Pure Love X Insult Complex

「 Agnes-chan and the girls made the three on the right, and Ruriko-sama made the left ones 」

Rei-chan parks her van next to the back entrance of the bakery, just like earlier.

She points at the pads loaded in the cargo area.

Agnes and the team made croissants to sell as souvenirs.

Ruriko prepared extra pastry and finished it before baking it in the oven.

I don't know how much we'll sell today so it's nice to have some spare at this time.

「 Rei-chan, tell Ruriko "Thanks, but no more spares for now" 」

I say while checking the pastry.

「 We know, everyone at the mansion is watching the live feed 」

Rei-chan smiles.

Katsuko-nee's away because she helped the tennis girl get their makeup, but Mana came in and helped out so we're able to make it work.

「 The mansion will concentrate on making the souvenir pastry, the next transport is scheduled an hour and a half later. Ruriko-sama said that they'll adjust the quantity depending on how it sells 」

They sure know the situation.

「 Yeah. I'll tell Katsuko-nee 」

While Rei-chan and I were talking, Mitama, and Kinuka, who was in the van, quickly put out the pads from the van to the bakery.

The other girls didn't come on this trip it seems.

Rei-chan's been transporting multiple times so there would be more girls coming from the mansion.

「 I'm returning 」

「 Yeah, thanks Rei-chan 」

Rei-chan's van drives off.

I also ran back to the bakery.

Katsuko-nee checked the pastries brought from the mansion right away.

「 No problem. Those girls are doing a good job 」

Katsuko-nee gave her approval on Agnes and the girls' pastries.

「 We can bring this to the cafe right away 」

I took the pads Katsuko-nee checked.

Edie and the girls immediately carried the freshly baked bread.

Also, we're going to sell some souvenir pastries.

「 Wait, it's still too early. Our current customers are still students in school 」

Katsuko-nee said, I checked the monitor showing the feed on the cafe outside.

It's already past 10:05.

Kana-senpai and the tennis girls opened the business as soon as the pastries arrived.

There are already customers around.

But, Katsuko-nee's right, all of our customers are still students in our school.

Furthermore, it's mostly boys.

「 The school festival starts at 10, so parents and outsiders should be entering through the main gate, but… 」

「 As expected, there are hardly any people from outside coming here at this time 」

Well yeah.

They're all probably going to check on the exhibits, presentations, and booths of their families and students that they know.

They won't be going to the cafeteria and checking on our shop right away.

「 This is for souvenirs, so we want them to take it home with them if possible 」

Katsuko-nee looked at the croissant Agnes and the girls made and said.

「 If we put that out now, the boys would just eat them all 」

Yep, these boys come to buy the pastries in the morning.

If they were hungry, they would be munching on the souvenir bread right away.

Then that means…

What's this about?

「 Why are there so many boys in here? I feel like there's three times more than yesterday 」

Boys in school uniforms continue to gather.

「 That's obvious 」

Mariko looks up at the monitor along with us.

「 It's because the tennis girls are serving coffee and bread while wearing their uniform, and that's why the boys are coming 」

「 The tennis girls are all cuties too 」

Mana looks at the monitor while working.

「 Katsuko-san, Nei-san, and I gave them makeup, so their cuteness just shines through 」

Mariko smiles proudly.

「 No, but still, ain't that too many? 」

I noticed that the counter on the terrace is filled with boys in black uniforms.

Kana-senpai and the girls are working hard selling bread and drinks, but they've got a huge crowd of spectators.

「 Well, it's because it's the second day of the school festival, Yo-chan 」

Nei came back with Edie.

「 The people in our school already saw most of the exhibits at the school festival yesterday, so many who aren't participating in projects has nothing to see today so that's why they came here 」

「 Huh? But why? 」

We got nothing here to look at, so why are they coming here?

「 Well, you can buy delicious bread and drinks, and can stare at cute girls in their tennis clothing all you want 」

「 They found out about it yesterday 」

Edie said.

Oh, I guess they learned that they can just pass time in the cafe.

「 Girls are coming too, but there are too many boys in the store that they can't approach 」

Megu's right, you can see some girls looking at the cafe from a distance, but they can't come to buy bread in that situation.

「 Give me a moment 」

Katsuko-nee switched the feed.

It shows the whole cafe.

「 This is a problem 」

We're dumbfounded.

The temporary chairs and tables set up in the cafe are…

It's crowded with schoolboys.

「 We can't get other customers 」

Megu looked at the screen and said.

「 Right, we don't want the boys occupying the tables for too long 」

Katsuko-nee looked at the clock.

It's just past 10 right now, but it'll get to noon soon.

「 If the boys sit there all day, even close to noon, we'll lose customers who buy bread for lunch 」

If there's no place for customers to eat our bread, they'll go somewhere else for lunch

「 It's not like they're going to stay…in the cafe until noon…but those boys…they might…stay in the cafe…until the festival is over 」

Ai mutters.

「 Is that likely? 」

I asked.

「 It's possible. 」

Edie replied.

「 We had various events here yesterday so they must be thinking that they can stay here all day and never get bored 」

Oh…

Yesterday, the first day of the school festival, we had a talk show with Eri and Rie, who appears on Yukino's show, and Anya had a special program with Rei-chan.

We went too far that we got complaints from the school festival committee.

「 Yeah, they'd naturally think that something will happen today as well 」

Nei smiled wryly.

「 I mean, they probably already know about the TV coverage coming later this noon, right? 」

Mariko said.

「 Right, there's that too 」

「 If that's the case, they won't be going anywhere until the TV coverage is over? 」

The boys also want to see the coverage as some spectators?

No, they might even want to show up on TV.

「 Anyway, it's troublesome if they keep sitting there 」

I sighed.

Then.

「 If so, should Kinuka and I stir them out? 」

「 Stir them out? 」

Mitama and Kinuka asks me.

「 Stir them out? You mean Dispersing them? 」

Mariko asks.

「 No, stir them, we'll use this 」

Mitama takes out her scarlet scabbard sword.

「 I brought the family sword today 」

Nonono, wait a second Mitama, what are you planning to do with that sword?

「 I will confuse the enemy with this gunpowder ball and then Aneue will stir up the enemies one after another with her sword 」

Hmmm.

「 Rejected. We can't make business if you chop students in school 」

「 That's unfortunate 」

「 Regret 」

Leaving the sisters aside, what do we do with them?

Then.

「 I'll deal with them 」

Tsukiko shows up from the break room.

「 Nei-san, Mitama-san, please accompany me 」

◇ ◇ ◇

Tsukiko went out of the bakery.

We're watching Tsukiko on the monitor while still working.

First, she's approaching them until she can use her Miko power.

『 Oh, it's Anjou Mitama! 』

Mitama is the cover girl in Yukino's show so the boys know her.

『 Also, it's Natou, right? What a beauty 』

『 The girl with her is also a beauty 』

『 Who's that again? 』

『 If I recall, it's the newly enrolled third-year student for the Nadeshiko department 』

More than half of the voices from the cafe noticed the three beautiful girls approaching them.

「 Anjou Mitama's also in the Nadeshiko Department, right? 」

『 Nadeshiko department, that's a gathering of beauties, yet they're separated from us 』

『 They should mingle with us too 』

I hear some whispers around.

Then.

『 Attention Everyone!!! 』

Mitama shouts from the bottom of her belly at the boys.

『!!!!!! 』

Mitama's voice was filled with Qi.

Now everyone in the cafe focuses on Mitama.

『 Pay close attention and listen carefully! 』

Mitama said. Then Tsukiko stepped forward.

『 Everyone, please listen to what I have to say 』

Tsukiko told the boys with a nice clear voice.

Yeah, she got everyone.

Now she invokes her Miko power.

『 Natou Nei-san and Anjou Mitama will tell everyone something. You should listen to the two of them and do as they tell you. That's a promise 』

The cafe quiets down.

『 Then, Natou Nei-san, please start 』

『 Y-Yeah 』

Nei moves forward.

『 You know if it's just the boys taking over the tables like they are now, the girls and the people who came to visit the festival from the outside would be troubled 』

The boys listen to Nei.

『 And so, boys need to give their seats to the girls and other customers, I mean, if possible…you boys don't use the seats over there, but stay a little further, like there…about thirty meters away. If the boys are bundled together, you scare the girls. You can go there 』

Nei points at an empty lot.

『 We're happy that you buy our bread and drinks but you should also show consideration to the girls and other customers who want to buy. 』

Good.

From those that the Miko powers can't reach, Nei's just warning the boys with bad manners.

『 Also, I think many of you know already but there will be a TV crew coming here today to cover the event. But, they're coming to cover the school's baking course and the cafe of the tennis club, so don't interfere with the filming. Rather, if anyone gets excited at the cameras and disturbs them, then you should try and stop them, okay? 』

Then.

『 Lastly, we're going to start selling some souvenir pastries, again, it's "souvenir pastry!" Just in case you still don't get it, you buy this, take it home, and tell your family that "you bought it from the school festival" and eat it with them. That's why those who can promise that they'll bring it home as a souvenir can buy 』

『 Promise us that 』

Tsukiko reminds them.

『 Mitama-san, you too 』

『 Okay, notice over!! Everyone, stand!! 』

The boys sitting at the table stood up at once.

『 Now, leave your post! Double time!! 』

The boys, even those who were buying at the storefront, all scuttled towards the vacant lot Nei pointed at.

『 Everyone, attention! At Ease! Attention! At Ease! 』

The boys move according to Mitama's instructions.

『 Learn before it becomes insignificant! Fix it! School Anthem!! 』

Then, the boys started singing our school's anthem.

◇ ◇ ◇

The boys moved to an open area so the girls could sit at the table.

The cafe front is selling pastry and drinks.

Oh, outside customers are coming now.

「 Katsuko-nee, time to put out the souvenir pastries 」

「 Yes, please do 」

「 How many do we put out for now? 」

「 Let's see, let's bring out two pads for now 」

「 Okay 」

I put two pads together, lift them, and carry them out of the bakery.

「 Darling, I'll take the other one 」

Edie helps me out.

「 Wait, I'll open the door 」

Mariko opens the door for me since my hands are full.

Outside…

「 I'll take out a piece of paper…this sheet… 」

Mitama takes out her Japanese sword and cuts a sheet of white paper in half in front of the customers.

Kinuka's standing next to her sister.

「 One becomes two, two becomes four 」

Then, the paper is cut into more pieces

「 Four becomes eight, becomes sixteen, thirty-two. Thirty-two becomes sixty-four. Sixty-four turns to a hundred-twenty-eight 」

She continues to cut it

「 What is she doing? 」

I don't get it.

「 You don't know, Darling? 」

「 You do? 」

「 That's the toad oil's selling speech 」

What's that?

「 Mitama's such an all-round performer 」

I mean, just what is Anjou arts.

Still.

「 She brought her sword just to use it on a performance 」

Well, it's okay as long as she doesn't use it to attack someone.

「 It's good enough as a way to attract customers. 」

True, for the customers who aren't students of our school.

In particular, the younger and elderly are gathering around Mitama and Kinuka.

「 Welcome! 」

The cafe storefront is also getting a good crowd, but not the odd crowd from earlier.

This mood seems best once the TV crew comes in this lunch.

「 Kana-senpai, we brought some souvenir pastries 」

I speak and then…

「 Wait a second…we're selling it here. 」

I bring it to the location Kana-senpai pointed at.

Oh, Misato and the other prostitute cadets in the tents are selling drinks.

They're having fun it seems.

「 Kana-senpai, which sells a lot? 」

「 You can see which 」

Oh, every pastry is getting equal sales.

Even so, you can find a bit of difference.

We need to hasten our replacement at this rate of decline.

「 We're off to a good start, there was a bit of a mess, but Nei-san and everyone cleaned it up. 」

「 Yeah, we can take care of the small troubles 」

「 Yes, we'll rely on you Nobu 」

Kana-senpai smiled at me.

Back in the bakery with Edie.

「 Yes, we don't have problems here. Yes, we're good with the initial numbers. Talk to you later. Thanks, Ruriko-chan 」

Katsuko-nee's talking on the phone.

She's talking to Ruriko about the next souvenir pastry batch.

Katsuko-nee ends the call.

「 I got a call from the TV crew while you were gone. They'll arrive here by 11 」

Oh, they're noon news, but there are cameras and a live feed to set up.

「 And so, I have to meet up with them. Can I leave the rest to you? 」

「 Yep 」

「 Yes 」

Ai and I replied at the same time.

「 Mana and I'm are also here 」

Megu told Katsuko-nee

「 Yes, please take care of the rest 」

As declared earlier in front of the principal, Katsuko-nee's in charge of the baking course so she's meeting with the person in charge of the national TV.

「 It can't be just tasty bread, and this is my job to do 」

Katsuko-nee changed a bit through this school festival.

Her view has spread further.

She's much more reliable now.

「 Also, as for the principal, hold off until spring 」

Spring?

「 It's hard to find the right person in the middle of the academic year, we'll look for someone a little more decent 」

Well, the current principal is someone hired because the previous principal was gone.

「 Why don't we wait and see? If he learns from what happened earlier and got better, why not keep him as principal even after spring? 」

I said.

「 Right, but I don't think those types learn their lesson 」

Katsuko-nee shows a wry smile.