The bustling streets teemed with crowds, countless travelers dragging suitcases converging upon the city.
Some chatted about food, others eagerly anticipated the festival, some hurried on their way, while a few…
Came to a stop before the entrance of a classic café.
"What kind of shop is this?"
A short-haired young man around twenty years old tugged at his companion ahead, curiously eyeing the café beside them.
On a street full of modern flair, the classically decorated storefront stood out conspicuously.
But the glass, veiled by a barrier, firmly blocked his view of the interior. In his line of sight, only a familiar, handsome face stared back.
"Ahnenerbe…" a golden-haired youth quickly flipped through the travel guide to Itogami Island in his hands.
"Found it. That's the 'Mystic Eye' specialty shop. You have to enter through another door."
"Let's not. Hurry up, this is no place to linger. Just standing at the door is already making my wallet weep," the short-haired boy patted him, wearing a serious expression as he jogged ahead. "Never thought the 'Mystic Eye' shop would have this kind of decor."
"I heard they offer café services, though it seems like it's never open."
"Probably some big shot's private café, haha."
"A life of luxury surrounded by beautiful maidens serving you… I want that too," the blond boy running beside him immediately pounded his chest in frustration, grinding his teeth.
"Why isn't there a high school harem club centered around me at school?"
"Probably because you're already in college."
The boys' voices grew fainter as their running figures gradually vanished down the street.
Ahead of them, friends had turned back and were waiting.
"Probably a club or something."
Arcueid muttered as she turned back, gazing at the maid Root standing on her table.
Enjoying the exclusive maid service, she broke into a smile as Root wore a thoroughly reluctant expression.
"Is my minced pork tofu not ready yet?"
"It's… it's still being prepared."
"Hmph, if it's not ready soon…"
"Urk…"
Facing Arcueid's friendly smile, Root unwillingly clenched her skirt hem.
She's deliberately making things difficult!
Her blue eyes glared fiercely at the cheerful girl before her, inner screams raging incessantly.
She knows perfectly well that the shop's only cook, Akatsuki Nagisa, went out to pick someone up from the airport, and now she's picking on them right here.
Root glanced sideways at her fellow maid, December.
But the latter merely shook her head, tapping her wrist.
Not enough time yet?
Root turned back, face ashen, taking a resolute step forward.
She knew she wouldn't be sleeping well tonight.
As if sensing her determination, her tail rose stoutly as well, and then…
Frantically stretched toward the distance.
Staggered by the opposing force, Root spun around in disbelief, staring at her fleeing tail.
Hold on! Whose side are you on?!
In that moment, she couldn't even control her own tail.
Root pressed down hard on the tail behind her, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.
Darn it, is this thing really a tail, and not some weird toy?
Just as she lowered her head, planning to tie her tail in a knot to keep it in line—
Ding-a-ling.
The clear chime of the doorbell made Root snap her head up. A golden-haired figure she'd dreamed of materialized before her eyes.
Dazzling sunlight streamed into the café from behind her. The not-so-tall girl raised the item in her hand like a goddess of victory.
It was Number Nine, who had gone out seeking help.
"I said it before, I only want to eat what's made at Ahnenerbe," Arcueid said, watching the girls happily hugging together, suspiciously crossing her arms.
"Don't worry, it was definitely made in the shop."
Root snatched the item from Number Nine's hands and hopped toward the counter.
Everything for the next steps was already prepared there.
Her small frame leaped onto the coffee-scented countertop. Short arms carefully pulled open a drawer and retrieved a ramen bowl.
What's this?
Under Arcueid's puzzled gaze, Root gently opened the object in her hands, placed the transparent packet inside into the ramen bowl, and then—
Poured in hot water.
"…A ready-made meal kit?" Arcueid's eyes widened as she stared blankly at the minced pork tofu kit.
As the scalding hot water was added, steam spread through the café simultaneously.
Soaking the kit, tearing open the packet, pouring it onto a plate.
As if she were a real master chef, Root flawlessly presented the minced pork tofu before Arcueid.
"Sorry for the wait."
"…Since when did Itogami Island have stuff like this?" Arcueid picked up a piece of tofu with her chopsticks and placed it in her mouth.
She frowned in distaste, shaking her head with a sigh.
"This kind of thing has no soul."
"I've never tried this before," Asagi Aiba, watching curiously from the side, leaned in and gently picked up a piece.
"…You, on the other hand, could make use of this."
Arcueid turned her face aside, muttering in a tone no one could quite catch.
Behind Asagi Aiba, the Kaleid Bloods were sprawled haphazardly across the table.
On the table before them sat plates of cuisine exuding an ominous aura.
Crimson sauce flowed like the lava of hell over the surfaces of blackened morsels, oval-shaped objects stacked in the center of the plates, resembling the heads of those cast into the underworld.
—This was the dish Asagi Aiba had whipped up on a whim just moments before.
According to her, this was scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
"Feels more like a weapon than the Nalakuvera."
Arcueid rubbed Roots' ears, idly glancing out the window at the bustling crowds.
Today marked the official start of the Halloween Festival, and the influx of tourists from outside the island had reached its peak.
The friends Akatsuki Nagisa mentioned were also arriving on Itogami Island today.
To avoid the packed crowds, Arcueid and the others chose to wait at Ahnenerbe for Nagisa and her companions to arrive.
"Since friends are coming to visit Itogami Island, wouldn't it be awkward if we tagged along?"
Himeragi Yukina, also dressed in a maid outfit, carefully picked up the weapon of mass destruction Asagi Aiba had created, looking somewhat helplessly at the plate in her hands.
What to do with this thing… Can Snowdrift Wolf handle it?
"Relax, Nagisa definitely asked first before making arrangements," Arcueid said, holding the fainted Avrora in her arms, shifting back a bit.
"If anything, we should be curious about what her friends look like."
"I saw a photo; seems like it's a boy," Kanase Kanon raised her hand as if in class.
"He's a childhood friend who's been with her since they were little," Asagi Aiba said distractedly while scrolling through her phone, a slight frown forming.
For some reason, she had a vague feeling something was off. It couldn't be more work piling up again, could it?
"Is this the place?"
"Yep, yep! When it comes to Itogami Island, you absolutely have to come here."
A lively voice came from outside. With the clear chime of the bell, Akatsuki Nagisa pulled a short-haired figure into the café.
Wearing her familiar bright smile, she swept her arm in a wide, embracing arc toward the café's interior.
"After all, this is the world's only 'Mystic Eye' specialty shop."
"…This is a boy?"
Asagi Aiba stared at the substantial 'human hearts' on the short-haired figure's chest, blinking in confusion.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.