Maki_Majime

Maki joined Maru's back in high school for the same reasons as most girls: to earn a little pocket money and some work experience to show off for college. Not every new hire does well, but whatever it takes to be a maid, Maki had it. Her coworkers called her "Magic," so-named for her skill at handling guests, but she was more than just a brilliant waitress. She had an eye for logistics: she shone behind-the-scenes, creating schedules and balancing the books, discovering a passion for business that would eventually inspire her degree. The higher-ups took notice, and they snagged her before a customer could.

She wears the bunny suit less often these days. Now Maru's floor manager, Maki spends most of her time in the cafe's back office, visibly exhausted and struggling to balance her day-to-day duties at the cafe with her college work. On her breaks, Maki flips frantically through her thick business textbooks, scrawling notes in the margin to try and prepare before her evening classes. She's still "Magic," doing more with less, keeping the cafe afloat through staff shortages and financial crises; she's even managed to keep her grades high!

But even Maki can only do so much to mitigate risk in a place like Maru's. There aren't enough staff: recruiting is hard, and most maids don't live long. Many are highschoolers, with inconsistent schedules and shaky commitment. No managerial magic can fill the hole opened by a last-minute, no-show girl. When that happens, Maki has no choice but to squeeze into her costume.

However unhappy she might be in the suit — painfully aware that every minute on the floor is one she isn't spending on paperwork or on studying — Maki is a sight to behold in the dining room. She's skilled with customers, snappy with service, and an exemplary team player. It might stress her out, but for everyone else, seeing the manager in her bunnygirl suit is a rare treat.

The regulars all know Maki, and there's an unspoken rule that she's off-limits. But unspoken rules are just that, and the cafe's written rules are clear.

Manager or not...when she slips on that suit, she's fair game.