"Right, right. Just lead the way, please."
The moment they stepped inside, Feyris performed a perfect, graceful spin and addressed the trio with a professional sparkle.
"Welcome home, Master! Welcome home, My Ladies! Please, come this way-nyan!"
Miyu immediately pulled out a notebook and started scribbling furiously.
"...What are you doing?" Hachiman asked.
"Studying the professional techniques for seducing men, Leader."
"I see..."
Once they were seated and their orders were placed, Hachiman turned to Feyris.
"Feyris, could you help these two pick out some maid outfits? They wanted to try something different for the memory of it."
"Please!" Miyu and Karen added in unison.
Feyris agreed instantly. Sensing that Hachiman had something else on his mind, she called over her colleague, Mayuri Shiina, to take charge of the girls.
"Mayushii-chan, what's up? Oh! Hikigaya-san, you're already here!"
"Hey, Mayu-san. Sorry for the late hello."
"Mayushii, could you show these two to the dressing room-nyan? Feyris will join you in a moment-nyan."
"Sure thing! Leave it to me!"
Once the girls were out of earshot, Hachiman looked at Feyris. "You're a pro. You noticed I had something to talk about."
"Of course-nyan! Feyris knows everything when it comes to Hachiman-nyan!"
"That actually sounds terrifyingly plausible, so please stop saying it. Anyway, it's about Karen."
"I'm listening-nyan."
"She has a massive complex about her height. I was hoping you and Mayu-san could use your coordination skills to show her that it's not a flaw—it's an asset. Show her she can be charming because of it."
Feyris's eyes lit up. "Understood-nyan! Leave it to Feyris and Mayushii-nyan! Mayushii is a total pro at this kind of thing-nyan!"
"Is that so? Good to hear. I'm counting on you."
"You got it-nyan!"
With the girls in good hands, Hachiman got up to head to the restroom. On his way, he spotted two familiar faces at a table.
"Oh. If it isn't Daru and Kyouma. You guys are here too?"
The two men were Rintarou Okabe (self-proclaimed Hououin Kyouma) and Itaru "Daru" Hashida. Okabe had originally joined Daru as an assistant when Hachiman hired the hacker for a job, and the three had become close friends since.
"Oh, Hachiman. You're here?" Okabe said, trying to maintain his theatrical composure.
"I already knew he was coming," Daru added, not looking up from his phone.
"Wait, Daru. How did you know?"
"Okarin, did you not notice Feyris-tan's phone ringing earlier-o?"
"Well, I noticed, but—"
"Then didn't you think it was weird-o? The ultra-professional Feyris-tan letting her phone make noise during a shift-o?"
Okabe tilted his head. "Now that you mention it..."
"And then she bolted outside at record speed. There's only one person Feyris-tan gives that kind of special treatment to-o. It had to be Hachiman-o."
"Ah. Fair point."
"Wait... Feyris-san feels that way?" a female voice asked from the seat next to Okabe.
Hachiman noticed a woman with long red hair sitting with them. Okabe took the opportunity to introduce her with his usual flair.
"Hachiman, this 'romance-brain' here is my assistant, Christina!"
"Don't call me Tina! And who are you calling a 'romance-brain'!" The woman turned to Hachiman with an annoyed but polite expression. "Nice to meet you, Hachiman-san. I'm Kurisu Makise. I'm a researcher at the Institute of Neuroscience at Viktor Chondria University in America."
"Nice to meet you as well. I'm Hachiman Hikigaya. To be honest, I've been wanting to get your opinion on a few things for a while now."
Hachiman knew exactly who she was. Her name had been at the top of his list for potential advisors for the Medicuboid division at Soleil. He just hadn't expected her to be friends with these two weirdos.
"My opinion? On what?"
"If you're willing, I'd love to talk to you after this, or perhaps set up a meeting later. I can give you the full details then."
Kurisu looked at Okabe, uncertain. Okabe, trusting Hachiman implicitly, gave her a firm nod.
"It's fine. Besides, this conversation will probably benefit your own research, Christina."
"My research? That's the first time you've ever said something like that, Okabe. And to say it with such certainty... now I'm genuinely curious. Fine. I'll hear you out later."
"Thank you," Hachiman said. "I'm with friends right now, so I'll come back over once they're settled."
"Understood."
"Will Kyouma and Daru join us?"
"I'm in-o," Daru said.
"I have to walk Mayuri home later," Okabe said. "If it's something I'm allowed to know, these two can fill me in afterward."
"Got it. Daru, I'll see you in a bit."
"You bet-o."
Hachiman returned to his seat. A few minutes later, Feyris led the two girls back out. Hachiman couldn't help but let out a breath of admiration.
Feyris and Mayu-san... they really are pros.
Miyu and Karen looked stunning. They were wearing the standard uniforms, but the "professional touch" was evident in the details—the precise angle of the headpieces, the way the waists were cinched, and the subtle adjustments to how the collars framed their faces.
"You both look... incredible. Several times more charming than usual."
Hachiman meant it. While there was a bit of polite flattery in the wording, ninety percent of it was pure honesty. Feyris took several photos of the three of them in various poses, which Miyu and Karen saved to their phones like treasures.
"Alright, Leader! It's Moe-Moe-Kyun time!"
"You're really doing this... Fine. Let's see what you've got."
Miyu grabbed a ketchup bottle with manic determination. "Fall in love with Fuka-chan! Moe-Moe-Kyun!"
"Annoying."
Next was Karen. She went through the motions Feyris had taught her, but she was clearly blushing the entire time. Seeing her normal, embarrassed reaction was a relief to Hachiman after Miyu's onslaught.
The four of them spent the rest of the hour in happy conversation, until finally, the time came to head out and meet back up with Asuna and the others.
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