Just as the atmosphere in the classroom grew increasingly tense, Yukino Yukinoshita walked in. She glanced at the three girls still hugging each other and said helplessly:
"Kotomi, Yui, Mashiro, Megumi—you're all here. Good morning. But seriously, Kotomi, you three really can't go a single day without hugging each other the moment you meet, can you?"
"Hehehe, it's not that bad," Yui Yuigahama replied with an awkward laugh, still clinging tightly to Kotomi Izumi.
"I haven't seen Kotomi in three lifetimes. What's wrong with hugging her a bit longer?" Mashiro Shiina said matter-of-factly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Yukino sighed, shrugged, and walked back to her seat without looking again. She hurried her steps—not because she was busy, but because she knew that if she lingered any longer, she might start feeling jealous of their closeness.
Once the three finally separated and Kotomi sat back down, Yukino took out a flyer and handed it to her.
"Class 1-C is working fast. I saw a few of their students handing these out when I came through the school gate earlier. No wonder 1-C is the most anticipated class for this year's festival—they're doing a maid café."
"I'd heard they were planning to use the whole classroom as a shop for the festival—something like a café or restaurant—but I didn't expect it to turn out to be a maid café," Kotomi said, taking the flyer and studying it.
After a moment, though, it became clear she wasn't actually reading the text—she was too busy staring at the photos of the maids printed on it.
She flipped it front and back, and then set it down on her desk, disappointed.
"What's the point? Whoever took these photos doesn't understand anything! The maids look cute, sure—but where are the shots showing them wearing stockings?"
A maid without stockings—could that even be called a maid?!
Then again, since the photos didn't show their legs, there was no way to know if they were wearing them or not. If they were, Kotomi decided she'd visit Class 1-C's maid café all three days of the festival.
Still, the maids' outfits in the photos came in all kinds of styles: the short-skirt type Kotomi liked best, traditional Japanese-style, and even cyber-style.
The futuristic maid costume, in particular, looked like something straight out of a sci-fi game or anime.
Kotomi liked all of them, honestly. In her mind, as long as it was a maid outfit, it was perfect.
Thinking about maids made Kotomi remember Yakken Izumi's household maid, Atsuki, who took care of Arisu Sakayanagi.
If she recalled correctly, Atsuki's maid outfit was the long-skirted kind—a refined Victorian afternoon dress that gave off a noble and elegant air.
Beautiful, yes, but not really her type. Kotomi preferred maid outfits where you could clearly—or even just faintly—see the maid's stocking-clad thighs.
As Kotomi's imagination ran wild with colorful visions of maid outfits, she was already planning how many beautiful maids she'd hire someday when she got rich.
Then, Megumi Kato leaned in with a sweet smile.
"You really like maid outfits, huh?"
"Eh—well, they're alright, I guess. Nothing special," Kotomi replied nervously, quickly averting her eyes and refusing to look back at the flyer.
Ever since that near-knife incident with Megumi, Kotomi's survival instincts had been honed to perfection. Around her, she didn't even dare to glance at another girl too long. And if she did, it was always in secret.
Seeing Kotomi's guilty expression, Megumi smiled in quiet satisfaction and whispered softly:
"If you like maid outfits that much, you could always buy one yourself~"
"Really?!" Kotomi's eyes lit up immediately.
"Of course~ Because you like them, right?"
"Yay!"
Kotomi cheered excitedly, completely missing the subtle "trap" hidden in Megumi's tone.
Come to think of it, Megumi Kato hadn't actually specified who would be wearing the maid outfit once it was bought.
And at that very moment, Kotomi Izumi was already picturing Megumi dressed in a short-skirt maid outfit with white thigh-high stockings.
As the first-period bell rang, the classroom showed no signs of quieting down. Of course, it wouldn't—there were no regular classes today. The entire day was reserved for culture festival preparations.
"Hashiki, how many boxes of coffee beans arrived? Is it enough for three days?"
"Only two boxes so far. Given how popular the maid café's going to be, that won't even last a day. But I've already called the supplier—they promised to arrange same-city delivery, so it should arrive before the afternoon."
"Damn it, they actually split the shipment! Trying to make extra off the delivery fees, huh? If it's not here by afternoon, I'll head to the department store myself, buy in bulk, cancel the order, and leave a bad review while I'm at it!"
"The bread crumbs aren't enough either. I'll ask the teacher for permission to go out and buy more. Who's coming with me?"
"Anyone seen the spray paint for decorations? I just set it by the window a few minutes ago—how's it already gone?"
"Hey, careful! That flower pot belongs on the display shelf, not the floor! Don't drop it—that's the one I borrowed from the dean's office! It's his favorite plant, and if we break it, our class will end up like Class 1-B, getting our phones confiscated every day."
"The drink order sheet… hmm, for cola, just get Pepsi. That'll leave enough budget for another beverage option."
"I really want to be Kotomi Izumi's dog."
"Where's the supervising teacher? Has anyone seen them? Wait, did they die? Oh crap—Sensei! When did you get behind me?!"
"Everyone passing through, please be careful not to bump into the luggage of the students staying late for tonight's rehearsal."
"Ugh… I just confessed to the senior I've had a crush on for a whole year, but he's… he's already married! Sob sob sob!"
"Could you pass me the screwdriver? Thanks."
In the lively, bustling atmosphere, Sobu High spent the entire day immersed in the final preparations for the upcoming culture festival.
By dusk, the sky was dyed in deep orange and red hues as the setting sun painted the skyline with the soft glow of evening.
When the dismissal bell finally rang, students who were setting up booths or rehearsing performances began wrapping up their work. Most returned to their classrooms to grab their bags before leaving—some alone, others in groups—all chatting excitedly about the next day's event.
Those who had applied to stay for after-school rehearsals carried their bags and suitcases to their designated practice locations.
"Kotomi, Yui, Yukino—good luck with your rehearsal! I'm really looking forward to your performance at the festival. You've got this!" Megumi Kato said encouragingly before heading out.
"Thanks, Megumi!"
"Thanks. We'll do our best," Yui Yuigahama and Yukino Yukinoshita both replied, though a touch of nervousness lingered in their voices as the reality of tomorrow's big day set in.
Meanwhile, Kotomi Izumi had been sitting off to the side, scrolling through her phone as if searching for something. Suddenly, her finger stopped mid-scroll.
"I found a great restaurant," she announced. "Once the festival's over, let's have our celebration dinner there! Megumi, you're coming too!"
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