After being harshly reprimanded by Meari, Ruribird Nadeshiko finally put her clothes back on, and Meari also released Ayanokouji Kiyohira.
Unfortunately, she had covered him too late earlier; Ayanokouji Kiyohira had already seen everything, both what he should and shouldn't have seen.
Hmm... When I have time in a few days, I'll find that clothing store owner and ask her to make me a few more sets of different styles.
Her aesthetic sense is truly extraordinary, no wonder she can open a clothing store in a prestigious school like Private Hyakkaou Academy...
"Then what should I do? Today is the official opening of the Ryōran Festival. I can't really wear this kind of maid outfit to gamble with others, can I?"
Ruribird Nadeshiko was also very annoyed, but she couldn't really blame the clothing store owner.
She had specifically instructed the owner at the time, hoping she could create a maid outfit that would showcase her feminine charm and be distinctly different from Meari and the others... Who would have thought she would misunderstand!
If she had known earlier that the owner would think in that direction and make her this set of suggestive lingerie suitable for wearing in bed, she would have rather chosen to wear the same style as Meari and the others!
Ayanokouji Kiyohira suggested, "Ruribird, why don't you go back to the shop owner? She should still have ready-made clothes there, and you won't need her to alter anything; just buy off the rack."
"...That's the only way." She nodded reluctantly, her gaze falling on Ayanokoji, then she extended her hand towards him.
"What's wrong?"
Ruribird Nadeshiko put one hand on her hip and said very righteously, "Give me money. Of course, you need money to buy clothes. I don't have any money on hand right now. This money is a loan from you, and I'll pay you back when I earn money from gambling."
Ruribird Nadeshiko really had no money left, otherwise she would have paid for an outfit herself.
This is the consequence of gambling, making a rich young lady from a wealthy family have to ask a boy for money even to buy clothes.
Ayanokoji smiled helplessly, took a stack of money from his wallet, and placed it in her palm: "You don't have to pay me back; this set of underwear is my gift to you."
Ruribird Nadeshiko took the money, glanced at Meari, who was looking displeased, and then, on a whim, suddenly said, "Since you paid for me, how about I wear this outfit and serve you?"
"It's not impossible..." As soon as Ayanokouji Kiyohira said this, he was met with cold glares from all the girls.
"Ruribird Nadeshiko, what nonsense are you talking about!?" Meari, with a flushed face, gritted her teeth: "Aren't you a young lady? How can you sell yourself for just one outfit now!"
Ruribird Nadeshiko sneered without showing weakness, "What's wrong? Even if this outfit of mine is a bit revealing, isn't it still a maid outfit? Isn't it perfectly reasonable to serve a guest? Are you jealous? If you're jealous, go order one yourself!"
"How can you wear such clothes in public? Do you think I'm as shameless as you!?"
The two suddenly started arguing again.
This kind of thing was nothing new; Ruribird Nadeshiko had always had a competitive spirit towards Meari, wanting to surpass her once, so she always tried to compare herself to her in everything.
She had long realized that Meari liked Ayanokoji, so she deliberately used Ayanokoji to provoke Meari.
Whether she succeeded in provoking her or not was unknown, but Ayanokoji certainly got to see the benefits.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira cleared his throat, interrupting their argument, and asked knowingly, "Speaking of which, where is Alice? Why haven't I seen her?"
Everyone else was in the Cooking Room, only Ririka was not there.
Meari glared fiercely at Ruribird Nadeshiko, and without further entanglement with her, she turned her head and replied, "Oh, Alice told me that she has something to do today and might be late."
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. At this moment, the door of the Cooking Room was suddenly pushed open, and it was indeed Ririka, panting.
She seemed to have run all the way, breathing lightly, her face still slightly flushed.
"Sorry, I had something to do just now, and I just arrived. I've delayed everyone's time..." She lowered her head and apologized.
"It's okay, there's nothing going on right now anyway."
There were no guests at the moment, so no one paid attention to her lateness.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira looked at Ririka, who had already changed into a maid outfit. Her blue and white maid outfit looked somewhat like a dress worn by a country girl in England.
This Alice maid outfit, far from looking unfashionable on her, instead complemented her short silver hair, giving her an ethereal aura.
"Anna, this outfit suits you very well." Ayanokouji Kiyohira praised her with a smile, then turned around to smooth out the wrinkles on her shoulder caused by her running too fast.
"...Thank you."
As Ririka blushed and lowered her head, Ayanokouji Kiyohira casually took a long, thin silver strand of hair from her shoulder.
This strand of hair was very long, reaching her waist, unlike her current shoulder-length hair. However, it was the same length as the Vice President's hair.
She must have hurriedly changed out of her wig and put on her makeup after the Student Council meeting before rushing over.
This had completely confirmed her identity; there was no need for further explanation.
"It's nothing." Ayanokouji Kiyohira smiled gently, wrapped the strand of hair around his finger to conceal it, and stepped aside: "You should go quickly; they are all waiting for you."
"Now that Anna has arrived, it's our turn!"
Togakushi Yukimi adjusted her glasses and confidently rubbed her hands together, having completely forgotten about becoming a detective at this point.
She had already contacted her friends in the News Agency a few days prior and, through their channels, had spread the word about the "Gambling Maid Cafe."
Of course, this cost money, but securing a page during the Ryōran Festival made the expense necessary.
During the Ryōran Festival, countless people needed to advertise. Togakushi Yukimi's ability to secure this opportunity was built upon the existing good cooperative relationship between both parties.
Not only through the News Agency's channels, but in fact, Ayanokouji Kiyohira had also utilized the Beautification Committee's channels to hang a banner on the Activity Building.
During the Ryōran Festival, as long as one applied through the Beautification Committee and paid a large sum of money, they could advertise their casino on the outside of the School Building.
This was a benefit Ayanokouji Kiyohira had obtained for himself, acting "for personal gain," while helping Miharu Taki Sakura.
Calling it personal gain wasn't entirely accurate. In fact, when Miharu Taki Sakura heard that Ayanokouji Kiyohira wanted to advertise, she approved their advertising slot without a second thought, charged no fees, and even placed it in the most prominent location.
With the buzz generated by these advertisements, the casino surely wouldn't be deserted like it was last week.
The girls had already begun preparing their respective gambling tools. Each of them had prepared a different game, highlighting their distinctiveness.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira saw Hanatemari Tsuzura sitting in the corner of the room, looking a bit nervous. He smiled, walked over to her, and pretending to be eager to help, leaned down and whispered: "Hanatemari, don't be nervous. Just relax and treat it as a game. Even if you lose money, I'll cover it for you."
"Then wouldn't I become someone you're supporting?" Hanatemari Tsuzura pouted and protested in a low voice: "I don't want that!"
"So what if I support you? It's great. Others want me to support them, and I'm not even willing to do that."
Ayanokouji Kiyohira teased her deliberately: "If you don't want to take my money for free, then tonight, when you return to the hotel, we can gamble on a game you're good at. Whatever you lose during the day, you can win back tonight."
The "game she's good at" in Ayanokouji Kiyohira's mouth certainly didn't refer to legitimate gambling. Hanatemari Tsuzura glanced at him and said angrily: "Don't underestimate me! I've been preparing for the Ryōran Festival for a whole week! Maybe I'll make a fortune!"
Hanatemari Tsuzura was adorable even when she was angry.
Ever since she acknowledged her identity and stopped seeing herself as the sneaky "mistress," her relationship with Ayanokouji Kiyohira had deepened.
She no longer put herself in an inferior position; she would even act spoiled and get angry with him, truly treating Ayanokouji Kiyohira as her lover.
This was also the relationship Ayanokouji Kiyohira wanted to achieve with her.
Originally, Ayanokouji Kiyohira wanted to tease Hanatemari Tsuzura a bit longer, but Meari came over, and Hanatemari Tsuzura quickly abandoned him, talking to Meari with a beaming smile.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira could only stand up dejectedly.
Their relationship was indeed very close, but if he didn't win over Meari, Hanatemari Tsuzura would never prioritize him.
Right now, you're ignoring me, but in a while, when Meari confesses to me, and we're together, kissing and cuddling, completely ignoring you, let's see how you feel...
Ayanokouji Kiyohira thought with "malicious amusement" in his heart.
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