You were just minding your own business walking down Kings Cross Court, a short cut between the business district and the restaurant district in town. It had been a few weeks since you last took that particular route on your way to wherever you were going, and were really not paying attention to your surroundings. You notice something out of your peripheral vision and are taken by surprise by a most peculiar sight. There is a new establishment in town and your eyes are drawn to the sight above the storefront, that is so strange and out of place for this somewhat small town, that its awe inspiring.
There's a rather large sign with an animated picture of an animaga girl in a rather extravagantly exotic
French maid's outfit twirling around.
“Nyah! Moe Kyun” is the bold script you read on the sign and can only think
“Huh?” since the words make no sense. You stop and stare at the maid in the black and white uniform as she bows and twirls trying to figure it out with little success then read on to the rest of the sign.
“Maid Cafe” are in much smaller print bellow and now you suddenly understand. You've heard of those. It's a Japanese thing. Maybe you've even seen it first hand in an anime, if you happened to be a fan. You were so intent on the sign that you never saw the girl approach you from that very store.
“Konnichiwa” you hear a friendly feminine voice say, and your gaze drops to see her bow and walk forward from the store front. How could you not have noticed her before now? She'd been standing there the whole time. You may even have blushed in embarrassment since you were just standing there gawking like some tourist.
You find yourself at a loss for words as the girl with the smile stops and bows once more. You may even have recognized and understood the word she spoke, if again, you are a fan of Japanese Animanga. But its not what she said that has you gawking once more.
Its what she's wearing. Your eyes glance up to the sign and then back down a the girl, and you cant help but do a double take. She's wearing a similar maids outfit and you can't help but smile yourself.
“Please accept this” She continues and you reach out and take the flier from her extended hand. You quickly glance over the flier to find it is an advertisement for the establishment. There is an offer for a free upgrade to their VIP deluxe package and a free complimentary dessert.
“Will you be dinning now, Master\Mistress?” She asks. This brings your eyes back to the girl. This is the first of a kind for you and your curiosity gets the best of you. You don't remember if you were hungry a minute ago, but all of the sudden you find that you are, so you nod.
“Welcome back Master\Mistress” She says as she curtsies.
“Please follow me as your table has been prepared for your return.” She sais and spins on her heel to flair her dress for effect as she takes the few steps to the door and holds it open for you.
Entering the cafe, she rushes past you and picks up a brass bell from the counter and excitedly rings it exclaiming
“Our Master\Mistress has come back home”. There is a chorus of
“Nyah! Welcome back home Master\Mistress” From voices of the other maids within that attract your attention to the interior of the place.
There are more of the maids, each with a different maid costume. Unlike the one who brought you in, the others have cat ears on their heads with tails sticking out from under their outfits and you quickly put one and one together and figure out that “Nyah” sounds like “Meow”. Looking around you can't help your surprise at the authentic atmosphere and décor. Down to the short legged tables with mats to sit on in half of the establishment, while the other half has a more wester style of full height tables and chairs. The maid who brought you in bows and walks past to take her post at the front of the store while a maid with the cat ears bows and asks your preference of seating. You choose and are led to your table where you are greeted to a flurry of activity as several maids rush over and set your table with silverware, menu(s), napkins, and an assortment of décor. They ask if you'd like the house special coffee and with your nod, they depart with bows and miles.
Studying the menu, you hear excited laughter from a family a few tables from your own. You lower the your menu to see a duo of maids coaxing two young children, a boy and a girl, to stand to the amusement of their parents. The maids say something about adding their love to make the food delicious as they are instructed on how to feign being cats by curling their fingers to make their hands look like paws and then on how to turn left to paw at the air and then right. They take their places and start to sing as they go through rehearsed moves. The maids sing the phrase first, followed by the children.
“Moe-Moe-Kyun-Kyun” (Moe-Moe-Kyun-Kyun) “Moe-Moe-Kyun-Kyun.” (Moe-Moe-Kyun-Kyun) “Dokii-Dokii”(repeat) “Dere-Dere.”(repeat) “Tsun-Tsun.” (repeat) “Nyaah! Nyaah!”(repeat) Oishii ku nare. Oishii ku nare. They conclude their dance by making their hands into heart shapes and extending it from their chest to sweep across the plates of food on the table and exclaiming
“Moe-Moe- Pyururururun!. The children laugh and giggle and the parents clap.
A maid returns to your table with your
capuchino. You're again surprised when she curtsies and kneels to be level with you before asking your permission to ask your preference as she pours your cream and sugar and even stirs it for you, and finally and expertly makes a design in the froth, asking if
“it is to Masters\Mistresses liking." You can't help but think
'Is this how the rich and famous live? I can definitely get used to this. And oh Yes, this is going to be a most memorable experience.' But what did all those words mean? Looks like you're about to find out because the maids have regrouped and are walking in your direction.
