Chapter Text
(Art: “Neko Maid,” by Mai-Sensei)
This is a side story for “My Girlfriend Almost Got Me Killed, so We had Wild Sex.”
“I wonder what she sees? It would surprise us, I bet,” Miyazaki-sama said to Kao.
I wouldn’t have noticed the comment except she reached down and ruffled my hair, waking me from my drowsy stupor. I was half watching the anime they had put on and half watching the two lovebirds snuggling. — They are so sweet. Nothing like my sister or Tanya with their partners.
“You could ask her,” Kao replied. “She’s such a voyeur. I bet she pays a lot of attention.”
I stirred, considering dashing into the kitchen, but I was so comfortable nestled at their feet that I couldn’t be bothered. Besides, I wanted to know what they were talking about.
“Kan-chan,” Miyazaki said, addressing me, “I would love to know how Kao and I look to you. You are always watching, so I bet you have some fascinating stories. Like when Kao and I first met, or the day we went clothes shopping.”
Kao giggled and added, “I bet the evening we went to the Sappoo’s would be spicy. Just the kind of thing that turns this one on.” As she finished, she nuzzled Miyazaki’s neck and Miyazaki blushed a delightful salmon pink. They are such cute and incorrigible perverts.
Pushing Kao away, Miyazaki continued, “Maybe you could save that one. But I would love to know how I looked the night I met Kao. Be honest, I know I must have looked silly and naïve.”
Talk about being on the spot. I’m not much of a talker, but I had agreed to do what Miyazaki-sama said.
“Could I write it down, like a story?” I asked. That would be much less embarrassing and I am much better at writing than speaking.
“That would be wonderful!” Miyazaki said. “Start with that first night and don’t hold back.”
Next to her, Kao nodded vigorously. It looked like I had no choice. If it would make my mistress and my “sister” happy, I would try it.
The next day, when the two were at school, I poured myself some Satsuma imo shochu. I planned to just sip it to encourage myself, so I selected the best thing on the shelf.
Chewing on my pen, I thought about how honest to be and decided to not worry about it. I had already told them what I thought about them, both the good and the bad. Mostly good, I love them in my own way.
But it didn’t start like that. I hardly paid Miyazaki Shirohime any attention when we first met. She was sitting with a group of girls in the university cafeteria. They all seemed like a bunch of insipid goody two-shoes. I couldn’t imagine why Tanya-chan, the leader of our clique, sat down with them. The bland cafeteria curry was more interesting than their petty problems.
I had tuned out the group and hardly heard Miyazaki say, “I feel bad. Tomorrow is my birthday, and I don’t have anyone but family to celebrate with.”
I couldn’t have cared less. It was hot and the chatter of the students in the room irritated me. Why was Tanya even wasting her time on these preppy girls? They certainly weren’t her type.
That’s why it surprised me when Tanya said in her faintly accented Japanese, “Miyazaki-chan, why not join me and my friends tomorrow? They would love to meet you, and it will be a lot of fun. I KNOW you’ll like where we’re going.”
(Art: “Tanya-chan ( タニヤ ),” by Mai-sensei)
That sparked my interest in Miyazaki. I wondered if she was just a target of opportunity or if Tanya had detected something I hadn’t. Miyazaki was an attractive woman. Some might have said cute, but not in a bunny rabbit-type way. More like a stylish office lady. No one was going to mistake her for a gyaru or delinquent. I vaguely remember seeing her name on the dean’s list or something similar, indicating she was an outstanding student.
It didn’t surprise me to hear her ask suspiciously, “Where is that?”
Tanya evaded the question, saying, “It’s a surprise, a birthday surprise. It’s your 20th birthday party, so bring your ID.”
Tanya was good at this game. With her platinum blonde hair, she made me think of a lioness waiting to pull down a timid gazelle. If Tanya could bring Miyazaki down, she would be a prize trophy.
I appraised Miyazaki again. I still didn’t see quite what Tanya saw in her, but I trusted Tanya’s judgment. If she thought Miyazaki was worthwhile prey, then I was sure she was right. That was part of why I liked Tanya. There was always a fascinating show when she found someone new. That was important to a voyeur like me.
It disappointed me when Miyazaki responded, “Sure, why not?” I had hoped for a little more resistance. Maybe Miyazaki was just book-smart. That would be slightly disappointing.
Regardless, I now had something to look forward to. I mentally echoed Tanya’s reply, “You’re going to have so much fun!” and mentally added, “This will be interesting.”
The show began for me the next night when six of us approached Sappoo’s. I flanked Miyazaki in my role as Tanya’s wing girl. The three other girls with us eyed Miyazaki with interest but didn’t get too close. Tanya wouldn’t like it if they did.
Miyazaki Shirohime looked up at the club sign, “Sappoo’s,” and hesitated.
“You didn’t forget your ID?” Tanya asked. In response, Miyazaki fumbled in her purse for hers. The poor girl had no idea what she had let herself in for. It looked like she had never been in a club before and definitely never one like Sappoo’s. I bet she hadn’t even had a drink before. I could imagine her lecturing a kouhai about underage drinking.
My guess was right because as soon as we entered Miyazaki squawked, “This is a maid café!” What I wouldn’t have given to see her face. I bet she was turning beet red and Tanya would be eating it up.
I could hear the amusement in Tanya’s voice as she replied, “Isn’t it wonderful, Senpai? And it’s not just any maid café, it’s a maid café for women!”
Adjusting my view, I could see Miyazaki hesitate just inside the door. She scanned the room, her eyes lingered briefly on the couples and especially on a flamboyant guest who had her girl sitting on the floor, collared and leashed. — Sappoo’s was that kind of place. — I wished there was more light so I could see her reaction. Was there horror and scorn in her eyes? Amusement? Or just embarrassment?
This was the moment of truth. Our good girl might balk, but if she didn’t, the odds were she would go home with Tanya. I felt sorry for Miyazaki. I always felt sorry for the girls Tanya picked up, but not enough to intervene. The show was too interesting. Besides, Miyazaki was probably the type that would prattle on and on about love and marriage. She would find it incomprehensible that anyone would find those subjects utterly boring. Why should I care about her?
I almost wished Miyazaki would hesitate. I loved it when Tanya had to turn on her charisma. She could charm a snake. But Miyazaki followed docilely. Tanya had a good eye for docile women who secretly dreamed of adventure. So far, Miyazaki had been docile enough, but I hadn’t seen the second trait. This one might be a catch-and-release type.
Tanya wasn’t taking any chances though and took the girl’s arm and reassured her. “Don’t look so nervous, Shiro-chan! There’s nothing to worry about. We do this at home all the time. You Japanese are so uptight!”
For a moment, it looked like Tanya had overplayed her hand because a look of displeasure crossed Miyazaki’s face, but she didn’t shake Tanya’s hand off.
I was secretly pleased that I might have been wrong. There was enough friction between the two that tonight might be fun.
Tanya found a corner table and directed Miyazaki to a seat, which she took obediently. She might turn into a keeper after all. She had lots of subby energy and Tanya favored submissive women. But there was enough friction that she would be challenging to land.
I fit Tanya’s profile and was happy I had found her. She provided me with lots of entertainment as long as I did what I was told. Which was a fair exchange. Left to my own devices, I would have sat in a corner and worried about what people thought of me. I’m a voyeur, in every sense of the word. I love watching, not doing.
Tonight, my job was to make sure no one interfered with Tanya’s sport. At the moment, that meant sitting on one side of Miyazaki and preventing anyone from taking that seat. I would have to move later, but for now, that was my place.
As I sat, Tanya took the seat on the other side and announced, “It’s Shiro-senpai’s birthday, so let’s all show her a good time. She’s not allowed to buy her drinks tonight. That’s on us.”
She turned to Miyazaki and continued, “You’re such a good girl. I bet you’ve never had a proper drink. So it should be something sweet, something with lots of fruit juice, and cute. A Singapore Sling is just the thing. It’s so cute with the little umbrella. You’ll like it, Senpai.”
Tanya-chan waved to a waitress dressed in an elaborate maid’s outfit with a black corset, lots of white ruffles, and a felt top hat with various interesting things pinned to it. Tanya placed the order for a Singapore Sling and red wine for herself. Miyazaki, the silly goose, didn’t protest. Instead, she was looking at the other customers with a look of fascinated wonder. Tanya would soon have her drunk and pliable.
While we waited, I sipped on my shochu rokku, looked around, and spotted a few regulars, including Kaori-san. Tanya didn’t like her. She had laughed at Tanya after they had slept together. Tanya should have known better. Kaori never slept with the same woman twice.
I wished I dared talk to Kaori. She looked like the kind of person who wouldn’t judge me and would be interesting to be around. She had a reputation at the college as being weird and a little spooky. Which was alright with me. But what would I say? And if I figured out what to say, she would turn me down, anyway. She was classy.
Too classy for me. She was tall and elegant with long black hair tinted lavender at the tips. She dressed well, always in black, or maybe with some red. Tonight she was wearing something that didn’t suit her, too severe. She looked best in floaty things, like a kimono.
The last problem was that if she actually showed interest in me, things would get messy. I had no interest in sex. I just don’t and that was clearly why she came here. Her aim was to get picked up, and she didn’t seem choosy about whom she went home with.
She usually sat and drank until someone new hit on her. She would decide if she was interested, and that was that. But tonight she kept looking over at our table. “Looking over” was an understatement. She was watching our group intently. I hoped she would tangle with Tanya. That would be interesting, and I would secretly root for Kaori. That would be out of character, though. Kaori was a neko, a total bottom.
Back at our table, Miyazaki, encouraged by Tanya, was drinking too fast. That was a standard tactic in Tanya’s playbook; take advantage of them when their resistance was down and then play on their guilt the next day. The world wasn’t a safe place; it was filled with people like Tanya. That was why I watched. It’s harder to get hurt that way.
That I was sympathizing with Miyazaki surprised me. She seemed like a nice girl. She didn’t have that snarky attitude lots of the women have when they realize they are in a lesbian bar. There was something else in her eyes, a sparkle, a gleam, like she was having a revelation. Her eyes lingered too long on the various couples, but wasn’t rude.
In the meantime, Tanya was moving in on her and had taken her hand. Wow, Miyazaki actually flinched at the contact. Tanya would pay her back for that. Not now, but tomorrow.
I heard Tanya say, “You’re one of us, aren’t you? No fuss about an all-girls’ club, and you liked the show.” I bet her hand was on Miyazaki’s knee. Which meant it was time for me to find a new place to sit. Preferably where I could still watch.
As I stood, I glanced over at Kaori-san’s table. She was still nursing her first drink. By now, she was usually half hammered. Instead, she was intently watching our table. As I moved away, she got up, walked over, and sat down in the chair I had vacated.
I strained to hear what she was saying. The noisy club made hearing hard, but what I made out was, “Excuse me... rude to just invite myself… looked… needed a little help.”
I edged closer to hear the rest of what Kaori said and heard, “Is she bothering you? I saw her trying to get you drunk.”
“Oh, my God,” I thought. “This is going to be so much fun!”
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Story by Nara Moore
Twitter/X:@nara_moore
Mastodon: sakurajima.moe
WordPress: Josei Yuri and Paranormal Romance
Art by Mai-sensei
Twitter: @Maiisheree