"No rush."
Miyamura Shizuka took the menu, skimmed it quickly, and then passed it across the table to Nishimiya Yuzuru, who was still glancing curiously around the Maid Café.
"Yuzuru, see what you want to order."
At her aunt's words, Yuzuru finally pulled her gaze back from the frilly uniforms. Her eyes landed on the main courses, but not without flicking toward the dessert section for a few seconds.
"If you want dessert, it can only be after your meal," Shizuka reminded her gently, resting her chin on her hand as she watched Yuzuru's small changes in expression.
"Okay, okay…"
Yuzuru carefully studied the main dishes: omurice, curry rice, pasta, sandwiches… Her finger drifted along the prices until it stopped on the simplest omurice.
There were three versions: the plain omurice for 300 yen, a heart-shaped one for 400 yen, and a "requested" heart-shaped omurice for 500 yen.
She didn't really understand the difference, but she didn't dare order out of curiosity since Auntie Shizuka would be the one paying.
"Anything else you want?" Shizuka asked kindly, taking the menu back.
Yuzuru shook her head firmly. "No, one omurice is enough."
"Alright then." Shizuka tapped the menu thoughtfully. "What's this 'requested heart omurice' like?"
Takagi, nearby, repeated the explanation they'd heard earlier.
"Then one requested heart omurice," Shizuka said with a smile. "And two cups of 'Magic Potion.'"
Takagi quickly jotted the order down. Before she could even ask, Shizuka added:
"The Magic Potion should be strawberry and grape flavors. And for the omurice, have Akira come out and draw it for me."
"Okay, Auntie."
Takagi didn't find it strange. After confirming, she tore out the order slip and headed back into the kitchen.
"Yuzuru, lend me your camera for a bit. I'll give it back once we finish eating."
"Okay!" Yuzuru quickly unhooked the camera from her neck and handed it over, then asked curiously: "Auntie, what are you going to do with it?"
"You'll see soon." Shizuka only smiled faintly and set the camera on the wall's edge, pointing the lens toward their table, waiting quietly.
Inside the kitchen, Takagi handed the slip over.
"…" Akira froze for a moment after reading it.
"What's wrong?" Takagi caught the flicker in his eyes.
"It's nothing. I'll deliver it later." He waved it off and went back to plating.
But inside, he already knew—his mother must be planning something.
Takagi didn't press. She just exchanged a few words with Shouko, who kept sneaking glances at Akira, before heading out.
"Akira, should we go greet Auntie and Yuzuru later together?" Shouko asked quietly once Takagi was gone.
"Sure, if we're not too busy." Akira smiled, arranging carrots on a plate. "We can slip out for a bit."
"Okay!" Shouko answered brightly and went right back to preparing the two omurice dishes.
When the orders were done, Akira picked up the steaming omurice.
"I'll take this out. I'll come back and cover for you so you can rest later."
Not waiting for her reply, he stepped out with the tray.
The sunlight streamed through ribboned windows, skirts and bows swayed as classmates rushed by, and the clear voices of maids echoed at the entrance:
"Okaerinasaimase, Goshujinsama~!"
Akira adjusted his butler uniform and walked straight to Table 5.
"Mom, your requested heart omurice."
He set the plate down, then passed the tray to Nishikata, who happened to be walking by.
Shizuka and Yuzuru only gave his outfit a glance. They'd already seen the standee outside, after all—and Yuzuru had even taken several photos, planning to sell them to her sister later.
"Tap, tap…" Shizuka rapped her finger against the table. "Hey, hey! Like this, I'll give you a bad review!"
"Where's your smile? And where's the writing on my omurice?"
She lowered her voice so only their table could hear. It was just to tease her bratty son.
"Alright, alright…" Akira forced a smile, borrowed some ketchup, and asked, "What do you want me to write?"
"Mama-chan is forever young and beautiful," Shizuka said seriously.
Yuzuru kept her head down, hiding a laugh behind her spoon.
Akira sighed but obediently wrote the words.
"Done."
"Wait," Shizuka said.
"What now?" He returned the ketchup.
"You haven't said the magic words yet."
Akira froze, then groaned. "You mean that embarrassing chant maids say before serving omurice?"
Shizuka nodded with folded arms.
He thought for a moment, then said slyly: "I'll go call Shouko to cast the happiness spell instead. She could use a break."
And without giving her a chance to argue, he quickly slipped back inside.
"Shouko, Auntie needs you for something. I'll cover here."
"Okay…" Shouko hesitated, then nodded, handing over her station.
She checked herself quickly for the smell of oil smoke before stepping out.
"Auntie, did you need me?" she asked politely.
"Didn't that brat tell you?" Shizuka patted the seat beside her.
Shouko blinked, confused. "No, he just said you had something important to ask."
"Come, wipe your sweat first." Shizuka handed her tissues, then explained the prank.
"…" Shouko could only grit her teeth. I'll bite him later.
"Auntie, our shop doesn't offer this service…" she muttered.
Shizuka just pushed over her drink with a wave. "Never mind. Here, have some. And tell me where you two went this morning."
"Thank you, Auntie." Shouko took the drink gratefully, while Yuzuru perked up, happily sharing her morning adventures.
Nearby classmates whispered, wondering if the elegant woman with Shouko was her mother. Ayumi corrected them seriously: "That's not her mom. That's her Okaasan."
The whole group went quiet before nervously laughing it off as one of Ayumi's strange jokes.
By midafternoon, the festival wound down. Students cleaned up stalls, exhausted.
Inside the Maid Café, the butlers slumped in chairs, sighing about sore backs and empty egg trays, until Nobe appeared with bags of drinks.
Everyone cheered faintly, thanking her, while she simply waved it off.
Later, steaming fried rice filled the tables.
"My arms are so sore," Shouko whispered pitifully.
"Want me to massage them later? Or now?" Akira asked between bites.
She quickly shook her head. "Later, at home…"
"Why does my portion feel… smaller?" he wondered aloud.
"It's just your imagination," Shouko replied firmly, hiding a faint smile.
Nishikata, meanwhile, frowned at his too-salty fried rice but kept quiet.
"Shouko, we'll go look around first," Ayumi said with a chuckle, tugging Takagi along.
"Bye-bye, see you tomorrow," Takagi waved.
Watching them leave, Shouko mumbled under her breath: "Akira and I aren't even together yet… what 'little world for two'…"
"Come on, let's walk around too," Akira said, now changed out of his uniform. "Mom just texted—she and Yuzuru went home first."
"Okay!" Shouko's face lit up.
They wandered through the quieting campus until Shouko pointed to a classroom labeled Magic Starry Sky Fortune-telling.
"Want to try this one?" she asked.
"Sure." A-Gang took her hand and pushed the curtain aside.
Inside, stars glimmered from LEDs, a crystal ball sat on a velvet cloth, and sandalwood incense filled the air.
"Have you two been guided here by fate?" the fortune-teller intoned from behind her veil.
Akira nearly laughed—it was textbook Chuunibyou.
But Shouko stepped up without hesitation. "I want a reading for my relationship!"
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