Chapter Eight: The Piano

It is often said that a person experiences three deaths in their lifetime: the moment they stop breathing, the funeral, and being forgotten. Yet just moments ago, Tokiko Kurorai felt a fourth kind of death with her own skin—social death.

What had started as a harmless purchase meant to inspire creativity and soothe her soul had unexpectedly been exposed today... Every time she recalled the incident, slumped atop the toilet seat in the bathroom, a murderous urge flashed through her eyes. But it was only a fleeting thought; after all, she couldn’t possibly kill someone just because they discovered a little secret of hers.

“Sigh, perhaps I ought to give it up from now on,” she murmured.

Tokiko Kurorai looked at the remote control she had snatched from Yusei Anwa, her cheeks flushing as memories of the earlier scene surfaced. Drawing a deep breath, she slowly slipped her hand beneath her maid’s skirt.

Meanwhile, in the changing room—

With Tokiko’s abrupt departure, the task of dressing Sawu Amamiya had fallen to Anwa alone. Fortunately, Tokiko had already changed Sawu’s clothes; only the buttons remained to be fastened. Even so, it took Anwa considerable effort, for Sawu’s chest was so ample that Anwa failed several times to button up.

Just then, the door swung open. Tokiko Kurorai entered, her face still flushed. Yusei Anwa glanced instinctively, and their eyes met—both faces tinged with unnatural colors, and in tacit agreement, they looked away without a word.

Tokiko was mortified; it was bad enough that a much younger junior had discovered her secret of playing a maid in a café, but to have them stumble upon that sort of thing...

He must think I’m a depraved woman...

Anxiety gnawed at her.

As for Anwa, he had no idea how to strike up a conversation—this situation was akin to being caught with glue by one’s mother in a previous life. The embarrassment was palpable. He would never have imagined that the dignified, gentle Madam Kurorai harbored such needs.

Just then, the narrator’s voice sounded in his mind.

[Looking at the anxious woman before you, your lips curl in a smile. A full plan has already formed in your mind.]

[Madam, you wouldn’t want to lose your job, would you? (crooked smile) Madam, you wouldn’t want your daughter to be disappointed in you, right? (wicked grin) Madam, my patience has limits~ (raised brow) Madam, you seem quite sensitive. (surprised) Madam, when was the last time? (curious) Madam, am I better than your husband? (puzzled) Thank you for the hospitality, Madam. (pulling up pants) Madam, I recorded this time. If you don’t want your daughter to know, please take good care of me next time~]

...

Anwa rubbed his forehead in exasperation, realizing his narrator had reached a new low.

Tokiko suddenly seemed to remember something. She slapped her forehead and bowed deeply to Anwa. “I’m terribly sorry, Anwa-kun. My daughter has just finished school—I must go home and prepare her dinner...”

She wore a troubled expression as she tugged at the hem of her maid’s dress.

Seeing this, Anwa glanced at her outfit and recalled the “hidden secret” prompt from the light screen. He asked tentatively, “Madam Kurorai, are you worried that picking up your daughter dressed as a maid might leave a bad impression?”

Tokiko blushed and nodded. Truthfully, she felt more ashamed than anything else—the image she presented to her daughter had always been that of a mature mother.

Noticing her expression, Anwa thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up. He slipped off his blazer-style school uniform jacket and handed it to Tokiko with a smile. “Why not wear this, Madam Kurorai? As long as your upper body is covered, no one will notice the maid uniform underneath.”

“This...” Tokiko hesitated, eyeing the proffered jacket. But remembering her daughter might still be waiting at school, she gritted her teeth, took the jacket, and thanked him. “Thank you, Anwa-kun.”

She slipped it on; it was a little loose, but buttoned up, it fit just right. With her clothing dilemma solved, Tokiko exchanged a few more words with Anwa before hastily leaving.

With Tokiko gone, Anwa felt it inappropriate to linger, so he carried Sawu Amamiya on his back and left the café.

He found a nearby clinic. Fortunately, the doctor’s examination revealed Sawu’s condition wasn’t serious. After two IV drips and some medication, she soon regained consciousness. Though still weak, it was mostly due to hunger.

By the time they left the clinic, it was around five in the afternoon.

Seeing Sawu Amamiya silent at his side, Anwa remembered she hadn’t eaten and suggested, “Let’s get something to eat. The snacks at that café looked pretty good.”

Sawu was quiet for a moment before nodding.

Anwa knew she wasn’t much for conversation, so he didn’t press further. They soon returned to the maid café, found a corner seat, and Anwa ordered seven or eight snacks before stopping.

After the maid waitress left, Anwa looked at Sawu across the table and asked softly, “How long has it been since you last ate?”

Sawu was staring absentmindedly at her thighs under the table. Hearing Anwa, she finally looked up, their gazes meeting.

After a moment, Sawu looked away and explained quietly, “I spent all my money yesterday afternoon.”

“How did you get to school today, then?”

“I walked.”

...

The brief exchange left Anwa silent. He wanted to ask why she hadn’t told him, but swallowed the words.

Such a strong-willed character.

He sighed internally, noticing the wet clothes he’d changed out from Sawu. He shifted the topic. “How did your clothes get wet?”

This time, Sawu didn’t answer immediately. She was silent for over half a minute—just as Anwa thought she wouldn’t reply, she spoke.

“Because I was late, I was punished to clean the swimming pool. Then someone pushed me in.”

Anwa raised his brows, his hand unconsciously tightening, but he kept calm and asked, “Was it on purpose or by accident?”

Sawu didn’t answer again, and Anwa didn’t press further.

He already had his answer.

It seemed necessary to find out more about Sawu’s situation at school.

Just then, a maid waitress pushed a cart over.

Anwa stood up and placed plate after plate of snacks, along with a cup of hot milk, in front of Sawu. He kept a cup of ice cream for himself.

Seeing Sawu glance over, Anwa quickly shielded the ice cream and smiled, “You’re still running a fever, so you can’t have this.”

Before Sawu could react, the maid waitress chuckled aloud.

Noticing their stares, the maid quickly stifled her laughter and coughed. “Sorry, Miss, your boyfriend is just too cute.”

She winked at Sawu, then turned and pushed the cart away.

Suddenly praised as cute, Anwa felt a little embarrassed. But just then, crisp piano notes rang out from the center of the hall.

Anwa turned his head and saw a maid playing the café’s piano. He couldn’t help but smile.

He had studied piano for several years in this life. According to the light screen’s assessment, his skill was at a proficient level. If not for the dramatic changes in his family, he might have taken the path of a literary plagiarist.

Shaking his head, Anwa refocused and looked at Sawu—only to find, to his surprise, that the usually indifferent Sawu was staring intently at the piano.

He raised his brows, curious. “Do you play piano?”

His question brought Sawu back to herself. She withdrew her gaze and looked at the steaming pizza before her, eyes dim, and shook her head.

“There’s one at home, but I’ve never touched it.”

Anwa raised his brows, glancing between Sawu and the piano a few times, then suddenly stood and walked toward the instrument.

Sawu watched as Yusei Anwa approached the piano, spoke to the maid polishing it, and soon after, the maid nodded and stepped aside. Anwa sat before the piano.

Does he know how to play? Sawu wondered. The next instant, clear and pleasant notes rang out.

The music was joyful, as if one were standing at a window on a spring morning—breeze stirring, wind chimes tinkling, sunlight warming the face and driving away all shadows.