Chapter 7: Dragon? Maid?242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfQPCnBsIc
After hanging up the phone, a new email soon arrived in Kouya’s inbox with a cheerful notification sound.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDd1xmxZsRL
“Kouya, my apartment is in Aomori Complex, room 302 on the third floor. Make sure to arrive before seven!”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapt4RH44Zn
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkY7aIlbGd
“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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OZOrzUonN
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSjbuxpDQj
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyiMq3R2AP
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmfqXovRRS
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdeZg2GzKT
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2hvBqJliH
It would be rude to show up empty-handed on a first visit.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoGdJY3CoL
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbICJ9LhwOz
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnZVkYENyO
“Beer, huh?” he muttered under his breath. “It’s been ages. Kind of nostalgic.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqul8PoRQ6
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVuA0fJhfi
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCcjVst1kk
He barely had time to blink before the door opened with a crisp click.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDF15GwD1qi
But standing there wasn’t the petite, glasses-wearing, flat-chested cousin he expected.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGPs5WfimN
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF3fHH7k6t
“Welcome! You must be Kobayashi-sama’s cousin, Kouya-kun! Please, come in!”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlKrvEEIKW
Kouya: “……”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPoE5sCezk
‘Wait a damn second. I might not read much, but I’m not stupid.’242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6LFn7CKnl
‘Where the hell is my nerdy, antisocial cousin? Who’s this… massive-breasted, overly cheerful maid?’242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeoeaxeQ5Z
His gaze flicked upward—and froze.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSczzU8Hb6t
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPiffq6brA
‘No way… that’s a dragon. A full-on dragon, pretending to be human. And she’s wearing a maid outfit?!’242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EL1dzDnn3
Even if she was a young dragon, one breath from her could probably turn the entire building into rubble.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRf2bZrLesp
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9FEqLOggz
“Kouya? Come in already. It’s been years—you’ve really grown up. You look good.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVuqDNLQ4F
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWZMANVYhi
And yes… her chest was impressively nonexistent.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQXepxocMY
Kouya wasn’t ogling her. It was simply a habit formed from playing too much “Spot the Difference.” His eyes automatically took in details.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVtGX98XZ2
‘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?’242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNWp3NzEtb
He kept his face straight. “Good evening, Cousin.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3Hq85mh9e
“Don’t stand there, come in already.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5ixYzLbCp
Kobayashi tugged him inside gently and went to the shoe rack. “I bought you some slippers earlier. Try them on.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0BiruWBCo
He slipped them on, took a few steps, and nodded. “They fit.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqw1cdRzNoP
“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.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡge6yQqPptl
Kouya smiled lightly. “People change.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡou1x11COH8
“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.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO4k0Vo2gh
Before he could respond, the blonde maid suddenly appeared beside her, hands clasped in front of her chest, eyes glimmering with tears.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6EPXwKqDF
“Kouya-kun, please don’t be angry with Kobayashi-sama! It’s all Tohru’s fault for distracting her!”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSi9ONuVsw
Kouya’s mouth twitched.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZD4liQSlu
‘Oh, for the love of—those things are practically defying gravity.’242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZMr1MWbke
Every time she moved, her chest bounced like it had its own will—like twin waves crashing endlessly against his sanity.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XGmudLhuI
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—”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy1Mq3WK88
“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?!’242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVoBPxp2lN
“Kobayashi-sama…” came a frigid, razor-sharp voice.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg7LT95LPC
Tohru froze instantly as Kobayashi stepped forward and bonked her lightly on the head.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHloKHXN26
“Ouch! That hurts, Kobayashi-sama!” The dragon maid whined pitifully, her eyes watering.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWtiEj5qJu
‘Oh please,’ Kouya thought. ‘That didn’t even hurt. Worst acting I’ve seen in centuries.’242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv4O4ZlUNv
Kobayashi adjusted her glasses, her tone calm but icy. “Kouya’s still a kid. Keep it decent.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9eEB8HQ4P
“Yes, ma’am! I’m sorry!” Tohru said immediately, standing straight like a soldier.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnR9LoyAIRl
Kobayashi sighed again, then glanced at the bag in Kouya’s hand. “Wait, is that… beer?”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvWRIBXes2
Kouya nodded. “The store downstairs had a sale. I wanted to try it. I hope that’s okay.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohjAV014RF
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAVNt1xIo2
“Wash your hands, Kouya. Dinner’s ready.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulXL2DyNCO
“Okay.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1aH441kVP
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMZekTRqvU
“I made all of it myself!” Tohru said proudly, puffing her chest out again. “For Kobayashi-sama and her adorable cousin!”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i0u0Xxn0L
Kobayashi glanced at her plate and nodded casually. “Not bad.”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rdBKW3kbi
“Hehehe! Then as a reward, Kobayashi-sama, how about a date tomorrow?” Tohru said with a hopeful sparkle in her eyes.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJ6HZLKFZk
“…What did you just say?” Kobayashi’s voice turned flat, her gaze deadly.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PTKaH5dIf
“A-ahahaha… I mean, like a friendly outing—ouch! Ow ow ow!”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2Bmv7ZFvA
After giving Tohru a quick smack on the head, Kobayashi exhaled and turned to Kouya with an awkward smile.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhSJXUtpJD
“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…”242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8aVbMpQmW
Her forced laugh was dry as sandpaper.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs0Esf93s7
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