"Maki-nee, your pajamas aren't properly worn!"
Taki's eyes widened, also noticing her older sister's exposure, and quickly spoke up to remind her.
"Huh?"
Shiina Maki looked down in confusion, and upon seeing the open collar of her pajamas, her pretty face quickly flushed red.
"Ah—!"
Shiina Maki let out a soft cry of shame, quickly raising her arms to cover her chest:
"I-I'll change first!"
Bang.
The door quickly closed.
"Maki-nee is really too absent-minded..."
Taki sighed helplessly, then turned her head and glared at Kitahara Makoto.
Kitahara Makoto closed his eyes:
"I didn't see anything."
Taki: "...It's too late to close your eyes now!"
A moment later.
The door quietly opened.
Shiina Maki, her face red, whispered:
"It's fine now... you can come in."
Kitahara Makoto followed Taki into Shiina Maki's room and found that the room's style was even cuter, looking less like a university student's room and more like a middle schooler's.
However, the curtains were tightly drawn, not letting in a single ray of light.
"Taki and Kitahara-kun, is there something you need from me?"
Shiina Maki asked curiously.
"That…"
A hint of hesitation appeared on Taki's face.
Should she say that she had secretly snuck in just now without her clothes on?
This was bad.
It was really too bad.
Even if Maki-nee didn't mind, it was still super embarrassing!
"Meow?"
Shiina Maki blinked her eyes. Seeing Taki clutching her stomach with a troubled expression, a look of sudden understanding quickly appeared on her pretty face:
"So that's it… You two are really too careless!"
Hearing her sister's scolding tone, Taki looked up in confusion, asking:
"What is Maki-nee talking about?"
Shiina Maki extended a finger and pressed it to her brow, striking a pose like Detective Conan:
"Mom and Dad are both out at work. Taki and Kitahara-kun chose this time to visit… It's clear you have a secret that you can't let Mom and Dad know about, right?"
Wait, the one with secrets and worries is clearly you, Maki-nee!
Shiina Maki sighed lightly as she spoke:
"If you ask for my opinion… I suggest Taki takes a leave of absence from school."
"…Huh?!"
Taki's eyes widened instantly, and she asked incredulously:
"Why would I need to take a leave of absence from school?"
Even if Maki-nee was being harassed by a perverted stalker, she didn't need to take a leave of absence from school and hide at home, right?
Shiina Maki said earnestly:
"A baby is a gift from heaven. Since it's already here, you two must not harm her no matter what."
"Wait a minute." Taki quickly interrupted, feeling that something was increasingly off. "What baby?"
Shiina Maki sighed, her gaze dropping to Taki's lower abdomen:
"Since you two have come to me, you shouldn't hide it anymore."
Taki: "Maki-nee, what in the world are you talking about???"
"…"
Kitahara Makoto finally understood the cross-channel communication between the two sisters. He leaned into Taki's ear and whispered:
"Maki-nee must have misunderstood."
Taki asked in confusion:
"Misunderstood what?"
Kitahara Makoto whispered:
"Misunderstood that Taki is pregnant with my child."
"…Huh?!"
Taki's eyes suddenly widened, and her face rapidly flushed red at a visible speed.
"Maki-nee, don't just sit there overthinking things!"
"…"
The misunderstanding was finally cleared up.
"I'm sorry, I thought you two snuck over while Mom and Dad weren't home to ask for my opinion, so you must have encountered something unspeakable, and then Taki was clutching her stomach…"
Shiina Maki knelt on the floor, bowing her head in shame as she apologized.
"I'm sorry, Taki, I misunderstood you!"
Taki's face was beet red, partly from shame and partly from anger, and she couldn't help but say:
"Maki-nee, you should read fewer boring shojo manga in the future; your head is full of all sorts of nonsense! This guy and I are only fake dating, we haven't done that kind of thing, okay!"
"Eh?" Shiina Maki looked up in surprise, "What did Taki just say?"
"…"
Taki's gaze immediately drifted.
"You and Kitahara-kun are fake dating?" Shiina Maki's eyes quickly brightened, "I didn't mishear, did I?"
Seeing Taki turn her face away without speaking, Shiina Maki immediately confirmed the truth and said expectantly:
"Then can I be with Kitahara-kun…?"
"No!"
Taki's vigilance surged, and she quickly denied it.
Not to mention this guy has already kissed her, even if she wasn't dating him, she couldn't just stand by and watch her sister fall into a pit of fire!
This guy was a harem scumbag; he had enough girls to play two tables of mahjong!
Kitahara Makoto reminded her:
"Taki, let's talk about the main business first."
"Hoo…"
Taki exhaled lightly, her expression quickly becoming serious:
"Maki-nee, what's with that package?"
"Eh?"
A hint of panic appeared on Shiina Maki's face, and she lowered her head, whispering:
"That… is a gift from a friend…"
Taki crossed her arms and said:
"Maki-nee considers a perverted stalker a friend?"
Shiina Maki looked up in surprise:
"How did Taki know?"
"Because…"
Taki gritted her teeth and revealed the truth about how she had snuck in earlier.
Although it was embarrassing, compared to her sister's safety, that bit of shame was completely insignificant.
"…That's how it happened."
Taki straightened her face, her gaze sweeping across the room, and said seriously:
"Maki-nee, you won't say anything, are you planning to let that perverted scumbag threaten you?"
Shiina Maki lowered her head, a wronged expression on her face:
"Calling the police is useless; at most, they'll arrest him and hold him for a few days… What if that guy retaliates after he gets out?"
"I can not care, but I absolutely don't want Mom and Dad or Taki to get hurt."
"And it's just clothes I've worn… just bear with it and it'll be over…"
Kitahara Makoto shook his head and said:
"With all due respect, if Maki-nee chooses to compromise, then it won't be the end, but the beginning of a nightmare."
"Normal fans wouldn't stalk their favorite idol and even send threatening letters. Clearly, the other party is a pervert with a twisted personality and won't be easily satisfied. The more Maki-nee tolerates, the more the other party will escalate, breaking Maki-nee's bottom line step by step."
"Today he demands Maki-nee's worn cosplay uniform, and after Maki-nee agrees, tomorrow he will ask you to go out to dinner with him."
"The day after tomorrow, he'll ask Maki-nee to date him, and finally, to have his children…"
Hearing the terrifying future Kitahara Makoto outlined, Shiina Maki's pretty face quickly turned pale:
"No!"
"That kind of thing… absolutely not!"
"Don't be afraid, Maki-nee." Taki held her sister's hands, comforting her softly, "Calling the police might be useless, but we can rely on Kitahara-kun… He's very capable."
Putting aside his identity as a harem scumbag, Kitahara Makoto indeed gave people a strong sense of security.
"That's right, just leave it to me, Maki-nee." Kitahara Makoto's tone was calm, "A perverted stalker can't possibly be more dangerous than the monster in the stadium."
Recalling Kitahara Makoto's heroic demeanor in the stadium, Shiina Maki's heart quietly settled. She bowed gratefully and said earnestly:
"I'll leave it to Kitahara-kun. If you can keep that person from harming Mom and Dad and Taki, I'll do anything."
Kitahara Makoto's eyes lit up: "Really, anything?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a small hand reached for Kitahara Makoto's waist and poked him hard.
"Don't make a move on Maki-nee!"
Taki was brimming with murderous intent:
"Whatever demands you have, direct them at me!"
"I've been waiting for you to say that, Taki." Kitahara Makoto turned to look at her, "Then I won't be polite."
Taki: "…"
Oh no, he's coming for me.
"Other matters can wait; let's deal with that perverted stalker first." Kitahara Makoto said seriously, "Maki-nee, is there a shipping address on the package?"
"No address." Shiina Maki shook her head lightly, "When I went out this morning, there was only a lonely package box outside, no delivery person, and all the information that was originally on it had been torn off."
Kitahara Makoto said softly:
"No delivery person, and all the information on the box torn off, proves that the person who delivered the package this morning was most likely that perverted stalker… Maki-nee, have you ever met that perverted stalker?"
"I haven't met him." Shiina Maki said nervously, "He registered a brand new burner account and sent me private messages, directly stating my home address, and even the room I live in… It's just so terrifying."
"No wonder Maki-nee used to not close the curtains, but these past two days she's kept them tightly shut." Taki suddenly understood, then frowned slightly, "That perverted stalker isn't hiding downstairs, is he?"
"Calm down."
Kitahara Makoto extended his right hand and pressed it on Taki's head, his voice steady, "We don't need to actively search for him; we just need to wait for him to fall into our trap."
Taki looked up:
"…How so?"
"The other party is worried about their identity being exposed, so they will definitely come to pick up Maki-nee's worn cosplay uniform themselves. We just need to wait for them to appear and then directly catch them." Kitahara Makoto said in a deep voice, "Maki-nee, did that pervert say when they would come to pick up your worn cosplay uniform?"
Hearing the mention of a worn cosplay uniform, Shiina Maki's pretty face flushed slightly, clearly a bit shy, and she whispered:
"That guy sent me a private message saying he'd come to pick it up in two days… There are a total of two cosplay uniforms in the package."
Kitahara Makoto nodded in understanding:
"It seems he wants Maki-nee to wear one set each day."
"Maki-nee, don't wear them." Taki crossed her arms and frowned, "Even if we don't wear them, that guy won't know, right?"
Shiina Maki whispered:
"That's what I was thinking too…"
However, just as she finished speaking, Shiina Maki's phone suddenly vibrated softly.
Picking it up, Shiina Maki's pretty face quickly showed a panicked expression:
"That person sent me another private message…"
Taki angrily leaned in:
"What did that perverted stalker say?"
Shiina Maki bit her lower lip with her pearly white teeth, nervously asking, "He said that to prevent me from lying, I must wear a cosplay uniform and send him a photo… Kitahara-kun, what should I do?"
Kitahara Makoto pondered for a couple of seconds, then turned to look at the express cardboard box marked [Handle With Care] beside him and asked, "What kind of cosplay uniform is inside?"
'Handle With Care' refers to not inverting the item, simply meaning, 'please do not place the item upside down.'
"It's two maid outfits…"
Shiina Maki spoke as she quickly got up, opened the express cardboard box, and took out the cosplay uniforms inside: one black maid outfit and one white maid outfit.
The tags on the clothes hadn't been cut off yet. They looked clean and had no strange smell, clearly indicating they were newly purchased uniforms.
Kitahara Makoto looked closely for a couple of seconds, but many details were unclear, so he said seriously, "Maki-nee, please try on these two uniforms."
"…Huh?!"
Shiina Maki didn't say anything, but Taki was the first to widen her eyes, exclaiming incredulously, "You're actually letting my sister take photos for that perverted stalker?!"
"That guy says he just wants to confirm if my sister is wearing it, but who knows if he'll do something disgusting with her photos!"
"…"
Shiina Maki hadn't been too bothered originally, but hearing Taki's words, a look of disgust immediately appeared on her face.
"Calm down." Kitahara Makoto reached out and pressed down on Taki's small head. "It's one thing for Maki-nee to wear the uniform, and another thing to send the photos."
Kitahara Makoto explained seriously:
"I haven't even seen Maki-nee's uniform, so of course, I won't let anyone else see it."
Upon hearing this, Shiina Maki's pretty face quickly flushed, and she shyly lowered her head to look at her toes.
"You… you…" Taki gritted her teeth in embarrassment and anger, "Watch what you say!"
"Yes, yes, that was a slip of the tongue."
Kitahara Makoto raised both hands and continued:
"My idea is simple: there are many girls on Twitter who enjoy cosplay. We can find a cosplayer with a similar height and figure to Maki-nee, have them produce two sets of 'private custom' photos, and then Maki-nee can send those photos taken by the cosplayer."
As long as you have money, custom photo sets are readily available.
"I see…" Taki calmed down. "Then why do you still need my sister to wear the uniform? Could it be that you want to see it?"
Shiina Maki's pretty face was slightly red, and she shyly said, "If Kitahara-kun wants to see, it's no problem…"
"Sister!" Taki exclaimed, frustrated at her sister's naivety, "Don't fall for his sweet talk!"
"I have a legitimate reason." Kitahara Makoto's expression was composed and unhurried. "The other party might leave a mark on the uniform, or there might be some detail that would be overlooked without careful observation. To avoid being exposed, it's very necessary for Maki-nee to try it on."
"Kitahara-kun makes sense." Shiina Maki nodded gently in agreement, her face slightly flushed, and said, "Then I'll try them on."
As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Taki beside her, and she pleaded pitifully, "There are two uniforms, Taki, will you try them on with me?"
"Huh?"
Taki took half a step back: "Why would I wear something like that?"
"Because wearing it alone feels like being coerced." Shiina Maki pressed her hands together, "If Taki comes with me, it won't feel so bad."
Taki shook her head and refused:
"Sister is taller than me, so it definitely wouldn't fit, right?"
"It's not that much taller." Shiina Maki's face showed a wronged expression, "Does Taki dislike her sister that much?"
"I don't dislike you, okay?!"
"Then Taki, cosplay with me."
Taki: "…"
Facing her sister's quiet plea, Taki eventually agreed involuntarily.
"I'll wait for you outside."
Since the two sisters were going to change into maid outfits in the room, Kitahara Makoto wisely left the room.
He arrived in the hallway.
Kitahara Makoto took out his phone and searched on Twitter for a cosplayer with a similar height and figure to Shiina Maki. He quickly found a suitable target, then sent a private message asking if they accepted private commissions. He soon received a price list for private photos.
A moment later.
The room door quietly opened a crack.
Shiina Maki poked her pretty face out and whispered, "Kitahara-kun, you can come in now."
Kitahara Makoto stepped into the room, holding up his phone and saying, "I've already found a cosplayer on Twitter who is similar in height and figure to Maki-nee. They accept private photos, so next is the detailed discussion…"
As he spoke, Kitahara Makoto admired the two sisters in the room.
The uniforms were two maid outfits, one black and one white. Shiina Maki wore the all-black maid outfit, while Taki wore the pure white maid outfit.
Compared to the maid outfits at the Akiha maid cafes, the two sisters' maid outfits were clearly different in style. Firstly, the skirts were very short with garters on their thighs, and the waist had hollowed-out fabric, perfectly showcasing their slender waists.
"Maki-nee is super cute."
Kitahara Makoto gave a thumbs-up, not stinting on his praise.
"Thank you."
Shiina Maki's pretty face was slightly red, and she softly thanked him while covering her chest.
"Stare—"
Taki, standing nearby, immediately narrowed her eyes and shot a warning glance.
Kitahara Makoto said with a composed expression:
"Taki is equally super cute. I don't even know who to look at."
"Hmph." Taki lightly snorted, "If you don't know, then don't look at anyone."
Shiina Maki, covering her chest, softly said, "It's a good thing Kitahara-kun thought it through. These two maid outfits are indeed very…
…very special."
Kitahara Makoto asked curiously:
"Special in what way?"
"That…"
Shiina Maki parted her lips, her pretty face slightly flushed. She took a deep breath, then removed her right hand from her chest.
The next second.
Kitahara Makoto felt his eyes' 'auto-aim function' quietly activate, and his gaze involuntarily drifted over.
At the chest of the maid outfit, there was clearly a hollowed-out heart.
Shiina Maki's figure, of course, was beyond words, even better than Taki's. Seeing the heart now, two phrases involuntarily surfaced in Kitahara Makoto's mind:
The moonlight is so white.
The heart is so beautiful.
"The clothes are very cute."
Kitahara Makoto subconsciously spoke his true thoughts.
"Huh?!"
Taki glared at him in embarrassment and anger.
"I misspoke." Kitahara Makoto quickly corrected himself, "The clothes are absolutely terrible. Condemn them, they must be severely condemned!"
Shiina Maki raised her hand to cover her chest again, her pretty face slightly red, and said, "Um… Kitahara-kun, do you want to take a picture?"
Taki couldn't help but say, "Sister, why are you letting him take pictures?"
"Of course, it's to show the cosplayer the style and details of the uniform." Shiina Maki said as if it were obvious, "Verbal descriptions can easily have discrepancies. Taking pictures for the cosplayer to see is much more intuitive, right?"
Taki parted her lips, speechless.
Kitahara Makoto raised his phone, his face full of righteousness, and said, "Maki-nee, shall I take the photos now?"
"…Please, Kitahara-kun."
Shiina Maki's face showed a hint of shyness, then she lightly bit her lower lip, removed her right hand from her chest, and looked away with a flushed face.
Since the photos were for the cosplayer's reference, all details had to be captured, so… the heart on the chest couldn't be covered.
Click, click.
Kitahara Makoto took several photos in a row, recording all the details, then turned and said, "Taki, it's your turn."
"I refuse. The details of both outfits are pretty much the same, aren't they?"
Taki was unwilling to be photographed.
"Although they're similar, there are still some minor differences." Shiina Maki urged, "Taki, hurry up and come over. There are no outsiders here anyway."
"This guy is clearly an outsider, okay?!"
Taki reluctantly walked over.
Kitahara Makoto smiled and said, "Taki-san, please remove your hand."
"…"
Taki lightly bit her lower lip, then blushingly removed her hand, revealing the heart shape on her chest.
Click, click.
Kitahara Makoto took the photos, marveling inwardly:
Heart maid outfits are indeed super cute. I've decided, I'll buy a few sets when I get back, just in case.
After taking the photos.
Kitahara Makoto put away his phone and said, "Leave the communication with the cosplayer to me. I should be able to get the photos tonight."
"Private commissions must cost quite a bit, right?" Shiina Maki looked up and asked, "I'll give Kitahara-kun the money."
"No rush." Kitahara Makoto waved his hand, "Let's talk about it once everything is settled."
Shiina Maki bowed in thanks: "Then I'll leave it to Kitahara-kun."
Taki lightly furrowed her brows, covering her chest, and said, "If you send those photos to the cosplayer, will they leak them?"
"Taki's concern does have some merit." Kitahara Makoto pondered for a couple of seconds, then suggested, "How about you two take off the maid outfits, and I'll take them directly to the cosplayer? That way, you won't have to worry about the photos being leaked."
"Huh?!"
Taki's eyes widened in disbelief:
"Why didn't you say so sooner?!"
Since they could just take the uniforms, there was no need to take photos just now!
Kitahara Makoto looked innocent and said:
"I just thought of it… didn't you two also not think of it?"
"…"
Taki took a deep breath, biting her teeth, and said:
"Delete the photos you just took!"
"Yes, yes." Kitahara Makoto agreed verbally, then turned to look at Taki's older sister next to him, "Does Maki-nee also want me to delete the photos?"
Shiina Maki's pretty face flushed slightly, and she whispered:
"That… Kitahara-kun can keep them himself as long as he doesn't send them to others, it's fine if he doesn't delete them…"
Taki's face tightened, and her heart grew even more vigilant.
Her sister's favorability towards this guy was too high.
No!
She absolutely couldn't let her sister fall into a pit of fire!
"…"
There's no need to say more about what happened next; the two sisters took off their maid uniforms, put them into a backpack, and handed them to Kitahara Makoto.
Considering that the perverted stalker might be hiding somewhere, peeping, Kitahara Makoto did not leave through the main entrance, but with the help of Little Flower, left the Shiina family directly through the mirror.
After leaving, Kitahara Makoto met the cosplayer at the agreed-upon cafe, handed over the maid uniform, exchanged contact information, paid the deposit, stated the shooting requirements, and then turned to go home.
"Next, I'm going to see Mai…"