Ch.122Chapter 19. Memories (3)

When people enter a poorly made haunted house, they typically show two reactions.

To be precise, you could hear both reactions simultaneously.

“Eek!?”

At first, of course, they’re startled.

From the perspective of those trying to scare others, it seems surprising that people would be so frightened. Even though we covered the windows with blackout curtains, compared to a properly made haunted house, our makeup was amateurish and the interior decorations were sloppy.

Moreover, the school building wasn’t particularly soundproof. Regular classrooms had large windows facing the corridor, and naturally, there were also large windows facing outside.

If you closed your mouth and listened carefully, you could easily hear the chatter of people crowding the hallway.

Plus, the classroom next door—where Souta Sasaki and Yuka Yuuki were—was also likely to attract many people, so this place was far from quiet.

Despite all that, the twin high school girls with their faces completely covered by hair and fake blood apparently looked terrifying enough to surprise unprepared visitors.

However—

“Oh, but up close, they’re cute.”

“Yeah, the makeup is well done~”

“……”

Visitors who knew we were just fellow students were only startled briefly before approaching us, examining our faces closely, and making such comments.

“Woo?”

Furthermore, Mr. Fukuda’s “no wooing or wailing” rule wasn’t working well with Koko.

Whenever visitors chatted in front of us, Koko would tilt her head and make such sounds, and visitors charmed by her cuteness would give us snacks or candies before leaving.

By eleven o’clock, Koko’s mouth was constantly chewing on something.

“Want some?”

As I watched Koko, she offered me a chocolate ball.

“…Thanks.”

I had many things I wanted to say, but since explaining anything to Koko—who didn’t find the concept of ghosts scary at all—seemed pointless, I just accepted it.

As a result, our class’s haunted house was a huge success.

Including Harumi Fukuda and Yuu Yamashita, our “ghosts” received praise for being “all pretty,” which later attracted many boys. Well, that was better than having no visitors at all.

*

“Pfft.”

And as our shift was about to end, Kaoru Kaneko and Izumi Ikeda also visited our class.

They had apparently helped with their own class briefly, finished preparations for the Literature Club upstairs, and just closed the door before coming here.

Since they were going to call us anyway, they wanted to check what we were doing in person.

“No, Kaoru.”

Izumi said quite seriously to Kaoru, who had burst into laughter.

“This is still a good effort for students. It only seems underwhelming to us because of what we’ve experienced.”

That’s true.

People who first entered were at least startled by the dim lighting. The problem was that their surprise ended there.

“Hmm? Is that so?”

But Kaoru, who had been self-proclaiming herself as the president of a non-existent Occult Club, had extensive knowledge in this area.

She had probably watched many horror movies, so our appearance, decorated with red lipstick or paint, probably didn’t look very realistic to her.

“Well, it doesn’t matter! Both of you, when does your shift end?”

“We’re scheduled to work until just before lunch, so it’ll be over soon.”

“Really? Then we’ll wait outside… no, wait.”

Kukukuk.

Kaoru laughed sinisterly with her hand over her mouth.

Well, more accurately, she was “pretending” to laugh sinisterly. Like a cat putting its paws in front of its mouth, it didn’t actually look that sinister.

“I’ll wait for you in the next classroom! I’ll save a table, so come right over.”

I think I understand why she’s saying this.

This world, while not overtly obvious, basically followed the light novel harem formula of that era.

Even in a new-generation novel, it doesn’t just show people dying from beginning to end.

Being a harem light novel, there are also sweet, romantic-like scenes.

And at a cultural festival, there are certain scenes that must be shown, right?

*

That’s right.

I’m not sure what real cultural festivals are like.

The school festivals I attended in high school were just days when we did various things in classrooms and watched students dance and sing in the auditorium. In college, I watched invited celebrity performances and then drank so much makgeolli that my memory cut off, leaving little impression.

This is my first time enjoying a cultural festival in Japan.

So I don’t know if maid cafés are actually held at real Japanese cultural festivals.

But why should that matter?

I can learn about it from now on.

“Wow!”

As we entered the classroom… or rather, the temporary café, Koko’s eyes sparkled, perhaps because of the delicious smell.

I wonder how good the food they sell here could really be.

“Restaurants” are quite strictly regulated in most countries, so what they can sell is quite limited. Especially things like fresh cream or fresh fruits that spoil quickly aren’t allowed, apparently.

Most of what they sell are pre-packaged cookies, and students only directly brew tea or coffee.

So the students thought:

The “winning point” would be “high school girl maids.”

It was an idea that adults would have thought of but wouldn’t dare say out loud, but when the actual high school girls themselves strongly pushed for it, the teachers couldn’t object.

Plus, it seems they got almost unanimous agreement from the boys in their class too.

Honestly, as someone who had worked real jobs in society, I didn’t understand the mindset of wanting to “work” during a festival. But I guess that’s the gap between world-weary adults and still-passionate students.

“Welcome, miss!”

They called us “miss” since we’re high school girls.

Normally, we would have had to wait in a long line to enter, but thanks to Kaoru and Izumi reserving seats for us, we could go right in.

I wondered if it was appropriate to enter while still covered in fake blood, but as soon as we entered, I saw someone dressed as Ma○io with his distinctive mustache sitting inside, so I decided not to worry about it.

“Over here, over here!”

Kaoru raised one hand high and called out.

There was no food or drinks in front of them yet. Given the long line, they might have just entered too.

The table wasn’t a desk. It was just a round folding table like those often placed in front of convenience stores, covered with a tablecloth full of lace, which honestly looked quite cheap. Even the chairs were just our regular school chairs.

Well, since this was just students having fun, worrying about quality would be missing the point.

“Look over there.”

As we sat down quietly, Kaoru said with a grin.

When I turned my head in that direction, there was Yuka Yuuki in a rarely seen appearance.

Yuka with her face flushed red, wearing a short one-piece maid outfit.

And when our eyes met, Yuka’s face turned even redder.

Why?

I just smiled slightly.

Yuka wasn’t particularly popular in this class.

Of course, she’s pretty and has a good figure, so some boys might secretly like her. But in reality, her usual behavior is so aloof that no one can easily approach her.

Who thought of putting Yuka in a maid outfit?

For reference, in the original story, Yuka wore a maid outfit to counter Nanami Nakahara and Hana Hagiwara.

Looking around, I could indeed see Souta Sasaki. Surprisingly, this café also had male students working as waiters. It seems they were going for a butler concept.

“I’d like to order!”

Kaoru exclaimed excitedly.

A nearby girl looked over and made eye contact with me sitting in the chair.

I didn’t know her, but she seemed to know that I hung out with Yuka.

She gracefully approached Yuka from behind and gently pushed her back.

She probably meant for Yuka to go serve her friend.

Yuka is blending in with her class. Well, after spending two semesters together, it wouldn’t be strange to have a group to naturally converse with.

Still, she doesn’t seem to have many friends.

Yuka eventually came over to us.

“…Order.”

“Oh my~?”

As Yuka spoke very stiffly and briefly while holding up an order form and pen, Kaoru tilted her head with her mouth forming a sideways “3” shape. She looked exactly like a cat.

“I heard the maids in this café have a specific way of speaking, but did I see wrong?”

“……”

Flinch.

Yuka’s shoulders trembled.

That’s right.

Outside, there was a large promotional phrase written: [We strictly adhere to our concept!]

If Yuka had knowledge in this area, she would know that there are cool, taciturn maids among maids, but unfortunately, Yuka wasn’t that knowledgeable about subculture.

What she knew about was probably just games? And even those games were just ordinary popular ones.

Yuka glanced at me slightly.

She seems to be remembering that the maids in our café don’t pay much attention to such speech patterns.

Of course, I didn’t say anything to Yuka.

I’m really sorry to Yuka, but honestly, I found the current situation quite amusing.

“W-w-w-welcome, miss.”

Eventually, Yuka said in a very small voice.

Hmm.

She would be popular.

In a real café, such a speech pattern would get her reprimanded by the manager, but no one here is seriously expecting service while eating.

So, this shy approach might also have its appeal.

“Hmm, good, good.”

Kaoru nodded with a satisfied smile on her face. Izumi, who was trying not to laugh at Yuka’s expression, poked Kaoru in the side. The atmosphere was like “Hey, hey, stop it,” but her expression didn’t make it seem particularly serious.

Yuka, if you press any harder, the pen will break.

Of course, I had no intention of saying such things and inviting trouble, so I just stayed quiet.

Well, Yuka wouldn’t say anything nasty to me or throw punches anyway.

“Then, I’ll have coffee.”

“Me too.”

“…Orange juice.”

“Cookies!”

Instead of Koko, who ordered only snacks without a drink, I ordered another glass of juice.

“When do you finish?”

Having teased enough and now satisfied, Kaoru was still smiling brightly, but the mocking tone had largely disappeared from her voice.

“I’m only scheduled for the morning… but since it’s a café, I’ll probably be here until the end of lunch time.”

“Is that so? Then we’ll go up first and have our meal, so come up when you’re done.”

When Kaoru said that, Yuka’s face brightened.

Come to think of it, how has Yuka enjoyed school festivals until now?

No, did she even enjoy them? Maybe she didn’t even properly attend some years. Since each school has different festival periods, moving around between schools might have caused her to miss events.

I think I won’t change out of these clothes today.

Yuka would probably find that more enjoyable. Of course, Yuka wouldn’t want to enjoy the cultural festival dressed as a maid.

“Yes!”

Yuka, who had unconsciously hugged the bill to her chest, answered energetically and waved to me and Koko.

“See you later then.”

“Yes!”

Koko also happily answered and waved.

After watching Yuka walk away to deliver our order, I shifted my gaze toward Sasaki.

Sasaki was attending to customers.

In the original story, he kept saying “I’m just an ordinary high school student” almost every volume without getting tired of it, but that’s clearly not the case.

His parents are divorced, but his father is extremely wealthy and rents an expensive house in an expensive neighborhood for his son and daughter. His mother is a terrible person with extreme behavior in many ways, and he himself has blood that can exorcise yokai.

Moreover, I think there were a couple of scenes in the original story where he got hit on by women while walking down the street.

In summary, Sasaki is a handsome, rich, troubled teenage high school boy.

He can’t help but be popular. Well, as a harem protagonist, he needs at least that much plausibility.

…As I got used to my position, I felt a bubbling envy as a man that I had forgotten.

“Big brother!”

While I was alone contemplating the injustice of the world, such a peculiar form of address was heard very loudly.

Naturally, everyone sitting in the classroom turned their gaze toward the classroom entrance.

The only person who calls Sasaki “big brother” is Shii Sasaki.

Well, there’s no reason she wouldn’t come.

“Shii.”

Surprisingly, Sasaki endured the gazes directed at him after hearing that response without any discomfort.

Ah, I see.

Since Shii consistently used that speech pattern regardless of the surrounding situation, people naturally turned to look at her often in daily life.

As the kind-hearted Sasaki, he probably didn’t like his sister being treated as strange by others because of her speech pattern, so he naturally responded to her words.

“Souta!”

And quite naturally, Nanami Nakahara popped out from behind Shii.

Seeing her eyes sparkle at Sasaki’s outfit, it seems she really liked the butler costume.

“Souta, you look especially handsome today.”

And behind her was Hana Hagiwara.

By the way, I thought flirting with waiters or waitresses was prohibited.

Well, it’s 2004, isn’t it? And it’s Japan. A girl saying such things to a boy might even be “desirable.”

Attention turned back to Sasaki. This time, it was the gaze of every male in the classroom.

Their eyes, alternating between Hagiwara and Nakahara, were filled with hostility.

Clatter.

While I was watching this flow with interest, I heard cups being placed in front of me.

Two coffees, two orange juices, and cookies.

“Wow!”

Koko happily laughed as she picked up a cookie and put it in her mouth.

“Delicious!”

“Really?”

I also picked up a cookie and ate it.

It was delicious. However, it definitely didn’t taste like a homemade cookie.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

Yuka, after bringing all our ordered drinks and food, turned her gaze toward Sasaki.

“…He’s at it again.”

At those words, I shrugged.

Sasaki had naturally accepted Shii’s speech pattern, but he seemed extremely embarrassed by the malice directed at him due to the sudden appearance of the two heroines.

Well, those two don’t usually come to this classroom. He’ll probably face an enormous barrage of questions from the boys after they leave.

Or maybe even get grabbed by the collar.

Well, it’s all just jealousy-filled pranks, not serious, I’m sure.

There’s not much to worry about.

However, seeing Sasaki flustered gave me a bit of satisfaction.

After that, I enjoyed watching Sasaki get flustered by Nakahara and Hagiwara’s words while leisurely drinking orange juice and eating cookies, then stood up from my seat.

“Ah, senior!”

“Shii.”

I waved back to Shii, who was waving at me.

“You said you’re in the Literature Club, right, senior?”

“…We have an exhibition on the top floor of the old building, so come if you have time.”

“I’ll definitely come!”

Shii nodded at my words.

To Hagiwara and Nakahara… I just slightly nodded my head as a greeting.

While we shared secrets to some extent, they weren’t as close as the others, so that was enough.

And then, the four of us headed toward the Literature Club room.

*

Naturally, it was quiet here.

Before Yuka arrived, a few people came in during the hour, but they didn’t show much interest and just looked around once, greeted us, and left.

From the beginning, with only caretakers inside, it’s natural that visitors would feel uncomfortable entering.

Isn’t it extremely awkward when you enter a restaurant only to find you’re the only customer?

And two of those caretakers were still in ghost makeup.

“Maybe we should have brought a jack-o’-lantern instead?”

Kaoru pondered seriously. If left like this, she might really turn this into a belated Halloween event tomorrow.

But, well.

Wouldn’t that be fine too?

Having been somewhat immersed in the festival atmosphere, I leisurely thought so.

After waiting a few more minutes, the Literature Club room door opened.

We all sat up straight, thinking it might be a visitor, but the person who entered was Yuka.

“Sorry, am I late?”

Yuka said with a smile as she sat down.

“Aw, you changed clothes.”

I had expected it, and Kaoru probably had too, but she seemed disappointed and said so.

“It suited you well.”

“…I can’t go around dressed like that throughout the festival.”

Kaoru and Izumi’s gazes turned toward me and Koko.

“Woo?”

“…Are you two planning to walk around like that all day?”

“Yes.”

When Yuka asked, I nodded confidently.

Yuka, who had almost instinctively opened her mouth to object, quickly closed it again.

Then she suddenly became serious, brought her hand in front of her mouth to cover it, and fell into contemplation for a moment.

“…I see.”

Then, as if she understood something by herself, she muttered and stood up abruptly from her seat.

“Senior.”

“I know.”

Before Yuka could say anything, Kaoru nodded with a grin.

“Comrades, let’s go! Go and enjoy the festival to your heart’s content!”

“…What about you, seniors?”

“We’re fine.”

Izumi said, picking up my words.

A thick book was already open on her lap.

“We already went around once this morning.”

Judging by their attitude, it seemed pointless to refuse.

“…I’ll buy something delicious when we come back.”

“Wow!”

Koko cheered at my words.

“Then off you go.”

“Have fun!”

The two people waving with smiles looked truly adult-like for the first time.