Steak

Shin walked Makoto home, all the while trying to look like he didn't actually know the way. Thankfully, Makoto didn't notice anything, what with how distraught she was.

He waved his hand as the girl went up the stairs going into the apartment building, and she halfheartedly reciprocated the gesture. With that, the teen headed back to LeBlanc. It was around 4 in the afternoon when he returned. Sojiro was doing some crossword puzzle on the counter, seeing as there was no customer in sight.

The older man briefly raised his gaze when he heard the familiar sound of the door opening, but he returned to his puzzles once he saw Shin.

The teen went up in his room and changed into his comfortable clothes. He didn't really have anything to do for now, so he just laid down on his bed and browsed his phone. As he checked what was new on the Phan-Site, he was suddenly reminded of his favorite ex-slave ha- *cough* I mean, braid-wearing junior.

He opened the chat app and sent her a short message.

Shin: Yo. What's up?

The teen noticed that the message was delivered and seen, but no reply came back.

'Is she mad at me for something? I should check on her tomorrow.'

-INTERMISSION-

Later that day.

It was a quarter past 8, while Shin had just finished cooking himself dinner, he heard someone knock on the door. He put his plate on the counter and went to open the door.

Immediately, Kawakami rushed inside, almost tumbling on her way in.

"Oh god. A student almost saw me." she said, wiping the sweat from her brow.

"Do you need some water?" asked Shin.

"No. I'm not actually that tired." said the woman, trying to stifle a yawn at the same time.

Shin frowned.

"You can sit down wherever, you know. I don't mind." he said, before pausing for a moment. "Do you like steak?"

"Huh?" came the confused reply.

The teen took a new place and placed a hefty slice of steak on it, before putting it on the table next to Kawakami.

"I've been trying my hand at cooking other things besides curry. Mind taste-testing it for me?" he asked, with a small smile on his face.

The maid-teacher looked back and forth between the plate and Shin. She seemed somewhat undecided. The steak itself didn't look bad. In fact, it was rather appetizing. The meat was well done, and covered in some sort of reddish-brown sauce. It was giving away a smell that made Kawakami's stomach churn.

"I don't... I mean, it's nice of you to offer, but I'm not h-"

At that moment, the woman's stomach grumbled. She mentally cursed skipping lunch that afternoon, just because she needed to take a short nap. In retrospective, it wasn't all that bad, as she'd have fallen asleep during one of the classes otherwise.

Shin's smile widened.

"If you're that hungry, then you must be wanting to dig in. Feel free to do so while I prepare something to drink." he said, turning to the kitchen area.

Kawakami looked at the steak once more. She slowly sat down on the bench, all the while not breaking eye contact with the steak. The woman picked up the fork and knife and began to cut the steak into small pieces.

She brought one up to her mouth, and started chewing on it. She could feel the steak's juices pouring out the more she chewed. Kawakami's must've underestimated how hungry she was, as she simply kept eating more and more.

"Enjoying my meat, I see." said Shin, as he brought a cup of coffee to the table.

Sojiro didn't teach him how to make any drink other than coffee, really, so he had to make do with what he had.

The woman didn't respond, instead opting to nod while eating.

Shin went to sit at the counter, and begun eating the steak himself. It was good. Good, but not quite what he wanted. He'd have to try again later.

At that moment, he heard Kawakami sigh in relief.

"Puah!" she exclaimed.

The woman leaned back on her seat, content. And from that, it didn't take long before Shin heard a soft snore coming from her.

"Did she really just... How defenseless can you be?" he wondered.

The teen sighed. He put aside the cutlery and stood up, picking up the sleeping maid in a bridal carry. He went upstairs and gently placed her on his bed. Perhaps in another situation he'd have tried to take off the maid costume, seeing as it was so material-heavy, but she looked so peaceful in her sleep. He really didn't want to wake her up now.

Plus, he really wanted to get back to the steak.

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Confidants:

0. Igor (The Fool) - Rank 2

I. Morgana (The Magician) - Rank 3

1. Takuto Maruki (The Councillor) - Rank 1

II. Makoto Niijima (The Priestess) - Rank 3

IV. Yusuke Kitagawa (The Emperor) - Rank 3

Odd man - Rank 1

V. Sojiro Sakura (The Hierophant) - Rank 3

VI. Ann Takamaki (The Lovers) - Rank 7

VII. Ryuji Sakamoto (The Chariot) - Rank 7

VIII. Goro Akechi (The Justice) - Rank 1

IX. Futaba Sakura (The Hermit) - Rank 3

XI. Caroline & Justine (The Strength) - Rank 10

XIII. Tae Takemi (The Death) - Rank 5

Reaper - Rank 1

XIV. Sadayo Kawakami (The Temperance) - Rank 4

XVIII. Saki Yoshiko (The Moon) - Rank 2

XIX. Sho Minazuki (The Sun) - Rank 2

Toranosuke Yoshida - Rank 1

XX. Sae Niijima (The Judgement) - Rank 2

Shiho Suzui (The Hope) - Rank 8