The Story of the Seven

CHAPTER 6 - Maid Crisis

I bumped into a miniature creature today. Her name was Mafuyu, and it went like this:

"Kyah!"

"Sorr – Hey, you're that girl from yesterday."

"Oh you're Oni- no, Haruto."

"What did you just almost call me?"

"Nothing, nothing, none of your business."

"Uh- okay. Anyways, sorry for yesterday."

"Sorry?"

"Yeah, I got you really flustered and on top of that, I think I scared you to."

"I wasn't flustered! And I wasn't scared! It's just that..."

"That?"

"That.... How did the meeting with Ayamoto go?"

"Hey, don't change the subject!"

"As I said, how did the meeting with Ayamoto go?"

"You listening to me?"

"How did the meeting with Ayamoto go?"

Geez, so stubborn.

"Fine, fine. It did go well, although I was confused about one thing ...."

"Which is....?"

"Who or what's "The Queen"?"

Mafuyu smiled mischievously.

"You'll find out sooner than later."

"Not you too, come on. I'm confused."

I dropped to me knees in a dramatic fashion.

"Please, I'm begging you, please tell me."

"Huh, it's nice that you finally know how to beg."

"Yeah, so -"

Wait. What did she just say?

"Beg some more, I like seeing grown-ups begging in front of me."

Yeah. Her personality suddenly flipped 180 degrees.

"Did your personality get worse? I thought you were like a meek maiden type character or something."

"Are you stupid, getting so full of yourself for catching me off guard once or twice?"

People sometimes turn out to be pretty scary when they present their true self.

But is that a good thing? Does it mean she trusts me enough, after one day, to partially open her heart to me?

Ah, but damnit! Why am I profusely sweating in the presence of a mere eight year old?

"Are you a sadist?"

"S-s-stupid! What the hell do you think you're saying to a mere eight year old girl?"

"All right, I guess I'll go back to the main point then. Will you tell me who or what the "The Queen" is?"

"Then tell me what's that paper in your hands?"

"Ah, Squad Leader Ayamoto gave me it. She said it was written by "The Queen"."

Mafuyu's expression hardened.

"Read that. If you enjoy it, then that proves that you are on the path of moral righteousness, and will get you closer to understanding who "The Queen" is. But be honesty, okay? Don't force yourself to enjoy it; deceiving yourself will get you nowhere."