Episode 29: Because My Face Is Super Cute!
Where Maria took me was the student council room. A room reserved for council members, and as an officer, Maria has free access to it any time.
Before classes start, there was no one else around. After locking the door, Maria and I sat down together on the sofa.
“So, Riri. Lately, your social media’s been spreading around among students at our school.”
“…Spreading…?”
“Yeah. Sweet Stella’s official account apparently shows up in people’s recommendations sometimes.”
Thanks to everyone’s hard work — and my face — Sweet Stella’s social media has built up a decent following. But I never imagined it would actually reach people at school.
And getting recognized by my voice, of all things… that was a total blind spot I never even considered.
“…There are quite a few kids who genuinely look down on maid cafés themselves. They think it’s basically the same as hostess work, or a job that’s about flattering middle-aged men.”
“…Yeah.”
Most of the students at Tsubakigaoka Girls’ Academy come from wealthy families. Maybe that’s exactly why some of them carry this kind of distaste toward maid cafés in the first place.
There’s an actual no-contact rule in place, and Sweet Stella doesn’t even serve alcohol. Cast members never exchange personal contact info with customers directly — it’s a genuinely wholesome, well-run shop.
And honestly, quite a few of our customers are young women too.
…But of course, nobody knows any of that.
What’s in my classmates’ heads probably isn’t “Sweet Stella” specifically — just some vague, secondhand image of “maid café” in general.
“I’m still not on board with you working at Sweet Stella. And this — people around you forming these kinds of prejudiced opinions — is exactly one of the reasons why.”
Maria’s hand reached over gently and settled on top of mine. She squeezed it softly, kneading it just slightly.
“Because you matter to me, Riri. I hate the idea of you getting mocked or looked at strangely by people around you.”
“…Maria.”
Maria had defended me in the classroom. Even though she still doesn’t approve of the job at Sweet Stella, she’d still defended Sweet Stella itself, too.
—I hadn’t been able to say a single word back to any of it.
“I’m not saying those girls, with their prejudice and their nasty words toward you, were right. But I think something like that is going to keep happening again and again, going forward.”
Cupping both my cheeks in her hands, looking like she might cry, Maria kept going.
“I don’t want anyone directing hostility at you, Riri.”
“…Maria.”
Why does Maria look more hurt than I do right now?
I don’t even need to ask. It’s because Maria genuinely, truly cares about me.
“…Thank you for helping me back there. I really do think I’m always the one being saved by you, Maria.”
“I’ll save you every single time, as many times as it takes. Because I love you, Riri.”
That strong gaze, those straight, unhesitating words. Whatever feeling Maria hands me, it’s always completely clear, completely transparent.
I’ve spent this whole time leaning on Maria, over and over.
“Thank you. But… I’m going to make sure I can properly stand up for myself, and talk back when I need to.”
“Eh?”
“I hated it. Sweet Stella getting mocked, you having to make a face like that… but, but I don’t want to run away anymore.”
Hiding somewhere no one would notice me, somewhere I couldn’t get hurt or criticized.
Sure, if I did that, maybe I could live out a peaceful, quiet life forever.
But I don’t want that anymore. Not anymore.
I took a small breath, then took off my mask and glasses. I pulled the compact mirror and makeup pouch I always carry out of my bag.
“I’ve decided. I’m done playing the plain, quiet introvert at school.”
“Riri…”
“I’m going to be a gorgeous, drop-dead-cute introvert instead.”
“Ah, yeah, that sounds right…”
The reason I couldn’t talk back in the moment earlier was because I had no confidence in myself.
But I know something now.
Maria. Möbius-san. Sora-san. Miyuki-san. Akane-san. Every single customer at Sweet Stella — they’ve all told me, again and again.
“It’s fine. Because my face is super cute!”
I have the strongest weapon there is. So there’s no reason for me to run away anymore.