Story:

At the other end of the sofa, Mai had finally worked up the courage to ask the question she had been holding since they entered.

“Irina-san, is that your work uniform?”

Peach looked over.

Now that everyone had settled, the full elaborateness of Irina’s outfit was impossible to miss.

Black fabric, white lace, layered cuffs, a high collar, and a little ribboned headpiece: a Gothic maid ensemble worn beneath the jacket she had loosened on arrival.

Irina pinched one frilled cuff between her fingers. “This? Yeah. Got a shift afterward.”

“At a café?” Ai asked.

“A maid café.”

The twins exchanged an immediately fascinated look.

Peach could almost see another outing being added to their list.

“Do you serve cakes?” Mai asked.

“And drinks. Depends what people order.”

“Do all the staff wear that?”

“Pretty much.”

Ai examined the lace with admiration.

“It must take ages to wash.”

Shiki laughed. “A practical concern.”

Irina relaxed into the conversation. “Wouldn’t be doing so many shifts if I didn’t have something to save for.”

“Oh?” Reika said.