Chapter Text
“Yuu-chan! Do you see anything… different about me?” the salaryman asks, fingers fidgeting at the tips. He's a regular at the maid cafe; usually comes by at his lunch break at the strike of 12 PM. Even though he understands what place he’s in, he always looks like someone’s tracking him down – obviously from fear of humiliation from coworkers.
But with your cheerful smile, you hold his hand, looking up at him with unrivaled admiration. “Don't worry, my master! You…” slightly slanting your eyes, you get a closer look… into his thoughts.
[ I cut my hair and changed the lens to my glasses! Please notice… ]
And with a snap of your fingers, “You got a haircut! Did you also change glasses, too? So cuuute~” The darkness in his eyes quickly brightened up, glittering like stars in the night sky. Once again, not only did your charms and wit save the day, but so did… your superpower.
You couldn't pinpoint the exact moment you found out you can read minds. The first time it worked in your favor was in middle school, your best friend Firefly being confronted by a schoolyard bully after gym classes. The many times they had picked on her for her sickness was too much! Grabbing their wrist, you push them back. “Why don't you leave her—”
[ Why does that Firefly girl have to be such a weakling!? If only she could keep up with me, she might be my type! ]
“What the—” Your eyes widen. Why were they talking in your head? And why did they admit that in a transparent manner? But maybe… “You like her, don't you? That's why you bully her!” airing their thoughts out loud, they turn to their goons, face as bright as a tomato. That scream they let out as they ran!?
From that day, you knew you can use your powers in these manners (and a few more as you grow up):
1. You must touch the person to get their thoughts. Simply looking at them isn't enough.
2. Gotta hear them with clarity. Be mindful of loud noises.
3. Don't use these thoughts unless they can benefit you.
The third one isn't a part of your powers per se, but it’s a rule you give yourself nonetheless. You're thankful that your powers are relegated to touch: tunes only what you want to hear. Maybe a blessing, maybe a curse. It helped you get into your job as a maid, buttering up the boss was super easy if you knew what was on his mind. Not only that, your personality lended to the cafe being popular, a huge advantage to breaking out of your shell.
Out there, you were just [name], an average bookworm who keeps to herself. But in the Astral Cafe, you blessed the world with cuteness as Yuu-chan. If you truly became a superhero? The thought makes you laugh. Speaking of thoughts…
“Yuu, mind taking care of the guy entering here?” your coworker Dan Heng called out to you, plates of desserts in his hands. He stood out to you as he was the only man on staff who didn't use the honorific you tacked on yourself — ‘giving you boundaries’ he once said. Not only that, he actually keeps his word, almost never in proximity to you. Never enough range to read his mind.
Regardless, you welcome the man entering with a bow, “Greetings, sir! What can I get you toda—” He clad his body with his large blue coat like a shield, a sheepish smile on his face as he quickly enters.
“Sorry! It suddenly started to rain, and I had to run for shelter… can I have a seat, though?”
Dragging a chair his way, you take a closer look at him – dampened snow white hair, combed stylishly as his right side is longer. Black turtleneck worn underneath, hiding what looks to be a sun tattoo against his neck. And once he tilts his head, his ocean blue eyes gazed on you… “W-Would you like our daily special? It's a Xianzhou classic, refined by us!” Oh god, why did you have to start flubbing now? Was it because this guy was your type?
Even Dan Heng is hiding his face from the counter, second hand embarrassment in full force. A deep breath, you wait for this man to be uncomfortable, if your maid dress wasn’t enough. Instead, he brings his hand to his chin, lightly chuckling to himself. “That would sound good! And, you're the one making it, right?” His laugh. Boyish, airy… was this an angel that descended in your workplace? He sure looks like one!
“Of course! What name should I write you as, master? And would you like one of our special services?”
He seemed to be shocked when you call him ‘master’. Happens to most of the fresh meat. “Oh, just…” he looks to the side, like a thought of his came up. “You can use Phainon! And… yes, please!” And he has such a pretty (moanable) name to boot! Writing his name on the cup after he confirms the spelling, you retreat to the kitchen, hands in face as Dan Heng approaches you, finishing up on another customer's dish.
“Dude! This guy’s freakin’ hot!” you point to him, hoping he doesn’t see how flustered you were becoming. “I gotta make him a boba so lifechanging he might give me his number!!” Raising an eyebrow, Dan Heng wasn’t on the same emotional wavelength as you.
Once he plated a dish of omurice, he turned to you, “You need to calm down, [name].” If he's calling you by your real name, it must be serious. “Despite this breaking one of our rules… I suggest you go for it.”
“... Go for it? Hello? Earth to Dan Heng? You didn't eat anything bad before you clocked in, right?”
By the look on his face, he's holding back the urge to sigh. Without another word, he hands you a plastic cup meant for the boba. “Brown sugar should be good enough.” And once you use the machine to slide the lid, you strut towards Phainon’s table, a tray of three cupcakes next to the bubble tea; blue, white and black respectively.
“Here you go, master! And since you're a new customer, Yuu-chan will give this kind master extra service!” Fingers posed in a heart position, a twirl of your hair and skirt, you hit Phainon with your special move: “Moe, moe~ Your dish has been enhanced by my spell!” he sat as he drank his boba, his eyes wide in delight at your gesture. He reacted so well!
“Yuu-chan, this tastes wonderful! Is this part of your… service?”
He asks, watching you hold up a camera towards his face. Any more closer, and you just might… “Say cheese, master!” A hand to his shoulder. If Phainon ever chooses to come back to see your charming exterior, you would say the right things! What do we have here…
[ She smells so sweet, like strawberries. We're this close to touching cheeks… ]
The usual reaction, it seems. Given how he looks like he can bag just about any girl, you wouldn't think he would be that interested—
[ Calling me master is part of her job, though… would she like having a collar on her? Having it tugged on as she pants under me sounds wonderful. ]
… Huh? That can't be what he's thinking. Especially that he's grinning ear to ear next to you. Not only that, an image of his thoughts appears: your nude body, covered by his shadow. Your hold on your camera falters due to this revelation, Phainon showing his concern.
“Oh, let me help you, Yuu-chan!”
His hand brushes against yours.
“Ah, thank you—”
[ Her hand is so small. She's a lot shorter than me. It’d be so easy to carry her around. I wanna see her again. Yuu-chan is so cute. Yuu-chan is so cute. Yuu-chan is so cute… ]
… You have a new regular, but at what cost?
“H-Have a nice day, master Phainon!” leading him out the door once he was finished with his food (and writing down your phone number on his cup), you race to the kitchen again, Dan Heng still where he was from earlier. Crouched down at the nearest corner, you wished there was a good place for you to scream your thoughts, just to spill your guts. (You're not gonna risk a cold if you were to pick the meat freezer…)
Dan Heng knew that something was up; you weren't being lowkey with your body language. “... [name], I need to tell you something.” Waking up from these insane scenarios, you turn to the chef. He doesn’t know about your powers; definitely can’t confide in him.
“Go for it. Tell Mr. Yang I'm gonna clock out early…”
“That man you just served?”
“... What about him?”
He pulls out his phone, relaying a set of pictures of… Phainon modeling in magazine covers? Next was him accepting awards — ‘next big star award’. And then, he was on a talk show. Lastly, he was set to star in a rom-com, adopted from a popular book.
“He's an up and coming actor. How did you not recognize him from a mile away?”
You had zero words. Not only was this handsome man apparently famous, or the fact that he approached your cafe full name and all… but he was incredibly kinky!
This power really is a massive curse.