CHAPTER 715: CHAPTER 435: MEETING, THE MANAGER’S THOUGHTS_2

"A bookshelf? Sounds good, maybe add some magazines like Time, Weekly Trend, that sort of thing." Uesugi Sakura agreed.

"Yeah, I thought so too, but if the bookshelf becomes popular, won’t it deviate from the original concept of a maid cafe?"

"Is there a conflict between a bookshelf and maids?" Uesugi Sakura was a bit puzzled.

"Putting up a bookshelf might make the cafe feel more relaxed and slow-paced. This would make it more appealing to office workers. At the same time, I don’t want to disappoint our loyal customers who love the concept of maids, since they were the ones who supported this cafe from the start."

"I understand, the main issue is we have two groups of customers who prefer different styles, right?"

"Right," Manager Yanagi looked at Uesugi Sakura’s face, "Especially after you came, the situation became more noticeable. We attracted a lot of female office workers but lost some of our more ’otaku’ male customers. There are quite a few familiar faces I haven’t seen anymore."

This indeed was a problem.

Uesugi Sakura could understand why those customers disliked being in a normie-heavy environment.

Especially when those women discuss their million-yen salaries or the designer clothes they’re wearing.

They might even look at the otakus at the next table with disdain.

This is common in Japanese society.

A new environment causes the original community to fade away.

Uesugi Sakura could only apologize to those loyal customers who loved 2D maids.

"Uesugi, I think we need to refine the cafe’s position. Do you have any good suggestions?"

Uesugi Sakura pondered seriously for a moment: "Actually, the initial otaku-friendly vibe wasn’t that strong. The maids’ outfits and styles are more like European aristocratic maids, right?"

"That’s right. When I opened the cafe, I visited several famous maid cafes in Akihabara, but I didn’t really understand their style."

Manager Yanagi, being a woman with a career, couldn’t quite grasp the otaku-oriented style of 2D allure.

"For personal reasons, I’d always wanted to open a cafe. The concept of maid cafes was very popular recently, and it happened coincidentally that my family had some unused commercial property here, so I used it. I didn’t really think about the positioning at the start. That’s why it feels neither here nor there."

So that’s how it was. When he first came, Uesugi Sakura mentioned how this maid cafe didn’t have the otaku allure at all.

Turns out, the manager didn’t understand.

Uesugi Sakura considered for a while: "I think we shouldn’t abandon the core concept of maids, as that’s what the cafe initially built its success on. Since we’re getting more customers now, and nobody seems uncomfortable with the maid element, we can continue with it moderately."

"Hmm." Manager Yanagi rested her chin on her hand and nodded.

"Since that’s the case, why don’t we actively develop in that direction, getting rid of all otaku-specific perks in the cafe, like taking photos, shaking hands, singing along."

"Hmm, what else?"

"The bookshelf also needs a remodel. We should add some trendy books and magazines, along with some classic literary works to cater to those who like that. Some customers who aren’t busy like to sit here for a long time."

"Alright, but if we cancel activities like shaking hands and singing, won’t we lose more old customers?"

"In fact, there aren’t many customers attending such activities now... Those who really liked it probably stopped coming long ago. The photo-taking sessions are still being used by many old customers, so that shouldn’t be canceled. Manager, maybe you should conduct a survey on customer preferences."

"That can be done, but customers might not like participating in surveys."

"You could offer some gifts, like a limited-edition cookie to everyone who participates in the survey."

"Good idea," Manager Yanagi agreed and, after mulling it over, quickly said, "We can’t delay this. I’ll prepare the survey report this afternoon and print out a few hundred copies. I’ll leave the cafe to you, and Hanami will handle the desserts. I have confidence in her skills."

"Sure."

"What do you think about the concept of male maids?" Manager Yanagi glanced at Uesugi Sakura’s face.

"Huh?"

...

Manager Yanagi, efficient as always, quickly went to the office inside to organize the necessary survey report.

Uesugi Sakura was relieved that this wasn’t some kind of host club, and continued with his work.

When it wasn’t too busy, Hanabi would come out of the kitchen, give him a glance, and help serve coffee to customers.

While waiting for him to finish making coffee, Hanamaru Hanabi would often lean across the counter and chat with him.

"Is Kuwahara-kun’s classmate still talking to that little fox?"

Uesugi Sakura remained silent for a while: "...The little fox means Kohashi?"

"Yes, don’t you know?" Hanamaru Hanabi cupped her face with her hands, looking as charming as a flower, "Hanabi can tell she likes you."

"I don’t think so, it’s just that she respects me at work." Uesugi Sakura placed the finished coffee on the tray in front of her.

"Hmph, a little fox doesn’t show her tail, but Hanabi knows, Hanabi can see it." Hanamaru Hanabi adjusted the coffee cup to the right, leaned with half her face propped up, and looked at him, "But, the little fox isn’t a threat to Hanabi. To avoid giving Kuwahara-kun too much trouble, I’ll just leave it like this for now."

Hanamaru Hanabi picked up a grape from the plate in front of her with her slender fingers and raised it to his lips:

"Here, ah~~"

"..."

"This is the customer’s food."

"It’s fine, just one grape, and besides, pretty girls can always be forgiven for doing bad things."

The way she fed the grape and looked at him was irresistibly tempting.

Uesugi Sakura glanced around, confirmed that no one was watching, and quickly bit the grape fed by the girl into his mouth.

Hanamaru Hanabi put down her hand and smiled as if appreciating something:

"Kuwahara-kun is so cute, but why be so sneaky?"

"Showing off in public... isn’t good, besides, my role now is your brother-in-law."

"I don’t get it, can’t a sister feed her brother-in-law grapes?"

"She can, but the way you look at me is full of affection and indulgence. Explaining that with a sister’s identity is a bit of a stretch."

"There’s nothing I can do. Kuwahara-kun is so handsome, if Hanabi were really Hanami, she’d be mesmerized by Kuwahara-kun’s looks, then captivated by his gentleness and thoughtfulness, unable to resist and secretly imagining her brother-in-law in bed... just like that, imagining devouring her brother-in-law in one bite." Hanamaru Hanabi ate another grape, licked her lips with her small tongue, and kept her eyes on him.

"..."

Uesugi Sakura felt she was teasing him.

Why did his usually timid wife, with a change of character, manage to tease him like this?

Judging from the relationship between her two personalities.

Could it be that little Hanabi subconsciously fantasized about teasing him like this!?

It must be the case.

Black Hanabi was simply doing the things little Hanabi didn’t dare to do openly and finding it to be no trouble at all.

Indeed, every girl has her fantasies.

Maybe little Hanabi had even fantasized about forcefully kissing him, and then secretly daydreaming alone.

Uesugi Sakura started to get curious.

When little Hanabi comes out, he must ask her carefully.

"Kuwahara-kun, what have you been thinking about since just now?"

"Nothing."

Better to leave Black Hanabi alone; she understands him too well and dares to say anything.

If he’s not careful, she might tease him instead.

"No, Kuwahara-kun must be imagining something, thinking about whether Hanabi usually fantasizes about Kuwahara-kun and secretly daydreams? Hanabi can tell Kuwahara-kun, yes, quite a lot actually."

"..."

"Shouldn’t you get that coffee to the customers..."