"Don't sweat the small stuff!"
"The small stuff is important!"
Eriri glared at Sato, baring her adorable little canine teeth and glaring with her big, sapphire-blue eyes.
Click!
She froze for a second, then launched herself toward him, trying to snatch his phone.
"Y-You… What are you doing?!"
Sato dodged casually, holding up the phone and laughing.
"Because you look so cute when you're all worked up, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei. Kinda like a little puffed-up puppy."
"C-Cute?!"
Eriri stood there stunned, visibly flustered, her body stiffening in place. Even her voice came out stammered. Her fair, flawless cheeks flushed deep red, like crimson silk drifting across a snowy plain.
"Yeah, that's the look. Let me get a few more shots."
Click! Click!
"S-Stop that already!"
Eriri lunged forward and finally grabbed his phone.
Whoosh!
As she lifted her head, her face was still glowing pink, and her jewel-like eyes were shimmering with unshed tears.
She looked like someone being forced into something indescribable, utterly aggrieved and on the verge of breaking.
So pitiful. So vulnerable.
Gasp!
Kashiwagi Eri-sensei, you're way too moe!
Sato sharply inhaled and quickly handed the phone over before she burst into tears.
Hmph!
He heard her huff, followed by the telltale beep beep beep of photos being deleted.
Sigh… what a shame…
For some reason, Sato sighed from the depths of his heart, even though it startled even himself.
His expression turned a little strange. Why… why did he feel such a strong urge to tease Kashiwagi Eri-sensei?
He looked over at her. The fuming girl was still furiously deleting the photos with her delicate fingers. Then she suddenly paused, as if something occurred to her.
"What's wrong, Kashiw—er, Classmate Sawamura?"
Hmph!
Eriri shot him a deadly glare, then tossed his phone back.
She returned to her seat across from him, scowling. "You're paying for today."
Ahem. "Naturally."
"And one more thing…"
Sato looked up at her.
Still blushing, Eriri turned her head slightly and muttered, "Calling me 'classmate Sawamura' sounds weird. Just call me Eriri from now on."
Sato blinked, then smiled.
As expected, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei was a total tsundere.
With that thought, Sato glanced toward the back of the café again and asked, "So, Eriri, what were you looking at earlier?"
"I told you, I'm here doing research!"
"Research?"
"Look over there. See that maid with the ash-blonde hair?"
"Yeah, I see her."
Sato followed her pointing finger and spotted a maid with her back turned.
"That's Nana-chan! She's super popular in all of Hanamachi!"
Eriri sounded quite excited.
Sato nodded but what did that have to do with her research?
Wait… hold on!
Suddenly, he grabbed her by the shoulder, narrowing his eyes.
"You're not planning to use her as the model for your main heroine, are you?!"
Kashiwagi Eri-sensei… Your work is R-18, you know!
"It's just reference, reference!" Eriri waved her hand dismissively.
At that moment, the maid who had greeted Sato at the entrance approached Nana-chan and whispered something in her ear. Nana-chan turned to look in their direction.
"See?! See?! Isn't she super cute?!"
Eriri tugged on Sato's sleeve excitedly, her eyes sparkling as she stared dreamily at Nana-chan. Her imagination was clearly running wild.
She really was cute.
Sato had to admit that. But… she's coming this way!
"Master, may I take your order?"
Nana-chan had long, silky ash-blonde hair. Her bangs swept left with a side ponytail tied on the right. A mint-green ribbon headband, amber eyes, and an overall warm, natural beauty made her instantly memorable. (OC)
She was the picture of a sweet, charming girl.
Order?
Sato glanced down, only to realize the table was completely empty. Eriri had only a single glass of lemon water.
No wonder she came over, this was probably a gentle reminder.
He looked to Eriri, who was still lost in her fantasy.
But seeing her dazed eyes and her slowly reddening cheeks, Sato's face turned pale.
Please, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei! Don't have a crash out here!
"Eriri! Eriri!"
"Huh?!"
The startled cry from the daydreaming girl drew the attention of nearly the entire café.
"…"
"Haha… ha… anything you need?"
Her face flushed, Eriri glanced nervously at the maid now standing before her, avoiding eye contact.
Nana-chan tilted her head slightly, curiously observing her customer.
"Order! You need to order!" Sato whispered.
"Oh! right, right!"
Flustered, Eriri grabbed the menu and started flipping through it in a panic, clearly thrown off.
"I'll have a café au lait and… a slice of honey cake."
"Got it!"
Nana-chan noted it down, then turned to Sato.
He looked down at his menu. His indecisiveness struck again.
Maid cafés didn't have that many options, but the menu was so flashy and ornate with frilly decorations that it was dizzying to look at.
"I'll just have the same as her."
"Got it! Two café au laits and two honey cakes. Please wait a moment!"
Nana-chan gave them a bright, sunny smile and turned to head toward the kitchen.
Sato followed her with his gaze, then suddenly froze.
The café door opened, and a somewhat familiar figure hurried inside. They approached the maid who had greeted Sato earlier and bowed apologetically.
Judging by the way the maid responded, she might be the head maid of the café.
The apologizing figure looked visibly relieved after exchanging a few words, then straightened up and walked deeper into the café.
Sato stared at the figure in surprise... no, stunned was a more accurate description.
"Aoyama… Nanami?!"