Chapter Three: “The Princess Wants to Win the Prince” — Part Nine

“I’m so sorry, getting changed took longer than I expected…!”

The ribbon at the back had given me trouble and eaten up more time than planned.
But in return, I thought I’d managed to put the whole thing on rather nicely.

And above all else, I look absolutely incredible in this kind of cute outfit!

I’d known this was the uniform, so today I’d done my hair in cornet twintails and gone for a sweeter makeup look than usual. It was fitting together exactly as intended.

“What do you think, Iori-senpai?”

I brought both hands up under my chin and looked up at her with my best doe-eyed expression.
Please, please let my cuteness reach you, Senpai…!

“It suits you.”
“Really?!”
“Yes, you’re adorable. You really are cute, Himena-chan.”
“Being praised by you is the best feeling. Because I like you, Senpai.”

I’d worked a little confession in there, but Senpai just smiled her usual breezy smile.
I want to appeal to her, but am I saying I like you too often? Maybe it’s lost its impact?
Then again, if I don’t say it, my feelings won’t reach her…

“Himena-chan.”
“Yes?”
“You look so cute you’re going to attract unwanted attention. If that happens with a customer, you don’t have to be polite about it.”
“Iori-senpai…! I love you!”
“…Himena-chan. Were you actually listening to me?”

She pinched my cheek with a mildly disgruntled look. I couldn’t help it. Senpai being protective was far too cool, and my response had gone sideways.

“Yes! I’ll handle any difficult customers properly!”
“Good answer.”
“…Sorry, Senpai. Could you say that one more time?”
“Why?”

I couldn’t very well say because I want to record it.
If I was being honest, I wanted video. Scholar-style Iori-senpai delivering praise, preserved as a family heirloom forever.

I was still turning over ways to obtain this treasure when opening time arrived. Natsuki-san rolled up the shutters to reveal a small queue already waiting outside.

All young women. Of course, it was popular on Instagram.

“Could I leave the service to both of you?”
“Leave it to us! Senpai, I’ll go greet the customers!”

Natsuki-san handled the cooking, while Iori-senpai and I took care of serving and the floor. There was usually a part-timer as well, but their shift didn’t start until the evening.

Right. Time to give this everything I had!

☆★☆★☆★☆★

“Thank you for your patience! Here is your pudding à la mode.”

I set down a pudding piled high with fruit and whipped cream. It seemed to be the café’s most popular item, and had been ordered repeatedly since the morning.

I’d even got the hang of carrying precarious dishes. I might actually be getting good at this!

The morning had been full of uncertainty, but by the afternoon I’d found my footing.
Customers coming in search of cute food were almost universally in a good mood, so as long as I smiled and stayed upbeat, minor mistakes rarely bothered anyone.
And smiling was absolutely my strong suit.
Maybe I’m actually cut out for customer service.

“Excuse me, could I order?”

I heard a customer’s voice and turned around. Unusually, it was a man sitting alone near the entrance.
He might have been waiting for someone, since a lot of people used the café as a meeting point.

“Yes, one moment!”

I called back brightly and moved quickly over. At the edge of my field of vision, Iori-senpai was attending to a table of women.

These customers have been fawning over Iori-senpai since the moment we opened. I understand she’s cool, but still!

Most of the clientele were women. People of all ages being captivated by Iori-senpai was entirely expected, but her appeal landed especially hard on other girls.
As a result, Senpai had been surrounded by admirers all morning.

Wanting photos with her, wanting to exchange contact details — if anyone needed to worry about unwanted attention, it was Senpai, not me!

She was turning down contact details, at least, but she’d been cheerfully agreeing to photos.
My Iori-senpai. Well, not mine yet in any meaningful sense. But still, she was mine…!
The grip on my notepad tightened without my meaning it to. The customer called to me and I snapped back, shifting gears.
I was at work right now. Jealousy could wait.

“I’m so sorry to keep you waiting. Have you decided on your order?”
“Yes. A cream soda and a coffee jelly, please. And, um…”

The male customer took out his phone and looked at me with a slightly bashful expression.

“Would you mind, um, giving me your contact details? I think I might have, sort of, fallen for you at first sight…”

That’s a pick-up attempt. Obviously.

I’d only had female customers or couples all morning, so being approached like this genuinely caught me off guard.
I couldn’t give out my details, of course, but he wasn’t being forceful, so I’d handle it with a smile as a professional would.

“I’m afraid that’s not possible while I’m on duty.”

Yes. That was the phrasing least likely to cause offence.

“…Then I’ll wait until you’re done.”

You’re kidding! He seemed so mild-mannered but he’s actually quite persistent!

I was thinking this was getting a bit tiresome when Iori-senpai cut smoothly into the conversation.

“Soliciting our staff is not permitted, sir.”

One firm word from Iori-senpai and the customer was bowing apologetically before she’d even finished.

“I-I’m sorry…”
“Besides, this girl is completely taken with me.”
“Hih — eek…?!”

I couldn’t help it. Senpai had said something so impossibly romantic that a strange noise just came out.
Well, could anyone blame me?! Hearing something like that, what choice did I have but to fall for Senpai all over again?!

“Himena-chan. I’ll take this table. Go check on the others.”
“Y-yes…”

Why is Iori-senpai so unbelievably cool? Is she trying to make me fall for her? Is this just who she is? Is she a naturally-occurring prince?
I couldn’t make sense of it. My heart was going so fast I thought something might come loose.
How many times am I going to fall in love with Iori-senpai?!