Chapter 235: Exploring the Cultural Festival
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 235: Exploring the Cultural Festival
The masked maid who appeared like a comet, Suisei Z.
Overwhelmed by his imposing presence, Nagamatsu, who had been harassing Gomikawa, was momentarily stunned.
"Wait, you're Kim Yoo—"
"It's Suisei Z."
At his shamelessness, pointing to his own name tag as if to emphasize the point, Nagamatsu finally shut his mouth.
But that, too, was brief.
"Why don't you mind your own business? This is between me and Gomi."
Kim Yoo-Sung shook his head as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Causing a scene in someone else's classroom and then acting so brazenly... you've got more guts than I thought."
In truth, most people would have been intimidated upon realizing the masked maid was Kim Yoo-Sung, but Nagamatsu had an ace up his sleeve.
"So what are you going to do? Hit me?"
"I'd prefer to end this peacefully, if possible."
Hearing this, Nagamatsu grinned as if he'd found a weakness.
"What? Getting scared all of a sudden? I bet you're already worried about the settlement money because your family's poor."
"..."
The fact that Kim Yoo-Sung, an external transfer, had entered as the top student of his year on a full scholarship was common knowledge among his classmates.
Therefore, if any unnecessary trouble arose, the school could unilaterally revoke his merit scholarship.
On the other hand, the delinquent Nagamatsu's father was a rather successful lawyer.
If things went south, he was confident he could sue and torment Yoo-Sung until graduation.
"If you're not going to interfere anymore, let go."
Just as Nagamatsu said that and tried to pull his wrist free from Kim Yoo-Sung's grasp...
"Hey."
Kim Yoo-Sung suddenly spoke.
"You know what I hate most in this world?"
SQUEEZE!
"Aaargh!"
As Yoo-Sung's grip tightened, threatening to crush his wrist, Nagamatsu sank to his knees without realizing it.
"Wh-What do you think you're doing?!" Nagamatsu shrieked, struggling, but Kim Yoo-Sung ignored him. He pointed to his own nose under the mask and said,
"Trash like you that reeks of rot."
"Aaaaaargh!"
Now unable to even speak properly from the pain, Nagamatsu drooled from the corner of his mouth.
The sight of the delinquent, who acted like he owned the place, being subdued in an instant made everyone—the students of Class 2-B and the visiting customers alike—watch in breathless silence.
After about a minute of this harsh lesson, Kim Yoo-Sung finally released his wrist. Nagamatsu, with tears and snot streaming down his face, didn't even dare to think of fighting back.
Kim Yoo-Sung looked down at him with cold eyes and said threateningly,
"If something like this happens again, I'll be the one coming to find you."
"Hiiiek!"
The moment he heard Kim Yoo-Sung's warning, Nagamatsu fled in a panic, as if he'd seen a ghost.
Thunderous applause erupted for Kim Yoo-Sung, who had driven off the uninvited guest in such a peaceful manner.
Scratching the back of his head, Kim Yoo-Sung awkwardly looked around before giving a slight nod to Gomikawa, who was sneaking glances at him. Then, he returned to the kitchen.
*
'Kim Yoo... no, Suisei Z! I'll definitely repay this favor!'
The classmate I'd helped said as much before paying for his food and leaving.
I'd only helped him on a whim, but it didn't feel half bad to be thanked.
After the storm of lunchtime passed, it was time for a short break. The class president practically pushed me out of the kitchen.
"Go check out the other classrooms. Me and the others will handle things here."
"Then I can take this maid outfit off while I'm on break, right?"
"Nope."
"Why not?!"
"You walking around in that is free advertising for our class."
"...God is dead."
"Spouting philosophy all of a sudden won't change my mind. No means no."
Faced with the class president's firm stance, I decided to give up early.
Besides, it wasn't like I was the only one suffering. All the boys in our class were wandering the school in frilly maid outfits, so I figured it would be fine.
After handing over my duties to the next shift of kids who had been commanding the kitchen just moments before, I took off my apron and left the classroom.
The first day of the long-awaited cultural festival.
It would only be open to the public from the second day, so for now, the only people roaming the school were students.
It seemed many students from the middle school division had come to visit as well. Seeing kids who hadn't even lost their baby fat waddling around the school grounds made them look like a bunch of chicks.
We were only three or four years apart, at most.
"So, Ryu-chan, where are we going first?"
"...Right now, my name is the mysterious masked maid, Suisei Z."
"So, not Ryu-chan, but Sui-chan?"
"Call me whatever you want."
When I replied with a resigned look, Rika laughed cheerfully, "Sui-chan it is, then!"
It was a bright expression I felt like I hadn't seen much of lately.
It seemed the unique, excited atmosphere of the cultural festival was affecting Rika as well.
I adjusted the hem of my skirt, which kept bothering me for some reason, and asked, "Rika, where do you want to go?"
"Hmm, Class 2-D's esthetician shop or 2-A's massage parlor? Or maybe 2-C's haunted house wouldn't be bad."
"An esthetician shop and a massage parlor? Does the school usually approve stuff like that?"
"But Sui-chan, you're on the student council. You don't know?"
"All I do is take notes on what people say during meetings."
Policy-related matters were strictly the domain of the president and vice president.
As I made my excuse, Rika said, "Wow, there's actually something Sui-chan doesn't know! What a surprise!"
"...It's not like I know everything that happens at school."
Anyway, after a long discussion, we decided to visit Class 2-A's massage parlor first.
The reason was simple: it was right next door, making it the closest.
"Welcome!"
Clap, clap!
As if we'd entered a popular restaurant, the students of Class 2-A applauded in unison the moment we stepped inside.
"Two guests, show them to their seats!"
"Right away~"
At the voice of 2-A's class president, who was standing by the door, two neatly dressed female students came out to guide us.
The massages were conducted in spaces separated by partitions set up inside the classroom. I don't know where they got them, but they'd even brought in massage beds, making the whole setup look very professional.
"Here, here, please have a seat."
A male student with a sly voice handed us a menu.
I sat down in the chair as guided and my eyes widened in disbelief at the prices written on the menu.
Back: 1,000 yen
Upper Body: 3,000 yen
Full Body: 5,000 yen
The prices were an absolute rip-off.
If we were talking about rip-offs, our class could give them a run for their money, but even we weren't this bad.
"Charging these prices without even having a professional masseuse license is..."
"I have one."
The class president of 2-A said, opening his wallet to reveal dozens of licenses.
"I got them in advance, thinking they'd help with college applications. Of course, not a single female customer has ordered a full-body massage yet."
Well, no girl would willingly let a guy massage her entire body.
More importantly, to think there was another person like Minami.
The class president of 2-A, who was probably hoping to satisfy some of his own ulterior motives, looked at Rika sitting next to me with sparkling eyes.
"So, which course will you be having? If you get the full-body massage now, I can give you a discount to 3,000 yen..."
"I'll just get the back massage."
"Oh... okay."
The 2-A class president's face fell instantly.
"Well then, enjoy your massage..."
His energy plummeted as he gave us a half-hearted wave and walked away.
"What's with him all of a sudden?"
"He got his hopes up for nothing, so now he feels betrayed."
He was counting his chickens before they hatched.
Seeing Rika's still-confused expression, I urged her on, saying, "Let's just get our massages." I lay down on the bed first.
And then I realized it too late.
The massage bed was a little too small for someone of my build.
*
"Ah! That was so refreshing!"
It was so good you could dare to call it "1,000 yen of happiness." Feeling much lighter, we left Class 2-A.
What was surprising was that, besides the class president, there were several other students in 2-A with masseuse licenses.
Thanks to them, we received excellent service for the price. Spurred on by our good experience, we also stopped by Class 2-D's esthetician shop.
Of course, Class 2-D was just as serious about their esthetics as 2-A was about massages. Not only did they provide skincare, but they also filed our nails as a final service.
What is this? The quality is terrifyingly good, hard to believe it's the work of students.
Having finished our tour of our neighbors, Class 2-A and 2-D, we decided to head to our final destination: Class 2-C.
What Class 2-C had chosen was a haunted house, which, in a way, is as much a school festival staple as the maid cafe.
It was only the size of a single classroom, so you could probably get through it in about five minutes if you were fast, but the main point was to enjoy the atmosphere rather than the content itself.
Because I was in a maid outfit, I was automatically drawing attention from the students walking around, but I did my best to ignore it and got in line with Rika.
Intermittent screams echoed from inside the 2-C classroom.
Rika grinned and said to me, "This looks fun, right, Sui-chan?"
"...Yeah, I guess."
I just hope I don't accidentally punch someone out of reflex.