Chapter 27 – “The Maid Café War”

By Monday, Yuuto realized that managing three geniuses with completely different priorities was a full-time nightmare.

The “Maid Café Committee”—as Akari proudly dubbed it—had turned their classroom into a battlefield of frills, fabrics, and frustration.

Rika Hanabira stood by the blackboard, scribbling equations beside sketches of maid uniforms. “Listen, if we’re doing this, it should reflect historical accuracy. The Victorian era introduced the first formal maid attire, and if we want to maintain thematic integrity—”

“Boring!” Akari Shinozuka interrupted, standing atop a chair like a cheerleader. “People want cute, not history lessons! Skirts shorter, sleeves puffier—instant success!”

Mizuki Onodera sighed softly from her seat. “I think something elegant would suit our class image better… long skirts, lace, maybe pastel colors.”

Yuuto sat at his desk, trapped between a measuring tape, fabric samples, and three very strong personalities. “So we’re voting between historical accuracy, cute chaos, and romantic elegance.”

Akari grinned. “We’re not voting. I’m winning.”

Rika glared. “Delusion is a symptom of low oxygen. Try breathing before speaking.”

“Try smiling sometime!” Akari shot back.

Mizuki’s voice was almost a whisper. “Um… maybe a mix of all three?”

Yuuto groaned inwardly. “You realize I’m supposed to submit the costume designs by tomorrow, right?”

The room fell silent—only for all three girls to immediately hand him sketches.

Three completely different sketches.

Rika’s looked like a Victorian butler with lace gloves.

Mizuki’s resembled something out of a fairy-tale café.

Akari’s… was basically a swimsuit with an apron.

“Akari,” Yuuto said carefully, “this is a school event, not a late-night anime.”

She winked. “That’s why it’ll stand out!”

---

By afternoon, Sensei Amamiya entered the room, sipping iced coffee. “How’s my little project team doing?”

“Imploding,” Yuuto replied flatly.

“Perfect!” she said brightly. “Conflict builds creativity. Oh, and I brought something to help.”

She set a cardboard box on the teacher’s desk.

Rika opened it—and froze. “Sensei. These… are maid outfits.”

Indeed they were. All black, trimmed with lace, and undeniably tight-fitting.

“Samples,” Amamiya said innocently. “Try them on! We need to make sure they fit before ordering the rest.”

Akari grabbed one immediately. “Dibs!”

Rika looked horrified. “I refuse.”

“Come on, Rika,” Akari teased. “Afraid of looking cute?”

“I’m afraid of losing dignity.”

Mizuki blushed, holding the fabric delicately. “It’s… softer than I expected…”

Amamiya smirked. “Kanda-kun, you’ll supervise the fitting session.”

Yuuto nearly dropped his pen. “Supervise?!”

“Of course. You’re the coordinator, remember? Be professional.” She winked. “I’ll, uh, change too. For morale.”

“Please don’t.”

---

Ten minutes later, Yuuto stood at the far corner of the classroom, staring at the floor while the girls changed behind a partition made from desks and curtains.

“I can hear you thinking, Kanda,” Rika said coldly.

“I’m not thinking anything!” he protested.

Akari giggled. “Then why’s your face red, Yuuto~?”

“Because I’m dying of embarrassment!”

“Turn around, Kanda-kun,” Mizuki said softly. “We’re done.”

He cautiously looked—and froze.

Akari posed proudly, skirt swishing. “Ta-da! Cute, right?”

Rika crossed her arms, cheeks slightly pink despite her glare. “I still maintain this is unnecessary.”

Mizuki smiled shyly, tugging at her apron ribbon. “Do we… look okay?”

Yuuto’s brain short-circuited. “Y-yeah. You all look… uh… great.”

Akari smirked. “Then, Master, shall we serve you some tea?”

He blinked. “Wait, what—”

Before he could stop her, Akari leaned forward with a grin. “Welcome home, Master~ Would you like coffee, tea, or… me?”

Rika’s face went scarlet. “You absolute idiot!”

Mizuki covered her face. “A-Akari…”

Yuuto turned so red he nearly combusted. “I—uh—let’s—focus on the menu, okay?!”

---

They eventually settled at their desks again, trying to act normal.

Rika scribbled on her clipboard. “We’ll serve coffee, cakes, and themed drinks. I’ll handle chemical foam toppings.”

Akari stretched, still in costume. “I’ll do the greeting part! I’m great with people.”

“Too great,” Yuuto muttered.

Mizuki smiled faintly. “I can decorate with poems. It’ll make the atmosphere warmer.”

Sensei Amamiya reappeared then—wearing one of the maid outfits.

The entire room froze.

“Sensei!” Yuuto shouted, “You can’t wear that at school!”

She twirled once, laughing. “Why not? It’s research. I need to know what the students experience.”

Rika pinched the bridge of her nose. “Your research methods are deeply unethical.”

Akari laughed so hard she almost fell over. “You look amazing, Sensei!”

Amamiya winked. “Of course I do. Kanda-kun, you agree, don’t you?”

Yuuto stared at the ceiling. “I refuse to answer that question.”

“Smart boy,” she said, patting his shoulder.

---

By the time the sun began to set, the classroom was littered with thread, paper, and leftover sweets.

Rika was fixing Akari’s apron strings, grumbling under her breath. Mizuki was writing short poems about teamwork. Sensei Amamiya hummed as she sipped another iced coffee.

And Yuuto? He sat in the middle of it all, exhausted but strangely content.

He watched them laugh, argue, and bump shoulders—and felt something warm in his chest he couldn’t quite define.

Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was panic. Probably both.

But one thing was certain:

If this was “Phase One” of festival prep, he wasn’t sure he’d survive Phase Two.