"So what is the thing you wanted to talk about? " Haruto asked Yumi as she pulled him to a quiet street corner.

  "Why did you bother helping me out? I mean you have no benefit in helping me. Why did you bother taking a huge risk such as going against my dangerous father to help me out? " Yumi gazed at him with her sharp eyes as she maintained eye contact.

  "I...I didn't like the way they enforced how you behaved and micromanaged you. Seeing a stubborn girl like you getting pushed around just cause they are your parents and you owe them. Pissed me off " Haruto replied as he held her shoulders.

  "I-Idiot, you could have been beaten by my father, you know. You're fortunate he didn't take you seriously and let you off easily. You can be stupid at times." Yumi gred at him while whispering the st bit a slight blush on her face

  "I am touched by your concern. Let's say I saw myself in you and felt like and in that moment, I knew I had to step in. If I didn't, I might never see you again. " Haruto replied while touching her cheek with his left hand and caressing it.

  "You are weird, you know. Most boys would be scared and have been seven feet away when they saw how much bulk of a person my father is. " Yumi responded with her expression unreadable.

  "I am not like most boys" Haruto replied with a smug smile "But seriously, is it fine?" Haruto replied gazing at the bruise she had on her face.

  "I'm fine," Yumi cut him off, "It's nothing I can't handle." She replied as she brushed the purplish bruise mark on her face.

  Haruto raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't look like nothing. You were practically trembling pretty much back there."

  Yumi turned away, her fingers gripping the hem of her skirt tightly. "I don't need your pity, Haruto. I've dealt with worse than that."

  There was a pause before Haruto spoke again, his tone softer. "It's not pity, Yumi. It's just me being... concerned, I guess."

  She turned to face him, a faint smile on her lips. "You're really annoying, you know that?"

  Haruto shrugged casually. "Alright, so where do you want to go then? Got a safe spot in mind?"

  Yumi blinked, her lips parting as if to answer, but no words came out. A faint crease formed between her brows.

  "Thought so," Haruto smirked. "Why don't you come to my pce?"

  Her head snapped toward him quickly, her eyes narrowing. "Absolutely not."

  "Why not?" Haruto asked, crossing his arms. "I'm literally trying to help you."

  "Because!" she snapped, jabbing a finger toward him. "You've done enough for me, but I know how you are! A pyboy like you probably has all kinds of lewd intentions, expecting me to—"

  "Hold up." Haruto raised a hand, cutting her off. "Lewd intentions? Yumi, I'm not asking you to marry me. I'm saying you need a pce to crash, and mine's avaible. You'd be free to stay as long as you need."

  "Free?" Yumi scoffed, folding her arms. "You? Generous? That's a red fg if I've ever seen one."

  "I'm serious!" Haruto leaned forward, meeting her gaze head-on. "You'll have your space. No strings attached. Just until you figure things out."

  "No."

  "Why not?"

  "I said no!"

  Haruto sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Okay, look, this is the third time you've said no, but you still haven't given me an actual reason other than thinking I'm some perv."

  "You are 'some perv'!" Yumi shot his back, her cheeks tinged red from embarrassment.

  "Wow, thanks for the constructive argument." Haruto rolled his eyes, then sweetened his tone. "Seriously, Yumi. You're clearly in trouble. Your parents—"

  "Fine!" Yumi cut him off, throwing her hands up in frustration. "But let me make one thing clear—I won't get mushy-mushy with you as you expected, but I'm definitely keeping an eye on you."

  Haruto grinned. "What's this 'mushy-mushy' thing anyway? Sounds like you're the one imagining stuff."

  She gred at him, pointing accusingly. "See?! This is what I mean. You'll say or do something and act like it has nothing to do with you, I'll have to correct your vulgar behavior. You're impossible."

  "Gd you're already pnning to stick around me, I " Haruto teased, holding back a ugh.

  "Don't push it." Yumi huffed as she turned her head away.

  Haruto led Yumi toward his house, it was te afternoon. Yumi hesitated slightly at the threshold but followed as Haruto pushed the door open.

  "We're home!" Haruto called out casually, his voice echoing through the entrance.

  His mother, Miyako, appeared from the kitchen, she wore an apron that was neatly tied and had a warm smile on her face. "Welcome back, Haruto—" She paused, her gaze fell on Yumi mid-sentence. Her eyes widened slightly. "And who is this?"

  "She's staying here," Haruto said bluntly, shoving his hands into his pockets like a chill guy.

  Yumi immediately straightened, bowing politely. "Good evening, ma'am. I'm Yumi. I apologize for imposing, but I'll do my best to help you with household chores while I stay here."

  Miyako blinked, then crossed her arms with a bemused smile. "Haruto, didn't you already have Kei hanging around? And now you're bringing another girl home? What's this about?"

  Haruto shrugged nonchantly. "It's fine. Kei knows."

  Miyako's smile froze. "Oh, she knows, does she?" she said, her voice filled with sarcasm. "And she's okay with you bringing another girl to stay under the same roof?"

  Yumi cut in, her tone defensive. "Mrs. Miyako, it's not like that. Haruto was just... insistent for me to stay at his house, and I didn't exactly have much of a choice. I promise I will not bring you trouble"

  Haruto sighed as he expined the main point. "She needed a pce to stay. Her parents have disowned her, and—" He expined the entire situation in a straightforward tone.

  When he finished, Miyako looked at Yumi, her gaze softening. "I see. Well, you're welcome here to stay, Yumi. You don't need to worry about work, but I appreciate the offer."

  "Thank you, ma'am, I will compensate my stay with the inn work," Yumi said earnestly.

  Suddenly, Haruto's eyes lit up with an idea. Without a word, he turned and dashed upstairs.

  "Haruto! Don't just run off mid-conversation! That's improper." Miyako scolded, her voice sharp.

  Yumi blinked in surprise. "What's he doing now?"

  Moments ter, Haruto came bounding back down, holding a neatly sketched proposal in his hands. He gave it to his mother with a triumphant grin.

  "Check this out—a maid café!" he announced proudly. "Three workers, one owner, plus me. It's a goldmine waiting to happen."

  Miyako raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. "A maid café? You're serious about this right?"

  "Totally," Haruto said confidently.

  She picked up the papers and leafed through them, her lips twitching into an amused smile. "How do you even come up with this stuff? Let me guess—it's your otaku hobbies."

  "Not surprising," Yumi muttered, crossing her arms. "Still, as ridiculous as this is, Haruto's a decent guy... even if he does have some questionable tendencies. I can fix him."

  Miyako chuckled. "Fix him, huh? You might be the first girl besides Kei who isn't outright repulsed by his behavior. Alright, Yumi. You're welcome to help and join this madness."

  Haruto smirked. "See? It's genius."

  Yumi gave him a ft look. "You're impossible. Do you even have limits of lechery?"

  "I live with three attractive women," Haruto replied smugly. "What do you think?"

  Miyako shook her head with a creeping tone as tightened her fist. "You're lucky I am tolerant of you."

  Before anyone could reply, two figures came running into the room.

  "Business? Did someone mention business?" Aiko, Haruto's older sister, said with a grin while her long dark hair flowed freely down her back letting her smooth neck and tilted her head. She was a 21-year-old whom Haruto sees as a sexy elder sister. She wore a fitted bzer over a crisp blouse, tucked neatly into a sleek skirt.

  Rin, his younger sister, peeked over the table with wide, curious eyes. "Maid café? What's that?"

  Rin was a petite young girl, she wore a flowy dress that clung to her petite waist and fred out around her thighs. She has short, light brown hair, with her big, expressive eyes.

  "It's exactly what it sounds like," Haruto said, smirking.

  Aiko grabbed the papers and started examining them. "Interesting. Haruto, this idea is profitable. I am proud of you little bro" Aiko said as she nuzzled her face against her face as she patted his head.

  Rin tilted her head and excimed amused. "So... will we all get to wear cute maid outfits? I like this dress" Rin pointed it to the cssical maid dress #3 Haruto designed.

  Haruto's grin widened. "Now we're talking."

  "So... will we all get to wear cute maid outfits?" she asked, amusement in her tone. "I like this one."

  Haruto leaned in, grinning. "Great taste, Rin-chan. That's one of my favorites."

  Rin's finger trailed over the stockings drawn in the design. "But why do most of these have stockings? Is that really necessary?"

  Miyako gnced at the paper and replied with an unsettling smile on her face. "Because your brother likes it," she said sarcastically.

  Rin blinked, then giggled innocently. "Oh, I see."

  Aiko leaned over Haruto's shoulder, licking her lips. "Is that so, dear brother? Then I'll make sure to give you a full eye treat of me." She leaned in closer, whispering something in Haruto's ear with a sultry tone.

  Haruto's pushed her. " Don't mess around big sis!"

  Miyako smacked Aiko lightly on the arm as she resigned and scolded. "Stop teasing him! You're just encouraging his behavior. Honestly, no wonder Haruto's turned into such a perverted young man."

  Aiko leaned against the wall, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Sooo....What's the name of this cafe, Haruto?"

  Haruto smirked, leaning back on the wall with a dramatic pause. "I was thinking... Maidens' Sanctuary."

  Miyako raised her eyebrows, shocked and bewildered by the name. "I'm not even going to ask what it means. Just... no expnations needed, Haruto."

  Rin tilted her head, completely unbothered. "Ok."

  Aiko, however, wasn't about to let it slide. She grinned mischievously and leaned closer to Haruto. "Maidens' Sanctuary, huh? Sounds like someone's fantasy nd. You sure you aren't pnning to turn this into your personal harem cafe, dear brother?"

  Haruto rolled his eyes. "It's a catchy name! Besides, it's about creating a safe and comfy vibe for the customers, not whatever you're imagining."

  Aiko smirked, clearly unconvinced by his response. "Sure, sure. But don't worry. I'll help with the vibe... maybe grant you some special services. I will you give the nice and comfy feeling you like~ ." She gave a pyful wink.

  Miyako pinched the bridge of her nose. "Aiko, stop giving him ideas."

  Yumi groaned audibly, sighing "This is going to be a long stay..."