A/N - I wrote this a while back when the anime was still airing, and I found it again after digging through my old stuff. Thought I might as well post it ^^
Also, the weird formatting here and there is the result of using shift+enter when writing on PC, and the normal enter when writing on tablet (it happens from chapter 6 onwards)


"Have you tried that yet?"

"Tried what?"

"That caFÉ!" I pulled up a brow at the strange noise as I turned around, seeing the girl on the ground.

"Cass…" I sighed as I offered my hand.

"It's not my fault… The road is uneven." She pouted as she took it and got back to her feet.

"Of course it is." I muttered as I looked at the road, it was as even as a road could possibly be. "What was that about a café?"

"I overheard the others talking about it. What was it called again…" She stared off into the distance as she tried to remember the name, then she shifted her gaze to the ground.

"Alright, can you describe it?"

"It's like a maid and butler café…"

"Meido no Hitsuji?" Her eyes lit up as she turned to me.

"You know it?" I shrugged.

"I walk past there almost every day on the way home, never actually went inside. Looked quite expensive."

"Well, that's what everyone thought. Then Toshiru went there once and she said it was delicious besides being surprisingly affordable."

'If she can afford it then anyone can, guess I had it wrong.' I thought as I counted the contents of my purse.

"Alright, Cass, you want to go? I'll treat you to something good." It'd been a while since I'd done something generous for anyone and if I'd do it for anyone then it'd be Cass and no one else.

"Really? You sure you can afford that?"

"Of course I can! I'm not poor or anything." That unwillingly came out on a sarcastic tone and I bit my lip, hoping she hadn't heard.

"Alright then, if it's okay with you." I let out an internal sigh of relief as I smiled.

"It is. Now, let's get going. Daylight's fading." She nodded and together we made our way over to the café.


It certainly did look fancy and I felt my breath stopping for a moment as I entered. It was just so classy. Not only was it classy, it was also rather busy and all the maids - I counted two - were rushing around and didn't have time for us. We stood for a few seconds before a butler came from behind the counter to greet us.

"Welcome, miladies. My apologies for taking so long."

"Oh, that's fine, it's busy after all." I said as I smiled.

"Well, I shall take you to your seats." He took a slightly bow before turning and walking off. I took a step forward, but Cass wasn't following. I could guess what was the matter and grabbed her arm, pulling her along. We sat down at a table in the corner and put our bags between our legs.

"Can I provide you with some refreshments, miladies?"

"That'd be nice. I'll have some water. Cass, what would you like?" Cass was staring at the guy with a form of amazement on her face that I'd never even seen before. I shoved her and she seemed to snap out of it.

"What?"

"What you'd like to drink."

"Oh, some Cola, p-please." The guy nodded and took off to get our drinks.

"That was way too obvious, even for you." I muttered as I sighed and took the menu.

"Didn't you see him? He's-"

"Just a guy." I interrupted. "Seriously though, try to be more polite." She nodded embarassed.

"I'm sorry..." Realizing I was probably ruining the mood, I playfully leaned against her, holding the menu in front of her eyes.

"What would you like? It all sounds delicious, doesn't it?"

"Sandwiches. That sounds really good." She smiled like a little kid, beaming with happiness once again.

"Alright and I'll go for the rice omelette." I nodded as I closed the menu and put it down, looking around the café once more. It was different from other maid café's I'd been to. The difference being the thing I'd stated so many times already.

"Here are your drinks." The butler returned with a tray balanced on his hand, on it were a bottle of Cola and a simple glass of water. He set them down in front of us and folded the tray under his arm.

"Have you decided on a meal, miladies?" I nodded and turned to Cass.

"The s-sandwiches, please." Her voice was but a whisper and I let out a sigh before I could hold it back. The butler simply nodded.

"I'll have the rice omelette please." He nodded again and took a small bow.

"I'll bring your meals shortly, miladies."

"Thanks." I said as I nodded and watched him take off.

"You're usually never this bad when it comes to guys." I muttered as I looked sideways to Cass.

"Sorry, it's just… his eyes. I think I'll ask him out." I nearly spat out the water I'd brought up to my lips. She wasn't the kind of person who would just do something like that, at all. I cleared my throat and recovered my calm.

"I don't think you should… He looks pretty popular, he probably has a girlfriend already."

"But what if he doesn't? Why do you always tell me what to do anyway?" She raised her voice slightly and I could feel eyes drilling into my back.

"I don't tell you what to do, I merely give you advice. It's up to you whether you want to follow it or not. Now please, keep your voice down." I said sternly, I then softened a little. "I'm only trying to help you, Cass, you know that too, right?" She nodded.

"I do, sorry, but I'm still going to try."

"Alright, but wait until we're done eating. I don't want to cause any trouble for the other customers."


Cass was well known for her outbursts so I was glad that I'd been able to prevent one. But I wasn't particularly pleased about her idea of confessing to this guy, this complete stranger. He wasn't so special or at least, he didn't seem so to me. But she seemed determined, so I had no choice but to go with it. We stood after we'd finished out meals and I went to pay the bill, Cass stood behind me and nervously fiddled with the fringes of her shirt. As I'd been told, it was surprisingly affordable. The café was almost completely empty now, so I figured it had to be near closing time. That was actually a good thing, as Cass insisted on waiting for that. We went outside and waited by the worker's entrance. Cass was standing in the halo of a street light while I stayed a little further behind, hidden in the shadows.


When the guy did finally come out, my heart dropped and all the bad things that could happen rushed into my head all at once. Bad things including her previous reaction to a rejection. She didn't talk or eat for three days before I finally got through to her. I let out a deep breath.

'No,' I thought, 'this is her choice. I'll have to keep out of it.' I thought as I stared at the two for a moment. Cass was stumbling, tripping over her words. The guy, however, had such a stoic expression on his face that he seemed almost alien.

"And I'm really sorry, but… I kind o- reall- like you." The last words came out as whispers.

"I'm sorry, but it's not mutual." I raised a brow. That was blunt. Cass nodded and turned to me, I could already see tears in her eyes. The guy's eyes followed hers and also landed on me. I came out of the shadows and sighed.

"I'll walk you home, Cass. Come on." I reached for her hand but she pulled back.

"I can walk home by myself, thanks. See you tomorrow." With her eyes to the ground, she walked away, I could hear from her footsteps that walking turned into running as soon as she'd turned the corner. She was the top runner in our class and I was the worst, so chasing her wouldn't make a difference. The guy, who was still standing around, looking somewhat like a lost puppy sighed.

"I'm sorry-"

"You have no reason to apologize." I interupted him. He seemed surprised. "Well, I told her not to. She just seemed so infatuated for some reason and I couldn't stop her." I turned to him and rubbed my eyes.

"Well, sorry for the trouble we've caused. I should get going."

"Oh, right…" He stared after me as I took off to the store. I was going to need some ice cream for tomorrow.


Almost immediately I realized that he was following and I halted, looking over my shoulders. He just kept on walking.

"Don't worry, I'm not following you or anything." He grinned as he walked past. "My house is this way."

"Hmm…" With squinted eyes I resumed my way. Now the roles had turned and he halted one moment, turning around to me. He stared at me for one minute straight and then frowned.

"What? Is there something on my face?" I asked as I wiped my cheek.

"It's not working."

"What is?"

"Nothing." He straightened his back and grinned. "Nothing at all."

'What's with the mysterious act? That's just plain weird…' I thought. Then I realized I still had to go to the store and quickly brushed past him.

"Sorry, have to go somewhere, no time." I said. Unfortunately for me, he was almost as fast as Cass and caught up to me in mere seconds. The store was in sight and I marched inside. When the doors closed behind me, a sense of safety returned.


When they opened again, however, that safety abandoned me without a second thought.

"Now it seems like you're following me…"

"Maybe I am. This is a rare night for me." I looked at the stars and shrugged.

"Seems like any other night to me." He looked up and nodded.

"Would you mind if I asked for your name?" That subject change wasn't very smooth and I grinned.

"I would." He eyed me closely, but then smiled before holding out his hand.

"I'm Ikki, nice to meet you …" I shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you." I simply answered before sighing. "I'm Alice." I decided that was enough information and continued my walk with a bag of ice cream buckets in my hand.

"Shall I carry that for you?" He sure was courteous. I stopped and sighed.

"Look, you just rejected my best friend. Are you just being nice or are you hitting on me?" I decided to straightforwardly ask him. I wasn't the type of person who grabbed any boy chance that appeared before me, especially if they had any relationship to my friends.

"What gives you the impression that I'm hitting on you?" I felt my face flush.

"No one's that kind to strangers." I said coolly.

"Really? Oh, my apologies then."

"Hmm."

"Though I never said I wasn't." A slightly evil smirk appeared on his face.

"So you were?"

"Maybe." I growled something and went on.

"So you live here." He said as he walked up the path behind me.

"Are you going to follow me inside or something?" I asked annoyed.

"Is that an invitation?"

"No! No, it is not!" I quickly said as I sifted through my bag in search of keys. Now I could even feel him breathing down my neck. I turned and pushed him away.

"No." I said as I gave him a stern look. He laughed and then turned, walking down the path and stopping when he was on the side walk again.

"It was nice meeting you. Maybe I'll see you again." He waved as he walked back into the direction we came from.

"Hey! You said you lived this way!"

"I guess I didn't." I had to try hard to be able to hear that and before I knew it he was out of sight.