Chapter 38: It’s Alright, Y’know! I’m Magnanimous, After All!
Kazuma and Alicia, who had been endlessly listening to Charlotte’s complaints, had completely lost interest midway and were eating food they’d bought from a food stall. All the while, Charlotte continued to grumble.
By now, it was like background music to the two of them. It flowed in one ear and out the other, leaving no impression on their memories.
“Hey, Kazuma. I want to eat this pancake.”
“Eh~. Then, we have to order it.”
“Yes, yes~! Staff-sa~n!”
Alicia immediately raised her voice and called for a staff member. However, the staff member hiding in the back of the kitchen just trembled with a start and didn’t come out.
It couldn’t be helped. The customer was the Witch Alicia.
They couldn’t afford any mistakes, and besides, it was just an ordinary pancake made by students. If it didn’t suit her taste and she became displeased, they wouldn’t know how to take responsibility.
“Muu~. Hey, Kazuma. They’re not coming out.”
“That’s strange. I’ll go take a look.”
“Please do~.”
So, when Kazuma poked his head into the kitchen, he found his classmates huddled together, pale-faced and trembling. Seeing this, Kazuma went “Acha~” and pressed his forehead.
“Yeah, sorry.”
“Seriously~! What is this, hey, what is this! What in the world is that!? This isn’t some high-class restaurant or anything! Satsuki, are you out of your mind!?”
“You don’t have to go that far… It’s fine. Alicia isn’t a bad person, so it’ll be okay. Just make the pancakes normally, that’s all.”
“Even if you say that, do you think we can do it normally in this situation? A Holy Maiden and a Witch! They’re world-renowned celebrities (big stars)!”
“But, they’re human just like us…”
“They’re not the same~! It’s impossible, impossible! Satsuki, you do something about it!”
“Hmm… I can make hotcakes, but those fluffy pancakes are difficult~.”
“Th-then, let’s call Ibuki! He can do it, right!”
“It’s possible, but… I wonder if Kosuke will come~.”
Since his classmates were terrified of the Witch and the Holy Maiden, Kazuma was a little uneasy. If he told Kosuke the unvarnished truth, he might also be too nervous and scared to come, just like his classmates.
However, not contacting Kosuke here wasn’t an option. Kosuke was the best at making pancakes, so he had no choice but to call him.
“I wonder if he’ll pick up~…”
Kazuma called Kosuke on his phone and waited for a while, listening to the ringing tone.
“Yo, what’s up, Kazuma? You’re still on break, right?”
“Ah~. Yeah, but it’s an emergency.”
“Did some trouble come up?”
“No, the Witch and the Holy Maiden are here. And everyone in class is too intimidated, so no one can make pancakes. Could you come back, just for now?”
“Seriously!? The academy was buzzing about the Witch and Holy Maiden being here, but it wasn’t a lie?!”
“Yeah. That’s right. But why don’t you know? There should be photos and videos on SNS and stuff, right?”
“No, they don’t show up even if I search. I heard from someone who saw them that their phones apparently stopped working.”
“Come to think of it, mine was like that too… Though it’s working now for some reason.”
“Maybe it’s that? Since photography is prohibited, there might have been a Gifted who could mess with electronic devices.”
There were many guards around the Holy Maiden. Perhaps among them was a Gifted who could disable electronic devices. Hearing that, Kazuma clapped his hands together, thinking, “So that’s what it was.”
“I see. That might have some truth to it.”
“Well, whatever. I’m heading back now, so can you wait a little longer?”
“Oh, you sure? Even though everyone’s too scared to move.”
“Idiot! There’s no way I’d miss an opportunity like this!”
“As expected of you…”
“Alright, I’m counting on you for the rest.”
After ending the call, Kazuma returned to where Alicia and the others were. And there, for some reason, was Kaede, wearing a princess-like dress and a crown.
With an innocent look on her face, she was devouring the takoyaki and yakisoba that were on the table. Kaede, stuffing her cheeks like a squirrel with a “mokyu mokyu” sound, could hardly be called a princess.
“Oh, Makimura-san. When did you get here?”
“Just a little while ago. There were a lot of people, so I came to see.”
“And, why are you here?”
“Hayami is over there, and he said Kazuma was here.”
“I see. By the way, that outfit looks good on you.”
“Mm, thanks.”
Kazuma, naturally sitting down next to Kaede, complimented her dress, but perhaps he had forgotten Alicia was there. Of course, he hadn’t forgotten, but being the type of person who says what he thinks, he simply couldn’t predict the ensuing development.
“Hey, Kazuma? Who’s tha~at girl?”
“She’s my friend, Makimura Kaede-san. She’s a Telekinesis user, just like Alicia.”
“Heh~! Huuh~!”
“(She seems to be in a bad mood… Did I mess up somehow?)”
Seeing Alicia’s blatant attitude, Kazuma sensed it. That he had done something wrong.
“(Hmm… Her mood didn’t change even when Makimura-san arrived. Which means, the hint is in our previous conversation!)”
“Mmmmu,” Kazuma dived into a sea of thought. He crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and concentrated. Then, an insight like a bolt of lightning struck his brain.
“(Hah…! Is it because I complimented Makimura-san! From Alicia’s perspective, I suddenly praised a girl she didn’t know, so she didn’t like it!)”
It was a stroke of genius. Kazuma had finally noticed Alicia’s change without any hints. However, just because he knew the answer didn’t mean he could do anything about it.
“(But, this is bad! Even if I praise Alicia now, she probably won’t be happy. What’s right? What’s the right thing to do! Someone tell me! Momokooooooooo!!!)”
As if praying to a god who shouldn’t exist, Kazuma called out to Maid Momoko in his mind. He was betting on the nayuta-level possibility that she might exist within his heart.
There was no way that could be true, but Kazuma, unable to give up, shouted repeatedly in his mind.
“(Answer me, Momokoooooooo!!! Maid Momoko-chaaaaaaan!!! Answer my question… Momokoooo!!!)”
Kazuma was desperate, as if his molars were about to shatter. However, it was just a performance, so he wasn’t actually clenching his teeth. Instead, his head was being squeezed tightly by Alicia’s Telekinesis.
“(I believe…ッ! Momoko, I know you’ll definitely come! You’ve always answered my questions, haven’t youッ! Hey, isn’t that right, My Friend!!!)”
Will his prayer reach her?
Or will it not?
God does not answer.
However, she was different. Momoko was not a god, but she was a maid.
Appearing from the crowd was Momoko, dressed in a frilly maid outfit. She strode tsuka tsuka towards Kazuma and the others with an obviously displeased expression.
Then, she stood behind Kazuma. Kazuma, noticing her presence, turned around, his face instantly brightening up with a “paa!”
“(My Friendッッッ!!! I knew you’d come! I just knew it! That Momoko-chan would come! It’s sudden, but wanna take a cheki in that outfit?)”
Momoko said nothing to Kazuma, who, while calling her “My Friend,” was completely treating her as a joke character. That, in turn, was eerie. Kazuma, sensing something was off, tried to stand up from his seat, but faster than that, Momoko nimbly pulled out her Beloved Harisen from behind her back.
Astonishment, shock, amazement. “Could it be that the true enemy was Momoko?” Kazuma moved instantly, but even faster than that, Momoko smacked Kazuma’s head with the harisen.
“Who are you calling Momoko-chaaaaaaaaanッ!!!”
A light “Supaaan!” sound echoed. Simultaneously, Kazuma’s brain rattled. Of course, he wouldn’t get a concussion. It was just that his head wobbled as if a spring was stretching and contracting, “biyoyoo~n.” Incidentally, Kazuma was doing this on purpose.
“Oof…ッ!”
“What do you think you’re doing! Not only Witch Alicia Miller, but also Holy Maiden Charlotte. And now you’re even making a move on Soleil!!!”
“Ow, ow! Wait, calm down, Momoko-chan! Listen to what I have to say first!”
“Supaan, supaan,” Momoko rhythmically smacked Kazuma’s head. Her Beloved Harisen was being wielded with all its might. It was hard to believe this was its debut.
“Also, please don’t use ‘-chan’ with my name while taking advantage of the confusion!”
“B-but, when we first talked, you yourself said to call me Momoko with affection, didn’t you!”
“Shut up, shut u~p!”
“Aitaa~ッ!”
Kazuma shielded his head from Momoko’s relentless “bashi bashi” smacks. He desperately protected his head, thinking he couldn’t afford to become any more of an idiot.
“Let’s calm down for a second! I’m curious where you pulled that harisen from, but first, listen to me, Momoko!”
“Don’t call me without an honorific~ッ!”
“Alright, alright, it’ll be bad if this goes on any longer, so calm down!”
“What, what do you think you understand about me~ッ!”
“You’re being completely incoherent now! I don’t know what you’re saying! So, let’s calm down and talk it out! I believe conversation is important before resorting to violence!”
Momoko stopped, panting heavily. Kazuma wasn’t sure if it was because she was tired or if his words had finally gotten through, but he breathed a sigh of relief that they could finally talk.
“Phew… Um, Momoko-chan?”
Momoko, glaring sharply at him, resembled an intimidating kitten. Figuring that provoking her further might send her on another rampage, Kazuma raised both hands.
“Okay. Stay, stay…”
“Hmph… Well then, would you be so kind as to provide the details?”
However, there was one person in this space who wouldn’t allow it. The sound of a chair scraping was heard. Turning towards it, Kazuma saw Alicia, radiating an aura of fury.
“More importantly, who the hell are you? Showing up out of nowhere and doing whatever you please to Kazuma…”
“Hiee…!”
Alicia was so furious her hair practically stood on end. It was the very image of that expression, her hair extending upwards. It was probably due to her Telekinesis, but it looked like something straight out of a horror movie. Thanks to that, her intimidating presence was immense.
“I’ll crush you, you know? You seem to be acting all friendly with Kazuma, but frankly, it’s quite unpleasant.”
Alicia’s eyes were dead serious as she cracked her knuckles with a goki-goki sound. It seemed that no matter how close someone was, she wouldn’t forgive what she deemed unforgivable.
Kazuma hurriedly stood up and, as if to shield Momoko, gestured wildly to persuade Alicia.
“C-c-calm down, Alicia! Momoko-chan is just a little hysterical!”
“Even so, do you expect me to just stand by silently and watch Kazuma get assaulted right in front of me?”
“Ohh… I’m glad to hear you say that, but this is just how Momoko-chan and I communicate, so please let it go.”
“…If you say so, Kazuma, I’ll let it slide this time.”
Kazuma breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief as Alicia finally backed down. Momoko had narrowly escaped being turned into mincemeat.
“S-sorry. Thank you very much, Satsuki-san.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. That’s just the kind of relationship Momoko and I have!”
“…I suppose that’s fine then.”
There were likely times when one’s true feelings and public facade were opposites, but Momoko resigned herself to it all, figuring it was useless to say anything more to this man.