November arrived, bringing with it the deep autumn season.
The temperature gradually dropped, and the leaves on the school grounds had turned yellow, creating a golden ocean.
At this moment, in Class A's classroom, Chabashira Sae was informing the students about the upcoming cultural festival.
"...Now that we've discussed the points, let's move on to the guests for this cultural festival."
Chabashira Sae spoke slowly.
"The invited guests are individuals related to the construction and operation of this academy, as well as their family members. Guests will range from elderly people to young children and elementary school students, covering a wide age range. People who usually work at the Keyaki Mall and convenience stores will also be attending as guests."
'Yare yare, it seems like the families of ordinary students won't be attending this cultural festival...'
Saiki let out a slow breath—
But in the next second, he sighed again:
"But in the end, my family might still come, right?"
After all, Saiki Kusuke was now considered a school-related individual, and it was possible that his family would come to the school.
No matter what happened, as long as nothing strange occurred, it would be fine.
"The guests will also have personal points to spend. Adult guests will have 10,000 points each, while minors will have 5,000 points each. There are 284 adult guests and 202 minors, totaling 459 guests. The total funds they hold amount to 3,850,000 points."
"Additionally, the teachers will also be participating, but homeroom teachers cannot use points in the grade they teach. Otherwise, they have the same rights as regular guests."
"Regarding the important payment and settlement methods, everything will be handled through a dedicated mobile app. This is a system that allows the school to monitor sales data in real time. Please remember that at 4 p.m., the moment the cultural festival ends, the app will become unusable. The checkout time can be set freely, but it's recommended to settle payments before providing the goods..."
After explaining all the rules and details, Chabashira Sae cleared her throat.
"Do you have any questions?"
...
After class ended, Saiki, Horikita Suzune, and several others involved in the project headed to the special building.
Since they were setting up a maid café, it naturally had to be indoors.
Once the special building's venue reservations opened, they needed to quickly secure a location to avoid it being taken by others.
The special building had three floors, with a total of eight classrooms available for use. The closer the classroom was to the staircase, the higher the rent. The lower the floor, the higher the rent as well.
Compared to the third floor, where rents ranged from 10,000 to 13,000 points, all the classrooms on the first floor cost 50,000 points. This nearly 40,000-point difference could easily be used to purchase ingredients and other necessities. Each class was given a limited number of points, so deciding how much to allocate to rent was an unavoidable headache.
After all, the points needed to rent a classroom couldn't be supplemented with personal points.
"What do you all think?"
Horikita Suzune asked.
"Although the classrooms at the very end are the cheapest... their locations aren't great."
Wang Mei Yu shook her head, expressing her opinion.
"I think the second floor is better than the third floor~. Although, if we're being honest, the first floor would be the most ideal... but the rent there is just too outrageous."
Sato Maya shook her head.
"Saiki, what do you think?"
"I think the first floor would be best."
Since someone asked, Saiki gave his answer.
[The first floor is obviously the best choice... but it's too expensive...]
Horikita Suzune thought to herself.
At that moment, she heard footsteps and turned to see Tsukishiro Tokinari entering the special building with a few construction workers.
"Are you here to pick a classroom?"
Tsukishiro Tokinari smiled and looked at Saiki.
[I saw on the surveillance that you came here, Saiki, so I decided to make an appearance.]
'Yare yare, what are you up to now?'
Saiki was puzzled. Logically, Tsukishiro Tokinari shouldn't be causing any more trouble for him.
"Have you found a classroom you like?"
Tsukishiro Tokinari asked.
"We have, but we haven't decided yet. The price difference between floors is just too big, so we're still figuring it out."
Horikita Suzune said.
"For most people, the classroom closest to the entrance on the first floor would be the ideal choice. That classroom costs 50,000 points~"
Tsukishiro Tokinari's eyes narrowed slightly, and after a pause, he continued,
"But I have some good news for you."
"Good news?"
Everyone's faces showed a hint of confusion.
"That is, this cultural festival also has a hidden mini-test~"
"Huh?"
"For example, right now, you're actually being tested on 'classroom selection.' Although the teachers haven't mentioned this rule, all students should understand that securing a classroom is a race against time."
Listening to the chairman's words, Horikita Suzune nodded in agreement.
"This time, it's actually a test of speed, and since you're the first to arrive at the special building, you're the winners! You'll get the right to choose a classroom at half price!"
Tsukishiro Tokinari laughed heartily.
[Saiki must know that I'm here to do him a favor.]
'Hey, hey, hey, that's such a stretch!'
Saiki Kusu complained in his mind.
'Who would believe such an outrageous claim?'
Saiki hadn't expected that Tsukishiro Tokinari would come all this way just to do him a favor.
"I see! The chairman's thinking is truly meticulous!"
Horikita Suzune said, suddenly understanding.
'She actually believes it!'
Saiki felt helpless.
But since Tsukishiro Tokinari had taken the initiative to appear and hadn't interacted with him directly, no one would suspect anything.
"In that case, we'll take the first classroom by the entrance!"
Horikita Suzune's face lit up with a smile. This opportunity couldn't be missed.
"Very well, follow me."
Tsukishiro Tokinari then completed the handover process with Horikita Suzune.
[If Saiki feels indebted to me, it'll be easier for me to proceed with my plans.]
'.....'
...
After securing the classroom, everyone entered and began thinking about how to decorate it.
Saiki's phone rang. He glanced at the caller and immediately answered:
"We're in the first classroom by the entrance of the special building. Just come straight here."
"Saiki-kun, who are you talking to?"
Horikita Suzune asked, puzzled.
Since, in theory, all the students participating in the cultural festival were present, the person Saiki was calling must also be related to the event.
"Oh, it's someone helping us with logistics."
As soon as Saiki finished speaking, the door to the first-floor classroom opened, and a slender figure appeared.
"Mikoto-nee?"
Sakura Airi looked at the newcomer in surprise. It was none other than Aiura Mikoto.
Among the students, Sakura Airi was the most familiar with Aiura Mikoto.
Sato Maya and Karuizawa Kei had also met Aiura Mikoto a few times.
Once during a fortune-telling session—
And another time during Christmas.
"Ta-da! Long time no see, everyone!"
Aiura Mikoto greeted them cheerfully, holding a large suitcase.
"Who is this?"
Horikita Suzune asked Sato Maya, who was beside her. She found Aiura Mikoto somewhat familiar but didn't recognize her.
"She's the owner of the fortune-telling shop at school."
"The fortune-telling shop owner? I've never been to that shop... Maybe I've seen her somewhere... Wait, I think I remember her serving food during the training camp exam?"
Horikita Suzune seemed to recall, but her memory was fuzzy, and she wasn't sure.
Still, she was surprised that Saiki had such connections.
"Kusuo has entrusted me with handling your outfits, so I've brought a few designs for you to try. Let me show you—"
"Wait, let's check them over here first."
At that moment, Saiki interrupted Aiura Mikoto and pulled her aside, turning their backs to the others.
Although he didn't know what kind of outfits Aiura Mikoto had brought, Saiki needed to inspect them first, just to be safe.
"First, this one."
Aiura Mikoto proudly pulled out a maid outfit—
A risqué one.
It was so revealing that wearing it would definitely get someone expelled.
'This is your idea of a maid outfit?'
Saiki's hand ignited with a flame, and in less than a second, the outfit was reduced to ashes.
"What's Saiki talking to the owner about?"
"Why does the outfit need to be checked separately?"
"Do I smell something burning?"
While the others were confused, Saiki shot a sharp glare at Aiura Mikoto.
'If you pull out another outfit like that, I'll burn them all.'
[Got it, got it!]
Aiura Mikoto stuck out her tongue and finally pulled out a few normal maid outfits. Saiki allowed her to show them to the others so they could pick the most suitable design.
The moment the girls saw the maid outfits, their eyes sparkled.
"So pretty!"
"I can't wait to try them on!"
"This one is so beautiful!"
Only Horikita Suzune remained serious. She walked up to Saiki and asked:
"What were you two talking about earlier?"
"We were discussing supply chain issues. Since I'm a shop owner at school, there are some channels I can't disclose to students."
Aiura Mikoto quickly replied, having already prepared her answer.
"But these outfits look expensive, don't they?"
Horikita Suzune was most concerned about this.
[Although we saved some money on the classroom, the expenses still can't be ignored. And with so many maid outfits, the rental cost must be significant.]
"They're free, including the ingredients you'll need later."
Aiura Mikoto said with a smile.
"Huh?"
Horikita Suzune was surprised by this answer.
[These outfits aren't cheap. I spent quite a bit to get them, but I gained the most important thing—Kusuo owes me another favor!]
Aiura Mikoto thought to herself, then continued:
"Helping you is also a way to advertise my shop. Even after I leave school, I won't have to worry about my future."
"I see."
Horikita Suzune found Aiura Mikoto's explanation reasonable and nodded.
"Also, Kusuo-kun and I have been friends for a long time."
Aiura Mikoto added.
"So this time, I'll be helping you too!"
"Helping us? You mean..."
"That's right! I'll be one of your maids too!"
Aiura Mikoto said with a smile, glancing at Saiki, whose face remained expressionless.
This was part of the deal they had made.
After finalizing the cultural festival plans with Horikita Suzune and the others, Saiki had瞬移 to find Aiura Mikoto and struck a deal with her.
Aiura Mikoto would provide materials and logistical support—
And in return, she could participate in the cultural festival as a maid.
"Owner, you're joining too? But you're not a student in our class."
Horikita Suzune was full of doubts.
"Strictly speaking, as the owner, I'm one of the guests for this cultural festival. But the school hasn't said that guests can't be staff, right?"
Hearing Aiura Mikoto's words, Horikita Suzune was momentarily speechless. What she said wasn't wrong.
But... to advertise her shop, did Aiura Mikoto really need to go this far?
"Thank you so much. In that case... our class can save a significant amount of points. Maybe... we can even rent another classroom!"
Horikita Suzune seriously considered this idea and thought about going out to ask Tsukishiro Tokinari for more details about renting venues. He probably hadn't gone far yet.
As soon as she opened the door, she found Tsukishiro Tokinari standing right outside.
"Chairman Tsukishiro... I actually have a question for you. Can we rent two classrooms here..."
"Congratulations! You're the first student to ask me this. This is also part of the mini-test. You can get a second classroom for free!"