“Masters, this will be your table,” a purple-haired maid announced, slowly gesturing towards the table ahead.
“Alright, Shiori-chan, come sit down!” Qianye settled confidently into her seat, then patted the table before her. She gestured to the chair opposite, subtly inviting Shiori to take it.
“I understand.” Shiori clutched the hem of her skirt, fidgeting shyly as she settled into the chair opposite Qianye.
As soon as Shiori and Qianye were both seated, the maid presented each of them with a menu. Following this, she produced a small notebook and a ballpoint pen.
“May I ask what you Masters would like to order?”
“Hmm, let me see…” Qianye perused the menu in her hands. She quickly settled on a classic combination, a staple in maid cafes often featured in anime. “I’ll have an omurice and a cup of coffee. What about you, Shiori?”
“The same…” Shiori-chan murmured, weakly raising her hand.
“Alright, so both Masters will be having omurice, correct?” The purple-haired maid neatly recorded their orders in her notebook. With a polite bow, she then swiftly retreated backstage.
“Hehehe, Shiori-chan, what do you think of this place?” With some time to spare before their food arrived, Qianye decided to strike up a conversation with Shiori.
“Well… it’s wonderful. All the maids are very cute.” As Shiori spoke, her hands pressed tightly against her skirt. Her gaze drifted aimlessly, unable to meet Qianye’s eyes directly.
This timid demeanor naturally displeased Kotori immensely.
“Don’t you dare look anywhere else! Stop gawking around! Is that how you’re supposed to act on a date? Baka Onii… no, Baka Onee-chan!”
“Right!” Shiori immediately straightened her posture, facing Qianye directly. Despite her improved posture, her expression remained one of pitiful vulnerability.
“That’s more like it!” Kotori nodded approvingly. “In a Date A Live mission, if the Commander says it’s wrong, then it’s wrong.”
“I understand…”
“Masters, who are you talking to?” A blue-haired maid had materialized beside their table without Shiori noticing, giving her a fright.
“Uh…”
“Oh, please don’t mind me,” the blue-haired maid said with a smile. “I’m just here to deliver your coffee, Masters.” On her tray rested two steaming cups.
“Your omurice will require a little more time, Masters,” she explained. “Please enjoy the freshly ground coffee our maids have prepared for you in the meantime!” The blue-haired maid carefully placed the cups from her tray onto the table.
“Please enjoy at your leisure, Masters. Should you require anything at all, feel free to summon your loyal maid!”
As the maid’s figure receded into the distance, Qianye took a small, deliberate sip of her coffee.
“By the way, Shiori-chan, would you perhaps like to try on a maid outfit?”
“Pfft!” Shiori accidentally spewed the coffee from her mouth, a stream landing squarely on Qianye’s face.
“What are you doing, Shido? How could you do something to upset a girl during a date?” Kotori’s displeased voice crackled through the earpiece.
“I’m so sorry! I’ll wipe it clean immediately!” Shiori frantically fumbled for a handkerchief, only to find it was nowhere to be found.
“Here, take this!” Fortunately, Qianye promptly extended a handkerchief to Shiori, resolving her immediate crisis.
Wait, what did Shiori need a handkerchief for?
She intended to wipe the coffee from Qianye’s face.
But whose handkerchief was it?
It was Qianye’s. Qianye, despite having her own handkerchief, had deliberately offered it to Shiori. Her intentions were clear.
[Shido, the options are out.] Just then, three choices materialized on the Fraxinus’s screen.
[① Honestly… how could you be so clumsy? – Gently wipe the coffee from Qianye’s face with the handkerchief.]
[② I’m sorry… please punish me. – Hold the handkerchief in your mouth, adopting a pitiable expression.]
[③ I’ll help you wipe the coffee from your face. – Address the issue with a calm demeanor.]
“Everyone, make your selection.”
The results came in: option ② garnered the most votes, with ① a close second, and ③ receiving the fewest.
“Hmm, for option ①, it’s clearly Shido’s mistake, so that tone isn’t quite suitable. Option ③ is far too bland. Considering everything, option ② truly seems to be the best choice.”
“Naturally! Especially after actively requesting punishment, to be gazed upon with utter disdain by Qianye, and then trampled like garbage… that sensation, just the thought of it is… Commander, what is the meaning of this?”
There was no doubt; the speaker was Kannazuki. He was currently being lifted by the thick, muscular arms of two burly men, who were dragging him out.
“Hmm, since you so desperately wish to be trampled like garbage, then let’s ensure you get a thorough trampling!” Kotori declared from the commander’s seat, not even bothering to cast a glance back at Kannazuki.
“No! Commander, this kind of punishment would be best executed by you personally, Commander!”
“…” Gradually, Kannazuki’s voice faded, swallowed by the depths of the corridor.
Once Kannazuki’s voice had completely vanished, Kotori picked up her microphone and issued her instructions.
[Shido, select option ②.]
“Uh… I’m sorry… please punish me!” Shiori stammered, holding Qianye’s handkerchief delicately in her mouth. Her large eyes, glistening with unshed tears, gazed up at Qianye, presenting a truly pitiable sight.
“Ahaha, no problem at all! Then your punishment shall be to wipe it clean for me!” Qianye declared, laughing heartily. She seemed utterly unfazed by the coffee Shiori had sprayed across her face.
Shiori hadn’t anticipated the problem would be resolved so easily. She had even braced herself for Qianye to make some truly embarrassing demands, only to discover that her companion merely wanted her to wipe her face.
“Alright then… I’ll begin wiping.” Shiori gently clutched the handkerchief, starting from Qianye’s forehead and meticulously wiping downwards, little by little. Her hand moved across the corners of her eyes, her delicate nose, and finally… Qianye’s soft, alluring red lips.
“Mhm mhm, Shido—no, Shiori-chan! It seems the soul of a Yamato Nadeshiko, long hidden within you, is finally awakening!”
“Who’s a Yamato Nadeshiko?” Shiori protested. “I’m a boy…” She slowly retrieved the used handkerchief, borrowed some clean water from a nearby maid to rinse it, wrung it dry, and then returned it to Qianye.
“With such an adorable appearance, Shiori, coupled with such virtuous actions, who could possibly mistake you for anything but a girl?” Qianye teased, a playful glint in her eyes.
“Stop joking around,” Shiori mumbled, her head bowed. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, like a half-ripe apple, and faint wisps of steam seemed to emanate from her head.
“Ah,” Qianye sighed, gently patting Shiori’s head. “Now I understand why that Bilibili Railgun girl is so utterly captivated by you.”
“Bilibili Railgun girl? Who is that?” Shiori inquired.
Qianye simply smiled in response, offering no further explanation.