Fragments of Memory 8

One week remained until the cultural festival. I stayed alone in the classroom after school. A butler uniform sample lay spread across my desk. The thought of how I became the butler made me smile.

When the initial plan of "girls as maids, boys as butlers" was proposed, Ume immediately objected. "Wait a minute! Doesn't it sound perfect for Sora to act as a butler?"

Her suggestion gained overwhelming support, and I was given a special role as a butler. And to fill the vacant maid position...

"...There's no way I can wear this."

I turned at the sound to find Ren hanging his head in front of the mirror, clutching a maid uniform.

"You're still here?"

Ren's shoulders jumped at my voice.

"Ah-! D-Don't stare at me like that!"

His face turned bright red as he desperately tried to hide behind the maid uniform. It was rare to see him so flustered, especially given his experience as a model.

"Need help?"

"Eh? Ah, well... um..."

As Ren stumbled over his words, I silently picked up the apron.

While tying the strings from behind, I felt a sudden sense of déjà vu. Tying someone else's clothes... a fragment of memory. But it was definitely somewhere else, someone else...

"Ugh... to think I, the great me, in such an outfit..."

I couldn't help but smile at Ren's muttering.

"You look surprisingly good in that outfit."

"Don't tease me! If anyone sees this..."

Just then, the classroom door burst open.

"I knew you'd be he-- eh?"

Ume's voice cut off abruptly. Both Ren and I froze. My hands still held the apron strings, and Ren stood there in his maid uniform.

"W-What are you two doing?"

Ume's voice trembled with obvious shock.

"Th-This isn't what it looks like! We were just practicing..."

Ren tried to explain frantically, but his desperate attempts to hold down the skirt while blushing furiously weren't helping his case.

I let out a small sigh.

"We're practicing. Ren was having trouble changing by himself."

"Y-Yeah, that's right! This is... hey, you didn't have to put it like that..."

Ume burst out laughing at Ren's desperate state.

"Oh my god, Ren, you're too cute! Let me take a picture!"

"N-No way!"

Ren let out an almost shriek. "This would be the end of my modeling career...!"

As Ume raised her smartphone, Ren hastily tried to hide behind a desk. In his awkward movement, the skirt lifted slightly.

"Eep!"

The classroom fell silent at Ren's unconscious squeal.

"...Did that sound just come from Ren?"

Ume's eyes began to sparkle. Ren covered his face with both hands and crouched down.

"To think I'd suffer such embarrassment... what has become of my dignity..."

Seeing him like this, Ume suddenly turned serious.

"Hey... Ren."

"W-What is it...?"

Ume put away her smartphone with a small laugh.

"You're always going on about 'the great me this' and 'the great me that,' but you can be honestly cute sometimes, you know?"

"Wha...!"

Ren looked up with a crimson face, at a loss for words. His usual arrogant demeanor had completely vanished.

"Come on, let me help you with the outfit!"

As I watched this scene unfold, I felt something softly melting inside me. Sharing moments like this with others... it was definitely...

"Alright!"

Ume suddenly called out cheerfully.

"Let's make Ren the cutest maid ever! Right, Sora?"

"Eh..."

"No complaints allowed. Right, Sora?"

I gave a small nod. Ren let out a resigned sigh.

"...I suppose I have no choice. This too is part of my aesthetic."

Despite his words, his expression had softened slightly.

Laughter filled the afternoon classroom. By the windowsill, a grey kitten perched quietly, as if observing the unfolding story with knowing eyes.

That night, I had a strange dream.

A familiar voice echoed.

"I'd be so happy if I could become friends with everyone♪"

It was definitely my voice. But slightly different from my current self. Almost as if...

When I woke up, Ten was quietly watching me from the windowsill. For a moment, I thought I saw his eyes shine blue in the moonlight. As the cultural festival approached, my heart filled with an odd premonition.