(POV: Fuji Kiseki)
The big day has finally arrived—the Grand Thanksgiving Festival. And as for our establishment, run by Team Polaris? Well... let's just say we're popular enough to have a line stretching out the door.
I have to admit, I'm a bit overwhelmed. I never dreamed we'd draw a crowd this size... The arrangement is simple: us Uma Musume handle the service, while Yahata-san manages the kitchen. But the real highlight is our attire. We've split the team into maids and butlers clad in swallowtail coats.
Here is how the roster looks:
Maids:
Air Groove
Mejiro Ardan
Rice Shower
Butlers (Swallowtail Coats):
Sakura Bakushin O
Fuji Kiseki
Mr. C.B.
Maurice
That's the lineup. Honestly, I'm glad everyone decided on a specific "theme" for their customer service beforehand. Yahata-san suggested it would be better to give the customers a clear idea of what to expect, so we posted a brief introduction of our staff on the board outside.
Now then, shall we take a little peek at how things are going inside?
[Mejiro Ardan]
Ardan: "Thank you for waiting. Here is the coffee and one stick of sugar you ordered, along with the roll cake. Also, please feel free to choose one item from our merchandise selection."
Guest: "Thank you so much! I... I became a huge fan after watching your debut race, Ardan-san! I'm so happy to finally meet you!! naturally, I'll be taking your merchandise!"
Ardan: "My, I am truly honored. I will do everything in my power to meet your expectations in my next run as well. I humbly ask for your continued support."
Guest: "Waaah... that smile is everything. Truly a lady of the Mejiro house."
[Air Groove]
Air Groove: "Thank you for visiting. Welcome to the North Star Café. A party of two, was it?"
Guest A: "Ah, yes! Two of us!"
Air Groove: "Understood. I will show you to your seats. Right this way."
Guest A: "It's the real Air Groove... incredible!"
Guest B: "Man, I can die happy right now..."
Air Groove: "...You know who I am?"
Guest B: "Y-Yes! I watch all your races, and I buy all sorts of merch!"
Air Groove: "If that is the case, it would trouble me greatly if you died. You are, after all, one of my precious fans."
Guest B: "...Y-Yes, ma'am! (I'm going to support Air Groove until the day she retires!)"
[Mr. C.B.]
C.B.: "Sorry for the wait. This matches your order, right?"
Guest: "It does! Thanks!"
C.B.: "You're welcome♪ Oh, and since you ordered this item from the menu, go ahead and pick whichever one you like from this box."
Guest: "Are these... accessories?"
C.B.: "Yup♪ Limited edition items made by the members of Team Polaris. Pretty cool, right?"
Guest: "A-Amazing!! These are rarer than any official merch!! By the way, C.B.-san... which one did you make?"
C.B.: "Hmm~ why don't you try to guess? Don't worry, I won't get mad if you get it wrong."
[Maurice]
Maurice: "Ready to settle the bill? Please, right this way!"
Guest: "Here you go."
Maurice: "That will be [Yen amount] in total!"
Guest: "Alright... here."
Maurice: "I have received [Yen amount]!"
Guest: "Maurice-chan, you're running in the Fuji Stakes next, right? You'll be up against seniors in the Senior Class since it's autumn now... Do your best out there!"
Maurice: "Thank you very much! I'll work hard to run a good race and leave a mark on the scoreboard! Here is your change, [Yen amount]!"
Guest: "Thanks! See you at the racetrack!"
Maurice: "Thank you very much~!"
[Rice Shower]
Rice: "M-May I take your... your orber!?"
Rare Meat: (She bit her tongue... so cute...) "Um, can I have one Rice Burger and one Soda Float?"
Rice: "O-One Rice Burger, and one Soda Float... U-Um, w-will that be all?"
Rare Meat: "Yes, that's all."
Rice: "U-Understood! P-Please wait just a moment!"
Rare Meat: (She stuttered again... so cute...) "Okay."
(POV: Fuji Kiseki)
As you can see, it's a massive success. I feel like I've spotted a few familiar faces here and there, but they're fans too, so it's not strange for them to show up. Oh, by the way, we're handling all the drinks ourselves. Yahata-san is strictly on food duty, so I think we've managed to lighten his load a little. Making drinks is something we can handle, after all.
Fuji: "Yahata-san, you holding up okay?"
Yahata: "Yeah, I'm good. Since we started restricting the number of entries, it hasn't been too crazy. No problems here."
Bakushin O: "If you need anything, just give the order!"
Yahata: "I will. And hey, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but try to save those words for the customers, alright?"
Clatter-ring~♪
Fuji: "Oops, next customer. Alright, Yahata-san, I'm heading back out."
Yahata: "Got it."
--- Several Hours Later: Break Time ---
Rice: "Fueeehh~..."
Maurice: "I-It's finally over~..."
Fuji: "Ahahaha, it's not over yet, you know? This is just our break time."
Air Groove: "Still, more people showed up than I anticipated. I expected a sporadic flow, but..."
Yahata: "Well, it's proof of how hard you girls are working. I only caught bits and pieces from the kitchen, but people were cheering you on as they left, right? That's the proof."
Ardan: "Yes. I received many words of encouragement."
Maurice: "Me too! They spoke to me as well!"
Rice: "Rice got told to do her best in the next Kikuka-sho..."
C.B.: "I guess that happens for you guys, Mo-chan. For us, thanks to the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara titles, our fame has gotten so crazy we don't really need to check anymore."
Fuji: "C.B.-senpai probably had the most fans today."
Air Groove: "No, Fuji. You had plenty yourself."
Maurice: "All of you who conquered the Triple Crown had tons of people!!"
Yahata: "No doubt about that."
[Bonus Skit]
Yahata: "Oi. You. Why did you casually just show up in the story?"
Rare Meat: "Why not?! It's Rice in a maid outfit!! This is super ultra-rare, isn't it?!!!!"
Yahata: "Whatever. So, how was the Rice Burger I made?"
Rare Meat: "Super delicious. And since Rice served it to me, the synergy made it taste even better♪"
Yahata: "Don't use the '♪' symbol. It's gross when you do it."
Rare Meat: "That goes for both of us, doesn't it?!"
Yahata: "...Fair point."
Rare Meat: "If anyone should use it, it's Rice. Speaking of, is Rice not here?"
Yahata: "Like I'd let her near a suspicious individual like you."
Rare Meat: "Too bad for you~ I already got her to serve me~♪"
Yahata: "Isn't the visual kind of messed up? A piece of raw meat relaxing in a chair, eating a Rice Burger and drinking a Soda Float... isn't that disturbing?"
Rare Meat: "Everyone, please just imagine it. A bone-in piece of plushie meat sitting on a chair, having a meal. Don't you think it's surreal?"
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