Chapter 25: Episode 12 - Piyo Piyo Kindergarten (3)
The next morning, the sweets princes and I met up in our homeroom class and we gathered around.
"I finished," I said and showed them the complete drawing of Ringo's cake.
They all gazed at the drawing, analyzing each part.
It was a snow park with a huge snow hill in the middle, pine trees by the hill, and apples surrounding the border of the apple base cake. Small children made and rolled up snowmen together.
"It's a cute snow park," Hanabusa praised.
"The kindergarteners and the apple tree are made of marzipan; the snow dome is an apple and whipped cream Turkish delight; the snowmen are made of white chocolate and filled with custard; the princess apples will be dipped in white chocolate," I explained each aspect of the cake in detail and the princes looked at it in surprise.
"This looks fun," Hanabusa admitted with a delightful smile.
"You captured the kindergarteners' features well," Andou praised, gazing at their happy faces.
Kashino looked at the drawing but didn't say anything about it.
"Is it alright if we try and practice making this cake tonight?" I asked hesitantly but Andou and Hanabusa shot me a gentle smile.
"Of course," Andou and Hanabusa agreed while Kashino remained indifferent as usual.
~
From somewhere else in their homeroom classroom, a group of girls from Group B were watching them as Keiko presented her cake design.
"What a troublesome girl…" They said with envy, hiding their glares.
"How come she's getting all the attention when she just transferred here a week ago?"
"Hmm… I have an idea. Since they talked about wanting to make their cake today, how about we take a picture of their cake? This way, everyone will see Michiko Keiko in a bad light!"
"Ooh, I like the sound of that!" They agreed in unison with mischievous smiles on their faces.
* * *
Everyone ate dinner and went to the cooking lab soon after. We'd agreed to practice making this cake for Ringo so that we would know how everything turned out.
We worked on the cake together as I directed the group, instructing them on what to do.
'May this cake make Ringo happy and may she get along with everyone…'
* * *
After some time, we finally finished Ringo's cake.
"Phew! We're finally done," I rubbed my hand across my forehead in relief.
"It turned out pretty good," Hanabusa said standing next to me as we looked at it.
"Hey, why don't we go buy something from the convenience store?" Andou suggested as Kashino stood next to him, ready to go.
'I guess it has gotten pretty late. I am feeling a little bit hungry.'
I raised my hand.
"I'll go," I accepted.
"I want to go, too!" Fraise followed along.
"If Michiko is going, I'll come along as well," Hanabusa smiled.
"Everyone can go! Caramel will watch the cake," Caramel cutely referred to herself in the third person and waved us goodbye as we headed out the doors.
"Okay then, please keep guard," I instructed and she gave an assuring smile.
~
Caramel was alone in the cooking lab. She smiled happily at the beautiful cake that everyone worked hard on.
Caramel lightly plopped onto the cake to meet the small marzipan figures that were the same size as her.
"Good evening, I'm Caramel," Caramel talked to the figurines happily.
STEP STEP STEP—SLAM!
Footsteps came stomping into the cooking lab and the doors slammed shut.
The girls from Group B wandered over to the station where Caramel and the cake were at.
"Girls, they came up with this cake."
The girls walked over to Group A's station to take a closer look at the cake.
They saw the optimistic and fun cake that Keiko designed, a bitter look forming on their faces. One of them got their phones out and began taking pictures.
"Ooh, Caramel wants to take a photo, too!" Caramel stood by one of the marzipan figurines and smiled for the picture.
"Michiko Keiko's design is not that big a deal." One girl scoffed.
"What made her so optimistic now belongs to us. We'll definitely bring shame to her on that very day so nobody will like her."
The girls snickered heartlessly and left the cooking lab.