"Are you feeling restless?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"Written all over your face, like it was drawn with an oil-based pen."
"You're joking, right?"
"Yes, I'm joking."
Heh.
Gouji-kun, who had been fidgety the whole time, finally cracked a smile.
His restlessness had been palpable since he sat down on the sofa. His back was hunched, his forehead creased, and he kept glancing around the room before snapping back to reality and staring blankly at the TV. Not that I minded being observed, exactly.
But his unease might be understandable. This was his first time here, and he'd mentioned it was his first time visiting a girl's home.
Maybe he's an "inner beauty" type? Ever since arriving at my place—this "kingdom" I rule alone, or in simpler terms, my one-person apartment—he's been acting like this.
"To be honest, I can't relax. It's bigger than I expected, and... well... it just looks expensive. The rent, I mean."
"It's not a big deal. I can afford it."
"...Can I ask... where does your income come from?"
The awkward look on his face—oh, so that's what he's doubting.
He must have realized I'm not working part-time, given how often I stay over. It's only natural to be curious.
"Of course, I'm not selling my body. I'm flipping real estate."
"...Really?"
"Of course not. I'm actually day trading stocks."
"Seriously?"
"Who knows?"
I wonder if his doubt stems from concern or from a possessive desire to have me all to himself. Either way, it doesn't bother me.
This is the first time I've invited someone outside my immediate family home, so I was worried Gouji-kun might feel out of place. But that seems to have been unfounded. We're both in a peaceful mood, and our conversation flows as smoothly as always.
I was the one who invited him over. Always going to Gouji-kun's place was getting tedious, and I didn't want to keep burdening him—mostly with the laundry, especially the sheets. Besides, now that Kotoha and he have become so close, I wanted to try a slightly different approach. The timing worked out perfectly. Another reason was that I could expand our usual repertoire even more here.
There's no day I'm more grateful for leaving home than today. Though to be honest, I moved out under the guise of "learning about the world" because I realized Kotoha in the next room could hear me masturbating.
"This is a nice place. It's... I don't know... consistent, I guess? Like, there's a clear concept or hobby running through everything."
"Thank you. I like it myself."
I take another look around my room.
The furniture, appliances, and even the floor mats are all in a black-and-white two-tone scheme.
There are no decorations, yet the space doesn't feel empty. Instead, the functional beauty is soothing.
It's not that I avoid bright colors; I just never seemed to be good at working with them.
Since I don't entertain guests—Kotoha occasionally comes over to play—this simple, uncluttered style is perfect.
After all, simplicity is best. I want to strip away all the unnecessary frills and get straight to the point, as much as possible. That applies to human relationships too.
Everyone who tries to get close to me is so roundabout it's irritating. I'm not exactly the friendliest person, so anyone who approaches me is clearly looking at me with a certain... interest. They might say they're "just friends" or whatever, but in the end, it always comes down to sex. Yet they all insist on this tedious "let's be friends first" nonsense. Ugh, it's so annoying.
It's true that I'm probably more promiscuous than most girls my age. I'm certainly interested in sex. And I can't deny that once I discovered it, I became addicted.
But I'm not so cheap that I'd give my body to someone I barely know.
That said, I'm not willing to waste time getting to know someone either. Socializing is such a bother. Spending time to build a connection, only to discover at the crucial moment that they're actually a masochist? That's a dealbreaker.
If you like my face, if you like my body, just be honest and ask for it. If you tell me right from the start that your ultimate goal is sex, I can reject you immediately, and establishing a relationship where we never have to interact again would take less than ten seconds.
The relationship between me and anyone who approaches me is doomed from the start.
That's why human relationships are pointless, pointless, pointless, pointless—pointless. I don't want to waste my time or emotions on connections that are doomed to fail. "Life is short, oh maidens, fall in love"—the fact that time is limited has been sung about since ancient times, and I'm sure people have known it for far longer still.
"So, should I ignore that mechanical kokeshi over there?"
"You can touch it. Not just talk about it, but actually handle it."
Huh? I followed his pointing finger to the TV cabinet and saw my vibrator casually placed there. I must have forgotten to put it away.
I'd thought that having him find it himself would be more exciting than having it suddenly thrust under his nose. I figured it would flip the "Master" switch in his head or something. So I'd cleared away most of the other toys.
Instead, Gouji-Kun simply picked it up and began examining it from all angles with keen interest. It was the same look he gets when he's hunting for material as a writer.
"...Heh."
His earnest expression made me smile in spite of myself.
Human relationships are nothing but trouble, so I've always tried to avoid forming connections with others. But my relationship with Gouji-kun is far more pleasant than I ever expected.
I chose him as the one to fulfill my desires—to have sex with me, to utterly ravish me. I'm aware that this relationship was, to some extent, forcibly constructed. Yet despite that, I never imagined it would be so rewarding.
I deeply respect his passion—his obsession, if you will. The raw desire driving his work is nothing but the naked wish: "I want to hold Tsurugi Shino, to defile her." If he didn't feel that way down to his core, he wouldn't have written an erotic novel about a classmate he barely knew.
By releasing his desires about me in that form, he clearly had no intention of expressing them directly to me. But that's precisely what drew me to him.
I want to avoid troublesome relationships as much as possible. But I can't suppress my interest in sex. In that case, I have to find someone whose sexual fetishes align with mine from the start.
He approaches me with sexual desire, but without any annoying clinginess. And when it comes to what I value most—the compatibility of our sexual fetishes—there's no doubt about it if you've read what he's written.
The only question remains: Is he someone I can trust with my body?
So I... observed him for a while.
In class, on posting sites, on social media. Well, now that I think about it, that was probably going too far. It's the kind of creepy, stalkerish behavior that would understandably be seen as gross, so I haven't told him about it.
Anyway, after getting to know him one-sidedly, I decided he was fine, so I built a relationship with him.
I summoned him with a letter and allowed him to hold me.
My only concern was whether he would act all lovey-dovey and annoyingly clingy after we became intimate, but that proved to be a non-issue. In fact, when we're not together, he seems intent on maintaining our previous distant, almost stranger-like relationship.
Feeling indignant about him pretending nothing happened after sex, I ended up being the one initiating public interactions. It's so unexpected that I almost laugh, even though it's my own situation. Perhaps I'm more suited to being the pursuer, the hunter, rather than the pursued, the prey. I always thought of myself as a masochist, so I believed being passive would be more natural for me—
My relationship with Gouji-kun is all about give-and-take. It's purely based on shared interests, so there's no need to be on edge or worry about each other's feelings. I'd completely forgotten how effortless and enjoyable it is to just be myself without having to think.
The comfort of this relationship is unmatched by any other.
So, as usual, I invite him to bed tonight.
Good sex fueled by compatible fetishes and a comfortable relationship.
That's all I need.
"Gouji-kun."
"Hmm? What is it... What's that?"
Still fascinated by the vibrator, Gouji-kun turns around, confused, when I call out from behind.
He repeats himself, bewildered, likely because I've finished changing.
While he was preoccupied with my toy, I'd been lost in thought, changing into this outfit.
"What... what are you wearing?"
"A maid outfit. Don't you see the white brim and apron?"
"You really should apologize to all the maids in Japan."
I haven't done anything wrong or rude, so I won't be apologizing this time.
The two symbols of a maid are the white brim and apron. I believe that with those two elements, one can be considered a proper maid. Even if that's all they're wearing—no, not that I'm only wearing those, exactly.
I am Gouji-kun's (Master's) female servant. And since that's the case, I have no intention of breaking that image. The frilly white brim on my head and the apron with its large, gaping neckline that reveals my cleavage. I've met the absolute minimum requirements. The apron is tied loosely, so I'm trembling with the thrill of wondering if it might slip and reveal too much when I move. I'm sure I've succeeded brilliantly in that regard.
The socks and gloves are long, reaching just below the elbows and knees, exuding a fetishistic vibe while also emphasizing that I'm not casually or sloppily removing them.
The accessories include a small dog tail sprouting from my lower back. As an additional detail, the White Brim headpiece, when combined with the tail, features dog ears.
This is everything I'm wearing now. Even though I've added more pure white elements to meet the minimum maid requirements, what exactly is Gouji-kun complaining about? It's true that there are un-maid-like elements, but I should still be a perfectly fine maid, right?
"...A naked apron, dog-eared maid?"
"Exactly! I think it's straightforward and easy to understand."
Simplicity is best. It seems our tastes really do align.
"...Why a dog?"
"I was a little torn between a cat and a dog, but in the end, dogs are just so loyal. They seem perfectly compatible with maids."
"...Why are you wearing a bare apron?"
"Dogs don't wear clothes. It's the result of balancing the maid and dog elements."
"Give me your paw."
"Woof woof!"
The moment I placed my curled hand on the palm he offered, I was a little startled by the cloying sweetness of the bark that escaped my lips.
Does this mean my heart, my instincts, are drawn to him more than I realized? As this question crossed my mind, Gouji-kun remained silent, staring intently at my hand.
His gaze, intense and predatory, was the same look he gets in his eyes when he devours me. Those sharp, glinting eyes made me imagine what was about to happen to my body.
"...Gouji-kun?"
"Ah, sorry. Your grip is so strong, it made me tense up a bit."
After being silently ignored, I finally called his name, but it seemed he was still in a daze. If that's the case, one last push should do it.
I blew into his ear and whispered:
"...Master. Shino is your female canine servant. Whatever your command, I will obey, no matter the content."
"Sit."
"Yip!"
Instant command, instant response. The moment I finished speaking, he gave me the order, and before I could even process it, my body moved instinctively.
Like a proper dog, I tucked my elbows, curled my wrists, bent my knees, and lowered my hips into a tiptoe stance—the martial arts posture known as sonkyo. Though, to be honest, I'm more familiar with this humiliating position from certain... intimate scenarios.
As I recognize my current state, a pleasant sensation runs down my spine.
The way I'm dressed right now... it's all I can think about—how to flatter Gouji-kun, my Master. I'm just a loose-minded woman who can only think about stimulating his cock with erotic cosplay and getting fucked. A female servant, trained to move her body automatically at Master's word—a bitch.
Already... I'm sure... I can never escape him.