Chapter 260: Shurafield
When God closes one door for a person, surely He will open a window.
Shijo Maki, hugging a huge stack of flyers, stood at the gate under the skin-piercing cold wind, feeling like today she might just freeze to death.
"Saki-chan, just you wait for me!" she swore to herself. Next exam, she would definitely stab Sakurai Saki in the back!
( ◺˰◿ )>▬ι═ﺤ ( ˶°ㅁ°)
In the last exam, she had cut off all lingering feelings, no more entangled in romance, and during the entire school trip she had studied like crazy. In one go she surpassed Shinomiya Kaguya and Shirogane Miyuki.
From then on, the last obstacle standing before her was only one person! That was Sakurai Saki!
"So? If I don't help you hand out flyers, what are you going to do to me?"
"The number one spot of Shuchiin Academy, I will take it for sure!"
Shijo Maki turned her head and noticed he was holding several hand warmers.
"Huh?"
What's he planning to do?
She thought he had come back to mock her. After all, from what she knew, Sakurai Saki absolutely wasn't the type to be kindhearted. Could it be that after getting a girlfriend, even the dark corners of his heart were swept away?
Hayasaka-san, you are truly strong. Even a stubborn stain like this can be cleaned away — are you bleach?
"Here, for you."
Taking the item he handed over, Shijo Maki was about to speak, but realized he had already turned around, leaving only one line before walking off: "Maki, hang in there, I'm not staying with you."
"…So annoying."
Shijo Maki stuffed the hand warmer inside her uniform, then stood still like a snowman.
If she had known, she would have brought a scarf today.
The late December wind blew through her twin tails, with only the hand warmer inside her jacket giving her a little warmth.
"Achoo~" Shijo Maki rubbed her nose, red from the cold.
(｡>﹏<)~~
Winter really had come fast this year.
...
Sakurai Saki left the school gate, next heading to the café to work as a waiter.
Ai-chan was on the same shift as him, and once work was done they could go walk around together.
"Sakurai, finally you're back."
Sakurai Saki entered the kitchen from the back door, finding Toyosaki's expression not very optimistic.
"What's wrong?"
"You're asking me what's wrong? The front entrance is packed with customers, I…" For a while he couldn't even put it into words.
The line nearly stretched to the souvenir shop of the neighboring class.
Sakurai, do you still dare claim you're not an incubus?
"It really is lively." Sakurai Saki enjoyed the bustle without worry — after all, it wasn't his turn to work just yet.
There was still nearly an hour before his shift. He had only been handing out flyers for a few dozen minutes, not even a full hour.
"Whatever, if you feel up to it, help out. If you're tired, just sit and rest." Toyosaki said this, then put on the butler uniform and left.
Sakurai Saki leisurely brewed himself a cup of coffee, then sat on a chair in the kitchen, sipping slowly.
Halfway through his drink, Shinomiya Kaguya entered.
"What's wrong?"
"Someone nitpicked, saying the coffee I made was no different from overcooked instant noodles, I…"
"You're angry inside, but couldn't argue back, right?"
"…" Shinomiya Kaguya gave a cold snort, then took out tea leaves and tea utensils.
Watching her graceful, practiced manner, Sakurai Saki struck up a conversation:
"Kaguya-san, have you ever eaten instant noodles?"
"No, why?"
"No, just… it's better not to eat too much junk food." Sakurai Saki used to eat instant noodles often, mainly because of the convenience.
Originally Shinomiya Kaguya had no interest, but because of his words, her curiosity was stirred.
However, the servants in the Shinomiya mansion would absolutely never buy instant noodles for her. According to the rules, every meal must ensure rich nutrition and perfect balance.
If it had been back when Hayasaka was around, she might have had a chance. But now that Hayasaka had been "lured away" by Sakurai Saki, Shinomiya Kaguya was left alone, feeling she had no opportunity.
"What's wrong? Kaguya-san, if you want to try, after the cultural festival ends we can do it in the student council room."
"No need." Shinomiya Kaguya answered irritably.
Who had the free time to eat instant noodles in the student council room?
The student council room was supposed to be sacred… though in the past half year they had already done quite a few strange things there. Just playing games with Secretary Fujiwara alone had happened over a dozen times.
A few minutes later, the tea was ready, and Shinomiya Kaguya carried the teapot outside.
...
Time passed slowly, and before long it was Sakurai Saki and Hayasaka Ai's shift.
Hayasaka Ai had just been dragged off to try idol outfits, but now she was finally released.
"Let's go change, Sakurai-chan."
"Umu."
Heading to the changing room in the school building, Sakurai Saki finished changing clothes.
When he returned to the classroom—
"All done, all done, I'm exhausted." Toyosaki Saburou tugged at his outfit.
Even though it was cold outside, after working for two hours, he was still sweating quite a bit.
He handed the menu in his hand to Sakurai: "Leaving it to you."
"Got it."
After saying that, Sakurai Saki accepted the menu from the customer's hand.
This time the café was a bit special: the staff didn't just carry trays and take orders, but also had to personally pour coffee or tea for the customers.
Since he had been outside earlier passing out flyers, now the majority of customers inside were female.
"Hello, what would you like to order?" Sakurai Saki asked with a smile.
"... Coffee." The female customer looked directly at his face, then after a few seconds turned red and quickly looked away.
(⸝⸝ ♡﹏♡⸝⸝)
So handsome…
Just the thought that in a moment he would personally pour her coffee already made it feel worth it.
"Understood, please wait a moment."
Sakurai Saki noted down several tables in a row and then reported to Hayasaka Ai.
This time Ai-chan was in charge of preparing the coffee and tea, while Sakurai Saki and another female student handled orders and pouring drinks for customers.
Though a bit busy, it was still manageable.
Half an hour later, the customers not only hadn't decreased but were growing even more, despite the time-limit rule. There were plenty of female customers coming back a second, even a third time.
Taking advantage of a free moment, Sakurai peeked outside.
"What is it, Sakurai-san?" Suruga Subaru, Ai-chan's friend, was holding a sign to greet customers, and she asked.
He read the words on the sign: "Please wait 10 minutes…"
After saying that, he looked at the long line before him, then gave a smile to the girls staring at him, and turned back inside.
Subaru quietly continued holding the sign.
Sakurai-san is unleashing his deadly charm again… Ai-chan, you'd better do something!
...
Near the end of the shift, Sakurai finally spotted a familiar face walking in.
Last time Chika had promised him she would come support the café, but after waiting for an hour she never showed up—turned out she only came now.
Secretary Fujiwara sat down at an empty seat, and Sakurai walked over.
"What would Chika like to order?"
"Black tea." She looked at him while softly complaining: "It was so crowded outside, I had to wait forever."
"If you had just sent me a message, I would've brought you in right away."
"Wouldn't that be cheating?"
Sakurai: (≖ - ≖)
Fraud-san, if it's about cheating, aren't you the expert here…
Right nearby, Hayasaka Ai noticed Fujiwara Chika arrive, and immediately stopped what she was doing. She picked up a teapot and walked over.
"Chika-chan, what brings you here?" Ai-chan asked as she poured tea for her.
"Just wanted to drop by and see."
"To see Sakurai-chan in a butler outfit? Handsome, isn't he?"
"Umu umu." Fujiwara Chika nodded vigorously.
"My boyfriend was handsome to begin with." Hayasaka Ai said with a smile.
Hayasaka: (˵ ¬ᴗ¬˵)
Chika: (ㅅ´ ˘ `)
Sakurai: (ᵕ—ᴗ—)
In that instant, the atmosphere froze.
Fujiwara Chika silently stared straight at Ai-chan's face without saying a word.
A few seconds later—
"Make sure to take good care of your treasure, Ai-chan." Chika lifted her teacup, sipping in tiny gulps like a small puppy drinking water.
"After all, that's a treasure I helped you get. You absolutely must not lose it."
Hayasaka Ai's expression subtly changed, but she gave no reply, only turned around and walked away.
Only then did Sakurai let out a sigh of relief, as if he had just regained the right to breathe.