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Preparations for the school festival and our cosplay cafe were officially underway.

Of course, the guys were going to be dressed as knights and heroes. Naturally, I made sure to voice my opinions to ensure everyone’s outfit matched their specific "vibe."

"Check out this Hero’s Sword! Pretty sweet, right, Allen?"

"It definitely suits you—"

"Hey, Sasami. You’re fine just being shirtless."

"Eh? Wh-why?! You’re the one who said it’s better to do something different from our usual looks!"

"There are certain tropes to uphold, Sasami. Think about it. Now, Allen—you hold the sword."

"Eh? Oh... okay."

Good grief. These guys don't have the slightest clue which traditions are okay to break and which ones are sacred.

We had cleared the desks out of the classroom and were busy puttering away at handmade decorations. Looking at us now, we seemed no different from any other group of students.

No, that wasn't quite right.

We really are just students, aren't we? Maybe I’m the one overthinking this, treating it as something more special than it is. For these guys, this is just normal life.

Unlike back when we were lowerclassmen, there were even some boys and girls flirting and getting along. For me, this event was just a stepping stone—a means to an end. But for them, I suppose it was a big deal.

...Whatever.

"Luna."

"Y-yes!?"

A petite, black-haired girl was standing stiffly by the curtains. While she seemed to have opened up to Cynthia and Lilith quite a bit, she still kept her distance from the rest of the class.

It was thanks to her that I’d been able to outmaneuver Coco. I really wanted her to carry herself with more confidence, but I suppose a personality doesn't change that easily.

By the way, her cosplay was chosen based entirely on my own arbitrary whims and biases: she was going as a nun. A picture of modesty on the outside, but on the inside...

"Haa, haa... Weiss-kun is so cute... I can't take it..."

She’s a total closet pervert. Still, it’s a classic trope, so it works.

Incidentally, I was currently wearing a pair of cat ears at Cynthia’s insistence. It was just a temporary test, but apparently, the "gap" between my usual self and the ears was effective.

I didn't really get it. I mean, it’s not like I wasn't already adorable to begin with.

Anyway, more importantly—

"Carta, Cecil."

"What’s up?"

"Yes, Weiss?"

"Assign some work to Luna, would you? I want to be really meticulous with the lighting this time. I'm planning to use her Black Ball magic for it, so make sure to factor that into your designs."

"Eh!? You’re using the Black Ball!?"

"Only inside the classroom. We could make the lighting by hand, but if possible, I’d like to rely on her. Is that okay, Luna?"

"...Of course. I understand," she said with a small nod.

I still had a mountain of things I wanted to talk to her about, but I could leave things in the hands of those two for now.

Meanwhile, Cynthia and Lilith were taking the lead on the classroom renovation plans. Olynn, as expected, was being forced into crossdressing. He just stood there with a look on his face that said, How did my life come to this?

Everything was progressing smoothly. Since we still had regular classes to attend, I expected this scene to repeat itself every day after school for a while.

I stepped out of the classroom and took a deep breath. I had a challenge I needed to face—something absolutely essential if I wanted to guarantee our cosplay cafe took first place.

Is there any sentence more terrifying than the one I’m about to say?

But this was the centerpiece. If this succeeded, victory was as good as mine.

Noblesse Magic Academy has a faculty room, obviously. That said, the teachers do more than just give lectures; they handle arena maintenance, prepare special magic exams, and conduct performance tests. Because of that, it wasn't unusual to find someone testing out magic down in the training grounds.

I used my Dark Eye to pinpoint Teacher Milk’s location and headed toward the basement.

Down there, Teacher Milk was blasting a practice dummy with magic. Streams of fire and water spiraled from her hands without mixing, forming a swirling vortex that surged toward the target.

It hit with the force of a massive explosion.

Incredible...

It was a steam explosion. Even if she didn't understand the complex physics behind it, she grasped the essence of the phenomenon intuitively. That raw sense for magic was exactly why Teacher Milk was called the Strongest.

I had managed a draw against her once, but that was only because I’d forced her to divert her attention to the shrine while I pushed for a short-term decisive battle. I wanted to have a real, serious match with her someday.

And I was certain she felt the same way.

"Do you need something, Weiss?"

She’d noticed me despite the fact that I was supposed to be masking my presence. As expected of a pro.

At her voice, my heart started thumping. It was beating five times—no, ten times faster than usual.

"H-h-h-h-hello there."

"What’s with you? You’re shaking."

"...It's just your imagination."

Calm down. I’ve survived countless life-or-death situations. I can do this.

...Right? Weiss, you can handle this, can't you? Come on, answer me!

"What are you hiding?"

She’d already noticed I was holding something behind my back. I took another deep breath and—whip!—I pulled it out.

To ensure the cosplay cafe’s absolute victory, I needed a star attraction. Everything else we had was great, but the best way to win was to provide the one thing people would talk about for years to come.

"Teacher Milk! Would you please wear this dress for the school festival?!"

I presented her with a vibrant pink dress. It was a magnificent piece of craftsmanship, a favorite of the Royal Family itself. It was a gown of the highest pedigree, obtained only through the extensive connections of House Fanscent.

The usually tomboyish Teacher Milk appearing in a formal dress? Every single person at Noblesse Magic Academy would be dying to see that. Heck, there were probably guys who would trade their ability to use magic for the rest of their lives just for a glimpse.

However, I didn't expect her to agree easily. I was prepared to challenge her to some kind of contest to win her compliance. And I would win, no matter—

"I don't mind."

"...Eh? Y-you don't?"

"Participating in school events is part of a teacher's duty, after all."

O-oh! I see! Teacher Milk is a professional to the core.

Well, that worked out. This victory was guaranteed. There was no way we could lose now.

...Or so I thought, until I saw what was happening behind her.

Eva was standing there, holding what looked like a maid outfit. She gave me a pointed smile. Behind her, Eleanor, Sierra, and even Priscilla were all clutching maid uniforms of their own.

No way... You’ve got to be kidding me. Are they doing a Maid Cafe?!

This wasn't in the Original Story.

I see. My presence has altered the timeline.

At this rate, we’re going to lose! No, I can't give up yet. There has to be a way, some kind of move I can make—!

"Teacher Milk! Would it be alright if we changed your outfit for the second half of the event?!"

"Fine by me."

Alright. I am definitely winning this. I’m taking that number one spot!

Still... Eva in a maid outfit, huh?

I wonder if I can sneak away from my own cafe for a bit?