In this world, celebration of festivals are a rare occurrence. There is no Valentine's Day, women's day, or whatever else. What we do have though are only the Harvest Festival during summer, the New Year festival, and the Truce Festival.
What is the Truce Festival? It's a festival for celebrating the truce against the Demon race. It's held on the last day of Summer, roughly half a year since I first started school. In truth, I have never celebrated it before, not with my family anyway, but it is a nice holiday. But one thing I'm certain is that this school is rather happy about it.
"Come and buy clothing from the Moonfall continent!"
"We have special magic devices! This one makes a small fire if you pour Mana into it! And this one is a Magic Lantern that doesn't need any fire to light up!"
"If you are up to the challenge of testing your courage, feel free to check out our haunted house in here! "
Yep. Despite this school having no sports festival equivalent, we have a Summer festival equivalent.
"So do tell me Gerdur, why was I forcefully stripped and dressed in a maid uniform by you?! "
"Oh come on, don't you like to roleplay a little? How does it feel to have a little taste of your own medicine is what we are saying, right ladies? "
"Thats right!" "Absolutely!"
"You had a lot of nerve coming up with this idea and then hid yourself away as the manager so that you don't have to dress up as a maid. This time you won't run from me, not when you have set me up for death! "
"That is entirely different! " I threw my hairband at the ground inside the changing room along with Gerd and two other girls.
Yep. I somehow got dragged into this mess that is started by yours truly. To give an explanation about this whole thing, I have to go way back to four weeks ago.
(Four weeks ago)
At the morning assembly, the principal told us that there will be a festival held to celebrate the truce of the great war. Which means it's a holiday right?
"-as following the King's orders, all school are required to hold a festival that celebrates this event. Mainly, we set up stalls to sell things, host mini games and hold events to let the people play to their heart's content. As outsiders will be allowed into our school, all students who take part in it will be given extra marks for moral, as this counts as a community service, as well as given some money from what the stalls earned. After taking the cost of the products, the remaining money will be donated to charities like orphanage."
The crowd started discussing about this festival among themselves.
"We, the teachers, alongside the student council, will organize this whole event. Students that partake in this is splitted into classes, as each class will have a theme that they can work on. All Class Monitors, please come to the front of the stage to pick your class's theme. "
"It's your job, go! " The girl behind me pushed me.
"I get it I get it! "
Somehow, after that incident with the Magic God, I started getting more and more popular within our class. Before I know it, our friend group has grown a bit bigger, from just us 3 into 6 people.
Those other 3 only started hanging out with us a lot, but they usually hang out among themselves. And so, we aren't that close yet, not as close as me, Mike and Gerd anyway.
There's a few other groups of friends as well besides ours. One special group of students are the trio trouble makers known as the Three Musketeers.
If you paid attention back when I first started getting along with Mike and Gerd, you would know that the rude kid named Richard had became friends with 2 other boy in this class. Together, they would sometimes start dramas, disrupt classes, and get into brawls, especially that Richard.
While I had been ignoring him from most of these 6 months he had been turning into a class bully of sorts. So far they haven't bullied anyone, but honestly I won't be surprised if they starts doing so since they are already starting to pick on our class's members. These 3 boys hated me more as I got more popular as well.
Anyway, back to the present. I stood up from my place and walked to the front of the stage where a few class monitors gathered. Mike didn't come because he's the vice, not the first.
One of the student council's member walked up the stage with a box. He opened the box and then put it on the stage.
"Each one of you please take a piece of paper from this box. The concept that you got will be your theme. All themes were suggested by student council members and teachers, so there won't be inappropriate ones. "
Anyway, I waited for my turn and put my hand into the box and pulled out a small piece of paper.
And then I opened the small paper and looked at its content. 'Restaurant'
"Oh well. "
I went back to my class and then showed it to everyone before I handed it to our home room teacher Zodd.
And that was how it all started. The next important thing that led to this is 2 days after that.
"Everyone, as you know that your monitor has got us the theme of a restaurant. If you all have any ideas on how we could execute this restaurant thingy, feel free to speak your mind. "
"How about we make a luxury restaurant? " A rich kid suggested that.
"We have a limited budget. Besides, we can't run business on the negatives, so no! "
"How about just a normal restaurant then?" Michael gave his recommendation.
"That would be too plain. If our restaurant is nothing special, no one will enter because they can just eat outside! This is exactly what happened the last few years after all. We need some unique ideas that will attract customers to eat here."
"How about a story and comic books themed restaurant? We can dress up in costumes of those characters and serve the customers like that. " One of my fellow classmate said that.
"Hmm, that sounds interesting, but honestly I don't see anyone who will be drawn in by that other than kids. Well, at least it's something unique. Anyway, any other ideas?"
Of course, in a situation like this, me being a pro at Japanese culture must give out the only natural suggestion in this situation.
"How about a maid restaurant?"
"A maid restaurant?"
"A restaurant where a few girls with be dressed in maid outfits and serve the customers with food and drinks. "
"Oh! That is actually an even better idea! It cuts costs in not needing expensive things, as well as being unique enough to draw people's attention. Besides that, there would be customers who are attracted to girls in maid uniforms after all... I see I see... You are a witty one aren't you Kyrielle? "
"I just said what I thought of. "
"Its not bad... Anyway, are there any other ideas like this? "
A few others gave their suggestions but all were rejected. The only two that didn't get rejected was my maid restaurant idea and the story book restaurant.
"So, there are only two choices. Since this class isn't in even numbers, we can just start a vote to determine which one we will choose. Anyone who supports the stories and comic books theme will raise their hand and the rest will be in favor of the maid restaurant. Alright, 3, 2, 1, go. "
About 8 of person raised their hands, while the rest of us supports the maid restaurant, 17 in total. I expected there to be more people in favor of this.
...now I see. These perverted boys wants to see the girls dressed in maid outfits, nearly 60% of our class is consist of boys and almost all of them didn't raise their hands!
...Now I could feel the embarassment rushing to me! I didn't even thought about how the girls would feel if they we're to be voted to dress up in embarrassing outfits, and that is besides he fact that it's kind of weird as well. Now I regret suggesting it!
...Michael? Why didn't you vote for the comic theme? I stared at him intensely. Michael met my gaze and immediately averted his gaze...
"Sigh..." I sighed as I covered my eyes with my hand. I could only cringe at my mistake now. At least I won't be the one to dress up as a maid anyway since I am the one who gave this idea, I will be the manager.
"Alright then. Now we will hold a vote for the staffs, and the jobs. "
The vote ended without much problem.
My job is obviously the manager. Michael is the vice manager, as expected. All of the girls in the class except me were candidates for becoming a maid. Gerdur was voted to be a maid, it's rather funny to see her shocked expression.
"I swear I'll get you for this Kyrielle!"
"I didn't vote for you, I'm not at fault here! You are barking up at the wrong tree hahaha! "
"Yes but you suggested this! You are not just an accomplice, you are the mastermind! "
"You have a point but... I'm sorry..."
I'm sorry for this, Gerdur. She accepted the apology with a pout, and we went back to normal. Even though it seemed like we are fighting, it's actually just light hearted banter.
Either way, this was how our planning went. And then the next few weeks was spent setting up the things that are needed, things like the cooking utensils, chairs, tables, stuff like that.
And on the day just before the festival we started to arrange everything and decorate the class. Since our theme is a restaurant, we made it into a relatively normal restaurant so that we don't have to spend money buying expensive decorations.
Zodd walked in on us decorating and then proceeded to speak to us all.
"Hello everyone. So, there needs to be four maids to serve the customers but I received news from (one of the maids) Janiette's parents that she has gone down with food poisoning. "
"Can't she just cure it with a potion or at the church? " I asked curiously.
"Potions are expensive, and it's food poisoning, which can't be cured by 'Cleansing' since it's technically not poisoning. At best we can only cast healing to ease her stomach cramps. "
"I see."
"Well then, anyone wants to be the substitute for Janiette? "
No one raised their hands.
"I see... It seems that we will just have to proceed with only 3 maids then. You all should be able to handle that much right? "
"No problem. " (3x) The three who were assigned as maids replied to him.
"Alright. Prepare the things properly alright? It's important that we should be ready for as much situations as possible. Things like needy customers, memorizing table numbers, and learning how to draw pictures on omeletes. I trust that you can handle it Kyrielle? "
"No problem, teacher. "
"Alright. I'll leave it up to you and take my leave then. "
I taught the 3 girls how to draw a heart shape on ommeletes. Sadly, there is no rice in this world, so we'll have to settle with just the egg and some normal food like stew or bread.
I intended to tell them to do that 'moe moe kyun!' thingy but even back on earth and on the one time I went to a maid restaurant, I cringed real bad when I heard it being said. So I decided that we should just leave that one out.
(The day of the festival)
It's the fourth day of the week, and I arrived to school about an hour before the start so that I can help to arrange and prepare things for the festival itself.
Lately I haven't been getting to play with my friends at all since I am quite busy preparing for the festival. This is the life of a class monitor I suppose.
Right now in our class, only 7 person are present since it's still early. 4 girls and 3 boys. Mike and Gerd is among them.
After a while of preparing things, while I was putting a notebook on the counter for the cashier, Gerd along with the 2 other maids came out of the dressing room in the maid uniforms. Originally that dressing room was a storage room where we put our brooms and such, but we modified it to be a changing room for this occasion.
"Woah, you 3 looks so cute! " I praised them.
"Thank you for that. Anyway, you have a moment? We have something we need to discuss with you alone. "
"Alone? What is it that you need to discuss with me alone anyway? Is it about the uniforms? "
"Y-yeah. Anyway just come to the changing room."
"Okay. Let me put down my things first. "
I set down the book nicely on the counter, and then told the cashier about what to expect and what to look out for.
As I was talking, I glanced over to the 3 girls and saw Gerd giving signals to Mike, and Mike responded with a thumbs up.
"That is not a good sign... "
I groaned as I finally prepared everything and walked towards the changing room. I opened the door, and it seems that no one is inside yet. I just hope that this isn't a prank or anything like that.
"Where did they went to? " I mumbled as I opened the door but couldn't see anyone.
I took a step inside....
A hand grabs my wrist from the side of the door and then someone from behind grabbed my shoulder with two of their hands.
"!!!"
For a moment there I had a traumatic flash back from 2 or 3 years ago, when I was almost kidnapped. Genuine fear flooded into me.
"What the hell are you doing?! Help! I'm being kidnappe- Mmm!!! "
Another hand covered my mouth and then dragged me into the changing room.
"Quickly! Close the door! " I heard a familiar voice. It's one of the maid's voice. Hearing that, I relaxed a bit. They really triggered my hidden trauma, these jerks...!
"The door's locked! Come one hurry up and strip her! " The voice of the other maid sounded.
"Let's go! "
"Mmmm-! " I tried to shake off the hands holding me but to no avail. I'm younger than all of my classmates so I'm weaker since they are just bigger than me. Sure, in a weight to strength ratio I may be better, but I'm still younger than them.
"Hehehe... Kyrie, be prepared to face consequences! " Gerd walked from the sidelines towards my field of vision.
I could just use Ember to hurt them and get free, they all stand no chance against me if I used magic. Besides, this Magic Barrier in the class doesn't even hold back my spells, I just decided against using magic in class that's all.
But, two of them are my friend and one is my best friend. So I decided not to hurt them and just stop resisting. If they go too far at this, only then I will hurt them.
"Oh? You aren't resisting? It seemed that you have succumbed to us haven't you? What a weak willed girl you are Kyrielle! "
They stripped me down and then forcibly dressed me in a maid uniform. They finally let go once they are done with me.... I'll never be able to get married after I'm violated by these three girls like this...! Jokes aside, if they had tried to strip my underwear as we I might really have fired off a Mana Ball at their face.
I shaked off the hand covering my mouth.
"What the hell are you three doing?! So tell me Gerdur, why the hell am I being forcefully stripped and dressed in a maid uniform by you?! "
"Hahaha oh come on, don't you like to roleplay a little? How does it feel to have a little taste of your own medicine is what we are saying, right ladies? "
"Thats right!" "Absolutely!"
"You had a lot of nerve coming up with this idea and then hid yourself away as the manager so that you don't have to dress up as a maid. This time you won't run from me, not when you have set us up for death! "
"That is entirely different!" I threw my maid hairband at the ground.
"Besides, even the teacher wasn't against this idea! 'Just don't go too far and make things awkward' is what he said! Even Mike agreed! "
"That bastard Michael...! "
"You can't fight this Kyrie, just give it up and become a maid like us, we even helped you dress up you know? "
"I refuse! "
"Oh but neat part is that you can't, not when you are dressed like this! "
"What are you saying...?! "
"What I'm saying is that we confiscated your clothes in this locker and hid the key away! Unless you want to walk in the streets in this uniform or be in your underwear, you'll have no choice but to comply with us. "
"You little!... Sigh..."
I finally gave up resisting and complied.
"You got me there... and I deserved this afterall since I'm the one who suggested it... What about the manager? Who will organize us and handle things about the restaurant?"
"Mike got that covered. Rest assured, we had everything planned! Mike is confident that he'll be able to completely take over your position as a manager. Besides that, you are among the cutest in our class, so having you act as our mascot is only natural! "
"Yea yea shut up and help me fix up this uniform... "
Since I was struggling, they aren't in a good position to dress me up, that's why the uniform was dressed sloppily. I had them fixed up everything and now I look tidy and cute, even for my standards.
"Kyrie you are so cute!" (3x)
"Mmmn... "
"Come on, be more energetic! We are gonna serve customers soon you know? Enjoy the moment more!"
Enjoy the moment...? That's right, I did said that I will live my life to the fullest, it's a good thing that I'm not doing something like this alone, but with all my friends as well. Not just these 3, but the entire class will help out in this event.
This moment here is really embarrassing, it's one that I will forever remember even after I grew older. It isn't a wise choice to spend it all being all grumpy and embarassed, and ruin the mood cause of it.
"...Yea!" I replied with a bit more power.
"That's the spirit! Now, let's head out and show everyone this! All the boys will be stunned by your charming looks and cuteness! "
(Chapter 21 end)