The sunlight was rather dazzling, making it difficult for Hoshimori Shion to fully open her eyes.
The moment she stepped out of the train car, it felt as though she had entered an entirely different world.
The platform teemed with a bustling crowd; many, dressed in suits, spoke hurriedly into their phones, their faces etched with haste. A cacophony of countless voices blended into the clamor of the platform, painting Shion’s first impression of this international metropolis.
‘Ah, there are truly so many people…’
Igarashi Rie held Shion’s hand tightly, her other hand gripping their luggage as she navigated them through the throng and off the platform.
The waiting room was equally congested and noisy. The only discernible difference from the platform, perhaps, was the ubiquitous advertising screens, where a vibrant, youthful girl promoted products Shion couldn’t even begin to name. Not far off, the station exit shimmered brightly, bathed in sunlight.
‘That must be the gateway into the big city.’
Igarashi Rie seemed unusually eager. She pulled Shion along, practically jogging, as they passed through the gateway. For a fleeting moment, the sudden onslaught of sunlight blinded Shion, obscuring the world before her. Yet, the intense electronic synthesized sounds, accompanied by the heat waves and dust from passing cars, and the clamor of the surging crowds, instantly overwhelmed all of Shion’s senses.
“Shion-san, look over there!” Igarashi Rie tugged on Shion’s hand, pointing towards a corner of the city.
It was then that Shion finally opened her eyes, taking in her surroundings.
The international metropolis’s first impression on Shion was that of a concrete jungle. Towering skyscrapers and high-rise office and residential buildings surrounded her, forcing her to crane her neck to see their peaks. She and Igarashi Rie stood on a crowded sidewalk, where the constant stream of pedestrians was even denser than on their hometown’s busiest street. Just across the street, a cacophony of horns blared as various cars slowly navigated the congested traffic.
Following Igarashi Rie’s pointed finger, Shion saw a massive electronic display screen. On it, nine girls in lavish, multi-colored performance outfits danced to a remarkably popular pop song. The girls on the screen were incredibly charming, but the sheer volume of the sound waves emanating from the display was almost unbearable for Shion’s ears.
“That’s an idol group that debuted last year! They’re incredibly popular right now! I heard they’re performing at the Tokyo Dome next month!” Igarashi Rie exclaimed excitedly. “This song playing now is their new single, and it’s been topping the charts for almost a week!”
‘Huh?…’ Shion found some of Igarashi Rie’s words baffling. ‘Is the Tokyo Dome an actual egg?’ Still, judging by Igarashi Rie’s tone, these must be very impressive people! So, Shion nodded emphatically.
“So, Senpai, where should we go now?” In such a vast and unfamiliar city, Shion dared not step out on her own, instead turning a pleading gaze, much like a lost kitten, towards Igarashi Rie.
“Let’s head to Shibuya first; it’s a famous spot for tourists!” Igarashi Rie skillfully pulled out her phone and began searching. Now that Grandpa Butler had expressed respect for Igarashi Rie’s wishes, there was naturally no need to keep her phone hidden away.
Shion quietly observed Igarashi Rie, who had completely shed her lady-like demeanor, her eyes sparkling with excitement. At this moment, her joyful exuberance made her seem just like any ordinary high school girl.
“Hehe, speaking of which, Shion-san, are you hungry?” Igarashi Rie ruffled Shion’s hair. “There’s a highly-rated cafe nearby; let’s check it out~”
“Mm, I’ll follow Senpai Igarashi’s lead.”
****
The cafe occupied a prominent location, its bright pink sign drawing immediate attention.
The moment Shion and Igarashi Rie stepped into the cafe, a rush of cool air-conditioned breeze enveloped them. Two girls in maid outfits, standing on either side of the entrance, greeted Shion and Igarashi Rie with an exuberantly theatrical tone, “Welcome home, Masters!”
‘So this is… a real maid cafe in the big city!’
“Masters, what would you like to order?” A maid presented two menus, a charming smile gracing her face.
‘So cute, it’s almost therapeutic~’ Shion thought, feeling a sense of warmth, as she opened the menu the maid had handed her.
‘…Is it too late to run away now? Surely there are still tickets back to town, right?’
‘These prices, they’re probably enough for a week’s worth of food back in town!’
Despite the cafe’s powerful air conditioning, cold sweat beaded on Shion’s forehead. She touched her wallet; after this meal, she might as well be homeless…
Just as Shion cast a look at Igarashi Rie that clearly said, ‘Perhaps we should make a quick escape,’ Igarashi Rie had already begun placing her order.
“Two Gyudon Omurice and two lattes, please. With extra sugar in the lattes, thank you.”
“Understood~ Two Gyudon Omurice and two lattes with extra sugar, coming right up~ Masters, please wait a moment, your maid is diligently preparing your meal~”
‘No, as expected of a young lady! Shion had almost forgotten, the young lady of the Igarashi family is right here!’
Noticing Shion’s gaze, Igarashi Rie lowered her voice and whispered to Shion, “Actually, I just ordered what the internet suggested; they say it makes you seem more like a city person.”
At that moment, the maid who had just taken their order suddenly returned. “Masters, today’s milk delivery hasn’t arrived yet. Would you mind if we changed your lattes to Americanos instead?”
‘Americano… what’s that, too?’ Shion’s mind was almost crashing from all these new terms; she could only look to Igarashi Rie.
‘But… Igarashi Rie also looks completely bewildered. No way, Senpai doesn’t know either?’
“Um… what’s an Americano?…”
“Alright, no problem.” Just as Shion was about to voice her question, Igarashi Rie adopted a composed demeanor. “Let’s go with that for now.”
After the maid had updated their order, Shion looked at Igarashi Rie with an adoring gaze. “As expected of Senpai Igarashi!”
Igarashi Rie sheepishly rubbed her ear, confessing, “Actually… I didn’t know what it was either, but I felt too embarrassed to ask directly.”
Less than ten minutes later, both omurice dishes were served. The maid skillfully squeezed two heart shapes of ketchup onto each omelet.
“Masters, your maid is about to cast a spell to make your food even more delicious~”
‘Wait, wait! It can’t be *that*, can it! No, don’t make me remember it! Inside Shion’s small leather shoes, her feet, clad in white stockings, frantically clawed at the soles, as if trying to dig a three-bedroom apartment with her toes…’
“Oishiku na~re! Moe Moe Kyun♪” The maid formed a cute heart in the air with her hands, then winked playfully at the two girls.
Beside her, Igarashi Rie burst into laughter. Shion, meanwhile, buried her face directly into Igarashi Rie’s chest, covering her ears. But that posture, that tone… Shion remembered it all too well, even without looking!
Shion lifted her head, pouting at Igarashi Rie, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“Senpai, you’re so mean-spirited! You purposely chose a maid cafe, didn’t you!”