Thank you for reading and reviewing chapter 2, Senpais and Guest! It boosted my spirit to write!
Chapter 3: "I Think Very Fast"
After that day, I became an unofficial member of student council. Well, unofficial because Midori— they keep asking for me, an outsider, to help them with the paperworks. It's almost as if there are no other students who would help them, which is sad.
This happens because the school didn't have a special committee to prepare this huge event. Had that been the case, Midori would not have asked for my help everyday and she wouldn't work that hard.
I heard an attempt had been made by the student council to form the committee for the festival, but they had to stop in the middle because the chosen students didn't even bother to come. The council finally decided to just keep working without disputing them.
It looks like we can't count on the students here alone.
The school could've, like, giving detention to those members who skip committee meetings, or suspend those who just silently walk away from their responsibility. But they didn't.
Only a few volunteered, though half-heartedly. They just want the result without dirtying their hands with the process.
To think that I had gone to such school everyday.
If it was not for the Little Busters, I might not have any bit of eagerness to come here every morning.
Well, that's already in the past. It's more important to look ahead.
"Mio, you ready? Let's go let's go~"
"Yes. Did I make you wait?"
I asked despite I already know that she waited outside the house.
"Only for few seconds."
I thought she was supposed to deny the fact that she's waiting. If I were someone else—not her twin sister, her retort would've been counted as rude.
I do feel bad for making her wait. It's a big day for her; she can't be late no matter what. In spite of having a 50 minutes spare before the event starts, she still urged me to eat my breakfast faster. It took only 5 minutes from my house to the train station on foot and 10 minutes to reach the school. In other words, even though something went wrong, we still have 35 minutes.
There's no reason to be in a hurry. Even it's her. Especially her.
"Just sleep."
I advised Midori who's been trying to force herself awake by rubbing her eyes since we sit on the train's seat.
"It's only 10 minutes. Sleeping will only make me more tired, Nee-chan."
She has a point.
"I see."
"Geez, I already drank a cup of coffee after breakfast but I'm still sleepy! This is frustrating!" she confessed. "What should I do if I fainted when I'm telling the festival's objectives to the student council later?"
"I doubt that will happen," I answered quickly. "Though you might pass out afterwards."
"I have the solution though."
"What?"
The moment she stared at me— my face, I instantly understand what she's about to tell me.
"""You'll substitute me."""
"Sugoi! Did you read my mind, Mio?!"
"I can tell just by looking at your action," I reacted. "I'm sorry, but I have to decline. I don't know what your objectives are and I'm helping my class."
"Ah! Right…" she sighed. "Your class is doing the maid café huh? You guys read too much high school-life manga…"
Actually the idea of holding a maid café came from Kyousuke-san.
When we arrived, the school is already crowded. It seems the students are looking forward to this too despite not helping with the process at all.
They need to thank Midori properly later.
The decorations are already put yesterday. It does make our school look merrier. Our class gave the most simple look, but still feel classy.
"Mio-chan, here's your dress!~"
Kamikita-san, who's already dressed in a maid dress handed me the same uniform.
"Thank you, Kamikita-san."
"You're welcome~"
It looked good on Kamikita-san. Well, she does like this kind of clothes, so it's not really weird to see her wearing one. I, on the other hand, never wear such cute-looking outfit. I wonder how I look like.
"Wafu~ welcome, Master-nyan!"
2 seats away from us were Noumi-san and Kurugaya-san, who are also had put their dress on.
"No, not good enough. The '-nyan' part is fine, but you should do it like this," Kurugaya-san leaned forward and squeezed her humongous breasts. "Welcome, dear master! Enjoy your stay-nyan!"
"You've got to make a valley with your cleavage!"
"L-Like this?"
She's having fun teasing her, no?
"Oha~ Mio-chin, Komari-chin!"
A black-haired pale girl suddenly popped into our class.
"Fue?"
"… Who are you?"
"That's terrible! It's me, your only Haru-chin!"
Ah, right. She's not from our class. Unlike us, her class' theme is a ghost house. Seems like she's playing the sadako.
Well she's…
"What is it? Mio-chin?"
"You are not scary at all."
"Uaaaah? I put so much effort in this make up you know!"
I don't like ghosts; they are scary. But Saigusa here might prove that there is a non-scary ghost out there. If they exist.
"Don't worry, Haru-chan. What makes people scared of ghost are the circumstances!"
I nodded as I agree with Kamikita-san.
"Ah. I gotta go to the toilet and get changed."
"Okay~ Mio-chan!"
"Say, where's Rin-chin?"
"She was—"
I already walk outside the classroom before Kamikita-san completed her answer.
-oOo-
"Thanks for coming."
I bid another guest a farewell.
"Yes."
The festival started roughly 2 hours ago and the visitors keep increasing. Our class is one of the most popular place in the whole school. One guests after another comes pretty quick but they really took their time here.
Ah, here comes another. I gently put on the pose that Kurugaya-san taught before.
"Welcome, dear master."
"…"
The guest who has just walked in was a scarlet-haired boy, wearing our school's uniform. From the color of his tie, I can tell that he's a third year.
His appearance perfectly matches the description of a "young and charismatic warrior" in the archaic fashion. In other words, he has the same aura as Miyazawa-san. He is quite tall too. Maybe he's 180 cm of height.
It's weird how this is the first time I've seen him despite going to the same school.
"Are you by yourself, Master?"
"Yes."
He replied in a gentle, manly voice.
"OK. Please follow me."
"Hey, hey. Isn't that… "
"He's so handsome!~"
"Nishizono—san is so lucky!"
I think I'm hearing my classmates whispering behind me.
I handed him the menu after he sits comfortably.
"Any recommendation, Maid-san?"
Hm… this is the first time a master asks for my recommendation. Let's see.
"Would you like a sweet beverage or..."
"—I don't like sweets."
… That's rather rude…
"Then I'll recommend you this one, Master."
"OK. I'll have that one."
He handed me the menu.
"Please wait," I said, taking the menu from him and headed to the kitchen.
The kitchen is pretty cramped. I don't know why, but my non-LB classmates are waiting there. What are they doing here?
"Ne, ne. Nishizono-san. Would you swap with me?"
"Huh, why?"
"'why'? You don't know whom you're serving?"
"… I don't…"
"Well, he doesn't come out often…"
"Anyways. I won't swap with you. It's against our rule. After all, it's rude. The master might be angry with me for not coming back."
"You're right….."
"Huh, you're so lucky~"
"Now, if you excuse me."
I don't know why I'm not interested to ask who my master is. I know he stands out compared to other male students, but it just doesn't piqué my interest.
"Here you go, Master~"
"…"
He just stared at me with his sapphire eye. I wonder if there's something on my face.
"You are funny."
"Eh?"
"Hahaha!" he laughed.
I thought he's also the cool type like Miyazawa-san, but from the way he laugh, I think he's more light-hearted.
"I'm sorry. It's just… your voice doesn't match your words. You didn't make it cute enough like that girl," he pointed at Noumi-san who's doing her best to serve a guest.
"There's nothing wrong with your line, but your tone and expression are dead. That's why it's funny."
That's rude! But he's a guest. I can't fight back!
"I'm sorry, Master… I'll do better next time."
"No don't change that," he replied with a smile. "It's refreshing. You're like… a cool beauty."
"Cool beau…"
Did he just… flirt me?
"Now, will you just stand there or do that?"
He pointed at Kurugaya-san who's teasing Riki. Wait, Riki is supposed to be our worker too. Why is he making order? And that Kurugaya-san had just poured the sugar and milk to the cup from Riki's back! Intentionally pushing her breasts against Riki's head!
This boy wants me to do that!? He's just teasing me, right?
"I'm sorry. Her technique is her original. I cannot do that."
More like, unqualified to do that.
"I see. Unlucky, huh?" he scratched the back of his head. "Then do me your original move."
The Original move thingwas something I brought up just now. What should I do? OK. Calm down, Nishizono Mio.
Just do one of those tricks you had seen in movies or books.
I put my hands together, forming a heart shape, and then…
"With this magic I will make your drink taste better."
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua…"
"That's some intense spell…" he tsukkomied.
"Ha!" I finished the chant. "Now, please enjoy your drink, Master," I blinked.
"Pfft… Still preserving your cool expression while chanting that spell. You're the best."
I feel like I'm being teased here. But as long as he's happy, I don't mind.
"It's good! You made this?"
I nodded.
"I'd love to drink this every morning…"
"I'm afraid I can't. I'm not your personal maid."
"Right…" he put the cup back on the table. "Would you like to?"
"No."
"Th—that's rather quick. You don't even think about it."
"I think very fast," I reacted.
He grinned, "You're an interesting one. Had you given me the same service as your comrades, I might left without drinking your coffee."
After that, he stood up and said, "I'd like to meet you again sometime."
Then he finally left.
… He'd like to meet me again. Well, I can only say…
"Please come again."
A/N: Heyllo!
I finally introduce my OC. His name is Shiba Toshizo. He looks like Masaki Ichijou from Mahouka Kouko No Rettousei, but his character is not as serious. We'll get more about his details and roles later as the story goes.
Thanks for reading!