The day after I’d solidified my bond with the boys, I went to find Elisa.
I had already secured their support.
The only way to win over the girls would be to make our move during the next homeroom session, but I needed to lay the groundwork thoroughly before then.
Besides, I was certain that together, we could convince the girls in our class.
With that in mind, Amelia and I invited Elisa to the same cafe we had visited before after school the next day. There, we held a strategy meeting.
"Elisa, I’m glad you could make it."
"U-Um, yeah. But, Amelia-chan, Ray-kun... what exactly did you need me for?"
"I’ll explain," Amelia said.
With a look of utmost gravity, Amelia began to talk about the class project. Her voice was already brimming with heat, making the depth of her resolve clear.
"Elisa. I want our class to host a maid cafe."
"Eh!? A maid cafe!?"
"That’s right."
"You mean... where people dress up as maids and serve customers? Is that... really okay?"
"Yes."
"B-But... so many of our classmates are nobles. I think a lot of them will be against it...?"
Elisa expressed her concerns clearly. However, we had already prepared for that. Amelia pressed forward with the pitch.
"We’ve already taken care of the boys."
"Eh? Really?"
"Ray handled it."
"Ah... I see. If it’s Ray-kun, I can see him pulling that off. Yeah."
I decided it was time to join the conversation.
"Indeed. I have secured the support of every boy in the class. The problem now is the girls, but Amelia and I have already devised a strategy for them. What we need from you, Elisa, is..."
I turned toward Amelia and gave her a slight nod.
She nodded back, then faced Elisa once more.
"Elisa, I want you to be in charge of the costumes."
"The costumes...?"
"Here is the design."
Amelia smoothly slid a document onto the table.
It was a sketch of a maid outfit she had designed herself. It featured a generous amount of frills, and the skirt was considerably shorter than a traditional uniform.
While the shorter length meant it would require less fabric, I wondered if the complexity would make it difficult to produce.
Elisa picked up the sketch and stared at it intently. Her expression shifted into that of a focused artisan.
I couldn't help but feel that Elisa had truly changed since enrollment. At first, she seemed to lack confidence in everything, but now she could speak her mind with self-assurance.
After setting the document back on the table, Elisa shared her assessment.
"If I have to draw the patterns and start from scratch... I might not be able to make very many. However, if I can modify ready-made items, that would be a different story."
"In other words, you can do it, Elisa?"
"Yeah. It would be hard alone, but if I have people to help, I think it’ll be fine."
"Yes!" Amelia cried.
Slap! She and I shared a high-five.
I never doubted her. Elisa had produced the costumes for the Magics Chevalier, after all. I knew she was the right person for the job.
"It’s a maid cafe, but to ensure the service is smooth, I’m thinking of having the boys act as butlers. We’ll rely on ready-made clothes for them, but since the maids are the star attraction, I’m so glad you gave us the okay, Elisa~"
Amelia leaned back against her chair and stretched.
It seemed she had been running herself ragged over the last few days to ensure the maid cafe would be a success.
Aside from the costumes, we needed food and drink menus. Every year, classes opened stalls or cafes, so we could use those as a reference, but a maid cafe was an entirely new endeavor for the Academy.
Since we were venturing into the unknown, Amelia was giving it her absolute all.
"And, of course, you’ll be wearing one too, Elisa?"
"Eh!? Me too!?"
"Well, obviously! These clothes are so cute—there’s no reason for you not to wear one!"
"W-Wait a minute! This skirt shows so much leg... and, well, the chest stands out a bit too... It’s embarrassing!"
Elisa protested, her face turning bright red.
But Amelia wasn't about to back down. Her sheer libido crushed Elisa’s protests under an overwhelming wave of enthusiasm. Her face was deadly serious; her passion was the real deal.
"It’s okay, Elisa. I’m wearing one too!"
"No, no, that’s not the issue...!"
"Heh-heh... I'm looking forward to seeing Elisa in a maid outfit..."
"Ray-kun! Do something! Amelia-chan is acting crazy!"
She looked at me with a desperate face, pleading for help.
—Forgive me, Elisa. I have already sided with Amelia.
Besides, I too wanted to see Elisa’s adorable figure. I dismissed Elisa’s plea and moved to support Amelia’s flank.
"Elisa. I, too, am interested in seeing you looking your best. Won't you please consider it?"
"Hya!"
I reached out and gently took her hands in mine. I locked eyes with her, peering deep into her beautiful pupils so she couldn't look away.
"Elisa. You are cuter than you realize. I can guarantee that. So, please, won't you wear it?"
"U—Uu..."
"Is that a no?"
"I—I understand. If Ray-kun goes that far... then okay...?"
Yes!
As I pumped my fist in my mind, Amelia, who was sitting next to me, kicked my leg under the table.
"What was that for, Amelia? That hurt."
"Nothing! I knew you'd do that, I knew it, but still!"
"?" I tilted my head. "Well, since Elisa is on board, the only thing left is..."
And so, we finally arrived at the fated day.
◇
"Now then, in today's homeroom, we will decide on our project for the Cultural Festival. Does anyone have any suggestions?"
Amelia stood at the front of the class by the blackboard.
That was the signal.
The boys, Amelia, and Elisa were already on our side. All that remained was to convince the rest of the girls.
That crucial task had been entrusted to me.
All I had to do was fulfill my mission.
Incidentally, Carol was watching us with a grin from the corner of the classroom; she was also already in on the plan. I intended to have her help us procure the materials for the costumes.
I broke the silence by raising my hand vigorously.
"Yes. Ray, go ahead."
"I propose a maid cafe."
The moment the girls processed those words, the classroom erupted.
"Whaaaaaaaaat!?"
A storm of vitriol and insults immediately rained down on me.
However, this was well within expectations. The covering fire was about to begin.
"Wait, what is the meaning of this!?"
"Exactly! Why should we spend our time playing at being common servants!?"
"I bet you just have some lewd motive!"
"Men are so disgusting!"
"That’s right! That’s right!"
"This is why I hate boys!"
As the high-pitched shouting dominated the room, a low, firm voice cut through the noise.
"I think it’s a fine proposal."
It was Albert.
If all the boys had agreed at once, it would have just looked like a group of perverts banding together. However, Albert was a high-ranking noble second only to Amelia in our class, and he had a reputation for being stoic and serious. His endorsement changed the momentum instantly.
Albert and I exchanged a quick look, and with faint smiles, we launched into our rehearsed dialogue.
"Ray. What was your intention in proposing a maid cafe?"
"This class is full of beautiful and charming young women. I believe this is the best way to showcase that brilliance to the entire Academy. I have no intention of forcing anyone to participate against their will. However, I simply want to express how wonderful our class is. Furthermore, no one has ever hosted a maid cafe in the history of this Academy. I thought it would be a bold move for our class to start such a trend."
Following that, Albert called out the names of the girls in the class one by one, and I described the wonderful qualities of each individual. I had been told to speak exactly as I felt, and I did just that.
I spoke about how the grace and beauty of every girl in the class would be a perfect match for the maid cafe aesthetic. I simply shared the thoughts I’d held until now, with total sincerity.
"I see. That is his reasoning. What do you girls think?" Albert asked.
The room, now under Albert’s control, had grown significantly quieter. The girls who had been protesting began to speak up again, their voices much softer.
"W-Well, hearing you put it that way... it doesn't feel so bad."
"I-I don't think I’m that cute! You’re definitely exaggerating!"
"Since it’s White, I figured it was something like that..."
"He’s so hopelessly earnest... well, it’s a good trait, I suppose..."
"I’m not particularly happy about the compliment, okay? But if you really think so... I guess I could give it a try..."
Just as the tide was turning, Amelia delivered the final blow.
"I think it’s a great idea. I’m in favor of Ray’s proposal. The girls who want to handle service can do so, and a maid cafe has plenty of other roles behind the scenes. I think it’s a solid plan."
Amelia acted as if she were hearing the suggestion for the first time, despite being the one who started the whole project. It was a manufactured situation, a "match-pump" strategy, but it was necessary to get everyone on the same page. I hadn't lied about my impressions of them, regardless.
A Cultural Festival is only at its best when the whole class is united.
"Then, is anyone opposed to the maid cafe?"
Amelia took the vote. Naturally, no one raised their hand.
"Oh~☆ It’s settled then~☆ My, I think it’s wonderful~? Caro-caro thinks all of you will make such lovely maids! Yes, yes!"
Carol stood up and clapped, giving the teacher’s official seal of approval. The rest of the class followed suit, the room filling with applause. I was truly relieved to see the girls were genuinely on board.
Having proceeded exactly according to plan, we prepared to face the Cultural Festival with our project: the Class A Maid Cafe.