Science Club

"The whole time, Rook was just praising your fluid motions while reading out poetry." Gabriel pointed out with a dry smile.

Trey chuckled hesitantly as he nodded, "Yeah, I get the feeling that Rook is more suited to literature club rather than science club. Anyway, Rook is going on stage as one of our school's representatives for VDC. We've gotta make sure to root for him as a fellow science club member."

"Right!"

Surveying the area, Riddle nodded with approval, "I was wondering why the science club would apply to open a café during the festival, but…"

He smiled, "You've quite a bit of space for a café here in the Botanical Garden. You thought this through."

"Yeah. During an even that draws a lot of people like this, the more spaces we have for people to take a break, the better." Trey nodded with a wide smile, "And since the Botanical Garden is heated, people can come in here to warm up after being outside checking out the stages. Perfect, right? Since it's big enough to accommodate a bunch of people, we can expect sales to be good too."

Lotus smiled, "Yup. Trey thought out everything himself from the seating to the menus. If you weren't a third year, I get the feeling that you would've totally taken on the trials to become club advisor."

"Haha..." Trey wore a dry smile when he heard this, "Well... I'd much prefer this."

"Y'know, from listening to you talk about everything just now, I really don't see what this has to do with science." Grim pointed out curiously, "No, it's got everything to do with science. People can come take a break here while looking at the rare decorative plants that we've raised here in the science club. And it's said that cooking is a kind of science, that means you could say that seasoning is a type of experiment. This is a perfect research presentation. Also, during their shifts everyone will be wearing a lab coat. I'd say that plenty of science vibes."

"So that means there's nothing weird at this café…" Yuu nodded his head upon understanding the situation and picked up one of the paper menus as Lotus made a quick order from Gabriel, "The whole menu looks delicious."

Right as Trey was about to say something to when Riddle noticed the time on his smartphone, "Ah, look at the time. It's already almost ten-thirty. I need to go check on things at the classrooms. General admission opens right at eleven, so I want to make the rounds to all the exhibits before then."

"Trey-senpai! Lotus!" An Octavinelle student hurried over to them as Lotus raised a brow.

He quickly pulled them aside as he whispered, "There's a student customer that is kicking up a fuss. Apparently, something is not right with the snacks and his tastes. The club advisor is asking for the two of you."

"What?" Trey narrowed his eyes in bewilderment, "But this isn't a resturant... He should've gone to Mostro Lounge instead."

Lotus sighed, "However, Mostro Lounge is also a cafe. Trey-senpai, can you leave this matter to me? I'll prepare something instead."

"But-"

"In the end, he is, not only a customer, but also a guest, especially brought in to check with the booths before the official opening." Lotus explained, "It would be inappropriate to send them off when they haven't violated anything on campus or terrorized anyone. Riddle also needs your help in case some students do try to misbehave on campus. With the VDC's competitors having also consisted students from different schools... Physical force won't always be something to be happy about."

Hearing this, Trey immediately understood what Lotus was getting at. She was a student without magic and would be of no help if they had to subdue them. If she utilized her martial skills now, she may be accused of using violence from another point of view. So, magic would be the best answer to a fight. The best she can do now is suppress any potential chaos in their surroundings and they knew her network consists of more than just their dorm.

"All right." Trey nodded, "Then, I'll stay with Riddle. Call me right away if you need something."

She nodded as she turned to them, "We had the sign up, right? Snacks on the go?"

The student nodded, "The club advisor had us draw pictures of snacks that we would sell, not little cakes and all that... However, that person doesn't want any sandwiches or chips. He wanted something fluffier and meatier. But we don't sell burgers patties."

"The menu had to be approved by the club advisor and the nurse..." Trey explained with a frown, "It would be difficult to offer anything outside of the menu."

"I'll make something, then." Lotus repsonded, "I'm the nurse's assistant. I can make something and give the approval in his place. The club advisor is here right? Then, I can get the club advisor's approval directly after I make it."

"You have an idea?"

She nodded, "Yeah. Leave it to me."

.....

Lotus spent a few minutes working things out with the customer before she finished and realized that it was almost eleven. She left everything else with the club members than returned into the club room.

"If we follow the position of each booth..." Lotus muttered, "They should be at the Mountain Lovers Association. May as well hurry on over there."

She hurried out of the Greenhouse and to the classrooms where she found the group just outside of the classroom.

"Lotus! How was everything back at the club?" Trey questioned curiously.

"Gabriel and I managed to come up with something to meet his expectations." Lotus responded with a satisfied smile, "I tried to check with Mostro Lounge, but it turns out that the place was closed."

"Ah, it's probably because half of the students there are in clubs." Riddle responded with a nod.

"Oh my… I'm honored to have the culture festival's committee leader come observe my booth."

The door opened up to find Jade pleasantly surprised to find guests at the door.

"I bid you a warm welcome to the Mountain Lovers Association." Jade smiled wide and welcomed the group in.

"Ahhh! It's Goldfishy and Angler fish, welcome!" Floyd cried out with a joyful and relieved smile as he shoved a strange mushroom into the arms of the horrified Riddle, "Here ya go. This is to celebrate you being his first customer. You get a mysterious mushroom Jade picked as a present."

"Hey, don't go shoving weird stuff in my face! What's your problem?!" Riddle shouted flabberghasted, "Also, knock it off with calling me that weird nickname!"

"You two, that is not a mysterious mushroom or weird stuff at all." Jade responded with a frown, "It has a proper name. The bunashimeji is an edible mushroom."

Riddle shouted as his face continue to grow redder with anger, "Could you stop your brother before you correct us?! I'll have both of your heads!"

"Ooh!" Lotus looked at the mushroom with a pleasant look of surprise on her face, "Did you find this just outside of the Dwarf's mine?"

"That's correct? Fufufu..." Jade smiled wide when he heard this, "I take it you are interested?"

Lotus nodded enthusiastically, "Yes! May I have it instead?"

"Suit yourself." Floyd grumbled and took the mushroom from Riddle and dumped it into her hands.

"Thanks!" She smiled wide, "I'll make a dish with this when I get back tonight! Oh, just so you know, the appearance of these mushrooms means that there is a magic stone hidden deep directly under the grounds!"

"Really?" Jade looked to her in surprise before he smiled, "Then, I'll take my chances and check it out the next time I'm outside."

"You... Three..." Riddle's face continued to grow redder and redder as he saw the group had even ignored him.

"What's the fuss happening in the doorway?" Trey poked his head past the door with a look of surprise, "…Ah, so the main attraction here are the terrariums and photos.

Jade chuckled, "Trey came as well, I see. Correct. Everything on display here are things that I collected from the mountains myself."

"Oh, its Shrimpy and Sealy. Sea Turtle, welcome." Floyd cried out with a happy look on his face.

"Hm? Sea Turtle? Is that me?" Trey muttered in bewilderment.

"Gnngh… Ever since I learned why he calls me 'seal', I get so mad." Grim growled, "It feels like he's making fun of me, y'know."

"It's how he shows affection…" Yuu responded with a dry smile.

"Was it because you're so round?" Lotus muttered quietly with a look of curiousity.

"Lotus..." Yuu scolded her quietly in exasperation.

"To start with, Floyd, why are you even here?" Riddle pointed out with a frown, "Aren't you a member of the basketball team along with Ace and Jamil? The team is in charge of putting the Blue Stage together in the gym. They should still be working on that."

"I couldn't get into it, so I was just lazing about." Floyd explained with a smile, "Then they threw me out. Ah hah."

"The culture festival is something that we students work together to create." Riddle scolded him with a scowl on his face, "Blowing of the duties you were given just because of your mood goes beyond just rule breaking!"

"It's fine. The captain said I could leave." Floyd said with a wide smile, "And later this afternoon, I've got my job with Mostro Lounge. I've gotta carry this heavy tank around with me while I sell drinks. I don't wanna. Jade doesn't have to work at all, so why I am the only one? I wanna go hang out with Goldfishy and everyone."

"We are doing work for the culture festival executive committee! We aren't just hanging out." Riddle clarified with a scowl as Floyd pouted in dismay.