"Welcome!"
"Table for two, coming in!"
The Cultural Festival had finally begun.
Perhaps word had gotten out about our first-ever attempt at a Maid Cafe, because a respectable number of people had been arriving since the morning of the first day.
Then again, many were likely here out of simple curiosity, or perhaps just to see what the fuss was about.
To ensure we left a good impression and that the customers would spread positive rumors after being served, we were, naturally, putting our absolute all into our hospitality.
Amelia was leading that side of the operation, so I wasn't worried.
As for us in the kitchen...
"Table three, one tea set!"
"Two omelet rices for table four!"
"Table one, two sandwiches!"
The girls in their maid uniforms posted order slips one after another. Evi, Albert, and I divided the labor to handle the cooking.
"I'll handle the omelet rice. Evi, take the sandwiches. Albert, you're on tea sets."
"Got it!"
The flow of customers was relentless.
Amelia and the others handling the floor were busy, but we in the kitchen didn't have a moment to breathe either.
I set to work on the omelet rice. I tossed the pre-minced vegetables and roughly chopped chicken into the frying pan, sautéing them before mixing in the rice.
After adding the perfect amount of ketchup, the chicken rice was finished in a flash. The real challenge began now.
As the name "Soft and Creamy Omelet Rice" suggested, our signature dish required a soft-boiled egg topping. This took considerable technique, but for me, it was a walk in the park.
"Here we go..."
Cracking two eggs with one hand, I whisked them with chopsticks. Once they were heated just right, I rolled the omelet with a lifting motion. I finished the roll while maintaining perfect control over the heat.
I placed the slender, spindle-shaped omelet atop the mound of chicken rice and used the tip of my knife to score a light line down the center.
The egg split open beautifully, spreading out to envelop the rice in a blanket of yellow. It was perfectly soft-boiled—we definitely weren't guilty of false advertising.
This was, without a doubt, a Soft and Creamy Omelet Rice.
I felt it was a fine piece of work, but I didn't have time for self-congratulation. I quickly finished the plating and handed it off to the waiting Amelia.
"Omelet rice is up."
"Oka—y!"
Amelia dashed off with the plate, serving the customers in quick succession. I stole a glance from the kitchen to see how they liked it.
"Whoa, delicious!"
"This omelet rice is perfect! Look at that texture!"
The two male customers were happily stuffing their faces. Seeing that, the corners of my mouth curled up slightly.
"Heh..."
But there was no time to bask in the success; the orders kept coming.
"T-This is insane..."
"You said it. This is a lot of orders. It's at least double what we projected."
Evi and Albert let out weary sighs. We still had enough ingredients, but the pace was much faster than we'd anticipated. I suppose the novelty of the Maid Cafe had drawn in a massive crowd.
Eventually, I managed to finish my share of the morning prep and cooking... and finally, that moment arrived.
"Ray-kun! You'd better head out now!"
"Understood, Elisa."
Since I'd already prepared a backlog of food, I whipped off my apron and headed for an empty classroom. My makeup kit and maid uniform were already waiting for me there.
"Evi. Albert. I'm leaving the rest to you."
"Leave it to us!"
"Good luck, Ray."
"Yeah!"
The time was 11:20 AM. Lily was scheduled to appear from noon until one o'clock. We'd even put up a new sign as an advertisement: "The Legendary Maid appears for one hour only!?"
I wasn't sure how much of a draw it would be, but it was bound to attract some attention.
As I stepped out of the classroom, I ran right into Maria, who was waiting out front. She seemed even more energized than usual and was clearly wearing makeup.
I caught the faint, pleasant scent of camellia—likely hair oil. Her pure white hair had a beautiful, subtle luster to it.
"Oh, Maria."
"Hmm? Ah, Ray. Yahoo~"
Maria gave me a casual wave.
While customers were streaming into the classroom beside her, Maria remained standing alone in the hallway for some reason.
Wait, don't tell me...
"Aren't you going in?"
"I'm waiting for this."
She held up a flyer in front of her face. It was the one we'd started distributing this morning: "The Legendary Maid appears for one hour only!?" Maria certainly knew what she was looking for.
I really had to give this my all.
"Is that about Lily-oneesama?"
"M-Maybe..."
"Hehe. I'm going to be the very first customer. Hehe..."
Maria gave a bold smile. I couldn't tell if it was a mischievous grin or a look of pure anticipation.
Regardless, she was clearly looking forward to it. That was all the more reason for me to give it my absolute best.
"I see. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Well, I have some business to attend to, so excuse me."
"Yeah. See ya."
By a strange twist of fate, we would be seeing each other again in just a few dozen minutes, but Maria had no way of knowing that.
I broke into a run toward the empty classroom.
◇
"Right..."
My transformation kit was all laid out. I locked the door and immediately set to work.
The theme for this Maid Cafe was "pure." While I had gone for a flashier look during the Magics Chevalier, Amelia had suggested a more refined, modest aesthetic this time.
To that end, I kept the makeup to a minimum.
I applied the base and layered it carefully. After refining my eyeliner, I curled my lashes and brushed them lightly into place. Finally, I applied a single, subtle stroke of pale pink to my lips.
I checked my reflection in the mirror.
Yes. Definitely the "pure" type.
Lastly, I put on the wig. I tucked my natural hair into a net, securing it with a firm lock before pulling the long black wig over it.
The silky, lustrous strands flowed down like water.
"I see. Even I have to admit, this is perfect."
Carol had sourced this for me, and as expected, the quality was top-notch. She really was dependable when it came to this sort of thing. All that was left was the maid uniform.
"..."
I stared at the outfit. It was filled with everyone's efforts.
Amelia's design. Elisa's craftsmanship. I'd heard the other girls in the class had helped out, too.
Everyone had come together, united as one, to make this Maid Cafe happen.
That was why I wanted to contribute to its success as well.
It was a strange feeling. To think that the person I used to be was now doing this... life was truly unpredictable.
I carefully pulled on the black stockings and attached the garter belt to lock them in place.
Then, finally, I slipped my arms through the sleeves of the maid uniform that carried the hopes of my classmates.
I stepped in front of the full-length mirror in the corner of the room.
"...Yes. It's perfect."
Everything was all green.
I could safely say I had done my best. I wouldn't be so arrogant as to claim the cafe's success rested entirely on my shoulders.
However, my efforts would create a change—a great torrent.
I just wanted to make the current situation even better.
"..."
I looked down at my right hand.
Nearly ten years had passed since those days. This hand should have been stained with blood forever. And yet, here I was, looking forward to the Cultural Festival from the bottom of my heart.
I have no right to be happy.
I had believed that for a long time.
But I had met so many people at this Academy. I had gained irreplaceable friends.
Master, Abby-san, Carol. So many adults had looked after me. But I couldn't keep relying on them forever.
Because I could finally move forward on my own. And because I had friends standing beside me.
"Alright. Let's do this. For everyone."
I headed toward the battleground of the classroom as a single maid.
As a professional, and a specialist—