Ero Manga Sensei - Volume 10 - Chapter 3

EROMANGA SENSEI VOL. 10 CH. 3

== Chapter 3 ==

It was the middle of October, a Saturday.

We were in the Chiba area, near the Umezono household.

After walking past a road lined by sakura trees, at the top of a small hill, there was a school. It was a white, Western-themed school, with a bit of a sacred atmosphere.

“………”

I sighed, and looked down. The school’s name was written on a nearby column.

It said “Nanohana Private Girls-Only High School”
A missionary school.

Seems like – students can study here from elementary school through high school.

And – I must repeat – it’s a girls-only school.

Around me, girls in pure uniforms were everywhere; each and every one of them had a “high-class lady” vibe. Oh… in the background… I think I saw some girls who might be in a relationship…

“…Well, I clearly don’t belong here.”

“Ehehe, Masamune, why are you so tense?”

Next to me, Elf lightly elbowed me in the stomach.

“Because I’m just a normal, male, high school student: so a girls-only school…. a high-class girls-only school is like a totally different world to me.”

By the way, the girl next to me was also of a race that came from another world (Elf).

Yamada Elf – my beautiful next-door neighbor; a famous novelist.

And… a friend to me and my little sister.

“Still, you are very eye-catching, you know that?”

“I know, right?”

“Don’t worry! I’m here with you!” Elf tapped her chest “Look at what I’m wearing! I picked this up just for today!”

Elf was wearing a black, nun-like outfit. Her hairstyle was also very traditional, unlike her normal fabulous style. I have to say, she really did look like “a Japanese high-class lady”

Even if she had blonde hair and blue eyes.

Comparing her to other girls at this school, maybe these kinds of clothes are acceptable. I have said it many times before – but this suits her. Not only that, but everything, from bathing suits to brightly colored gothic lolita clothing, even being totally nude, everything became “her style”.

“Nanohana girls-only school – I get a feeling that this place is heavily guarded to protect the students. Hm hm, however, as long as I’m nearby, you won’t be treated like a suspicious person by the guards and get kicked out.”
“You are very trustworthy, you know.”

“Yup yup!”

She seemed to be in a good mood. But I think that she had the right to be that way. If I was with Elf, maybe I could get used to living in another country – or even in another world.

If I said that out loud though, she would get full of herself. So I kept it to myself.
image
“… How about you start liking me again?”
“Shut up.”

I think… she might have seen through me.

“Mwu… Nii-san, you are too close to Elf-chan!”

Sagiri’s voice came from the tablet. Because we can’t exactly use it out in the open, she could only hear us… However… it seems like she noticed that Elf was coming close to me based on sound alone.

Girls are so scary.

Elf put her face closer to Sagiri (on the tablet).

“Kufufu, Sagiri, are you worried that your fiancée will be taken by me? Oya oya ~ I thought you two were so deeply in love, does that mean that I still have a chance?”

“No, you don’t have a chance” Sagiri repeated “But since it’s Elf-chan… I have to be careful.”

“How… prideful, Eromanga-sensei.”
“I don’t know anyone with that name!”

Sparks were flying between them. At the moment, I, Sagiri and Elf were standing in front of the school’s gate.

It’s a bit late, but allow me to explain:

Last month, I and Muramasa-senpai agreed to take part in her school’s anniversary festival

And then, at the end of September-

— In celebration of Nanohana Private Girls- - Only High School’s anniversary, an invitation to

— Izumi Masamune-sama and Izumi Sagiri-sama

We received an invitation.

Black ink writing on top of a sturdy, firm, white sheet of paper: Obviously a formal invitation.

The first thing that caught my attention was — this:
Muramasa-senpai attended a girls-only high school?

Normally, a girls-only high school’s anniversary festival is a totally foreign place for me. For the novelist Izumi Masamune, he was happy because he could gain some good references.

But for the high school student Izumi Masamune, all he could feel were terror and nervousness. Because a girls-only high school sounded scary!

Like, they greeted each other with formal greetings, and there is a system between sisters…

And some of them are called Rosa chinensis or Rosa Gigantea?
Sorry, but that’s how I imaged an all-girls school.

That’s just how popular they were. By the way, Rosa Gigantea sounded really cool.

Oops, I should return to the main topic before I get scolded.
Anyway, let me tell you about the invitation.

First, I was very surprised to learn that Muramasa-senpai is going to an all-girls school. And I was even more surprised when I learned her school’s name.

Nanohana Private Girls-Only High School.

While it’s not as famous as the most popular school, it’s still very famous in the area. Pretty much everyone knows that it’s a high-class school.

I couldn’t have imagined that the kimono-wearing Muramasa-senpai, the Umenozo girl, went to a missionary school. So it’s clear that I was surprised. However, now that I think about it, Muramasa-senpai is clearly a shut-in, high-class lady.

So for her to go here is… normal.

Even if it doesn’t fit her usual image.

“…………”

– That’s what happened.

Now, it’s a Saturday in the middle of October, the second day of the festival to celebrate the anniversary of “Nanohana Private Girls-Only High School”.

I took another look around.

The school was surrounded by formal white fences and trees. Rather than calling this place a school, I think calling it a palace or a shrine would be better.

Since it’s an anniversary celebration of “Nanohana private girls-only high school”, the school gate was very crowded. But how should I put it – it’s still very calm here. Unlike a typical festival, it felt more like we were holding some sort of community prayer.

Elf muttered to herself:

“Being totally surrounded, this school – feels like its students are just a bunch of naïve high- class ladies.”

That’s something only she could say! Totally Elf-style!

“Nii-san, I want to see too! I want to look all over their bodies, to look at all the girls in this school!”

How perverted! Eromanga-sensei-style!

“Then I would be treated as a suspicious person, so please calm down. Besides, don’t say something so dangerous!”

I can already see some girls looking this way.

“Hm….”

Since I’m using the tablet as Sagiri’s eyes and ears, if I wanted to show her something I would have to use it. Naturally, while I wouldn’t take any pictures, it would still be bad if someone saw a boy turning camera toward a bunch of girls.

“So, before meeting Muramasa, let’s seal Sagiri away.”

“Wait, nooo!”

With a click, Elf closed the tablet.
The voice saying “Let me see the girls too” also stopped.

Locking something evil into a flat object – yep, that’s how people seal things away.

(TL Note: A reference to the manga Yu-gi-oh, where monsters were sealed up in card/stone tablet)

By the way, right now I’m at the gate of the middle school. It seems like the high school has another gate. To think that there were two schools in a same place. For a normal person like me, I couldn’t imagine it.

When I was in middle school, my senpai at school were the people in their third years… They all looked like adults. But in this school, there was another, older group right next to them – high school students.

What did those in middle school kids think about high school students?

Was it like in elementary school, where first years student looked up to sixth years?

Or rather… maybe because the school was too big, the middle school students barely had a chance to meet any high school students, so they didn’t even think about it?

I couldn’t help but let my thoughts wander. Somewhere in my mind, I was considering using this school as a setting for a novel. I think this place would be a good source of information. Sorry, but it’s part of being a novelist, I couldn’t help it.

And I’m still much better than Eromanga-sensei.

Elf was probably thinking the same as me, so she was happily looking around.

“Elf, let’s enter now before it becomes too crowded.”

“Yeah, since we are already here,”

We walked past the school gate and went toward reception; seems like it was located inside an administrative building. I saw some guards in black clothing standing nearby watching. We followed the line of people to the receptionist.

“Welcome to the anniversary celebration of Nanohana Private Girls-Only High School. Please
sign your name here.”

“Okay…”

I can’t say that I’m used to it. But after showing them my invitation letter and my ID, they gave me a pass.

“Phew.. finally.”

I see. That’s how they prevent suspicious people from entering the grounds.

“Well protected. That’s the first time I saw something like that at a school.”

“Really? I didn’t know that. Is it that strange in a Japanese school?”
“I think so.”

“Oh?”

Elf seemed a bit confused.

[…]

Now that I think about it, she is also a natural-born high-class lady.

“By the way Masamune, we are going to meet her here, right?”

“Yes, we planned to meet at the administrative building at 10 o’clock. Muramasa-senpai also said that she will come to get us.”

“Eh, I was planning to go to her classroom to see what she is doing.”
“I told her so too, but she told me to just wait here.”

“Oh…is that so.”

Elf nodded, like she understood something.
I took a look at my watch.

“We have some time to kill.”
“Okay, Masamune! Let’s go!”

Elf grabbed my hand and happily pulled me away.

“Hey hey hey! Where are we going? Besides, aren’t we going to wait for everyone?”

“We can return here later anytime! Besides, ahahaha, I have a very interesting idea.”

She laughed and pulled me outside.

“Come on!”
“Wh, what are you trying to do?”

I have no choice but to follow her.
And then…

“………………”

I felt the heat coming from her body, and how soft her hand was.
– Crap, I was shaken.

If this was our first time meeting, then this couldn’t happen.
I have someone I like already, but sometimes, Elf can easily knock me off balance.

How terrifying. She is much more terrifying than any female main character in anything I have ever read.

— No no no!!! I have to stand firm!!!

I forced myself to stay calm and tried to change the topic.

“Looks like it has begun.”
“Seems so. Look, they are preparing the stage.”

Elf stopped and pointed at something. It was a high level stage that rarely appears even in a professional setting. On the stage, many teachers and students were checking their equipment.

“What are they trying to do? A musical performance?”

“There was a poster nearby… Hm, there were so many decorations that I could barely see anything. Did it say 「 Miss School Festival 」?”

“Your eyes are pretty good. I couldn’t see anything.”

“Oh, it sounds interesting! I wonder if I could join in even if I’m not a student of this school! Fuhahaha! Should I go and take the prize ~~ ♪”

She was very confident. But…

“Why not? I think you could win easily.”
“–Fu, acting so natural… are you trying to make my heart race?”

Elf put her hands on her chest, and blushed.
Yeah, I was trying to make your heart race.

She looked a bit embarrassed, but still smiled happily:

“Fu ~ ah ~ inside a school full of high-class ladies, you think that I could win easily? Not only
are there middle school students, but even high school students might come here too.”

“This is a school festival, so I doubt they will have a swimsuit contest to check your body form. Besides, even if they had it, based on my memory at the beach, you can still win without trouble.”

*Thud* She hit my head.

“Hey! Don’t imagine me in a swimsuit! Pervert!”
“But, but you were showing off for me! You were so full of confidence!”

Can you please stop acting with blatant double standards?

“Wait until we are alone! Idiot!”

Elf smiled wryly. Then, she put a hand under her chin, and muttered

“Really..”
“Still, okay. Since you think so highly of me, I’m very happy.”

She looked into my eyes.
“W…wh…what? Hey, you are too close!”

Seeing me almost fall on my ass, Elf laughed:

“Thankfully Sagiri didn’t hear our previous conversation.”
“Kuh.”

Hearing those critical words, I froze. Elf drew closer to my ear until I could almost feel her breath —

She said:

“Don’t worry… I will keep it a secret from that child.”

“Don’t make it sound like I was having an affair.”

Because of senpai’s novel, the word “affair” became a very critical word in Sagiri’s mind.

“Ahaha —!”

Elf laughed out loud, holding her stomach – she clearly did it on purpose. We recovered from the previous “conversation” and began to move across the school grounds.

On the way, we saw many student-run shops.

Some people might say it should be called a “street market”. But for me, it didn’t feel like a “street market” at all.

All the restaurants were high-class shops, with proper meals. Their menus included way more than just fast food like fried noodles or takoyaki.

For example, they had cookies, some-long-named cakes, or red tea. Maybe I was thinking too much – but among the guests I saw some noble-looking people.

By the way…

“Wow wow wow Elf… Look, it’s a horse! A horse!”
“Hm? Have you never seen a horse before?”

“I have! Don’t look at me with those eyes! That’s not what I meant!”

Let me rephrase my earlier statement.

“There is a horse on school grounds!”
“This is a school, so there is nothing strange with a horse being here?”

“It is strange –! Normal schools never have a horse! What kind of school are you talking about?”

“My elementary school from when I was living with my family.”
“Found it! A real high-class lady!”

We are totally different from each other.

By the way, Yamada Elf-sensei, not only are you a fantasy-genre writer, you had written some rom-com novels, right? What a waste of your talent!

“I’m joking. It’s rare to see a horse in a Japanese school.”

“…Stop messing with me. It was so far out of my common sense that I thought I was in another world.”

“Sorry, sorry” Elf apologized.

The girl who was with the horse walked it pass us. Elf shot her one last look then turned toward the school again:

“Okay, we should get going.”
“Going where?”

“Of course —“ She closed one eye “We are going to see a girl we both know, to see what kind of life she lives daily – right now! Naturally, we won’t give her a heads up! Fuhahaha, she will be totally surprised! ♪”

So that’s what she meant by an “interesting idea”.

“I really can’t understand you.”

You once did the same thing to me before.

And so – without waiting for Kusanagi-senpai’s group and Megumi, we entered the Nanohana School’s main building.
“Hmm, it’s pretty normal.”

“Seems a bit plain to me.”

Once inside, I looked and saw that this school is not as strange looking as its outside suggests. On the first floor, there were rows of lockers, then classrooms. Also, there was a small chapel. We kind of expected something like that from a missionary school.

The only things that we didn’t foresee were a statue of Maria and colorful windows. We could see the colorful glass from a distance, so it gave off a religious feeling.

In conclusion, this building had a smooth design, with white being the primary color. Thus, it gave visitors a calm and peaceful feeling. Any girls who attended this school would probably become gentle, graceful girls.

“A white surface gave the people inside an illusion of white; this must be the magic of the designer.”

Elf said what was on my mind.

“Don’t say something like that. People don’t like it.”

“It’s the same as saying a light novel with a cute female protagonist on the cover would be a good book.”

“I told you that people don’t like it!”

In a way, this is something that troubles most light novel authors. From a novelist’s point of view, we wonder how much of our novel’s effects come from the illustrations. It’s hard to think about it from a reader’s point of view.

Still, there is something I’d like to say…

“Say, Elf-sensei. Since there is a white surface, there must be some suitable content in it, right?”

At least I think that whatever I write must not bring shame to drawings made by Eromanga-sensei.

“Yes, that’s what you would think. But this school’s content is the weirdo book girl Muramasa- chan.”

“…Let’s stop talking about it.”

Surface and content are completely different things!
Although, considering what Elf said just now —

“What does Muramasa-senpai look like at school? I can’t imagine it…”

“I think it must be very strange. Everyone is wearing a uniform, but she would be the only one wearing a kimono. I feel that during breaks, she wouldn’t speak to anyone and would just quietly write novels by herself.”

“Well, that’s kind of depressing, don’t you think?”

Sorry, Muramasa-senpai.

I could almost picture the scene where she was isolated in her class.
– During our conversation, we kept walking.

We reached the second floor. There was a corridor full of the first year’s classrooms. There was a table before each of them, showing each class’s activities.

The corridor was decorated with colorful papers just like the school grounds, so it looked even more lively than usual. The students themselves probably made them, so the normal people (me) felt a bit more at ease.

This is the same atmosphere as a festival that I’m used to.

“Oh? It looks very exciting. Finally seems like a normal school’s anniversary day.”

“Really? Compared to other schools, this is quite modest. Think about it, a school’s anniversary normally has lots of colorful balloons and flags, right?”

“Oh right, there is nothing like that here.”

“Maybe because they were worried about the school’s image? Anyway, I don’t think that kind of decoration would suit this school.”

“Maybe? Is that why it doesn’t feel like a school anniversary’s atmosphere outside?”

In my opinion, a school anniversary celebration should go with cheap hand-made decorations.

But how should I put it… after entering this floor… I feel a bit restless.

In front of me was the normal school anniversary atmosphere that I knew. Because all of the students are high-class ladies, I don’t see any boys running around trying to bring guests into their shops. But that wasn’t important.

At first, I thought I came to the wrong place.
But now I’m beginning to feel interested.

“This is fine. I feel a bit interested.”

“Ahaha, just looking is enough to get excited, right – look, there is a haunted house and an accessory shop – and I see a tarot shop over there! Hey, Masamune, where do you want to go first?”

Elf grabbed my hand, but I tried to act calm and get away.

“Didn’t you say we are going to visit Muramasa-senpai’s class?”
“Oh, right. What a pity.”

She seemed a bit down, but we continued our way. Muramasa-senpai’s is class one, third years. Probably on the fourth floor. We arrived on the fourth floor and began to look around.

“Eh? Hey, Masamune. Do you see that over there – is that…?”

Elf pointed forward. I followed her finger:

“Let me take a look… what kind of shop is that?”

Among all of the other shops, only that one was a bit… special. On the table, there was a sign that said “Third year, class one, cosplay café ♡”. It was followed by picture of a maid with cat ears.

“What is that? In a corner of an all-girls school, there is something straight out of Akihabara…”

“Very eye-catching. Also, third year, class one, could it be….”
“Muramasa-chan’s class… right?”

[……………]

We stood there in silence, looking at each other.

The book girl Muramasa-senpai, who is going to an all-girls school; her class’s shop is a “cosplay café ♡”? The disparity between those two things felt so surreal.

Elf put a hand under her chin, deep in thought.

“Hm…Muramasa asked us to wait at the administrative building instead of her class probably because she doesn’t want us to come to her class. While I was expecting that… which is why I thought it was interesting to suddenly visit her class – I didn’t foresee the “cosplay café ♡” part.”

“So you were thinking about it that much?”

“Hahaha… Okay, now, even I can’t predict what will happen next. Masamune, have you prepared yourself?”

Elf licked her lips and said something straight out of an adventurer’s mouth right before she entered a dungeon. Looks like she had recovered, and was very interested too.

“O…kay. Then let’s go and take a look.”

We walked toward the place which is even more mysterious than a dungeon - Muramasa- senpai, class one, third years - “cosplay café ♡”

But…

“Eh? The door is locked. Are they still not open?”
“Seems like we arrived too soon. Let’s go back.”

“Hm, I’m not giving up – Excuse me!!”

Elf shouted at the door. It opened a small crack.

“Sorry, you are?”

A girl put her head outside and asked. She did it the same way Sagiri used to. While the crack wasn’t big enough for me to see inside, I think she was wearing a maid outfit…

“A friend of mine is in this class. Is your shop still not open?”

Elf asked without hesitation:

“Eto… We are still preparing… can you please wait a bit…”

She turned back into the room and had a quiet conversation with the people inside.

“Um… Yes… a blonde beauty… Yes, probably. Can I let them in? Got it, everyone, to your positions —“

Then she turned back to us.

“Sorry for the delay! We have finished preparing, please come in!”

With a crack, the door flew open.

“Come in, come in please!”

We entered the “cosplay café ♡”.
“Welcome! Master! Madam!”

Many young maids stepped out and greeted us.

“—————-“

For “many reasons”, our breaths caught in our throats: Even though we had mentally prepared ourselves to face the unknown dungeon.

The first thing that surprised us was their clothes.

Black and white skirts: Classic maid clothes, which totally didn’t look like cheap imitations.
– All of them were actually high-class ladies, so that means —

“…They, they brought real maid clothing… to their school festival.”

— That’s it.

Only real high-class ladies took part in this cosplay. Only this school could have this kind of luxury maid café. In some ways, it was a brilliant move.

And… the second reason was, as expected of a “cosplay café ♡”, they were not simply maids. They all had cat ears, dog ears or an animal tail.

At first, I thought that those kinds of impure accessories would not suit the normal maid outfits. However, whether because of their charm or something else, the end result is that it made them even better looking.

And the third reasons was —

“Ma, Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Masamune-kun!!?”

A maid with cat ears pointed her finger at me in terror.

Among those ladies in classic maid clothing, there was one exception. A girl who was wearing a very revealing outfit –
image
It was Senjyu Muramasa-senpai herself.

— Crap. Those… clothes…. are too revealing…
— My eyes…! My eyes!… I’m going blind!

My eyes took the full force of the attack and I almost blacked out on the spot. I couldn’t even manage a single sound.

Next to me, Elf said what I wanted to but couldn’t.

“Mura… masa… you… why are you wearing that?”
“No, it’s not like that!”

Just like when she wore a bikini to the beach with us, senpai tried to explain herself while covering her chest. Wow, look at how her well endowed breasts changed their shape. She didn’t realize that that action would make the scene even more erotic.

“Elf! Masamune-kun! Listen to me! Let me explain!”

“Nope, there is no need to explain any further. You are clearly wearing an erotic maid costume! All around you are normal maids, but only you played the role of the erotic shop owner!”

You don’t have to say it! I agree with you, but…

“It’s not like that! This… these clothes were brought here by my stupid classmate! It’s not mine! Nor is it this shop’s uniform!”

“So why are you wearing it? Based on the timing, you were planning to greet us in these clothes. What a perverted, erotic maid.”

“Wahh…. it’s a misunderstanding… I was tricked…”

Senpai is crying already: please let her off the hook this time… Besides, Elf, you should already know that there is no way she would volunteer to wear this. I bet it’s similar to the time we went to the beach.

“Eto… Muramasa-senpai?”

As soon as I opened my mouth, senpai turned to me with pleading eyes. Then, she began to cry again.

“Ma… Masamune-kun… you understand that this is just a misunderstanding, right?”

“Those clothes suit you very much, and the cat-ears are very cute”
“Fu~ nyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnn”

She ran to the back room while crying.
Elf elbowed me lightly in the stomach

“Idiot, you were too straightforward.”
“I was hoping to ease her mind…”

“So it backfired. I think you just gave her mental state a critical hit. So, what now?”

“Even if you ask me….”

In short, I need to know how senpai turned out that way. But it was chaos. If this were a light novel, a leading character would appear out of nowhere.

“Before Hana-chan comes back, let me take care of you, Onii-sama.”

Suddenly – Someone came to us.

“Eto ~?”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Usami Suzune.”

The girl whose name is Suzune was wearing normal, classical maid clothing and bunny ears.

She has silk-like skin: just like a Japanese princess, fair and gentle.

“It… it’s my pleasure. Nice to meet you. I was invited by Muramasa – I mean, I was invited by Umenozo-san, my name is…”

The “girl who looked like a high-class lady” suddenly appeared and made me stutter.

“You two must be Izumi Masamune-sensei and Yamada Elf-sensei.”

“Eh, why—“
“Because I like to read light novels.”

“…Is that so?”
“Yes, I like light novels the most.”

Ohhh…

Muramasa-senpai is not the type who would tell her classmates our names.

In other words… this girl correctly guessed our names without help. Not counting Elf, but to be able to recognize Izumi Masamune… Unless she is a diehard light novel fan, she wouldn’t know.

So, a high-class lady who likes light novels? That strange life form really exists in the world?

"Masamune, Masamune.”

Elf pulled my sleeves.

“Yes?”
“I’m a high-class lady who likes light novel too.”

She pointed a finger at her face. She really reads me like an open book.

“Yes yes yes, it’s like that. Elf-sensei is nearly a high-class lady, right?”

“I’m not nearly. I’m a real high-class lady!”

“But there is a girl who is more like a high-class lady than you present.”

“Arrgg! You piss me off so much! I hate people who talk like you!”

While I was arguing with Elf, Suzune laughed:

“You two are so funny. Just like what Hana-chan said.”
“Er, you are Suzune, right? Nice to meet you, I’m Yamada Elf.”

“Nice to meet you. Can I call you sensei?”
“Nah, take it easy. Just call me Elf.”

“Can I?”
“Of course, because you are Mu—“

Elf paused for a moment and glanced at Muramasa-senpai. Senpai had run to the back room and was hiding herself with the curtain. Her usual calm expression was gone, and she looked really cute. Elf smiled brilliantly and changed her wording:

“You must be Hana-chan’s friend too, right? Then you are also my friend, no need to use formal language.”

She must be worried that Muramasa-senpai was hiding her penname from her classmates. Elf is very good at reading the mood; talking with her can be very relaxing. But at the same time, when she was talking with someone else aside from me, the topic could change very quickly.

In her words – the girl named Suzune is Muramasa-senpai’s friend. It’s not exactly important, but Suzune was smiling too, and her voice softened.

“Um, then Elf-chan is my friend too. Indeed, I’m Hana-chan’s friend.”

“Yep, let’s be friend.”

They looked like good friends.
– What a surprise.

We were worried that Muramasa-senpai was alienated at school.

“Actually, Hana-chan is very welcomed at school.”
“Is that true?”

Elf was surprised. She pointed a finger at Muramasa-senpai behind the curtain.

“No way!? Because she – is a big narcissist who has no interest in other people. Not only does she love nothing but novels, all she had was her good-looking appearance. I was positive that she is the type who was hated by everyone.”

“You demi-human! You are saying too much!”

Senpai poked her head out of the curtain and shot back.

“—————“

Maybe the conversation was too funny, but Suzune broke into laughter. She bent down, and coughed hard. Yet it didn’t look ungraceful, what a lady.

“This is it! This is how it is! As expected of Elf-chan! Haha…”

Still laughing, Suzune told Elf:
image
“Actually, I have known Hana-chan since she was three years old, so I knew it already. I’m kind of used to it.”

“Oh? So that’s why?”

“Yes. To be clear, almost everyone in this class has known each other since we were kids.”

“Aha…”

I get it.

A school for high-class ladies – would take students starting in elementary school– so that’s why… for many years… they have known each other.

Maybe they were more used to Muramasa-senpai than I was.

“About 「 Senjyu Muramasa-sensei 」, everyone here already knows, so you guys don’t have to worry about it too much.”

Looks like she noticed what Elf was trying to avoid.
…Ah… girls that I meet are all smart and wise.

I shot a quick glance at the back room. Many girls in maid clothing were coming to Muramasa- senpai (behind curtain) and talking to her:

“Hana-chan, come on!”
“Hurry, your boy friend is here.”

“I, I said he is not my boyfriend….”

“Then you have to greet him with 「 Welcome , Master 」 and try to charm him into giving you a child – we practiced, remember?”

“We, we did! But I didn’t know that I would have to wear something so embarrassing!”

“Ahahaha…I was surprised too.”
“To think that Suzune would prepare such a bold outfit ♪”

“So that erotic maid clothing was brought here by you!?”

This is my first time meeting with a high-class lady, but I couldn’t help myself. However, Suzune gave a very suitable reply- She lightly knocked herself on her head:

“Ehehe ♡”

Damn.. so cute.

It felt like when Eromanga-sensei is very happy and shows off her moe charm.

“Thank you for coming before the opening. Because I want Onii-sama to see this.”

Suzune shrugged. Seems like Muramasa-senpai will soon change back. Hm… seems like this Suzune-chan’s personality doesn’t fit with her appearance. How should I put it –?

– Onii-san ♡
– Onii-sama.

Yes, she is just like Megumi!

Or rather… I should say… just like Megumi: only her appearance is nice. Since I don’t have enough information about her, I can’t say anything more than that for now.

“So ~~”

Suzune closed one of her eyes, and raised her index finger like a certain anime female lead:

“Masamune Onii-sama, Elf-sama, once more, welcome to our third year, class one, 「 cosplay
café ♡ Flowers 」”

Flowers? Did she take it from “Hana”?
(TL Note: Hana means flower in Japanese)

So does that meant…This class named their shop after Muramasa-senpai?
I’m so happy for her.

“While we are still preparing, since you two are Hana-chan’s friend, there is a special service for you. Allow us to serve you as practice, too. Please, this way.”

“Eh, fine…”

Wait, what? What are they trying to do?

Suzune took us to a table with a white table cover and plastic flowers on top of it. Because the classroom was decorated in a classic way, the atmosphere was very nice.

I sat down in front of Elf. Suzune smiled:

“Then, allow me to explain. First, for payment, you can only use a 「 Nanohana Ticket 」 that was included in the invitation letter. Thank you for your understanding.”

“Oh, okay.”

Yeah, there was something like that. A pack of ten tickets or something. The school probably doesn’t want the students to take cash directly

“Haha, just like Monopoly money. So cute.”

While I was having a good time thinking about that, Elf muttered:

“By the way, Masamune: Each of these tickets is worth about ¥1.000.” (TL note: Around $9, or €8)

“What?”

Isn’t it a bit expensive?

“Yes, each ticket worth ¥1.000. If you don’t have enough, you can buy always buy more.”

“I… I see.”

I took a look at the menu. Both drinks and a light meal cost a ticket each.

…So each of them cost ¥1.000…. Is that cheap or expensive?

And… does that mean that during this festival… a ¥1.000 ticket is the smallest currency?

I felt a bit of uneasy at this school.

“Also, for each 30 minute time-block that you spend in our shop, we are going to charge you two Nanohana tickets.”

“Each block?”

What the heck?

“Yes. But during that time, you are allowed unlimited drinks of the house bottles.””

“House bottles?”

“Those are non-alcoholic drinks on this second list. Still, other drinks and light meals cost a ticket each, I hope you can understand.”

“In other words, it cost me ¥2.000 just to sit down in this shop…. And there is at least ¥1.000 additional cost from ordering anything. But, for a maid café, compared to Akihabara, these prices are not exactly expensive…”

By the way, I have never gone to a maid café, so that was just my guess.

“But this kind of pricing system… it doesn’t feel like a maid café…”

I agree with Elf’s question.

“Yes yes yes… how should I put it…? I think I have heard of it somewhere before…. like a wine shop, and this block of time… where have I heard…”

I think it’s during a meeting between light novel authors…

“Hm… what is it about… this is not something that people talk about in normal conversation… I almost have it….”

“Oh, right, I forgot.”

While we were deep in thought, Suzune said in a very gentle high-class lady voice:

“You have to pay for a female server too, which is two tickets.”

“It’s just like a Cabaret club!!” Both Elf and I shouted.

“Now I remember! No wonder it sounded so familiar, because Shidou Kunimitsu said it!”

“So that’s how your normal conversation with them went, huh!?”

“Er… but, well, it’s not important right now —! It’s disgusting. There is a big difference between a high-class lady school and a cabaret club, so I didn’t make the connection until now.”

Also, it’s very expensive! A single time block and the server fee alone cost me almost half of my tickets.

“What a pity, Onii-sama. Please call us 「 cosplay café ♡ 」“

“But you totally copied a Cabaret club’s fees. Whose idea was it?”

“Mine.”
“You!?”

I thought that she was just like Megumi – but I was wrong.

In fact, it was the opposite.

Megumi was just trying to act tough, but she is actually an innocent fashion bitch. But in contrast, this girl is only pretending to be an innocent high-class lady, but in reality, that’s how she actually is?

“…Eto, Onii-sama? Could it be that you are thinking of me as a very dirty girl?”

Seeing how embarrassed she looked, most people would think that she is a very innocent girl…

“I’m not. I only have some fragmented knowledge, so I don’t know much about that「Cabaret club 」 you spoke of…”

Liar. Considering what you said earlier, you must be very knowledgeable about them.

“This shop was proposed so that my classmates and their families can have some fun.”

“What do you mean?”

“For example, Hana-chan’s father can come here and ask for his daughter to serve him. Then Hana-chan, in cat ears, as an employee, can spoil her father. Like give him cake, or pour drinks for him…”

So it’s basically a Cabaret club. Still..

“Okay, I think I got it. This shop is opened so that parents who love their daughters can have fun.”

“Yes! Because the daughter is normally very shy and can’t be straightfor ward, this is a chance for them to spoil their parents! This shop is a place to fulfill that dream, can’t you understand?”

“You must have an old man’s mind.”

I knew someone who is even more like you than Megumi. Said person is called Eromanga-sensei.

“Really, Onii-sama is so rude!”
“Ya…”

I felt so tired while speaking to her. I dropped my head.
Suzune’s calm and gentle voiced came again.

“So, Onii-sama, should I pick a girl for you?”

Yeah, option A, I will take you - that choice appeared in my head. But if I said it out loud, Elf would have a few choice words with me at the very least. And I think both Sagiri and her will tease me, so…

“Ok… fine. Hana-chan then.”
“Okay ~! Hana-chan, there is a customer asking for you ~~~~~~~~”

I can tell that Suzune is in a good mood.

And then, at the back of the class, still hiding behind a curtain and trying to decide if she should take off the cat ears, Muramasa-senpai let out an “Eh?” sound. After that, her classmates all ganged up on her and pushed her forward.

“Hurry…~!”
“Hana-chan, a customer is asking for you!”

“Go, go ♪”
“Eh? Ehhhheee?”

Hana-chan came to our side.

“………………”

Standing next to our table, Muramasa-senpai’s face was deep red. Even when Elf said “yo” to her, she still didn’t move an inch. She kept standing there, frozen in place, for a full 30 seconds.

“You… you… you guys… I said I will come to bring you inside… where are the others?”

“Phew, sorry sorry ~~. Because we wanted to know what you are like at school ~ Masamune said that he wanted to take a look no matter what, so we decided to surprise you.”

“Hey Elf, don’t try to push the blame onto me.”
“But you wanted to take a look, didn’t you?”

“Well, that’s true.”
“So you are guilty by association.”

Well, yeah.

Suddenly, Muramasa-senpai turned to look in my direction. Her eyes stopped on Suzune, who was happily looking at our conversation.

“Have you… spoken with Suzune?”
“Yes. She said that she is your good friend.”

“Hm, she is not my good friend. She is my bad friend. Bad friend.”

Senpai denied it, and her voice was serious. But Elf immediately translated it and understood its meaning.

“Oh, so you two really are good friends.”

That’s what she said.

Because it’s too clear, even I could see it. I could see through this level of tsun-tsun.

“Ahaha ~ didn’t I tell you?”

Suzune said and hugged Muramasa-senpai’s shoulder.

“Stop. It’s annoying. I have already forgiven you about this clothing, so how about you stay
away…”

Then senpai tried to push her away.

“Oh ~ you are so mean ~”

Suzune pretended to be hurt. But it was clearly an act, and she immediately said:

“However, I refuse. It’s a rare chance when two legendary people come to our school: I have so many things I want to talk with them about.”

Suzune looked at Elf …

“Right ~♪”

Both of them said at the same time. It was their first meeting, but those two get along well.

“Oh… this duo… I have a bad feeling…”

Muramasa-senpai saw it, but there was nothing she could do.
Suzune swiftly sat down on the chair next to me and asked:

“So, Onii-sama, can I stay here?”
“Eh? Well, I don’t mind…”

“Thank you for choosing me!”
“Wait a sec! What about your fee?”

High school students, you guys have to remember: a cabaret club is a very scary place. I have long forgotten that this place called itself a maid café.

“Hana-chan. Hurry ~ and start working.”
“…Oh…”

Due to Suzune’s urging, Muramasa-senpai muttered in embarrassment.

“Wel, welcome….Master, Madam.”
“Ah….”

Muramasa-senpai bowed then sat down on the other side of me. Then, she slowly pushed her body toward.

“Mu, Muramasa-senpai….”

“This, this is my job…. so there is nothing I can do… this is my job…”

“Oh…”

A maid in revealing clothing was serving me…. scary. I don’t think there is any way a hot-blooded male could remain calm.

“Masamune, your eyes look so perverted. I will tell Sagiri.”
“I beg of you, please don’t!” I glared at Elf, who was glaring back.

Then Muramasa-senpai said, like she had just made a decision.

“Ma, Masamune-kun. Can I explain everything first?”
“Ok… Although I think I get it already…”

I think she was tricked into wear this revealing maid outfit, is that right?

“Still, I have to say it! Then… this… is because I planned to go to this festival with you, so I have the whole day free.”

“What a waste. Isn’t it normal for the second day to be the best?”

Elf was right.

Muramasa-senpai wanted to go with us, so she has to skip a day of working. But the second day is normally when everything is the busiest.

“Yes, everyone was worried about me, so they scheduled me to work 「 the first day 」 and 「 the morning of second day 」.”

Muramasa-senpai smiled wryly. The other maids laughed:

“It’s okay ~”
“Last year, Hana-chan helped me out, remember?”

“During my first year, it’s thanks to you that I could have a date with my boyfriend… Now it’s my turn to give Hana-chan the best chance.”

“Just enjoy yourselves!”

– Seems like it was the case.

“Hm ~~ I can see that you are very welcomed.”

Elf spoke what was in my mind.

“Is that… so? I’m not so sure myself… They decorated the classroom and forced me to wear these shameless clothes…”

That kind of selfless relationship is called “friendship”.

“Elf-chan, you seemed to be surprised to see that Hana-chan is welcomed at school?” Suzune asked.

“I am. It’s not what I expected.”
“…What about you, Onii-sama?”

“Yes, same here – by the way, why are you calling me 「 Onii-sama 」?”

“Because you are the author of Sekaimo, so I thought you’d like to be called that way.”

“That’s a misunderstanding.”

Don’t treat an author differently because of what he wrote in his book. I understand why she came to the conclusion, but just because an author included the words “little sister” in his novel’s title, it doesn’t automatically mean he is a siscon.

Why? Yes, I’m a siscon who loves my little sister. But I have no interest in any other little sister who is not Sagiri! I don’t like little sisters, I like Sagiri! Because I based my character on Sagiri herself, I could write the female lead in Sekaimo as a little sister.

I hope that you guys wouldn’t make that misunderstanding.

“I see… So, do you hate it when I call you 「 Onii-sama 」?”

“… Actually I’m very happy.”

With a *Thud*, Elf slammed her hand on my head.
I yelled “It hurts” then tried to cover my head.

“It’s not like that… I think I understand the reason why 「Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei (The Irregular in Magic High School) 」was so welcomed. Anyone would be happy if a black haired beauty called them 「 Onii-sama 」.”

“Ahaha, then I will call Izumi Masamune-sensei 「 Onii-sama 」, too.”
“…Sure, whatever.”

In front of me, Elf took the tablet out from under the table.

“Eh eh, Sagiri, that’s what your boyfriend just said.”

“Thank you for your report, Elf-chan. Eh, Nii-san? From now on, should I call you 「 Onii-sama 」 too?”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Elf, you!!!!!! How could you do that to me!? Since when did you undo the seal on Eromanga-sensei??”

“Since the moment she explained the payment system in this place for you.”

Seems like she got permission from the other maids.

“…Kuh…”

Which means my sister saw Suzune call me “Onii-sama”. Wh, wh, what should I do… how do I survive this…

Elf put the tablet up to my face. On the screen was the image of Sagiri (with her mask). The cold, empty smile on the Meruru mask seemed like it came out of a horror film.

…She must be very mad.

I tried to find a reason while buying time:

“Sa, Sagiri. It’s not like that! Listen to me!”

“Kyouka-chan! Kyouka-chan! Hurry! Nii-san, Nii-san…. he is doing something erotic in a cosplay club!”

“That is the worst possible outcome!!!”
“What did you just say? I’m coming!”

When that terrifying sound came out of the tablet, I quickly shut it down.

“Ku…Ho…Ha….”

My fingers were still moving, but my body was covered in a cold sweat and I was breathing hard.

Seeing this, Elf coldly added:

“Masamune, didn’t you say that you want to let Sagiri experience a school festival’s atmosphere?”

“…………”

I think… this place is even scarier than a haunted house.

After Muramasa-senpai switched back to her normal clothes, we all returned to the main building, since it’s about the time that we agreed to meet.

Just after we arrived.

“Ah, Izumi. Nice timing.”

Shidou-kun quickly ran up to us. Today he was wearing normal university-student clothes.

“Shidou-kun, what’s up? You seem restless.”
“Because…”

He glanced at a nearby shop. From where I was standing, I could see a familiar man with blonde hair and a black coat, who was completely surrounded by big guards. He seemed to be desperately explaining something, I could faintly hear,

“…The invitation letter is real” and “That is my junior”.

“Kusanagi-senpai was treated like a suspicious person…”
“What the heck is he doing?”

Of course he is standing out. From an outsider’s POV, he is indeed a suspicious-looking person who is trying to sneak into an all-girls school.

“Just now we met with Jinno-san at the school gate. Because Aya-chan was talking with Kusanagi-senpai… I think a well-meaning person called the guards.”

“Ah…”

An elementary school girl talking with a punk-looking man is clearly suspicious. No wonder people misunderstood. While the result was sad to see, that person’s judgment wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Eto – what about Megumi’s gang?”

Isn’t it easier to let them explain instead?

“She said she has a friend at this school and went looking for them. I have no idea where she is now. By the way, I think the guards are about to call the police….”

Megumi has so many relationships, to think that she even has friends here…

“Then we can’t keep talking, we have to help him. I’m a student of this school, so let me talk to them.”

“I will go too. Muramasa alone isn’t good at talking.”

The trust-worthy duo quickly went on their way.

A few moments later…

The girls successfully defused the situation.

…Elf arrogantly raised her thump. At the same time, Kusanagi-senpai tiredly followed after them.

“I can’t believe it happened to me. All-girls schools are so scary…”

“Kusanagi-senpai, sorry for coming to your aid so late. Thank you for coming.”

“………”

Seeing Muramasa-senpai bow and apologize, everyone was surprised. Because that was so unexpected. To Muramasa-senpai, Kusanagi-senpai should be someone she had no interest in. It’s not in her character to keep a formal appearance in front of him.

— No. It’s not like that.

The situation is not that “this is not in her character” but rather that “this is a completely new side of her”.

Of course, if the situation happened in her novel, then there is no way that she would write something so illogical. As long as the author doesn’t make a mistake, the character won’t become too alienated.

But the girl in front of me is a normal human, no doubt. So… it’s natural for her character to be somewhat different from usual. She must have other sides to her that we don’t know about.

That’s why….

“— Y Y ou seemed to be surprised to see that Hana- - chan is welcomed at school. .”

That’s how it is. We have only known each other for a year, but we put the sticker of “weirdo book girl” on Umezono Hana and stopped thinking about it. Maybe Suzune was laughing at us because “those guys don’t understand anything.”

Me, Elf and Sagiri. We should have a discussion about it.

Also, here, there was another man who was showing his “other side”.

“No no, Senjyu-sensei, please don’t apologize.”

It was Kusanagi-senpai. He was using a totally different tone than when he spoke to us.

“I should be the one to apologize. You invited us here, but I caused a problem for you. Thank you for helping me out.”

“Um… You are different from what Masamune-kun said….”

“I can imagine what you heard from them. But you have my respect, so I can’t speak with you like Izumi or Shidou.”

“………”

Ah, Muramasa-senpai is troubled. Of course she would if an older senior told her that “you have my respect”, it’s hard to figure out what to say. I understood her situation, because I myself was told “I respect you” and “I like you” by my respected, famous senior author.

“Kusanagi-senpai… eto… can I ask you the reason?”
“Because unlike me, you are – a「 real 」novelist.”

Muramasa-senpai knitted her brow

“Are you saying that you are a fake?”

“Compared to you, calling me that wasn’t wrong. I’m a person that barely managed to hang on in this industry, yet I always call myself someone who does the same job as you – I feel so ashamed. I felt ashamed when people compared your novel with mine. Those are my true feelings that I couldn’t bring myself to tell my readers.”

“…………”

“You seem lost – then we should stop talking about this topic. But I have to say one more thing: while I am a fake, I still plan to continue doing what I should do.”

Kusanagi-senpai smiled.

He was sad because of the problem he faced, but he could still find a balancing point. In the end, he kept working while knowing that he himself is a faker.

He showed his respect to a younger junior.

This is another side of the non-serious, arbitrary rom-com novelist that he doesn’t want anyone to know. Muramasa-senpai didn’t say anything for a long time, but finally, she nodded.

“I understand.”

“Normally, there is no way I could participate in this school’s anniversary festival. I plan to take a look everywhere.”

“Kusanagi-senpai, do you plan to go by yourself?” Shidou-kun asked with a hint of worry.

“Yes I did. We have too many people; it’s strange for us to all go together, right?”

“But then people will call the guards on you.”
“……Kuh.”

Kusanagi-senpai grit his teeth; his confidence from just now disappeared.

“In that case – master, let me come with you!”

Without anyone noticing, a proper-looking girl in glasses came to Kusanagi-senpai and spoke aloud – that was Natsume Aya-chan.

Today, she wore clothes that made her look more lady-like. Kusanagi-senpai turned to the elementary schoolgirl and said in a bored tone:

“Aya, don’t call me Master. Besides, you were the reason that I was stopped by the guards, so if you went with me I think the previous incident will happen again.”

“Ah – about that —“

Suddenly Megumi raised her hand:

“Just now, I have spoken with my friend in this school. I told them that 「 The man who is with Aya-chan is not someone suspicious, so there is no problem 」, so Ryuoki-onii-san can go with Aya-chan without issue.”

“That means…as long as I stay in this school, 「 I will be arrested if I do not go with Aya-chan 」?”

“Eh ~~ seems like it.” Aya-chan sighed.

“I myself really really don’t want to, but if I have to stay with my master during the festival ~ ah, this can’t be helped ~ I will go with you.”

“….Are you kidding me?”

“Isn’t that wonderful, Kusanagi-senpai. I’m so jealous of you, to have an elementary school girl going around with you at a school festival.”

…Shidou, are you trying to make fun of Kusanagi-senpai? You are not really jealous, are you? Realizing that he has to go around with an elementary school girl during the festival, Kusanagi-senpai began to tremble.

“Grr… how could it be…. My perfect plan to get away from you all then sneak to the middle school area….”

“You want to visit the area of the middle school? I can go with you too.”

“…Kuh… it’s not like that.”

Going with Aya-chan meant that he couldn’t have a conversation with a middle school girl. If that was Megumi’s plan, then it indeed strikes two birds with one stone. Not only does it prevent Kusanagi-senpai from talking with another girl, it also – well, I don’t have to say it out.

“So, Master, please take good care of me! Ahahaha… make sure to play the role of my guardian.”

“….Phew, I knew it. Anytime Izumi invites me, it will end up like this.”

Sorry, but don’t make it sound like it is my fault.
Well, actually the “complicated relationship” with Aya-chan was because of the time I introduced them.

– And so.

Aside from Makina-san, who had told us “I don’t know if I can make it”, we succeeded in meeting with everyone. We all thanked Muramasa-senpai for inviting us, and she also thanked us for coming.

Aya-chan, who wanted to become a novelist, seemed to be a big fan of Senjyu Muramasa-sensei. She was so nervous that her body was very stiff, but that made her unable to speak much with her senpai.

—- I hope they can hold a normal conversation later.

For now, we have me, Elf, Sagiri, Muramasa-senpai, Megumi, Aya-chan, Kusanagi-senpai and Shidou-kun. I don’t know if anyone else will come later, but that’s our group.

Kusanagi-senpai and Aya-chan planned to go their own way, so our group will have five people.

“Muramasa-san, about this school festival…” Shidou-kun said.

“I heard that you wanted to get some 「 references 」 for your novel, so do you need something specific?”

“No, we can just enjoy it normally. Going to a school festival with everyone is a valuable experience by itself.”

“…Is that okay?”

Shidou-kun voiced his question. I was thinking the same. Yes, I’m not sure just ‘enjoying it normally’ would be good experience for writing a good novel.

“It’s better that way. I feel embarrassed to say this, but I’m not a normal schoolgirl. I don’t have much interest in these kinds of activities, so I tried my best to do something behind the scenes. I don’t really mind giving someone who has friends the chance to enjoy festival with them.”

“During my first year, it was thanks to you that I could have a date with my boyfriend… Now, it’s my turn to give Hana-chan her chance.”

Her classmate also said that.

“But this year… I want to take part in this festival – and enjoy myself. I want to write something that I couldn’t have written before by experiencing something new. I want to use this change of heart in my new story – and then …”

“And then?”
“Ah, sorry. But I can’t say it for now.”

Muramasa-senpai blushed and changed the topic.

“Eto… I mean….”

She is not good at talking. After a moment of stuttering, she said:

“I mean, if I could make a special request…. please, stay with me today – and enjoy yourselves.”

“—–”

Everyone stared at her. And then…

“Leave it to me!”

We all spoke at once.
Megumi whispered to Elf:

“Hey, Elf-chan, just now what was Muramasa-chan going to say?”

“I heard that she actually wanted to invite Masamune alone to this festival, but he changed it into this.”

“Ohohohoho, I see I see I see ~~ in that case, what should I do ~~ as Sagiri-chan’s friend ~~ but I also want to help a girl in love ~~~”

Someone was scheming, but at the same time someone was acting totally pure:

“What are you doing!? Hurry up!!”

That was Sagiri. Because we undid the seal on her again, that made her very excited and she was jumping in joy.

Muramasa-senpai took the tablet and smiled at Sagiri

“You are right. We should hurry, Sagiri.”

While her situation was different from Muramasa-senpai, Sagiri is also someone who is not used to these kinds of activities. Going to a festival with friends. Both of them must be looking forward to it

“Um! Let’s go, everyone!”

And then, our festival began.