Morning, Millennium Downtown District.
I walked into a specialty eyewear store and looked around at the dazzling variety of glasses on display, letting out a sigh of amazement.
"I didn't expect there to be so many different styles."
"Yes. According to survey data, our school's average myopia rate ranks among the highest in Kivotos."
The blonde girl walked to my side, her tone flat. "Aside from students who genuinely need them due to eyesight issues, there are also some who wear glasses purely as accessories, either to appear diligent and studious, or because they think glasses make them look smart."
You would also have to add that, in the course of everyday gunfights and accidents, glasses, which are far less durable than the human body in Kivotos, have a fairly high breakage rate.
Taking all of that into account, glasses are probably a best-selling item in Millennium.
I joked, "Oh? You're not one of those students too, are you?"
Toki asked me in return, "Do you really think I'm the type who needs external objects to prove myself?"
"Of course not."
"I'm relieved. It seems you do take care of your eyesight, Sensei, and haven't reached the point of needing glasses yet."
This girl, how can she roast me so sharply without changing her expression at all? Her inner thoughts are definitely far more active than her face lets on.
I let out a dry laugh and decided to skip the topic, changing the subject instead. "Then let's get started picking. You have an exam tomorrow, after all, so it's better not to waste time."
Today was the day I had arranged with Toki to come choose a new pair of glasses for her together. At the time, I had no idea it was the day before Millennium's monthly exam.
Originally, I had planned to reschedule for another day, but Toki repeatedly assured me that she had absolute confidence in passing the exam, so the date was never changed.
I strongly suspected she was just impatient to see me.
I recalled the process I had seen online. "It would be better to take the eye exam results and consult the optician first, right?"
Judging by the thickness of the lenses in the glasses Toki was wearing, her degree of nearsightedness should limit the choice of frames to some extent.
However, Toki shook her head. "That won't be necessary. As a perfect student, my eyesight has no defects whatsoever, so we only need to consider aesthetics and comfort."
Looking at the blonde girl wearing thick, unfashionable, oversized round glasses that almost completely covered her eyes, I fell silent for a moment.
"…You're not nearsighted?"
"I'm not nearsighted."
As she spoke, Toki removed her glasses. Her clear, cool eyes gazed straight at me as she revealed her full appearance in front of me for the first time.
My heart gave a heavy thump. When she stopped sealing away her looks, she was even prettier than I had imagined.
But I hadn't spent my time in Kivotos for nothing. I was only briefly surprised by the contrast before quickly regaining my composure and asking, "If your eyesight is fine, then why wear those?"
Was it because she knew she was beautiful and wanted to hide it? That didn't seem quite right. Among the students of Kivotos, despite differences in style, all of them were stunning in their own way to me.
In such an environment, even a beauty of Toki's caliber did not seem especially rare when surrounded by others.
Was it to conceal her identity? That didn't fit either. Although C&C is an agent organization, they openly wear maid outfits in daily life and have no habit of hiding their existence at all.
So, by the process of elimination, the answer was already obvious.
Toki must like me, and was deliberately creating a before-and-after contrast to capture my heart in one fell swoop!
She's still a bit inexperienced, but I'll acknowledge the scheming effort she put in for my sake.
So why hasn't the card reacted yet?
Just as I unconsciously put on a knowing smile, Toki spoke calmly.
"My roommate gave them to me, so I put them on."
…I think Toki is simply using her roommate as a shield to hide her shyness.
Even if part of what she said is true, is it possible she had no intention at all of using this opportunity to win my favor?
I've seen through everything. There's no way I'm wrong!
"She thought these glasses looked good. As a perfect roommate, I didn't express my personal opinion and chose to comply."
Toki paused, then continued. "However, last time, I fully reported your evaluation to her."
Maybe it was just my imagination, but a fleeting smile seemed to flash across Toki's icy expression.
"What exactly did you say?"
"These glasses have absolutely terrible taste. Anyone who thinks something like this is still fashionable in Kivotos must have had their personal sense of aesthetics left behind a hundred years ago. They don't suit a pretty and cute Toki at all. That's exactly what you said, Sensei."
I never said anything like that!
…Although it might be my misunderstanding, does Toki have a bit of an issue with her roommate?
That wouldn't be too strange. According to Toki's earlier descriptions, her roommate causes her all sorts of trouble every day and seems completely incapable of living independently without Toki's care.
Being limited to this level of verbal attack already shows that Toki is quite gentle.
"After I said that, her mood dropped instantly." Toki shook her head. "She even took it out on me and ignored me for a long time, until she finished bathing and didn't know how to quickly dry her wet hair."
I feel like that doesn't really count as taking it out on you.
In any case…
"If that's the case, then there's no need to pick new glasses, right?"
As expected, Toki just wanted to create an opportunity to meet me.
"Because I want to show her just how big the gap is in aesthetic sense between an adult like you and her, and also use it as a way to show off."
She's completely stopped hiding her subtle malice in front of me now, hasn't she?
I nearly burst out laughing. The more I interacted with her, the more I could feel the playful cuteness hidden beneath Toki's calm exterior.
"Then let me show you what adult taste really is!"
I patted my chest and guaranteed it.
Toki nodded. "Understood. I'll leave everything to you."
A short while later.
Toki tilted her head slightly and asked in confusion as she watched me wearing sunglasses and taking selfies.
"So this is adult taste?"
"You wouldn't understand. This is an adult's interest."
I selected the photo I had just taken and tapped send.
Neru: …Why are you doing this all of a sudden?
Me: Don't underestimate my intelligence network. You like this kind of style, right?
Neru: Huh? W-what nonsense are you talking about?
Neru: Are you sick?
Me: I could consider wearing a silk jacket, putting on a pompadour wig, wearing sunglasses, and sending you selfies.
Neru: …
Neru: R-really?
Neru: It's not like I really want to see it… but there's no helping it since you've gone this far, it'd be wrong of me to refuse, right?
Neru: So hurry up and hand it over.
She clearly looks like she wants to see it desperately.
Me: But there's a condition.
Neru: Oh? You're negotiating with me?
Neru: Interesting. You've got some nerve.
Neru: If it weren't because we're pretty familiar with each other, I'd feel like punching you a bit.
Neru: Whatever. Say it first. If I'm in a good mood, it's not like I can't agree.
Me: Before that, Neru, as the head of C&C, what do you think C&C's positioning is?
Neru: What?
Neru: I don't care about that. As long as there's fighting and fun in C&C, that's enough.
Me: By general definition, people usually think of you as Millennium's strongest agents.
Neru: Oh? You've got a way with words.
Neru: But drop the word "agents."
Neru: The club I belong to is Millennium's strongest.
Me: And also agents.
Me: Agents disguised as maids, at that.
Neru: That's true. What are you getting at? Why are you beating around the bush?
Me: Even though your main job is combat, once you put on the maid outfit, disguise is also an important part, right?
Neru: Just say what you want to say.
Me: Can you call me Master?
Neru: …Huh?
Me: Don't get the wrong idea.
Me: This is just me, as Schale's Sensei, wanting to normally witness your ability in this area.
Me: Millennium's strongest should definitely be able to perfectly play the role of a maid too!
Me: I'm really looking forward to it!
Neru: So that's how it is… like hell it is!
Neru: You want me to call you that? Do you have a fever?
Neru: If you're not sick, even I have to admire your guts.
Neru: Actually daring to provoke me like this.
Neru: Heh. Fine. If you want to die, I'll grant your wish.
Neru: Tell me right now. Where are you? I'm coming over immediately to knock you flying!
Me: Calm down first. Tomorrow's exam, how's your studying going?
Neru: …
Neru: You bastard. Just you wait.
After leaving behind that harsh line, Neru went silent.
Getting her angry this easily really is too much fun.
As for how to placate Neru afterward, I'll worry about that later.
While teasing Neru, Toki and I never stopped browsing.
"Sensei, what do you think of this pair of glasses?"
Toki picked up a pair of plain black-framed non-prescription glasses and asked me.
I answered honestly, "It's pretty good."
Toki pressed on. "Is that judgment based on your own aesthetic sense?"
"Of course."
"I see." Toki nodded thoughtfully. "In that case, may I ask you to put them on and try them?"
The request felt a bit strange to me, but I complied anyway.
After putting on the glasses, I smiled and asked, "Well? Do I look like a refined scoun… no, that's not it. A sanctimonious… no, that's not right either. Well-dressed…"
The more I spoke, the fainter my smile became, until it finally turned into confusion.
…Why were those the kinds of words that came to mind first?
"Yes, I roughly understand now."
Toki looked me up and down, took out her phone, and politely asked, "May I take a photo?"
That question snapped my thoughts back. Gazing into Toki's deep blue eyes, I suddenly realized.
This cunning student must be using this as an excuse to save a handsome photo of me, right?
"Sure." I put on a smile that said I had seen through everything. "Do you need me to strike any particular pose?"
"Hmm…"
After pondering for a moment, Toki raised two fingers. "Could you make this kind of gesture?"
A peace sign, one of the most common photo poses.
I naturally agreed.
"Alright, please make the same gesture with both hands. Smile a bit more happily. Bend your waist slightly lower. Okay, please hold still like that."
Toki stepped beside me, stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arm around my neck, and rested it on my shoulder. "Please say it with me, peace peace~"
At the instant I saw the scene about to be captured by Toki's front-facing camera, I suddenly felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
Blonde hair, arm around the shoulder, calm expression with a hint of smugness.
Black hair, double peace signs, a bright smile that was even a little stiff.
This composition… these elements…
No, no, no. It must just be my imagination…
Before I could shake off the strange association, Toki had already finished taking the photo and nodded.
I hesitated. "…Toki, you wouldn't…"
Toki looked at me in confusion. "Hmm? What is it?"
"N-no… it's nothing…"
If I think about it positively, at most Toki just wants to use this photo as material. There's no way she would casually show it to others, right?
Besides, as long as I don't overthink it, this photo is clearly very normal.
"Sensei, let's go to the counter to pay."
"Oh, yeah."
Because I still couldn't fully dispel the doubts in my heart, I missed the chance to pay first and define these glasses as a gift.
If I had done that, every time Toki wore them, she would inevitably think of me, and her fondness for me would gradually increase without her realizing it.
However, just as I was feeling regretful, the blonde girl handed the glasses case to me.
"For you."
"Ah, okay." I hadn't expected that one day in Kivotos I would be carrying a student's bag, which felt oddly novel. "Perfect timing, I'm heading to your school anyway, so I'll carry it to the dorm for you."
But Toki said, "You misunderstood. What I mean is, these suit you very well, so consider them a gift for you."
"What?" I was stunned. "Then what about yours?"
"I don't need them anymore."
I realized that I was starting to not quite understand Toki's way of thinking.
Every step she took seemed to go beyond my expectations.
But there was one thing that was probably certain.
Was Toki trying to turn the tables and win me over instead?
This is really quite interesting.
I placed the glasses case into my briefcase. "I understand. Thank you, Toki. I'll accept this gift."
"Just take it as repayment for treating me to a meal."
Toki lifted her chin, looking very pleased with herself. "However, you can thank me a bit more. Complimenting me is also fine."
I think I might be starting to like Toki.
The more I interact with her, the more adorable she seems.
Of course, there is probably a deliberate, calculated element to this, but the starting point is likely just that she has feelings for me.
Could a maid from C&C possibly have ulterior motives toward her future master?
In short, I don't dislike it.
After that, Toki and I walked together to Millennium Science School, then parted ways.
Not long after, I pushed open the door to the Game Development Club.