Chapter 8: A Question of Cost
Little Big was right. Not a single price on the menu.
"Maybe they're all market price?" I offer.
"For an omelet?" she asks. "How much can it possibly change day to day?"
Fair point. It was a typical cafe menu…no exotic fish dishes or fancy ingredients anywhere. A bunch of regular, everyday food.
The same kind of ho-hum grub we'd eat back home.
Even though Big's family has a lot of money, she never just throws it around.
"I heard about a ramen shop that lets the customers decide their own prices," I tell her.
"Really. Well that's a novel concept, but I don't think I like it. It preys on peoples' consciences."
"How much would you pay for a bowl of ramen, Big?"
"No more than 600 yen."
Nope, she definitely doesn't think like a rich girl. I'm guessing we'll be paying a bit more than that here.
"Forget your weird ramen shop," she goes on. "This has got to be one of those dirty maid cafe rip-off scams. Order from a menu with no prices and you're just asking to get hit with some ridiculous bill."
"I kind of doubt it," I say, "but if you want I'll ask someone. Should I call…a maid?"
"Meow can I help you?"
Just as I start to put my hand in the air, I hear Katie's voice come from directly behind me, scaring the crap out of me. It feels like my heart's about to jump out of my chest, but I manage to keep it together.
"Are you some kind of ninja?" I ask her. You're pretty good at popping out of nowhere."
"Ninjas, cats…we're all masters at sneaking a-meownd," she purrs.
Hands rounded like kitten paws, Katie reaches out as she slinks stealthily up to our table. Looking like a cat stalking her prey, she inches closer to me and little Big.
"Well," she purrs, "What's your purr-easure? How may I serve mew?"
"Um…actually I think we're good for now."
That should keep us from getting tricked.
"What I means is, um…the menu? It doesn't have any prices. So we don't really know what we're going to have to pay."
"Meow-ha-ha-ha!" Katie laughs. "Master! You've no need to worry about purr-ices!"
Hands on her hips, Katie leans her face over the table, breasts swinging. Her mouth twists into a self-satisfied grin.
"We wouldn't think of charging Master and Mi'Lady," she says. "I am your obedient maid and completely at your service. Purr-ease…allow me to serve mew!"
"But…then how do you stay in business?" I ask.
Clasping her hands to her chest, Katie laughs out loud again. "Meow-ha-ha-ha! It's our purr-ace to worry about mew, not yours to worry about us! We never charge at the AKIBA maid cafe. Instead, we ask that mew grant us just one little favor before mew leave."
"A favor?"
"Yes, Master."
Katie picks up the edges of her frilly apron and directs a curtsey towards us.
"Won't you purr-ay a little game with us after mew have finished your meal?"