Green plums cannot become lovers.

Looking at the dozen or so points on the blackboard, An and Asuka were quite satisfied. However, just then, someone shouted loudly from below:

"Maid Cafe!"

After a moment of silence, the classroom erupted in excitement.

Volume 1: Chapter 145

An and Asuka stood on the podium, looking at the word "Maid Cafe" circled in bold on the blackboard, and the long string of words below representing the votes of approval, "正?E翼齐硫依山lI侕久?", feeling somewhat puzzled.

This turn of events was completely beyond his expectations.

He initially thought his classmate's suggestion was just a spur-of-the-moment joke. After all, compared to the more attractive "maid café" in the traditional sense, the image of a group of young boys, not too old and not too young, dressed in sharp suits or retro butler uniforms, serving tea and water in a classroom seemed rather awkward and even comically incongruous.

Generally speaking, in this oppressive era, people would prefer to see cute girls wearing maid outfits.

However, more than half of the students in the class clearly told him through the voting results that everyone really wanted to see it.

An and Asuka didn't understand, but as the entrusted planner, he respected the results of the democratic vote.

Anyway, once the topic was submitted to the teacher for approval, the specific preparation and execution were handled by everyone working together. A small classroom café doesn't need too many "male servants"; most people would be assigned to behind-the-scenes roles such as preparation, promotion, and cleaning, allowing him to likely blend in safely.

As he pondered these thoughts, he ignored the intense, almost malicious, gazes directed at him by many girls in the audience. They exchanged glances, as if silently plotting something.

The theme successfully passed Ms. Takanashi's review. Next came the intensive preparatory meeting.

After school, the students involved stayed behind. As the chief planner, An and Asuka were naturally present, while Anna and Karen stayed behind on the grounds that "the members of the Light Music Club might be able to handle the background music." Ai Hoshino, however, would arrive a little later due to student council affairs.

"Alright, the theme is set. Next, we need to decide on the specific plan, including costumes, menu, interior decoration, staff assignments, and so on." An and Asuka, notebook in hand, tried to get the flow back on track. "First, we need to determine the candidates for the 'male servants'..."

Before he could finish speaking, a lively short-haired girl immediately raised her hand and loudly suggested, "Since it's a male servant café, the 'signboard boy' has to be the most handsome! I recommend Anwa!"

"agree!"

I second that!

"Anhe's temperament is perfect for the role! He looks very calm and reliable!"

"You'd look so cool in a butler's uniform!"

The girls responded almost immediately, and several boys joined in the commotion, filling the classroom with a joyful atmosphere.

Anwa Asuka: "..."

He tried to argue, "I think this job might require someone with better communication and service skills..."

"Anhe is very good at communication!"

"And they clearly have a strong service mentality!"

"It's settled then! Our number one mascot is Anwa Asuka!"

Without giving the person involved a chance to object, the girls wrote his name at the top of the "male servant" list with astonishing efficiency, and even drew a sparkling star on it.

Hana saw Anna covering her mouth and chuckling beside her, her eyes crinkling into crescents. Himegami Karen also pursed her lips, her cheeks slightly flushed, seemingly looking forward to seeing An and Asuka in their butler uniforms.

An and Asuka rubbed their temples, sensing that this school anniversary celebration might not be as easy as they had imagined. Was this perhaps what the teacher meant by "the price of trust"?

Next, four more boys with distinct appearances or personalities were selected to serve as "male servants," finally completing the basic team. Then came the selection of female servants; the girls eagerly volunteered, and five were ultimately chosen by drawing lots.

"So, about clothing..." An and Asuka flipped through their notes.

“We can rent costumes!” The committee member in charge of logistics raised his hand. “I know a good costume rental shop that has butler outfits and maid outfits in all sizes, and the styles are great!”

"What about the menu? Wouldn't simple drinks and snacks be better?"

"What style should we use for the decor? Classic British style? Or something with a touch of fantasy?"

"The background music will be handled by the Light Music Club! Anzu, Karen, please!"

"I'll draw the promotional posters!"

Everyone chatted enthusiastically, and quickly assigned tasks one by one. An and Asuka were in charge of overall coordination and some procurement, as well as... serving as the "face" of the group.

"Alright, that's the general arrangement. Everyone, start preparing according to your assigned tasks. If you have any questions, please communicate them promptly." An and Asuka closed their notebooks and adjourned the meeting.

As the crowd gradually dispersed, Bana saw Anza skipping over to Anwa Asuka, nudging him with her elbow, and asking with a grin, "How's it going, our 'signboard boy'? Aren't you excited?"

An and Asuka glanced at her and said indifferently, "I just hope nothing goes wrong that day."

"How could anything go wrong!" Anzu said confidently. "With you here, everything will be fine! Oh, right!"

Suddenly remembering something, her eyes lit up. "Asuka, do you think I should run for maid? Maybe then I can get you 'exclusive service'!"

She deliberately dragged out her words, with a sly probing tone.

Himegami Karen, who was standing nearby, gently tugged at Anja's sleeve and said, "Anja, the maid list has been drawn..."

"Ah! Right!" Anzu suddenly remembered, and immediately deflated like a punctured balloon. "What a pity..."

An and Asuka found her appearance somewhat amusing, but also thought that if Anja really wore a maid outfit and swaggered around, she might actually be very attractive.

He shook his head, dismissing the inexplicable thought.

"You guys should really prepare some background music. Remember to choose some soothing pieces that suit the atmosphere of a coffee shop."

"Okay, okay!"

A few days later, the rented costumes arrived. To try them on and adjust them, the selected "male servants" and "female servants" stayed in the empty classroom after school.

An and Asuka were assigned a classic black and white butler uniform, well-tailored, with crisp fabric, and paired with a white shirt, bow tie, and gloves. When he walked out of the temporary changing room, the previously noisy classroom fell silent for a few seconds.

The boy usually wore a neat school uniform, exuding a clean and aloof demeanor. Now, dressed in an elegantly tailored butler's uniform, the well-fitting suit perfectly accentuated his tall and straight figure. The black coat made his skin appear even whiter, and the meticulously tied bow tie added a touch of ascetic rigor to his appearance.

His face was expressionless; he simply straightened his cuffs calmly. But the unique aura he exuded—a blend of youthful naiveté and composed deacon—inexplicably captivated everyone's attention.

"So handsome..."

"Choosing Anhe as our mascot was definitely the right decision!"

"This vibe is so perfect! It's like she stepped right out of a comic book!"

"Can boys be this beautiful too?"

The girls began to whisper excitedly.

Volume 1: Chapter 146 School Anniversary

Listening to the whispers of the girls around them, An and Asuka felt as if they had entered the world of an otome game, where everything the male protagonist did would surprise people.

He looked at himself in the mirror. He was indeed somewhat handsome, and his temperament might be a little different from other people his age, but he wasn't particularly stunning.

Perhaps it's due to the buffs on my body and my appearance attributes.

Regardless, he still felt somewhat ashamed, after all, this wasn't a 7 PM campus drama.

Moreover, it would be too cruel to only discuss him and the other boys next to him.

It wasn't that he was particularly kind; it was just that everyone else had changed into the same clothes with high expectations, but he was the only one being ignored. Only those who have experienced this feeling can understand it.

Thinking this, An and Asuka turned their gaze to the boys beside them. Sure enough, the boys, also dressed in butler uniforms, stood there somewhat awkwardly.

"Uesugi-kun, you guys are cool too."

An and Asuka gave the group a friendly smile, then walked up to them, looked them up and down, and reached out to help them tidy up.

Boys at this age are not yet good at grooming themselves.

"Watanabe-kun, your bow tie is crooked."

"Tadokoro-kun, your collar is turned up."

"Yes, it looks much better this way."

After tidying them up a bit, the boys immediately looked touched. Their initial unease gradually subsided under the comforting words of the young man.

Just then, as if they had understood what Anwa and Asuka meant, Banami Anna and Himegami Karen immediately began to praise them as well.

"I didn't expect you all to look so good in your butler uniforms."

"Kyoko, everyone here is really handsome, otherwise they wouldn't have been chosen."

After the two girls spoke up, the others around them also offered their praise.

In an instant, the boys' initial discomfort was filled with warmth, and their eyes were filled with emotion as they looked at An and Asuka.

An and Asuka simply smiled and nodded at them.

He cherishes his relationships with his classmates and doesn't want to create rifts between them over trivial matters, regardless of gender.

After changing their clothes again, An and Asuka returned to their original state.

After the discussion with their classmates, they couldn't go home yet because they still had club practice. Their club would definitely participate in the school anniversary celebration, which would be a great opportunity to showcase themselves to everyone.

The songs to be performed have also been decided, and due to time constraints, there are only two songs available.

One song is "Hotaru no Hikari" and the other is "I'm Sorry for Being So Cute".

Yes, these are all pieces that have been played before. The former has already gained considerable fame in this small town, while the latter is even more enthusiastically sought after by students at school.

Compared to the latter, although the former is more famous, it seems that many people have only heard his music but do not know that he exists.

So if possible, Liu Yueyi wanted to take this opportunity to make his name known to everyone. Based on the number of people that day, if just one hundred people saw their performance, word might spread from one to ten, and from ten to a hundred, making his fame spread rapidly.

Of course, this is only an ideal situation.

"Then we'll start practicing."

An and Asuka turned their gaze to the girls, and seeing that everyone was in their positions and ready, they tapped their drumsticks twice.

The melodious music resounded in the activity room bathed in the setting sun, while a camera nearby recorded their performance.

The early July sun was scorching and bright, shining through the windows of the teaching building into the "Butler's Cafe" that Class 2-A had carefully decorated. The air was filled with the aroma of instant coffee, the sweet smell of pastries, and the subtle air currents created by the busy boys and girls moving around.

Despite the sweltering heat, the students' high spirits remained undiminished, and the influx of visitors from both inside and outside the school was unstoppable.

From the moment it opened in the morning, a steady stream of people came in.

The hand-painted classical calligraphy sign on the blackboard, the warm atmosphere created by dark curtains and warm yellow string lights, and the most eye-catching "male servants" dressed in smart butler's uniforms—especially Anwa Asuka, who has a gentle temperament and proper manners and was chosen as the "signboard boy"—successfully attracted a lot of attention.

The busyness was like a wound-up gear, constantly turning. Taking orders, brewing simple coffee and black tea, serving snacks, tidying tables, and dealing with various inquiries and even requests for photos from customers... Everyone was spinning like a top, with fine beads of sweat on their foreheads, and sweat stains were faintly visible through the backs of the aprons or chaperone uniforms specially made for the school anniversary.

However, their tired faces beamed with genuine smiles and a sense of accomplishment. Every "thank you," "the coffee is delicious," and "you guys are amazing" from the customers became the best encouragement.

As the face of the store and one of the actual coordinators, An and Asuka were almost never on the move. A well-trained, gentle yet aloof smile always graced their lips as they smoothly handled the endless stream of customers, occasionally helping to deal with unexpected minor situations—such as a spilled sugar bowl or a paper cup that needed to be replenished.

The enhanced physical strength and concentration from the system made him more adept than others, but maintaining a constant mental state also brought some mental strain.

"Hey junior, can I take a picture with you?" Another girl in a stylish JK uniform approached him, her eyes sparkling, holding up her phone. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement and heat.

"Of course, it would be my honor." Anhe Asuka smiled and nodded, skillfully adjusting his posture to find the right angle for the girl.

He has made similar requests more than a dozen times today. He went from being a little awkward at first to being able to handle them calmly now, maintaining an appropriate service distance and a friendly attitude.

After a few soft clicks, the girl looked at the photos on her phone screen and smiled with satisfaction: "Thank you, junior! What's your name?"

"Just call me Asuka, senior," he replied gently.

"Flying Bird... What a lovely name, it suits you perfectly!" The girl waved goodbye happily, then turned around and started using her phone.

An and Asuka paid no attention and moved on to the next task. They didn't see that the girl quickly uploaded the photo to her social media, with a short but extremely damaging caption:

"A surprise at the school anniversary! I found an incredibly handsome junior butler! His charisma is amazing! [heart][photo]"

On her personal account, which had a considerable amount of traffic, this photo, which clearly captured the boy's excellent profile and tall figure, along with suggestive text, quickly rippled through her circle of friends like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, garnering a series of likes, exclamations, and inquiries.

Volume 1: Chapter 147 School Festival

"Flying Bird, here we come!"

A light, cheerful sound accompanied the tinkling of the wind chimes at the doorway, and three familiar figures appeared at the slightly crowded entrance of the 2nd Year A Class Cafe. Hoshino Ai, Kuze Shizuka, and Kirasaka Marina had finally escaped from their respective classes' busy schedules and came over immediately.

When their gazes fell upon An and Asuka, who were carrying a tray, dressed in black and white butler uniforms, and with upright posture, the three pairs of beautiful eyes lit up in unison, their amazement evident.

"Wow! Asuka is so cool!" Marina exclaimed first, her amber eyes sparkling as if she had discovered some rare treasure. She opened her arms and was about to pounce on him as usual.

An and Asuka reacted quickly, steadily holding the tray with one hand while precisely pressing the other hand on the forehead of the girl who was rushing towards them, fixing her a step away. They said helplessly, "If you're not going to order, go out and play. Don't bother me while I'm working."

Mari, whose forehead was being pressed against hers, puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction, but had no choice but to give up: "Order, order! You stingy person!"

"Give us three cups of hot milk and a plate of cookies," Hoshino Ai said with a smile as she ordered, her gaze lingering on An and Asuka's outfits, which were quite different from their usual attire, a hint of appreciation and deeper meaning flashing in her eyes.

"Okay, please wait a moment." An and Asuka noted it down and turned to prepare.

Soon, he brought warm milk and crispy cookies to the small round table where the girls were seated. Before he could even turn to leave, Marina's eyes darted around mischievously, and she had a new idea.

"Asuka~" she drawled, tapping the edge of the cookie plate lightly with her fork. "By the way, does your 'Butler Cafe' have any special 'service spells'?"

"A spell?" An and Asuka paused, puzzled.