Chapter 7
1006words
Colorful banners fluttered in the breeze while music, vendor calls, and laughter saturated the air. The mingled scents of street food, sweets, and grilling meat wafted through the grounds.
For me, though, this festive atmosphere was just the soundtrack to my personal nightmare.
I stood at the entrance of Class 2-A's "Butler Maid Café" with a death-row expression, wearing a budget-rental tailcoat with a bow tie threatening to strangle me.
My assignment: "signature butler," tasked with luring customers from the hallway.
"Welcome, my lady. Would you care to step inside for refreshments and a moment's respite?"
Every time a girl passed, I'd flash my practiced, dead-eyed smile and deliver this line in a tone so artificially smooth it made me want to crawl into a hole and die.
"Oh my god! It's Ayashiro-kun!"
"He looks amazing! I can't even!"
"We have to go in! Right now!"
The girls' reactions were disturbingly enthusiastic, their unfiltered mental squeals hammering my brain like a sledgehammer, draining what little color remained in my face.
Our café was packed beyond capacity. Yui bounced between tables in her frilly maid outfit, her cheerful "Welcome, Master!" adding genuine warmth to the atmosphere.
My classmates hustled about their assigned roles with surprising enthusiasm.
Only Kurosawa Rin remained apart from it all—stationed in the least visible corner, wearing her standard uniform, scanning each customer with clinical precision.
She'd refused to wear a maid outfit, which gave me some small psychological comfort.
Could you imagine a "human weapon" in a frilly apron chirping "Master, your tea is served"?
...Actually, that mental image was too bizarre to even contemplate.
"Warning: heart rate exceeds 120 BPM. Mental stress indicators at threshold levels. Do you require temporary mission suspension for recovery?" Rin's voice cut through my thoughts.
"I'm fine..." I gritted through clenched teeth. "I can manage."
Besides, with people everywhere, where could I possibly go to recover? Hide in a bathroom stall?
Just then, three men entered the café.
They wore casual clothes—appearing to be ordinary office workers drawn in by the festival atmosphere.
But the moment they crossed the threshold, every nerve in my body went on high alert.
It's them!
That cold, calculated, pure malice!
Exactly what I'd sensed during preparations!
I forced myself not to look at Rin, only stealing a glance toward her corner.
Rin stood perfectly still, but her eyes had transformed—the predatory focus of a lioness spotting prey.
"Three hostiles identified. Within engagement parameters." Her voice resonated in my mind with chilling calm. "Target Alpha at table 2, proximity zone. Target Bravo at table 5, window position. Target Charlie reviewing menu, approaching service counter."
The three operatives positioned themselves strategically throughout the room, appearing unconnected while their focus—like laser sights—remained fixed on me.
"Yui's in danger!" I realized with horror that Target C was approaching the counter where Yui worked!
"Maintain composure. Sato Yui is not a primary objective. They won't compromise operational security unnecessarily," Rin assessed rapidly. "Continue your assigned role. Don't alert them to our awareness. Keep them contained."
Stay put? Are you insane? I'm supposed to stand in a crowded classroom with three potential killers who might draw weapons any second, and keep smiling like nothing's wrong?
"Affirmative. This is optimal strategy. Support request already transmitted to headquarters. Until reinforcements arrive, civilian safety is priority. Any disruption could trigger catastrophic outcomes."
I took a deep breath, forcing my racing heart to slow.
She was right.
Causing panic would only escalate the danger.
"Welcome, gentlemen." I pivoted with a wooden smile plastered on my face and approached Target A. "What may I get for you today?"
The man at table two looked up with reptilian eyes.
"Well, the service here is quite attentive," he remarked with a hollow smile. "We'll have three cups of your premium 'Royal Special Blend Tea'."
As he spoke, I clearly "heard" his thoughts.
"...Target engaged. Prepare for extraction. Awaiting commander's signal..."
My heart hammered, but I kept my smile fixed.
"Certainly, gentlemen. One moment, please."
I turned toward the counter, each step feeling like I was crossing a minefield.
"Three special teas," I murmured to my classmate at the counter, while keeping Target C in my peripheral vision as he approached Yui.
Yui had her back turned, focused on arranging desserts.
"Excuse me, miss," Target C inquired with artificial politeness, "could you explain today's special offerings?"
"Of course, Master!" Yui spun around with a bright smile and launched into her rehearsed explanation.
The instant she turned, I saw Target C's hand slide toward his waistband.
"He's drawing a weapon!" I mentally screamed.
"Engaging."
The moment Rin's response came, she was in motion.
She casually picked up a tray of water glasses and strolled from her corner position, on an intercept course with Target C and Yui.
Her movements appeared completely natural—just another student helping with service.
Then, as she passed Target C, her foot "caught" on something, and she stumbled forward.
"Oh!"
A perfectly calibrated exclamation.
The water glasses on her tray—with mathematically perfect trajectories—emptied their contents directly onto Target C!
*SPLASH!*
Ice-cold water drenched the operative from head to toe just as his hand reached his concealed weapon.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Rin immediately straightened, displaying an unprecedented "flustered" expression, bowing repeatedly. "How clumsy of me! Are you okay?"
Every eye in the café turned toward the commotion.
Target C stood soaked like a drowned rat, his face contorting with barely contained fury. Instinctively reaching for his weapon, he froze when he registered the dozens of witnesses watching the scene.
His hand hovered awkwardly, then dropped to his side.
"Brilliant!" I felt a surge of admiration.
"Initial countermeasure only. Remaining hostiles mobilizing." Rin's voice turned glacial. "Targets Alpha and Bravo now in motion."
I spun to see Targets A and B rising from their tables, converging on Rin and the drenched Target C with predatory focus.
Their malicious intent now radiated openly.
The café's cheerful buzz instantly chilled to silence.
Combat was imminent.
