Grand Reopening After Renovation

After completing the large-scale renovation work, “Marie’s Bakery” began its new operations starting today. The renovation itself had finished quickly, so we hadn’t actually closed the shop for the sake of remodeling.

As usual, I woke up early with Caro, Marie, and Catherine, got everything ready, and headed into the shop.

“Good morning, Emily. Let’s have another good day.”

“Yes, Master.”

The five of us got to work. Until the first batch of bread finished baking, Caro, Catherine, and Emily had nothing to do, so they cleaned the shop and checked supplies and equipment.

“Alright, starting today we’re going into mass production, so let’s do our best.”

I said that to Marie.

“Yes. Let’s do our best, Kent-san.”

Marie said that while holding both of my hands.

Since the oven had been switched to an electric model, there was no longer any need to add firewood or preheat it manually. Just turning on the switch started heating and brought it to standby. In parallel, I kneaded the dough, put finished batches into the proofer for a second rise, then lined them up on trays. Once a tray was ready, I slid it into the oven, set the timer, and it baked in minutes. While that baked, I repeated the same cycle while also producing savory breads and sweet buns. The efficiency boost meant bread came out at a speed that couldn’t be compared to before. Caro and Catherine carried each finished batch out to the storefront, and the three of them—including Emily—stocked the shelves. Meanwhile, Rachel’s shift wouldn’t start until the afternoon due to the dorm gate opening time, so she was effectively not part of our morning manpower.

Once every shelf was fully stocked with bread, it was time to open.

The moment we opened, customers rushed in for bread—only to be startled that things looked different from usual. Normally, the bread they wanted sold out immediately, but today the popular items were piled high enough that they could relax, confident it would last for a while. They didn’t need to hurry, so they bought at ease. Even when something started running low, it was replenished right away, and none of the breads truly sold out.

Even Emily at the register keyed everything in at an astonishing speed, never making customers wait. After the morning peak passed, bread production finally settled down for a bit.

“Good work. It’s about time for school, right? Do your best in class.”

With Marie seeing us off, Caro and I got ready and headed to school. It was June now, and starting today we’d switched to the summer uniform. For me, that usually just meant taking off the outer layer; when it got even hotter, I’d switch to a short-sleeved shirt, but it wasn’t that hot yet, so I wore a long-sleeved dress shirt. The closer we got to school, the more students we saw walking. The boys looked normal as always, but a lot of the girls were different. A large number of them were walking while hugging the school-issued bag against their front. Of course, some girls walked normally too.

“Kent-san, it’s rude to stare.”

Caro, walking beside me, warned me.

“I just thought a lot of people were walking kind of strangely.”

Caro was walking as usual with her bag hanging from her hand. I ended up looking at a girl who was also carrying her bag normally. She had a fairly large chest, and through the thin shirt I could clearly see two raised points.

“It’s embarrassing when your chest shows through the shirt, isn’t it? Inside school, there’s nothing we can do, but we don’t want to be stared at on the way to school. That said, I hear a very small number of girls don’t care.”

The girls hugging their bags to their chests seemed to be commoners who couldn’t afford what they needed to wear underneath. Looking at the boys, it was obvious their attention kept drifting toward their chests. Meanwhile, the girls walking normally—aside from the rare exception—were either nobles or well-off commoners who could afford proper underlayers.

“Well, I wouldn’t mind if you looked, Kent-san, but I don’t want other men to see.”

Caro had her chest properly protected by the undergarment I’d given her yesterday. It was reassuring that the boys’ gazes didn’t drift her way.

“But why would they make a uniform like this?”

“I’m not sure either, but it must have been the intention of whoever founded the school, don’t you think? Even the design is very different from ordinary clothing. It’s strange.”

Caro was right—the school uniform looked nothing like the clothes people wore in town. That made it stand out a lot. Still, at our age the uniform was issued by the state and everyone attended school, so it didn’t seem like anyone found it strange.

When we reached school, Caro and I headed to our respective classrooms. As I entered mine, sat down, and looked around, I didn’t know where to put my eyes.

“Kent-san, your mouth is hanging open.”

A sudden voice made me jump. Surprisingly, Josette spoke to me in the classroom.

“Ah—Josette-san, good morning.”

“Good morning. Must be nice for gentlemen to have such a feast for the eyes.”

Naturally, Josette wore a thin white garment underneath and was fully guarded.

“Oh? Were you hoping to see mine? What a shame.”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant…”

In truth, I had been curious—something on the level of Marie’s, no less—but I answered in a way that wouldn’t give me away.

“If it’s somewhere with no one around later, I could show you, you know?”

She whispered into my ear.

“Huh?”

“I’m joking.”

I felt annoyed at myself for almost taking it seriously.

Then the morning classes began.

When lunch break came, I started heading to our usual spot and realized something.

(Damn it. I didn’t prepare lunch today.)

Because the reopening had kept me so busy, I’d forgotten to secure lunch.

(Everyone’s probably been looking forward to it, and I blew it.)

Still, assuming everyone had gathered, I headed to the usual place behind the school building. But only Josette was there.

“Are the two of them not coming today?”

“I didn’t hear anything like that, so I thought they would.”

“I’m a little concerned. Let’s go check the first-year classroom.”

Josette took my hand and led me toward the first-year rooms.

On the way, she didn’t let go, gripping my hand firmly the whole time.

“Oh dear… this doesn’t look possible today.”

Caro and Rachel were surrounded by a crowd of girls and couldn’t move.

“Rachel-san, where did you get what you’re wearing underneath?”

“Caro-san, tell us what shop sells it!”

It seemed the other girls were fixated on their undergarments and were bombarding them with questions.

The crowd was so big that Josette and I couldn’t even get close.

“Josette-san, I’m sorry. I didn’t prepare lunch today.”

“Oh, is that so? Then let’s go to the cafeteria today. The taste isn’t very good, but it’s better than eating nothing. Since you always treat us, today I’ll pay.”

Leaving Caro and Rachel behind, Josette and I headed to the cafeteria hand-in-hand.

We arrived at the cafeteria.

“Oh, there aren’t many customers.”

Josette said that as she looked inside. It was my first time entering the cafeteria during service hours, so I didn’t know what it was usually like. Scanning the room, I saw Gordon, Cedric, and Mark each planted in their own spot, all surrounded by groups of women.

“Kent-san, let’s sit over here.”

Josette chose seats far from the three of them. I sat across from her.

“This is the first time we’ve sat facing each other like this. It’s a little embarrassing—it feels like we’re on a date.”

Josette said that shyly, and my heart jumped at the sight.

“Oh my, Kent-san, you don’t look entirely indifferent either.”

The cafeteria was divided into two areas: one for self-service and one for full service. Of course, the seats Josette and I took were in the full-service area. The full-service section had a decent number of people, including those three and their entourages, but the self-service section—where most seats were—was practically empty. There were only a handful of people, countable on one hand.

“Welcome. What will you have today?”

“The usual, please—two portions, for myself and for him.”

“Certainly. Please wait a moment.”

A female server came to take our order, and Josette placed it.

“So ‘the usual’ works here. You’re like a regular.”

“I stopped coming once I began eating with you. Before that, Caro-san and I came here every day.”

“Come to think of it, there was one more girl you used to be with… Prim-san, right? Didn’t she eat with you?”

Josette often moved around with two attendants. One was the shorter Caro, and the other was the tall Prim. From what I’d known before, Caro had been “Attendant B” and Prim had been “Attendant A,” but I figured saying that to their faces would probably make someone cry.

“That girl is the daughter of the merchant company that runs this cafeteria, and she serves as the manager. During lunch hours, she’s working behind the scenes. Lunch is the only time this place really earns money.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Your order… Josette-sama, it’s been a while.”

The person who brought the food was Prim. She wore the same uniform as the server who had taken our order.

“Oh my, it has been a while. Prim, you haven’t even come to see me lately.”

“I’m very sorry. My main work has kept me busy, so I couldn’t come by. Ah—here is your order.”

Prim quickly set the meals in front of Josette and me.

“If you’re busy because business is good, that’s wonderful.”

“…No, it’s not quite like that…”

Prim’s face seemed a bit dark. I didn’t really know her personally, so it was only a vague impression.

“Is something troubling you? If you like, you may consult me.”

“Thank you. Then, once you’ve finished your meal, please.”

“Very well. Then, Kent-san, let’s eat.”

“Please enjoy.”

Prim bowed once and retreated to the kitchen.

Josette and I ate lunch. Honestly, just as she said, it wasn’t very good.

“Kent-san. How did it taste?”

After we finished, Josette asked me.

“First, the bread is mediocre. Once you’ve gotten used to risen bread, the old flat, unrisen bread just tastes inferior. Then there’s the ingredients… They’re using items that don’t keep well, but the freshness feels questionable. They might be reusing leftovers for days. Even if the ingredients are good, it doesn’t work like this. Especially as it gets hotter, there’s a risk of food poisoning, so I think they need to be careful. Also, with cooked dishes, the heat isn’t strong enough. They might want something more powerful.”

“So you heard him, yes?”

Josette said that as she turned around. Prim was standing behind us.

I’d thought I was just talking to Josette, but it seemed Prim had been listening the whole time.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to criticize your business…”

Since she was the owner’s daughter, I hurried to smooth things over.

“I get angry when I’m criticized to my face, but I understand what you mean.”

Prim said.

“As for the ingredients, I had instructed them to use leftovers the next day, so from now on I’ll prioritize freshness. I’ll also consider improvements regarding the heat output. Those two can be addressed, but the problem is the bread.”

Prim used my feedback to build an improvement plan, but she got stuck on securing better bread. I already knew about this because I’d overheard a cafeteria meeting before.

“The bread is the problem?”

Josette asked Prim.

“Yes. I believe what you mean is the fluffy bread students have been eating lately for lunch. But we have no way to obtain it.”

“Why not? You could ask for the recipe, or have them supply it—surely there are options.”

Josette pushed back.

“If we knew the recipe, we wouldn’t be struggling. It seems many bakeries have been researching it, but even now only a single small bakery can make it. And since it’s a small shop, their production isn’t very large—they apparently said they can’t spare any for others.”

Prim said.

“Kent-san, can’t you supply bread to the cafeteria?”

“Thanks to you, our production capacity increased, so I think we can. But we’re short on hands, so they’ll have to come pick it up.”

I answered.

“That’s what he says. Good for you, Prim-san.”

Josette replied with a smile.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Prim asked, still looking confused.

“This Kent-san works at Marie’s Bakery.”

“Is this really something a student part-timer can decide?”

“Normally, no. But Kent-san isn’t like other part-timers. He’s deeply involved in management as well, so I believe he can accommodate you.”

Josette said it as if it were her own matter.

“Then we’ll also need to discuss quantity and pricing, so could you send someone to the shop after school today?”

“Understood. I’ll send the person in charge after school, so please take care of us.”

Prim agreed when I said so.

And that was how a major business deal ended up coming to the newly renovated “Marie’s Bakery.”