Chapter 55
The Cultural Festival and the Butler and the Café [3]
Translator: nakimushitl
Please read at the translator’s site or the hosted site, moonbunnycafe .
“Prince! Prince turned into a butler…!”
“Makoto, don’t call me ‘Prince’ . ”
Prince a . k . a . Kiritani Riku has transformed into a perfect butler . With Prince’s slender body and pretty features, it’s too fitting when he wears a butler outfit .
Black jacket and waistcoat, white shirt, slacks and leather shoes . Each and everyone of them were so well-made that you’d never think they were made by high school students . The workmanship is so sedulous, it doesn’t seem like it was made by mere high school students . This is the magic of otome games .
Now then, if you were to ask why we’re wearing butler clothes, it’s because we’re in a bind when Hasumi summoned us into a classroom arranged just like how it’d be during the cultural festival, to shoot photos for the poster .
Tables, cushions, curtains and whatnot were arranged in the classroom of Year 2 Class A and it’s become rather café-like .
Even though there’s still a week before the launch, it’s amazing that preparations of this extent have been completed . I’m in-charge of coming up with the menu, being the waiter and cook on the day itself, so I didn’t participate in laying out the shop at all .
“It fits you well too, Sakurai . It really helps when one is tall and slender~”
“Nah… It’s kind of a torture to stand next to Riku with my face, y’know?”
I also changed into the butler outfit made by Hasumi’s group but my self-confidence quickly disappears in the presence of Prince’s esteemed countenance .
My face shouldn’t be nasty . Neither a hottie or a nastie . I’d like to think so but it’s saddening when I compare it to the shining face of Prince, a main character in an otome game .
“Makoto, you look cool . It fits you well . ”
“A-ah, thanks…”
Prince stares at my face with his ever-expressionless face . It’s hard to tell when his expression doesn’t change but he’s probably being bashful . After staring at my face for a while, he swiftly averts his gaze .
What’s with this ambience . What’s with this mysterious ambience like that between a new couple during their first date?
The one who mows down this ambience instantly is mi dolce, cute angel .
“Mako-chan finished changing too, huh . Don’t you look cool~!”
“Mitsuki! Mitsuki, super cute…! As expected of my Mitsuki…”
The Mitsuki entering the classroom in maid clothes is transcendentally cute .
Maid clothes with black mini-skirt, frilly headdress and apron, knee-high socks and strap shoes . The Mitsuki wearing all that is pretty much an archangel . Even though she’s always an angel, that angel-ness has been polished .
I run up and hug Mitsuki . Small . Small, thin and fluffy . Moreover, there’s an incredibly nice smell . Even though we should’ve used the same shampoo and body wash, Mitsuki smells extra nice . It may be because she’s an angel . Definitely .
“I wonder . The skirt’s short and I don’t wear knee-high socks much so it’s embarrassing . ”
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about . It’s okay because Mitsuki’s cute . Besides, I’ll protect you if weird guys approach you . ”
“Fufu, I’ll rely on you, Mako-chan . I’ll protect you, then, if weird girls approach you!”
Perhaps Mitsuki had put on some make-up, her eyes look larger than usual .
Fundamentally, Mitsuki goes with almost no make-up . She casually puts on toner and foundation after bathing and uses lip gloss and mascara… that’s about it I think? I don’t know the details but even though I’ve seen her use what looks like make-up, I don’t think she ever did it so thoroughly .
She’s beautiful even without make-up . My cute Mitsuki is an otome game heroine so even with thin make-up, her eyes are large, her cheeks and lips are a light pink and her skin is smooth and pretty as though it’s been smeared with pearlescent face powder . When the cute and beautiful Mitsuki with a foundation like that puts on thorough make-up, she’s even more cute, I say . Have you understood?
“Hasumi, please . Give me the photo of the maid Mitsuki . Take some with my phone too . I’ll leave it on standby . ”
“Oi, Sakurai oi… It’s remarkable your siscon has worsened to this stage . ”
“Geez~! Stop it, Mako-chan!”
Prince is also transcendentally cool but only Mitsuki has moved my heart so much .
“Hey! We’re starting since the leads are here . Kiritani and Mitsuki will be the focus, the older Sakurai will be a package deal with Kiritani . Sorry . I think you’re cool too but the demands of the world is—”
“It’s a-okay, I know . Actually, Hasumi, it hurts more when you say too many excuses . ”
“Sorryyy . ”
Directed by the members of the awaiting Photography Club, Prince and Mitsuki’s two shot photography session begins .
When Prince’s beautiful face comes together with the transcendentally pretty Mitsuki’s small face, slightly couplish photos are taken . A photo of them entwining their fingers with their hips and shoulders together is taken .
Is this heaven! Yes it must be heaven!
Mitsuki is cute, Prince is cute too . I can only see two angels being lovely-dovey .
Sure enough, I feel that Prince and Mitsuki are fitting . Of course, Takayanagi is an extremely good senpai and a great person but I can’t help wanting Prince and Mitsuki to date even now . Nah, as long as Mitsuki’s happy, I don’t mind who she dates .
However, even though it’s just a little, when I think that I have to step foot in there and be photographed, I feel like dying . It’s nothing but a distasteful image when a beast or a mushroom steps foot into a poster of two angels .
Yo Prince, you’re posing coolly but I’m having such tiresome thoughts thanks to your selfishness y’know .
“Okay, next, let’s shoot with the older Sakurai~ . Alright, come here and hug Kiritani’s waist . ”
“Un? Prince’s? Waist? … Hug?!”
“Yup . Stand next to each other, Sakurai and Kiritani . Kiritani, look downwards a bit… Ah, both of you, don’t forget to look here provocatively . ”
What are you saying, Hasumi . What are you trying to make us do, Hasumi!
For some reason, Prince nods, accepting all of Hasumi’s orders and clings closely to me . In my hesitance, I look at Hasumi, the camera and Prince in order . Not knowing where to place my hand, it hangs slightly away from Prince’s waist as the fingers fidget in a muddle .
“The image is butlers provoking their young mistress! Go with an erotic feel!”
“Ah… really…”
I thought even Hasumi was a fujoshi but it seems that wasn’t it .
I’m glad Hasumi isn’t looking at Prince and I that way but is it fine if I’m part of this ‘butlers provoking their young mistress’? If it fine if the number 1 ikemen in this school, no, this city, does it with a normie like me, the very picture of ordinary?
However, now that we came this far, I have to do it . It won’t end if I don’t .
I pull Prince’s waist closer . Inclining my head slightly, I place my cheek on Prince’s head . There’s an incredibly nice smell coming from Prince’s hair . Although it’s properly a man’s smell, there’s remnants of a sweetness within that, it’s a mysterious smell .
“Sakurai! Alright, make an erotic face!”
“Hang on, sensei! What’s an ‘erotic face’!”
What’s an ‘erotic face’ . I’ve never had such an expression in my life thus far so I’ve absolutely no idea .
For the time being, I try smirking while looking at the camera but Hasumi gives me an awful look .
“Sakurai… work harder . I won’t ask for an erotic face anymore so just make something similar!”
“What’s something familiar~”
The Photography Club, Hasumi and Mitsuki are watching over us as I hug Prince . I feel like crying at this surreal image .
Fundamentally, I hate photographs and photo sticker booths . I don’t like leaving records of my face that’s not particularly cute or pretty . That’s why, truthfully, I didn’t want to be in this poster photography session . No longer knowing what to do, half-cryingly, I strongly pull the waist of the Prince standing next to me, closer .
“Makoto . ”
“… Sorry . Truthfully, I’m bad at having my photo taken . ”
I can tell that Prince’s looking at me .
Prince puts strength into the arm he has around my waist . Stroking my back with that hand, he whispers gently in a voice only I can hear . Prince’s voice seems to be laughing a little .
“I hate photos too . But being with Makoto makes me so happy that I forgot my hate . However, I don’t think I can become such an existence to Makoto . That’s why… if Makoto doesn’t like taking photos, you can stop . ”
“… Riku . ”
Prince parts from me and looks at Hasumi .
“Hey, it’s enough to have Sakurai and my photographs, right? Makoto looks unwell so can we stop? You can take more of my photos if it’s not enough . ”
Prince is expressionless, reticent and not exactly courteous . It’s true that I thought of him as ridiculously haughty when we first met . However, whenever I’m troubled or suffering, Prince will unhesitatingly save me like this . Haughty? No way . Prince is more frank, pure and kind than anyone .
Junya jokingly called Prince a kitten but he’s really like a whimsical cat . It took time and know-how for Prince to warm up but once he does, he’ll cherish you to the end . At times, even if he has to sacrifice himself . You could even call Prince’s kindness silly .
“Ah, really? It’s okay if you’re unwell . For the time being, the ones with Kiritani and Mitsuki are enough . Well then, we want some of different types so, Kiritani――…”
“… Riku!”
I strongly, strongly hug Prince’s waist that tries to part from me .
Prince’s eyes widen in surprise as he looks at me . Even though his eyes are always weakly half-opened, the eyes he’s looking at me with now are large and round like marbles .
“It’s fine . I’m not unwell . Besides, I want to take photos with Riku . ”
“Makoto, you don’t have to force yourself . ”
“I’m not forcing myself . Alright, Prince, look at the cameraー”
Perhaps bewildered, Prince’s gaze swims as he places his arm around my waist . For some reason, that appears cute to me .
It seems that the photos taken like this are handed to the Computer Club for final adjustments . Please do edit and edit such that I’ll look cooler than the real me .
Mitsuki and Hasumi left for club activities after tidying up the classroom so I’m alone with Prince now .
Finished changing, I begin keeping my belongings in my bag but Prince tugs at my moving arm . He opens his mouth as though he wants to say something but his gaze seems in hesitance and his mouth closes again .
“What’s up? Riku . ”
Prince’s eyes are turned down expressionlessly .
He’s, probably feeling perplexed . That’s how it seems like .
“Riku?”
“I… hated school before but everyday before I sleep, I’ll think that I want to attend school again tomorrow . The training camp, ball game tournament, cultural festival, I don’t find any of them troublesome . Even though I thought something like school is freaking boring before . ”
Come to think of it, Prince is the type that originally doesn’t come to school much, was it? I think Subaru said that before .
“School is fun now because there’s Makoto . It’s super fun . Everything that I hate becomes fun when there’s Makoto . ”
Prince, who raised his head, is biting his lips lightly, smiling as though he’s about to cry .
Prince is giving me too high an evaluation . I’ve never been a very caring or motivating type . Nor have I thought of being so .
Even though all I did was be there, Prince says it’s fun being with me .
“Sure enough, I like Makoto . ”
“Un?! … Un . ”
“I like you . ”
Is he saying this in the romantic way? When I can’t come up with a reply in my bewilderment, Prince begins to keep his textbooks in his school bag with his usual reticence . I wavered about whether I should give a reply but it appears he’s not seeking for one .
Finishing his preparations to leave, Prince stands before the classroom door and stares at me . He’s waiting for me .
However, even if he doesn’t need a reply, it’s quite rude of me to be silent after receiving his feelings . I have to convey my feelings clearly too . It’s impossible for me to return anything romantically but Prince is extremely, extremely important to me, as a friend .
“… I like Riku too . Even I want to go to school everyday when there’s Riku, Soutarou and Kaname . ”
I like Prince and company . I like them enough that I want to attend school everyday . ――There’s no shred of lie in these words . Ever since coming here, I hardly ever find going to school troublesome . I’m jostled around by the events in Revolution everyday after all . There’s tons to do in school and at home .
So let’s go to school properly, tomorrow too . Let’s go to school in order to meet everyone .
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