Now that it was decided to open a maid cafe, the first priority was, of course, to prepare a maid uniform for each girl.
The clothes Meari and the others used before were borrowed temporarily through Togakushi Yukimi's connections for the emergency. This Ryōran Festival was a perfect opportunity to buy each of them a set as an employee benefit.
After the casino operations ended for the day and everyone had dinner at the restaurant, they followed the wealthy young lady Ruricho Nadeshiko to a shop within the school that could custom-make clothes.
This shop was one Ruricho Nadeshiko frequented. Since starting junior high, all her clothes had been custom-made here. Although the prices were high, she could guarantee the quality of the clothes was worth the price.
Her words actually cleared up a doubt in Meari's mind.
So her school uniform was privately tailored. No wonder, even though the style and design were the same as hers, it had a unique, high-end feel when she wore it...
The shop owner was a mature woman around thirty years old. Upon learning their purpose, she initially showed a troubled expression.
According to her, when she makes clothes, she either designs them from the fabric up, or the customer brings an existing garment for her to modify.
But because Ayanokoji and the others needed them done by next week, plus she had to design outfits for several different girls, the time was tight and the task heavy. She was somewhat reluctant to take on the job.
However, Ruricho Nadeshiko was a regular customer she liked very much, and she also enjoyed designing clothes for young girls. At her request, she agreed to take on the task.
After discussing with Ayanokoji and the others, she decided to modify clothes she had previously designed for display purposes, which wouldn't take too long.
First, she took a professional camera and took several photos of each girl in different poses. Then she measured various parts of their bodies.
After doing this, she had the girls sit down and pulled up comparison images of maid uniforms from different periods from her database, asking them which style they preferred.
Next, she took out a small notebook and carefully inquired about their opinions, asking if they had any ideas or expectations for the clothes...
Her every move exuded the demeanor of a professional. Ayanokouji Kiyohira, who had initially been somewhat skeptical, now felt reassured.
It seemed there shouldn't be a problem letting her handle the clothing design. The money wouldn't be wasted.
She inquired very meticulously. Just going through this process took at least thirty minutes per girl to complete.
It wasn't great to have the other girls just waiting here idly, so everyone accepted Ayanokoji's suggestion: let half the girls undergo the consultation first, while the others leave first.
They would decide whether to have the shop owner continue making more after seeing the finished results of this batch.
The girls all accepted Ayanokoji's proposal. After discussing, they decided to have Ruricho Nadeshiko, Togakushi Yukimi, and Hanatemari Kazura stay and wait, while the others left first.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira, as the casino's person in charge, naturally stayed to wait.
About half an hour after Ruricho Nadeshiko and Togakushi Yukimi left, Hanatemari Kazura finally finished her consultation. Ayanokouji Kiyohira naturally felt obliged to stand by her side and escort her back to the dormitory.
However, halfway there, Hanatemari Kazura suddenly tugged on his arm: 'Ayanokoji, you're going the wrong way. We should go that way...'
The direction Hanatemari Kazura pointed was exactly opposite to the dormitory—it was towards the area where the hotel was located.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira instantly understood her meaning.
Ayanokoji swore he really hadn't been thinking anything improper. He just genuinely wanted to escort her back.
But since Hanatemari Kazura had taken the initiative to hint, of course he wouldn't play dumb and pretend not to understand. He deliberately asked: 'Hanatemari, don't you want to go back tonight?'
Hanatemari Kazura shook her head, her face reddening: 'No... I want to stay with you tonight.'
Under Ayanokoji's 'guidance,' Hanatemari Kazura had learned to honestly express her thoughts.
A smile tugged at the corner of Ayanokoji's mouth. He actively took Hanatemari's hand and turned around, heading towards the hotel.
'Since you put it that way, I'll go along with you... But, didn't you tell me a couple of days ago that Meari would be moving into the school dormitory from now on, and we should reduce how often we meet? Did you intentionally create this opportunity today?'
It was Ayanokoji who suggested splitting the girls up for the consultations, but the order was decided by them through discussion and had nothing to do with Ayanokouji Kiyohira.
Did Hanatemari Kazura deliberately arrange to be last in the order just to seize this chance to be alone with him?
Her face flushed instantly. Shyly turning her face away, she didn't answer the question, only saying: 'It's fine tonight. Meari probably won't notice. In the future, we'll have to find opportunities like this to meet...'
Hanatemari Kazura was truly adorable. This shy demeanor really made one want to tease her, to hear her beg for mercy...
Ayanokouji Kiyohira led Hanatemari back to the hotel. After checking the surveillance and confirming no one had 'invaded,' he pulled Hanatemari to the bedside and began undressing her, step by step.
Hanatemari Kazura didn't stop his actions. Just as Ayanokouji Kiyohira had taken off her outerwear, knelt beside her, and was undoing the last button of her blouse, she suddenly spoke up.
"Ayanokoji... besides me, have you done it with Ikishima-san as well?"
Ayanokoji's movements suddenly stalled. "...Hanatemari, why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
It really was like that... Hanatemari Kazura realized she had guessed correctly.
If Ayanokouji Kiyohira truly had no relationship with her, he wouldn't have suddenly stopped upon hearing her name; instead, he would have dismissively continued unbuttoning his clothes, treating her words as mere flirting.
He would have stimulated her body while smiling and asking why she was asking, or if she was jealous...
A trace of sorrow flashed in Hanatemari Kazura's eyes as she whispered, "When we were eating hot pot last night, I noticed Ikishima-san looking at you frequently. Her gaze toward you was different from how she looked at others, and I felt that something might have happened between you two..."
This was something only "kindred spirits" could perceive.
Hanatemari Kazura noticed that the way Ikishima Midari looked at Ayanokoji was the same as her own, both containing "desire"—this was the look one gave to their lover.
Furthermore, she noticed that Ikishima Midari's walking posture was different from her usual carefree manner; her steps had become smaller, and she walked with a slight, unnatural awkwardness.
This unnaturalness only occurred because of sore legs and weakness in the lower body. Ikishima Midari had tried her best to adjust, but Hanatemari Kazura still managed to see it—because she, too, had experienced this.
Thus, she boldly guessed that a sexual relationship had occurred between Ayanokouji Kiyohira and Ikishima Midari, and... it had happened within the last two days.
As expected, she only had to bluff Ayanokoji slightly, and he revealed a flaw.
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