Chapter 61: Something Strange (1)
Chapter 61: Episode 30 - Something Strange (1)
"Ichita, come down. Brother and the others made something good," Andou's mother told Ichita who finally came out of his room.
Andou's family gathered around the table where the Sweets Princes and I sat, awaiting our surprise.
When he came down, we could see that his eyes were still red and puffy when he appeared through the door.
I walked over to him and grabbed his small hand, guiding him to the table where the Sweets Princes sat and where the cake hid under a box.
"We made something we want you to eat, Ichita," I explained, walking him to the table.
"What is it? Did you make daifuku or something," Ichita said in a monotone voice.
"Not quite," Hanabusa smiled as he revealed the cake under the box.
Under the box was a cake shaped like a crescent moon in the night sky. Three macarons: green, white, and red, were on the cake platter. Part of the cake was decorated like the starry night sky.
"Ooooh!" Andou's family was surprised at the cake.
"This is a moon-viewing cake," Andou's grandfather explained to the other small children.
"There are small bunnies on it," Chiyo noticed.
"Ichita, hurry and try some," Andou's mother instructed the small boy.
"I told you I didn't want any cakes—" Ichita began but I interrupted him as I cut him a slice of the cake.
"—Ichita, didn't I tell you I'd show you your brother's real feelings? This cake is it," I explained to him, handing over the slice of cake.
"I want Dad and everyone else to try it, too," Andou instructed as he grabbed himself a slice as well.
Ichita looked at the cake in my hands in hesitation, but finally gave in and took it. He took a bite of the cake in defeat and began chewing.
Along with the other family members, their eyes lit up at the taste.
"Well, I'll be! You used our red bean paste!" Andou's grandfather noticed in fascination as he took a bite and observed the layers.
"You can tell? As expected from Grandpa," Andou praised.
"You mixed it with soft and fluffy whipped cream to make an unspeakable flavor," Andou's dad complimented.
Ichita grabbed a macaron and observed it curiously.
"Is this a *Manju?" Ichita asked me.
*Manju is a round steamed cake that is typically filled with a sweet red bean filling.
"That's called a macaron," I corrected.
He had a taste of the different flavored macarons and I could see that he noticed that one tasted like green tea and soy flour and the other tasted like sesame with red bean paste in them.
As Ichita ate the macarons, a happy smile formed on his face.
"Yummy!" Ichita said cheerfully.
"It's really good," Andou's mother complimented us.
"We could turn this into a product for the shop, don't you think?" Andou's father suggested this to the grandfather.
Ichita looked at Andou who had an anticipated look on his face.
"Is this the wagashi and cake mixed that Sen-nii wants to make?" Ichita asked Andou who nodded his head.
"Yes, that's right. Although I like cakes too, my root is the wagashi shop, Dream Moon. One day, I want to open a new shop under the name "Dream Moon." I definitely won't throw it away, it means so much to me," Andou told his family but then smiled at Ichita who listened in. "I'm sorry for worrying you, Ichita."
Andou patted his head but Ichita tried to remove his big hand. All of a sudden, Ichita began crying.
"Uwa!!! Wahhh!!!" Ichita grabbed onto Andou's sleeve which caught him by surprise. Andou embraced his crying brother as he wept into his shoulder.
'I'm happy for you… Ichita…'
Hanabusa, Kashino, and I looked at the two brothers hugging with pleased looks on our faces.
* * *
Finally, the holidays had come to an end. The next day, it was time for us to say goodbye to Andou's family.
"We have been in your care, thank you," I bowed to Andou's family respectfully.
"Likewise, you've all really helped us out. Next time, come over to play leisurely!" Andou's mother said to us with a smile.
"Michiko-chan, has anybody ever mentioned that you look kind of familiar? I feel like I've seen your face many times before a long time ago. I forget her name..." Andou's grandfather brought up while he pondered the thought out loud, and this caught me by surprise that I stumbled on my feet. At first, I didn't know how to answer, but I managed to get something out.
"No, I have never heard that before," I said quickly, making sure I didn't show any signs of wavering. "Anyways, thanks for having me. I really enjoyed spending time with you all."
"Thank you very much." I bowed to them respectively.
Instead of bowing, Andou's mother pulled me in for a sudden hug that caught me by surprise.
"O-oh," I managed to make out as Andou's mother unexpectedly hugged me.
She whispered into my ear so that nobody else would hear.
"Now, Keiko, I'd be glad if you and my Sennosuke got along. I'm really looking forward to when you become his 'you-know-what'…" She whispered into my ear and my eyes widened in shock.
"Bu-wh-hu—" I couldn't even finish my sentence by the sudden words she spoke of and she then let go of me and shot a bright, suspicious smile.
'Y-you-know-what?!' Hearing it in my mind made my heart pound rapidly and my face turn red. I could tell that she was hinting at a different kind of relationship with me and Andou.
She winked at Andou who gave his mom a grin.
'What the—'
"—You guys are going back already? Sen-nii, you should teach me how to make good cakes here…" Ichita said with a troubled look on his face.
"There are others as good as Sennosuke right here," Kashino interjected with a cold look on his face.
"Geez, how childish," Hanabusa admitted.
"Don't say that, Kashino. He wants to learn from his brother, not us," I muttered to Kashino while keeping a smile for Ichita.
"Say, Ichita," I knelt to meet Ichita's gaze. "For delicious sweets, you need to put in feelings of wanting to make the eater happy. Now, I hope you understand your brother's dream and why he wants to become a patissier. You too should start thinking of a dream you want to achieve…"
Ichita shot me a blank look before tears started welling up in his eyes.
"I don't want Keiko Onee-san to go either!" Ichita began crying which surprised me.
"N-now, now! Don't cry, Ichita!" I flusteredly tried to calm him down and he put his arms around my neck as I knelt.
'He's… hugging me?' I noticed his sudden actions and began patting his back as everyone observed the situation. 'I didn't think he'd do this.'
"It's alright, there's no need to cry. I'll make sure we visit you soon," I comforted and his crying stopped.
"Hmph, you better," Ichita said with a bit of attitude before letting go of me. He wiped his eyes and looked at me and Andou.
"I'll say this in advance… I wouldn't mind seeing Keiko Onee-san become the wife of Sen-nii," Ichika said frankly and I widened my eyes.
He shot us a grin and smirked at Hanabusa and Kashino.
"Wh-What are you saying? Who said anything about a wife?!" I said flusteredly, my face turning red.
"Eh, I wouldn't mind? Michiko, you're making me feel a bit lonely," Andou said sadly but I couldn't bother to look at him without my face turning red.
I could see Kashino's eyes twitch in rage and Hanabusa plastered a fake and cynical smile.
'It was his "you-know-what" now it's "wife"... What's up with all of them?'
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Withering_Flower
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