Shizuka The Fashionista Part 3

Chapter 2

Yuki and Shizuka take a vacation that revisits their pasts and the reasons for moving to Tokyo. Megumi struggles with working at the maid cafe. Erika finds her situation at the mansion changing.

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After the promotional posters for "Masquerade of Moonlight" were revealed the film's release date was slated for two weeks, but Shizuka, with the leverage from Arisa behind her, managed to bow out of the promotional campaign for the movie in order to take her vacation. 
Shizuka was working nonstop for so long that the vacation was mandatory, and then further backed by an evaluation from her personal physician. Although she would miss the premier of the film entirely she was glad to stop thinking about her role as the submissive maid.
Her biggest regret was the very possible event that she would not be around when Kanna gave birth to her child, but Yuki and Shion helped arrange for a phone conversation so they could stay in communication. Kanna assured Shizuka that she would be fine and wished Shizuka a good trip.
Shizuka and Yuki boarded the train, Yuki's arms laden with camera bags and clothes. Though Shizuka was on vacation, Yuki wasn't. This trip was her assignment: ensure Shizuka unwinds while they embark on a sightseeing tour of Japan. Their ambitious plan was to visit all 47 prefectures, soaking in each unique tourist experience.
Settling into their seats, Shizuka opted for quiet reflection, eschewing music or books. Yuki, leaning against her, confided, "I've done solo photography trips before, but this is my first with company. I'm glad you're here."
Shizuka gazed out the window at the brooding clouds and wind-swept trees. The scene had a calming effect, her mind drifting away.
"You're from Kyoto, right?" Yuki asked. "Maybe we can visit your parents while we're there."
Shizuka's gaze remained fixed on the passing landscape. "I don't think so. And even if we go to Kyoto, I don't want to see them."
"Why not?"
"It... has to do with why I left for Tokyo."
Yuki sighed. "I understand. I won't push you. I just thought it'd be nice."
"Well, I don't hear you yearning to visit your folks either," Shizuka pointed out.
Yuki paused, considering. "Touché. You got me. I don't want to see them either."
Shizuka grinned. "Good answer."
A quick peck on the cheek later, Yuki settled back. "This is nice," she said. "Just us, talking. We haven't done that in a while."
"Yeah, it is," Shizuka agreed. Her hand reached down, finding Yuki's and causing her to flinch. "Just us, the way it should be."
"I like that about you," Yuki said. "You don't care about others' opinions. You're comfortable in your own skin. That's why I like you."
Tears welled in Yuki's eyes as she looked out at the dark clouds. One escaped, rolling down her cheek.
"Why are you crying?" Shizuka asked.
"Because I'm happy."
"Why?"
"Because I'm with you. We may not be married, or in love, but you're my soulmate."
Silence descended upon them, broken only by the rhythmic clickety-clack of the train. Shizuka squeezed Yuki's hand reassuringly. Yuki turned to her, a half-smile playing on her lips.
"What are you thinking?" she asked.
"I'm glad I met you."
Yuki squeezed her hand back, her smile widening. "Me too."
The train ride continued, a mere prelude to their grand adventure across the land of the rising sun.
----
The two women had just settled into their room at the inn when a knock sounded at the door. Yuki opened it, and a maid came in with a tray. She set it down on a table and left the room. Yuki gave Shizuka a quick glance.
"I thought this place was supposed to be a cheap tourist trap," Yuki whispered.
"Yeah, so did I," Shizuka whispered back. "I think we're in for a nice stay."
The two women sat down to eat the dinner the maid had left for them.
"I really like this place," Shizuka said. "It's like a big mansion with a cheap price tag."
"Yeah, I like it too," Yuki said. "I'm glad we came here. I didn't want to stay at the big hotel in the city center."
"Me neither," Shizuka said. "This is like a little slice of heaven here in the mountains. I feel like we're truly travelers now."
Yuki grinned. "You know, the two of us on the road, seeing the world. That's the life."
"I like it," Shizuka said. "And best of all, we can expense it out to the agency because you're still on the clock."
Yuki laughed. "You're crazy, you know that?"
"Maybe, but at least I'm not stingy."
Yuki burst out laughing. "Yeah, you too."
As they finished their meal, Yuki stood up and walked over to the window. "Look, Shizuka. The moon is so bright tonight."
Shizuka stood up and joined her at the window. The moon was indeed full and its light illuminated the peaceful scenery outside.
"It's beautiful," Shizuka said softly.
Yuki turned to her with a mischievous grin. "You know what else is beautiful?" she asked.
"What?"
"You are, Shizuka."
Shizuka blushed and looked away. "Stop it, Yuki. You're embarrassing me."
Yuki placed a hand on Shizuka's shoulder and turned her around to face her.
"But it's true," she said, her voice softening. "You're beautiful, inside and out. You have this grace about you that just draws people in. And your lilac hair is so unique and stunning, like a work of art. I don't think I've ever met anyone quite like you."
Yuki reached up and brushed a strand of Shizuka's lilac hair away from her face. She leaned into the touch, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. For a moment, they simply stood there, gazing into each other's eyes, the moon casting a soft glow over them. 
Shizuka closed her eyes and let the warmth of Yuki's affection flow through her. She felt the tension in her body lessen, her fears and worries vanish. She opened her eyes again and found Yuki's eyes locked on her own, and there was an expression of pure love on Yuki's face.
"I think we'd better stop before we do something we might regret," Shizuka decided, breaking the silence.
"Yeah. I think you're right," her friend agreed with an awkward chuckle.
Yuki grinned and grabbed Shizuka's hand, pulling her away from the window. Shizuka felt a sense of comfort in her touch. She trusted Yuki completely, and she knew that their friendship was strong enough to withstand any potential complications that might arise from their moment of vulnerability.
----
The next morning, Yuki and Shizuka woke up early to explore the nearby town. They walked through the quiet streets, enjoying the fresh air and the peaceful atmosphere. Yuki stopped to take pictures of the beautiful scenery, while Shizuka admired the unique architecture of the buildings.
"I feel like I've known you forever," Shizuka told Yuki as they walked side by side.
Yuki laughed and nodded. "I feel the same way."
They continued their stroll, and before long, they arrived at a small park. They sat down on a bench and watched the sun rise over the horizon. The sky was painted with beautiful shades of pink and orange, and the air was cool and refreshing. Shizuka felt a sense of peace wash over her, and she breathed in the scent of fresh flowers and trees. Yuki took out her camera and began taking pictures of the stunning scenery, capturing the moment with artistry and care.
Yuki turned to face her friend, a twinkle in her eye. "Let's go over there!" Yuki said excitedly.
She stood up and motioned for Shizuka to follow her. They walked over to a nearby pond, where Yuki crouched down and began snapping pictures of the fish swimming around in the water. Shizuka watched as Yuki moved around. She was so focused on her work that she didn't seem to notice Shizuka watching her.
Shizuka smiled to herself, feeling lucky to be able to witness Yuki's passion for photography. She took a few steps closer to Yuki and watched as she snapped a few more pictures of the fish. Suddenly, one of the fish jumped out of the water, causing Yuki to lose her balance and fall into the pond.
Shizuka gasped in surprise as Yuki disappeared beneath the surface of the water. She rushed over to the edge of the pond and peered in, her heart racing. Yuki surfaced a moment later, sputtering and coughing up water. Shizuka reached out and helped her out of the pond, her hands shaking slightly from the shock of what had just happened.
Yuki shivered as the cold water dripped down her clothes and her platinum blonde hair clung to her face. She looked up at her friend, her eyes wide with surprise. "I can't believe that just happened," she said, laughing and coughing at the same time.
Shizuka couldn't help but laugh along with her, relieved that the photographer was still in good spirits. She noticed that Yuki's hair had turned a darker shade of blonde from the water. 
"Your hair didn't take well to your dive in the pond," she said with a laugh.
Yuki pulled a strand of hair in front of her face, then burst out in laughter. "I guess not!"
The two laughed for a while as Yuki checked her camera, making sure it survived its trip to the pond, then they decided to head back to the hotel. When they made it back to their room, Yuki immediately took a long shower to wash off the pond water while Shizuka prepared some hot tea for them. After Yuki finished her shower and changed into a fresh set of clothes, they sat down at the small table in their room and sipped on their tea. Yuki couldn't stop laughing about what had happened at the pond, and Shizuka couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected adventure.
While they sat there, Shizuka couldn't help but notice how beautiful Yuki looked with her damp hair and rosy cheeks. She felt a sudden urge to capture the moment.
"We should take a picture to commemorate the moment," Shizuka suggested.
"Sure thing!" agreed Yuki, laughing.
Shizuka picked up her phone and snapped a picture of Yuki as she sipped her tea, unable to contain her laughter.
Yuki smiled and struck a silly pose, making Shizuka laugh even harder. It was a simple moment, but it was one that she knew she would always remember.
They continued to chat and sip on their tea, enjoying each other's company. They decided to stay in their room for the rest of the day and get the rest of their planned visits done tomorrow.
----
Two weeks into their trip Yuki and Shizuka made it to the city of Kyoto. Yuki was excited to see the places Shizuka went to when she was growing up and wanted her friend to show her around. The two visited several shrines and temples and enjoyed the scenery, soaking up the peaceful atmosphere. They also visited a tea house where Yuki was able to learn about the process of making different kinds of tea. They visited several historical sites, like the Imperial Palace, the city's former capital. They enjoyed strolling through the areas, taking in the beautiful scenery and learning about the city's rich history.
"Are you sure you don't want to visit your parents while we're here?" Yuki asked.
Shizuka shook her head. "I don't want to talk to them."
"What about the rest of your family?"
"My little brother long since moved out," she added. "He's the only one I was particularly close to. I was never close with my two younger sisters. They're twins, so they're closer to each other than anyone else."
"I didn't know that," Yuki said. "I'm sorry."
Shizuka shrugged. "It's a long story, but it's my life and I'm okay with it."
"I understand. Things like that happen, but it's okay. I won't judge. You should talk to your brother if you want to."
After spending the afternoon touring the city, the two returned to their hotel, which catered to clients who wanted to experience the old style of Japan. They changed out of their street clothes and into comfortable yukatas, Yuki picking a yellow one decorated with sunflowers, while Shizuka picked a pink one with a cherry blossom pattern on it. 
They headed to their room and sat on the floor, talking about the day and planning their next few stops. While they were talking, the television turned to a news article about Shizuka's new film, "Masquerade of Moonlight", which premiered that day. The TV reporter was talking about how Shizuka's performance as a ruthless assassin who also is shackled to servitude as a submissive maid was a challenging role that showed the world that Shizuka could act beyond being the stoic action girl she was known for. The reporter also praised the director for his experience in creating a complex psychological thriller.
"They're talking about you," Yuki said, smiling. "They loved you!"
"Good," Shizuka said. "I hated playing the submissive maid."
"Don't worry. People don't know you as that role. They only see you as the action girl," Yuki said. "You can be proud of yourself for trying something new and different."
"Thanks," Shizuka said. 
"Who knows? Maybe you can be up for an award for this movie," Yuki speculated.
"I wouldn't go that far."
"Maybe, but it's fun to think about."
Yuki and Shizuka continued to talk about the movie. They agreed that it would be great if "Masquerade of Moonlight" was a success so that Shizuka could get more roles in bigger movies. 
"You know, there's nothing stopping us from seeing the movie ourselves if we wanted," Yuki pointed out.
Shizuka frowned. "I... I don't know about that."
"Why not?" Yuki asked. "We're free tonight. I'm in the mood to see it. We could see it together, and you could see if they really did you justice."
Shizuka thought about it, and decided that seeing the movie with Yuki might be something she would enjoy.
"You're right," she said. "It would be fun to see it together."
"Great!" Yuki said, beaming. "Let's do it!"
----
The two of them arrived at the movie theater late in the evening. The theater was small and there was a line, but the room was not filled to capacity so Shizuka and Yuki found a seat at the back row with nobody around them. Shizuka tugged at the decorative scarf she wore around her neck at her friend's suggestion, feeling it was not enough to stop her from being recognized by a random moviegoer. When the movie started Shizuka couldn't help but feel nervous. She had never watched herself on the big screen before, and she hoped that she did well in the film.
"Masquerade of Moonlight" was set in a dystopian version of Tokyo where Shizuka stalked the night as a ruthless assassin, hunting her targets and killing them mercilessly. Such is how the film opened. However, during the daytime, her character was a meek, submissive maid working for a cruel boss who humiliated her every chance he got.
Shizuka watched herself on the screen, feeling a bit strange seeing her own face projected so large. She found herself getting lost in the story and forgetting that it was her own performance being shown. The action scenes were intense and well choreographed, and she couldn't help but feel proud of herself for being able to pull them off.
However, the scenes where she was playing the submissive maid bothered her immensely as her cruel master abused her and Shizuka felt a knot in her stomach as she watched herself being treated so badly. She avoided playing the stereotype of the helpless female character for nearly her entire career, but here she was, playing one on the big screen. The feeling reached its zenith when the infamous 'naked pole dance' scene played, where she was stripped naked and covered in white paint, and forced to do a humiliating yet hypnotic pole dance. She glanced around the theater to see if anyone was watching her reaction, but nobody seemed to be paying her any attention; all eyes were entranced by the sensual pole dance. Nevertheless, she felt she was being judged.
Yuki turned toward her friend with a look of concern, and squeezed Shizuka's hand gently in support. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked quietly.
Shizuka blinked, and realized she was crying. "It's just hard to watch," she whispered, wiping away her tears. "I hate feeling like I'm being objectified like this."
"I understand," Yuki said, nodding in agreement. "But try to remember that it's just a movie. You're not really being objectified in real life."
Shizuka took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. She knew Yuki was right, but it was still difficult to watch. Though the scenes that followed her character found the courage and resolve to stand up to her cruel master, and in the climax of the movie the submissive maid and the ruthless assassin became one.
When the movie came to an end Shizuka let out a deep sigh of relief. She looked at Yuki and smiled, grateful for her friend's support throughout the film. The cool night air hit them as they stepped out of the theater. Shizuka was happy to be out of the dark confines of the movie theater, away from the prying eyes of strangers. 
Yuki turned to her with a smile on her face. "You did amazing, Shizuka. I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks, Yuki. It was hard, but I did it. I'm glad you were there for me."
"I was there for you. I'll be there for you no matter what."
They decided to head back to the hotel and get some rest.
----
That night, Shizuka slept soundly in her futon, but next to her, Yuki was having a nightmare. 
"Masquerade of Moonlight" had affected Shizuka a great deal, but she already had time to work out her feelings before she saw the movie. Yuki, on the other hand, having seen the disturbing imagery her friend acted in for the first time, was bothered much more than she let Shizuka know.
Yuki's nightmare placed her in the role of the submissive maid, being abused and humiliated by an unseen, cruel master. In place of Shizuka Yuki found herself as the girl in the movie, being forced to wear a skimpy maid outfit and leered at by rich and powerful men. She had a drink thrown in her face for not meeting her master's satisfaction. She was stripped naked while the men laughed at her.
Yuki woke up in tears, her face soaked with sweat. She was shaking and couldn't stop crying. She turned to her friend beside her, who was fast asleep, unaware of the disturbing imagery in her head. She sat up and cupped her head in her hands, trying not to make any noise to wake up Shizuka. Yuki wanted to wake her up and ask her to comfort her, but also did not want to disturb her peaceful sleep. 
Yuki threw off her blanket and left her futon, walking over to the window where the moonlight shone through. She fought back her tears, wondering why she had such a disturbing nightmare. Her mind, plagued with images of herself as a helpless maid, wandered to the past. She stopped herself. Shizuka did not want to talk about her past or meet her parents again, and Yuki did not want to do either of those herself.
And, just as Shizuka came to Tokyo to escape her parents, so did Yuki. She didn't want to return to the life she was forced into when she was a child. She had her own apartment, a job she enjoyed, and a girlfriend she loved. She didn't need to return to her hometown, where her life was planned out for her. Yuki sighed, feeling the weight of her past on her shoulders. It was easier to pretend that everything was okay and focus on her present life, but the nightmare had shaken her, making her realize that she couldn't escape her past forever.
Yuki closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she tried to calm her racing heart. She knew that she needed to talk to someone about it, but she didn't want to burden Shizuka with her problems. She opened her eyes and glanced over at her friend, who was still asleep, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Yuki felt a pang of envy at how peaceful Shizuka looked, even in her sleep. She wished she could be like that, free of the worries and fears that plagued her. But she knew that was impossible. Life was hard, and it was even harder when you had a past that you wanted to forget.
Yuki took another deep breath and turned away from the window, walking back to her futon and lying down. She pulled the blanket up to her chin and closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep. Yet the nightmare kept replaying in her mind, making it impossible for her to relax. She tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable but failing miserably. Yuki's mind drifted back to the nightmare, and she couldn't help but wonder if it was a reflection of her own fears. She knew that she had always been afraid of being controlled, of losing her independence and becoming a submissive puppet. But why did it have to manifest itself in such a disturbing way? Why did she have to see herself being abused and humiliated?
Yuki finally gave up on trying to sleep and sat up, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders. 
Yuki stood up, walking over to the window once again. She looked out at the city, the lights twinkling like stars in the night sky. She wondered if anyone else was awake, struggling with their own fears and nightmares. Yuki knew that she couldn't keep her feelings bottled up inside forever. She needed to talk to someone, even if it was just a stranger. 
She sighed and walked back to her futon, sitting down. She stared at Shizuka, sleeping peacefully in her own little dreamworld. She wondered if she would ever be able to fall asleep again. She reached out and gently brushed Shizuka's hair from her forehead, watching her friend's chest rise and fall with her quiet breathing. She stroked her friend's hair once more, her fingers dancing along Shizuka's scalp. 
Yuki smiled to herself as she once again relaxed, her worries and fears fading away. In that moment, Yuki realized that she didn't have to face her fears alone. She had a friend in Shizuka who would be there for her no matter what. Yuki leaned down and whispered in Shizuka's ear, "Thank you for being my friend." She then settled back into her futon, feeling comforted by the warmth of her friend's presence. As Yuki drifted off to sleep, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that she still had a lot of work to do in order to confront her past, but for now, she was content with the knowledge that she had someone by her side who truly cared about her.
----
The next morning, Yuki woke up and looked at her side. She knew Shizuka was already up. She looked at the clock and suddenly sat up, realizing it was late morning.
"Oh, I overslept!" she exclaimed.
She looked around the small hotel room, realizing that Shizuka was nowhere in sight. Yuki got up, wondering where her friend went off to. She quickly got ready, showered, and walked out of the hotel room, ready for the day. She quickly found Shizuka standing in the hallway by a window, holding her phone, lost in thought.
"There you are," Yuki greeted her. "I was wondering where you went."
"Oh, hey Yuki," Shizuka replied, looking up from her phone. "Slept in, didn't you?"
"Yeah, sorry about that," Yuki said, bowing apologetically. "I... had a rough night."
Shizuka looked at her friend, concern written on her face. "Are you okay, Yuki?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Yuki replied, forcing a smile. "I'm just a little tired. It's nothing."
Shizuka raised an eyebrow, but she decided not to press the matter. 
"Anyway, let's get going," Yuki said. "There's still time to do what we planned."
Shizuka nodded, then pointed to her phone. "I've been talking to my little brother."
"Is that right? That's great!"
"He wanted to talk to me about the movie. I think he's mad at me."
"Mad? Why?"
"My little brother is an aspiring actor," Shizuka explained. "In fact that's his study subject at the university. He hasn't got a big break or anything like that." Shizuka put away her phone and looked at Yuki with a serious gaze. "Remember, when I left home I set out to be a fashion model. I succeeded at that thanks to you, but in the process I also became a successful actress. This was my biggest movie yet and it's a critical hit. He's upset that I'm stepping into 'his territory'."
"Well, I'm sure he'll get over it. You're better at modeling than acting anyway."
"Maybe, but I'm a lot better at modeling than he is at acting. I'm not going to give up my career for his sake. It's my dream and if I want to pursue it, I will. I don't care what he thinks."
"I'll stand by you no matter what," Yuki said.
"Thank you, Yuki."
Shizuka walked back to their hotel room, but Yuki noticed that her friend was more bothered by the exchange with her younger brother than she let on. Yuki followed quickly behind Shizuka, knowing that the stress of having her relationship with her brother being strained would not help her relax on her own vacation. Once the two women were back in their room, Yuki closed the door, lowering her head and taking a deep breath, knowing the kind of hornet's nest she was about to kick.
"Shizuka, is something wrong?"
Shizuka lowered herself and sat on her knees, her eyes lowered. "He called me a whore for doing the pole dance scene."
"Did you tell him off?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Shizuka took in a deep breath. "Because he's right. I sold out my own principles to do that movie. I degraded and humiliated myself for fame and fortune. He's completely right."
Yuki opened her mouth, but realized she didn't have anything constructive to add. She knew this was the same reason Shizuka was on this mandatory vacation in the first place, and having that sore spot opened in such a vicious manner only made things worse.
Yuki wrapped her arms around Shizuka and held on tight. "I'm sorry."
"It's nothing you did," Shizuka said. "You didn't do anything wrong. The reality is he's going to have to do things he doesn't like when he gets to act in the real world."
Yuki nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure he's going to love every minute of it."
Shizuka let out a short, humorless laugh. "You know the thing that he hates is crossdressing. I can't wait to see him wear a dress on some random show."
"You should tell him that that's going to happen," Yuki said, trying to make her friend smile. "It'll be funny."
"I plan to," Shizuka said, her voice dropping. "He's going to hate it."
"Probably," Yuki agreed.
Shizuka sighed and rested her head on Yuki's shoulder. Yuki held her close and stroked her hair, thinking that they'd make a cute couple when they were old and grey. 
"Just how old is your little brother, anyway?" Yuki asked. 
Shizuka thought for a moment. "Should be twenty-two."
"Really? You're that far apart in age?"
"That's something you should bring up to my parents." Shizuka pulled back and looked Yuki in the eye. "We shouldn't let my personal problems dominate our vacation. There's things we should be seeing today."
"Agreed," Yuki replied, nodding. "But I want you to know that I am here for you, no matter what. If you ever need me, I'm here."
"Thanks." Shizuka smiled, but it was forced.
Yuki smiled. "Let's go see something awesome."
Shizuka nodded, and the two friends left the hotel.
They spent the day seeing the sights of Kyoto they missed the previous day. They ate good food, bought clothes, and took lots of pictures. They walked around a lot, laughing and talking about their trip so far.
After a long day, they returned to their hotel room. Shizuka felt exhausted, but not from walking around all day. She wasn't used to fighting with her brother. She felt like she had to do something to redeem herself, to prove to him that she wasn't a terrible person. She was determined to find a way to make him proud of her.
----
Over the next few days, Shizuka and Yuki continued to enjoy their tour of the prefectures of Japan, leaving Kyoto behind. They visited various places of interest in each of the prefectures, such as ancient temples, famous shrines, and beautiful gardens.
Toward the end of the third week of their trip the two received word from Shion that Kanna gave birth to their son. They held a video call and congratulated the new parents, promising to visit when they returned.
Arisa also kept the two women informed on their demand in the industry. Shizuka's profile had risen significantly after the release of "Masquerade of Moonlight", and she made sure to let her know that Shizuka's performance was met with rave reviews. There was speculation that Shizuka was being considered for even bigger roles now that she proved to the world that she could act. 
"This is great news," Yuki said. "You're going to be one of Japan's big stars now."
Next to her, Shizuka was staring blankly out the window of the train car they were sitting in. She could not shake the feeling that a part of her died in the production of that movie, and that she had lost her innocence. Her younger brother's reaction only reflected what she was really thinking deep inside and it was the reason why his anger at her for doing the film hurt so much. 
She turned away from the window and looked at Yuki. "I know what you're thinking," she said, smiling.
"What?" Yuki asked.
"You're wondering if I'm regretting my decision."
"A little," Yuki replied, smiling. "But I trust your instincts."
"I wonder if this really means I finally grew up," Shizuka said. "I'm no longer that starving artist looking for any and every job I could. I've made it."
"Hm. I don't know if I'd go that far..." Yuki said, but she was smiling. "I can't imagine you slowing down your workaholic lifestyle anytime in the near future."
Shizuka chuckled. "Yeah, you're right. Although... I guess I can be a bit more choosy at what jobs I do. There's no way I can just do everything now."
"Oh yeah, you need to stop just saying 'yes' to every job you're offered," Yuki teased. "That's why you're on this mandatory vacation, after all."
"Yeah, you're right about that." 
"So, what do you want to do for your next movie?" Yuki asked. 
"I'll let you know when the time comes," Shizuka replied, deflecting the question. "Let's just enjoy the rest of this vacation, okay?"
"Okay," Yuki agreed.
The two of them spent the rest of the day conversing, talking about random things. Yuki was able to change the mood from a heavy atmosphere to a lighter, carefree one.
The next morning, they arrived at their destination: the city of Osaka. It would be one of the last major cities they visited on their trip on their way back to Tokyo, the last one being Yokohama.
"You know, I haven't been to Osaka since I was in high school," Yuki said. "My parents live here. So I guess it's kind of like a home to me."
"So this is basically a role reversal from how it was back in Kyoto, huh?" Shizuka teased. "I guess there's no sense in seeing your family, is there?"
Yuki shook her head. "We're not going anywhere near them."
Shizuka nodded slowly. She knew Yuki had some kind of disagreement with her parents and did not want to talk about it, so she dropped the subject. 
"So how long are we staying in Osaka?" Shizuka asked, changing the subject.
"We have two days. There's a few places I want to show you. I also want some time to show you the night life here."
"Oh, you would be interested in the night life, you party girl you."
"I'm not a party girl," Yuki claimed, feigning shock. "I just enjoy good company. And good food."
"Well, I don't think you're going to be able to just have a good time every night. You need a rest every once in a while."
"How about we'll see what happens?" Yuki asked. "No promises."
Shizuka laughed. "Just don't get too drunk."
"I can handle myself," Yuki said.
"Like the time you slept with some random stranger who offered to take you to Paris?"
Yuki's face turned a deep shade of red. "That was years ago," she protested. "I've become a more responsible adult since then."
"Responsible or just broke?"
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Yuki said. "Anyway, let's get going."
They got into a taxi and headed towards the city center.
"So where to first?" Shizuka asked.
"I thought we'd start off by seeing the city as it's meant to be seen: from above," Yuki said. "It's a pretty cool experience, and it makes you appreciate just how big Osaka is."
They got out of the taxi and entered a large tower, one of many buildings in the city, and bought tickets to the observation deck on top. The observation deck was crowded, but not to the point that they couldn't move. Yuki and Shizuka found a spot to stand and watched the city unfold below them. 
"Wow," Shizuka said. "This is amazing."
"Yeah," Yuki agreed, her smile wide and infectious. "I bet this is what it feels like to be a god."
They stayed on the observation deck for nearly an hour, eating snacks and admiring the view. When they returned to the ground, they took a long, circular walk along the waterfront, passing under the elevated highway and seeing the city from Osaka Bay. 
"This is beautiful," Shizuka said. "I love this area of the city."
"Me too," Yuki said. "It's got such a great energy. And the view is great. I wish I could live here."
Shizuka looked at Yuki's longing face, and knew what the unstated 'but' part was. She wondered if it was not an accident they both ran away to Tokyo to get away from their parents.
They went to their hotel and went up to their room. They both needed to rest after their long walk, and Yuki was looking forward to a nap. However, they both lay down on their beds and didn't nap right away. They discussed what they wanted to do for the rest of their time in Osaka.
"I'm going to take a lot of photos," Yuki said. "I want to see as many of the city's famous landmarks as I can. Then at night we can go clubbing."
"I don't know about the clubbing part," Shizuka said doubtfully. "Shouldn't you have outgrown that?"
"I'll still be able to dance," Yuki said. "And besides, I've been to lots of club nights before. They're just fun. I'll show you around."
"Okay, but don't get too wasted. No one wants to see a picture-perfect angel like you wasted."
Yuki giggled. "I'll try my best."
They left their hotel and went on a sightseeing loop, taking in Osaka Castle, Shitenno-ji, and the Namba Parks. When they returned to the hotel, they went up to their room and the night was setting in. Yuki wanted to show Shizuka some of the places the party people went. Shizuka sat down on her bed while she watched Yuki pull out more loose, casual clothing from her luggage, knowing she still intended to go clubbing.
"Are you sure you should be going out like that?" Shizuka asked. "You'll look like an old lady trying to look hip with the kids."
Yuki wrinkled her nose at the disapproving look. "I won't look like an old lady. I'll look like a modern, independent woman. Besides, these are the kinds of things I used to do before I became a professional photographer."
"Yuki, you're thirty. You're not as young as you used to be."
"I'm still young at heart," Yuki claimed, feigning shock. "Besides, you don't need to worry about me. I can take care of myself."
"Well, I don't want to worry about you," Shizuka replied, knowing that Yuki could be careless at times.
"So, are you coming with me, or not?" Yuki asked. "You should dress more casually, too."
"Yeah, I know. I'll be down in five minutes."
Yuki smiled, happy that Shizuka was joining her. 
Shizuka rummaged through her luggage and put together a casual ensemble: a black T-shirt, high-rise jeans, and a belt with a large, silver buckle. She tied her hair in a ponytail with a simple ribbon and put on plain, white sneakers, feeling she was ready to go.
Yuki, on the other hand, seemed out to recapture her youth. She wore a shiny silver, metallic halter top with criss-cross straps in the back, complemented by ultra-low-rise bootcut jeans in a light wash denim. A butterfly belt with iridescent wings cinches her waist. She did her hair in pigtails twisted into double buns and secured with silver butterfly clips and wore platform sandals with clear straps and chunky glitter soles.
"What in the world are you wearing?" Shizuka asked, trying to contain her laughter.
"What?" her friend asked, genuinely confused. "This is what the trendy people wear!"
"Maybe in the stone age!"
Yuki scoffed. Picking up her purse, she turned back to Shizuka. "Ready?"
"Yes," Shizuka replied, taking a deep breath. "Let's go."
The two hailed a taxi and Yuki took them to a club she remembered from her time as a teenage party girl. The club was packed with young men and women dancing and drinking, and the EDM was extremely loud. Yuki paid the entrance fee and the two women walked inside.
"Should we get a drink or wait for a table?" Shizuka asked.
"I don't care," Yuki said. "I'm having fun."
They walked past the bar, and towards the dance floor. The dance floor was packed with people of all ages and both genders. 
"Isn't this great?" Yuki asked, a huge grin on her face. "I used to come here with my friends all the time when I was a teenager. It's great to see how it's evolved into this."
"Yes, it is," Shizuka said, although her ears were ringing hard. She looked around, feeling awkward and out of place.
Yuki grabbed Shizuka's arm as they walked, pulling her in close.
"You're a lot of fun, and I'm glad you came with me."
Shizuka smiled, but she was nervous and a little afraid. She wanted to return Yuki's compliment, but she didn't know how. She allowed Yuki to take the lead on the dance floor, feeling out of her element while Yuki was reliving her younger years. 
When the two finished dancing, Yuki waved to a waiter, and the two women sat down at a table near the dance floor.
"Come on, Shizuka, you need to loosen up a little," Yuki said. She quickly ordered two drinks, one for herself and one for Shizuka, and the waiter disappeared quickly.
"Just what did you order?" Shizuka asked carefully.
"You're wound up, so it'll help."
The waiter returned with two glasses. Yuki left her tab and slid one drink over to Shizuka.
"Here," she said. "Drink this. It'll relax you."
"Okay," Shizuka said, but she didn't touch the drink.
Yuki glanced at her friend curiously. "You... didn't drink when you were younger, did you?"
"No, I was the responsible one," Shizuka insisted. "I was privately tutored what my parents wanted me to know."
"Oh, I didn't know that," Yuki said, realizing her behavior was making perfect sense. "No wonder why you acted like you never had a normal childhood. Well, we can consider this making up for lost time, then!" She slid the glass closer to Shizuka. "Come on, it's not dangerous. I drink this all the time. You'll like it."
"Well, whatever happens, promise me you won't let me do anything stupid," Shizuka said, taking a sip of the drink.
"Promise," Yuki said, taking a sip of her drink.
The two women sat back and relaxed. 
"It's sweet," Shizuka said, her eyes peering into the glass. 
"It's a fruit cocktail," Yuki explained. "It's one of my favorites."
"This is delicious," Shizuka continued, "I can't remember the last time I had something so... refreshing." She took a larger gulp from her glass.
"Oh, don't drink it so fast!" Yuki warned. "You'll get drunk off of one of these things."
"I won't," Shizuka said, drinking the rest of the glass.
Yuki could not believe her eyes, then looked down at her own glass which was still over half full. "You... need to take it more slowly," she warned. "Don't drink it too fast or too much or you might get sick."
Shizuka gave a pained look and put her glass down. "I'm fine. Really."
Yuki sighed. "Well, you need to be careful. You're a big celebrity now."
"Now who's sounding like the responsible one?" Shizuka asked, smiling.
"I'm serious," Yuki said, shaking her head. "You don't want to cause a scene now that you made it big."
Shizuka sighed deeply. "Fine...."
Yuki took another sip of her drink, but tensed up when she realized Shizuka was staring at her glass intently. She realized she may have made a mistake bringing her friend here.
"You're going to drink that?" she asked. 
The photographer quietly slid her drink over to her. She thought it was impossible for Shizuka to be drunk right now, but she also did not feel good about ordering another fruit cocktail so soon.
Shizuka took another drink, then another, and another. Yuki watched in horror as her friend gulped down the entire glass.
"Hey!" she said, as if scolding a child. "Slow down! You're not drinking slowly."
Shizuka ignored her and kept drinking. She drained the entire glass and slammed it down on the table.
"Did you even finish your drink?" she demanded. "It would have been such a waste if you didn't."
Yuki knew Shizuka was done, and signaled the waiter back to close out her tab. "I'm sorry, but we're going to have to take off early. My friend here isn't feeling well."
The waiter nodded politely and Yuki paid him. 
"Come on, Shizuka, let's go back to the hotel," Yuki said, standing up and grabbing her friend by the arm. 
"I thought you were going to show me a good time?" Shizuka muttered as Yuki helped her out of her seat.
"I am," Yuki insisted. "We're going to do it back at the hotel."
Yuki led her friend out of the club and hailed a taxi. Shizuka was having trouble walking straight so she leaned on Yuki for support. For the first time Yuki finally understood what it meant to be the responsible adult. She realized she took Shizuka for granted for being the responsible one, and now that their roles have switched the only thing on Yuki's mind was to get her friend back to the hotel before a scene broke out.
When they arrived at the hotel, Shizuka stumbled and nearly fell, but Yuki caught her and kept her from falling. They made it to their room without incident. Yuki led Shizuka to her bed and let her lie down.
"I'm so sorry," Yuki said. "I never should have taken you out to drink."
"It's not your fault," Shizuka said. "It's my own stupidity. Should have had more to eat before we went."
"Are you going to be okay?" Yuki asked. "Do you want me to get you some water?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
Yuki nodded, unsure of what else to say. She had the sudden urge to take Shizuka in her arms, but resisted. She turned away from Shizuka and started toward the bathroom.
"Yuki?" Shizuka called. 
Yuki sighed and turned around. "Yeah?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"You know... for taking care of me."
"You're welcome."
Shizuka smiled, then turned and stared at the ceiling. Yuki knew she was going to be okay.
She took a quick shower to get rid of the sweat. She made herself some coffee and sat down to think long and hard about her life choices. She thought about her career and how far she'd come. She thought about her family and how she had disappointed them. She thought about Shizuka and their time together. She knew that if she ruined Shizuka's life as she nearly did earlier that night she would never forgive herself.
"I need to act like the responsible adult I am," Yuki decided.
----
The next morning Yuki and Shizuka ordered breakfast for their room. Yuki sat at the table with her coffee while Shizuka lay in bed, still recovering from the night before. Yuki got up from the table and walked over to the breakfast cart, then brought a plate to her friend.
"Are you feeling better?" Yuki asked.
"Yeah," Shizuka said, looking down at her breakfast. "I think so."
Yuki sat down on the side of the bed as she watched Shizuka eat. "You know... my parents are rich."
Shizuka looked at her curiously. "What brought this on?"
"I don't know," Yuki shrugged. "Just hear me out, okay?"
Shizuka nodded silently.
"They had high expectations for my future. They got me into good schools and had hopes I would become a doctor or something. So... I guess you could say I rebelled against that."
"I see."
Yuki smiled softly, then continued. "I wanted to do more with my life than practice medicine. I went out clubbing, I got drunk, and partied. They were angry, of course. I dyed my hair just to spite them," she added, picking up a handful of strands of her long, platinum blonde hair. "Somewhere in the middle of that I decided I wanted to be a photographer. I took pictures of my dolls and bought them clothes. You know, like they were my models."
"I see."
"I grew up a rebellious child. After I graduated high school I took all my savings and ran away from home, moving out to Tokyo to get away from my parents. It was hard trying to scrounge up enough money to pay the rent until Arisa found me and made me a professional photographer."
"That sounds very similar to my story," Shizuka admitted. "Although I'm not really proud of what I did as a freelance model."
"I'm not proud of what I had to do, either," Yuki replied sympathetically. "But the reason I told you all this was because I want you to know I was a reckless girl who never had true responsibility for anyone but myself. I want to change that. You've been responsible for both of us ever since we met, but you no longer have to shoulder that burden alone. We'll be responsible women together."
Shizuka smiled softly. "Okay," she said, "but that sounded like you were proposing to me. Don't do that!"
Yuki laughed. "Whatever you say!"
Shizuka finished her breakfast and got dressed. The two decided to alter their plans for the day and decided on what locations they wanted to visit in the time they had left before leaving Osaka the next morning.
----
Megumi received another message from Yuki on her phone, updating her girlfriend on the progress of their trip. As much as Megumi liked Yuki and Shizuka she was jealous that Shizuka was on the trip and not her.
She exited the changing room of the maid cafe and went back to the dining room to resume her day's work. The cafe was busier than usual with customers and the kitchen was swamped, andMegumi's manager had left her enough work that she wouldn't be idle. She was glad to be working, even if the work was only cleaning up and not preparing meals or serving customers.
During the afternoon shift Megumi smiled when she saw her friend, Erika, enter the maid cafe. Erika used to work at the maid cafe as well before she was hired to work as a real maid by Kanna and they had not seen each other as much. Megumi put on her brightest smile as her friend entered.
"Welcome, master," Megumi said, bowing.
"That's just weird, you don't have to do that," Erika said.
Megumi laughed. "Come on, you know you liked it."
She looked at her flustered friend. She was still dressed in her maid uniform, which was different from the uniform Megumi wore in the maid cafe, but she was certain if Erika wasn't careful she would be mistaken for one of the staff. She quickly pulled Erika aside to a corner table where they would be out of the way.
"So, what brings you here?" Megumi asked.
"I wanted to talk to you about something," Erika replied. "I think I have a chance to do something big."
"That's great!" Megumi said.
"It is," Erika said, "but I'm nervous about it."
"What is it?"
"I've been working as a model when I can," Erika explained. "I haven't gotten my big break yet, but I think I may have gotten something now."
"Let's hear it," Megumi said encouragingly.
"A magazine is looking for a model for an editorial spread," Erika said. "They want me to pose in different scenarios and wear different outfits in different locations. The catch is that they want it to look like I fell into the scenarios and the outfits, not that I planned it. They want to show me in a variety of different situations and with a variety of different clothes. The photos will be printed in a magazine, and the magazine is saying that the photos will be sold in stores as postcards."
"Wow, that's a huge opportunity!" Megumi said.
"I know, but I'm nervous about it. I mean, will I really fall into the scenarios they have planned or will I look for the outfits they give me?"
"You'll be fine," Megumi said. "Just go with the flow, and you'll be fine. You'll find your place in it all."
"You really think so?" Erika asked.
"Of course!" Megumi replied.
Erika smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Megumi, I really appreciate it."
"No problem. Just go with the flow and have fun."
"Thanks," Erika said, smiling. She left the cafe and headed home. Megumi sighed and went back to her work.
----
When Erika went to the studio to shoot for her magazine shoot, she realized she was right to be worried. The outfits the client had in mind were shameless fanservice costumes and the scenarios were meant to be titillating to a predominantly male audience. It was clear from the get-go that the client expected her to be an object of the viewer's lust. Erika's heart sank at the thought of how she would look in the photos. She would be posed provocatively in the outfits they gave her. The thought of men looking at her in that way made Erika feel dirty.
The photos that resulted were an embarrassment to her. The outfits started innocuous enough with a simple blouse and skirt combo associated with an office lady, but the subsequent costumes she found herself wearing got progressively more embarrassing. One outfit had her wearing a leather dog collar with a spiked dog collar and a short skirt that barely covered her panties. The next outfit had her wearing a small, tight catsuit that left very little to the imagination. When she wore a bustier with a garter belt and stockings, she was mortified. The final shot had her in a cage, posing seductively with her hands and arms bound behind her back and her legs spread, which made her look like she was inviting the viewer to ravish her.
Erika did her best to mask her displeasure at the costumes and the client was pleased with her work, which gave her a small measure of a victory, but it felt hollow all the same. She was angry at the situation and her role in it. She was upset that she had to pose like a vulgar harlot in order to make a living.
When she got home, Erika immediately showered and washed her hair. She regretted letting Megumi know about the shoot, knowing that her friend would likely seek out the magazine and see the scandalous photos. She couldn't imagine what her reaction would be. Erika wished she could just erase her participation in the whole situation, but she knew that wasn't an option.
Erika wasn't sure how her friend would react. She wasn't sure how she herself would react. She wished she could just block it from her mind, yet she knew she couldn't. She would have to tell someone, and she would have to face the music. She would have to live with the consequences.
A week later Erika received an advanced copy of the magazine as a courtesy for her work. She hesitated to look at the photos, but forced herself to look anyway. Her stomach lurched when she saw her own face staring back at her. The photos were far worse than she expected. The garter belt and stockings were especially unflattering. The sheer size of her bust was very apparent. The sheer vulgarity of the photos made her sick.
When she was about to trash the magazine, she stopped herself and instead called Megumi. She would tell her friend the truth. Megumi would understand and support her. They decided to meet at the maid cafe before Megumi's shift started.
When Erika arrived, with the magazine in hand, Megumi greeted her with a hearty hello.
"Erika, I'm so excited to see your pictures!" she exclaimed cheerfully.
Erika sighed. She handed the magazine to Megumi. "It's not the best, so maybe keep your expectations in check."
Megumi took the magazine from her and looked at the first page. She gasped. "Erika! You... you look great!"
Erika rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I know. I look like a million bucks. I'm glad you approve."
Megumi was still examining the magazine with a shocked look on her face. Erika could tell she was trying to find the right words to say.
"I... I think you look great. And I'm proud of you."
Erika narrowed her eyes. "For what? I'm just a filthy fashion model for men to oogle...."
Megumi held up her hand to silence Erika. "I know you don't think you're a fashion model. And you're not filthy. These pictures show me what a beautiful woman you are. I would be scared to wear something like this, but you make it look so easy!"
Erika's jaw dropped. She could not believe her ears. Megumi was praising her work. She was actually praising her.
"That's... that's..." Erika couldn't even form a sentence.
Her friend grabbed her hands and held them tightly. "I'm not just saying that because I'm your friend. You are amazing, Erika. You're so hot in these pictures that I would take you right now if we were a couple."
Erika was speechless. The scenario she developed in her mind, of self loathing and defeat, all washed away with Megumi's gushing praise. She was completely filled with joy that she felt like crying. 
Megumi squeezed her hands and smiled. "I'm so happy for you. I think you should continue to pursue your dreams. I think you should be a model. You deserve it."
Erika was in awe. It felt so... right... that Megumi was giving her encouragement. She nodded as she let go of Megumi's hands and looked at the magazine. She looked at the picture of herself in the bustier in the cage, and for the first time realized she looked hot. She didn't see herself as a hottie; she saw herself as an ugly nerd who was awkward and clumsy, not at all material to be seen as a sex symbol. Yet she looked like a powerful, beautiful woman. She looked desirable. 
She was proud of herself.
She was going to be a model.
----
A few days later Erika went to a cosplay photo shoot. She was scheduled to wear a maid outfit, a biker outfit, and a bunny girl outfit. Now that Megumi boosted her confidence in her body image Erika no longer had a problem with putting on the bunny girl outfit, feeling more empowered than ever that showing off her body was a positive thing. 
Erika had never been to a cosplay shoot before. The photographer was friendly and patient, explaining what each photo would entail. He was also very thorough in explaining the special features of each outfit. Erika found it reassuring, considering how nervous she had been about the shoot. 
The shoot turned out great. Erika had fun posing for the photographer. She felt like a real professional model. It felt great to be photographed wearing the bunny girl outfit. Her body felt beautiful and she felt powerful. She no longer felt self-conscious. She was proud of herself for being so accepting of her body. 
In the end, Erika was satisfied with her pictures. They were professional and artistic. Her bunny girl outfit was one of her favorites. 
Erika returned to the mansion that night feeling proud of herself. She was grateful that Kanna was giving her time off to do serious modeling work, but felt sad thinking that she would have to quit working as her maid soon, especially now that Kanna had given birth to her son.
Kanna was a wonderful boss. She made sure to remind Erika on a weekly basis how great she was. Erika knew that Kanna would have a hard time letting her go, but felt even more grateful to be modeling. 
Now that she returned from the cosplay shoot, Erika changed into her maid outfit and went to work. She had to make up for the time she spent away from the mansion to do her fair share of the chores. She was not the best of the maids working in the mansion; in fact, she was known to be clumsy and frequently got herself into messy situations. Erika was well aware of her status as the chew toy of the maids, but tried her best to keep her chin up despite her clumsiness.
Erika went into the pantry and took stock of the items, writing down what needed to be ordered for resupply later. She reminisced on a previous episode where she dropped a bag of flour and was covered in head to toe in white powder, which made her chuckle audibly.
When she was finished with her inventory Erika headed for the storage closet to pick up her cleaning supplies, a mop and bucket. Erika headed to the laundry room to start cleaning. 
Erika got to work. She pushed her mop bucket up and down the hardwood floors, pushing aside dust and dirt. As she worked, she reminisced of the many times she got the slop water all over herself, including one incident where she somehow got her head in it. Despite being humiliating each time, she could not help but laugh at herself, remembering the odd memories. 
Erika thought about how Kanna could never understand why she always got herself into such a messy situation, but Kanna always lectured her on how to clean up after herself. Kanna was nice, but she was just so clueless when it came to Erika's clumsy ways; it was like Kanna was an overly nice parent who didn't see anything wrong with her children. Erika always wondered what Kanna saw in her that made her want to hire her onto her maid staff.
While she pondered these things, Erika went back to mopping. Despite enduring so many humiliating situations while working at the mansion, Erika knew she would miss working there when she finally decided to leave, to the point she wondered if she really should leave at all. She was grateful to Kanna for letting her live in the mansion after her parents threw her out of the house and loved the generous pay, but becoming a model meant she could take control of her destiny. It was now a matter of following her dreams or staying in the stability of the mansion as a maid.
Erika finished mopping and looked around the laundry room one last time. She was satisfied that she finished the room without any mishaps, then picked up her bucket and mop to move on to the next room.
As she walked out of the laundry room, Erika saw a couple of other maids passing by in the hallway. They looked at her and giggled, which made Erika feel self-conscious. She wondered if she had something on her face. Erika tried to smile at the maids, hoping to appear confident, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were laughing at her. She quickened her pace and headed towards the next room, trying her best to ignore them. 
The next room was one of the many guest quarters set aside in the mansion. Erika left her slop water bucket and mop by the entrance and picked up a feather duster. As she dusted the room, Erika couldn't help but let her mind wander. She thought about the modeling gig she just finished and how exciting it was to be in front of the camera. She loved the way she looked in the cosplay outfits, and she felt like a completely different person when she was posing for the pictures.
Erika  noticed that the bed sheets were crumpled and disheveled. She walked over to the bed and began straightening out the sheets. She couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. It reminded her of the times when she used to help make the bed at home. The memory brought a pang of sadness to Erika's heart, and she pushed it away. She reminded herself that she was on a mission to become a successful model and make a name for herself. Erika picked up the feather duster once again and continued cleaning the room with renewed determination.  
After a few minutes of cleaning, Erika decided to switch out her feather duster for a broom. She swept the floor and worked hard to get the corners and crevices clean. Erika's hard work paid off as the room started to sparkle with cleanliness. She felt a sense of accomplishment surveying the room, but her thoughts soon turned to the next task at hand. She picked up the bucket and mop and made her way towards the next room. 
A couple hours later Erika finished cleaning the guest rooms and made her way back to the storage room to replace her cleaning equipment. She felt a sense of exhaustion weighing down on her. Her arms were sore from carrying the cleaning supplies, and her legs were tired from all the walking. Despite her fatigue, Erika knew that she had to push through if she wanted to finish her work for the day. When she entered the storage room Erika let out a sigh of relief. She put down her bucket and mop and leaned against the wall for a moment to catch her breath. 
"You've done a great job today," Erika told herself. "Great job, Erika!"
She decided to celebrate by getting a dessert from the kitchen. Checking the time, she noted it was late in the evening and the dinner hour had passed, so she would have the entire kitchen for herself. Erika walked towards the kitchen, her steps lighter now that she had something to look forward to. She hummed a happy tune as she entered, her eyes scanning the counters for anything sweet. Finding nothing, she opened the refrigerator and found a container of fresh strawberry shortcake. Erika's mouth watered at the sight of it, and she couldn't resist taking a slice. She grabbed a fork and sat down at the kitchen table, savoring every bite of the sweet, creamy cake.
While she ate Erika thought about her future once again. She imagined herself walking down the runway in a glamorous outfit, the audience applauding her every move. She pictured herself in photoshoots, her face gracing the covers of magazines. Erika felt a thrill of excitement as she thought about all the possibilities that awaited her. 
But then, her thoughts shifted to the mansion and Kanna. She couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that settled in her stomach. She had been working as a maid for Kanna for years now, and the thought of leaving her stable job to pursue her dreams made her feel uneasy. Erika knew that Kanna relied on her, and she felt obligated to stay and continue working as her maid.
Erika decided that she would talk to Kanna about her concerns. Kanna already allowed Erika the time to go to photoshoots, but going full time into modeling was a different situation. Erika knew that it would be difficult to convince Kanna to allow her to leave if she didn't have her blessing, so she would have to find a way to make that happen.
She finished the last bite of cake and stood up from the table. She knew that she would take the opportunity to talk to Kanna tomorrow. 
After a few minutes of cleaning and reorganizing the kitchen, Erika went back to her room. She collapsed on her bed and quickly fell asleep, exhausted from her long day.
----
The next day, Erika woke up refreshed, eager to talk to Kanna and discuss her future with her. As Erika expected, Kanna was in her private den while another maid attendant held her sleeping newborn son in her arms.
"Please, sit down, Erika," Kanna said, motioning for Erika to sit on the couch. "Would you like something to drink?"
"No, thanks," Erika replied. Her eyes darted toward the maid attendant and then back to Kanna. "Can we speak in private?"
Kanna gave a quick nod to the maid attendant, who stepped out of the room with her newborn son. Once the two were alone in the den, Erika's tension eased slightly.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Kanna asked.
"Uh, I wanted to talk about... about my future. You see, I've had my first big break," she said, showing Kanna the magazine which contained her sexy costume photoshoot. "I was thinking about going into modeling full-time."
Kanna picked up the magazine and leafed her fingers to the page Erika bookmarked. She raised an eyebrow. "Oh my, aren't you a fetching catch?" she joked.
Erika blushed profusely. "What do you think?" she asked hopefully.
"I think you're beautiful," Kanna said. "I'm glad you aren't afraid to do this kind of modeling, but you have to be careful about this, too."
"Careful?" Erika gulped, feeling she was being reprimanded by her parents. 
"Modeling is a very competitive business, and you have to be smart about what you do. I don't want you to get hurt. If you want to continue being a model, I'll help you in any way I can, but I'm going to need your promise that you won't get hurt."
"I... I promise," Erika stammered. 
"I'm glad to hear that. I must say, I knew you would leave us one day, but there's no need to hit the ground running. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like, unless you feel your home situation with your parents changed or you decide to live on your own."
"Oh, thank you, Lady Kanna," Erika gushed. "I was wondering how long it would take you to offer me a place to stay! I just don't want to be a burden to you!"
Kanna raised an eyebrow. "You're not a burden. And you can stay as long as you want to. But do you want to? That's all that matters."
"I want to!" Erika enthused.
"I knew you would choose well," Kanna said, smiling. "Now, there is something I would like for you to do for me. Shizuka and Yuki are returning from their trip this afternoon and I would like you to meet them at the train station and bring them back here."
"Okay!" Erika replied.
"You may go. Don't let me keep you. I have things to do."
Erika smiled. "Thank you so much, Lady Kanna. I'll see you later."
"Later, Erika. Be careful."
Erika left Kanna's private den and returned to her duties as well as preparing for her trip to the train station.
----
Shizuka and Yuki made their return to Tokyo. Erika met them at the train station and escorted them back to Kanna's mansion.
"So, how was it?" Erika asked. "Your vacation, I mean."
"It was great," Shizuka said. "We saw a lot of interesting places."
"And took a lot of great pictures," Yuki chimed in. "I can't wait to show them to everyone."
Erika smiled. "I'm sure they're wonderful. I'm so glad you two are back. I've got something to show you."
She handed a magazine to Shizuka and Yuki.
"What is this?" Shizuka asked.
"It's a photoshoot I did while you were gone," Erika explained. "What do you think?"
Shizuka opened the magazine to the appropriate page while Yuki looked over her shoulder. 
"It's bold," Shizuka said simply. "I hope they didn't take advantage of you."
Yuki nodded in agreement. "I was thinking your first magazine spread would be a little more... conservative? How did you land something like this?"
Erika's enthusiasm dimmed slightly. The two people she looked up to most for her future modeling career looked upon her success with reserved skepticism. After all the praise she heard from Megumi and Kanna, she was wondering what they missed that the professional model and photographer were seeing.
"I did this for a magazine that caters to men," Erika explained. "The photographer said I did a great job."
Shizuka looked up from the magazine. "I can't help but feel like you were being exploited in these shots."
Erika's cheeks flared. She was upset that Shizuka was bringing back Erika's own initial feelings on the photoshoot, and she did feel like she was being taken advantage of during the shoot. She had pushed aside those feelings when Megumi praised the photos, but doubt resurfaced in her mind.
"I know it was a bit... raunchy," Erika admitted, "but the photographer gave me a lot of creative freedom."
"You looked like you were being forced to do these things," Shizuka said. "I'm sorry if this upsets you. But I think you should be more careful."
"Of course you're right," Erika said. "I'll be more careful. I'm going to improve and I'll show you all again soon!"
"Thank you for being so honest with us," Yuki said. "We care about you and we want you to succeed."
"Thanks," Erika said. She accepted the magazine back from Shizuka and sighed. She knew Shizuka was right to be worried about her and she had seen through her just by looking at her magazine photos.
The three entered the mansion and Erika led them to Kanna's den, where Kanna was waiting for them.
"Shizuka! Yuki! Welcome home!" Kanna greeted.
"Congratulations on your son," Yuki replied warmly.
Erika quietly stepped out of the den, closing the door behind her.
----
After a few days Erika worked up the nerve to meet with Arisa, her modeling agent. She knew she'd have to meet her agent face-to-face if she wanted to continue her career. Arisa knew the way the modeling industry worked. When she entered Arisa's office, Erika was surprised to see Shizuka and Yuki were there as well. She knew both of them worked for the agency as well, but did not know they would be sitting in on the meeting as well.
"Greetings, Erika," Arisa said, standing up from her desk. "Have a seat."
Erika sat down nervously. Her heart was pounding. She took a deep breath.
"I've heard about your extracurricular modeling escapades," Arisa said. "While I admire your eagerness, please let me handle the arrangements for your own safety."
"I... I understand," Erika said.
"Do you have any questions for me?" her agent asked.
"Um, no," Erika said.
"Then let us begin. Yuki and Shizuka are going to take you to your shoot. This isn't a portfolio-building exercise like before. This is the real thing."
Erika was terrified, but at the same time, she felt a surge of excitement. After the meeting concluded she followed Yuki and Shizuka down the hall to the studio where they would be shooting at. It was a normal shooting set that looked no different than any other set Erika saw, so she turned to the two women for guidance.
"We're going to have you dress in a series of outfits," Shizuka explained. "Pay attention to what Yuki tells you to do and do it. If you are unsure what she's asking you to do, feel free to ask."
Erika's heart pounded as she followed Shizuka into the dressing room. Her gaze fell upon the clothes rack, revealing a cascade of frilly, black and white Gothic Lolita dresses. Her breath hitched.
"We're shooting some Lolita fashion today," Shizuka explained, a warm smile gracing her lips. "I know it's not your usual style, but trust me, you'll look like a princess."
Erika felt a blush creep up her neck. She'd seen Shizuka in Lolita dresses before, but the idea of herself decked out in such attire felt... childish. "A... princess?" she stammered.
"Absolutely," Shizuka affirmed, her eyes sparkling with genuine excitement. "These dresses have always brought me joy, a chance to escape into a world of whimsy and wonder. I want you to experience that too."
Hesitantly, Erika allowed Shizuka to help her into the dress. The layers of lace and ruffles, the delicate bows and buttons-- it was like stepping into a fairytale. As she looked in the mirror, she couldn't help but admit, she didn't look ridiculous. The dress, surprisingly, enhanced her figure, adding a touch of playful elegance.
The dressing room door opened, and Yuki peeked in. "Wow, Erika, you look amazing!"
Erika's cheeks burned a little, but a shy smile blossomed on her lips. "Thank you," she mumbled.
Yuki ushered her onto the set, a simple backdrop transformed into a whimsical garden scene. As Erika stood under the soft spotlights, she felt a flicker of self-consciousness. This wasn't the high-fashion shoot she'd dreamt of.
"Remember, you are a cute, lovely princess," Yuki said. She started making grand gestures with her arms. "Imagine you're a princess living in an epic gothic castle, with handsome vampire butlers at your beck and call."
Erika felt her cheeks flush and chuckled involuntarily. The thought of being a little princess sounded absurd to her ears, but Yuki was completely serious. 
"You can be a vampire, too," Yuki offered.
"Really?" Erika asked.
"Really," Yuki assured, smiling. "It's up to you."
Erika lost track of time as she followed Yuki's direction. She no longer felt self-conscious about the Gothic Lolita dress and became the character she envisioned, even if it wasn't the vampire princess Yuki tried to play it as. In a whirlwind of flashes and poses Erika was brought out of her reverie when it was time to change into another dress. 
Back in the dressing room, Shizuka helped her into the next dress, a confection of strawberry pink ruffles and lace. "Sweet Lolita is my personal favorite," Shizuka confided, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "We're going to go all out for this one."
The transformation this time was even more radical. Shizuka put a long, pink wig over Erika's head, then styled it into curls, topped with a giant, whimsical bonnet. A strawberry-shaped purse completed the ensemble. When Shizuka led her back to the set, Erika gasped.
The backdrop had morphed into a sugary sweet candyland, the set dominated by a giant frosted "cake", complete with pink whipped cream swirls and a sprinkling of candy jewels. 
"Have a seat, your highness," Yuki giggled, gesturing to the cake's summit.
Erika hesitated, then, with a giggle, climbed onto the "cake." Yuki and Shizuka fussed around her, adding finishing touches-– pink hair ribbons, edible flower hairpins. For the first time, the shoot felt truly collaborative, a shared game of make-believe.
"Now, act like you're enjoying a delightful nap on your very own cake," Yuki instructed.
Erika closed her eyes, picturing herself sinking into the soft frosting, surrounded by sweet scents and playful dreams. When she opened them again, it was to Yuki's warm smile and Shizuka's proud thumbs-up.
"I feel like we should be doing more," Erika admitted, a playful glint in her eyes.
Yuki chuckled. "You already are, Erika. You're not just modeling dresses; you're telling stories, creating worlds. Be you, princess."
A genuine smile lit up Erika's face. "I'm not a piece of cake," she declared, the words heavy with newfound confidence, "but I sure know how to enjoy one!"
Yuki's eyes lit up. She whipped out a box, revealing a real, frosted cake in all its decadent glory. "That's the spirit! We're going to have you eat some cake"
Yuki cut a slice of cake and put it on a paper plate. She offered the plate to Erika, along with a small fork. "I'm going to take pictures of you eating this slice of cake. I hope you enjoy it!"
Erika picked up the fork and took an experimental bite of the cake. She took another bite, this time getting a bit more of a feel for the cake. It was actually quite good.
"I think I like this cake."
"Good!" Yuki replied, raising her camera. "I'm glad you like it. You can have as much as you want!"
Erika took more dainty bites out of the slice of cake as Yuki took pictures of her from various angles. She found the idea of this kind of a shoot weird, but she was dressed like a cake eating a cake, so it was par for course.
After a few minutes of Erika slowly eating the cake, Yuki finished taking pictures. 
"We're done with this set," the photographer announced. "Go on ahead and get changed into the next dress."
Erika hopped off the "cake" with eyes glued to the remaining slice. Her gaze drifted downwards, drawn by the siren song of frosting and fluffy white filling. Suddenly, her towering platform shoes betrayed her, catching on the edge of the "cake" mountain. Her foot shot out, sending her toppling forward.
In a graceful swan dive, Erika plunged face-first into the soft, sugary embrace. A squelch resounded as frosting smeared across her nose, cheeks, and lips. Yuki's concerned cry was drowned out by Erika's own surprised yelps, followed by a fit of giggles that erupted from somewhere between her frosting-caked eyelashes.
"Erika, are you okay?" Yuki asked, hovering around her.
Erika, still giggling hysterically, mumbled from within the cake's depths, "More cake than face... but yes... fine."
With a valiant effort, she lifted her head, leaving a perfect mold of her features in the pastry. Licking her lips, she declared, "This frosting isn't bad!"
Seeing her friend's unrepentant glee, Yuki's concern melted into amusement. "Need some help, princess?"
Erika, now sporting a frosting mustache and hair styled in sticky peaks, grinned. "I'm good. Maybe... you should capture it for posterity?"
Yuki, unable to resist, whipped out her camera. Click. The shutter immortalized Erika in all her pastry-coated glory.
Erika gasped, eyes wide at the picture. "Oh goodness," she squeaked, wiping frosting from her lashes, "I look like I took the cake thing a little too literally!"
"You did," Yuki chuckled, "but in the best way possible. Don't worry, clumsy moments make the best memories."
Erika sighed, then, overcome by another wave of giggles, planted her face back in the cake with a contented sigh.
After she collected herself Erika returned to the dressing room to change into her next Lolita dress, where Shizuka was waiting for her. She looked at Erika curiously when she had cake stains all over her, but shrugged and simply helped her into the next Lolita dress.
"I've been thinking," Erika said as she changed. "Changing outfits like this is exhausting. We've only gone through two dresses so far and it hasn't even been an hour yet."
"That's how quick it usually goes," Shizuka replied. "It's very high energy work."
The rest of the photoshoot went by in a blur for Erika. In total she wore seven different Lolita dresses over the course of two hours. As she was used to working hard, long hours as a maid her body was still in good shape, but Erika found the lightning fast direction and schedule mentally draining.
At the end of the photoshoot, Shizuka helped Erika into her own clothes. 
"I don't know how you do it," Erika said as she buttoned her blouse. "I can barely remember what happened anymore."
"You'll get used to it in time," Shizuka assured her. "Yuki is a very talented photographer and she brings out the best in her models."
Erika nodded, but she couldn't help but wonder if her 'model' status was actually the reason why Shizuka had been so kind to her.
"Thanks again for the opportunity," Erika said, bowing politely. "You're the reason I want to go into modeling and your work is inspiring."
Shizuka kept her expression neutral. "Inspiring, huh?"
"Absolutely. You are so comfortable in your own skin. I saw 'Masquerade of Moonlight' and you were so brave to do those scenes, especially the naked pole dance."
Shizuka winced at the mention of the pole dance scene. "I see. Well, Erika, it doesn't have a lot to do with bravery."
Erika frowned. "What do you mean? I would be scared to do a scene like that."
Shizuka put her hands on Erika's shoulders and looked at her seriously. "Erika, sometimes when we're hired for a job we might be asked to do something we don't like. It's up to us on an individual basis to know how far you're willing to go. What I might do is not necessarily what you want to do."
Erika nodded slowly. She knew Shizuka was referring to her raunchy magazine spread from the other day. She felt she would never have agreed to do that shoot if she knew better.
"I see," Erika said. "I'm sorry if I gave you the impression that I didn't respect your work."
"No need to apologize," Shizuka said, waving her away. "We all go through it as models. There's a lot of things I've done I'm not proud of. You'll make your own mistakes in time. Just remember that it's all part of the process. As long as you remember why you became a model and keep working toward that, it'll work out. Even if it's something that seems as insurmountable as tripping and falling into a cake."
Erika flinched. "Oh... you saw that."
Shizuka shrugged. "Everybody makes mistakes."
Erika bit her lip and looked away. She had a sudden image of herself of falling into a chocolate fountain and being covered in chocolate.
Shizuka patted her on the shoulder. "You know, that can be an endearing trait that's uniquely you. It's all a matter of how you present yourself, after all."
Erika looked up at her, confused.
Shizuka smiled. "I know you're thinking, how can anyone find that so endearing? Well, if you look at it another way, you are a cute girl who needs love and protection because she puts herself in danger. You just need a little change in perspective to turn what seems like a weakness into a strength."
Erika thought about that as she walked down the stairs of the building. She wondered if the same could be said for her life as a model. A little more perspective was all she needed, she decided. Erika did not really understand what Shizuka was getting at about making her clumsiness into a strength. But if she worked really hard at it, she could probably get there. Maybe there was hope for her yet.
She made her way to the Akihabara maid cafe where Megumi worked, and was greeted by her friend at the door. The two went to a table near the back of the dining room, then Megumi went to the kitchen and returned with a cup of tea.
"So, I heard you had a photoshoot today," Megumi said.
Erika nodded. "It was a shoot with Yuki. We did shots of me in seven Lolita dresses. It was such a whirlwind that I barely remember what happened."
"Did you have fun?" Megumi asked.
"Well, it was hard, but it was fun. I think I'll have a blast doing more shoots with her."
Megumi smiled. "Good. I really like her, so I'm glad you decided to work with her."
"She's really nice," Erika said, smiling. "I'm glad, too."
Megumi patted Erika's hand. "You have a natural talent for it. You're perfect for it."
Erika rolled her eyes. "I'm not that good."
"Oh, but you are," Megumi said. "You're better than you think. I know these things."
Erika smiled. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
The two sat in silence for a moment.
"You know, Shizuka was there, too," Erika added. "She suggested I can become a better model if I turn my weakness into a strength."
Megumi nodded. "That's a good one."
"The thing is, my weakness clearly is my clumsiness. I don't know what I can do about that."
Megumi thought about that for a moment. "You can be more careful. Take more time when you do something. And maybe, try to think before you act. That's all you can do, really."
"Yeah, I guess." Erika pursed her lips. "But does it really make that much of a difference in the end?"
Megumi shrugged. "Who knows? It might."
Erika paid the bill, and as she was leaving, Megumi called after her. 
"Oh, and Erika?"
Erika stopped and looked back.
Megumi smiled and waved at her. "Go for it."
Erika smiled. "Thanks, Megumi."
----
That night, Erika dreamed she was in Shizuka's latest movie, "Masquerade of Moonlight". She was completely naked, with her skin painted white, standing next to a large, brass pole, just as she remembered Shizuka's character in the movie. She felt very self-conscious as a disembodied voice ordered her to do a pole dance.
Erika had never pole danced before, and she was very nervous. She had to balance herself on the pole by grabbing it with both hands. She was shaking and very unsure of herself.
The whole time she was up there she was focused on her performance. But she was unable to focus on her work, and after two rounds of it, she was exhausted. And then, all she had to do was walk off the pole. That was the easy part.
But she was shaking so badly that she missed the step and fell.
Then she was on the ground, looking up at the shocked faces of the people watching her. She was embarrassed. She got back up on her feet and tried again, and again she missed the step. She was flailing as she fell again, and then she was lying on the ground, looking up at the people who were now laughing at her.
"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" she cried. "I don't know what happened!"
But then a hand was touching her shoulder. A soft, gentle hand. "Are you okay?" a voice asked her.
She turned her head and saw a girl with lilac hair standing over her. The girl's face was gentle and kind. She looked down at Erika and put a hand on her shoulder. "I think you're really talented," she said, giving Erika a warm smile.
Erika turned away from the girl and looked up at the people who were staring down at her. "I'm...I'm really sorry," she said. "I don't know what happened...!"
The girl put a hand on Erika's shoulder again, and she looked up at her with pleading eyes.
"It's okay," said the girl. "Everyone's just having a good laugh. It'll be alright."
Then the girl walked away, leaving Erika with a warm, encouraging smile.
Erika stood up, and walked off the stage, with her head held high. She walked away from the crowd of laughing people, and the stage was empty once again.
She was not sure why, but she felt proud of herself. She felt like she had done a good thing. She felt like she was someone who could take care of herself. And she felt like she was someone who could be kind to others, even if it might make them laugh at her.
She felt like... she felt like she was just like Shizuka.
Erika woke up from her dream with a smile on her face. She realized that she was happy, and it felt good. It felt like a good dream. She knew she wanted to follow Shizuka's footsteps as a successful fashion model and have the kindness to encourage others to follow. 
Erika got up from bed, and went to her closet to get dressed, putting on her maid uniform. While she aspired to become a model she still had her duties as a maid. She had to go to work.
She went to the bathroom to brush her teeth, and wash her face. While she brushed her teeth she thought about her dream. She thought about how she wanted to be kind to others, and how kind Shizuka was. 
Erika thought about how she could help people, and how that could be fun. She thought about how kind Shizuka was, and how kind Shizuka had been to her. She thought about how she could be like Shizuka. 
----
Megumi put on her biggest smile when Yuki entered the maid cafe. Yuki's schedule was so busy that she did not have time to come to the maid cafe as much as before, but when she did come Megumi made sure to make her feel extra welcome.
"Welcome, master," Megumi greeted her, bowing low.
"Hello Megumi. How are you doing?" Yuki asked her.
"I'm fine, Yuki. How have you been?"
"I'm good, Megumi. How's your work?"
"It's fine. I'm doing the dishes, actually. Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"Yeah, that'd be great."
Megumi walked to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. She had a small smile on her face. It seemed to Yuki that Megumi was happier than she had been before.
"Here it is, just the way you want it," Megumi said, handing Yuki a cup of coffee.
"Thanks, Megumi. So, how have you been lately?" Yuki said, taking a sip of the coffee.
"I've been fine," Megumi said. She paused for a moment, looking at the table. "I think I have to tell you something, Yuki."
"What is it?"
"I missed you," she said, sitting at the table and grasping Yuki's free hand. "You're my girlfriend and we haven't been hanging around for a while."
"I'm sorry, Megumi," Yuki said. "I've been really busy with work."
"I know. But I've missed you. I missed you so much."
"I missed you too, Megumi."
"Yuki, I missed you so much. I want you to be with me."
Yuki leaned in closer and whispered into Megumi's ear. "I want to take you right now, but you're working and we'd cause problems for your boss if we did it right now."
"So, when?" Megumi asked. "When can we see each other?"
"How about we meet at your place after you get off work?"
"Okay, I'll see you then."
Megumi smiled and took a step closer to Yuki, before turning around and walking to the kitchen. Yuki finished her coffee and left the cafe. 
Megumi had a notable spring in her step for the rest of her shift that her coworkers noticed, and whispered gossip suggested that she and Yuki were about to do something special. Megumi paid it no mind as her head was in the clouds now that she was on the verge of reconnecting with her girlfriend after her extended work trip. She was so happy that she finished her shift a few minutes early and rushed home.
When Yuki walked into her apartment, she felt the butterflies in her stomach again.
"Welcome, darling," Megumi purred, letting Yuki into her apartment. She smiled at Yuki, walking towards her with a hand extended. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too, Megumi."
Megumi wrapped her arms around Yuki, hugging her tightly. Yuki reciprocated, hugging Megumi back. Their embrace was passionate, and Megumi felt her heart pounding in her chest.
Megumi broke the hug, staring into Yuki's eyes. "Do you like me in this dress?" she asked. Megumi slowly pulled down her purple dress so her midriff was clearly visible. Yuki nodded, smiling.
"You look great, Megumi."
Megumi beamed at Yuki. "I wore this because I knew you'd like it."
"I love it on you, Megumi. It's very you."
Megumi giggled. "Really? You think so?"
"Of course. I love you, Megumi."
"I love you too, Yuki."
Megumi pulled Yuki into another passionate hug. This time, Yuki reciprocated. Their hug was even longer and deeper than the first one.
Megumi broke the hug, looking into Yuki's eyes. "I'm going to make you feel really good, Yuki."
"I know you will, Megumi."
Megumi smiled and turned around, heading towards her bedroom. She stopped once again and turned around. "Will you take off your clothes for me?" she asked.
Yuki laughed. "Yes, I will."
Megumi walked back to Yuki, who removed her clothes in record time. Megumi's clothes took longer, but she was undressed and in her bed within five minutes.
"Come on, let's do this," Megumi said, pulling Yuki towards her. 
They both got into bed, and Megumi immediately wrapped her arms around Yuki, and kissed her deeply. Yuki reciprocated, loving the passion she felt from Megumi.
The two made love of grand proportions, unleashing their weeks long of frustrations in one go. 
When they finished, Megumi rolled off of Yuki, smiling. "That was great, Yuki," she said.
"It was, Megumi," Yuki agreed, smiling back. 
Megumi propped herself up on her elbow. "I want to do this again, Yuki," she said.
"I'd love that, Megumi."
Megumi and Yuki decided to go through another round of love making, this one more fantastic than the first one. 
When they finished, Megumi smiled at her girlfriend. "This feels even better, Yuki," she said.
"I know it does, Megumi. I'm glad you like it too."
Megumi smiled, and held Yuki's hand. 
"I have a question for you, Yuki."
"What's that?"
"Do you like me?"
Yuki laughed. "Of course I do, Megumi. Why do you ask?"
"You spend so much time with Shizuka. You work together a lot and even live together."
Yuki sat up in the bed. "Wait, are you jealous of Shizuka?"
"Of course not!" Megumi claimed, her cheeks turning a deep shade of pink. "I'm just curious if you like her."
"I do. She's my best friend. She's great."
"You must know that people think you're more than friends. As your girlfriend, people bother me about it all the time."
"People can think what they want, Megumi."
"I want to be with you, Yuki, but it feels like if I am in a relationship with you I must be in a relationship with Shizuka, too."
"I don't understand."
Megumi paused. "I don't want to be in two relationships. I want to be with you, not her."
Yuki held Megumi's hand. "Megumi, that's not fair. Shizuka is my best friend. You can't make me choose between her and you."
"I want you to choose me, Yuki."
"I do, Megumi. I really do."
Megumi smiled. "Then, please move in with me."
"What?"
"I want you to move in with me, so that we can be together. I want to be your girlfriend. I love you, Yuki."
Yuki blinked a few times as she took in Megumi's words. She had heard these words before with her previous girlfriend, the idol singer Nana. That time she accepted, but agonized moving out from Shizuka's apartment. When the relationship fell through Shizuka welcomed her back without question. Yuki had a feeling that if she moved out this time there would be no turning back this time. 
Yuki was at a loss for words. She had hoped for this, but deep down she was afraid that Megumi would be too clingy. She had a feeling that Megumi would make her life miserable if she didn't move in with her. 
"I-I don't know," Yuki stuttered.
"Please don't say that you're not going to move in with me, Yuki. I need you. I need your support, your companionship, your love."
Yuki stared at Megumi. She was starting to see a side of her that she hadn't seen before, and her gut was telling her that she didn't like it. Yuki knew from previous failed relationships that she let people push her around too easily and this emotional appeal was setting off alarms for her. She liked Megumi and she enjoyed the sex, but Megumi was pressuring her based on the passion of the moment. 
"I need time to think," Yuki said, rolling out of bed and heading for the bathroom.
"Please, don't do this," Megumi pleaded. "Please don't make me wait for you."
Yuki heard the desperation in Megumi's voice. She had been hurt before, and Yuki didn't want to be hurt again. She sighed deeply. "I'll let you know tomorrow."
"Thank you," Megumi said, the desperation evident in her voice. "I'll be waiting."
Yuki closed the door to the bathroom, leaving Megumi standing there in tears. She turned on the shower, hoping that the water would drown out the crying. She thought about it, and decided that she wouldn't be able to do it; the sex was simply not good enough for Yuki to have this kind of a relationship. She didn't want to deal with a clingy, jealous girlfriend monopolizing her time. She would need to keep her distance from Megumi.
When Yuki got dressed and left Megumi's apartment it was already late in the evening. She made her way back to her apartment, where Shizuka was already home, sitting on the couch playing video games.
"So how was your little date?" Shizuka asked.
"It wasn't a date," Yuki corrected her, irritated. "I mean, Megumi asked me if I wanted to move in with her, but I'm not going to do that. She was being too clingy."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Shizuka said, not sounding at all sorry. She paused her video game and stood up from the couch to meet Yuki's gaze. "So... I take it it didn't go very well."
"Of course it didn't. We just had different interests. Her interests were too focused on herself and the sex."
"Hmm, sounds like you don't like her too much," Shizuka observed.
"I like her," Yuki said. "I just want our relationship to be based on something more substantial than sex." She turned and stared intently at Shizuka. "She asked me to choose between her and you. Can you believe that?"
"I take it by the fact you're going on a tear about it that you didn't pick her," Shizuka said flatly.
"I mean, it's true, you're the most important person in my life," Yuki admitted. "Even if it isn't a romantic one, I just want people to accept that."
"I would never ask you to choose me over her."
Yuki looked away, not wanting to see the disappointment in her friend's eyes. "I know."
"Look, she's young," Shizuka said. "I don't think you should write Megumi off so easily. She may have made an honest mistake."
"Why?"
"I don't want to be the reason you broke up with her."
Yuki sighed. "You're not the reason, she's the reason."
"Of course, but maybe you're being a little too quick to run away from her."
"She's the reason why I want to cut her off. If you were in my shoes, would you want to be with her?"
Shizuka opened her mouth, but stopped. Yuki knew that Shizuka had no reasonable experience in relationships so there was nothing she could say. She wanted to relish in this small victory, but knew it was a hollow one.
"I'm going to go to bed," Yuki said. "Good night."
Yuki walked away from Shizuka and towards her bedroom. She was halfway there when Shizuka called out to her. 
"Yuki, wait!"
She turned around to see that Shizuka was now following her. 
"What?"
"I think you should give Megumi another chance."
"What?" Yuki asked, raising an eyebrow. "I thought you said she made a mistake."
"I think she's a good person," Shizuka said, her voice growing a little more earnest. "She's young and she hasn't had the same kind of life experiences you had. She makes you happy and you shouldn't be so quick to run away at the first sign of trouble. There's things she can give you that I can't ever give you. And frankly, she's not the only one that makes mistakes."
"I know I makes mistakes," Yuki said. "Megumi just makes dumber mistakes."
"Then maybe she'll learn from them."
Yuki turned to face Shizuka, incredulous. "You really think she'll learn from her mistakes?"
"I don't know," Shizuka admitted. "I'm just saying she's worth giving a second chance."
Yuki stared at her friend. She had never heard Shizuka talk like this before. She found it absurd that her aromantic best friend was giving her relationship advice. "We'll see," was all she could offer, wanting to get away from this argument as soon as she could.
Yuki turned around and headed for her bedroom.
----
At the same time, Megumi was still in her own apartment, panicking and not knowing what to do. She felt like she may have pushed Yuki away from her. But how could she have? They were friends.
She pulled out her phone and called Erika. 
"Hello?"
"Hey, Erika, it's Megumi. I'm freaking out."
"I'm sorry, Megumi. Did something happen?"
"Yeah..." Megumi lowered her voice. "I think I might have pushed Yuki away."
"What do you mean? Did you do something?"
"I... I asked Yuki to move in with me, and she didn't say yes right away like I hoped," Megumi explained. "And we got in a fight over it."
"Oh." Erika sounded disappointed. "I'm so sorry, Megumi. Did you do something to make her angry?"
"No! No, it wasn't my fault! I asked her to move in with me because I... I wanted to spend more time with her."
"That's not it," Erika surmised. "I've worked with Yuki. She's not like that."
"I know, but... I don't know. We got into a fight and now she won't even talk to me. I can't reach her."
"Maybe that's the problem."
"What?"
"Are you... chain calling her or something?"
"Huh?" Megumi asked, taken aback. "Her phone wasn't picking up, so I called again."
"Megumi, stop doing that," Erika said. "That's annoying."
"I know, but I can't reach her and I don't know what to do!"
"Just wait."
"Wait for what?"
"She'll call you back when she's not angry with you. Don't act like a needy girl."
"I'm not a needy girl," Megumi said, sounding irritated.
"Yes, you are. I'll talk to you later, okay?"
"Okay. Bye."
Megumi ended the call and let out a sigh. What was so wrong with her wanting to be with her girlfriend? She didn't like the idea of her girlfriend spending so much time with another woman, especially one she wasn't in an actual relationship with. But Yuki wouldn't have been upset if Megumi had been the one moving out. It was the other way around and Megumi found that very strange.
She picked up her phone again and dialed Yuki's number. It was going straight to voicemail.
"Hey, it's me. Leave a message."
"Yuki, it's Megumi. Are you okay? Please call me back. I really want to talk to you."
There was no response.
She ended the call and slumped in her chair. It seemed that her attempts to talk to her girlfriend were going to waste. What should she do now? She decided to wait a little longer. Maybe Yuki would call back. Or maybe she wouldn't. But it was worth a shot.
Megumi was too disheartened to do anything else, so she headed to her room and laid down on her bed.
----
Yuki lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She counted Megumi's attempts to call her at four and felt the urge to simply shut off her phone for the night. She didn't know what she could have done differently. She had been kind, understanding, sympathetic, patient, and understanding. It was all she could have done.
She just found Megumi being clingy irritating beyond words. It was true that Yuki had not been around for her much lately, but she had not foreseen the true depths of desperation in Megumi's eyes, like a child who desperately wanted to cling to her parents as much as possible. She felt bad for Megumi, as it seemed she was being left behind, but she wasn't willing to give up her life for Megumi. 
On the other hand, Shizuka was right that Megumi did not have the same life experiences Yuki had. If Yuki reflected on it more, Megumi was at the point in her life Yuki remembered she was struggling to make her way into photography. Yuki had no doubt that Megumi didn't want to stay working at a maid cafe for the rest of her life. It was just that Megumi didn't have any other better options at this moment. If anything, it was clear that Megumi wanted out of that life and hitching herself to Yuki was an immediate out.
Yuki didn't know what to do. She was going to have to talk to Megumi about this. She couldn't just ignore it. But she didn't want to talk to Megumi about this right now. The more she thought about it, the more she realized she wanted to wait until she had a better grasp of the situation. Maybe she could talk to Megumi about this while they went out for a meal together. That way, Megumi would see Yuki's kindness for what it was and stop pestering her so much.
Yuki got up from her bed and picked up her phone. She would call Megumi and ask her out to a restaurant. Megumi would get the message and stop pestering her. Yuki would be able to get some distance from the situation. And then Yuki would have time to come up with the right words to explain that she couldn't keep on being Megumi's shoulder to cry on.
----
Yuki made sure to schedule a reservation at Megumi's favorite restaurant on the weekend both to give Megumi a hopeful sign on their relationship while giving her time to think about what to say. She dressed in a nice skirt and blouse and waited at her table patiently for Megumi to arrive.
Megumi arrived on time. She was wearing a bright pink jacket and matching hat. She ran over to Yuki and hugged her happily. She smelled so good, like apples and flowers.
"You look nice, Yuki," Megumi said. "You clean up well."
Yuki smiled. "Thanks. I'm glad you like it."
"I love it. It's so cute." Megumi smiled.
Yuki gestured toward the seat across from her and Megumi sat down. The two ordered their food quickly, Yuki knowing that she was going to be picking up the tab for this meal.
"So, how've you been doing, Megumi?" Yuki asked, deciding to start off the conversation.
"I've been hanging out with Erika a lot, but other than that I'm good. I'm glad you decided to come to the restaurant," Megumi said.
Yuki nodded and smiled. She did not want to get to the meat of the issue until after dinner was served. It would not do to potentially cause a fight before they ate. The two women ate in silence, savoring their dinners.
After they finished eating, Yuki got right to the point. "So, Megumi, do you want to talk about what's been bothering you?"
Megumi looked down at her lap. "I've been wanting to talk to you about it for a while now."
"Is something wrong?" Yuki asked. "You can tell me."
"No, nothing like that," Megumi said. "It's just..." She looked up at the ceiling and sighed. She reached out and held Yuki's hand. "You're right. I am jealous of Shizuka. I am jealous of how much time you spend with her instead of me."
Yuki wanted to protest, but decided to be patient. "Why are you jealous of me and Shizuka?"
Megumi bit her lip nervously. "I don't know. I mean, you two are so close. You spend a lot of time together. You publicly declared her your soulmate. What am I supposed to be if she's always closer to you than I could ever be?"
Yuki took a moment to think. "I don't know. But Shizuka is my best friend. We have boundaries. We found out a long time ago that we weren't romantically compatible. We've been living our lives perfectly happy with our friendship. Are you asking me to give that up?"
Megumi averted her eyes. "No, I'm sorry. I just...I love you so much, Yuki. You're everything to me. I don't want to lose you."
Yuki bit her lip nervously. "I love you too, Megumi. I'm not going to give you up. But I think it's best if you take some time to get to know Shizuka better. She's a wonderful person. You'll enjoy being friends with her. I'm sure you two will be great together."
Megumi shook her head. "No, I can't do that. I don't want having a relationship with you meaning I have a relationship with her. I am a fan of Shizuka, but that is not the same as wanting her to be a part of my life in that way."
Yuki felt the tension building up in her body. She knew all about Megumi's nerdy little Shizuka shrine. Megumi collected anime figurines of characters Shizuka portrayed and put them in a little cabinet. Yuki found it funny that she worshiped her best friend like this, but it seems that admiration turned into intense jealousy with the advance of her relationship with Megumi. She did not know how she could continue this conversation without losing her temper. But fortunately, Megumi's calmness carried over to her. Yuki felt the familiar calmness envelop her and she was able to keep her cool.
"I know you love me, Megumi. I do. But I wonder if you would understand my position better if I asked you to end your friendship with Erika to stay with me."
Megumi looked down at her lap. She bit her lip nervously. "I...I understand your concern, but I'm not willing to give up my friendship with her. I'm sorry."
Yuki sighed. "That's not the point. What I'm saying is asking that of you is what you're asking of me with Shizuka."
Megumi looked away. She averted her eyes.
Yuki knew she had Megumi on her page and pressed onward. "Relationships aren't about what we sacrifice for each other, Megumi. We're adults. I'm not asking you to give up anything you enjoy for me. A good relationship is about communication and compromises. About trust, honesty, and respect. I think you can agree to all of those things, yes?"
Megumi looked up at her, eyes wide. "Y-yes. Yes, I can agree to that. I just... I love you so much, Yuki. I don't want anything to come between us."
Yuki nodded. "I don't want anything to come between us either. I don't want to fight or argue with you. I know we have our little problems. I don't want to lose you, Megumi. So I think we should try our best to work them out together. What do you say?"
Megumi nodded slowly. "I...I think you're right."
Yuki smiled. "Great. I'm glad we got that straightened out." 
"Is that a promise?" Megumi asked, her eyes shining.
"It is."
"Thank you."
Yuki paid for the meal and the two walked out of the restaurant together. Megumi wrapped her arms around Yuki's midriff, resting her head on Yuki's left shoulder. Yuki patted Megumi's back. Megumi turned her head to the side and gave Yuki a quick peck on the cheek. Yuki wrapped her arms around Megumi's waist and the two girls walked to Megumi's apartment together. When they arrived at the apartment, Megumi unlocked the door with her key. Yuki followed Megumi inside. 
"Thanks for the walk, Yuki."
"Anytime. See you later, Megumi."
Megumi waved as Yuki turned and walked towards her door. Yuki had her hand on the door before she turned around. She had a small smile on her face.
"You know," Yuki said, "there's no reason we can't make some compromises now."
Megumi froze in place, her expression serious. "Compromise?"
Yuki smiled reassuringly, releasing her hand on the door and walking closer to Megumi, swaying her hips purposefully. "Well, I did come all this way to your apartment, and it is getting kind of late...." 
Megumi looked at the floor. "W-well, I guess, but...."
Yuki held up Megumi by the chin and looked into her eyes. "We both can agree that our bedroom activities are top rate, right?" 
Megumi's eyes widened and her face flushed. "Uh, well yeah. But that's not what I meant."
Yuki kissed Megumi lightly on the lips. "We're both adults. We're going to work on our relationship, right? So, we might as well start with the fun parts of it, right?"
Megumi's eyes widened.
A few minutes later they had the wildest make-up sex they dreamed of. They stayed up for hours that night talking and laughing. 
The next morning, they spent the next few hours shut up in Megumi's bedroom, making love again.
When they finished, they lay side by side on the bed, catching their breath. Yuki caressed Megumi's cheek and looked into her eyes. "I had the strangest dream last night," Yuki said.
"Really? What was it?" Megumi asked.
"I dreamed that I was writing the story for a manga. I dreamed that I was writing a story where you and I were the main characters."
Megumi kissed Yuki on the lips. "That was a lovely dream, Yuki."
Yuki smiled and hugged Megumi tightly. "I know it was."
Yuki and Megumi sat up in bed and looked around the dark room, listening to the silence.
"I guess we should get up," Yuki said.
"Yeah, I guess so," Megumi replied.
The girls climbed out of bed and stumbled around the room. The two walked into the bathroom and stepped into the shower together. Megumi grabbed a washcloth and soap and washed Yuki's back. She leaned her forehead against Yuki's back and watched the shower stream water over Yuki's back.
"I love you, Yuki."
"I love you too, Megumi."
Yuki stepped out of the shower and Megumi washed her hair. They both got dressed and made their way back to the bedroom.
Yuki leaned over and kissed Megumi quickly on the lips. "I've got to go."
"Okay. See you later, Yuki."
Yuki walked out of the apartment and Megumi shut the door behind her. Once she was on her way to the train station Yuki pulled out her phone, noting that Shizuka left her a text message.
Shizuka's message read, "I guess you made up with Megumi. Have fun."
Yuki laughed, knowing that was just like her friend to be so needlessly blunt like that. It was good to have friends who didn't mince their words.
Yuki smiled to herself and made her way to the train station.
----
While Yuki was on her way back to the apartment, Shizuka was on her way to a meeting with Arisa at work. Thanks to the success of her latest film Shizuka was in more demand than ever, and Arisa spent a lot of her time sorting through the requests to find a job that she knew Shizuka would like.
She entered Arisa's office, finding her sitting behind her desk and staring at her computer monitor as she usually did. Shizuka had no doubt Arisa was reading some spreadsheets, but secretly wanted to believe her agent was really playing video games when nobody was looking.
Arisa looked up and smiled when she saw Shizuka enter. "What a day, huh?"
Shizuka shrugged and sat down in the chair opposite Arisa's desk. "I hope the offers are good this time."
Arisa nodded. Ever since Shizuka's last film became a huge hit at the theaters a lot of companies contacted her with offers. Arisa spent a lot of time sorting through the offers, filtering them with Shizuka's preferences in work in mind. Shizuka's last film had her playing a ruthless assassin who was also a submissive maid and Arisa made sure to avoid anything that was too similar to that.
"I've narrowed it down to three."
Shizuka raised her eyebrow. "Any action films?"
"Not this time, Shizuka. I think this is a good chance for you to show a softer side."
Shizuka rolled her eyes. "That's not the type of film I want to be making, Arisa. And I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to pull it off."
Arisa shook her head. "The critics and audiences weren't raving about your latest film because of your action girl scenes, it was your vulnerable scenes as the submissive maid. A lot of studios want to see more of that out of you because you were so good at selling it."
Shizuka frowned. "It was very taxing to do it, too."
"Just hear me out, okay? You don't have to accept any of the roles."
"Alright then, let's hear it."
Arisa took a deep breath. "I have a film that I think you'll enjoy. It's a bit different from your last film, but I think you'd be perfect for it."
"What's the film?"
"It's a fantasy film set in medieval times. The main character, a girl, is chosen by fate to be the slayer of a certain vampire."
Shizuka raised an eyebrow. "That's... a bit different from what I was expecting, but it sounds interesting."
Arisa held up a hand. "Hang on, you're not being considered for the heroine, you're being considered for the vampire, who is based off Elizabeth Bathory."
"Who's that?"
"She was a Hungarian countess who was accused of killing dozens of young girls and bathing their blood in a bathtub before draining them."
"Holy crap, that's sick."
"I know. The vampire in the film is based on her, so you'd be playing a character that's based on a real person."
Shizuka shook her head. The idea of bathing in blood made her stomach turn. "Let's hear the next one."
"Well, the next film is set in modern times, but it's still got a fantastical element to it. It's a story of a young girl who finds herself in a strange world where she must make friends with a boy who has amnesia. The two of them go on an adventure to find out who he really is."
"Wait, amnesia? That's a pretty standard plot device. Why are you going off of that?"
"Well, the film is based on a manga by the same name. So, the story is original."
Shizuka sighed. "So what's the third option?" she asked.
"This film is a period piece set in feudal Japan. The main character is a girl who is chosen by the Shogun to be a guardian of a boy who will one day become the Shogun."
"Wait, what? I thought we were going for a softer image?"
"We are. This is just a different type of story. I think it'll be interesting for you. I know at first glance it sounds like an action movie, but it's about the relationship of the boy and the girl."
Shizuka lowered her head in consideration. She previously appeared on three television period dramas based on that period, but always as a secondary character like a lord's daughter or wife. She also had several previous roles as an action girl so she was no stranger to playing that, either. Shizuka was fond of wearing fancy kimonos in the television period dramas and wondered if she would get to wear such nice clothes as a guardian for the future Shogun. Her eyes lit up as she imagined it.
"Set up the meeting," Shizuka decided. "We'll let them know I'm interested and we'll see where it goes from there."
"Alright," Arisa replied. "Anything you want. I'll let you know when they want to meet with you."
----
Megumi became anxious after the announcement at the maid cafe. As a way to raise the profile of the maid cafe the owner managed to get the maids to appear on a late night variety show. However, the variety show was well known to have a multi-part obstacle course that was meant to humiliate the contestants running it. Megumi was picked as one of the maids to appear on the show, but she did not want to run the obstacle course and humiliate herself on national television.
The owner of the maid cafe gave Megumi an option to decline the role, but Megumi would be heavily penalized if she did not participate. The biggest penalty would be her demotion from a 'senior maid' back down to 'trainee maid' which was one of the lowest positions of the maids and essentially put her on probation. Megumi considered the matter and decided she would rather be humiliated on national television.
The day of the filming for the show arrived and Megumi ran to the studio early to get ready. The maids were instructed to wear their maid uniforms as part of the promotion of the maid cafe, and Megumi was glad she had spares because she had no illusions that her uniform would survive the obstacle course's notoriously messy reputation.
The owner warned the maids they were not to break character. That is, they were to remain happy, cute, and cheerful no matter how humiliating it got because their appearances on the show is meant to promote the maid cafe. The instruction only put more pressure on the maids, and Megumi felt certain that more than one of them would break character.
Megumi was led to the set of the show where she saw her coworkers getting ready. Megumi nervously followed the staff and then the show's MC to the stage. She stood in front of the MC with her fellow maids and the MC looked her up and down.
"Alright, you're up," the MC said, and the show began.
The MC introduced the show with the theme that the maids were there to promote the maid cafe, and the first part of the show was meant to promote that. The MC asked the maids to introduce themselves and their job at the maid cafe, and gave them a moment to speak. Megumi nervously looked around as the other maids went up on stage to speak. She felt a lump in her throat when she saw her coworkers speak about their jobs and themselves. The MC took this opportunity to make a few cracks about the maids being up on stage, and the audience responded with hoots and jeers.
Megumi felt her face redden and her eyes become teary as she heard the audience make offensive comments. But she did her best to keep a smile on her face and keep her head held high. She did not want to let the other maids, or herself, think that she was offended by the audience's comments.
Once the maids were finished with their introduction segments, the MC asked the maids to participate in a quiz show, asking for three volunteers. The MC said that the quiz show would consist of general trivia about Japan and that each of the maids would be asked a question and would have three seconds to respond. The maid who scored the lowest points would be punished. Megumi was hesitant to volunteer, but raised her hand anyway because she did not want to be the only one who did not.
As she expected, Megumi and two of her coworkers were picked to do the quiz. The three of them stepped up to three podiums, each with a button to press to answer the question. They were warned that the timer would start as soon as they pressed the button, and they should answer the question and speak as fast as they could.
"Okay, first question!" the MC announced. "What city is the ancient capital of Japan?"
The maid to Megumi's left buzzed in immediately. "Tokyo!"
"No, wrong!" the MC replied, and the audience laughed at her.
Megumi pressed the button to answer. "Actually, it's Kyoto," she said.
"Correct!" the MC announced, along with applause from the audience. "Kyoto is the ancient capital!"
The maid to Megumi's left gasped in disbelief. Megumi rolled her eyes, wondering if she didn't hear the complete question, was impulsive, or was a complete airhead.
The MC then went to the next question. "Next question! Who was the first Kamakura Shogun?"
Megumi's hand hovered over the button as she tried to think of an answer. Before she could come to a conclusion, the maid to her right buzzed in. "Minamoto no Yoritomo."
"Correct!" the MC exclaimed. 
Megumi looked to the maid on her right, and realized she had competition. 
"Third question! What is the name of the Shogun who built Osaka Castle?"
The maid on Megumi's right buzzed in immediately. "Oh, I know this one! It's Toyotomi Hideyoshi!" 
"Wrong!"
"What? I can't be wrong!?"
Megumi decided to buzz in. "It's a trick question. No Shogun built Osaka Castle."
"Correct!" The MC announced. "Toytomi Hideyoshi was never Shogun!"
"I can't believe this," the maid to the right muttered.
Megumi held her head high. She knew she was not going to get punished for this quiz segment. The quiz proceeded as she expected, with very basic history questions, with her and the maid on her left competing for points and the maid on her right being clueless and hitting negative points.
Once the quiz was finished, Megumi finished with the most points. She felt proud of herself and genuinely clapped when the audience celebrated her victory. On the other hand, the maid on her right, with the lowest points, was selected to play the punishment game. She was dragged away from the podium, screaming with a high pitched shrill as the staff brought her to a pillory and locked her into place.
Megumi watched in fascination as the maid, still yelling and screaming, struggled in the pillory, when a number of men came out from back stage and threw cream pies at her. The maid kept on screaming as the pies landed on her face, causing her to choke on the goop. The audience laughed at her plight, and when all the pies were thrown she was let out of the pillory. The maid collapsed on the ground, now crying with cream all over her face.
The MC then announced that the maids who did not take part in the quiz would take part in the obstacle course, since there was more than enough maids in attendance to do the rest of the activities without repeats. Megumi was relieved she did not have to do the obstacle course, and sat back and cheered on her coworkers instead.
Megumi left the stage when her coworkers finished. She went to the dressing room and took a shower before leaving the studio. Megumi was relieved her time on the variety show was relatively benign and wondered if it would help her popularity at the maid cafe.
----
The next day, Megumi saw Erika enter the maid cafe. She waved at her and seated her at a table in the back of the dining room.
"Hey, Megumi," Erika greeted her. "I saw the variety show last night. You did great on the quiz!"
"Thank you," Megumi replied, blushing slightly. 
"Did you watch it?"
"Yeah, I did. It was fun. I'm glad I didn't have to do the obstacle course."
"So, do you think going on that variety show increased the profile of the maid cafe?"
"I hope so. I hope more people know about us now. More people means more business."
"Well, I'm glad you're happy, Megumi." Erika settled down and ordered her usual dish, and Megumi happily went to the kitchen to get it.
After Erika ate and paid for her food she left. Megumi looked around the dining room and sighed. Although the intention of appearing on the variety show was to advertise for the maid cafe it did not seem to have an immediate effect as there were no more people in the dining room than there were the day before.
Megumi went back to work, feeling that the next day she would get to the bottom of the variety show's impact on business.
----
The next few days dragged for Megumi. Business did not pick up as the owner hoped and her position did not change due to her success on the quiz show. In fact, the unfortunate girl that got put in the pillory started to become unhinged and Megumi was certain she was going to be let go sooner or later. The rest of the maids were starting to become uncomfortable about their positions in the maid cafe, and the social pecking order was starting to take its toll on them. While outwardly the maids were smiles and cheers, in the back they were bickering on the smallest things and made sure to lord over anyone under them. As Megumi was only a mid level maid she had little power over anyone, but chose not to join in the catty behavior.
After this drastic change in the work atmosphere, Megumi started looking for another job, but she was uncertain if she wanted to work at another maid cafe. She did not want to do this for the rest of her life, and wondered if she could find another job that would be more suited to her tastes.
After work she called Yuki and she met her at her apartment. Megumi sat on the couch, her eyes blankly staring at the walls.
"Is it really that bad?" Yuki asked.
"What?" Megumi asked, snapping out of her thoughts.
"The maid cafe. Is it really that bad?"
"No, it's not bad. It's just... well, the place isn't attracting the amount of people to keep everyone employed."
"I see," Yuki said.
Megumi was unsure what to say. "Everyone feels like they've got a target on their back so it's starting to get uncomfortable to work there. I don't want to have to work at a maid cafe forever, but I still need a job. I don't have one lined up if I get let go tomorrow."
Yuki did not know what to say.
"I'm sorry," Megumi said.
"Don't be. It's not your fault."
Megumi frowned. "I'm not sure what I should do. I've got bills to pay and a loan I have to pay back. I need to make more money."
"Maybe you could get a job at another restaurant," Yuki said.
"Maybe," Megumi said, but it sounded forced.
"Well, do you want me to call around to some other places for you?" Yuki asked.
"No, I'll look for it myself," Megumi said. "I appreciate the offer, but I feel like I'll know what I want when I find it."
Yuki knew better than to press the matter, but she did not give up trying to help Megumi. She wished her friend the best of luck and left Megumi's apartment.
Megumi sighed. It was going to be a long, difficult search, but she knew she would find what she was looking for. In the meantime, she still had a job as a maid at the maid cafe, but felt it was only a matter of time before she was let go.
----
Over the next few days, Megumi continued her search for a better job. She went to the newspaper office, restaurants, cafes, and even the clothing district. She had no luck, and everyone said the same thing: no jobs were opening up. She was starting to feel like she was in a rut, and it was starting to affect her mood. She felt like she was stagnating and would remain that way until she found a better job.
Megumi had no idea what to do with her life as the public education system was designed to put her into the system like every other cog, designed to perform her function. She rebelled against that future by working at the maid cafe, but she had no idea what to do with herself beyond that. She just knew she would find something, but the more she searched, the more difficult it became.
She knew Erika faced a similar dilemma when she decided she could not be a maid forever and put a lot of time into becoming a model. She only recently started seeing success. Megumi heard about Arisa from Erika, and she thought it might be something worth looking into. Arisa was a great contact to have, being an agent for some high profile talents. The problem was Megumi did not know what kind of talent she could offer that was marketable.
She didn't want to be a photographer, like Yuki. She had no desire to model, like Erika. Yet she also knew she didn't want to remain a maid, either. She was stumped. She did not know what she could do. She had a lot of time on her hands and nothing to do. It frustrated her.
She knew she would be let go from her job at the maid cafe soon. Her only avenue at the moment was an opening at a local fast food chain, but Megumi felt she was not that desperate yet. She would search some more when she had the time. For now, she had to keep her mind occupied. She could not allow herself to feel depressed and overwhelmed. She had to keep busy and distracted. She would keep looking for a better job.
It was after another a week before she found the opportunity she had been waiting for. A call came through her phone from the manager of a new coffee shop opening in the city. They were looking for a barista for their latest opening and needed someone with Megumi's experience. She jumped at the opportunity, feeling relieved and excited.
The manager explained the job requirements gave her a list of responsibilities. Megumi went through the list and realized that she had a lot of experience in customer service and customer interaction. She felt confident in her abilities and was eager to start the job. The manager promised her a pay increase and promotion if she performed well.
After being hired as a barista Megumi put in her notice at the maid cafe. As much fun as she had there she was glad to be rid of the cutthroat atmosphere fostered by the squabbling maids. The owner was surprised she was leaving, but understanding. Megumi knew it was time for a change and a fresh start. She packed her belongings and set off for the new coffee shop.
----
Yuki picked up her phone and smiled at Megumi's text message. She was glad her girlfriend found a new job at the new coffee shop and made plans to alter her work route to stop there every morning.
"Yuki, what are you doing?" she heard Arisa yell. "We're ready to start your shoot."
Yuki put down her phone and picked up her camera. "I'm coming!" she yelled back.
The day's scheduled photoshoot was in the park across from the agency's office building, a location Yuki had gone to multiple times over the years. The fountain in the center of the park was a normal background fixture for her subjects, but today's shoot was taking place at the small pond off from the center. She stepped through the grass to where the set crew were waiting, along with Arisa and three models who Yuki was going to shoot. The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the park. Yuki adjusted her camera and took a deep breath, feeling excited for the upcoming shoot.
As she started taking her shots Yuki's mind wandered, thinking of all the fond memories she had in the park. The sound of the camera shutter clicking and the sound of the models' laughter filled the air. The wind rustled through the leaves of the trees and the sound of birds chirping in the distance. When she finished up her shots, Yuki looked around at the models and crew. They all seemed to be having a good time, laughing and joking around. Yuki smiled, feeling grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented people. 
"Thanks for coming out," she said to the models, "I think we have a great shoot today."
Yuki walked away from the set and sat down next to the pond as the crew started packing up the equipment and the models left. Arisa walked next to Yuki and sat down next to her.
"What are you thinking?" Arisa asked, curious.
"Just grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented people," Yuki replied, smiling at Arisa.
Arisa smiled back at her. "I can tell you're feeling pretty good about your shoot today," she said, patting Yuki on the shoulder. 
"Megumi found a job at the new coffee shop," Yuki revealed. "I'm glad she doesn't have to worry about her job anymore."
Arisa nodded in understanding. "I can't wait to see the coffee shop," she said excitedly.
Yuki grinned. "Me too. I'm sure it'll be a great place to work." As they talked about the new coffee shop, Yuki's mind wandered back to the shoot. She had spent so much time in the park, admiring the scenery and taking pictures.
"It's nice to take a break and relax," Yuki said, sighing in content.
Arisa nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean. It's nice to just be in the moment." 
As they continued talking, Yuki looked around at the park once more. The sun was starting to set, casting a warm glow over the trees and the pond. Yuki took a deep breath, feeling grateful for the opportunity to spend time with Arisa and her crew. She turned to Arisa and smiled. "Thanks for coming out with me today," she said, feeling grateful for the friendship she had with Arisa. 
Arisa smiled back at Yuki. "Of course, Yuki. It's always fun to hang out with you."
----
When Yuki returned to the apartment later that evening she found Shizuka sitting on the couch, reading over her copy of the script for her next movie. She was in deep thought and did not look up when Yuki entered. Yuki could tell that Shizuka was struggling with something. She walked over to her and sat down next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. 
"Hey, are you okay?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
Shizuka looked up at Yuki and smiled softly. "I'm fine," she said, but Yuki could tell that she wasn't quite convinced.
Yuki sat down next to Shizuka and leaned over to get a glance at the script. She noticed that Shizuka had been writing notes on the pages, although one note stood out to her. It was a simple 'xoxo' written in pen, but it seemed to hold a deeper meaning to her. Yuki could tell that Shizuka was struggling with something and wanted to be there for her friend.
"So, what is this one about?" Yuki asked, fishing for information.
"I'm playing the female bodyguard of the future Shogun," Shizuka explained. "The heir is a young man who is kind of a reckless womanizer and I'm supposed to protect him. But at some point the conflict becomes a forbidden romance between the heir and the guardian bodyguard because he is betrothed to a noblewoman for political reasons."
Yuki nodded slowly. "I see," she replied. She knew Shizuka had previously done a romance film where she had to make out with the male lead. While she never had a problem with the male actor Shizuka was disinterested in the touchy-feely part of the acting. Yuki guessed that Shizuka was feeling anxious about doing another romance. 
"Is there anything specific that you're worried about?" Yuki asked, trying to reassure her friend.
Shizuka leaned back against the couch, sighing deeply. "I don't want to do romance scenes," she said. She pointed to one particular page. "They scripted a sex scene here. The romance is doomed to fail so I don't see the point in going that far with it."
Yuki nodded understandingly. For all the years she had known Shizuka Yuki knew she was disinterested in having relationships so it was difficult for her to emote romantic feelings. In her previous romance scenes Shizuka had to convincingly fake the feelings, but that was just part of being an actor. However, doing a full-blown sex scene was an entirely different matter, and Yuki was uncomfortable with the thought of her doing it with a man, even if it was fake. She remembered how jealous she felt watching her kiss a man and felt that was bad enough.
"Maybe you can get the scenes altered to accommodate your concerns," Yuki suggested. "It wouldn't be the first time it happened." 
Shizuka considered the suggestion for a moment before nodding. "That's not a bad idea," she said with a small smile. "I'll talk to Arisa and see if we can negotiate something that works better for me."
Yuki smiled back, happy that she could help her friend. As they continued to talk about the upcoming project, Yuki couldn't help but feel grateful for the friendship she had with Shizuka. They had been through so much together and always supported each other, even when things got tough.  Yuki knew that she was lucky to have her best friend as a confidant, and she was grateful for the opportunity to be there for her whenever she needed it.
----
Erika was excited to get to the studio. She was about to get her first photoshoot with Shizuka, which made her both excited and anxious. She had heard stories about how Shizuka was a tough actor and would push her limits, but she was eager to see what kind of shoot they would have.
As she entered the studio, Yuki and Shizuka were already there waiting for her.
"There you are!" greeted Yuki. 
"Hello, Erika," Shizuka added.
Erika bowed deeply and politely. "I am honored to be working alongside you, Shizuka." 
Shizuka smiled warmly at Erika, her lilac hair bouncing with each step she took. "I'm sure you'll be a great asset to our shoot," she said, gesturing towards the set up. "Let's get started."
Erika followed Shizuka to the set. Sshe noticed it was done up in bright pastel colors. The room was set up like a giant baby play pen, with large blocks and decorative candy pictures.
"What kind of shoot is this?" Erika asked, feeling concerned. 
Shizuka chuckled softly. "Don't worry, Erika," she said. "This is just a simple photoshoot for a fashion magazine. We're going to be modeling some of the clothes they provided us."
Erika nodded, still feeling a little unsure. "Okay, I understand," she said. "But what kind of clothes do we have to wear?"
Shizuka led Erika over to the wardrobe. "We have some Sweet Lolita dresses here," she said, pointing to a rack of clothing. "We're going to be wearing them in the shoot." 
Erika looked at the dresses and gasped in awe. They were beautiful, with frills and lace and pastel colors. "They're so pretty!" she exclaimed.
Shizuka smiled. "I'm glad you like them," she said. "Now, let's get you dressed up and ready for the shoot." Erika nodded, feeling excited but also nervous. She hadn't done a photoshoot like this before, and she was afraid that she wouldn't perform well. Shizuka led her to the dressing room where several assistants waited to get them dolled up.
Erika watched nervously as Shizuka got undressed in front of her, without concern that she was watching her. Shizuka put on the Lolita dress herself without any assistance. She then looked at Erika curiously.
"You need to undress if you want to put on the dress," Shizuka offered helpfully.
Erika realized she had been staring the whole time. "Oh, yes, I'm sorry."
After Erika undressed the assistants came to help put her in her Lolita dress. She watched Shizuka continue dressing, putting on a long, pastel pink wig. She then sat down in a chair as an assistant combed the wig into twintails, transforming Shizuka into a lovely young girl. Erika couldn't help but admire her transformation.
"You look so cute, Shizuka," she said, feeling a tinge of jealousy.
Shizuka smiled softly at Erika. "Thank you," she said.
Erika flushed in embarrassment realizing she was not done getting into the dress yet. The assistants gave her a pastel blue shoulder-length wig that framed her face. They tied a cute bow around her neck and she felt like a doll.  Erika looked at herself in the mirror. The dress was beautiful, but she didn't feel comfortable in it. 
Shizuka noticed Erika's discomfort and gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, you look amazing," she said. "Just remember to be confident and own the look." 
Erika nodded, feeling a little better. She took a deep breath and tried to relax. The assistants finished up her hair and makeup, adding some pink blush to her cheeks and a light pink lip gloss.
She looked at Shizuka next to her, and admired her transformation. The Sweet Lolita dress made Shizuka look like a little girl, or a little girl's doll. She looked ethereal and innocent, with her purple eyes sparkling with joy. Erika felt a pang of jealousy, but also a sense of admiration for her friend. Shizuka was beautiful, inside and out.
Erika then looked at herself in the mirror as the assistants put the finishing touches on her costume. She felt a little bit silly, but also kind of cute. The pastel blue wig framed her face perfectly, and the pink blush made her cheeks look rosy. The Lolita dress made her feel like a little girl again, which was both exciting and nerve-wracking. She took a deep breath and reminded herself to be confident.
The two left the dressing room, and Shizuka reached out for Erika's hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze. She felt a sense of excitement and anticipation as they made their way to the set. The photographer, Yuki, was already waiting for them. She smiled warmly at Shizuka and Erika, exuding an aura of excitement for the photoshoot. She looked at them both and admired their outfits. Erika felt extremely nervous, but also a bit of pride at being chosen as the model for this shoot. 
Yuki and Shizuka explained their vision for the shoot, and Erika listened intently, taking in every detail. She tried to imagine herself in the image they were creating, but her mind kept wandering back to her own wardrobe. She felt a twinge of embarrassment and wondered if Yuki would notice.
Shizuka and Erika sat down in the set. Erika look at her surroundings, feeling even more like a baby girl in a giant play pen. 
Shizuka smiled warmly at Erika. "You look adorable," she said. "And don't worry, Yuki will take care of everything." She winked at Yuki, who nodded in agreement. 
Erika smiled gratefully, feeling grateful for the confidence Shizuka had shown her.
When Yuki started the shoot Erika and Shizuka followed her directions closely. Yuki's directions were clear and detailed, and Erika followed them without hesitation. She felt herself becoming more confident and comfortable with the experience.
"Okay, let's do some more intimate shots," Yuki decided. "I want you two to face each other and hold each other's hands."
Shizuka and Erika did as instructed, standing on their knees and reaching out to grasp each other's hands and interlocking fingers. Erika felt a jolt of embarrassment as Shizuka held her hands. She felt vulnerable and exposed, but Shizuka's expression told her it was okay. Shizuka's hands were warm and comforting, and Erika found herself relaxing into the pose. Yuki took several shots of the two of them, capturing their intimate closeness. Erika felt a mix of emotions as the photos were taken, her heart racing and her cheeks flushing.
"Let's have you two closer," Yuki instructed. 
Shizuka scooched closer to Erika so that the two were right next to each other. Erika felt her face redden while in close proximity to Shizuka's face, but Shizuka's eyes betrayed no concern. The two turned their heads to face Yuki, and Erika tried her best to remain calm as Yuki took shots to capture the intimate moment. Erika felt a shiver run down her spine.
Shizuka and Erika's faces were close, their eyes locked in a close gaze. Shizuka's lips parted slightly as she breathed in deeply, and Erika could feel the warmth of her breath on her face. Erika felt her heart race as she looked into Shizuka's eyes, her mind filled with thoughts of the way her body felt against Shizuka's. She tried to focus on the present, not let her imagination run away with her.
Yuki seemed to catch on to Erika's thoughts. As if reading her mind, she said, "I love this chemistry. Shizuka, lie down on the ground. Erika, I want you to climb on top of her." 
Shizuka hesitated for a moment, but then nodded and lay down on the ground. 
Erika climbed over Shizuka, her heart racing as she looked down at Shizuka's face. She felt her heart pound in her chest as Shizuka closed her eyes and relaxed, surrendering herself to the shot completely. Erika realized that Shizuka had complete trust in Yuki's direction. Erika knew Yuki was a lesbian so a shot like this appealed to her immensely, and she wondered if she was expected to do something a little more. Erika could feel the warmth of Shizuka's body against hers as she lay down, and she felt her heart skip a beat. Shizuka's face was peaceful, and Erika could see the way her breathing became more steady and even. Yuki captured the moment with her camera, capturing the two women in a intimate and beautiful way.
As Erika lay on top of Shizuka, she felt a sense a warmth and comfort. Shizuka's body felt soft and supple beneath her, and Erika could feel the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. Shizuka's eyes were still closed, and Erika could see the faint traces of a smile on her lips. She looked so beautiful, like an angel from above. As Erika gazed down at Shizuka, she felt a sense a tenderness wash over her. She knew this was a special moment, and she wanted to capture it in her heart forever. She leaned in closer to Shizuka, feeling her breath on her lips. Shizuka's eyes fluttered open, and she met Erika's gaze with a look of pure innocence. They gazed into each other's eyes for a moment, and then Shizuka smiled and closed them again. Erika felt a rush of emotions wash over her, but she resisted the urge to kiss Shizuka. She knew that this was a moment for Yuki, not for her. 
Instead, she leaned down and whispered in Shizuka's ear, "I want to capture this moment in my heart forever." 
Shizuka's eyes opened again, and she smiled at Erika. "Thank you, Erika," she said softly. 
Erika felt a warmth spread through her body at the words. She knew that Shizuka trusted her completely, and that made her feel special.
She got up off Shizuka, turning to see Yuki approaching them. She felt a rush a nervousness, but she knew that she had done the right thing.
"That was beautiful," Yuki praised the two, with no hint of disappointment in her voice.
Erika felt relief that Yuki was not disappointed with her decision. "Thank you," she said, bowing politely.
Shizuka sat up on the floor. "Erika is a good sport," she said. "You'll make a great model someday." 
Erika blushed at the compliment, feeling grateful for the opportunity to work with both Shizuka and Yuki. "Thank you," she said again, feeling a sense a warmth spread through her body at the compliment. "It was a lot fun," she added, hoping to make it clear that she enjoyed the experience.
Yuki smiled at Erika. "You're really talented," she said, giving her a gentle pat on the back. "I'm glad you got to experience something special today."
Erika looked at Yuki, then at Shizuka. She marveled at how the woman she looked up to looked so pure and innocent, and wondered if she gave off the same air. Erika knew most followers of Lolita fashion gave it up in their mid twenties, but Shizuka was in her late twenties and still going strong. After having experienced the shoot with her Erika felt she had some understanding why Shizuka enjoyed Lolita fashion so much. Erika looked at Yuki and Shizuka, feeling a mix a admiration and envy. 
"Thank you," she said softly. "I feel lucky to have gotten to work with both of you."
Yuki smiled at Erika. "You did great," she said. "And we're happy to have you on our team."
Shizuka nodded in agreement. "You're a natural," she said. "I think you'll have a great future in modeling."
Erika felt a warm feeling in her chest at the compliment. She had always wanted to be a fashion model, and now she had a real chance to prove herself. "Thank you," she said again, feeling grateful for the opportunity.
Shizuka got up from the floor and floofed out her skirt, then held out a hand to Erika. "Come along, let's get changed and then we can get something to eat."
Erika smiled as she accepted Shizuka's hand, momentarily savoring the moment. She followed Shizuka to the dressing room which was currently empty as Shizuka asked the assistants to wait outside. Once they were alone Shizuka closed the door behind them and turned to face Erika.
"Listen, Erika," Shizuka said, her tone serious. "I don't want Yuki to hear what I have to say, so keep this to yourself, okay?"
Erika nodded quickly.
"One of the dangers of modeling is feeling pressured to do something you don't want to do," she continued. "I'm glad you chose not to kiss me."
Erika's eyes widened in surprise. "I...I didn't want to," she stammered.
Shizuka shook her head. "It's okay," she said reassuringly. "I understand if you're not comfortable with it. But I want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what. I would not have held it against you if you did kiss me. I just wanted to make sure you knew that."
Erika felt a rush a warmth spread through her chest at Shizuka's words. She had never felt so supported and cared for before. "Thank you, Shizuka," she said softly. "I appreciate it."
Despite herself, Erika ran over to Shizuka and gave her a big hug. Shizuka hugged back, holding Erika close as they both let out a sigh. The embrace felt warm and comforting, and Erika felt herself relax into it. She felt a tingling sensation in her chest, a mix between happiness and embarrassment. She pulled away from the hug and looked at Shizuka, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," she said again, feeling overwhelmed by the gesture.
Shizuka smiled at Erika. "Anytime, Erika," she said. "I'm always here for you."
Erika nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. She couldn't believe how lucky she was to have such a supportive friend and role model. 
Shizuka walked out to call the assistants back in, and the two women undressed and got back into their street clothes. Erika felt a bit sad that she was no longer wearing the Lolita outfit as she had grown accustomed to it during the shoot and wondered when the next time she would be wearing such elaborate dresses. But she knew that modeling was all about adjusting to different situations and expectations, and she was excited to see what the future held for her as a model.
----
After a long day of shooting, Yuki and Shizuka finally made it back to their apartment. Yuki was tired and hungry, and Shizuka was looking forward to a quiet night in. Yuki walked into the kitchen to fix herself a quick meal while Shizuka sat down on the couch.
"Hey Yuki," Shizuka said, "why did you ask Erika to climb on top of me during the shoot?"
Yuki looked up from the stove. "I thought you two had great chemistry," she replied playfully. "Who knows what could have happened?"
Shizuka laughed. "Well, I'm glad it didn't happen," she said, smiling. "I don't think Erika would have been comfortable with that."
Yuki smiled back at her. "I'm glad you're comfortable with it," she said, turning back to the stove. "But I think it's important to take risks and explore new things. And who knows, maybe there's something else that could happen if we're both comfortable enough to take the risk." 
Shizuka nodded in agreement. "You're right," she said. "You've done your fair share of risky shots with me over the years." 
Yuki finished cooking and sat down at the table to eat with her best friend. Yuki felt content and happy, knowing that Shizuka was always there for her. As they sat eating in silence, Yuki thought about the day and the shoot. She felt Erika was an up and coming model with the potential to be just as good as Shizuka. And with her help, Yuki knew that Moon River could continue to grow and become even more successful. She smiled to herself, feeling grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented and supportive people.
----
That night Erika dreamed about the photoshoot. She was back wearing the Sweet Lolita dress, having climbed over Shizuka who was lying on the floor with her eyes closed, her face full of peace and innocence. She leaned her face downward, closer to Shizuka's face, her heart beating against her chest, knowing that it was probably the first and last time she would ever get this chance. No matter how much Erika denied that she wanted to kiss Shizuka, there was a part of her that really wanted to do it, to have her first kiss taken by her idol. 
When she woke up from her dream, she felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. She did not regret resisting the temptation to kiss Shizuka, but she wondered if she should have done it anyway. She knew that she was a novice model, and she could not afford to make mistakes or to let her ego get in the way of her work. She got dressed into her maid uniform and went downstairs to start her day as usual.
Erika dusted the furniture with a spring in her step, causing the other maids to turn their heads wondering if something special happened to her. She was generally known to be the clumsy maid and the maids made fun of her for it, but today Erika was determined to not let that get her down. As she walked down the hallway, she thought about the photoshoot and the way Shizuka had looked in that dress. She was fascinated by her transformation into a young girl and wondered how expensive it was to buy a Lolita dress of her own.
When she entered Kanna's den Erika was surprised to see she was not there. Kanna had left the mansion early, leaving a note behind for Erika to read. Erika wondered what she could be up to and hoped that it wasn't anything too serious. After she read the note, finding it was just a routine checkup with her physician, she decided to get to work on her day's tasks. There was a laundry list of cleaning and ironing to do, as well as some shopping to do for the upcoming costume party. Erika felt a pang of guilt for letting herself get distracted with thoughts of the photoshoot. She put the note away and got started on her chores.
She started with the laundry, sorting through the pile of clothes and making sure they were ready for the washer. As she worked, she couldn't help but daydream about yesterday's photoshoot. She loved seeing Shizuka dolled up as a young girl in a frilly Lolita dress. Erika had always admired her for her beauty and confidence, but she had never imagined that she would find her super cute as she was nearly twice the age of typical teenage cute girls. 
Erika sighed, knowing that tomorrow would bring another day of work and another daydream about yesterday's photoshoot. She finished the laundry and moved on to the next task. She was in the middle of ironing a white blouse for Kanna when she realized that it looked similar to a component of the Sweet Lolita dress she wore at the shoot. Erika gasped and nearly dropped the iron. Erika wondered if Kanna was also into Lolita fashion and she never knew it. The thought made her blush. 
Erika wondered what kinds of clothes filled Kanna's wardrobe as she had never seen its contents save for when they needed to be washed or ironed. Since Kanna was out and she finished the laundry Erika felt it was a good chance to take a peek for herself.
She made her way back to Kanna's den and closed the door behind her, making sure nobody saw her. She looked at the door to the walk-in wardrobe and took in a deep breath, as if she was going to walk into a forbidden room. It was true that Kanna never declared the room off-limits, but to Erika it felt like an intrusion of privacy.
Erika walked over to the door and opened it slowly, peeking in with a guilty conscience. She couldn't help but be disappointed at the contents of the wardrobe. There were several different types of dresses, skirts, and blouses. All of them were rather ordinary and business attire. Erika was left slightly disappointed. She expected to see a collection of outfits similar to the one she had worn yesterday, but didn't see anything similar. Erika stepped further in and looked around. It seemed like the entire contents of the wardrobe had been neatly categorized and spaced out. She thought this was another one of Kanna's quirks. 
Erika moved deeper into the room and looked around. She remembered when Kanna gifted her lingerie underwear she got it from this room and wondered where she kept things like that. She opened a drawer and found a collection of matching lingerie and babydoll dresses. They were beautiful. Erika picked up a pair of panties and admired them from every angle. She couldn't help but smile. She imagined herself walking around the mansion in nothing but a pair of lingerie underwear. It was a slightly taboo yet incredibly arousing thought. She replaced the panties and opened another drawer.
"Hey, what are you doing?" someone asked from behind her.
Erika turned around to see Kanna standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. "Um, nothing. I was just looking at some of your clothes."
"I can see that," Kanna said with a raised eyebrow. "What were you looking for?"
"I...I don't know," Erika said. "I was thinking about yesterday's photoshoot. I wanted to see if I could recreate the outfit I wore."
"Yesterday's photoshoot?" Kanna asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Erika said, blushing. "I mean, I wanted to see if I could recreate the outfit I wore yesterday. For my own personal collection."
Kanna lowered her head in thought. "You mean the Sweet Lolita photoshoot? You wanted to know if you could find something like that in my wardrobe?"
Erika bit her lip nervously. "Yes."
Kanna looked down at Erika with a disappointing glare. "You know, you could have asked me before you snuck into my personal wardrobe."
"I'm sorry," Erika said. "I just wanted to try it out. I didn't think you'd mind. It was a spur of the moment thing."
"I see." Kanna frowned. "And what do you think about the outfit you tried out?"
"I think it's great," Erika said, enthusiastically. "It's so innocent yet so sophisticated at the same time. I wish I could wear something like that."
"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I don't own any Lolita dresses," Kanna said finally. "I'm more of a traditional girl. I don't think my wardrobe would fit your exact specifications."
"I see." Erika looked down at her feet, disappointed. "Well, I guess I'd better go back to work."
Erika walked down the hallway as she heard whispers of the maids behind her back. She didn't care what they said, but everyone knew she got chewed out by Kanna.
After she finished her chores in subdued silence Erika returned to her room and plopped down on the bed. She had quickly fallen asleep from exhaustion until later in the night she was woken up suddenly. Her eyes jerked open to see a number of the maids staring down at her with malicious grins on their faces.
"Wake up, sleeping beauty," one of the maids said, mocking her. "We've got something to tell you."
Erika groaned and sat up. She had a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. "What?" she asked.
"Kanna caught you red handed in her private wardrobe," one of the maids said, winking at Erika.
"Oh come on, you know Lady Kanna's not one for playing games," another said. "She's going to punish you."
Erika groaned again. She was going to be in so much trouble.
"Don't worry," the third maid said, "Lady Kanna only gets mad when you break the rules. You're lucky she didn't fire your butt."
"You made the rest of us look bad! We need to punish you!" another one of the maids crowed, sticking her tongue out at Erika.
The maids grabbed Erika's arms and legs and dragged her out of the room. Erika screamed in panic, not knowing what the maids were planning to do to her. As they dragged her through the hallway, she noticed that the other maids were all staring at her with cruel grins on their faces. They had clearly decided to teach her a lesson. Erika was pulled into another room and thrown onto a chair. The maids stood around her, watching her as she struggled to get free.
"Listen up, Erika," one of the maids said. "You messed up big time. You know you're not supposed to be snooping in Kanna's personal wardrobe. You need to be taught a lesson."
Erika's heart was pounding in her chest as she looked at the maids with fear in her eyes. She knew she was in trouble and she couldn't think of a way to escape. The maids began to tie her up with rope, their cruel laughter echoing in the room.
"You're going to be sorry you ever set foot in Lady Kanna's room again." As they finished tying her up, Erika felt a surge of panic and fear. She knew she was in a lot of trouble and there was no way out.
"Stop! Please stop! I'll do anything! I'll be a good maid, I promise!" she begged.
"Oh, you'll be a good maid? That's right, we'll see about that," one of the maids said.
The maids laughed gleefully at Erika. She felt her head being lifted by the chin, and Erika's eyes widened when she saw Haruka, the trickster maid, standing before her, not dressed as a maid, but as a dominatrix. She was wearing a ridiculous leather bustier and an eyepatch over her right eye, and she held a leather whip in her other hand.
"You look ridiculous," Erika mumbled.
"Do you like it?" Haruka asked, seemingly proud of herself.
"I... no... I mean... I mean..." Erika gasped and began to struggle again. "I'm sure it's very nice, but I'm sure it'll be very uncomfortable. I'm sure it'll chafe and give you blisters and..."
"Oh, it won't give me blisters," Haruka said. "We'll see how it looks in the morning, I suppose."
"Please..." Erika begged. "Please... I'll... do anything! Just... let me go! Anything!"
"Anything? Well, you'd better think of something quick," Haruka said, as she began to stroke her whip. "I'm getting bored. I'm going to give you a little whip cream. How does that sound?"
"No, please, no, don't do this! I'll... I'll be a good maid, I swear! I..."
"Tell me what you want to do," Haruka said, as her hand continued stroking the whip. "Maybe I'll let you do it."
"Anything," Erika replied.
"Good. Now, we've got a bit of a situation here," Haruka said, leaning in close to Erika. "You know, you really are a very dirty girl, right? I can tell you're dirty. I can smell it. You like smelling good, yes?"
"Yes, I... I like to smell nice."
"I bet you do. Well, I like to smell nice, too. That's how we're going to do this." She tossed her whip aside and another maid handed her a can of shaving cream. "Shaving cream makes you nice and clean, you know?"
Erika was starting to panic. She began to struggle as hard as she could against the ropes that held her in place. She kicked and fought and struggled, but she was still.
"I like to shave with a straight razor. It's nice and clean. I like the way it makes my skin feel. You should try it," Haruka stated matter-of-factly.
"Yes... I... I don't..."
"You don't know how? You don't know how to shave?" Haruka asked, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"No, I... I don't know how. I mean I... I've never really... I've..." Erika could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She was starting to hyperventilate.
"You've never shaved your legs? Come on, now. Your legs are nice and smooth."
"No... I mean... I... I..." Erika was terrified. 
The maids lifted up her skirt. Haruka pulled her panties out slightly and sprayed shaving cream down her panties. Erika tensed up as the cool cream filled her nether regions. Despite herself, she suddenly felt a wave of calm. The strangeness of the night took a turn Erika never could have guessed, and her mind was struggling to make sense of what was happening.
"I bet you like this, huh? You like this cream, right?"
"Yes, please," Erika replied, unsure of what she really felt about the squishy feeling in her panties.
"Good, good," Haruka said. "Let's get this shaved, then. Come on, girls!"
The maids pulled down Erika's panties to her legs and Haruka began to shave her bush. Erika felt embarrassed and humiliated, but could not deny that Haruka's shaving job was clean and painless. She felt very strange. Haruka shaved her pubes, and then her inner thighs while the other maid held her legs open.
"You're nice and clean now," Haruka said. "Do you like how it feels?"
"Yes," Erika said meekly.
Erika's head was a swirl of emotions. She was outwardly panicked and distressed, but could not deny the strange feeling of having her pubes shaved off felt remarkable. It had a pleasant tingling sensation. As she recovered from her panic attack, Erika noticed she could feel the warmth of the cream in her inner thighs. She was aroused, but not in a bad way. Her breathing was slowing and she could feel her heart rate returning to normal.
"Now you're one of us," Haruka declared. 
As if on cue, the other maids untied Erika fron the chair, but they did not pull up her panties from her legs. Erika reached down and pulled up her panties as the maids laughed. She felt a strange sensation between her legs and only just remembered that Haruka had sprayed shaving cream down there. 
Haruka gave a hearty laugh. "Oh, you like that, don't you? You like that cream in your panties, huh?"
"I... I don't know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," Erika said.
"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault. The important thing is now you're one of us."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Erika asked, confused.
"You heard me. You're one of us now. You're one of the girls. You're no longer the pampered princess maid anymore. Now in the eyes of Lady Kanna you're just another maid."
"I... I don't know what to say," Erika said. She was not sure, but she was certain that the source of antagonism she was getting from the other maids was sheer jealousy of how much better Kanna treated her.
"It's okay. You'll catch on quick. And don't forget to look pretty. We need to make a good impression on our lady. We need to look pretty and smell nice. And it wouldn't hurt to shower and brush your hair again. Lady Kanna likes her girls to be clean."
Erika was at a loss for words. It was obvious now that she had been hazed. She felt like she was initiated into a secretive club of maids, and as ridiculous an idea as it sounded, she liked the feeling of belonging. She had never been comfortable with her own social status, so she readily accepted the title of one of the girls. She belonged to the sorority of maids who worked in Kanna's household.
After the strange initiation the maids dispersed and Erika was free to return to her room. She stepped into her bathroom and promptly took a shower, trying to make sense of her ordeal. Did she like it? Did she want to do it again? Was it strange? Did it feel good? She did not know.
She toweled herself dry and examined herself in the mirror. Her shaved pubes were the first thing she noticed, and she thought it looked strange. She never shaved them before and did not know if she liked it. On the other hand, she was now one of the girls, and she was proud of it.
With a final glance in the mirror, Erika got dressed and returned to her room. She looked at the clock. It was already late at night. She got back into bed, wondering if she was going to get a good night's sleep or she would get interrupted again.
----
Over the next few days Erika noticed a change in atmosphere in the mansion. She felt more confident working than she ever had, and the maids were more friendly to her than before. The clumsiness she had before was all but gone, and the other maids were more than willing to help her when a task proved too difficult.
In the evenings the maids often gathered in the recreation room to play card games and chat. The atmosphere was relaxed, and it felt good to Erika to be able to relax and be with her new friends.
On the next week, during her lunch break Erika headed down to the coffee shop where her friend Megumi worked as a barista. She was glad that Megumi left the maid cafe as her spirits seemed to be higher with a more stable job and better pay. Megumi, who worked at the counter, smiled when she saw Erika enter.
"Hello, Erika," greeted Megumi. "You look unusually chipper today."
"I am," Erika confirmed. "Things are actually improving at the mansion."
"What do you mean?"
"I think the other maids finally accepted me."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when I first started, I got a lot of strange looks from them. Some of them even got hostile. But now it's like they're no longer jealous of me. I think they accepted me as one of their own."
"That's great news, Erika. I'm happy for you."
Erika smiled as she browsed through the menu. She ordered a strawberry frappe from the barista, and Megumi went to get her order.
"So, don't mind me asking, but is there something wrong?" Megumi asked.
Erika accepted her frappe and paid Megumi. "Uh... why do you ask?"
"You're walking kind of funny."
Erika's face reddened. Megumi was her friend, but she was not sure she wanted to disclose something personal, not in a place where everyone could hear. "Well... it's... complicated."
"Try me."
Erika sighed. "Is there someplace private we can talk?"
"Yeah, the storage room in the back."
Erika picked up her drink and followed Megumi to the storage room. 
When Megumi shut the door behind her, she looked at her friend with concern. "What's wrong, Erika? Why are you walking like that?"
"I don't know how to tell you this, Megumi, so I'm just going to go ahead and say it." Erika took in a deep breath. "I... shaved my bush."
"Your... you what?!"
"My... I mean, my... you know. I shaved my pubes."
Erika could tell by Megumi's expression that she was not expecting to hear something like that. In fact, Megumi's concern erupted into laughter. Erika frowned in confusion. 
"Why would you do that?" the barista asked, trying to stiffle her laughter.
"It was part of my initiation into the cool girls' club," Erika admitted, her face very red. "It felt so... liberating, so I thought I'd try it myself, but it turns out it really hurts if you do it wrong."
"Erika...." Megumi was struggling to find the words without giggling uncontrollably. "I... well, you could ask for help, can't you?"
"Well, I thought I'd learn how to do it myself, like a lady."
Megumi simply burst out into laughter, which embarrassed Erika even more. She sipped at her strawberry frappe, but the drink tasted bitter in her mouth.
"Well, at least you're learning," Megumi managed to say through her laughter.
"Yeah, I guess."
Megumi's laughter was so contagious that Erika started to laugh, too. "You're weird, Megumi," Erika finally said.
"I know," she admitted, "but you're so weird, too!"
They laughed some more, and Erika finished her strawberry frappe. They left the storage room before Megumi could get in trouble for leaving her station and returned to the front of the coffee shop.



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~ Razorclaw X