The Sexiest Succubus Accidentally Went Crazy for a Cucked Guy-Chapter 65: The relief after letting go of an unbearable burden (1)
«Hey, where is your super-hot friend? You know, I just convinced the boss to make her an offer she absolutely won’t be able to refuse! I can’t wait to have her on board!» the maid café waitress asks Aoshi, Ayane, and Takuma with overwhelming enthusiasm — the very same waitress who, a few months earlier, had tried in every possible way to convince Eliss to work there. Ever since then, she had always seen the four of them come in together, and every single time she tried to recruit Eliss, never with any success. But the truth is, the job had very little to do with it — that waitress had fallen hopelessly in love with Eliss from the very first moment she laid eyes on her, and the idea of becoming colleagues had only been a pretext to spend as much time together as possible.
«She went back home — she was only here temporarily. So I’m sorry, but you can say goodbye to your super-hot little friend,» Ayane mutters, crossing her arms in annoyance — she still hasn’t gotten over how insistently that waitress had tried to get Eliss to join them, while she herself didn’t even get a job offer as the café’s cleaner. And yet, there is a clear hint of melancholy in her voice.
«Ugh — it’s not fair! Why didn’t you tell me earlier that it was only temporary?! I would’ve planned accordingly!» the waitress grumbles, far more offended than anyone would have expected — actually on the verge of tears.
«Let’s just say it was something that had to stay secret until the day she left. So secret that even she didn’t know...» Aoshi intervenes, showing a faint, bitter smile. «Anyway, what’s done is done, so there’s no point talking about it. I’d like a hot chocolate, so if you’d be so kind as to let us sit...» he adds, grumpy and with a slight rudeness that leaves both Ayane and the waitress bewildered — behavior completely unlike him.
«O-Of course, sorry... please follow me, masters...» the girl murmurs, forcing herself into the classic super-cheerful maid persona.
But just as they are about to reach the table...
DRIIING!
Takuma’s phone starts ringing — it’s a call from his mother.
«Hello, Mom, what is it?»
What follows is five uninterrupted minutes of his mother’s furious outbursts, shouted so loudly that even without speakerphone her deafening voice is perfectly audible to everyone around him. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
«You filthy, perverted maniac! I’ll show you exactly what happens to anyone who dares to play such disgusting things inside my house! I thought I was raising a man, not a degenerate who gets off pretending to do obscene things with little girls! Come home immediately. NOW!» his mother concludes, hanging up before Takuma can even reply.
Takuma has gone completely pale, while Aoshi and Ayane keep inching farther and farther away with each passing second, pretending they don’t know him.
«M-My mom’s knees are hurting and she needs me to help her carry the groceries upstairs. Sorry, but I have to run!» Takuma exclaims, already halfway out the door, sprinting faster than anyone has ever seen him — apparently unaware that his mother’s yelling could probably be heard on the other side of the world.
«O-Okay... see you tomorrow at school then...» Aoshi murmurs under his breath, even covering his mouth to make sure no one notices he’s actually talking to him.
Ayane, meanwhile, has absolutely no problem pretending he no longer exists.
«I don’t want to be rude, but that friend of yours is really strange...» the waitress murmurs as she accompanies Aoshi and Ayane to their table.
«Believe me, a lot of people think so...» Ayane comments. «But with all the girls working here, isn’t there seriously even one who might be interested in him? It’d be about time for him to start acting like a normal twenty-year-old instead of a twelve-year-old in full hormonal meltdown...»
«I doubt it. And even if there had been someone, after that little scene I think she’d have lost any interest...» the waitress replies. «Here’s your table, masters. Shall I bring you the usual?»
Aoshi and Ayane nod at the same time.
«Perfect, I’ll be right with you!» the waitress says with a radiant smile. But just before walking away...
«Excuse me,» Aoshi says, regretful. «I-I’m sorry for speaking to you so rudely — I shouldn’t have. It’s just... I’m not in a good mood today, that’s all...»
The maid gives him a warm, understanding smile.
«Don’t worry. I miss her a lot too, even though I only saw her once a week at most, so I can only imagine how much someone who lived with her every day must be missing her.» She lets out a melancholic smile. «She definitely wasn’t the kind of girl who went unnoticed, that’s for sure.»
Then the maid bows lightly before returning to her work, leaving Aoshi and Ayane alone at their table — a small private room reserved for them as regular customers. They hadn’t come this often before — Takuma had to insist endlessly to convince them to spend the afternoon there, and Ayane was absolutely against being seen in a place notoriously frequented by depraved otaku — but ever since Eliss first set foot inside and immediately took a liking to that waitress, even Eliss wanted to come back more and more often. It didn’t take long before that maid café became a regular hangout for them, and even Ayane eventually started enjoying the place.
«Not even when Miori left were you this down...» Ayane murmurs, taking the chair beside his.
«I-I’m not down — not as much as you think, at least. O-Of course I’m sad that Eliss isn’t here with us anymore, but even the waitress was, so I guess it’s normal that I am too... right?» Aoshi replies, absentmindedly playing with his teaspoon. «I got over my breakup with Miori, and I’ll get over Eliss leaving too. It’s only a matter of time. Besides, I don’t feel anything for her and I never have, so I’m sure that in a month I won’t even remember she ever existed. It’s like when you meet new friends on vacation — you feel a bit melancholic when it’s time to go home, but after a couple of weeks you don’t even remember their names.»
«Are you saying that to convince me or yourself?» Ayane asks calmly.
«I don’t have to convince anyone,» he replies. «I know what I feel, and if you’re convinced I’m madly in love with Eliss, I don’t know what to tell you — keep thinking that...»
Ayane lets out a long, resigned sigh. Then she looks straight into Aoshi’s eyes without saying a word.
«W-What is it, Ayane? You’re kinda creeping me out...» mutters Aoshi.
«You know, Aoshi... there’s something I’d like to show you,» Ayane says, her tone suddenly light and casual.
«What is it?» Aoshi asks, curious as he turns toward her.
«It’s... a surprise, let’s say. A-Anyway, close your eyes and don’t open them until I tell you to, understood? D-Don’t you dare peek — I swear I’ll punch you if I notice!» Ayane warns, tense, her voice slightly higher than usual.
«O-Okay, okay, don’t get worked up...» Aoshi grumbles, squeezing his eyes shut so tightly that not even the faintest trace of light could pass through. «Anyway, what—»
But Aoshi doesn’t get the chance to finish his sentence — Ayane’s lips press against his.
