Salon de Marie (1)

Chapter 30: Episode 16 - Salon de Marie (1)

It was time for our cooking class and me and the Sweets Princes were busy piping cream.

"Who do you think will win the Cake Grand Prix?" I spoke up as I piped from a bag.

"3rd-year Team Tennouji is likely to win," Hanabusa looked at me and answered.

"Tennouji?" I asked, glancing up to meet their eyes.

"It's the high school division's female student council president," Andou explained while Kashino continued to quietly pipe cream. "Tennouji Mari, she's received many contest awards and is a genius girl. She's never appeared in the Grand Prix but professionals have come to inspect what she's created. She's entering this year."

"Why this year all of a sudden?" I questioned.

"She received coaching from Henri Lucas and they say she's his favorite pupil. Henri Lucas returned to Paris so that's probably why she entered, so she could win and go to Paris," Hanabusa said and I furrowed my eyebrows.

'It kind of sounds like she's chasing after her lover?'

"This year has become increasingly harder," Andou admitted.

"That's right, if we don't polish our strategy, we won't make it past the third round again," Hanabusa stated.

"I heard that last year, you guys made it to the 3rd round, right? By grouping with the senior, Ojou," I pointed out, meeting their gaze.

SPLURT!

Kashino had squeezed too hard on his piping bag, causing a majority of the cream to fly out. I stopped what I was doing to look at the dazed Kashino.

"Get a grip, Kashino!" Chocolat scolded, the cream landing on her and Cafe.

"O—Ojou…" Kashino trembled and stuttered, firmly holding the bag in his hands.

"Calm down, Maa-chan," Andou went over by him to calm him down.

'To see Kashino this distracted is a first…'

"He's been traumatized pretty badly as you can see," Hanabusa chuckled at the scene.

"What happened with this Ojou?" I asked him.

"Her real name is Koshiro Miya. She's a 3rd year in the middle school division and the daughter of the president of the popular sweets company, Chateau Seika. For some reason, she's smitten with Kashino. Although we were forced to team up with her, her skills aren't in the least bit… good…" Hanabusa tried his best to put it lightly. "We three tried our best, but Kashino snapped when she dropped our cake. Since then, Kashino has gone on a spur of hating females."

'Such an event made Kashino hate girls? Is that why he didn't like me when I transferred and joined their group?'

"Then, why did you let her join your group in the first place?" I asked, confused.

"We had no choice but to," Kashino joined in, gritting his teeth as he remembered those memories. "She was annoying the hell out of me and I couldn't shake her off."

"Maybe, if it's Michiko, everyone thinks it's possible. We might even win the Grand Prix and study abroad," Hanabusa smiled gently at me.

"You think so?" I pondered. "Is it alright if I join your team?"

"Of course," Andou responded quickly without hesitation.

"Don't you want to try studying in Paris, the center of confections?" Hanabusa inquired, all three of them staring me down, waiting for my pending answer.

'It seems like everyone has high hopes for me…' I gave into my thoughts as they all circled around my head.

"Of course I want to…" I paused.

'But… am I qualified enough to win this?'

"Okay, then. Let's go observe the enemy," Hanabusa gestured to the door.

"And where would we do that?" I asked.

"The high school division, of course."

At the high school division was a salon called "Salon de Marie." This place is run by high school students with extreme skills.

The Sweets Princes and I walked into the salon to see a beautiful, exquisite atmosphere. Waiters and waitresses attended to their customers and it seemed like people enjoyed the desserts.

"Welcome."

"Darjeeling tea and chiffon cake, please."

"This gateau au chocolat is delicious!"

"To think there was such a wonderful salon in the middle of the high school division."

I observed the place in awe.

"This place is managed by St. Marie students and the employees here are also students. All the cakes that come here are also made by students with talent," Hanabusa explained.

We sat down at an empty table and the sweets spirits wandered around the table joyously as we looked through the menu items.

"Oh dear, the "Angel's Pudding" is sold out? Well, that's too bad," a customer said in disappointment.

"That's president Tennouji's #1 most popular pudding," Hanabusa added as I glanced over at the disappointed customer.

"Have you decided on your order?" A waiter came by our table and asked us.

"I'll get the Gateau au Chocolat," Kashino said.

"I'll have the savarin," said Andou.

"I'll have a berry pudding," said Hanabusa.

"And I'll have the fruit tart, please," I said politely.

The waiter nodded his head as he wrote down the order, walking back to the kitchen to get our desserts ready.

* * *

"Here is your order," the waiter came back with four plates in his hands, serving it to each of us.

"Hm, this Gateau au Chocolat is high school 2nd year Kurosawa's… his skills have improved," Kashino stated frankly, taking a bite.

"Ooh, this savarin is delicious," Andou stuffed his mouth.

"3rd year Shibuya's sense for food arrangement is always good," Hanabusa admired.

I took a bite out of the fruit tart that I ordered. It had different assortments of fruit covering it with a golden-brown crust.

'It has a subtle and sour taste to it, and you can taste the acidity from the fruits. Although not bad, there are some things that could be improved like the tartness.'

From what I could see so far, the taste and design of the desserts were professional class. They will definitely be a challenge to compete against. It also seems like the sweets princes are up for it as well.

"This one's on the house," our waiter said as he delivered 4 puddings to our table, serving it to each of us.

"Wasn't this the pudding that was sold out? Why would he give it to us?" I pondered but decided not to read into it too much.

I took a bite of the pudding, closing my eyes to envision the flavors.

'Hm…'

"What a deep pudding," I stated as my eyes shot open. "The eggs and milk are superb, and the combination of the cream is also exquisite and rich… It seems as if they used the finest ingredients to make it."

"You're right, it's good," Kashino also took a bite of his along with Andou and Hanabusa.

"This caramel sauce is done well," Caramel complimented.

"Have you taken interest in my pudding?" A girl's voice spoke from behind us and we all looked up to see who it was.

A dolled-up girl with wavy, light brown hair and bangs that covered her forehead was wearing the salon's black and white waitress uniform.

"Long time no see, Makoto!" The girl only looked at Kashino with a warm smile.

"K-Koshiro… Miya," Kashino stuttered, pointing at the girl with a traumatized look in his eyes.

'So this is the rumored girl who partnered up with them last year…'