases.
Along the way, he asked a clerk where maid outfits could be bought.
The answer was an adult-goods store, an anime or game shop, or custom order.
Going to an adult-goods shop was clearly impossible right now, and he was unfamiliar with such places anyway.
He would check the anime and game shops first. If that failed, he could order them online.
Custom ordering was too troublesome.
"Let's look upstairs. I need to buy a few clothes too, along with two maid outfits."
Luke said that to Yumiko as she returned.
"Maid outfits?"
Yumiko's voice tightened, and her eyes locked onto his face.
Even if she was willing to try accepting his circumstances, wasn't this guy being far too shameless?
Yumiko stared at him and extended a finger.
Its destination was obvious.
Seeing her dangerous gaze and movement, Luke immediately said, "Do you want one too? I'd like to see how you look in it."
"No!"
Yumiko's eyes cleared as she shouted.
"Get one. You'd look pretty~"
"No!"
"Another style is fine too."
"I don't want any of them!"
Yumiko hurriedly ran away.
Watching the girl's panicked back, Luke smiled faintly.
'Heh. Completely under control.'
Luke picked up the underwear and clothes he had bought for Mikasa and Annie, then followed Yumiko up to the fourth floor.
There was no hurry regarding men's clothing.
Once he reached a store, three minutes would be enough.
"Don't run so fast."
Passing a row of squeaking massage chairs available for trial, he caught up with Yumiko, whose long legs were moving quickly.
"Who told you to say something like that~?"
"Fine, you don't have to wear one. I'll ask again after your affection level rises."
Luke scanned the surrounding shops.
Anime and game merchandise filled the display windows.
There were products based on classic anime and game characters, including plush toys, shirts, stationery, and figures. Colorful posters and artwork also covered the walls.
"What kind of strange phrase is 'affection level'?"
Yumiko weakly leaned against his shoulder.
"Is it strange? Let's go inside and see whether they sell an affection-level tester."
They entered an anime merchandise shop filled with young customers.
"Excuse me, do you sell maid outfits?"
Luke cautiously asked a clerk.
"Yes."
The clerk smiled slightly and glanced at Yumiko beside him.
"Please come this way."
He had not expected to find something unavailable in a clothing store inside an anime merchandise area.
He even suspected the cosplay specialty shop nearby would also sell maid outfits.
Luke had not watched many anime about maids, so he casually chose three sets based on Mikasa and Annie's builds.
Mm.
Three sets.
After paying quickly, he once again discovered that his girlfriend had disappeared.
He waited near the entrance for a short while.
Yumiko emerged from the shop carrying a plush toy.
"This is a gift for you."
It had a purple head, white block-like skin, and a round body shaped like a trash can.
"Hm? Frieza?"
Luke recognized the ugly plush immediately.
Why would a toy shop sell something like this?
It was far too ugly.
Would anyone really buy it?
More importantly, why had she bought it?
"Why did you buy this?"
Luke looked at Yumiko in confusion.
"Um… back when you gave me a lap—when you first saved me, I heard it…"
Remembering the day she gave him a lap pillow, Yumiko could not help blushing and turned her face aside.
"Later, I searched for it. Anyway, consider it a thank-you gift."
Yumiko shoved the plush into his arms, then glanced sideways at him as he lowered his head toward it.
"But the fact that you like something like this is really… uh."
"Ugh—"
Luke covered his face helplessly and slowly turned around.
"Didn't I tell you to move farther away back then?"
His embarrassing past had been discovered, and the person who discovered it had even become his girlfriend.
He suddenly felt the urge to hurry home and die.
"Hm?"
Yumiko looked confused as he turned his back.
However, as her thoughts began moving, the corners of her lips slowly rose.
"Oh? Are you embarrassed?"
She smiled behind him.
Luke's body shook.
Yumiko placed both hands on his shoulders, lightly stood on tiptoe, and breathed softly beside his ear.
"Hehe. How cute~"
...
Late afternoon.
After Yumiko managed to win back one round, Luke accepted the ugly Frieza plush in order to protect the innocent Namekians.
Carrying a pile of bags, he stopped outside his home.
A much more difficult challenge waited ahead.
Still, he had never intended to hide his relationship with Yumiko from the two maids.
Opening the door, he saw them watching television in the living room.
It seemed to be a food program, perhaps something about unfortunate fools guessing prices.
Mm.
He had forgotten the title.
Mikasa took some of the bags from his hands.
"I bought cream puffs and pudding. Put them directly in the refrigerator."
Luke leaned back against the sofa and relaxed his body.
Mikasa skillfully sorted everything he had bought and put it away.
Once she finished and sat beside him again, Luke finally spoke.
"Mikasa, Annie."
"Mm?"
The two responded in confusion.
"Have you ever thought about the future?"
"The future?"
Annie and Mikasa thought quietly.
Silence fell between the three. It seemed neither maid had ever seriously considered the matter.
Annie eventually answered, "Well… you won't drive us away, right?"
"Of course not. You belong with me, so how could I let you leave? But I meant something else…"
Luke sighed slightly and pulled both maids into his arms.
"Someone confessed to me… Well, I'm not sure it counted as a confession. We seem to have skipped that stage."
"Who?"
Annie asked directly.
"Miura Yumiko."
"That gyaru?"
"Miura isn't really a gyaru, is she?"
Mikasa spoke, having stayed at the Miura residence for some time.
Annie glanced at Mikasa.
"In short, Master has recently begun liking the gyaru style?"
Annie decisively climbed onto Luke's lap. Her knees, covered by gray sportswear, sank into the sofa as her fingers lightly gripped his collar.
"Not exactly. Somehow, we simply ended up together. I wanted to understand how you two felt."
Luke thought before answering.
"Sigh."
Annie sighed helplessly.
"You can decide something like that yourself…"
Luke breathed a sigh of relief.
"But… suppose I said I was a little jealous."
Still holding his collar, Annie leaned closer, her body pressing warmly against him.
"Master, will you make it up to me?"
Her soft voice brushed his ear, her warm breath teasing his skin as she drew even nearer.
…
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