They walked along the streets of Akihabara.
Crowds surged past them, neon signs stacked over one another. The air was filled with music and overlapping voices, chaotic enough to blur direction itself.
They walked side by side.
Nothing intentional—but their hands brushed lightly as they walked.
Then, they didn’t separate.
Fingers tentatively hooked together, then slowly intertwined.
Neither of them spoke.
And neither of them let go.
“It should be here.”
Lu Nian’an looked up at the sign, her tone steady.
She didn’t release her hand. She led Xia Jiuwei inside.
A bell rang.
Ding—
“Welcome home, my lady.”
A short-haired waitress in a maid uniform stepped forward, lifting her skirt slightly and bowing with practiced elegance.
She handed them two membership cards and guided them to their seats with a polite smile.
“This is your seat, my ladies. Please call me when you’re ready to order.”
After the maid left, Xia Jiuwei was still slightly dazed.
“This service is so… special,” she said quietly, eyes bright.
“But honestly—” she propped her chin up and looked across the table.
“You seem more like a ‘lady’ type.”
“Is that so?” Lu Nian’an raised an eyebrow.
“Then maybe I should get one too,” Xia Jiuwei suddenly said with a mischievous grin.
“A maid outfit. I’ll stay at home and say—‘Welcome home, my lady.’”
She even imitated the tone and gesture from earlier, overly accurate and exaggerated.
Pfft.
Lu Nian’an couldn’t help laughing.
“I’m serious though,” Xia Jiuwei said, already scrolling her phone.
“I’ll order it right now.”
“…Wait—”
Before she could stop her, the order was already placed.
“You actually bought it?” Lu Nian’an stood up and leaned forward, grabbing the phone.
The purchase confirmation had already popped up on the screen.
She stared at it for a second.
An image surfaced in her mind without permission.
She paused.
Then quietly handed the phone back.
“…Whatever. It’s bought already.”
She cleared her throat and regained composure.
“I really can’t do anything about you.”
“Oh?” Xia Jiuwei narrowed her eyes, smiling wider.
“Don’t tell me—” she tilted her head slightly.
“you actually want to see me wear it?”
Lu Nian’an looked away slightly.
A faint blush rose on her face—rare and fleeting.
“No.”
“Liar.”
“……”
Xia Jiuwei laughed until she almost leaned onto the table.
“You’re such a pervert.”
The food arrived soon after.
“Welcome, my lady. Here is your cake and drink.”
The maid placed everything neatly on the table.
“Would you like me to cast a ‘make-it-delicious’ spell?”
Xia Jiuwei rested her chin on her hand, thinking.
“Just say it once for me.”
“Of course~”
The maid smiled sweetly and performed an overly cute, slightly embarrassing chant.
It felt almost like a ritual.
When it ended, Xia Jiuwei looked like she had learned something important.
She turned to Lu Nian’an.
“Do you want to try it too?”
Her eyes were wide with expectation.
Pressuring her silently to agree.
Lu Nian’an sighed helplessly.
“…Alright.”
The next moment, Xia Jiuwei stood up and perfectly imitated the act.
Tone, gestures, even facial expression—deliberately exaggerated.
“This will make the food taste better, my lady~”
She dragged out the ending syllable on purpose.
Lu Nian’an watched her and thought she looked a little silly.
And also… too cute.
She lowered her gaze before she realized it.
“You two are really affectionate, aren’t you?”
The maid who hadn’t left yet couldn’t help but laugh.
“We’re not—”
“No—”
They spoke at the same time.
Then both froze.
Silence fell for a moment.
“Whoa…” someone nearby muttered.
“So this is what yuri couples are like.”
The maid said with a wink.
“Everyone around is getting blinded by you two.”
With a meaningful smile, she left.
Silence.
Briefly settling in.
They looked at each other, then quickly looked away.
“We’re… just really good friends,” Xia Jiuwei said quietly.
As if saying it once more would make it true.
Like she was convincing others.
And also herself.
“Mm.” Lu Nian’an nodded.
But her gaze lowered slightly.
“Just friends.”
She repeated it in her mind once.
It still didn’t feel like it fit.
“Ah.”
Xia Jiuwei suddenly spoke.
She scooped a piece of cake and held it out.
“Open your mouth.”
Her tone was matter-of-fact, but carried an undeniable expectation.
“……”
Lu Nian’an froze for a moment.
Then opened her mouth.
The cake was soft—vanilla mixed with cream sweetness.
And—
It was the same spoon she had just used.
That thought flickered across her mind.
Her heartbeat skipped—hard.
“Is it good?”
“…Yeah.”
“Good.”
Xia Jiuwei smiled and took another bite herself.
“One bite for you, one bite for me.”
She said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
One bite. Another bite.
The rhythm slowed.
Yet the distance between them shortened.
That earlier phrase—just friends—was quietly dissolving.
Replaced by something closer.
Something more dangerous.
“My turn.”
Lu Nian’an took the spoon.
Her smile was faint—but softer than usual.
Almost magnetic.
Xia Jiuwei paused.
But didn’t move away.
They began feeding each other.
Sharing drinks.
Fingertips occasionally brushed—and neither pulled away.
As if undoing every denial from earlier.
When they left the café—
“Thank you for coming, my ladies~”
The maid’s voice followed them out.
The streets outside were still lively.
But their steps had slowed.
Their hands were still intertwined.
This time, tighter—and more natural.
Neither of them spoke.
Something unspoken lingered between them.
Like something too sweet to handle.
Addictive.
And impossible to admit out loud.