Not a Villainess but a Maid

#043 The Dog Who Chases the Moon

The place Coral took me was a dessert cafe with surprisingly ordinary tastes.

I wasn’t sure what to order, so I ordered the same thing as Coral.

After a while, colorful ice cream was placed in a long glass cup, and a dessert with sweets or fruit on top was served.

Is this called a parfait? I can feel the sweetness just by looking at it.

Coral said with a smile after eating the parfait first with a spoon.

“I really wanted to come here with Amber. “I’m so happy that you really came.”

“Yes, I feel good to be out after a long time.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t like being at the academy.

The academy was equipped with various convenience facilities and benefits, so there was no need to go outside.

But the fortune teller she went to a while ago and the parfait that was so sweet it made her head hurt were things she couldn’t enjoy at the academy.

Coral set down the glass cup containing the parfait with a satisfied look on her face and she asked.

“How was your day, Amber?”

I answered her question as if thinking for a moment.

“Um… Actually, she didn’t know that Coral would ask her to go outside. Was it a little surprising?”

I was expecting it to feel like a normal library date, but I never thought we would end up going out.

Is it because of her past image, because she has a strong introverted vibe?

Even in the original work, it was described as having no other human relationships other than the main character.

After hearing what I said, Coral smiled with a slightly bitter expression.

“…Actually, I came here because Amber went out with me.”

She continued speaking while slowly stirring the spoon in the glass cup.

“In the past, I couldn’t be that scared of meeting people and going out.”

“…Now? Are you okay?”

“Yes. Thanks to Amber, I got to know many people and was able to join clubs. “The fear gradually disappeared.”

“…Thank goodness.”

All this time, I just thought that Ruby and I were invading Coral’s space.

She went to see Coral, who was doing well on her own, and dragged her into their joint activities.

But now, listening to her words, I think it was a huge mistake on my part.

In a way, Coral was the heroine who retained the original form the most out of all the heroines.

However, as in the original work, the fear of crowded places and the symptoms of social phobia seem to have completely disappeared.

Did meeting me bring about a change for the better?

She ate the parfait in silence, feeling a little awkward, then glanced at the table next to her.

I noticed four male customers noisily removing blocks from a tower made of small wooden blocks.

“Coral, do you think there is Jenga here? Should we try it too?”

“Jenga? I’ve only heard of it, but I’ve never actually tried it… “

It was a game where finger-sized wooden blocks were stacked crosswise, and then taken out one by one, and if the tower collapsed, you lost.

“It’s okay. “It will be very easy if you try it.”

Naturally, I borrowed her Jenga set from the counter and started pouring out the blocks and building a tower with Coral.

While stacking wooden blocks crosswise, Coral and I bumped into each other’s hands.

Then she said, slightly surprised.

“Uh… “Put Amber up first.”

“Really? “It doesn’t really matter.”

After successfully stacking all the blocks, I looked at Coral with the tower in the middle.

“Coral, do you want to make a bet?”

“Bet?”

“Yes. “Let’s grant the loser’s wish.”

Gambling was an inevitable element in games.

In particular, Jenga is a comprehensive gambling set in which the risk varies greatly with each block removed.

You can have a lot more fun if you take some risk.

*** (Coral)

The game has begun.

Actually, I can’t concentrate properly because I’m still worried about touching Amber a little while ago.

It was only a light touch, but the feel of the soft, soft hand and its body temperature clearly remained as a sensory memory.

What on earth was that so disappointing?

Quietly and preciously, I take in her appearance in front of my eyes.

I could feel her heart pounding on her clear, healthy-skinned face.

As Amber bent down to remove her block, a few strands of moderately curly light pink hair fell down to the nape of her neck.

As I was there in a daze, losing her attention, she called me.

“It’s your turn, Coral.”

“Huh? Huh… !”

She stretched out her hand and grabbed hold of a slightly dangerous-looking block.

‘…Huh.’

I guessed wrong. There were many other good blocks as well.

The more the block at the bottom was pulled, the more the entire tower swayed precariously.

Why did you grab this block?

I wonder if it was because my image seemed to overlap with this block.

That was the case at the fortune teller I stopped by today.

They call me a wild dog chasing the moon.

No matter how hard the dog chases, it will never reach the moon.

Right now, there is a beautiful and bright moon smiling brightly in front of my eyes.

I closed my eyes and pulled out the block, and the tower shook violently.

“…!”

I couldn’t bear to see it collapse, so I closed my eyes.

…

Did you hear a rumbling sound? I do not know.

It must have been a precarious tower that looked as if it would collapse at any moment.

It’s scary to open my eyes, but I can’t run away from here.

“…!”

When I finally opened my eyes, the wooden block tower was standing intact.

Amber opened her eyes wide and continued to express admiration.

“Amazing, Coral… ! “How did you do it?”

The tower made of wooden blocks stood still, even with a large hole in the middle.

“…”

Through the hole in the tower, Amber’s face was visible.

Like the moon peeking out from between the clouds, it was smiling brightly as it looked this way.

Ah. It’s dazzling just to watch.

As my current happiness grew, I felt a sense of sadness.

It would be nice to be stuck in this time forever. Me and you, just the two of us.

Amber touched the precarious block with her amber eyes shining.

“Oh… !”

The tower collapsed as if its lifespan had come to an end.

She spoke regretfully as she ate the remaining parfait.

“It’s a waste… I lost. Coral, you’re so good at it.”

“…hehehehe.”

First, let’s have fun. Let’s capture at least one more scene of the present memory in our heads.

Because that’s the best a wild dog chasing the moon can do.

*** (Amber)

After a fun time, I walked out of Coral and the cafe.

I never thought Coral would choose such a dangerous block.

Her gamble was ruined beautifully.

I said while looking at Coral walking next to me.

“That’s right. “What would you like to wish for, Coral?”

“Umm… “What would be better?”

Coral couldn’t make a decision easily and fidgeted with his hands.

Well, usually, when something like this is given to me, I don’t think about it.

As she was walking calmly, waiting for her answer, her eyes caught one of the street vendors.

‘Huh?’

It seemed like a store that handled things like detailed animal statues.

She naturally turned her head, pointed to a statue, and said.

“How much is this piece of rabbit?”

It was a small rabbit-shaped statue entirely painted black.

“Ah, then it’s not a rabbit but a Sasquatch. “A legendary monster.”

Anyone can see that it is just a black rabbit.

Is this Sasquatch? Really?

The pajamas Ruby wore last time were real Sasquatch pajamas… ?

“Please give me one of these.”

I paid the merchant and put the black statue in my pocket.

Then, Coral, who was walking next to her, asked curiously.

“Amber, what did you buy?”

“Yes, a Sasquatch statue.”

“Really? “Show me too.”

Coral looked around at the statues I had purchased, and she looked happy.

I took it back from her and added her words.

“I’m sure the young lady will like it.”

“…”

She said that and turned to her side to ask for her sympathy.

“Really, Coral?”

But there was no Coral where I looked.

She stopped a few steps behind and was just looking at the floor.

“…”

“Coral? What’s the matter?”

When I called her with a puzzled expression, Coral was startled and ran to her side again.

“I’m sorry… ! “I guess I was dazed for a moment.”

“It’s a surprise. “You knew something had happened.”

“Ehehehehe. “I’m sorry for worrying you.”

She came close to me with her usual bright face.

“…Yes, Amber.”

“Huh?”

Coral, who had hesitated for some time, lowered her head and opened her mouth.

“Let’s just pretend the wish never happened.”

“What? But you won… ?”

“The fun I had with Amber today is enough.”

“…Really? If that’s the case with Coral… “

I shrugged my shoulders and said, and Coral gently grabbed my sleeve and pulled me.

“Let’s just go in.”

“Already? “I can still stay.”

The ticket Ruby handed her had 24 hours written on it.

I probably haven’t played even half of that time yet.

But Coral shook her head with a refreshed expression and said.

“No. Ruby will be worried too. “Let’s play around here.”

Was Coral tired? Well, her physical strength isn’t that good. Both of us.

As she returned to her academy, she continued to talk in a pleasant mood.

It’s nice to go out. I hope I can go out more often in the future.

***

All the customers in the cafe left, but there were still two people who remained.

Ruby and Amethyst had Jenga blocks piled up on the table and had no intention of getting up from their seats.

“With this, we have 32 wins and 31 losses. Are you slowly admitting defeat?”

“Not yet. Ruby. “Don’t you remember there was a draw in the middle once?”

The girls, who had obviously followed Amber and Coral to the cafe to keep an eye on them, had forgotten all about that and were engrossed in the confrontation.

While the girls were arguing, the store employee spoke with an embarrassed expression.

“Customers, it is now time to close the store… “

“”Oh, it will be over soon!””

“Hmm… All right… “

That day, the cafe recorded its longest operating hours since its opening.