Maid Cafe

"So, how did it turn out in the end?"

"Class C naturally had the upper hand at first, but thanks to Sakura bringing photos from the scene, Class D avoided the worst-case penalty: a long-term suspension. Later, Class C proposed a settlement, but Horikita insisted on a complete acquittal, and the two sides reached a stalemate. The student council president had no choice but to call a halt and say they'd resume the hearing tomorrow... What a pain. They should just split the blame evenly and expel everyone involved."

On the night the hearing ended, I answered Arisu's question while grilling monjayaki at an okonomiyaki restaurant in the shopping mall.

"That doesn't sound like something someone from Class D would say."

"In a way, Hikigaya's even more coldhearted than Sakanayanagi, so I'd say that's a normal reaction."

Hashimoto gave an awkward laugh across the table, while Kamuro cut in with a stern expression.

I'd originally headed back to school because I'd forgotten my student ID, and happened to run into Chabashira-sensei. I'd asked her about the hearing's outcome, and it was more or less what I'd expected. But Horikita insisting on a complete acquittal had caught me entirely by surprise. If I were her, I'd probably have accepted the compromise. Honestly, I couldn't care less what happened to Sudo.

"Thanks for the information. But a complete acquittal would be pretty difficult, wouldn't it?"

"Not just difficult. It's impossible. The other side has witnesses and evidence, and they even offered a settlement."

Kamuro was right. They didn't have enough cards to play, so they had no chance in a head-on confrontation. But...

"Getting a complete acquittal would be impossible, but there might be a way to make the other side withdraw the charges, right?"

Of course, it'd be too risky. I'd never do it myself.

"Hey, I get the logic, but that's not realistic, is it?"

"Not necessarily. For example, even though there weren't any cameras at the scene, we could fake a surveillance camera. We might be able to bluff them."

A fake surveillance camera... I see.

"Got it. You mean pretending the school had known the truth all along, and that the hearing was a test of the students' abilities, so Class C would withdraw the charges?"

"As expected of you, Hachiman-kun. You catch on quickly."

That way, if the three students from Class C had been framing Sudo, they'd naturally get nervous and withdraw their charges. On the other hand, if Sudo really had attacked them, Class D wouldn't be able to hide the truth. Besides, this school was already unusual, and the S-System's rules were always vague. It'd be easy for students to believe in a "test" like that. If I were one of those three Class C students, I'd probably withdraw the charges too. As for faking a camera, you could put together a convincing prop with parts from an electronics store and a secondhand shop. It was a pretty interesting idea.

"Wait! You figured all that out from just that little bit of information? Hikigaya, you really are weird!"

"Anyone who can deal with Sakanayanagi as an equal can't be normal to begin with."

Hashimoto and Kamuro traded rude remarks.

No, I'm just an ordinary person!

As if anyone would believe that.

The two of them denied it in unison. I didn't get it.

"How rude. Isn't Kamuro just as bad?"

"She's still playing cute in a maid cafe, after all."

And apparently she'd stolen things before, so she was clearly not normal either.

"Shut up... Don't bring up the maid stuff!"

Not a chance. I could keep quiet about the stealing, but I'd tease her about being a maid until graduation.

"Whew. Looks like I'm the only normal one here."

Hashimoto put on a serious face, but he was just as strange as the rest of us—though he was a different kind of dangerous from Sakanayanagi.

"...Anyway. Hachiman-kun, are you going to tell Class D about what I just said?"

If I told them, Class D might be able to turn things around. But...

"I'm not planning to. If I used your idea to solve their problem, Ryuen would definitely start keeping an eye on me."

Unless Ryuen went after someone I cared about, I absolutely didn't want to make an enemy of him. Besides, going out of my way to help someone like Sudo would be stupid.

"I see. If that's your decision, Hachiman-kun, I won't say anything."

"But Sakanayanagi, I'm curious—when did you two start calling each other by your first names?"

Hashimoto suddenly asked, but I couldn't be bothered to answer. What had happened that morning had been too much to process...

"Sorry, no comment."

Arisu refused without hesitation. It looked like she'd keep our agreement and stay quiet, so I breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that, Hashimoto tactfully waved his hand to show he didn't mind.

"Thanks... Well, since Hachiman-kun doesn't plan to get involved in the assault case, let's talk about our plans for summer vacation."

Summer vacation? Were we discussing plans to go out, or the large-scale Special Exam coming up?

"During summer vacation, there will likely be a Special Exam that has a major impact on Class Points. And I—whatever the outcome of the exam, I intend to deal a serious blow to the Katsuragi Faction."

Arisu said this plainly.

It was no secret that Class A had split into the aggressive Sakanayanagi Faction and the conservative Katsuragi Faction. But having two leaders with opposing ideals and setting them against each other was hardly a wise move.

I understood why Arisu wanted to strike at the Katsuragi Faction. Still, I was surprised she'd say outright that she didn't care about the exam's outcome.

The question was...

"Are you telling me all this because you want my help?"

"Exactly. There may be exams you can't participate in due to physical limitations, and I might need your help then, Hachiman-kun."

After all, Arisu was frail, so she'd have trouble handling any exam that required physical strength.

"Of course, you're a student from another class, Hachiman-kun, so I won't force you. How about treating it as a paid commission?"

I see. If I could just back out in case the other students from Class D might find out, then I didn't mind helping depending on the circumstances.

"I understand, but I'll need more detailed information."

Confirming the terms of a commission was basic practice—the most fundamental lesson in entering the working world.

"The commission is to obstruct the Katsuragi Faction by any means necessary. Your reward will be determined based on reports from Masumi and Hashimoto, as well as the state of the Katsuragi Faction."

"So it's a commission-based payment. But Sakanayanagi, this is pretty vague, isn't it?"

As Hashimoto pointed out, it was hard to judge without a concrete proposal.

"That's true... For example, if you dealt a major blow to the Private Points of students in the Katsuragi Faction, how about having Masumi serve as your maid during summer vacation, Hachiman-kun?"

"W-Wait, Sakanayanagi?!"

"By the way, would using magic on Kamuro be allowed too?"

"Of course. We can add not only magic, but cute rock-paper-scissors, commemorative photos, and lap pillows as well."

"Fine, leave it to me. I'll drain the Katsuragi Faction of every last Private Point. Ah, you'll have to be a maid too, you know?"

"I don't mind. Then let's settle the Private Points portion. I'll consider other circumstances as well."

"Wait. Don't decide that without asking me."

Kamuro approached Sakanayanagi as if to protest, but the latter remained perfectly composed.

"What's the problem? I'll be participating too. Besides, Masumi's worn a maid outfit before, and she even kissed Hachiman on the cheek. Surely she won't be embarrassed?"

"I didn't—"

"Huh? Kamuro kissed Hikigaya on the cheek? For real? When? Where? Why?"

"Shut up, Hashimoto. Ask again and I'll kill you."

"Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am."

Kamuro and I were both dying of embarrassment. She lowered her head, her face bright red. The contrast with her usual self was adorable, but it was almost too embarrassing to bear.

Just as I was thinking that, Kamuro suddenly sighed.

"Haah... Fine, I'll do it."

Huh? I hadn't meant to force her. Was she really going to do it?

"Seriously? Just so you know, you can refuse if you don't want to."

"There's no point arguing with Sakanayanagi... And compared with someone like Hashimoto, having Hikigaya as the one I'm doing it for isn't so bad..."

Hey, Kamuro, that's way too embarrassing to say! Arisu and Hashimoto were both snickering.

"Then it's settled. I'll think about other rewards. Let's get back to eating."

At Arisu's words, we resumed our meal.

The next day...

Beep, beep, beep...

I was spending time with Hiyori in the library after school when the terminal in my pocket suddenly rang. I took it out and saw that Ryuen Kakeru was calling.

I have a bad feeling about this.

But ignoring him would only make things more troublesome, so I said goodbye to Hiyori and stepped out of the library to answer.

"Hello?"

"You took long enough to answer."

"I was in the library. What is it?"

"I'll get straight to the point. Was the idea for a fake surveillance camera yours?"

"...Huh?"

A fake surveillance camera? That was the plan Arisu had mentioned yesterday, wasn't it?

"I thought it was your idea, but judging by your reaction, it wasn't. I'm hanging up."

Ryuen hung up right after saying that. From what he'd said, someone in Class D had carried out the same plan Arisu had come up with.

That wasn't a problem in itself. Anyone could've thought of the idea.

The problem was that Ryuen might have started paying attention to Class D. Honestly, getting involved with someone as malicious as him could only lead to trouble. I might even end up on the receiving end of his violence.

Just got through one mess, and now there's another... I should contact them and come up with a plan before summer vacation.

I sighed and used my terminal again.

I was doing all this to preserve my peaceful school life as much as possible.