My Boss, A Clear And Perfect Beauty Who's An Elite Police Bureaucrat, Turns Out To Be My Sweet And Doting Childhood Friend Who Loves Me Dearly At Home. - Chapter 16

An Ordinary Morning

That day, Shinichi had a dream about the past.

It was about the day he and Maho entered the same high school.

In front of the school gates, walking down the road lined with cherry trees, the two of them walked together.

Maho, dressed in her navy blazer uniform, turned around with a flourish and then, clasping her hands behind her back, gazed at Shinichi.

“Hey, hey…”

Maho’s face turned a little red with expectation.

Shinichi understood what she wanted to ask.

“The high school uniform suits you.”

Maho’s face lit up instantly.

“Does that mean you think I’m cute?”

“Well, yeah. Maybe so.”

“Ah, Shinichi, are you blushing?”

“I’m not blushing.”

“Shinichi, you look cool when you say that, you know?”

Maho smiled.

“Thank you for that.”

Shinichi felt his cheeks growing hot. Back then, he was faintly aware of his affection for Maho.

To Shinichi, Maho was more than just a childhood friend.

But he couldn’t take the next step. It was because Shinichi lacked the courage and confidence.

His vision darkened, and in the midst of a downpour, Shinichi stood frozen.

Before him stood a young girl who looked just like Maho, wearing a fluffy, girly dress, but it was torn and tattered.

She glared at Shinichi with cold eyes.

“Why didn’t you save me, Shinichi-nii?”

“Rikako…”

Maho’s sister, Rikako. The one existence Shinichi hadn’t been able to save.

That incident tore apart Shinichi, Maho, and Rikako.

Shinichi tried to speak to Rikako…

And then he woke up.

Soft bedding and blankets. Sunlight streaming through the window.

The clock showed half-past seven. A peaceful and ordinary morning of a holiday.

However, being in a childhood friend’s house, a woman’s at that, was not ordinary.

Fortunately, he had some spare clothes for night shifts, so changing wasn’t an issue. Hence, he had borrowed a shower and a bed.

As he got up, a pleasant aroma wafted through the air. Could it be breakfast…?

When Shinichi got up and went to the living room, he saw Maho standing with her back to him in the kitchen.

She was wearing a pink nightgown with a navy apron over the top. It seemed she was indeed preparing breakfast.

Noticing Shinichi, Maho turned around with a twirl.

And then, she chuckled.

“Good morning, Shinichi.”

“Ah, good morning.”

“You seemed tired, but are you sure you didn’t want to sleep a little longer?”

“I can’t oversleep when the host is already awake.”

“Really? Well, I was actually about to wake you up soon anyway.”

Maho came over and placed a cup, then poured some tea into it.

She had apparently prepared it especially for him.

“Ah, thank you…”

“I’ve also prepared breakfast, so look forward to it.”

“I feel bad having you do all this for me.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m doing it because I want to, and besides, I was the one who insisted on keeping you at my place.”

“Should I help with anything for breakfast…?”

“It’s fine. I’m not doing anything that takes too much effort. Just relax. Feel free to read any books on the bookshelf or watch TV.”

Maho chuckled again and went back to the kitchen.

Even when told to make himself at home, he was unfamiliar with the routines of someone else’s house — especially a woman’s. He felt the need to be reserved.

Though, if he were to say that to Maho, she would probably retort with,

“We’re not strangers, we’re childhood friends, right?”