Mandarin Orange, Kotatsu, And A Found Cat

 Chapter 84 A Step Into The Future With The Cat

When the interview from Tsukiyama-san was over and she was about to go back to her original job.
I thanked her and apologized for the trouble I had caused her, and she asked me to thank her.

“Would you mind keeping me company for a moment?”

She then extended her hand toward me.
Of course, I was not without anxiety, but I understood enough just now that she was not a bad person.
If I could repay her for all she has done for me, there was no choice but to do it.

“I-I understand.”
“That’s a good answer. Then, let’s go.”

Before I could ask her where we were going, she took my hand and started to walk away.
And when we come to the door of this room, Tsukiyama-san turned around once and asked me with just a glance.

From now on, this was a place where I have never set foot before due to restrictions from Miku-san’s mother.
I was told that I would be entering there without permission now that the two of them were not here.
Knowing this, Tsukiyama-san was trying to take me there.

Of course, I would like more than anything to avoid having to break my promise to Miku-san.
I had a feeling that there was something very important beyond the doorknob that Tsukiyama-san put her hand on.
Conversely, I had a feeling that if I missed this moment, I would miss even that something important…

It was just a premonition, and yet my heart was thumping with near certainty.
Feeling this, I squeezed Tsukuyama-san’s hand and nodded in return.
After giving me a gentle smile, Tsukiyama-san slowly turned the doorknob and led me out of the room.

I had always known that the house was spacious, but when I walked down the hallway, I realized how large it was.
Unlike the cute Miku-san’s room, the whole place had a calm atmosphere, and I could tell how good the family was just by walking around.

“It’s bad of Lumi-san to leave the room without permission.”
“…It’s Tsukiyama-san’s fault.”
“Fufu, that’s unfortunate.”

Gradually, I get tired of being carried away by this person’s pace, and I spoke my mind.
As expected, Tsukiyama-san says it was unfortunate while laughing happily.

As for me, it was so fresh and fun to get out of that room and see things I don’t know.
Even being able to walk around so freely in human form, there was nothing else like it.
But, as Tsukiyama-san said, it was true that I was doing things on my own.
And I think she probably bears even that responsibility with me.

“Tsukiyama-san is…not a bad person, but you are a strange person.”
“A strange person? Indeed, you may be right.”
“…Why do you go to such lengths to help me?”
“I’m just asking for a favor from you, Rumi.”

Tsukiyama-san smiled with a face like it was nothing, but even I could tell that it was just a front.
I don’t know what she was thinking in her hand toward me, but I’ll take her kindness just a little longer.

As I followed Tsukiyama-san, we arrived at a small room that didn’t look very lived-in.
Apart from a bed and a desk, it had only sorry-looking furniture, and compared to Miku’s room, it didn’t even look like a room in this house.

“Umm…what is this place?’
“It’s my room. I’m a live-in worker.”

Tsukuyama-san walked into the room saying so. I followed her into the room.
The room was neatly cleaned and there was not a speck of dust in the air, but it did not feel lived-in, probably due to the small amount of furniture.

“Now, let me get down to business. I would like you to help me.”
“Y-Yes.”
“First of all, I’d like you to change your clothes here.”

Tsukiyama-san fished around in the wardrobe while explaining. She seemed to have found what she was looking for and took it out of the wardrobe.
She immediately turned around and showed me the clothes with a nonchalant expression on her face.

“T-This…”
“It’s a maid’s uniform. Didn’t you know?”
“Yes, I know they exist…”

Even though I was not very knowledgeable about the common knowledge of the human world, I recognized these clothes.
The reason was that the same clothes were also worn by this person in front of me.

“I can’t have you working in those clothes, even though you are helping me. If you soiled them, the lady would be angry with me.”
“Right…”

“What I was wearing now were clothes that I believe Miku’s mother wore when she was a student.
It was already selfishly borrowed, but it was not nice in many ways to move around in it.

“Don’t worry, it’s the same brand as mine.”
“O-Okay…?”
“It’s called matching.”
“…”

I gave Tsukiyama-san a look that said, “What are you talking about?” But she was happily giddy with joy all by herself.
I have no qualms about wearing the same clothes as Tsukuyama-san, what she was showing now was somehow differently decorated from what she was wearing.

The basic structure and shades were the same, but the amount of frills, the ribbon decoration, and the length of the skirt.
To put it simply, compared to Tsukiyama-san’s calm and serene one, mine seemed to be made in a much cuter way…
And it was awfully clean and wrinkle-free, with no signs of having been used by someone else. On the contrary, it was too small for Tsukiyama-san to wear…

“Um…are these Tsukiyama-san’s personal belongings?”
“No. By the way, I bought it yesterday.”
“…”

I was finally getting a headache from Tsukiyama-san, who had just made an outrageous statement.
I think she bought a maid’s outfit yesterday in anticipation of this happening today.
From the beginning, she had been guiding me to help her and make me wear this outfit.

“…Tsukiyama-san is mean.”
“I am honored by your compliment.”
“…”
“We don’t have much time, so please change as soon as possible. I’ll be outside.”
“…Yes.”

Not seeming to care that I was no longer bothering to say anything back, Tsukiyama-san handed me a maid’s outfit and left the room.
After sighing once in the room left alone, I gave up and changed into the maid uniform I received.

After a bit of fumbling, I finished putting it on.
Then, before leaving the room, I checked my appearance once in the mirror.

“…So cute.”

I know I’m praising myself, but those words came out naturally.
Perhaps it was because of the longing I felt for Tsukiyama-san even though I said she was mean, but seeing myself in this dress has made my heart beat faster.

And at the same time, I was convinced that it was not a mistake to leave that room in pursuit of Tsukiyama-san.
The beating in my chest that I had been vaguely feeling. It was, after all, something important to me—

I looked at myself in the mirror once more and adjust the ribbon around my chest.
Then, after adjusting my appearance to slightly mimic Tsukiyama-san’s, I opened the door.