Epilogue of L4mps SIDE:A

An honest message to the chief…

Okay…

Good eve⁠—

Hey, Hachinoya!

*gasp* What is it?

Why the hell are you hidin’ in your room? We got work to do!

Okay. I can walk by myself. You don’t need to pull.

Shut it! And start walking!

(Th-The recording…)

It looks like the party’s in full swing. This is a good time to start bringing out dessert.

Yeah! Let’s give everyone a nice surprise and put together the biggest dessert buffet ever!

Did you finish stirring the ice cream that’ll be on the side?

N-Not yet! I need jusht a bit more time!

Chef! I have finished the orange sauce in advance, yes!

Mm, it’s a little on the tart side, but it tastes decent. Good enough, I guess… Keep studying up.

Heheh, you did it, Mashiro, ay. He complimented you, ay.

We did it together, yes!

But the arrangement sucks, so redo it.

D’ohhh.

Is it ready yet, Sonia-dono?

Ah, yesh…! You can give it a tashte!

*munch…* Yeah, that’s fine.

Yay! Thank you for the help, Chou Un-shan!

It is my Pleasure. Let us work on the macarons Next.

La-la, Laikaaa!

Laika, just keep working on the dough.

Laika!

Okay! I should put in the work too. I need to make something worthy of my teacher’s praise!

Your teacher?

Yes! I’ve actually been taking baking lessons from Ushio-kun lately. He’s pretty tough and gives up on me at times, but his skills are the best of the best!

Toi-san, you can set that jam aside for dipping. We also need a lot of whipped cream, so could you please get started on making some?

Of course, Chef Ushio! Here I go! *whisking*

I brought Hachinoya… Hey, Kurama! Just ‘cuz you’re kinda talented doesn’t mean you get to boss Toi around! I’ll kill you!

I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave if you plan on disturbing the sanctity of my kitchen. Your spit is getting everywhere.

Brother Dearest, it’s okay! I’m having a lot of fun, and all of my rigorous training prepared me for this.

True, that is some very impressive whipped cream. The peak is standing tall, like the Matterhorn.

Grrr…

My two-toned peach bun is complete! And over here is my rainbow caramel sauce and sesame sauce. ♪

Give it a taste. You’ll see stars…

I didn’t tell you to add more colors! I guess red and blue is fine, but mixing green and gray into it makes it look awful!

*munch, munch…* Mm, but it’s really good. Try it, Ushio.

What…? I really don’t wanna, but… *munch*

…I-Isso good…!

Never judge a book by its cover, as they say.

Yodaka-san, I can help you cut the fruit.

Thank you, I appreciate it.

……

(What should I do about the recording?)

(I need to finish it and give it to Renga quickly, or else I might forget about it and only remember after a few days have passed.)

(Renga, Akuta, and Raito-san put so much thought into their messages. If I mess it up and we miss our chance to give it to the chief…)

(Urgh… Just imagining it makes a chill run up my spine…)

Nagi, you’ve stopped.

Ah, ah, sorry…

It seems like something’s on your mind. Are you feeling sick?

No, I’m fine. But…

(I feel bad for leaving all of this to Yodaka-san, but I really think I should get this recording squared away.)

Go and take a rest. All of the pet robots are helping us here, so you don’t have to worry.

Thank you. I’ll go do that.

(Maybe I can do it here? Everyone’s caught up in the party, so there shouldn’t be anyone here.)

……

Okay… The coast is clear.

Chief, goo⁠—

Nagi-kun, are you there?

*gasp…* Toi… How’d you know I was in here?

I couldn’t find you, so I figured out your location through dowsing. What are you doing here?

Um… It’s nothing important. Did you need something?

I just remembered that it was my cousin’s birthday in a couple of days. I wanted to get some flowers, so I went looking for you. Is it okay if I order them from you?

Oh. Okay.

(I’ll do the recording later.)

(Is what I thought, but the buffet was ready to be served, and I couldn’t find any time to do it… What now?)

O-M-G! All of these cakes are soooo aesthetic and cute! And the colorful peach buns are, like, literally the best!

Like, literally the best!

I’m surprised that you were able to prepare so much in such little time. That’s very impressive.

These are just the kinda results you get when you let me lead things.

I’m so glad to see that everyone likes it. Okay, Nagi-kun, let’s carry everything out!

…Okay.

(Nagi-kun looks a little out of it… I wonder if something happened.)

Mmm, if my peach buns are this popular, mayhaps I should add them to my cafe menu as well!

Netaro-kun, did something happen in the kitchen? I feel like Nagi-kun’s acting a little strangely.

Hm? I have no clue. Did something happen?

(He doesn’t know… I guess I could ask Ryui-kun and Yodaka-sa⁠—)

Wah! Did someone’s alarm just go off?!

Sorry. That was my phone… Did I set an alarm for something?

It says “nighttime message to Netaro”.

Ah, right. Netaro asked me a few weeks ago to say a word to him on this specific day at this specific time.

Hmmm? I did?

Looks like he already forgot about it… What’s the word?

Contact.

……

Aaaahhhh! Right, I remember now! I must hurry!

It’s good that he remembered, but… Contacts? What does that mean? You’re not gonna go with him, Nagi-kun?

Huh?

If he asked you to remind him of it, I feel like it might involve you in some way.

(I really don’t think so, but… I want to make the recording, so this might be my chance to get out of here.)

Thanks. I’ll head out then.

What could “contact” even mean…?

Heyyy, don’t look all down in the dumps. You’re gonna sour the mood of the party. Just have a drink or something.

Ah, Daniel-san… Wow, you’re pretty drunk, huh?

(Yodaka-san’s standing behind the bar with Daniel-san sitting and drinking peacefully in front of him… It’s like we’re at Yumejuya.)

Feel free to order anything you desire.

Can I order another one of your original cocktails?

As you wish. I’ll use liquor as a base this time… Hm? The bottle’s empty.

Maaaan… We bought so much, but it’s already gone? Alright, guess we gotta go buy some more.

Ah, I can go with⁠—

There’s no need.

Evening! Anyone call for some alcohol?

I expected this would happen, so I asked Yuda to deliver some extra bottles.

Thank god! That’s our Yodaka for ya! So capable! I’ve fallen in love all over again!

Alright, I’ll carry it in. Hup! Heave-ho!

……

Aha, looks like Hiroshi’s in a good mood.

Very true… Yuda, since you’re already here, would you like to join us in the festivities?

Ahh, I appreciate the thought, but I’ll pass. I actually got invited to a mixer.

That’s a shame. I wanted to use this as an opportunity to be upfront and honest with you.

Huh? I didn’t know you had something to discuss with me.

I have a lot. For one⁠—although I presume you already know this⁠—I’m going to continue being a ward mayor.

…Yeah, I figured.

I also wanted to talk to you about why I fell asleep on the night of the our hospitality live…

Ah, sorry! I’m in a rush, so I gotta get going!

Go easy on the drinking, okay? Bye!

……