I Just Wanted a Peaceful Life After Transferring, but I Fell into a Rom-Com Trap and a Hidden Battlefield No One Knows About - Chapter 17: A Literature Club Running a Café!? No, That’s Just Ridiculous!

Chapter 17: A Literature Club Running a Café!? No, That’s Just Ridiculous!

“Onii-chan, your phone’s been ringing non-stop.”

After finishing dinner, as I was washing the dishes, Umika appeared behind me, holding my phone.

“Got it. Just put it back on the table.”

“But, like, it’s super loud. I can’t focus on my game. Are you in debt or something? Getting chased by loan sharks?”

“I am NOT!!”

Why does this brat always say the weirdest things…?

“Ehh? Then why are you getting so many notifications? Onii-chan, aren’t my number, Onee-chan’s, and Aniki’s the only contacts you have?”

“Well… there are some circumstances. Anyway, if it’s annoying, just put it in my room or mute it.”

“Yeah, yeah, got it. I’ll drop it off in your room then.”

After finishing the dishes and taking a bath, I returned to my room and started preparing Umika’s study materials.

…Come to think of it, she said something earlier, didn’t she?

“Your phone’s been ringing non-stop.”

No way… Those guys… Are they still chatting?

Curious, I picked up my phone.

As expected, the group chat was flooded with notifications.

…No, it wasn’t just that.

There was also a private message from Sasaki-sensei.

“……!”

My heart pounded violently.

This is bad. Seriously bad. I’m completely done for.

Panicking, I opened the messages.

A long list of messages from Sensei filled the screen.

—All of them asking, “What are you doing?” and “Why aren’t you giving your input in the group?”

I’m finished… My life is officially checkmate…

Desperate, I sent a quick reply.

“I’m so sorry, Sensei! I was busy earlier and hadn’t checked my phone!”

The moment I hit send, a reply came instantly.

“Check the group messages immediately. We’ve already got some good suggestions, so take a look and give us your opinion.”

…Huh? I’m not getting scolded? Unexpectedly lenient!?

Well… honestly, this message is completely meaningless to me.

Because no matter what ideas they’ve come up with, my response is already decided.

“Yeah, sounds good to me.”

—That’s my one and only option.

A Café Renovation, Part-time Work, and… Maid Outfits!?

I scrolled through the chat, checking out the general plan they had come up with.

First, the café renovation.

Since the shop was old and worn out, they decided on a full-scale renewal.

However, we didn’t need to be involved in that part.

Apparently, Sasaki-sensei had already negotiated with her father and secured the necessary funding for the renovation.

Next, us working at the café.

Basically, we were going to work part-time to help with the café’s operations.

It wasn’t just volunteer work—we’d actually be paid.

As far as extracurricular activities for high school students go, this wasn’t too bad. Work and get paid—it’s a fair deal.

—Up to this point, I could understand.

But then came the real problem.

“Maid outfits.”

…Huh?

I did a double take at my phone screen.

Apparently, Tsunekawa and Nakano had teamed up to design new uniforms.

And they decided that the new uniform would be—maid outfits.

They planned to introduce them as part of the café’s rebranding, aiming for a more “service-oriented” atmosphere.

…Is that really okay?

Well, it has nothing to do with me, so whatever—

—Wait a minute.

Maid outfits… are for the female staff, right?

Which means… this has nothing to do with me.

So… I don’t need to work at the café, right?

—Hell yeah! This calls for a celebration!!

Or so I thought—until I scrolled down and saw the next message.

“By the way, we’re preparing a ‘special edition’ uniform for Misaki.”

…WHAT!?!?

Why am I the only one being singled out!?

How the hell did this lead to me getting a “special edition” uniform!?

Reading further, I saw that my name had already been registered as a part-time worker.

Not only that, but this wasn’t just a regular job—it was officially a club activity.

…Wait, wait, wait.

Our club is the Literature Club, right!?

What does working at a café have to do with literature!?

This makes absolutely no sense.

Who in their right mind thinks, “We’re a Literature Club, so let’s go work at a café!”

And to make things worse, according to Sensei, this was “only temporary.”

“Once the café gets back on track and we deal with the troublemakers, you don’t have to come anymore.”

—Yeah, but when the hell will that be!?

In the end, I have no choice.

Because if I try to resist… the wrath of Sasaki-sensei awaits me.

—Yeah, I should just stop thinking about it.

There’s no escaping now, anyway…