Testing My Knowledge (1)
Chapter 38: Episode 19 - Testing My Knowledge (1)
I woke up the next day feeling a bit better than yesterday. Some of my fatigue had faded away but I still remained tired.
'I could still sleep in since it's a weekend and I have no school today…'
I glanced over at Fraise who noticed that I was awake.
"Why are you up so early, Keiko?" She asked, yawning as she spoke.
"I can't sleep in. If anything, why are you up this early, Fraise?" I directed the question back at her and she chuckled.
"Hehehe… well, I don't know," Fraise laughed as I got up from my bed.
I began to get ready and clean up, taking a shower and changing my clothes.
Fraise was surprised that I was getting ready so early in the morning.
"Where are you going? You don't have school today," Fraise pointed out but I continued getting ready.
"I know. If you're fully awake now, let's go to the kitchen and practice," I offered and she looked at me in surprise.
"You're supposed to be resting right now and all you can think about is practicing?" Fraise asked and I nodded.
"If I want to be the best, I need to work hard. Sleeping won't help me get better," I explained as I finished changing into my clothes.
'I'd already completed my homework a while ago and I also finished studying for the next tests. I think I'm caught up so practicing in the cooking lab should be fine today.'
"Okay, give me a second and I'll come with," Fraise gave in and waved her gold staff in the air, causing her to change from her pajamas into her usual pink dress. "Let's go then."
We left the dorm room and made our way to the cooking lab.
* * *
In the St. Marie Academy school board meeting...
Chairman Moriyama along with other teachers of the school sat around a table, discussing the Cake Grand Prix that was to take place soon.
"This year there are a number of entries from the middle school division," one teacher pointed out to the audience of school board members.
"Oh my, 23 teams too," another teacher said in astonishment.
"It must be because last year, the Sweets Princes put in a great effort," Chairman Moriyama praised.
"I'm looking forward to it."
"It's good that they're willing but it's a Grand Prix mainly with the high school division. If we don't screen it a bit to see who is truly capable of competing with the high school division, then anybody can be let in. This is supposed to be challenging, not anyone can be let in when they want to be."
"That's right. First, let's drop those without the foundations."
The teachers began to come up with different ideas to remove teams to secure that this Cake Grand Prix was not going to be easy.
~
When we walked to the cooking lab, I could see the light was already on.
'Oh, that's right. Usually, Kashino is here in the morning to temper chocolate. But I think we're on better terms since the time when I first transferred here, or it could just be wishful thinking.'
RATTLE~
'But why does it seem like it's a little noisier in the cooking lab than usual? Maybe other people are up…'
I decided to enter the cooking lab and I noticed that Hanabusa, Andou, and Kashino were standing at Group A's station.
"Oh, it's Michiko," Hanabusa greeted with a flowery smile that I think I've gotten used to by now.
"Are you feeling better?" Andou asked and I nodded my head.
"I think so. I managed to sleep a little more than usual," I claimed, walking closer toward them.
"Really? How many hours do you usually get?" Hanabusa asked and I pondered.
"Usually… 3-4 hours each night. But I managed to get 6 this time," I claimed proudly while the others looked at me in shock.
"3 or 4 hours? Do you even know how to sleep?" Kashino asked frankly but I didn't know what to say.
"Keiko's a workaholic. She usually stays up studying or coming up with ideas to the point that she doesn't notice that it's so late," Fraise admitted and I clocked my head to the side.
'I guess I have been too caught up in other things that sleep is more like a luxury to me.'
"Anyways, what are you guys doing here so early?" I asked curiously.
"Well, we just came in here not too long ago so we're getting our stuff prepped up so we can practice for the Grand Prix," Hanabusa explained and I nodded my head in acknowledgment.
"I actually came in here to do the same. Would you mind if I joined you?" I asked them directly and they nodded their heads without hesitation.
"We know that Michiko is very knowledgeable in many things, but would you mind if we tested out your knowledge a bit?" Andou asked and I nodded my head.
"I don't mind, go ahead," I agreed and a smirk appeared on Kashino's face.
"Then you'll work with me first," Kashino said bluntly and the two other sweets princes looked at him in shock.
"I've been nicer to Michiko, so I should be the one who works with her first," Hanabusa explained, his eyebrows slightly furrowing at Kashino.
"That's not fair! I suggested the idea! She should work with me first!" Andou complained without hesitation and the sweets princes glared at each other.
'Just… what is going on? I've never seen them this riled up before…'
I took in the sight of them arguing until I decided to step in.
"Let's calm down first," I tried my best to mediate the quarrel but then suddenly, an idea popped up into my mind. "Here, I have an idea. I'll go with whichever unit I first did here when I first transferred and go from there."
The sweets princes thought to themselves, recalling the memories of when I first transferred.
"Then… wouldn't that be… chocolate?" Andou asked himself.
"Why is life so unfair…" Hanabusa wept to himself and both Hanabusa and Andou glanced at Kashino who gave a winning smirk to rub it in their faces.
"That damn bastard," Andou bit his lip along with Hanabusa who rubbed his head in clear frustration.
"As I said, you'll work with me first," Kashino said to me while turning his head back to face Andou and Hanabusa who gritted their teeth in anger.
'I guess the first unit that I did here was chocolate… I remember spending endless nights trying to fix my chocolate torte cake so it could be perfect. I also remember Kashino inspiring me to make it a Nutella chocolate torte cake when he offered me hazelnut hot chocolate… It's hard to believe that it's been 2 months since I've been here and so much has happened since then…'
"Let's test your knowledge for chocolate. What is the temperature for melting chocolate?" Kashino asked me who answered quickly.
"45°C to 50°C," I replied confidently.
"What about white chocolate?" He asked and I answered quickly without hesitation.
"It's 35°C to 40°C," I replied again.
"What will happen to the chocolate if the temperature is too high?"
"The chocolate will split."
I recalled the memory of one of my attempts at making my chocolate torte cake when I figured out that Kashino usually came to the cooking lab in the mornings. Recalling those memories when I was too tired to function was even more embarrassing when I caused my chocolate to split in front of the chocolate specialist himself.
'I don't think I ever want to remember that again.'
"Hm… I remember when you first transferred here and your chocolate split because you weren't watching over it," Kashino brought up and my eyes widened.
"Geez, you still remember that? I was tired and I dazed out," I said embarrassedly, turning my head away from him.
"Seeing how bad your sleeping schedule is, it's not hard to believe," Kashino muttered to where I could still hear him.
'How infuriating…'
I avoided eye contact, trying my best to forget those memories.
"Why—" Kashino began to speak but I interrupted him.
"—Well, I think I'm good with chocolate, don't you think so? I'll move onto Hanabusa next." I quickly changed the topic and hurried over to Hanabusa's side.
'If Kashino starts spewing the embarrassing things I've done, I'll be haunted by those memories…'
"Oh, that was quick. Well, I'm happy you're done with Kashino." Hanabusa welcomed me with a smile and used his emerald green eyes to glare at Kashino.
'I still don't understand what's going on with them… they usually don't seem too hostile with each other, right?'