Infinite Stratos - Volume 5, page 9
"Hey, Ichika, don't change the design of the clothes randomly."
Holding a tray, Houki said that to me. Her normal clothes make it hard to imagine that she would wear a maid outfit, and like Charl, her popularity's second only to Laura.
"Houki. It's alright that I roll up my sleeves, right?"
"Nope, we borrowed these clothes, so wear them properly."
"What...Houki, don't tell me that you like me in this get-up?"
"Wha-What are you saying! I-I'm just telling you to work seriously!"
"I was joking."
"Wha-What...?"
"What is it?"
"Fu, humph! It's nothing!"
With the skirt flying slightly, Houki walked back to the kitchen...why must she be so angry?
(Okay, time to do my best!)
After that, I moved through the tables, and after an hour, I finally got out of the situation where I got tugged around.
"Good work, Ichika-kun."
"Ah, Takatsuki-san, it's been tough on you too."
The reliable person in our class—Takatsuki Shizune-san seemed to be busy with a lot of things.
"You can rest for a while. We need to tidy up the shop a bit, so it'll be quite some time."
"Can I?"
"An hour shouldn't be a problem. Since there's a rare chance, why don't you follow the girls to some stall?"
Just when I was about to accept her goodwill, my arm got pulled over...wha-what?
"Then, Ichika-san, please come along with me."
Turning around, I saw Cecilia.
Seeing this, Charl cried out, a rare feat for her,
"AHHH! CECILIA'S SO SLY~ I want to go too, Ichika."
"Wait, if that's the case, I'm going too!"
Interrupting us quickly was Houki, and her eyes looked a bit scary.
"Let's go, Ichika."
Laura already got ready to move.
(Uu...it'll be troublesome if a lot of us move at the same time...ooh, that's right!)
I suddenly had a brainwave.
"Everyone can go with me in shifts. 10 minutes per person."
"In other words..."
"With Ichika..."
"Two-Two of us, alone..."
"...That's not a bad idea."
Cecilia, Charl, Houki and Laura kept murmuring 'un un', nodding away as if they're crushing garlic.
I couldn't hear what they're muttering about, but it's good that they can understand my thinking.
"Then, who fi—"
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
All four of them decided to choose the order through janken. Wow, that was quick!
"Rock![5C 6]"
Three people chose paper, while one chose scissors.
"Ehehe...♪"
Charl won the first go, and her happy look showed on her face as she raised the scissors hand that changed into a sign of victory.
◆
"The Cooking Club?"
"Yup, their main theme this time is traditional cuisine. I think it's a rare chance, and I want to learn how to make Japanese dishes."
"You really can cook, Charl."
She treated me to a few bentos, and the light seasoning that brought out the taste of the ingredients was to my liking.
If this Charl can make Japanese cuisines like that, I have a duty to try it.
"Uu, mn, I'll cook for you next time."
"Okay, thanks."
We continued to talk as we entered the cooking classroom the cooking class uses.
"Ohh...that's really..."
To put it simply, they're selling snacks here, but there's a lot of variety.
The food arranged on the tray includes potato and stew meat, kanto cooking, salad, stew, BBQ meat and so on. There're a lot of dishes, and they all look really delicious, so delicious that I couldn't help but swallow my saliva.
"Ah, don't tell me that's potato stewed meat?"
"Yup. It's said to be a dish women need to know."
"I see...why is that?"
"There seems to be a custom that women who can make the potato stewed meat best will be able to get married, but I really don't understand why."
"Ma-Married...!? I-I see.."
Perhaps surprised by my words, Charl was shocked as she continued to stare at the potato stewed meat.
Just when I was thinking if she really wanted to eat it, someone who looked like the President of the Cooking Club came to us.
"Ooh, it's Orimura-kun! And the famous Dunois-kun who used to dress in guy's clothing."
"Ah, hello."
"He-Hello."
"What's up? Are you two dating? A secret date between the butler and the maid? Even so, this isn't just ordinary minced meat, but mixed minced meat. I'm kidding, I'm just kidding."[5C 7]
Ohh! I feel that I can be good friends with this person!
On hearing her say what I was thinking, my heart soared as if I was playing a triple jump.
"You're thinking of something stupid again, aren't you, Ichika?"
Why did I get seen through again?
"Okay okay, try it first! I can treat it as a free sample. The condition is that I get to take a photo~ and you must vote for us, okay?"
Wa, it suddenly felt like improper bribing.
"No, there's no need. We'll pay."
As expected of Charl, she's upright.
"Then, erm, can you get me a potato stewed meat?"
"No problems. Enjoy~"
The President of the Cooking Club pulled a potato stewed meat from a large plate that was kept warm at a constant temperature, and handed it over to Charl.
I ordered the same thing, and I quickly tried it.
"Ohh, this is really..."
"It's nice, Ichika."
"Mn, really nice."
The seasoning was done just right. It doesn't feel greasy at all, 'Braised to Perfection'[5C 8], like how I always hear it.
Mn, I really want a bowl of rice.
"But this dish's really nice."
"This dish was cooked through a pressure cooker. This can not only cut short the cooking time, it will also affect the flavor."
Agreeing with me that this dish is nice, Charl pricked her ears and listened to the President of the Cooking Club.
"Pressure cooker...is-is there anything else?
"Fufufu, the rest is a secret. If you want to know, join our club!"
"Cooking Club...Ic-Ichika, would you be happy if my food's good?"
"Hm? Of course I would. It's important to be able to eat good food."
Eating food. Well, it must be a form a salvation—I remember someone said that before.
"Is-Is that so? I see...ehehe."
For some reason, Charl smiled radiantly as she finished off the potato stewed meat.
(Anyway, this stewed meat is nice. I better finish it off too.)
Just like that, my rest time with Charl ended.
◆
"You're too slow!"
Standing on the corridor and waiting for me with her arms folded was the maid with the eyepatch, Laura.
"Your sense of time is too weak!"
"Okay okay, don't say that. We'll use up the rest time like that, you know?"
"Tha-That'll be bad..."
"I remember you wanted to go to the Tea Club, right? Okay, let's go."
"Do-Don't hold my hand!"
Laura immediately shook her hand off after saying that, and her face blushed for some reason.
"Hm? Oh, sorry."
"No, it's not that. Well...I guess...if-if you want to do that..."
"? How about we move fast?"
"..."
*DOK!* The side of my abdomen took a karate chop...why's that?
"Hello and welcome...ooh! Orimura-kun! Can I take a photo with you?"
Why is it that everyone asks for a photo with me everytime they see me? I really don't understand.
Anyway, it's not like they'll take anything interesting...
"The Tea Club's opening a Green Tea experience session. Please head to this tearoom."
"Ohh, tatami[5C 9]. You really put in a lot of effort."
It was the same as with the Cooking Club. Every room had proper facilities.
As expected of IS Academy, where so many people wanted to get in.
"Then, please sit here."
Following Laura's instructions, I took off my shoes and sat on the tatami.
"But it's really unbelievable. A butler and a maid sitting on tatami and drinking green tea."
"Fu-fuun, don't you feel that the outfit was too girlish?"
"Do I? You looked really awkward when Chifuyu-nee laughed at you crazily, I guess?"
"Sh-Shut up! The Instructor's another case altogether!"
I recalled Chifuyu-nee saying that she wanted to come over to take a look, and just burst out laughing on seeing Laura in a maid outfit, happily enjoying that scene.
At that time, Laura looked like a recruit who got a water gun as armaments and yet got deployed to the frontlines.
...She seemed like she'll get angry if I say it out, so I decided to remain silent.
"We don't demand that you adhere to the tea tasting customs, so please enjoy."
"Ah, yes."
The Club President, who's dressed in a yukata, smiled as she passed the sweets to Laura and me.
I took one and ate it. The sweet white bean paste quickly spread on the tongue.
"This is really good."
"Uu..."
Laura didn't eat the sweet, but looked like she was in a dilemma.
"What's wrong?"
"We-Well, how do I eat it?"
Laura got a little rabbit that's made from white bean paste, and the face looks cute.
The rabbit seemed to be staring back at Laura, and I don't know if it's saying to her 'Please eat me' or 'Please let me go'.
Seeing Laura's reaction, I guess it's the former.
"Laura."
"Wha-What is it?"
"You can't take the green tea if you don't eat it."
"U-Uu...!"
After I prompted her, Laura decided to eat the rabbit-shaped sweet in one go.
...Ahh, she doesn't want to see the half-eaten rabbit, right?
"...Muu, Japanese sweets are really good."
What happened to that struggle? Laura looked really happy as she continued to eat the sweet.
"Here."
And then, the President served tea in front of Laura and me.
"We accept your tea. Itadakimasu[5C 10]."
After bowing, we picked up the tea bowls and put it to our mouths.
The unique bitterness of the green tea spread out, washing away the sweetness left in the tea.
The throat was cleared immediately, smoother than ever, and after drinking that, Laura and I sighed lightly.
"Your tea's really perfect."
Laura and I ended off with the common lines in a tea ceremony, and bowed again.
We should be looking at the teabowls, but the Tea Club here isn't that fussy, as the main point of emphasis is to 'Taste the Green Tea'.
"Come back when you have time."
The Tea Club President watched Laura and I leave the room.
"Not bad."
"Mn, not bad. Japanese culture's really interesting."
"Since you find it interesting, why don't you wear some Japanese clothes, Laura?"
"Jap-Japanese clothes? Speaking of which, I've never wore them before."
I tried to imagine Laura in a wafuku[5C 11].
For some reason, I feel that the flowing silver hair and the wafuku would suit her.
"Do-Do you want to try...?"
"If I get a chance, I'll definitely want to try it."
"Is-Is that so?"
Laura immediately showed a rare radiant smile.
After realizing her reaction, she suddenly turned her back on me.
"Ah, alright, if I have a chance."
"Oh."
With such a conversation, my resttime with Laura ended.
◆
"Speaking of which, Cecilia, I remember you know how to play the violin?"
"Mn, and a little of the piano."
"As expected of Cecilia. It would be great if I could learn an instrument too. I only learnt kendo."
"I-If that's the case!"
Cecilia tugged at my arm and pointed at the classroom that had the sign Wind Instrument Society Experience Stall.
"Wh-Why don't we go try it out now? How about it? Well, I guess, it's not like I can't teach you, you know?"
"Huh? Is it still not too late to learn? I don't even know how to read a score."
"For music, having love for it is all that's important."
Must have love? That's a nice line.
"The-Then, let's go in!"
"H-Hey! Don't pull me that hard!"
After opening the door, I saw the President of the Wind Instrument Club lift her head up.
She was pressing down on the piston of the instrument to check its condition for lubricating it.
"Well..."
I felt that it was hard to talk.
Just when I thought this, the Club President who just noticed us lifted her head up.
"Ohh! Ohh! The sixth guest is finally here! Here, here, please come this way! Huh, isn't this Orimura-kun? Can I take a photo?"
"Ah? Oh well, you may do so."
"That's great!"
The phone let out a ringing sound.
Facing the smiling Wind Instrument Club President who was smiling and holding onto the camera, Cecilia coughed dryly to interrupt her.
"Nnh! Which instruments can we try out here?"
"Hm? You can try out all of these here. Personally, I recommend the French horn. It feels great when I blow it. The sound fluctuates."
"Fluc-Fluctuates?"
"Then, Orimura-kun, let's get started."
Immediately after saying that, the Club President passed me the French horn she was tuning.
After receiving it, I found that it was heavier what I thought, and got a bit surprised.
"How do I hold this?"
"You must put your right finger here, the thumb should be put here, and the left hand should reach for this exit."
"Is-Is that so?"
It felt weird, hard to carry. Is this gimmick something like this?
"Then, try blowing hard into it."
As the President prompted me, I blew into it as hard as I could.
"FUU--! FUU--!!"
...There's no sound at all.
"Ah, well, your mouth has to touch it and blow."
The President pressed her lips inwards and demonstrated it to me.
"Li-Like this?"
"Yup. And you have to exert a certain amount of strength right into the middle."
"I-I'll try."
*Gufuu~*
"Ohh! The sound came out!"
"Oh? You're rather talented. Orimura-kun, would you like to join?"
"No, I'm not really good with this. How about you, Cecilia? Would you like to join?"
"M-Me?"
"Don't you know how to play instruments?"
"I only know how to play stringed instruments. I've never played wind instruments before."
"Really? I find that you're really suited to play the flute. There's that grandeur noblewoman vibe from you."
"Grandeur noblewoman..."
For some reason, Cecilia muttered blankly as she continued to repeat these words.
"Oh, try it."
After saying that, I passed the French Horn in my hand to her.
"Huh? Th-Tha-That's, is that, well..."
"?"
"...-direct, indirect kiss..."
"Huh? What did you just say?"
"No, nothing! Nothing at all!"
For some reason, Cecilia started panicking as she waved her hands wildly, and then stared intently at the French horn.
She looked extremely serious, and I had to swallow my saliva.
"Th-Then, I'm blowing..."
"Ah, we must change the mouthpiece. Here, please."
"Ahh..."
"Hm?"
"..."
For some reason, Cecilia glared at the President who casually decided to change the mouthpiece.
Wha-What's wrong? Shouldn't you be thanking her?
"Here, please."
"No need!"
After saying that, Cecilia passed the French horn back to the President.
"Really, how stupid...!"
And she even got angry for some reason.
Just like that, my rest time with the third person ended as well.
◆
"And I was actually the last one...ku, that was unexpected."
"What are you muttering over there for? Where are we going?"
"Uu, mn, yeah...where's a good place—"
"Speaking of which, what's the Kendo Club doing? It's a rare chance, so let's take a look."
"Wha-What?"
"Huh, it's...ah, is it there?"
"Ho-Hold on! If I go to the Kendo Club—"
"Okay, okay, here we go."
"Do-Don't grab my hand! I'll go there on my own!"
I pulled Houki, who was resisting forcefully for some reason, and headed to the classroom where the kendo stall set up shop.
"Welcome."
It's a room with black cloth draping all over. A mysterious person fully covered in armor awaits in the darkness.
"Wah!"
"Oh my, so it's Orimura-kun and the phantom member Shinonono-kun."
"Is-Is that the Prez...? Wha-What's with that get up...?"
"Mn, at first, it was just a kendo experience stall, right? But nobody would vote, right? So I just decided to cast divinations?"
Why must they be in questions...?
"But there's nobody around at all? No customers here? I couldn't think of anything, so I full on full kendo armor to try it out?"
Something's definitely wrong.
"Then, let me tell your fortunes. Ah, sit down, sit down."
Houki and I were asked to sit down on the chairs, and we both stared at the Kendo Club President.
She was holding some hanafuda[5C 12] in her hand...
"Well..."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Why Hanafufa...? Don't you use tarot cards or something for divination?"
"I prefer hanafuda divinations, you know?"
"Well, Prez? I've never heard of that before..."
"Hm? I just named it, you know?"
It-It seems that she's really a lost cause.
"Okay~ here we begin, alright? I'll take your fortune in love, okay?"
Don't we have a choice?
As I repeated these words in my heart, the President said assuredly as she started her divination.
"Mn...Orimura-kun's the 'Rain Four Lights[5C 13] So, do you have any difficulty with girls?"
