The next morning.
Although the announcement I had posted said I would be working part-time at the café that evening, I had to go there in the morning for Miss Melissa's maid training. I didn't really think we could learn much practical stuff in a single day, but it would give those amateur maid café employees an idea of what real maids were like, and a direction to work toward.
Doggy didn't come today, though. It was just me, Mono, and Barbara.
After exhausting herself the day before yesterday, that lazy dog was feeling a little idle and didn't want to work at the maid café anymore.
"Morning, Miluno!"
As soon as I entered the café, Heat Haze greeted me of her own accord, her tone bright and entirely free of hostility.
Clearly, bringing Melissa in as a maid instructor had pleased her. Just then, Melissa herself arrived in a burgundy vintage convertible, accompanied by three maids.
Zara was among them.
"Good morning, Miss Melissa."
After I greeted her, Heat Haze followed suit. Melissa merely nodded and said, "Let's dispense with the pleasantries and get to work."
Melissa went inside to inspect the café, while Heat Haze leaned close to my ear and whispered:
"This head maid looks a little hard to approach, doesn't she?"
I reached out and pulled Zara over. "Why not ask this girl what Miss Melissa is like?"
Zara froze for a moment, not expecting me to keep her behind. Then she began gathering her thoughts and said haltingly, "Miss Melissa is very strict with her instruction, but it's all very useful... Still, if you upset her, you'll be punished... Sometimes she uses a pointer to smack our bottoms."
"...Who would've guessed?"
That was an unexpected side of her I'd never imagined. After all, Melissa had