This story is told from Patty’s perspective.
Responding to Kent’s call, the lodgers gathered in the garden. I was surprised by his sudden proposal.
“So, how much is the participation fee per person?”
An older gentleman among those who had gathered asked Kent. It seemed he didn’t expect a free meal, and the people clustered around Kent were only a small fraction, likely those prepared for a certain cost. While the abundance of food was tempting, knowing the potential cost kept the majority of people watching from a distance, even though they had come to the garden in response to the invitation.
“This is a gesture of goodwill for all the trouble I’ve caused, so there’s no charge. Please eat as much as you like. We also have plenty of drinks prepared, so feel free to indulge.”
“Oh, miss… I mean, madam, you can really hold a conversation. Hey, you can eat everything for free!”
““““ Yay! ””””
When Margaret relayed this to the man who had inquired, he passed the message on to those gathered. A great cheer erupted, and even those who had been observing from afar now joined in.
“Everyone, please help distribute the plates, cups, and forks to those who have arrived.”
When Kent asked me, I, along with the rest of Marie’s Bakery staff, lent a hand, distributing plates and such to the newcomers.
“Here you go, this is your plate.”
“A paper plate… how unusual.”
As Patty handed a paper plate to a merchant-like gentleman, he examined it with curiosity.
“It’s said to be designed so you can just toss it when you’re done.”
“Oh, so paper can be used like this. Thank you.”
With that, the merchant-like gentleman took the paper plate from Patty and headed towards Caro, who was distributing forks.
“It seems everyone has a plate and fork. You can grill and eat the meat and vegetables as you please. The grilled meat and vegetables are delicious with the several types of dipping sauces on this table. We have a selection of alcoholic beverages, tea, and fruit juices, so please help yourself. The cups are over where the drinks are. Also, please put your trash in this box. There’s a lot of food, so please eat to your heart’s content.”
Once everything was distributed, Margaret, the sponsor of this event, gave a brief explanation. The gathered people began grilling meat and vegetables and drinking alcohol.
“Patty, thank you for your help. We’ll take over from here, so go and enjoy the rest of the party with everyone else.”
“Understood. I will do that.”
Kent offered Patty words of gratitude and then returned to Margaret’s side. Rachel was with Margaret in their group. The other lodgers surrounded them, enjoying food and conversation. The lodgers not in this group were enjoying themselves in smaller clusters, having noisy fun together.
“Well… what should I do now?”
Patty looked around, checking the whereabouts of the others who had accompanied her on the trip.
(Catherine is gathered with Al and Hanako.)
Catherine, Al, and Hanako were talking in a corner of the garden. Seeing occasional smiles, Patty thought they might be having a pleasant conversation.
(Marie is… with Josette, Elnet, and Caro, it seems.)
Marie, Josette, Elnet, and Caro appeared to be having a rather grumpy conversation, occasionally glancing at Kent. Their atmosphere was a bit intimidating.
(Clara is… oh, she looks like she’s working.)
Clara was busy collecting abandoned dishes and fallen food scraps and putting them in the trash bin.
(And then… ah, Lord Gordon too.)
Patty remembered how he had seemed a little off when they spoke earlier and looked for Gordon.
(Huh?)
Instead of his usual dignified demeanor, he was sitting in a corner of the garden, staring blankly into the distance, appearing lost in thought.
“Lord Gordon, is everything alright?”
“Hm? Oh, Patty. Are you worried about me? Worried… worried…”
He muttered to himself, looking down without making eye contact. Patty noticed where his gaze was fixed. To confirm, she subtly moved to his side, and his gaze followed hers.
(Lord Gordon seems to be looking at my chest. What should I do….)
As Patty pondered how to proceed, she was addressed from behind.
“Oh, Patty, were you in the middle of a conversation?”
“No, not really…”
Margaret was the one who had spoken. Since her conversation with Gordon had stalled, Patty answered instinctively.
“Then I’ll borrow this. Don’t stand around here, come with me.”
“Eh? Ah, it hurts! Please don’t pull me.”
“…”
In a flash, Margaret dragged Gordon towards Kent’s group and brought him along. Patty was left alone.
“Hey, Patty! Don’t just stand around looking spaced out! Come over here.”
“Eh? Huh?”
Suddenly, her arm was grabbed, and she was being pulled along.
“Yes, yes! I found a friend, so I brought her!”
“Welcome!”
“Welcome!”
“Well met, comrade!”
It was Caro who had grabbed her arm. She had been led to the group that had seemed so unapproachable: Marie, Josette, Elnet, and Caro.
“Who gave Caro some alcohol?”
“““ “We did!””””
When Patty asked, Marie, Josette, and Elnet all raised their hands simultaneously.
“Weren’t we supposed to keep alcohol away from Caro?”
“Huh? Was that so? I forgot.”
“Right, I forgot too.”
“Come to think of it, I do recall hearing something like that.”
When Patty asked, Josette, Marie, and Elnet replied without a hint of remorse. When Caro drinks alcohol, her personality drastically changes, and she becomes clingy and starts taking off her clothes, becoming uncontrollable. Therefore, there was an unspoken rule among the employees of Marie’s Bakery not to let Caro drink. All four of them appeared to have already had a significant amount to drink and were in a highly agitated state.
“We can’t help but drink! We all looked forward to this trip, but when it opened up, it was like this.”
Caro said, pointing at Kent. Kent was happily talking with other lodgers.
“He seems to be having a good time talking with everyone?”
“What are you looking at? Look next to him.”
“Eek!”
Patty exclaimed, and Josette said it in a loud voice. Patty was so taken aback by the sheer force of her voice that she was momentarily stunned.
“See? Rachel is fine, but then there’s the Queen.”
“Now that you mention it…”
Elnet prompted, and Patty looked closely to find Rachel and Margaret clinging to Kent on either side.
“She’s pressing her chest against Kent so hard… but I’m bigger than her!”
Marie pushed her own chest together and upwards, emphasizing that hers was larger. After that, Patty listened to their complaints for a while.
“Patty, you should have some too. Surely you won’t refuse my drink, will you?”
“…Yes, I will.”
Now that her stress seemed to have been released, Caro urged Patty to drink. Overpowered by her insistence, Patty reluctantly took small sips of alcohol.
“So, Patty, when are you going to confess?”
“Eh?”
Josette’s sudden question left Patty at a loss for words.
“Don’t ‘eh?’ me. You have someone you’re interested in, right?”
“Well, it’s not like I don’t…”
Patty answered Josette’s question.
“I was wary of you at first, but now I trust you as a colleague. I understand your feelings, so why not tell them what you feel? We’ll support you.”
Caro said, patting Patty on the shoulder.
“Even if you say I should tell them… how should I do it?”
“Hmm. How about you slip into their bed and confess? That’s how I got together with my partner.”
As Patty struggled for an answer, Marie shared her own experience.
“I was shocked because he was just starting to get into a good relationship with Kent.”
“At first, I thought it was just a thank you for working hard for the shop, but it was impulsive. I’m sorry about that time.”
“It’s alright. It’s in the past, and besides, Marie and I have a good relationship now.”
Caro said, and Marie looked apologetic.
“And, to tell the truth, even before I started dating Kent, I knew Josette was interested in him, but I rushed into it first.”
“In a way, I also ended up in the same situation…”
“Caro and you Older Sister are terrible!”
Caro and Elnet continued with their revelations. However, despite saying they were terrible, Josette didn’t seem bothered.
“Josette, doesn’t it bother you much?”
Feeling something unusual about Josette’s attitude, Patty decided to ask.
“In the end, these three brought Kent and me together, so rather than being bothered, I’m more grateful.”
Josette replied.
“You all seem to be doing well.”
“Yes, that’s right. That’s why we welcome you, as we trust you. Tonight, we plan to sneak into someone’s room, but we’ll give you a little time, so you can quickly finish things up.”
“Well, I don’t know about their feelings, but if you approach them naked, you’re sure to succeed. Do your best.”
“Please do your best, Patty. I still can’t afford to lose to the younger ones.”
When Patty spoke, an outrageous command was issued by Caro, Elnet, and Marie.
After the barbecue party ended and the cleanup was done, everyone went to the hot spring facility, bathed, and then returned to their rooms where they went to bed in their respective beds.
(Do I really have to do it…?)
The room was already pitch black, and snores could be heard from the room with multiple bunk beds. Everyone seemed to have fallen asleep. Marie, Elnet, Josette, and Caro, who had been determined to sneak into someone’s room, were also asleep, likely due to the alcohol.
(This is my only chance….)
Patty made up her mind, changed in her bed, and began moving through the dark room, careful not to make any noise.
(This should be the bed… excuse me.)
Patty reached her destination and carefully slipped into the bed.
(I’m getting a little nervous… but I’ve come this far, I have to try.)
Patty leaned in to gently kiss the lips of the person in the bed.
“!”
The person moved for a moment, and though Patty instinctively tried to pull away, she was suddenly embraced by arms and legs, making her unable to move.
(Eh, what do I do? I can hear their breathing, so they seem to be asleep but….)
They seemed to be asleep, but now trapped, she couldn’t escape.
(And this feeling… they’re not wearing clothes, are they?)
She felt skin against skin, realizing the other person was also unclothed.
(The alcohol is kicking in… I’m sleepy now….)
After being immobilized for a while, combined with the effects of the alcohol, a sudden wave of sleepiness washed over her, and Patty fell asleep.
What became of Patty after she took that decisive action…? In the next installment, the story will return to the protagonist, Kent’s, perspective.
