"My name is Seri liddel!"
A rather short girl announced, I see her bowing right in front of me without a second's hesitation, her hair filled with food that dripped off the stray strands of her hair. Keeping her tears filled eyes away from sight and notice.
Yui, who hid behind Bao to hide her attire, looked curiously at Seri, and Bao did the same, watching as she pleaded.
"I want to work here! So please, give me a chance!" She bowed again, more aggressively this time, the sudden movement causing me to back up.
I could tell her eyes were squeezed shut under all those layers of hair on her head, begging for a response she'd like.
I looked back at the other two who blinked owlishly at me, clearly expecting me to make the decision by my lonesome.
I clicked my tongue in annoyance and turned back to the bowing deer.
We really do need the help though, this cafe is practically in ruins as is… plus with the debt Bao collected we might just even lose it in a heart beat— though… I don't think I have the money to even pay another, or anyone for that matter.
Bao and Yui's ok since Bao basically caused this mess we all know who to blame.
But for someone that's actually looking for a reliable way to live, this job just isn't the place.
I sighed heavily and crossed my arms as I prepared to deliver the harsh truth, noticing how Seri would flinch on my every move waiting for a response from me.
"Look, I—"
That ringing shot into my head once more causing me to stumble on my words.
I held my scalp in pain before raising my gaze before me, seeing a translucent screen popping up before my eyes.
[Do you want to hire?]
[Yes,] [No,]
[funds: 100,325 gold.]
My eyes shot open, in wide eyed confusion I could hardly believe it.
"Alright then…"
I agreed, pressing the yes button, watching as it's highlighted and faded away. The girl smiled softly and raised her head, her deer ears twitching delightfully at the new partnership.
I turned to the others, my hand out to Seri who stood there bashfully as I introduced her.
"Everyone, this will be your new coworker from now on," I announced, Bao looking at her with wide eyed enthusiasm, guess it's not everyday that a new person comes to apply…or come at all for that matter.
Seri bowed before them all, her voice soft and gentle.
"I'll be in your care…"
I smiled as I watched her get accustomed to the other two, though I couldn't help but wonder why I had so much gold in my system… and why can't I use it to pay off this debt?!
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── Kaiju Kanojo ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
[Funds cannot be withdrawn at this time!]
Yeah, thanks, mysterious RPG game menu. Super helpful.
I let my head thunk softly against the nearest wall, staring up at the ceiling in that dead-eyed way protagonists do when they realize they're just side characters in someone else's monetization scheme.
"Haru~!" Bao called from the kitchen, her voice melodic with danger. "Do we have another apron?"
"Under the counter," I replied instinctively, still dead inside.
Seri peeked out from the kitchen doorway with one hand pressed gently over her chest, as though any further motion might cause her to dissolve into thin air.
Her feathery white hair, still matted with faint traces of egg and rice, clung to her cheeks in soft, uneven strands, while a stubborn curl dangled between her eyes, twitching slightly with every tremble.
But what drew the most attention was the freshly issued maid uniform—an ensemble so intricately detailed, it could be studied in a textile museum under a magnifying lens.
The dress itself was constructed from a matte obsidian fabric, tightly woven cotton-polyester blend, weighted enough to retain its structure but breathable enough to survive twelve-hour shifts in a poorly ventilated kitchen.
The bodice fit snugly to Seri's petite frame, lined with twin vertical darts on each side that traced the natural curvature of her torso with near architectural precision.
A high-necked collar circled her throat, adorned with a single polished obsidian button, no larger than a lentil, engraved with an emblem so minute it required squinting to identify—a stylized teacup with steam rising in the shape of wings.
Her sleeves, short and puffed, were built with internal mesh support to maintain their shape indefinitely, giving the impression of delicate, inflated crescents perched atop her arms.
Around the junction of each sleeve, a ring of immaculate white lace circled her biceps, each loop of the lace sewn with a double-back chain stitch to ensure no fray even under duress.
The bodice tapered sharply at the waist, meeting a waistline seam so finely aligned that not a single stitch was out of line.
From there, the skirt exploded outward with volume—five meticulously layered petticoats of differing stiffness created a gradual bell shape, symmetrical from every angle.
The hem of the outermost layer stopped precisely 2.5 inches above her kneecaps.
White frills, each about one inch wide and ironed into uniform arcs, bordered the edge of the skirt.
These frills had a bounce to them—an intentional reinforcement of soft interfacing beneath the cotton, causing them to react subtly with each breath or step, as if the air itself dared not ruffle them out of place.
All courtesy of Bao and me.
Yeah, these are the moments I live for, she's adorable!
The shy new maid shifts from side to side, her bouncy frills swaying from side to side to match her movements, biting on her lower lip ever so softly before parting them to speak.
"I-I can start cleaning the tables if that's okay…!"
I gave her a slow nod. "Go ahead. But maybe… wash the ketchup out of your hair first."
She froze. Her eyes went blank for half a second before she let out the tiniest "eep!" and darted into the staff bathroom.
Bao walked up to me, her hands up as she whispered in my ear.
"Poor thing…" Bao murmured. "She still smells like eggs."
I nodded a soft sigh escaping my lips.
"Yeah, what asshole would do that…"