The first day of the Cultural Festival.
The day had finally arrived. My schedule for the morning was mainly centered on the kitchen, and then from noon until one, I was set to work as Lily.
The classroom had been transformed into a space of elegant decor and vibrant colors. With the tables in place, the preparations were complete.
"Evi. How are things on your end?"
"Pretty much good to go."
"Understood. Everything’s fine here too."
Evi and I did a final check of the cooking utensils. Since we couldn't risk any cases of food poisoning, we were being extremely meticulous about hygiene. As a rule, we weren't allowed to serve anything raw; the Cultural Festival regulations mandated that all ingredients undergo heat processing.
Our menu featured omurice and various sandwiches. Even for the sandwich fillings, we stuck to ingredients that had been cooked. Specifically, we would be serving items like egg sandwiches.
For the omurice, our plan was to have the chicken rice ready in advance and then wrap it in the eggs as orders came in. Furthermore, Albert was joining us for the morning kitchen shift.
"Albert. Do you feel ready to show the results of your practice?"
Evi and I were relatively experienced in the kitchen and mastered the dishes quickly, but it had taken Albert some time. As a member of the Upper Nobility, he had never cooked a day in his life. However, he had volunteered for the task and spent every day leading up to the festival practicing.
By now, he was a vital part of our team.
"I do. Thanks to the instruction from you and Evi, I’ve already grasped the essentials."
"Albert’s a fast learner! Even I was impressed," Evi added with a grin.
"Hmph... You've certainly grown, Albert."
In the makeshift kitchen the three of us had established, we stacked our hands together.
"The first morning is critical. We can't let our guard down, especially since word of mouth will be so important. Of course, the girls' service as maids is vital, but our cooking will also play a massive role in whether this Maid Cafe is a success. Let’s give it everything we’ve got."
"You bet!" "Indeed!"
As I stepped out of the kitchen, I found the girls already lined up, dressed in their maid uniforms.
Amelia and Elisa were scheduled to be on duty for the full day. While I was set to join them for an hour at noon, that was only a small window. For the rest of the time, the front of house was in their hands.
"Amelia. Elisa. Those outfits suit you both very well."
I walked over to them.
Amelia immediately spun in a circle, flaring her skirt out slightly as she proudly showed off her attire.
"Well? Don't I look cute?"
"Yes. Without a doubt."
These weren't standard maid uniforms; they were heavily decorated with frills and featured much shorter skirts—the hems barely covered their knees. Furthermore, they were designed to purposefully showcase the garters holding up their stockings.
As expected, Amelia’s design sense was impeccable. And of course, Elisa’s craftsmanship in being the primary producer of the outfits was equally worthy of admiration.
"It suits you well too, Elisa."
"Th—thank you."
Elisa was nervously fidgeting with her hair, looking a bit restless. It was understandable. Although the exposure was somewhat restrained, the outfits were still undeniably eye-catching.
In her case, a certain part of her figure was particularly prominent. Elisa had likely been hesitant about drawing attention to that, but in the end, she had agreed because she wanted to do her best for the class.
"But, um... it really is embarrassing. Haha."
"Elisa, you’ll be fine. You are beautiful. You should have more confidence in that."
"...Ugh. I know, but having Ray-kun say it so bluntly makes me blush. Ahaha."
Her face remained bright red, but her tension seemed to ease as she gave me a smile.
"..."
"Is something wrong, Amelia?"
She was staring at me with a flat, judging look.
Amelia seemed to be harboring some sort of grievance.
"You’re being awfully complimentary toward Elisa..."
"I think Amelia is beautiful as well."
"Your heart isn't in that one."
Since she looked so sulky, I immediately followed up with more detail.
"In Amelia’s case, your beautiful legs are your most charming feature. They have such a clean, elegant line to them. Plus, your waist is perfectly toned. I think Amelia has better balance than anyone."
"Y-You don't have to be that specific!"
Now that I’d praised her, she got angry for some reason.
I wondered what the correct answer was supposed to be.
As we were talking, I heard whispering from the students around us.
"There they go again..."
"Yeah. White’s 'natural' side is in full swing."
"But I guess that’s just like him, isn't it?"
"Yeah. We’re pretty much used to it by now."
Shortly after, all our classmates gathered together. We had organized the shifts into servers, cooks, promotion, and general support so we could stay flexible.
I knew how much Amelia had staked on this Cultural Festival. Having seen her staying late every night, I understood it well.
And it wasn't just Amelia. Elisa, Albert, Evi... everyone in the class had come together to cooperate.
I believed that I, too, had done my absolute best.
That was why I was certain this Maid Cafe would be a success. I was convinced of it.
"Everyone. Thank you for sticking with me this far. Truly... I have nothing but gratitude for all of you putting up with my selfishness."
Amelia bowed deeply. Seeing her so sincere made us all feel the weight of her passion once again.
"It’s only for three days starting today, and I’m sure we’ll run into some trouble. But I believe that as long as I’m with all of you, we can overcome anything."
She looked truly serious.
The classmates watched her intently. Looking back, our class had been completely disjointed at the start of the first semester. There was my presence as an Ordinary. Amelia from the Three Great Noble Families. Albert, a member of the Upper Nobility. Elisa, a Half-elf. Evi, who came from a normal family of sorcerers.
We all came from different walks of life.
But now, we had moved past those differences to share a single will.
I really was glad I had come here.
The world certainly had its ugly sides. I had seen them until I was sick of it, and I couldn't help but wonder why humans were so foolish.
But there was also a beautiful world. Like a single flower blooming on a scorched battlefield, there were things that could grow no matter how harsh the environment.
I was finally feeling the reality of that.
"Now... Ray, would you mind saying a few words to close us out?"
"Is... it really alright if it's me?"
I hadn't exactly been the central figure for this specific class project, as I’d been busy helping out the Student Council as well.
I looked around at everyone's faces.
They all nodded. The atmosphere suggested that I belonged there—that they were eagerly waiting for my words.
The air of rejection that had once existed was long gone.
When I first arrived as an Ordinary, I hadn't been welcome. But look at them now. Just by looking at their expressions, I knew how they felt.
They were all looking at me with smiles. Their kindness made my chest feel warm.
I knew I would never forget this sight for as long as I lived.
"Ray. Everyone knows. You're the one at the center of this class, after all."
"...Is that so?"
Voices began to rise from the crowd.
"Well, one way or another, it was a big deal having White around."
"Yeah, yeah. The reason we finally pulled together was because you were here."
"Plus, we've got that cross-dressing to look forward to!"
"Yeah! No doubt about it!"
The classroom erupted into a burst of laughter and cheers.
I gave a small, quiet smile and took Amelia’s place in the center of the circle.
What should I say? No, there was really only one thing.
"This is my first Cultural Festival. Because of that, there’s still a lot I’m not used to. But there is one thing I know for sure. I believe that this Maid Cafe could never have happened if a single person here were missing. It might sound cliché, but let's make this a success. I want to enjoy this festival together with all of you."
I spoke my mind, and Amelia, smiling brightly, gave me the final cue.
"Ray. Give us the final shout."
"I suppose I should..."
"We're definitely taking first place!"
"OHHHHHHH!"
Everyone thrust their fists toward the ceiling.
And with that, the Maid Cafe finally opened for business.