After Japan's Campione spent New Year's in the South Seas, almost half a month had passed.
Just as mid-January was about to arrive, Sayanomiya Kaoru made a visit to the "Peerless Statesman" maid cafe. As soon as she had settled in her seat, she extended an invitation to the two others seated at the table.
"If you're free, would you like to spend the upcoming Valentine's Day together with me?"
" "......" "
Lu Yinghua and Amakasu Touma both responded with silence to this sudden invitation.
They were currently occupying the VIP room in the depths of the shop. This was a special room which was even equipped with a billiards table, darts and a card game table. Its level of luxury completely did not belong in a maid cafe in Akihabara.
After a brief while, Amakasu spoke up.
"With confidence and hope, let me ask this question first. The purpose of this invitation isn't to give us chocolate, is it? On the off chance that it might be the case, please allow me to decline with utmost perseverance."
"Yeah, hanging with you Sayanomiya-niisan, it's enough to make one go mad."
"You two seem to have ignored my gender magnificently."
Watching even someone like Lu Yinghua overcome with frowns, Kaoru smiled wryly on her androgynous and beautiful face.
Her handsome features seemed neither male nor female. The closest description would be that of an androgynous Adonis who appeared in shoujo manga in the olden days. Nevertheless, Kaoru's gender was certifiably female, and she was even a Hime-Miko as well.
As a side note, today she was dressed in a men's jacket and slacks.
"Just as you speculated, I wish for you two to accept my chocolate. These could be said to be my feelings, or more accurately, the feelings of a great number of girls."
"Unwittingly, you've leaked a rather suspicious matter..."
In response to Amakasu's mutterings, Kaoru smiled with delight and continued:
"Just as you already know, I am a third year high school student who is about to graduate to university. Furthermore, I am adored by all the female students in the school, including the student council president."
"Hey Nii-san, are you even studying seriously in high school?"
"Surprising as it may seem, she does go to school. A certain prestigious all-girls school. After spending three years in high school, wearing a specially tailored uniform, she has even gone so far as to become the idol of all the students and the female teachers."
Prompted by Yinghua, Amakasu explained in a shocked tone of voice.
Seeing the conversation take a turn in this direction so quickly, Kaoru smiled cordially and began to bring up the main point.
"Yes. Well then, it is predicted that the number of female students and older ladies giving chocolate to the departing Sayanomiya Kaoru will rise threefold compared to last year. I have already started receiving quite a number of presents given in advance. So this year, I'd like to have a more ideal system for receiving the influx of chocolate."
"In other words, you want us to help out?"
"A great answer, Amakasu-san! Lu-kun, I will require the use of these premises on February 14. I will set aside a fraction of this courtesy chocolate to be processed into a cake for everyone as my present."
"Well, provided it doesn't interfere with promotional activities on Valentine's Day, I don't really mind."
"What do you intend to do with the remaining fraction?"
"Donate the chocolate to places where there are many children and keep my personal favorites. There're various ways to deal with it. Prior preparations are already underway in this area."
"As usual, you're not using your talents on proper work..."
Amakasu sighed in response to his boss' flawless preparations.
Winking at her loyal and obedient subordinate, Kaoru continued.
"Besides, this gathering is men only. Girls are forbidden to join. I also plan on inviting members of the History Compilation Committee and certain bachelors that I know."
"So, you're going to invite Honored Uncle too?"
"Kusanagi-san? He'd probably accept with relief if I were to invite him."
"Because he is the type who can only relax in the company of men. But if Kusanagi-san were to come here, there will be a lot of grumbling from various sources."
Kusanagi Godou was the Campione who resided in Japan. Kaoru smiled wryly as she mentioned his name.
"We'll just have to come up with countermeasures when the time comes. After all, inviting Kusanagi-san here will be very interesting."
"Please don't dupe the world's great Devil King just for fun. This is our domestic godslayer after all, the unprecedented debuting Campione whose identity no one could have predicted until last spring."
Amakasu warned as if completely drained in energy.