Part-1 Ch-07 Ep-02

As expected, the maid café proved to be a massive success. I had assumed the customers would mostly be boys with questionable motives, but surprisingly, there were quite a few girls as well.

Maybe visiting an actual maid café feels like too much of a hurdle, but they are interested when it is just a school festival booth. Putting on a practiced customer-service smile, I took the orders of the girls who had just sat down.

“Have you decided on your order?”

“Um! I’ll have this fluffy pancake, please!”

After taking their order, I could hear them giggling and whispering “I’m so excited~” with bright, delighted expressions. The fluffy pancakes they were so thrilled about were actually being prepared in the back by a group of scruffy guys holding down the kitchen, though.

“Nagase-saaan, it’s a little early, but why don’t you take your break now? You have that costume change later too.”

“Okay~”

So the prince outfit is coming, huh… Bracing myself mentally, I gratefully accepted the break. I glanced over at Maki and saw she was still serving customers. All the eyes in the room were drawn to her, and as her childhood friend, I felt a small swell of pride.

Once I changed out of the maid costume and back into my uniform for the break, and was about to leave the classroom, Maki hurried after me.

“Sorry. We couldn’t take our break together.”

“No, it’s fine. It couldn’t be helped.”

“I really wanted to go around the cultural festival with you, Mari…”

The faintly lonely look on her face, paired with the fact she was wearing a maid outfit, stirred up an overwhelming urge to protect her. Honestly, I wanted to gather every single capture target right here and now and make them witness this expression.

“Ah, it’s all right. Ichinose-san, we’ve already scheduled proper time for that later.”

At the class representative’s words, several nearby students nodded in agreement. Kagami-kun even silently mouthed “Leave it to me” with a thumbs-up and a smug face.

These people are definitely plotting something. Honestly, I really wish Kagami-kun would take this chance to get closer to Maki instead. Lately he has become nothing more than a nice, handsome guy who can read the room.

“Really? That’s great! Thank you!”

She must have been genuinely happy, because a radiant smile spread across Maki’s face. Seeing that smile, all the classmates nearby suddenly flushed bright red.

A heroine’s full-power smile is seriously lethal.

At any rate, because of all that, Maki still had customers waiting and stayed in the classroom, while I went off on a short break alone. I already knew exactly where I was going.

“Here it is. Spiritual Research Club.”

The place where Seishuku Kokoa is.

I told the person at the entrance that I wanted to see Seishuku-san, slipped past the black curtain into the designated booth, and there she was waiting.

The classroom lights were turned off, and the room was illuminated only by indirect lighting. The walls were all in black and purple, creating a refined atmosphere. They had even prepared background music; soft healing music played quietly throughout the space.

“Welcome. You really came, Nagase-san.”

“Hey there. This place has incredible atmosphere.”

In the days leading up to the festival, I had already cleared up the misunderstanding about Maki.

“Fan club…? What’s that?”

She reacted exactly the same way I had, but when I casually explained that they simply wanted to cheer the two of us on, she accepted it fairly easily.

After that, I did catch glimpses of Maki and Seishuku-san deeply engrossed in conversation, which I found odd. But whenever I asked about it later, they always dodged the question.

“Come to think of it, why did you ask my permission to start the fan club? The two of you seem to get along now, so wouldn’t Maki have been fine?”

“Ah, that’s because… since I didn’t know the full situation, Nagase-san seemed easier to win over.”

She added that Ichinose-san seemed like the type who would clearly say no when she meant it, which revealed an unexpected shrewdness. It is true that Maki is someone who can say no. In contrast, I often end up agreeing even when I do not fully understand.

“I was an easy mark.”

Something about Seishuku-san feels different from her in-game version now. I could still revoke permission even at this point, you know.

“More importantly, you came for a fortune-telling today, right?!”

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me, and I was completely pulled along by her pace. Maybe I really am an easy mark. Since that was indeed my purpose, I simply nodded.

“Ah, then let’s do a compatibility reading. For example, between me and Maki…”

“Your compatibility is extremely good.”

“Hm?”

“If I compare you to animals, Ichinose-san is a carnivore like a cheetah. Nagase-san, you are a herbivore like a koala. Ichinose-san heats up quickly but cools down quickly too, yet she is very proactive toward the people she likes. Also, giving this type positive words is extremely effective.”

“Hmm?”

“Nagase-san is normally like a koala absent-mindedly chewing on eucalyptus leaves. But once you decide on something, you will see it through even if it takes a long time. And you are very positive, able to give kind words to others.”

“I see. The ‘absent-minded’ part bothers me a little, but overall it does not feel bad.”

Actually, I have been aware of my role and acting accordingly since I was small, haven’t I?

“In that case, the two of you have a wonderfully balanced dynamic that complements each other. So I give my full stamp of approval as well. Please be happy together.”

I wanted to thank her, but this was not the reading I had come for. I wanted her to read Maki’s compatibility with the capture targets. I had even looked up the birthdays of all three guys for today.

“Your lucky item is cardboard. Cleaning up will bring good fortune.”

“Good fortune for whom?”

“For Ichinose-san.”

Oh, so she can do that kind of reading too. In that case, there is a lot I want to ask…

“Yes, 100 yen for 10 minutes.”

“Ah, you charge money.”

“Of course♪” Seishuku-san replied with a radiant smile. She is probably far more cunning than I imagined. I paid the 100 yen as instructed, and once the time was up, I left the booth.

“Ah, Nagase-san.”

“What? Oh, thanks. That was fun.”

“I’m glad. Also, I’ve done a bit of groundwork for the after-festival party, just so you know.”

She flashed a mischievous grin.

“Thanks. That really helps.”

I have gained a remarkably useful connection. I gave a light wave and finally left the Spiritual Research Club behind.