The Maid is Truly Amazing

In Shinichi's rented apartment single room, the kitchen was usually placed near the door. Two electric stoves, a sink, and storage cabinets above and below formed a small but adequate kitchen.

Besides, he didn't know how to cook overly complicated dishes. Scrambled eggs for breakfast, boiled egg soup, making egg fried rice, etc., were enough. No matter how big the kitchen was, it was useless, and since he had just moved in, the kitchen utensils and spices available were only the most basic ones, usually kept in the kitchen cabinets and only taken out when needed.

Therefore, when Shinichi left that day, he should have seen a clean and "empty" kitchen table like when he left.

"Is there a modern-day thief... Are all people good?" He placed the still-recording phone down.

Regardless of whether something was stolen or not, this was the first time Shinichi faced such disturbance, and he sincerely hoped it would happen more in the future.

There was a pot of soup on the stove, and its aroma still faintly lingered under the lid, spreading from the entrance to the living room beyond the corridor. There were dirty pots, spatulas, kitchen knives, etc., in the sink, which was the small kitchen area.

The light in the living room was still on. Seen from here, the windows were bright, clean, and every corner was so clean that it gleamed in the light.

He could guarantee that before he went on the autumn excursion, his room definitely wasn't as clean as it was now.

"I didn't even ask the maid to clean..." He looked around, but as far as he could see, there was no one there. Everything was placed there.

Turning his head, a pair of black leather boots in front of the entrance looked familiar, and he glanced towards the dimly lit toilet.

After roughly figuring out what was happening, Shinichi smiled, fully opened the door, dragged his luggage, and entered.

"I'm back—"

Usually, he wouldn't shout like this to this empty residence. After all, no one would answer.

However, today was a little different.

"Welcome back."

Accompanied by the calm response tone and the sound of handwashing, the girl came out of the toilet and wiped her hands while answering without any embarrassment in her movements.

As she saw Shinichi, her expression didn't change much; she just walked towards the stove, put on gloves, and carried the soup to the living room.

"You haven't had lunch, right? I used your kitchen to cook food. If you don't mind, let's eat together."

"Who would mind such a good thing? In that case, I won't refuse."

Shinichi placed his luggage in the front hall without intending to tidy it up first. He took off his shoes and walked to the living room with her.

In front of the old TV was a low wooden table, already laid out with three homemade dishes, two pairs of bowls, and chopsticks on top, with a rice cooker placed on the floor next to it. The aroma of steamed rice made Shinichi take a deep breath.

"How did you know I would come back at this time? The timing is just right; we can start dinner right after I return."

Shinichi sat cross-legged, took a bowl of white rice from her hand, and asked curiously.

She untied her ponytail and shook her head, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders.

"It's nothing, just guessing how long it would take you to get home after the bus arrives at school. It's much simpler than giving advice to Kaguya-sama."

"What if I went somewhere to play on the way and accidentally came home late?"

"In that case, I'll eat it myself first, then leave some dishes for you." Hayasaka said as if she was ready for it. After serving herself food, she picked up her chopsticks.

"Itadakimasu."

"Itadakimasu." Shinichi repeated, putting vegetables into his bowl and continuing to ask his doubts, "So why did you suddenly want to come to my house?"

"Can't I?"

Hayasaka squinted her eyes, observing him naturally taking a little bit of each dish on the table and eating it with rice.

"It's just curiosity. Your kitchen has never been used by another woman, right? So I'm the first one."

"Not just the kitchen. I always feel like every corner of the house has been tainted by you."

"This is a cleanliness service provided by a professional maid. Are you not satisfied?"

Hayasaka was still wearing her maid costume, but it lacked the allure of cosplay; instead, it was dignified and strict, impressively so.

This skill integrated professionalism into life and was beyond reproach.

"I dare not; of course, I'm very satisfied."

Shinichi cupped his hands and couldn't help but laugh.

Hayasaka's originally cold expression gradually softened, and she looked at him with a warm smile.

But when she saw the diminishing food on the plates, she hesitated for a long time and still couldn't bring herself to ask that question.

"Was the autumn excursion enjoyable?"

Hayasaka casually brought up a random topic and seized it.

"It was okay, the facilities were good, and the scenery was beautiful." Shinichi refilled his bowl with rice again and kept talking while eating.

"But many things happened along the way, and my mood fluctuated. I always felt like I didn't remember what I did... The ferris wheel and Star Lake view were truly unforgettable."

"Ferris wheel? Star Lake?" Hayasaka tilted her head slightly but didn't continue the question. Instead, she let her chopsticks rest lightly on the edge of the bowl.

"Is... your issue with them resolved?"

Shinichi also stopped and glanced at her.

The gentle gaze in his eyes made Hayasaka avert her face. Her cheeks were slightly red, then she regained her composure and looked at him straight.

"It's basically resolved." Shinichi smiled, his tone implying seriousness. "[The plan] will proceed as usual. I'll end our relationship at the school festival."

"Is that so." Hayasaka nodded slightly. Her true thoughts were not visible behind her mask-like expression. She moved her chopsticks again, with an indifferent expression on her face far from others.

"Congratulations then."

"Don't you want to ask about the details?" Shinichi looked at her strangely.

"I'm not your maid, why would I know so much?"

Hayasaka said nonchalantly, emptying the rice in the bowl and standing up.

"I'm full."

"That was fast." Shinichi turned and followed her to the sink. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly realized.

"Ah, could it be that Ai-chan's strange attitude today was because I didn't send you a message for the past two days and only focused on dealing with emotional issues with others? I'm sorry, it really was my fault. Don't be angry."

"Is this excessive self-awareness? How funny." Hayasaka replied sarcastically.

Though her tone was casual, she turned and walked back, lightly bumping her back and quickly walking away.

Shinichi touched his not-so-sore back.

With satisfaction in his heart and a smile on his face, Shinichi spoke again.

"Babe, were all these dishes specially tailored to my taste?"

As he spoke, he cleared all the remaining food from the plates, sighed, and wiped his mouth.

"Delicious. Thank you for your hard work."

Hayasaka Ai was about to turn on the tap when she stopped in place.

(Anyway, I've been discovered by him. I want to hear his comments about the food he made...)

(Moreover, isn't his skill to first make people angry and then move them, using this contrast to gain a lot of help?)

(I guess he's realized it for a long time, hasn't he? I just said it after eating... What a wicked man.)

Hayasaka placed the plates and chopsticks down and then turned on the tap.

Her head slightly bowed, and her golden hair covered half of her face, preventing her from clearly seeing her current expression.

--That's right.

It would be very embarrassing for her to see a girl like this biting her lip, her face turning red, but unable to suppress a happy smile...

"...You're welcome."

Finally, Hayasaka replied somewhat stiffly.

"Next time, I'll make it even better."

"Um."

Shinichi didn't say anything else, took out his phone, and swiped it.

They both turned their backs to each other, the sound of running water, and the clinking of bowls and chopsticks intertwining clearly and naturally, blending into the silence.

The small rented house remained warm and like a home.