There's a certain energy in the air after winter break, that mix of optimism, exhaustion, and vague existential dread that only teenagers training to become Hunters who slay vampires can produce. It's been a week since the new semester began and the Hunter Academy's annual New Year Festival was in full swing. Fireworks popped in the distance. Booths lined throughout the campus.
Dakota: "Why are we running a haunted café?" He muttered, half-buried under decorations. "It's January. The ghosts should be on vacation."
Beside him, Erika smiled cheerfully while stringing up fake cobwebs: "Because it's fun! It's not like we did anything for Halloween last year."
Dakota: "I guess this works out. Anyway, we can finally scratch festival off the Big 3."
Erika: "The Big 3?"
Dakota: "They're known as the Big 3 when it comes to school arcs: some kind of festival, a school trip, and the beach episode."
Behind them, Esmarie jumped on them throwing her hands around their shoulders: "Are we talking about tropes? Let's see, who would the tsundere be?"
Dakota: "Isn't that obvious?"
Erika: "Hehe. Even I know the answer to that."
Esmarie: "Okay, okay. What's another one? Oh, a yaoi scene!"
Dakota: "Don't push your own fantasy onto us."
Erika: "What's yaoi?"
Esmarie: "I'll show you later, I think you'll really like it."
From the door, Sylvie peeked in: "I got the costumes."
Esmarie: "Nice. Showtime is in 5 minutes. Let's get changed."
Dakota: "I don't feel so good, I think I have to go see the nurse."
Before Dakota can even turn around, Esmarie grabs his shoulder with a firm grip and a smile that says "You're not getting out of this." Dakota smiles back with his eyes closed, accepting his fate.
The moment the café doors opened, chaos began.
Esmarie: "We're open! Welcome to the Haunted Café!" She called out cheerfully, throwing her arms wide with a grin that didn't quite fit the bolts sticking out of her head. Her green face paint cracked slightly when she smiled too hard, but the energy was undeniable.
A roar of excitement came from outside.
The line stretched far down the hallway, over two hundred students deep, maybe more. All packed shoulder to shoulder. The rumor of Erika had done wonders around the academy.
Dakota: "There's a lot of freshmen." He tugged awkwardly at the fake fur around his neck.
Sylvie: "I think they're here to see Erika," she said softly, straightening her porcelain-doll wig in a cracked mirror. Her pale makeup, glassy red eyes, and stitched mouth made her look eerily lifelike.
Erika tilted her head with a sheepish smile. The red cloak of her vampire outfit swayed as she adjusted her fake fangs: "I didn't think that many people would come…"
Esmarie: "That's because you're Ms. Popular," she teased, wagging a finger. "Face it, Erika, you've ascended. You're basically a celebrity now."
Erika: "I'm not!" She protested, blushing.
Dakota: "Exactly what a celebrity would say."
Erika: "Grr." She flashed her fangs at him.
Dakota: "Hey, no biting the customers. Or your classmates."
A group of 4 freshmen who entered immediately froze like they'd stepped into another world. Dim lights, fake cobwebs, eerie violin music in the background, and "monsters" standing around the room which actually looked scary.
Sylvie: "W-welcome… to the Haunted Café," she said in a hauntingly monotone voice greeting them, her head tilting at an unnatural angle.
One of the freshmen yelped. Another clutched her friend's arm.
Esmarie smirked, lowering her voice to a creepy growl: "Right this way, children."
They gulped and stumbled to a table.
A classmate giggled from behind the counter, covering her mouth with her pale-gloved hand: "Hey, don't scare them too much!"
Dakota adjusted the wolf ears sticking up from his head, the tail awkwardly swishing behind him as he handed a tray to a student: "Here. Vampire's Kiss Tea and a Bloody Sundae. Enjoy your trauma."
Erika: "At least try being in character."
Dakota: "Hey, I'm in character. Werewolves are supposed to be nonchalant."
Esmarie: "You're more like a tired golden retriever."
Dakota: "I'll take that as a compliment."
Erika went to serve a table who'd been waving her down. It was another group of female freshmen.
"Kyaa! It's really her!"
"She's so pretty in person!"
"You're costume is amazing!"
Erika blinked, flustered: "Ah—thank you! What would you guys like to order?"
Dakota passes by whispering: "That's not in character."
Erika: "Gah…"
Esmarie leaned toward Sylvie and whispered: "I think we should have Erika sell bottled air and I bet some people would line up for it."
Sylvie: "We're not marketing Erika."
Esmarie: "We kind of already are."
Sylvie's face turns blank, realizing she's right.
Dakota watched Erika move gracefully between tables. She laughed when a freshman tripped over his chair, helped him up, and offered him a napkin like a true professional.
Esmarie: "Hey wolf boy, stop spacing out and serve some tables."
Dakota: "Please don't call me that ever again."
Two hours rolled by, the cafe was overflowing with laughter and screams in equal measure. Between Esmarie's over-the-top mannerisms, Sylvie's eerily graceful movements, Erika's charm, and Dakota's deadpan delivery, the four of them managed to be the center of attention.
By late afternoon, they'd served over hundreds of customers.
Esmarie: Operation Haunted Cafe… success!" she declared, collapsing into a chair with a dramatic sigh.
Erika sat beside her, stretching her arms. "That was fun… though I think I lost count of how many times people asked for photos."
Sylvie smiled gently: "You were wonderful, Erika. Everyone looked so happy."
Erika: "You think so?"
Dakota: "Well, you did make a line people scream, smile, and slide some tips. So yeah, I'd call that a success."
Esmarie raised her arm weakly: "Now, time to hit up the maid cafe."
Dakota raises his arm in agreement: "What a splendid idea."
Sylvie: "You guys are ridiculous."