Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Mistaken Perceptions in Won - Part 1
The Shinjuku Ishida Incident Special Task Force began their investigation.
On the other side, Aozawa was pondering what to have for lunch. He didn’t want to eat rice. Perhaps it was because he often ate ran, bread, and the like for lunch at school, making him unaccustod to rice at noon. Pizza, burgers, teppanyaki, ran...
Aozawa strolled down the comrcial street of Ikebukuro, eventually stopping in front of a Maid Cafe. He planned to have a cup of coffee followed by dessert to settle his lunch for the day. Aozawa reached out and pushed open the door of the Maid Cafe.
DING-LING! As soon as the door was pushed open, a crisp bell chid.
The young waitress standing by the door bowed and said, "Welco, Master. Is there anything we can help you with?"
Her sweet voice, sweet smile, and classic black-and-white maid outfit fully showcased the professionalism of this Maid Cafe.
Aozawa silently gave his approval and asked, "What’s there to eat?"
The waitress turned her head and called out, "Nashi, please take care of this Master."
"Hi!" a soft voice sounded. The long, straight-haired maid who was called turned around. When she saw the "Master" at the door, her heart skipped a beat, and her smile nearly froze.
Why would I bump into a classmate in Ikebukuro?
The girl scread inwardly. She swallowed hard and tried to reassure herself. Don’t worry. My current image is completely different from how I look at school. My braided pigtails are undone, and my black-frad glasses are swapped for contact lenses. With such a stark change, surely no one will recognize
as that unrefined Class President. It’s okay. She reassured herself again.
Aozawa looked at the approaching maid. She was dressed just like the other employees in a black-and-white maid outfit. With picturesque features and shoulder-length hair, her chest was noticeably more spectacular than the other maids’. She’s definitely the star attraction of this Maid Cafe, he thought.
"Master, please sit here," she said.
Aozawa frowned slightly. "Haven’t we t sowhere before?"
"Master, that kind of pick-up line isn’t popular anymore!"
The Class President waved her right hand nonchalantly, her face showing a mix of casualness, teasing, politeness, and a hint of detachnt, all in an effort to hide her real identity. She definitely didn’t want her part-ti job at the Maid Cafe to beco known. If it did, the students in her class would surely gossip.
They’d say things like, ’The Class President seems so obedient, but secretly she works a part-ti job calling strangers Master.’ What a shaless bitch!
The literary girl persona she had cultivated in class would crumble.
"You’re right, I am a bit old-fashioned," he admitted.
Aozawa shrugged and moved towards a spot by the floor-to-ceiling windows. He liked to drink coffee by the window. Watching the busy passersby on the street, who all seed to have endless things to do, while he leisurely enjoyed his coffee, made him feel exceptionally pleased.
Though it wasn’t a very kind thought, it genuinely lifted my spirits. And it made my life goal even clearer. To be able to laze about like this in the future, I absolutely must get into Tokyo University and beco a colossal tax evader!
"Master, what would you like to order?"
Seeing Aozawa looking out the window, the Class President had to speak up.
This feels so awkward. She had called many custors "Master" in the Maid Cafe, but she had never called a classmate "Master." This is a first. It brought back the sense of sha she had felt when she first started the job.
Last year, when she was looking for a part-ti job, she initially hadn’t wanted to work here. She thought calling unfamiliar n "Master" wasn’t a respectable job. But the Maid Cafe’s manager had been too generous. She couldn’t refuse a job that paid two thousand Yen per hour.
"I’ll have a latte, plus a blueberry cake, a tiramisu, a strawberry daifuku, and a doughnut."
"Please wait a mont, Master."
The Class President noted these down and turned towards the kitchen. She sighed with relief internally. It’s such good luck I haven’t been discovered!
Aozawa took out his phone and began scrolling through TikTok videos to pass the ti.
After a short while, the Class President brought his order, placed it on the table, and, with her hands forming a heart over her chest, said sweetly, "For Master, I cast love magic! Please enjoy your al."
A corner of Aozawa’s mouth twitched. He burst her bubble, "Class President, I never expected you to be moonlighting as a Magical Girl."
The girl’s smile froze. Her fair cheeks quickly flushed a rosy red, like the evening sky at sunset.
"Cl-Class President? I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!"
"No use denying it. From the mont you spoke, I knew—you’re the Class President, Arakawa Reina!"
Aozawa was certain she was that frumpy, inconspicuous Class President. Naturally, it was because he recognized the three moles on her right chest. One mole might be a coincidence, but not every woman has three moles in that exact spot. Coupled with her sowhat familiar features, it would be odd if I *hadn’t* recognized her, he thought.
Arakawa Reina never expected her cover to be blown even in disguise. Her face turned even redder, and a trace of pleading entered her voice. "Aokun, would you mind keeping this a secret for ?"
"Our school doesn’t prohibit students from having part-ti jobs, does it?" Aozawa asked.
Arakawa Reina’s face grew even redder. She stood beside the table, head bowed, and whispered, "This job is a bit... embarrassing to talk about."
"I think it’s a good job, one that can make people happy in body and mind," Aozawa said, slowly stirring the coffee in his cup with a spoon, grinning. "For instance, after receiving the Class President’s love magic, I feel like the cakes in front of
have beco extra delicious."
I want to die! Arakawa Reina’s face was so red it looked like steam might rise from it.
"Still, it’s really surprising," Aozawa continued. "The Class President who usually wears her hair in braids and sports glasses turns out to be such a beautiful girl in private. Why do you deliberately try to look plain in class?"
I want to kill him and silence him!
Arakawa Reina slowly turned her neck, her cheeks flaming. Her bright eyes looked a little unhinged as she stuttered, "A-Aokun, l-let’s... let’s die together!"
"Class President, don’t say things that can be misunderstood," Aozawa comnted, deciding not to tease her further. He said seriously, "I promise I won’t tell anyone you’re working part-ti here."
Only upon receiving this promise did Arakawa Reina’s rationality gradually return. A hint of doubt appeared on her face. "Really?"
"Of course. This is a secret between us. No third person will know."
"Thank you, Aokun."
Arakawa Reina bowed and walked away. A colleague imdiately approached her, asking curiously, "Nashi, what’s your relationship with that handso guy?"
"He’s a classmate."
"Eh? I’ve seen you at school, and you look like a completely different person from how you are now! He actually recognized you. Could it be... he’s been paying attention to you all this ti?"
Paying attention to ?!
Arakawa Reina, prompted by her colleague’s words, also realized sothing was amiss.
That’s right! If he wasn’t paying very close attention to
on a daily basis, how could he have instantly realized that "Nashi" was ? Normal people hearing a different na wouldn’t be so certain. Has Aozawa been secretly in love with ?!
Arakawa Reina panicked.
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