Infinite Stratos, Volume 4, page 5
“No saying it would be too much trouble.”
“.........”
Cut off again, Laura fell silent. Meanwhile, the manager and Charlotte also picked out an undershirt and bottoms.
“Stretch denim capris, and...”
“How about a V-neck camisole?”
“That’d be great. But a complementary color, or a contrasting one? Hmm...”
They happily worked their way through the options. Laura, realizing that it was fruitless to argue, simply stood back and watched. What on earth are they so excited about? Clothes just needed to keep you warm and decent. Laura was always practical above all else, and now was no different.
“All right, Laura. Try these on.”
“Okay.”
“The dressing rooms are this way.”
Only after she was led to the dressing room and stepped inside did Laura let out a small sigh. I guess I have to deal with it. I’m the one who wanted to dress up for Ichika.
Laura stripped as she thought. Her milky-white skin shone like alabaster under the light. Mmm...
She gave the mirror a quick glance. Standing only in her underwear, her lithe yet toned physique was obvious. I don’t really get why, but I guess guys find this appealing? Ichika did, especially. Hmm... She tried out a pose she’d seen in a magazine. The mirror reflected her alluring form, with its barely-covered curves sure to entrance any man.
“This is ludicrous...”
Embarrassed at herself, Laura went back to changing. Looking again at the clothes Charlotte had chosen, she realized it was more of a ‘cool’ look. I wish she’d picked out something cute instead. Ichika would love...
“Laura, your outfit’s adorable.”
“Just my outfit?”
“Not as much as you.”
“Silly...”
“And are you wearing anything cute underneath that?”
“Ah...”
“Show me.”
“Mm...”
Caught up in her own fantasy, Laura silently blushed.
“No, just... I know it would never go like that, but...”
It wasn’t impossible.
“Hey, Laura! Are you changed yet?”
It was Charlotte calling from outside the door. Laura quickly slipped back into her uniform, then opened the door.
“Huh? Why are you still in your uniform?”
“Charlotte.”
“Hm? What, didn’t you like it?”
“That’s not it. Just...”
A question mark floated over Charlotte’s head as she pondered the rare sight of Laura at a loss for words.
“Maybe... Maybe something a little cuter...”
Charlotte was momentarily stunned as Laura embarrassedly managed a bit of girlishness. Quickly, though, she lit up and sprung to action.
“Oh, sure! Something cuter? I’ll pick something out right away!” Laura’s sudden enthusiasm, in turn, fired Charlotte up even more. “So, what are you thinking? Looking for a particular color or style?”
“I suppose. Something which shows off a fair amount of skin would be nice.”
“Got it!” Charlotte rushed back to the manager, and they both began to search through the clothing. “That off-the-shoulder one-piece, and that bracelet. And then maybe...”
Charlotte chose an outfit as cheerfully as if it was for herself.
“If it’s going to show a lot of skin, a chic black would be great. It contrasts with your hair well, too.”
“Please, nothing too flashy.”
Laura was made a bit nervous by Charlotte’s enthusiasm, and felt that she needed the reminder. But Charlotte answered cheerily, “It’ll be fine! Just leave it to me.”
“Okay.”
Seeing Charlotte, who was normally so composed, become so energetic, Laura couldn’t argue. Her fashion sense is better than mine. I should just relax. Perhaps 20 minutes later, as Laura stepped out of the dressing room, the entire store gasped.
“Wow, she’s beautiful.”
“She’s like a fairy...”
All eyes were drawn to her as she stood with an embarrassed expression. She was wearing a black one-piece skirt, off the shoulder. Frills scattered about gave it a bit of cuteness. Its hemline, close to that of a miniskirt, matched Laura’s otherworldly look; it truly was the outfit of a fairy.
“You even picked out shoes? I’m surprised.”
“It’s a special outfit. You need mules to go with it.”
Laura, who’d never worn heels before, stumbled. At the same moment as the entire store gasped, Charlotte caught her.
“Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
Charlotte gave a brief bow as Laura steadied himself. They were like a young nobleman and princess, like a scene from a fairytale.
“Can I take a picture?”
“Ooh, me too!”
“Shake my hand!”
“Me too! Me too!”
In the blink of an eye, they were surrounded. The commotion had spread far and wide, with people even joining in from outside the store.
◆
“I’m exhausted.”
“I didn’t think we’d take that long in the first store.”
It was already past noon, and Laura and Charlotte were having lunch on the café terrace. Laura had ordered the daily special pasta, while Charlotte was having lasagna.
“I did buy some nice things.”
“You should have worn them home. You don’t get to do this very often.”
“Well, um, uh... I don’t want it to get dirty.”
“Oh? Are you sure it’s not because you want Ichika to see it first?”
“What?! No way! That’s not it at all!”
Charlotte could tell from Laura’s flustered blush that she’d hit the mark, but pretended not to notice.
“Oh, okay. Sorry for being weird about it.”
“Jeez.”
“Laura.”
“Wh-What?”
“You have your fork and spoon backwards.”
“Ngh!”
Only now did Laura notice she was lifting her pasta to her mouth with her spoon, and quickly pulled it away.
“So, what did you want to do this afternoon?”
“I wanted to look around home goods, and maybe find a watch. I kinda like Japanese watches.”
“You want a watch?”
“Yeah, since we’re out shopping anyway. How about you, Laura? Anything Japanese you want?”
Laura thought for a moment before answering clearly.
“A katana.”
“H-How about something a little more feminine?”
“No.”
A swift response. Charlotte had expected it, but she still hung her head. That was when Charlotte noticed the woman at the next table.
“What on earth am I gonna do about this...” She was in her late 20s, and wearing a tight-fitting suit. Whatever was bothering her was worrying enough that her aglio e olio had cooled without being touched. “Sigh...”
Her sigh exuded the inky blackness of the void.
“Hey, Laura.”
“We should mind our own business.”
This time, Laura cut Charlotte off before she could finish. It shocked Charlotte a little at first, but then she broke out in a grin.
“So you do understand me.”
“Kind of... Anyway, what did you want to do?”
“At least ask her what happened.” Charlotte turned to the woman and called out. “Is something the matter?”
“Eh? Ah—”
As soon as she glanced over, the woman stood up swiftly enough to send her chair to the ground with a clatter. Rushing to Charlotte, she gripped her hand.
“You two!”
“Uh, yes?”
“Do you need jobs?!”
“EHHH?!”
◆
“So anyway, they quit out of nowhere. Didn’t even properly quit, just ran off together,” the woman let out an exhausted laugh.
“Oh?”
“Mm.”
“But today’s really important! Someone from corporate is coming! So please—please work here just for a day!”
The restaurant she was recruiting for was more than just a normal restaurant. Women working there dressed as servants, and men as butlers—in other words, it was a maid (and butler) café.
“Well... I suppose, but...” Charlotte, having finished changing, began to ask a bit gingerly. “Why am I dressing as a butler then?”
“Well, I mean. It looks so good on you! You pull it off so much better than the guys here.”
“I guess...”
Charlotte sighed at the unwanted praise. I’d rather be in the maid outfit... Laura looks so cute in it... Slightly dejectedly, she looked down at her tux. I’m not sure about this, but maybe she’s right...
Perhaps realizing Charlotte’s ambivalence, the manager, who’d also changed into a maid outfit, suddenly clutched her hand.
“You’ll be fine! You look perfect!”
“R-Really?!”
Charlotte, looking slightly embarrassed, gave a polite laugh. That’s what I was worried about... As her own worries roiled in her head, she looked over at Laura again. Laura’s slender but toned body was wrapped in a frilly maid’s dress. Her silver hair cascaded down over it, as if bridging the outfit and herself. Her eyepatch only made her seem more mysterious.
I’m jealous. She looks adorable in that. It really underlined Laura’s appeal, Charlotte thought. Laura was the kind of girl who, even in men’s clothing, would be instantly obvious as a girl with a bit of an edge. Meanwhile, she herself looked like a boy with an exceptionally cute face. She let out a sigh at the realization.
“Boss, can we get some help out here?”
The shift manager’s voice drifted in. The general manager finished adjusting her outfit, and began to step out of the back room.
“Er, one other question.”
“Hm?”
“What’s the name of this restaurant?”
With a smile, the general manager gathered her skirt in her hands and gave a curtsy almost too cutely for a woman of her age.
“Welcome to @Cruise!”
◆
“Dunois, table four needs a black tea and a coffee.”
“Understood.”
Charlotte picked up the drinks from the counter and placed them on a tray engraved with an @ symbol. Even such a simple act showed off her natural elegance, to her newfound coworkers’ sudden gasps. While it was her first part-time job, she moved with not an ounce of nervous reticence, only a confidence that seemed practiced but not frazzled. It was certainly enough to draw stares from the female customers.
“My apologies for the wait! And whose is the black tea?”
“I-It’s mine.”
Even though she was older than Charlotte, the customer stumbled through a bit of nervousness as she answered. After placing the tea and the coffee in front of the customers, Charlotte asked if either would like the ‘special service.’
“Would you like sugar or cream? I can stir them in for you.”
“Yes, please. Heavy on both, if you don’t mind.”
“Same here.”
Both of them normally took their drinks black, but the opportunity to enjoy service from a splendid young butler turned their answers to wholehearted ‘yes’es. Whether she realized this or not, Charlotte answered with a gentle smile and nod.
“Understood. Pardon me.” Her pale, beautiful fingers wrapped around a spoon as she stirred. Its rattle against the mug took the customers’ breath away. “Here you are.”
“T-Thanks...”
Taking the mug from Charlotte’s hands, the woman nervously raised it to her mouth. Next was the woman with coffee, who nervously, jerkily, lifted it to her lips and took a sip.
“Of course, mesdemoiselles, if there is anything else I can do for you, do not hesitate to ask.”
After speaking, Charlotte gave a bow which could only be described as ‘noble,’ leaving the customers so stunned they could only nod. Phew, waiting tables is hard work. I wonder how Laura’s doing? As she continued working, Charlotte scanned the room for Laura. Soon, she spotted her taking orders at a table of three men.
“Hey, you’re a cute one. What’s your name, baby?”
“.........”
“What time do you get off? Wanna go out later?”
Bang! Laura half-placed, half-slammed a cup on the table, scattering drops of water, then coldly intoned to her shocked audience.
“Your water. Drink it.”
“Ooh, feisty! I wanna know where you keep that fire insi—”
Before he could even finish his sentence, much less give an order, Laura stalked away from the table. Stepping up to the counter, she spoke something and waited a moment, then brought a drink back.
“Drink.”
Laura placed it on the table, a bit more gently than before, if only as not to crack the saucer. Still, coffee splashed out.
“Wait, I don’t remember ordering a coffee...”
“Oh, you’re not a customer? Then get out.”
“No, it’s not like that, I just wanted to take a look at the menu before...”
Whether it was because he was infatuated with Laura or because he was taken aback by her impatience with him, the man was searching for the right words as he spoke. In a society run by women, only the truly courageous or true morons would try pickup lines like that. This group was definitely the second.
“Like, it’s not that I don’t want coffee, but maybe I was looking for an Arehalli or a Kilimanjaro...”
Laura sneered with a joyless glare as if to cut him off without even speaking, “Oh? Can plebs like you even tell the difference?”
“Well, um... Sorry...”
The men sunk back in their seats before her absolute zero glare and unforgiving sneer, and quietly sipped their coffee.
“Get out of here once you finish. You’re taking up a table.”
“Yes, ma’am...”
The Teutonic ice queen was still secure on her throne. But her unapproachable attitude, combined with her good looks, had its own charm. Most of the men in the café were palpably eager to receive the same treatment.
“Wow, she’s amazing.”
“I want her to insult me! I want her to look down on me! I want her to discriminate against me!”
A number of tables were quite excited by the display. Even the other tables, and staff, tried their hardest to pretend not to be watching.
“Can I add on to my order? And can you have the blond butler from before bring it?”
“A coffee, please! From the silver-haired maid!
“One from the fabulous butler!”
“Mine from the beautiful maid!”
The commotion spread through the café, reaching a fever pitch. Laura and Charlotte were at a loss for what to do, until the manager stepped in and guided them table by table. She was a true professional, skillfully weaving them a path through a crowds half again as large as normal. This continued for two hours. But just as Charlotte and Laura began to show signs of mental exhaustion, it happened.
“EVERYONE GET DOWN!”
The door crashed open, and three men roared in like an avalanche. For the blink of an eye, the café’s patrons were unable to process what they were seeing, but as a gunshot rang out screams followed.
“EEEEEEK!”
“No one move! Be quiet!”
The men were clad in bomber jackets and jeans, with masks over their faces and guns in their hands. Bills fluttered down from them their backpacks. This was obviously a robbery in progress. Likely bank robbers making their escape. They may have seemed more like bemusing escapees from a 20th century manga, but still. They were armed. They couldn’t be ignored.
“This is the police! We have you surrounded! Come out with your hands up! Repeat—”
This was prime real estate by the station. The police response was swift, with patrol cars sealing off the roads while officers with riot shields and guns fanned out around the building.
“For some reason...”
“The police...”
“Are doing this old school too...”
Customers whispered back and forth, almost forgetting their status as hostages as they recounted something lost on teens.
“Boss, whadda we do? They’re gonna get us all!”
“Chill! Don’t lose your head. We got hostages. They ain’t gonna storm us.”
The apparent leader of the trio, a well-built man, put a bit of courage back in his comrades.
“You’re right. We still got what we earned our paycheck with,” said a fellow robber as he racked his pump-action shotgun, then fired into the ceiling.
“EEEEEEK!”
As a light tube shattered, a woman covered her ears with her hands and shrieked in terror. This time, the leader fired a shot from his pistol in the air to silence her.
“QUIET DOWN! Do what we say, and no one gets hurt. Got it?”
The woman’s face turned a pale white, and she nodded while chewing on her lip.
“Anyone listening out there? If you want us to let the hostages go, bring us a car! No tail and no tracker!”
The man punctuated his demands with gunfire. Nothing was hit except the windshield of a patrol car, but it was still enough to send the bystanders into a panic.
“Haha, look at ‘em squirm.”
“The more peaceful a country is, the easier it is to pull off a job!”
“You know it.”
The robbers echoed in brutal laughter. Meanwhile, from the shadows, a single pair of eyes gazed coolly. One with a shotgun, one with an SMG, and the leader with a pistol. It’s possible they have other weapons, but for now... Charlotte stayed low as she analyzed the situation. As her eyes darted around the restaurant, she was taken aback.
“.........”
One person other than the robbers was standing: Laura. With her silver hair, her eyepatch, her beauty, any eye would stop on her.
“What’s your problem? Didn’t you hear us tell you to keep it down?”
As could be expected, the leader turned toward her. Laura’s gaze turned over the gun in his hand for the blink of an eye.
“Aren’t you listening? Do you not speak Japanese?!”
“It’s all good, boss. We got plenty of time. Let’s make her serve us lunch!”
