Chapter 56: Episode 27 - First Round (3)
'What? How is that…?'
Next to Technique was… another double circle ⦾.
"No… no way!' I remained shocked at our score since it was only the second category. 'Did we win already? No… we still have to wait and see because we could either get a triangle or an x to lose against Team Ichimatsu… it all depends on Taste now!'
"Team Michiko receives high marks! Now, they could either get a triangle △ to tie or an X in Taste to lose against Team Ichimatsu! How will it turn out?" The announcer said and everybody in the crowd who was witnessing this grew anxious and nervous, including me and the Sweets Princes. I gripped my injured hands tightly but the pain didn't bother me.
Hanabusa seemed to be clearly bothered and I noticed as our final result was building up suspense.
"It's okay, Hanabusa, you don't have to worry. I'm sure we did just enough to impress the judges," I reassured him and he glanced at me.
"I'm just worried that if we lost… you'd have to go on a date with that fugly guy," Hanabusa pointed out and I gave a small smile.
"Well, it wouldn't be anyone's fault since I agreed to it myself. We worked hard so don't doubt our efforts," I lectured and he nodded his head, a small smile forming on his lips.
"And now, is the time for the final grade to be revealed…" The announcer built up suspense and we bit our lips...
Suddenly, under Taste appeared a black, bold double circle ⦾.
"H-how is this possible?! A perfect score only on the first round? Team Michiko is definitely a force to be reckoned with in this competition!"
Once we noticed the scores, the nervousness went away and surprise filled our faces.
"We… we did it!" I breathed a sigh of relief and I could feel my heart beating out of my chest from the suspense. I turned to face the Sweets Princes who all had a shocked look as well.
"B-But… how?" The Sweets Princes said in unison, their mouths gaping wide open in shock.
"What the hell?!" Ichimatsu and his team members went over to the board to complain. "Why did we lose? We can't consent to this!"
"That's right, to lose in Taste and Theme?"
"Quiet down," Mr. Karashima sternly instructed the boys who were causing a fuss.
Mr. Karashima brought out Team Ichimatsu's pound cakes so he could explain to them.
"Team Ichimatsu, your cakes certainly taste wonderful individually, each on a professional level. However, when you look at all four on one plate, the concentration is mutual and the flavors fight for dominance," Mr. Karashima explained and his serious sharp stare fell to us. "On the other hand, Team Michiko's "Rose Cake" is the protagonist, and each of their cakes' taste, aroma, and color are in harmony with it. And yet the mutual flavors are enhanced."
"That's right," our cooking class teacher interjected. "With that said, the rose aroma does become better. It's as if I'm really in a rose garden having a picnic. They understood the theme and taste while also being able to match up to you guys in technique though they're in middle school. If you'd like, you guys should try it, Ichimatsu."
Our teacher offered them our pound cakes and the boys looked at them hesitantly before taking a bite.
Ichimatsu and his team members' faces lit up when they tasted our cakes and Ichimatsu's gaze fell to me.
"Damn it… I was really looking forward to that date… but I think it's their victory…" Ichimatsu admitted and his team members agreed.
Ichimatsu walked up to me with a disappointed look in his eyes.
"As I'd promised…"
Suddenly, Ichimatsu bowed his head down to me apologetically in front of everyone.
"I'd like to apologize for my impolite actions towards you and I'll promise to leave you alone."
After I took in the taste of sweet victory, I looked down at his bowed head.
"I'll forgive you. You can raise your head," I instructed him and he followed.
"I was going to apologize yesterday about those things I said but you left already," Ichimatsu explained and I shook my head.
"For that, the person you should be apologizing to isn't me, but him," I said, pointing my finger at Hanabusa who looked at the situation in surprise. "I only got mad because that was something his late father left behind. It'd be nice if you apologized to him as well."
The look on Ichimatsu's face turned to deep regret once I explained and he walked over towards Hanabusa and bowed his head apologetically.
"I apologize for saying those rude things. I didn't know…" Ichimatsu admitted as Hanabusa stared down at him.
"Raise your head," Hanabusa directed and Ichimatsu followed. "I'll also accept your apology since you seem to mean it."
A small smile appeared on Ichimatsu's face and so he looked at the 4 of us.
"Congrats, Team Michiko. We've lost this round." Ichimatsu congratulated us before leaving with his team members.
"Wow, even Michiko can tame a prick," Andou said in surprise and a smile appeared on my face.
"You did it, Team Michiko! You guys are going to the second round!" Rumi fired us up, along with our classmates who joined along.
'We won… I'm so glad we won… Mom and Hanabusa's father, I hope you were able to witness our accomplishment with a rose cake meant for the both of you…'
* * *
Right after Keiko and the Sweets Princes won, they went to the school's greenhouse. Hanabusa and Keiko prepared pound cakes with tea at the greenhouse's table.
"Come here, guys," Keiko instructed Kashino and Andou from afar, putting down a plate of their pound cakes on the table.
"We managed to break through the first round yet again," Andou said to Kashino.
"Yeah," Kashino replied with a small smile.
"Yesterday, Michiko suggested we change our cakes. If she hadn't said anything, I wonder how it'd turn out," Andou recalled as they both looked at the pleased Keiko, offering Fraise her peach pound cake.
"We definitely wouldn't be celebrating right now, that's for sure," Kashino admitted bluntly.
Kashino and Andou remembered Keiko's idea that she brought up from yesterday~
"Change all cakes except for the rose one?" Andou asked Keiko in confusion.
"Yeah… because I was thinking about it for a bit. I mean, having cakes for different age groups is a good idea, but I don't think it's the greatest idea, especially against Team Ichimatsu. If we made the cakes we wanted to make, the flavors and aromas would fight with each other. I think the "rose cake" should be the main character for this," Keiko explained to the sweets princes who all looked at their cakes in unison.
"Then, are the rest of us just supporting characters?" Andou asked and Keiko nodded her head, letting out a chuckle.
"Hehehe, in a way," she admitted with a small smile.
Without questioning her further, Andou nodded his head in agreement.
"Okay! I think we should change our cakes," Andou agreed without hesitation after hearing her reasoning.
"Ugh, can we change it in one night?" Kashino looked at his chocolate cake nervously.
"Yeah, I think we should do it. Michiko's intuition never seems to fail us," Hanabusa agreed as well and so they began brainstorming different flavors that would work well with the taste and smell of the rose cake, planning out the presentation and appearance~
"In relation to her sense of taste and creativity, Michiko's also a great leader and encourages us whenever we come across an obstacle," Andou said as he and Kashino walked over to the table where Keiko, Hanabusa, and the sweets spirits were at.
"If only she'd do the same for herself…" Kashino muttered and he and Andou sat down at the table.
~
I took a bite of Hanabusa's rose cake, closing my eyes in pleasure as I envisioned the flavor.
"Michiko is eating cakes with a pleased expression," Hanabusa noticed as I chewed on the rose cake.
"Well, that's because this rose cake is really delicious," I complimented. "I figured it's better to eat food with my eyes closed, especially when I'm not eating enough."
"With your eyes closed?" Hanabusa questioned as he took a small piece of the rose cake.
"Try it," I suggested and so he did. He took a bite of the rose cake with his eyes closed and began chewing.
As he pondered the taste a little, it seemed as if the rose cake brought back memories and I could see a tear well up in his eye.
"It makes me remember the past and it's kind of heartbreaking, but I guess it's because the aroma stimulates the memory," I said as I took another bite of the rose cake. "I'm grateful to Hanabusa's father. Because of the perfume, you made such a wonderful cake after all."
I shot Hanabusa a warm smile and his eyes widened in surprise from my words.
"Well, it was all thanks to you, Michiko…" Hanabusa inched closer toward my face and placed a kiss on my cheek.
'What…'
I was caught by surprise and so were the other two sweets princes. Kashino spat out his food and Andou spilled his drink as they witnessed what Hanabusa just did.
"W-wh-what-what are you doing, Hanabusa?!" Andou raised his voice at him with an irritated tone and flushed look on his face.
"You bastard! L-love relationships between team members are forbidden, you hear?!" Kashino raised his voice as well, his eyebrows furrowed furiously.
"You guys are only saying that now because I made the move first." Hanabusa stuck his tongue out at them, though the angry-looking faces on Kashino and Andou grew even more furious. "Right, Michiko?"
I touched my cheek that Hanabusa kissed and I thought about it for a split second.
'Hanabusa has probably done this to plenty of other girls, so I shouldn't think too much of it. Why would I be special?'
Focusing back on Hanabusa's question, I calmly took a sip of my tea.
"He's right. A kiss on the cheek for Hanabusa is no more than a greeting. Besides, he's probably done this to plenty of other girls," I admitted and the furious faces on Kashino and Andou relaxed as they stared at me blankly. Hanabusa stumbled in his seat as I said this.
"Actually, that would be his first—" Cafe began but Kashino quickly shut him up.
"—Don't tell her, you idiot," Kashino directed at Cafe who gave a shrug.
"Tell me what?" I asked confusedly though Andou had a chill smile on his face.
"It's nothing," Andou said with a cunning grin, not willing to say anything to me.
"It's a good thing that Michiko is an airhead when it comes to these things…" Andou muttered quietly leaning his head on Kashino's.
"Get off of me!" Kashino moved his head away, still embarrassed from how he reacted when Hanabusa kissed my cheek.
"Geez, what kind of guy does she think I am?" Hanabusa murmured anxiously, deep in thought.
I thought back to Hanabusa's peck on the cheek though I tried to rid myself of those thoughts.
'I was a little surprised when he kissed my cheek… I wonder why he did that…'
I shook my head to focus on other things and so I looked at the beautiful roses in the vase that sat on the table.
'Mom, we broke through the first round of the Cake Grand Prix. If you were still here, I wonder how you'd react... I just hope that my team and I will win the Grand Prix together and be able to study abroad in Paris, just like you…'