Chapter 102: Handsome Hachiman Hikigaya
The hand holding the tray kept shaking, her eyes stared intently at the glass on the tray, and her steps were wobbling... Hachiman stood up and took the tray from her hands, suddenly realizing that this maid was Yui.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mas... Master."
Yui's cheeks were bright red as she set the glass on the table. That sentence made her incredibly embarrassed.
Yui was wearing a simple, popular maid costume with a black and white base.
There was a large bow on her back with light lace trimmings; the skirt was very short, and the top was designed to accentuate the chest area.
Akishin smiled and praised her. "Yuigahama-san, you look very cute."
"Really? Hehe, thank you."
Yui smiled happily, her eyes glancing shyly at Hachiman. Hachiman gave a small cough, his face turning slightly red as he agreed. "Yeah, it's really cute. Suits you well."
"Really? Hehe, thanks, Hikki!"
Yui's smile grew even wider.
Akishin looked at the figure behind Yui, his eyes flashing with admiration; her looks didn't lose out to Shizuka-chan at all.
He looked at his foolish student beside him; what a lucky guy. If this world were an anime or a novel, this boy would definitely be the main character.
"What are you all playing at?"
A cold voice came from behind. Hachiman turned and saw a maid from the British Empire era standing there.
Yukino Yukinoshita was wearing a long-sleeved top paired with a long skirt. The entire outfit was a dark moss green.
A striking black ribbon was tied in her hair. She looked elegant and composed, while her modest attire radiated an aura of luxury.
"Wow~ oh my god! Yukinon, you're so beautiful! It suits you perfectly!" Yui praised in awe.
"Thank you," Yukino replied flatly. She pulled out a shift schedule, placed it on the table, and said, "By the way, Kawasaki doesn't seem to be here. I've checked the work schedule; her name isn't on it. Judging by the home phone call received from this shop, she shouldn't be using a fake name."
"Which means we were completely misled by false information..."
Hachiman and Yui glared at Zaimokuza in unison.
Yukino sighed and said, "Let's go to the second location."
Akishin set down his coffee cup and asked if they wanted to eat something before leaving. After finding out they didn't need to, he settled the bill.
On the way back, Akishin treated them to crepes and takoyaki—since he had promised to treat them, he had to at least show it.
Hachiman and Akishin returned to Chishimaya. They practiced in the dojo for over an hour. Mid-practice, they learned that the high-end bar had a formal dress code, so they both went home briefly to change.
8:30 PM.
The Angel Bar on the top floor of the Royal Hotel near Kaihin-Makuhari Station in Chiba City. This was the second place Hachiman had found that had 'Angel' in the name and stayed open until the next day.
Actually, Akishin wanted to point out that since the other party could call here, they could have just called back to ask!
Why search for it one by one?
Back at the cafe, Akishin hadn't thought that far ahead; he just felt it was fun to accompany them on their walk, and it helped him unwind and get rid of his hostile aura.
Thinking back now, he felt it was a bit of a hassle.
Stepping out of the taxi, Akishin was still wearing the black tracksuit he wore for work; meanwhile, Hachiman had his hair slicked back (all-back style), wearing a light jacket on the outside, a colorful stand-up collar shirt inside, and pointed leather shoes.
—Hachiman's handsomeness level increased by 50%.
Saika Totsuka and Zaimokuza had also arrived, waving to the two from a distance.
Totsuka was wearing a well-fitted t-shirt paired with loose cargo pants, topped with a knit cap worn slightly back. A pair of headphones hung around his neck, and he wore basketball shoes.
Zaimokuza, for some reason, was wearing a mechanic's jumpsuit with a white towel wrapped around his head.
Akishin glanced at the two of them, then at the large hotel nearby. He shook his head and laughed. "Totsuka-san, Zaimokuza-san, you two probably won't be able to get in."
"Eh, why?"
"Because places like this require formal wear—a suit or a formal jacket of some kind. If you're in sportswear, you likely won't be allowed."
Saika Totsuka asked in surprise, "But didn't Yukinoshita-san tell us to dress more like adults?"
"She probably just didn't explain it clearly. She likely meant you shouldn't expose your age, since minors aren't allowed to drink alcohol."
Actually, Akishin didn't understand these things perfectly, but many high-end places had these rules. At first, it sounded like looking down on people, but they didn't demand expensive clothes—just formal ones.
Even if you bought the cheapest suit from a street vendor, you could get in. Conversely, no matter how expensive your sportswear was, you wouldn't get past the door.
In his previous life, Akishin had been to many luxury places like this. To do what? To kill people!
Places like this were routine spots for the upper class to hold banquets. There were many people, making it easy to strike and easy to leave. One smoke bomb was enough to cause massive chaos.
"Sorry... sorry for the wait! Eh? You... are you Hikki? You are! You're dressed like this... I almost didn't recognize you..."
Yui came jogging over, her small mouth slightly open as she stared at Hachiman.
"Komachi put this together..."
Yui immediately saw the problem.
Hachiman sighed. "Yeah, you really do get it." That sentence meant he had no clue how to dress himself.
Yui was wearing an off-the-shoulder dress that showed off her shoulders—the cute type. The plastic shoulder strap on the right was hooked on her shoulder, while the left was left to slip down. A red heart-shaped necklace hung around her neck.
On top, she had a short denim jacket, and on the bottom, tight black cargo shorts; she wore high-heeled sandals on her feet.
Completely different. Stunning.
Then, Yukino arrived as well.
Under the glow of the streetlights, Yukino was wearing a black formal dress, revealing shoulders that radiated a glow like the finest jade. Her long black hair was tied in a single ponytail with a hair tie, falling over her chest.
She had an elegant aura, and on her wrist, she wore a cute pink watch...
"Yukinon~, Chishima-sensei said our clothes aren't up to code and we can't get in. What do we do?" Yui looked at Yukino with a pleading face.
"They really aren't up to code."
Yukino looked at Totsuka, Zaimokuza, and Yui in turn. She massaged her forehead with a headache, then finally looked at Hachiman, her eyes lingering for two seconds.
After a discussion, Yukino took Yui back home to change.
Hachiman looked at Saika Totsuka and said apologetically, "Sorry, Totsuka, for making you guys come all this way for nothing."
"It's fine. Just seeing everyone in their casual clothes made me really happy."
Totsuka shook his head with a smile; he really didn't seem to mind. Zaimokuza, however, looked a bit disappointed.
Akishin spoke up. "Since you've already come all this way, why go home so early? If we can't get into the bar, we can at least get into the hotel."
Hachiman looked up at Akishin and asked, "Sensei plans to treat us to a meal here?"
"Of course. None of you have eaten yet, right?"
The three of them looked at each other and nodded.
"Then let's go in. I want to see if the food in a luxury place like this tastes any better. Don't forget, I'm a cook too."
"Then what about Yuigahama and the others?"
"We'll head in first and wait for them inside the hotel." Akishin led the way. The three hesitated for a moment before following.
Upon reaching the hotel lobby, Hachiman and the other two felt a bit daunted by the grandeur. Even the dim lighting illuminating the building felt expensive—definitely not a place high schoolers should be.
As the three stepped into the hotel with a mix of excitement and tension, the sensation under their feet changed noticeably. When they stepped on the carpet covering the entire floor, it sank softly.
*Is this the Oscar ceremony hall?*
The men and women in the lobby all looked elegant, and the occasional foreigner could be seen...
Chishima Akishin also observed the Royal Hotel; it was similar to the grand hotels provided by the Kendo Association, maybe slightly a level below.
Attendants on both sides of the door bowed in welcome.
Immediately, another waiter walked up to them and asked politely, "How can I help you?"
Akishin pointed toward the elevator not far away. "We want to go to the Angel Bar upstairs."
The waiter glanced at Totsuka and Zaimokuza, then bowed apologetically. "My apologies, sir, but the Angel Bar has a dress code, so..."
He didn't finish the sentence, delivering the rejection very subtly.
In a place like this, you wouldn't find waiters who look down on people like in novels or anime. Such a person wouldn't be allowed to work here.
Moreover, the service concept in Japan is that the customer is king—truly a king, not just a figure of speech. So, even in fictional works, those situations basically don't happen.
Akishin understood and said, "Then we plan to eat here."
The waiter breathed a sigh of relief, gestured toward the hall, and said politely, "Please, this way for the four of you."
Akishin led Hachiman and the other two.
The three followed behind rather stiffly; this was the first time they had ever been to a place this fancy.
Akishin chose a seat near the window and the door. The waiter brought the menu, and Akishin mentioned they were waiting for others, so the waiter retreated politely.
"Let's see, what do you guys want to eat?"
Akishin handed out the menus—one book for each person—while he opened and read his own.
The Royal Hotel mainly served Western and Japanese cuisine. The menu had both Japanese and English text.
"Let's see. Sakura Shrimp Roast / 700 yen, Wagyu Teppanyaki / 3,555 yen, Nigiri Sushi / 935 yen..."
Hachiman set down the menu, looking surprised. "It's actually not that expensive."
The prices were certainly higher than a regular small shop or an Izakaya, but they weren't the astronomical prices he had imagined. Some were even cheaper than the dishes Akishin sold.
Zaimokuza and Saika Totsuka put down their menus; their thoughts were the same. It was far from their image of a single dish costing a fortune.
"Who told you that food in a place like this has to be incredibly expensive?"
Akishin smiled. Looking at the three of them, he was unconsciously reminded of himself during his university days. Back then, he always thought of steak as a luxury.
He had once worked up the courage to go out for steak, specifically changing into new clothes and carrying over two thousand yuan with him.
He had entered the Western restaurant in an incredibly tense mental state, afraid of embarrassing himself.
But after actually ordering, he realized a regular portion of steak was only a bit over a hundred yuan.
It wasn't that fancy, nor was it that delicious; he felt it would have been more worth it to just go to KFC.
"Food in luxury hotels like this is actually relatively cheaper. Their main profit items are actually room rentals and banquets... especially rooms, like luxury suites or penthouses—those are the ones that are expensive.
Food for individuals is usually just a side business.
If you want an 'exclusive' restaurant—for example, a high-end Western restaurant, an authentic Japanese restaurant, a Michelin restaurant... the food in restaurants that specifically focus on making dishes is what's expensive—expensive enough to make you doubt your life choices."
Akishin pointed at the menu with a smile. "What you were imagining is likely that type of restaurant.
Hotels and catering are different. Of course, it's not absolute; some hotels have very expensive food too, but if you feel it's not a fit, you can just leave. No one is going to laugh at anyone for that.
When faced with this kind of thing, you have to choose rationally and not force yourself blindly. Otherwise, you'll just lose face and money at the same time.
Failing to make a rational choice is what actually makes you a laughingstock."
*Very good, the great Chishima-sensei is back to giving life guidance to his three students.*
Hachiman and the other two looked pensive and said in unison to Akishin, "We understand, Sensei."
Over ten minutes later, Yui and Yukino arrived together.
Yui had changed into a dark red off-the-shoulder formal dress that hugged her curves beautifully, creating a mermaid-like silhouette. Her pink hair was tied up in a bun, revealing her fair neck.
Her aura had changed completely; she was even wearing perfume. If it wasn't for her voice, Hachiman and the other two might not have recognized her.
"What are you guys doing here?" Yui looked at the three of them sitting at the fancy dining table with curiosity.
Hachiman said, "Chishima-sensei is preparing to treat us to a meal. We were just waiting for you."
"What! Here?"
Yui pointed at the table in shock.
Yui was just like Hachiman and the others; she thought the food prices here would be extremely high.
Zaimokuza took the menu and said excitedly to Yui, "Yuigahama-san, you've actually misunderstood. The food here isn't that expensive..."
Yui took the menu. After checking the prices carefully, she looked surprised. "You're right, it's really not that bad."
Yukino Yukinoshita scanned the group, giving Akishin a specific look, and then sighed. "So, what about the Kawasaki matter?"
Akishin said, "Totsuka and Zaimokuza's clothes don't follow the rules. You two go up with Hikigaya. I'll stay here and keep Totsuka and Zaimokuza company.
We'll order the food in the meantime. If Kawasaki really is up there, once you're done with your business, come down for dinner."
Yukino hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I suppose that's the only way."
Akishin looked at Hachiman again and advised, "Hikigaya, make an appointment somewhere tomorrow morning. Bring Kawasaki and her brother so they can talk things out clearly. Also, if she's really short on money, you can tell her about the scholarship."
"Scholarship?"
The five of them looked at Akishin in confusion.
Akishin explained, "Didn't you all look at the bulletin board? It's a collaboration policy between the school and the cram school, providing scholarships for top students. You can think of it as free cram school.
I've seen Kawasaki's grades; she's at the top of her year. I can help her apply for the scholarship. I guarantee the application will be accepted."
Specifically, this was a Sobu High policy intended to increase the graduation rate into high-quality universities.
As a private school, Sobu High wasn't short on cash; this small matter was likely handled with ease.
This was the first year of its implementation and it was still in the experimental phase, so it wasn't widely promoted—there was only a notice on the bulletin board.
Maybe before the holidays, the homeroom teacher would specifically seek out suitable students for a private chat, but applying early definitely gave a better chance.
"I understand. Thank you, Chishima-sensei. You've considered everything very thoroughly." Yukino thanked him sincerely, though she felt a slight sense of defeat because this essentially solved all their problems for them.
"Then hurry on up."
Hachiman nodded, stood up, and walked over to Yukino's side.
"By the way, one more thing." Akishin called the three of them back once more. "You can tell Kawasaki she can work at my shop. The pay is 1,500 yen per hour. Working hours are from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Includes one dinner. You can fill in the other details yourself, Hikigaya."
Yui was shocked. "1,500 yen per hour! Sensei's Izakaya pay is so high!" Everyone present knew that Akishin ran an Izakaya.
"Yuigahama, you're welcome to come too. The hourly pay is the same 1,500 yen. Think about it."
Yui felt a bit interested, but after looking at Hachiman and Yukino, she still shook her head. "Thank you for the offer, Chishima-sensei, but I still have club activities, and my mom wouldn't let me work that late, so I'll pass."
"..."
The three stepped into the elevator. Akishin picked up the menu, called the waiter over, and said with a smile to Totsuka and Zaimokuza, "Alright, let's start ordering. Don't worry, order anything you want. I'm serious... really, no need to worry about your teacher... like this Sakura Shrimp, and this King Oyster Mushroom Beef, one serving of each... This grilled meat looks good, let's get twenty skewers too. And this Mizu Shingen Mochi, Yuigahama and the others will definitely love it..."
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