Yuzu let out a miserable cry, perhaps she was overjoyed at seeing her companions.
After that, there was no more movement, though perhaps she had gotten so excited that she lost consciousness.
Thinking this, I felt genuinely happy for her. I casually picked up the slippers she had not had time to put on and placed them on the bed, displaying them as new trophies.
Next, I opened the bedroom door once more, and there stood Karin.
"Sen—"
"No need to say anything. I understand everything. Please come in first."
I cut her off as soon as she began to speak and ushered her inside while she was still dazed.
"…Eh? So other students have already come to visit you?"
Seeing the neatly arranged, glorious spoils of war, Karin realized what was going on. Then she said to me,
"In that case, Sensei must already be very tired. I will keep this short. Sensei, please accept this."
With that, Karin handed me the food box she had brought.
Was she, like Neru, planning to win my heart by winning over my stomach?
After getting her permission, I opened the box in front of her. As expected, it was filled with many delicately shaped sweets.
Judging by their appearance alone, they were even more enticing than dinner, and it was obvious they carried much more meaning than they are.
"Were these prepared especially for me?"
"Yes. I hope that you'll try them."
When Karin said this, perhaps out of nervousness, her sharp golden eyes stared straight at my face, full of aggression, making a strange worry arise within me...
Could it be that once I tasted them, she would use the excuse that I had accepted her gift to force me into being her boyfriend?
When I thought of that possibility…
I hurriedly stuffed a piece of dessert into my mouth and savored it carefully.
"What do you think?" Karin asked rather anxiously.
After swallowing, I gave my honest assessment. "They're very delicious."
Next, you'll say, "Then would you like to be able to eat sweets like this anytime?" and immediately recommend herself to my bedside?
"Then would you like," Karin asked solemnly, her expression growing even tenser, "to be able to taste desserts like this often?"
…Huh?
She actually said it?
If I remembered correctly, Karin and I ain't that that close. We just occasionally chat on Momotalk, and counting it up, today was just the second time we had met in person.
I froze for a moment, then a doubt arose... could it be that I was still being too modest, and that the charm I actually possessed far exceeded my imagination?
Seeing that I did not answer, Karin hesitated. "I came today because I wanted to consult you about something…"
She wants to know whether I am single right now, right?
I replied gently, "Go ahead and ask."
"Mm, thank you."
Karin took a deep breath, as if steeling herself.
"Today, while doing a major cleanup, I discovered that on the first floor of Schale, there is a café that hasn't started operating yet."
"Ah… that one."
If Karin had not mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten about it.
Always too busy, not knowing how to run it, a remote location, relatively ample funds…
All sorts of factors combined had caused me to constantly forget about that fully equipped, well-decorated café.
Why would Karin suddenly bring this up?
"Actually, I have two dreams."
As she spoke, a look of longing appeared on Karin's face. "One of them is to someday become the owner of a cute café."
I see... I just happen to have a café.
So this is where the real motive is revealed, right?
I felt that Karin was definitely hinting at something.
Apparently not noticing the odd look in my eyes, Karin continued,
"To achieve this dream, I need to work part-time at all kinds of shops and accumulate experience. So, when Schale's café starts operating, would you allow me to work there?"
Right, right. First it's just part-time work, then using that legitimate reason to interact with the manager, and finally becoming the café owner to fulfill her dream…
As expected of a C&C maid agent, this greed for both people and property at once was truly astonishing.
"Besides making desserts, I'm also fairly confident in brewing coffee and drinks, as well as decorating and cleaning the shop."
Karin's tone grew a little embarrassed. "It's just that nights are usually filled with C&C activities, and I have to balance work and study… Sensei is a teacher, right? So I was thinking, if I could occasionally work at Schale's café, wouldn't I be able to gain experience and also conveniently trouble you to teach me studying, or something like that?"
After finishing, she hurriedly added, "O-of course, I wouldn't let you help me for nothing. I'll repay you as much as I can with sweets like today's… no, even more delicious ones."
I nodded. "So that's how it is."
It sounded reasonable, but I still couldn't rule out the possibility that she coveted my looks and wanted to get closer to me.
For now, I decided to keep a reserved attitude.
That said, Karin's request did give me new inspiration.
Once this busy period was over, I could find time to open the café, giving more reserved and introverted students a legitimate reason to come visit Schale.
Given the number of students I knew now, staffing shouldn't be a problem either.
Thinking this, even though nothing was finalized, I gave Karin a response for the time being.
"No problem. Once the opening date of Schale's café is decided, I'll be sure to inform you immediately."
Karin smiled and nodded. "Alright. Thank you very much."
I frowned. "What are you saying? With such a cute maid volunteering to work part-time, shouldn't I be the one thanking you?"
Karin suddenly froze. "Eh? C-cute? Me?"
Hm?
My gaze sharpened... could it be another girl who underestimated herself?
Sigh. What I can't stand most are students who are clearly cute yet unaware of it, making them all the more endearing.
And in Kivotos, such students are everywhere.
Well then, as a teacher, I'll use unreserved praise to rebuild their confidence, and then reap their hearts!
…Though, thinking back, I don't think I've ever succeeded relying solely on this method, but what if this time it's just that final push?
With that thought, I was about to speak some sincere, heartfelt words.
But at that moment, several ill-timed knocks sounded at the bedroom door.
"Ah, another student has come to visit you?" Karin stood up, looking perfectly clear of conscience as she bid me farewell. "Then today I'll—"
"Wait!"
I stood up as well and pressed my hands onto Karin's shoulders, saying seriously, "Karin, don't you think that if others see us alone together late at night, it would damage both of our reputations?"
"Ah? Would that cause trouble for Sensei?"
"How I fare doesn't matter!" I waved my hand grandly. "What matters is you!"
Karin sounded confused. "What?"
Seeing her utterly clueless, as if she hadn't caught on at all, I felt deflated.
Coupled with the urgency of the situation, I decided not to explain too much. "There's no time to explain. Just find a suitable place and hide for now."
As I said this, I glanced toward the balcony, and Karin followed my gaze, fixing her eyes there as well.
"Alright, I understand."
Watching Karin successfully rendezvous with her clubmates, I placed the food box she had brought next to Yuzu's slippers amid the subsequent eerie silence.
Finally, I opened the door to greet what was probably the last visitor of the night.
The identity of the visitor was not hard to guess.
In all of Schale, there were currently fourteen students in total. Excluding the eleven already hiding in my bedroom, Arisu who was under surveillance, and Hoshino who was in charge of the surveillance, there was only one candidate left.
"Utaha, what's the matter?" I looked at the purple-haired girl before me, exactly as expected, and said with concern, "It's cold outside. Come in first."
"Mm. Then I'll intrude."
As Utaha looked around, she said, "I came to see you because—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Staring at the sacred relics on the bed, the head of the Engineering Club fell silent. She suspiciously examined the bedroom that appeared to contain only the two of us. When she spoke again, her tone carried hesitation.
"Perhaps… I came at a bad time?"
"No, you came at just the right time." I guided her to sit at the edge of the bed. "So, you came to see me for what reason?"
"…Sensei, it's about robots."
Utaha raised her index finger and thumb, making a gun gesture at me.
I reacted instantly. "Then you really did come at a bad time."
So the entire Engineering Club came to see me for serious business, not matters of life romance?
That was a bit disappointing.
Still, since Utaha wanted to talk about Arisu, it was time for play to end.
I stood up. "Then, without delay, let's go talk outside."
But just then, a voice stopped me.
"Sensei, please wait!"
I halted. Utaha, behind me, bumped into my back, and from the sensation, I realized that her clothes made her chest seem particularly flat.
"What's wrong, Sensei?" The Engineering Club president rubbed her chest and asked me in confusion.
I told Utaha to wait for a moment and continued listening to Arona.
"According to the hallway cameras, Arisu has left the room."
…As expected.
I closed my eyes, my heart sinking heavily.
At this time of night, where could Arisu... No, AL-1S be going?
Just then, my phone rang.
I answered, and Hoshino's calm voice came from the other end.
"Arisu-chan just went out."
"Mm, I know."
"But judging from the direction," Hoshino continued, "she's heading toward your room."
…Huh?