Pure Love X Insult Complex

「 Hey, Nobu, sorry to ask but can our girls work just in the store after lunch? 」

Kana-senpai jumps in the bakery.

「 The customers keep coming at such a rapid pace that we're busy serving them! 」

We know what's going on since we're checking the monitor.

Thanks to the bored boys who occupied the seats moving away, other students and visitors of the school festival are now gathering at our cafe.

There are more people than yesterday.

「 I know that you're also having a hard time here, but… 」

Yesterday, the tennis girls also helped out in baking in turns.

But today, it's just us doing the morning pre-opening work.

The tennis girls came to the bakery after the prep.

「 Seems like the customers from yesterday spread the word that the pastry here is delicious 」

Yeah, the response we felt from yesterday was right.

「 We're okay here. Mana's here, and Ya-chan's helping. Megu doesn't need to go back to the track and field until the afternoon 」

Katsuko-nee had to leave the bakery for a while since she has a meeting with the TV crew, but Ai and I will stand our ground here.

Unlike yesterday, we don't have anything strange happening in school, Minaho-neesan promised that. So nothing will happen.

I won't be in a situation where I have to leave the bakery.

And above all that, our family can work together better in baking bread.

If we do it with the tennis girls, we have no choice but to teach them while working.

「 Then, please do. If we manage to get through lunch, then it'll get easier 」

「 Yeah, thanks Kana-senpai 」

「 Okay, see you later 」

Kana-senpai leaves the bakery in a hurry.

「 I think it's time for me to go now 」

Katsuko-nee looked at the clock and said.

Yeah, it's about time for the national TV crew to show up at the main gate.

「 Dear and Ai-chan will do the final check before it goes to the store 」

「 Okay, we won't allow any bad ones out 」

「 I'll do my best 」

We replied to Katsuko-nee.

Also.

「 Edie, go with Katsuko-nee as her bodyguard 」

「 I'm going too? 」

Edie turned to me.

「 Yeah, I think that we're okay since it's in our school, but there's Minaho-neesan's case 」

Minaho-neesan went out this morning with the strongest freelance bodyguard, so there must be some kind of problem.

It might spread fire outside Minaho-neesan's expectations and come to us too.

「 The TV crew are still outsiders. We need to check if they're the real deal 」

「 I think Darling's right about that 」

Edie replied to me with a straight face

「 If that's the case, I'll go with Edie-san 」

Tsukiko said.

「 I'm also a student in this school, and the TV crew might find it strange to find an international student, Edie-san, accompanying Katsuko-oneesama by herself, but I don't think they'll find it strange if I were with them 」

Yeah. Tsukiko and Edie are wearing their uniforms, so they can accompany Katsuko-nee, the teacher in the baking course.

Tsukiko can also check the crew.

As for our side, Mitama and Kinuka are outside, doing street performances and checking for suspicious people.

「 Katsuko-nee, take Edie and Tsukiko with you 」

「 Okay 」

Katsuko-nee agreed with my decision.

「 Anju, we're going out so be sure to watch the monitors closely okay! 」

Edie opened the door and told Kurose Anju inside.

Kurose Anju's still not usable as war potential, but she's got good senses as a bodyguard.

「 Oh, I heard that one. Kou took her from Ishigami-san yesterday, right? 」

Mariko looked inside the break room and said.

「 You know about Ishigami Mizuki, Mariko? 」

I remember deflowering her body yesterday.

「 Ishigami house is also from the nobility, while I'm not a daughter of nobility, I've met them at parties and such. That girl studied abroad if I recall correctly 」

Ishigami Mizuki's a daughter of nobility, but she didn't attend the school for the young ladies but instead went to a boarding school in Switzerland until this summer.

So, she hasn't interacted with Mariko and the girls in the last few years.

「 I'll talk to her. Is that okay, Kou? 」

Mariko smiles.

「 Either way, that girl's going to be Kou's slave, right? I'll talk to her and get friendly with her 」

I brought Kurose Anju here just for on-the-job training as a bodyguard.

Even now, she's just learning how to use the surveillance system.

The real one watching the monitors is Kinosh*ta-san, who's staying at the mansion.

So there should be no problems letting Kurose Anju and Mariko talk, and them missing something.

「 Yeah, if you could, Mariko 」

「 Okay~ 」

Mariko enters the break room.

「 Then, I'll be going 」

「 We're going 」

「 We're going out 」

「 Yeah, take care 」

Katsuko-nee, Edie, and Tsukiko goes out.

「 Yo-chan, this is done! 」

Nei's in charge of the oven today.

Baking fits her better than the process before.

「 Okay, we're baking the third group in the oven 」

I open the oven and stuff in new ones.

「 Yoshida-kun…this too 」

Ai's making the small laborious pastries for lunch.

「 Okay, we'll put that in after the first batch 」

「 Onii-chan, this is about to finish too 」

Mana and Megu are mass-producing the lower-priced pastries.

「 Okay!! 」

Anyway, we make sure to do what's in front of us.

Taking out the freshly baked bread from the oven and doing the final check.

After seeing that there are no problems, I send in the pads.

「 Ah, Edie's not here 」

Someone should bring this to the storefront.

「 I'll bring it 」

I lifted the pad and went outside.

We also have to collect the empty pads from the store.

Then.

「 I'll help you 」

「 We're here 」

「 Here! 」

Haiji, Eri, and Rie come in as I opened the door.

「 Since we're busy here, I brought the bread a little early 」

Rei-chan's van is parked behind Haiji and the girls.

Haiji and the girls came with the van containing the second batch of souvenir pastry Ruriko and Agnes made in the mansion.

「 Rie-chan and I can also make simple pastries 」

「 I think I can help out with the complicated ones 」

「 I've learned to do it 」

The twins and Haiji smiled.

「 Onii-chan, let those girls work with Mana 」

Mana's the teacher of the younger girls in the mansion so that's good

「 Then, I'll stock the shelves, Yoshi-kun, focus on the oven 」

Megu comes to my side

「 I'm better equipped to deliver the bread outside 」

Yeah, it's our school festival after all.

I can't let Haiji carry the bread to the cafe.

「 Yeah, please do, Megu 」

「 Okay, Yoshi-kun 」

Megu took the pad of freshly baked bread from me and goes outside.

Wait, aaah.

I also have to unload the souvenir pastry from the van.

The carnage in the bakery continues.

◇ ◇ ◇

「 I'm back, I also got Mitama back with us 」

Edie and the girls returned twenty minutes later.

Neither Katsuko-nee nor Tsukiko are showing a dark expression, the meeting went off without a hitch it seems.

「 What about Kinuka? 」

I asked.

「 Kinuka's good, she always hides her face when the camera's rolling. 」

Oh right, she dresses like a ninja and names herself "stealth Kinuka"

Mitama's a cover girl for Yukino's show, and she shows up wearing a bikini and a Japanese sword.

It would be a bit of a problem if the TV crew finds her, I guess.

「 I told Kinuka to continue attracting customers on her own. Now she's performing the secret technique, Nankintamasudare 」

Just what are the skills of these sisters.

「 When it's time for the TV interview, the helpers will hide in the break room 」

Katsuko-nee said.

Eri and Rie also appear on TV just like Mitama, so that would be bad, but Mana and Haiji are middle school girls who have nothing to do with our high school, so we can't have them caught in here.

「 Oh, the camera's also going to come here! 」

Nei said.

「 Yes, they're going to show the outside cafe first, with the girls from the tennis club, then they're going to show how we make bread here 」

I see.

「 The announcer from the broadcast company is here, but it will be Kana-san speaking outside. Then, Ai-chan will do it here 」

「 Me? 」

Ai's surprised.

「 It can't be helped, there are only two actual students in the baking course 」

Just me and Ai.

「 It's okay! Ai-chan's cute after all 」

Nei smiled at Ai.

Right, it would be better to have the focus on Ai when introducing the baking course to the TV.

「 As for you dear, you have to continue working, don't stop your hands just because we're on TV. We still have a lot of customers outside. 」

Katsuko-nee told me.

「 Yeah, I know 」

「 If the announcer asks you something, then just make a short answer. 」 Just focus on your job, like usual 」

Like usual, making dough, baking them, and taking them to the shop.

「 The broadcast will be around 12:15, there's still time. We need to finish up a lot while we still can

At noon, other events in the school festival, like presentations, and performances in the gym and auditorium will also take a break.

We'll get more customers.

「 Don't worry, everyone's here 」

Edie looked at everyone in the room.

Katsuko-nee, Ai, Megu, Nei, Mana, Mitama, Rie, Eri, Haiji, Tsukiko, Edie, and me.

It's not just us in the bakery, but also Ruriko and Agnes are supporting us from the mansion.

「 Let's do our best! 」

Katsuko-nee said and we resumed our work.

◇ ◇ ◇

「 It's about time 」

Edie looked at the clock and said.

12:10

We should make our preparations.

The spare monitor on the room shows the noon news on the national broadcast has already begun.

It's still doing news about politics and such.

「 Okay, Mana-chan and everyone hides in the break room. 」

Katsuko-nee gives instructions.

「 Okay, let's go girls 」

Mana leads Eri, Rie, Haiji, and Mitama to the break room.

Our workforce will decrease but it's inevitable.

「 Katsuko-nee, we're putting this out, check it 」

I took out the pastry from the oven and asked Katsko-nee.

「 Yes, let me see 」

Katsuko-nee does the final check.

When I'm done, I put the next pad of pastry we're going to bake into the empty oven.

Then, Megu and I will work on baking.

I have a lot to do.

「 Here, Katsuko-nee. 」

I put the tray of the newly baked bread to Katsuko-nee and went to the next job.

「 This is good. Also, let's bring out the souvenir pastries 」

Katsuko-nee instructed.

「 Give me a moment, I'll bring it in a moment 」

While Edie says that…

The national broadcast finishes their national news, coverage of accidents and incidents.

And it's 12:14.

The TV is now showing the outside of the bakery.

The tennis girls are in our cafe.

「 Oh, that's sooner than scheduled. Maybe there wasn't much news today 」

Katsuko-nee mutters.

Then.

『 Yes, we're currently at a school festival. 』

A dark glasses thirty-year-old man announcer is holding the mic and facing the camera.

Then.

『 Welcome! 』

The tennis girls in the cafe, lined up in front of the store and greeted all at once.

They all have natural makeup thanks to Katsuko-nee so their smiles are cute.

Oh, Misato and the other prostitute cadets in their aprons also appear.

However, that's a lot of people.

There are a lot of people gathering around the cafe.

『 What kind of shop is this? 』

The announcer asks Kana-senpai.

『 As you can see… Our tennis club and our school's baking course collaborated for this cafe 』

Kana-senpai says with a charming smile.

『 Our school made this special course for those who want to start a bakery in the future 』

Another girl said. If I recall, she's a senior.

『 As for us, we're just regular tennis club girls 』

『 Try tasting our products 』

One of the tennis girls gave the announcer a pastry on a tray

Kana-senpai and the tennis club must've planned this.

The seniors being the center, who will talk what.

『 Very well, I'll take one 』

The announcer took the bread and gave it a bite.

『 That's delicious, and you say that these are made by the students in this high school? 』

『 Yes, Baker-kun, and Ai-chan are making it in that building 』

And another tennis girl points at the bakery building.

『 Well then, why don't we get in? 』

The announcer and the staff holding the camera and the microphone walked towards the bakery.

They approached a woman eating bread at the table.

『 What do you think of the taste of the pastries? 』

『 It's quite delicious. An acquaintance of mine told me that the pastries here made by a student are delicious, and so I came over 』

『 I'm buying this every day! 』

The girls on the table speak to the camera with a smile.

『 I also eat Ai-chan's bread every day! 』

One of the boys from the distance could be heard.

「 I'll go out 」

Before the announcer could reach the door to the bakery.

Edie holds the freshly baked bread pad and opens the door.

「 Guys, the next batch is baked! We got freshly baked ones here!!! 」

Edie's voice as she opens the door could be heard on the TV just for a moment.

What's filmed here is broadcasted on the TV.

「 Boy, the smell of freshly baked bread is amazing 」

And we hear the voice of the announcer from the outside.

「 Focus on your work 」

Katsuko-nee whispered to me

Right, I still have to work

「 Oh, are you an exchange student? 」

The announcer asks Edie.

Edie accompanied Katsuko-nee during the meeting with the staff earlier.

So, the announcer knows about Edie.

They might've told how they want Edie to appear on the show to promote the international nature of the school.

「 It's as you can see, I came from New Orleans, nice to meet you all! 」

Edie has brown skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes, and she plays the role of an American exchange student whose Japanese is still not perfect.

「 Oops, excuse me, I'm delivering the freshly baked bread 」

「 Oh, please continue 」

「 Thanks~ 」

Edie carries the pad to the cafe front with a smile.

「 What a lively American girl. It seems that we have a lot of students in this school, let's get inside. Excuse me 」

Then, the announcer and the cameraman, and the audio guy entered the room.

But, I just continued to work.

On the other hand.

「 Welcome, I'm the teacher in this school's baking course, Takanashi 」

Katsuko-nee greeted the announcer and the camera.

「 Pleased to meet you. Since you mentioned it, what exactly is this "baking course" 」

「 Yes. The baking course is something that began just this year on a trial basis in this high school, it aims to help the high-school students learn skills for specific occupations 」

「 While they're still in high school? 」

「 Yes, it's not common in Japan, but in France and Germany, once they enter high school, they choose a career they would like to pursue in the future and study at a school where they can gain those skills necessary for that career. Our school's trying to adopt that Western system on a trial basis. Starting with this baking course for those who want to start a bakery 」

「 When you say professional, you mean? 」

「 In here, the students don't just learn how to make different kinds of pastry every day, but they do sell the products they make in the cafeteria. We also let the students purchase the ingredients, do the cost accounting, and even settle the accounts after the sale ends 」

「 So they're learning on the job what it takes to run a shop? 」

「 Yes, indeed 」

「 By the way, do the students get paid when they sell the pastries they make? 」

The announcer asks.

「 We're in school so we don't allow part-time jobs. However, this is part of the lessons so it's hard to the point where we get surplus 」

Katsuko-nee smiles.

「 Are we selling in deficit then? 」

「 These are just lessons after all. It's pointless to learn if your motive is only profits. Currently, we're having our customers learn about pastries from all over the world, using a variety of ingredients, without regard to profitability 」

「 However, do the students not ask for a reasonable wage since they're working? 」

The announcer continues to ask.

「 As mentioned earlier, that would make them feel like they're part-time workers. We're educating them to become managers in the future, so they need to learn economics in the bakery…and since they think like managers, they're genuinely considering how to turn the deficit to profit 」

「 I see. Thank you 」

The announcer goes to me.

I continued working.

I took out the bread from the oven and put in the next one.

Megu also returned to her job.

「 Why don't we interview the students as well? You're Kiyohara Ai-san, am I right? 」

「 Y-Yes… 」

Ai stopped working and turned around.

「 H-Hello… 」

Ai's one of the most beautiful among the freshmen.

「 What do you think of the baking course? 」

「 ………… 」

「 Is it fun? 」

Ai…

「 I want to… learn how to make more… kinds of pastry… as soon as I can 」

「 I see. By the way 」

「 Baking…is fun 」

Oh, Ai and the announcer's conversation is out of sync.

This is bad.

「 Yoshida-kun, the first oven is ready! 」

Katsuko-nee gives instructions.

「 On it! 」

I open the oven and take out the bread from the inside.

「 I'll check it 」

Then, I put it in front of Katsuko-nee.

I took small steps and put in the next batch.

Then.

「 Oh, it's just one guy here. How does it feel to be baking when there are girls around? 」

The announcer asks.

「 I'm used to it 」

I replied then formed the next pastry to bake.

「 My, you're quick on your job 」

「 Just speed isn't enough, you also need to make sure it has a good shape when you present it to the customers 」

Katsuko-nee said with a smile.

「 Yoshida-kun, this passes. Take it to the shop 」

「 Got it 」

I took the newly baked bread pad and went outside.

「 The students sure are working their best! Today, we visited the baking course right in the middle of the school festival! 」

Then, the TV coverage is over.

「 Thank you very much 」

The staff told us.

I look up at the monitor on the wall and the news program is showing the price movement of currency and stocks.

「 You're going to show a bit of what's going on inside at the end of the news program, right? 」

Katsuko-nee asks the staff.

「 Yes, just a few seconds 」

「 Then, how about you show the tennis girls outside again? I think that would look great 」

「 Oh, you're right. Let's take the camera out. We're gonna record the girls outside 」

「 Okay 」

The announcer and the cameramen went out of the bakery

Once they're all gone and the door closed.

「 Good job, everyone did great 」

Katsuko-nee smiled gently at us.