Appearing before Iroha, besides two female seniors, one little sister, and one older sister, were two moms who resembled their daughters so closely they could be recognized at a glance.
Following behind Yuu, they looked like a big family visiting the school. They stood out the most in the entire corridor!
How to put it...
The surprise gradually turned to admiration upon realizing the fact. Iroha currently had only one thought in her mind.
(Tenkuji-senpai is truly amazing!)
"Stop daydreaming; quickly show us our seats."
Her forehead was flicked by Yuu. Iroha finally snapped back. Muttering "I know, I know~"
She slightly bowed her head in greeting to the group.
Then, she put on a business-like handsome smile. Placing one hand on her chest, the other swinging respectfully, she bowed slightly, maximizing the elegance of a young handsome butler.
"Master and ladies, perfect timing. The guests at our only large table just left. Please follow me."
As the group entered following her lead, Mama Yuigahama still whispered excitedly: "First time at a cosplay cafe like this... So this is what it feels like to be called Miss? So fun!"
"Yeah, yeah~ Mom, I'll take you to more places someday... Calm down for now!"
Inside Class 1-A was bustling. Butlers in suits moved busily between nearly full tables. Occasional shouts to the backstage. Though slightly chaotic, strangely no major issues arose, and operations ran smoothly overall.
Yuu scanned around. He vaguely saw a small silver-haired figure moving through the crowd. He wasn't sure if Class A's liveliness was thanks to that future student council president candidate.
They arrived at a long bench made from joined school desks in the back. After sitting in a circle—Yuu, Yuigahama, Sora, Mama Yuigahama, Saori, Haruno, Yukino—Iroha excused herself briefly.
"I need to stand at the door to attract customers right now. You can look at the menu first; another butler will come to take your orders."
She glanced at Yuu. Though many questions in her heart, intuition warned that talking to him in this atmosphere was like sending herself to the battlefield. A smart girl wouldn't do something that stupid.
After a polite bow, Iroha turned decisively, returning to the door, peeking at their movements from the corner of her eye.
"Don't hold back. Order whatever you want, just don't waste food."
Only they remained around the table. Yuu pushed the menus forward, smiling casually.
"Of course, thanks for the treat~"
"By the way, first time eating at a high school cultural festival..."
Saying that, both moms simultaneously extended their white, soft, slender hands, taking both menus.
They didn't choose long, handing them opposite—to Haruno and Sora.
As for why Sora wasn't beside Yuu... it was Yuigahama's silent request.
She didn't explain clearly. Sora hesitated long before reluctantly agreeing to separate from her brother.
Receiving the menu from her mother, Haruno looked, then passed it to Yukino.
Yuigahama also received Sora's passed menu.
Then, pure coincidence or silent agreement between the girls—after seeing the menu, they simultaneously reached toward Yuu—
"Tenkiji-kun..." "Here, Yuu-kun..."
Yukino and Yuigahama froze momentarily. After half-second eye contact, they simultaneously prepared to withdraw hands, letting the other pass the menu.
But before they could, the moms opposite spoke simultaneously.
"Wait, don't move yet."
"Such an interesting coincidence; we can't just let it pass."
Same calm tones, same gentle eyes.
But in both moms' eyes, faint different-meaning lights flashed.
"Tenkiji-kun, whose menu will you take?"
Opening her fan to cover her lower face, Saori showed only intrigued smiling eyes: "Just a small test. Don't overthink. Follow your heart."
"Yes, Yuu-kun. Mom trusts you~" Mama Yuigahama touched her cheek, tilting her head slightly. Lips slightly pouted, pretending cute, "Though just a small test, between two girls, the answer should be clear, right?"
"..."
All other sounds truly vanished then.
Atmosphere suddenly tensed. Even breathing grew loud.
Yuu unconsciously held his breath. He felt like a criminal suddenly pulled from the crowd by detectives, awaiting fair judgment.
Though their attitudes weren't aggressive, two direct gazes carried unavoidable momentum, piercing his face, carefully observing expression changes.
Honestly, he thought judgment would start after lunch.
Yuu didn't expect the moms so impatient. Even before ordering, catching a slight opening, they wanted to test his stance.
Meaning he still held important position in the moms' hearts? Otherwise, they wouldn't rush him to side.
Self-mocking inwardly, Yuu maintained calm smile. He was about to puff chest and openly take both girls' menus.
Hanging hands suddenly lowered, placing both menus on the table before him simultaneously, then withdrawing as if nothing happened.
The girls beside him broke the tense, stuffy air, simultaneously diverting the moms' attention.
Saori slightly narrowed eyes. She shifted authoritative, pressuring gaze to her own daughter.
"Yukino, didn't I say don't move yet?"
"..." Her body slightly trembled. Yukino folded arms over chest. Gaze unconsciously to the floor.
But next moment, she suddenly bit her lip hard, fighting some instinct. Until lips paled from bite, she slowly raised her thousand-jin heavy face, staring stubbornly at her mother.
"I don't understand the point of this. It's just wasting time!"
Simultaneously, Mama Yuigahama looked confusedly at Yuigahama.
"Why? Afraid he won't choose you?"
"Not that... Don't you consider me and Yukinon's feelings doing this?"
Yuigahama clenched fists on knees. She straightened back, staring calmly, seriously at her mother.
"We're friends, not love rivals. Please don't use boring small tests to affect our relationship!"
The no-joke voice fell heavily, settling in stunned silence.
Mama Yuigahama couldn't help widening eyes, staring slightly shocked at her suddenly unfamiliar daughter.
After moments, she sighed, slightly guilty tone: "True. The urge to be mischievous was irresistible; I didn't consider your feelings at all... Sorry, Yui."
Saori also silent briefly. She glanced at Yukino. Long lashes slowly lowered: "...Indeed, acting alone on assumptions is truly unwise."
"Sorry, pretend we said nothing earlier."
She raised eyes again, smiling at Yuu. But her graceful, cultured deep-sea voice showed no clear emotional ups/downs.
"Let me treat this time. After all, Yukino growing bold enough to oppose her mother must be thanks to Tenkiji-kun."
"...You overpraise."
Emerging from shock expressionlessly, Yuu said little, answering flatly. Then, he tidied both menus as if nothing happened, holding them.
Atmosphere gradually peaceful. Though no one spoke proactively, no longer danger-filled as before.
Through Yuu, Yukino and Yuigahama eye-contacted again. They unconsciously sighed relief simultaneously, showing bitter smiles like disaster survivors.
(Yui, I'm impressed.)
(Yukino's braver, okay!)
At least in this first hurdle, they successfully said what they wanted, protecting their lover.
Though knowing paper can't wrap fire, this at best diverted attention and delayed truth revelation—it was better than nodding beside, unable to help, only watching him embarrassed under the moms' attacks.
If Yuu planned cowardice, they might choose silence to death, fooling with ambiguous relationships.
But now, Yuu said he'd take responsibility, even ready to say he liked both before the moms, openly admitting he's a cheater.
Then, what more could they do as girlfriends?
Yukino must stand before him, protecting his not-so-strong self.
Yuigahama must stand behind, supporting his easily toppled self.
Under the table, two hands secretly extended, tugging his jacket hem.
Feeling the force from the hem, Yuu slightly lowered head. Eyes seriously scanned menu contents, but lip corners unconsciously curved, showing a soft smile as if defeated by them.
(Sigh, you just need to watch my performance; why bother...)
(Do you really treat me like fragile glass? Where's my male pride?)
(I can easily handle this chaos. Don't underestimate me!)
Though warm, satisfied chest feelings slowly grew, Yuu couldn't help inwardly complaining.
Then, after being treated like this.
Unable to help liking both—it was inevitable, right?
What's wrong with unfaithfulness, playboy, outside judgment.
All less important than being with his girlfriends!
"Then, shall I call the butler to order?"
Placing menus, Yuu raised head. He faced opposite moms with high spirits, confidence.
Whether cheater's war declaration or more complex meaning...
At least for now, no one knew.
Just as the sentence fell, before moms reacted, a snow-white figure appeared behind. Feather-soft words fell gently.
"Yuu-senpai, decided what to eat?"
"Hah?!"
Yuu startled. He unconsciously retracted 「Earless Wall」 status, turning.
Holding menu clipboard, Kanade stood expressionlessly behind. Silver hair tied in long gallant ponytail. Under butler suit, no chest curve. Plus unworldly transparent aura, more like disguised noble prince than handsome young butler.
Her soft voice and pure clear pale gold eyes as usual, staring with subtle confusion.
"What's wrong? Need more time to think?"
"... Ahem, no, decided."
Yuu ignored why Kanade naturally entered 「Earless Wall」 isolation area. Unsure if she just saw Yuigahama and Yukino simultaneously holding his jacket hem from behind.
Yuu held menu. Before telling her the just-decided dishes, he scanned her outfit top to bottom, praising smiling: "Tachibana, butler suit suits you... Or rather, left and right, no one handsomer than you."
"Really?" Kanade blinked. Clipboard slightly covered lips. Eyes narrowed cat-like, showing honest joy color.
"Thank you, Yuu-senpai. Though everyone says so, I always felt they were just comforting me, always patting my head..."
"Not comfort. Be more confident!" Staring deeply into her eyes, Yuu gently encouraged, "You're naturally beautiful. Basically, all styles suit you. I think try privately besides butler. Maybe find most fitting. For example..."
"Ahem ahem!"
Before finishing, two very clear, cold dry coughs from sides, full of supreme death penalty warning meaning.
"...For example, let's order first."
Forgetting to reactivate 「Earless Wall」, Yuu raised hand wiping cold sweat from dual-side cold glares. No daring to waste time, he quickly named dishes to Kanade.
"Okay."
Not only strong memory, Kanade's hand speed very fast.
Almost simultaneous with him finishing all dish names, she wrote the menu on clipboard, then accurately repeated to Yuu.
Her relaxed appearance somewhat like an AI girl.
After Kanade nimbly passed crowd and fairy-like figure vanished toward back kitchen, Yuu also withdrew gaze. He calmly faced the table with varied expressions—cold, disgusted, mocking, or raised brows—and ignored all. He only introduced to both moms:
"That's our school's future student council president candidate, and a junior I highly value... She often comes to my house to play with Yukino and Yui. Good relationship with my sister too."
Though Kanade came only twice, and relationship with Sora only good when gaming.
But since no one contradicted, Yuu naturally wouldn't bother explaining specifically.
"I see..."
As if seeing Yuu only had appreciation not love for Kanade, Saori lightly fanned. No intent to mind his junior affairs. She switched to calm peaceful tone, reopening topic:
"Tenkiji-kun, still time before food served. May I ask some questions?"
"Of course, go ahead."
Yuu nodded, smiling generously. Simultaneously, he signaled eyes to both girls to relax, he could handle.
Simultaneously, Saori also glanced Mama Yuigahama, receiving prior friendly gaze.
"Then, first..."
Saori didn't hesitate. She suddenly closed fan. Thin lip-corner smile vanished. She directly asked what she cared most now.
"That piano piece earlier, is it your original composition?"