Chapter Three: Sweet Magic
Chapter Three: Sweet Magic
After the weekend came the first day of the post-exam break. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky—just the right weather for a tea party.
Representatives from the three salons assembled on the courtyard terrace often used by the student council members. Representing the Sky Salon were Lady Kagura, the Kokonoe sisters, and Kirara, along with Himeko and me. From the Paradise Palace, Lady Asuka and Mei had come, plus Lady Erisu. Lady Rosalie and Marie represented the Gloriana Guesthouse.
Everyone’s personalities were on full display as well. Lady Kagura projected calm collectedness, while Lady Asuka directed an air of intimidation toward her. Meanwhile, Lady Rosalie was practically hiding behind her Seraph, peering out to scope out the situation.
Standing in the center of them all was the student council president, Lady Angelica.
“Thank you all for coming during the break,” she began.
Since this was the first time three salons had ever competed for one member, she had volunteered to act as a neutral party. Everyone was happy with this; if one of the salons had taken on the emcee role, they might have been biased. To be completely honest, her job looked like fun. Part of me wished that I could have done it.
Two other outside parties were there: Lady Shion and Aoi. They were standing a small distance away, watching from under the ostentatious frills of a mauve parasol held by Aoi.
No rules had been established about outside observers. If Lady Angelica was there, there wasn’t much reason to object to other onlookers. Still, I’d never have expected Lady Shion to come in person.
Lady Kagura didn’t look worried about it, but when Himeko saw her, her eyes widened in surprise. This wasn’t an expression I saw on Himeko’s face too often.
I don’t blame her. Who’d have expected her to show up here, just like that, when she knows we suspect her of leaking information to Lady Rosalie?
It wasn’t exactly a crime, to be fair, even if she had done it. It was just sharing some information under mysterious circumstances. Still, we didn’t know what her intentions were, which made me wary.
Lady Shion didn’t come over to talk to anyone, even Lady Angelica. The latter showed no sign of being ruffled by her presence, so for all I knew, they’d already talked it over beforehand.
“Today, three salons will have the opportunity to court Sakura, our new student from overseas, so please allow me to set the stage. I’m told that the rules have already been agreed upon, so please follow those and compete fairly for Sakura’s interest. Sakura, could I ask you to come over here?”
At Lady Angelica’s urging, Lady Sakura and Sara emerged from their hiding place. Lady Sakura looked so grand and imposing that she didn’t seem nearly as petite as she was; with Sara standing behind her, she honestly looked like a queen.
There was a hint of passion burning in Sara’s eyes too. She looked captivated by her mistress.
My first thought was that Lady Sakura looked like she’d fit in perfectly at the Sky Salon.
“I’m glad to hear you have an interest in the salons, which are a unique system we have at this school. A student from abroad will always attract a lot of attention, but I was still flabbergasted to hear that there are three salons hoping to recruit you. Were you acquainted with the members beforehand?”
This was quite a probing question, especially since those potential acquaintances were right there listening.
“No, not at all. I’d heard a bit about the school from Sara, but I wouldn’t say there was anyone else here I’d call an acquaintance. I was rather surprised as well!”
Her reply came in exceptionally fluent Japanese. She must have spent a lot of time studying our language and culture. Sara’s Japanese was pretty much perfect too, but she did use some odd phrases once in a while. Lady Sakura’s was so good that I couldn’t have distinguished it from a native speaker’s.
“I must say,” she continued, “it’s a true honor to be asked to join three different salons, especially when I only recently learned about the salon system. I’d definitely like to join one of them, so I’m excited about today.”
She delivered a curtsy so lovely that all eyes were drawn to her.
This does seem to rule out Lady Rosalie having an independent personal connection to Lady Sakura, though.
“I’m told that first you’ll visit each of the three salons, and then you’ll attend a joint tea party held by all three. At your request, the first one on the list will be the Sky Salon—isn’t that right?”
“Yes. I’ve heard it’s the most distinguished salon at the academy, so it deserves the proper respect.”
Lady Kagura stepped out and stood in front of Lady Sakura. “It’s an honor to be chosen first and be able to start today’s proceedings. Everything’s ready at the salon, so we can go there right away.”
The two ladies looked at each other and exchanged smiles. Was there some deeper meaning behind those gazes? Had they each understood something from it?
“Sounds like an excellent idea,” Lady Angelica said. “If there’s anything else to discuss, we can do it along the way.”
Then she walked ahead, leading the way for everyone else.
At this point, all I could do was pray it would go well.
✤
The Sky Salon didn’t tend to get many visitors. The most obvious reason was that it was so far out of the way, but aside from that, it didn’t open its doors to just anyone. Some salons were more like social meeting places, where friends of the members came to visit every day, but the Sky Salon was more exclusive. This was due to Lady Kagura’s general approach of only having people around in whom she had a vested interest.
Now, though, the Sky Salon was positively bustling. Far more people had entered than I’d ever seen there before. The other members, who had been waiting there, looked pretty shocked. Even Lady Saeko had a strained, awkward smile.
Lady Asuka had come here before because of the Salon Struggle, but Lady Erisu was gazing around with wonder, suggesting it was her first time. I suspected it was Lady Shion’s first visit as well, but she remained subdued.
If there was one visitor who made it very clear she’d never been here before, it was Lady Rosalie. Squealing with excitement, she clutched Marie’s arm and looked ready to dash off into the room. Marie’s strenuous efforts to hold her back were all that kept her in place.
“You’re all welcome to look around,” Lady Kagura announced, “but I ask you to please stay away from the members’ personal spots around the outside.” Even she couldn’t keep from looking a tiny bit overwhelmed. “Sakura, please come with me. I’ll give you a tour, then I’ll take you to my own space and talk to you a little about myself and the salon, if that’s okay.”
“Sounds lovely.”
“Could the other members please see to our guests?”
She began to show Lady Sakura around, leaving the rest of us to attend to the unusually large number of visitors while trying not to lose our heads.
Their discussion lasted about thirty minutes. Most likely, Lady Kagura had told her in great detail about the company she was planning to set up. When the two of them came out of her private zone, they both had serious expressions. If I had to guess, she managed to make an impact.
Lady Saeko came over to us and sighed. “Things seem to have gone swimmingly for Kagura, but out here it’s been chaos.”
Whimpering, I replied, “Yeah, it has.”
The salon was usually so relaxed and easygoing. Even when we had visitors, there was never more than one or two at a time, and it was always clear who should be serving them.
Today, however, we hadn’t even known how many would be coming—and it had turned out to be a lot. There weren’t enough Seraphs to cover them all, not to mention that three of them were the leaders of other salons, who of course required a special level of attention.
Since Lady Kagura and her three Seraphs had all remained with Lady Sakura and Sara, Lady Saeko had taken charge of everyone else. Sadly, there was no denying that we’d provided shoddy service that in no way lived up to the Sky Salon’s impeccable reputation. Insufficient manpower and preparation had collided into a pretty embarrassing display for the other salon leaders.
“I know what you need. More training. Starting tomorrow.”
“Yes,” I replied sadly. What else could I say? I’d always been kind of lax on that front, so I couldn’t exactly deny it.
“Matsuri!” Lady Saeko called. “Over here, please.”
“Yes, milady!”
Trembling even harder than usual, Matsuri kneeled at her mistress’s feet, huddling up as if she wanted to disappear.
“You were paying attention, weren’t you? You know what went wrong.”
“Yes, milady.”
“I want you to put together a list of possible improvements and have it ready by tomorrow.”
“Certainly, milady!”
From what I could tell, Matsuri had been the only one to actually do a decent job in all the pandemonium, but Lady Saeko was glaring at her anyway.
✤
Next was the Paradise Palace, the salon with the cutesy fairy-tale vibe. It was also famed for its strict membership requirement: all ladies who joined the salon had to be four foot nine or shorter. All the furniture and decorations looked like, to put it bluntly, things from a kids’ playroom. Visiting it almost made me feel like I’d gone back to my childhood.
The place itself wasn’t that big either, and you could basically see it all from the doorway, so no one started rushing around to get a better look.
Almost no one.
Shrieking, Rosalie exclaimed, “How cute! Look, Marie! Where do you think they sell such adorable furniture? I want some just like it for our salon! Maybe it’s all made to order? It doesn’t look like a standard size. I’ve heard people talk about this place, but seeing it for myself is amazing. Fully committing to a concept really is important, isn’t it? I’ll have to get over my embarrassment and be comfortable wearing a formal dress in front of visitors.”
Her cheeks were bright crimson. She’d clearly taken a liking to the Paradise Palace.
“Yes, milady, I understand, so can you please calm down?”
Considering that Marie had told me her mistress was always criticizing her, the shoe was really on the other foot now. If Marie was the one having to calm her down, that was a testament to how euphoric she was.
The discussion here was shorter than the one at the Sky Salon. There was nothing business-related to talk about, as there had been in Lady Kagura’s case, so there probably wasn’t much more to cover than how the salon worked. This salon also didn’t really have private areas the way ours did, so the talking took place where everyone could see—allowing me to get a rough impression of how it went. My impression was that they got along very well. I wondered if they were bonding over their similar stature. Either way, it was clear that the ice was broken. If not for Mei standing behind them getting ridiculously excited, this would have been the picture-perfect salon scenario. You could have printed it in a pamphlet.
✤
Last came the Gloriana Guesthouse. From what I could tell, Kirara and I were the only ones who had been to this brand-new salon so far. When we all got there, Lady Kagura and Himeko looked around, full of curiosity.
The same young ladies who had worn stunning gowns last time were dressed just as beautifully today as they sipped their tea. The only difference was that this time they were fully confident in all their mannerisms and in perfect harmony with the Gothic environment. They even turned to us and showed elegant smiles. They must have been practicing hard!
The sight of them in their dresses was so charming that even Himeko made a comment about it. “Evening gowns can be so pretty, can’t they?”
“Oh yeah, you don’t really have any dresses like that, right?”
I was familiar with all the clothes in her room by now, and I didn’t recall seeing anything that fancy.
“Well, I do, just not in my room. I have them stored somewhere so they’re kept in good condition. If dresses like this aren’t cared for properly, it can ruin the silhouette. I’m scared of them getting stained as well.”
“That makes sense. I definitely wouldn’t know how to handle them properly. Not yet. I’d love to see you wearing something like that. You must have done it before if you have some, right? When do you wear them?”
“A graduation ceremony or a party afterward, maybe? That sort of thing. You might also wear one at a ball.”
“Oh yeah, I vaguely recall you talking about people throwing balls.”
“You seem pretty interested in evening wear. Maybe we should have a dress made for you.”
“No, erm, that’s all right. It would only be wasted on me. I bet you’d look like a princess, though!”
“Ooh, then maybe you’re Cinderella. Instead of a glass slipper, why don’t we see if you fit into one of my dresses?”
I was stunned into silence. The difference in our bust sizes alone would make that absolutely impossible! I thought, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Though I guess if it’s just a case of fitting inside it, I would, right?
“Lady Sakura, welcome to the Gloriana Guesthouse!”
In stark contrast to her feverish excitement so far, Lady Rosalie moved with perfect poise as she escorted Lady Sakura. Even though she wasn’t wearing a dress, she embodied the feeling of wearing one so well that I could almost see it. She was a Societal Arts student, after all, and now that was on clear display.
“Thank you very much,” Lady Sakura replied.
As if reading my thoughts, Marie silently drew up next to me and whispered, “Well? Don’t you think my mistress is amazing when she acts like this?”
“Yes, she’s wonderful,” I replied honestly, though I was also wondering if it was okay for Marie to be back here with me.
Right on cue, her mistress called for her. “Marie! Come over here!”
Sadly, this broke Lady Rosalie’s carefully crafted composure. I started to wonder if some of her nerves were actually because of Marie.
“Coming!”
Marie showed no concern about being shouted at; she leisurely strolled over to Lady Rosalie’s side and stayed close behind her from that point on.
“Apologies for that momentary lapse. I’d like to continue now. Our aim for the salon is to embody a traditional British feel. The interior design is part of that, and while the members are here, they’ll all wear formal dresses.”
“Yes, I see that. It was a surprise when I first arrived, but I think it adds a lovely individual flair. There’s such a tranquil atmosphere as well. I can tell you’ve really put your heart and soul into it, Lady Rosalie.”
“Really? Thank you so much!”
The two ladies continued to chat pleasantly as they walked around the salon. Lady Rosalie looked overjoyed while talking to the newcomer, and if it was clear enough for me to pick up on, I was sure Lady Sakura recognized it as well.
✤
After leaving the Gloriana Guesthouse, we all returned to the central terrace. Next would come the all-important tea party, but first there was a short break.
This time, the number of people gathered on the terrace was even larger than it had been in the morning. From the Sky Salon, Lady Saeko and Lady Sumire had joined, naturally accompanied by their Seraphs, Matsuri and Mihaya. The two young ladies from the Gloriana Guesthouse, whom we’d just seen in fabulous dresses, had changed into everyday wear and come here as well.
I knew that the Sky Salon members had one goal in mind, and that was sampling Mei’s dessert. Presumably, the Gloriana Guesthouse girls had the same motivation.
Needless to say, Lady Angelica was slightly taken aback when she saw the large crowd. “Is it my imagination, or have our numbers grown quite a bit? Anyway, that’s the end of the salon visits. How did you find them?”
“All three of them were a delight,” Lady Sakura replied. “I can honestly say that right now, it’s impossible for me to choose. It’s clear that you’ve all worked extremely hard to make your ideas a reality, and I saw no compromises whatsoever. I almost didn’t feel worthy of entering!”
Lady Sakura’s cheeks were flushed and she was talking at a rapid pace. It was clear that she was genuinely excited. None of this was lip service; she really did like all of the salons.
“I’m glad to hear it. Regardless of which one you join, it’s great that you’ve taken a fancy to all of them. Now, for the joint tea party, we’ll be having another change of scenery. Erisu?”
“Yes, I’ll lead the way,” Lady Erisu replied in her typically sweet and lovely manner.
In the end, the joint tea party was going to be held at her restaurant. With the sheer amount of confectionery that was about to be served, the only places on campus that would be large enough were the various restaurants. Among them, the one with the most suitable atmosphere was definitely hers.
No one had objected to this, and we’d also put the sweets we’d made into the industrial refrigerators there, so it was very convenient for us.
“Follow me, please!”
As we all trailed after Lady Erisu in a line, it felt like something out of a fairy tale. We headed to Erisu’s École Kitchen in an amicable mood despite being in the middle of a competition.
When we arrived, we were met by Yukina, Mizuki, and Hanaka, who had been getting everything ready. However, seeing larger numbers than planned sent them into a bit of a frenzy.
“A full house! I can’t believe it!”
“We never have this many guests!”
“Is there room for all of them?!”
It was up to us Seraphs to find out where everyone should be sitting and lead them there, so we skittered after the three Exousias in a slight panic of our own.
Getting everyone seated was a little touch and go, but it all worked out in the end. At a main table in the center sat Lady Sakura, Lady Kagura, Lady Asuka, and Lady Rosalie, with their Seraphs beside them. Almost all the other mistresses, including Himeko and Lady Angelica, were able to cram into the first floor as well, but there was no room for the Seraphs to sit there. Not only was this no big surprise, but we wouldn’t have a chance to sit down yet anyway; the Seraphs of the key salon leaders at the main table couldn’t get up and move around, so we had to handle the serving duties.
Still, this didn’t require all hands on deck, so anyone who wasn’t currently busy was asked to sit on the second floor. Lady Shion and Aoi had at some point gone up there too, picking the table that gave the best view of the first floor.
Lady Angelica announced, “At last, it’s time for the battle of the sweets! There are no complex rules. All you need to do is have a pleasant chat together and enjoy sampling each salon’s dish. The Sky Salon will go first. Misaki, over to you.”
“Thank you!” I said, standing up.
Suddenly, Lady Asuka gave a meaningful chuckle and declared her own victory. “We’ve already won.”
She looked very self-satisfied indeed. I let out a strained groan of frustration.
“What an interesting thing to say,” Lady Sakura mused, a smile forming on her lips. She looked terribly intrigued. “How come you’re so certain?”
“Allow me to explain!” Apparently happy to be the center of attention, Lady Asuka milked it for all it was worth. “It’s been known since time immemorial that whoever goes first in a cooking contest always loses. It’s the only way the event can have the necessary drama and tension. Basically, the Sky Salon doesn’t have a whisper of a chance.”
I let out a huff. None of this made much sense to me, but if she was that confident, how could I not believe her?
“The Paradise Palace is going second, isn’t it?” Lady Kagura interjected coolly. “Doesn’t that mean the Gloriana Guesthouse should win?”
Lady Asuka was ready with an answer, however. “Heh. Don’t be naive. From second onward, it doesn’t matter where you are in the running order. Besides, we’ll be serving something made by Mei. We can’t possibly lose.”
“I’m impressed with how much confidence you have in your Seraph,” Lady Sakura remarked.
“Trust me,” Lady Asuka said, pointing sharply at Lady Sakura, “you’ll know why when you taste it!”
Lady Sakura nodded cheerfully. “I almost feel like you’re setting the bar too high for yourself, but if you’re that sure, I’m certainly looking forward to it.”
Mei, the one who’d been placed under these high expectations, did not flinch even once. Clearly, she had just as much confidence. I could see why since I’d eaten one of her desserts as well.
All this made me a little nervous about serving my dish. I knew well and good that I wasn’t going to win based on flavor alone.
Lady Kagura gave me some words of encouragement. “Ignore them, Misaki. Go ahead and serve everyone. Your idea won me over and I approved it, so everything is fine.”
I steeled my nerves. “All right.”
Given the number of people, it took more than just me and Kirara to give out the sweets we’d made. We recruited Matsuri and Mihaya to help. All the while, I was anxious to know what Lady Sakura would think.
When people saw it, they reacted with various little exclamations.
“Gosh!”
“Huh.”
“Hmm.”
“Really?”
I heard all those and more. To be honest, this was about what I’d expected. After all, you couldn’t say our dish looked beautiful, or that it was anything especially rare, or that it was a traditional choice. That wasn’t to say we had abandoned presentation, but it was much plainer looking than anything that would normally be served in a competition.
The first one to share a more detailed impression was Lady Sakura herself. “A very interesting choice!” she said. Then she giggled, smiling very happily.
In my mind, I threw a victory pose. We’d made this just for her. It didn’t matter what anyone else thought; as long as she liked it, it was a success. Now we’d cleared the first hurdle.
The dessert we had served was a fruitcake. Relatively ordinary, but there was one thing that set it apart: the quantity and variety of fruit that we’d included.
There were pieces of apple, grape, orange, peach, strawberry, melon, kiwi, pineapple, blueberry, banana, mango, and raspberry. Finally, as the pièce de résistance, we’d used cherries. After all, it was the closest thing we could manage to Lady Sakura’s name.
It was a rich, luxurious cake filled with everything we could possibly put in it. We’d actually set aside the harmony of the different flavors and focused more on ensuring that anyone who ate it would instantly feel how exciting and varied it was.
The tea to accompany it was fruit tea as well. The blend used citrus fruits as the base, and for this we really had prioritized the taste.
“Please, dig in.”
This was the best thing we could possibly have served her. It conveyed everything to Lady Sakura that we wanted it to.
“Yes, let’s all have some!” Lady Angelica agreed.
Lady Sakura started eating. As I expected, all the Societal Arts students approached it in a refined manner, using a knife and fork flawlessly. Not to be outdone, Lady Sakura’s manners were every bit as perfect.
After her second mouthful, then her third, Lady Sakura giggled. “This is amazing. Since it’s all fruit, there aren’t too many strong, clashing flavors, but it feels like a dance inside my mouth.”
Her smile said it was almost too much for her, but she didn’t stop. She continued until she had elegantly devoured the entire thing.
Other reactions were more mixed. Lady Kagura ate it without saying a word, a strange look on her face. Lady Asuka looked more assured of her own victory than ever. Lady Rosalie ate it in confusion, occasionally letting out a thoughtful hum.
Once she was finished, Lady Sakura said, “I see. Ha ha.” She was laughing almost to herself, as if she’d remembered something.
“It sounds like everyone has their own thoughts on the Sky Salon’s most unexpected dish,” Lady Angelica said, addressing the crowd. “I have plenty of questions, but those can wait until later. Let’s move on to the Paradise Palace. Mei, it’s your turn.”
“Thank you.”
Mei stood gracefully and served her creation with the help of Erisu’s three Exousias. I was eager to see what she’d made.
The four girls pushed in a cart full of plates. Even before I could see it, the rich, sweet scent wafted across the entire room. It smelled so decadent that I could already tell it would be absolutely delicious.
“Here it is, everyone,” Mei said as she started serving it.
“It looks beautiful!” Lady Sakura immediately exclaimed.
Lady Kagura’s eyes gleamed, like she was gazing upon fine jewels. A feverish expression rose on Lady Rosalie’s face as well; she looked absolutely enchanted.
Even Lady Saeko sounded delighted. “So this is what Mei’s famous homemade sweets are like!”
I found myself letting out a joyous little yelp. Mei had made a fruit tart, but naturally, it was no ordinary tart. Peaches and apples had been cut into semicircular segments and layered on the top, arranged to look like the petals of a large rose. A plump strawberry was enshrined in the center, and the fruits had been coated with an apricot glaze to make them all shine like gemstones.
Cutting into it with a knife almost felt like a waste, but the sheer joy of eating it was enough to overcome that. The moment I bit into it, my whole mouth was filled with a luscious flavor that exceeded my wildest expectations.
Underneath the fruit wasn’t just whipped cream. The mixture had an exquisite balance of cream cheese and strawberry sauce, making for a truly deep and complex flavor that set our hearts on fire.
No one said a word. Silence reigned until we finished eating, as if we were all afraid that if we spoke, this deliciousness would run away, never to be seen again.
Lady Angelica’s comment afterward made it clear that she, too, was in the thrall of Mei’s homemade fruit tart. “That was extremely good. Your skills are remarkable.”
Everyone present was no doubt thinking the same. In light of this, Lady Asuka’s pride and confidence made perfect sense.
Thanks to Mei, the Paradise Palace had just gone way up in everyone’s estimation.
“I fear the Gloriana Guesthouse may have a tough act to follow,” Lady Angelica continued, “but are you ready to serve your dish?”
“Absolutely,” Marie replied jovially. “Mei’s sweets are certainly nothing to sneeze at, but we won’t be going down without a fight.”
Her ability to stay positive really was a strength. I wondered what she, and her salon, would be dishing up.
Marie brought her dish to the main table, then to everyone else. “Here you are,” she said at our table. “I hope you enjoy it.”
When I saw what Marie presented, I let out a hysterical “Huh?!”
But...this is...
“Goodness,” Lady Sakura said, surprised.
Even Lady Kagura wore an unusually stark look of shock. “Oh my.”
Lady Rosalie remained composed, of course. She’d already known what was coming.
Meanwhile, Lady Asuka frowned deeply. “What is going on here?!”
I couldn’t blame her. After all, what Marie had presented, what the Gloriana Guesthouse had prepared, was the very same thing we had—a fruitcake.
Not only that, but the quantity and variety of fruit was the same as well. The only difference was that the Gloriana Guesthouse hadn’t just mixed fruit in with the batter and baked it. They’d also heaped all kinds of different fruits on top, making for a spectacular presentation.
“Oh, and allow me to add this decoration to Lady Sakura’s table as well.”
Marie produced a pink vase with cherry tree branches inside, each one adorned with cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Lady Sakura looked at the blossoms, spellbound. “My goodness. I thought the cherry blossom season was already over. Was I wrong?”
“In this area, they all fall around the start of May, but deep in the mountains in cold regions, there are places where they’re still in bloom at this time of year. I was lucky enough to find some in Hokkaido, so I took a few branches back with me.”
I couldn’t believe it. Using cherries was easy enough, but finding actual cherry blossoms, Lady Sakura’s name incarnate, was on another level entirely. I could tell how serious Lady Rosalie was about winning her over.
“What elegance. Well, I’ll tuck in.” With a smile, she started eating the cake.
I whimpered. “Me too.”
My mind in disarray, I lifted it up to my mouth. It was really well made. The fruits mixed into the cake had been cut into different sizes to carefully control the strength of the flavors and achieve a perfect balance. It looked like they’d taken great care with the hues as well. When I cut into it, it looked like vividly colored jewels were scattered around inside the cake.
This was a model example of how careful planning and execution could turn an ordinary fruitcake into something truly special. The taste and presentation were both a clear step above mine.
Ours would undoubtedly pale in comparison. Was it like Lady Asuka had said at the beginning? Was it truly impossible for the team who went first to win?
This isn’t a battle of flavor alone. I know that, but I’m still full of doubts.
Which one was Lady Sakura going to choose?
Lady Angelica wiped her mouth, beaming with satisfaction.
“Now all three salons have presented their dishes, each more unexpected than the last. Of course, my opinion isn’t the important one. It’s all up to Sakura.” Turning to the lady of the hour, she asked, “What did you think? Have you decided which salon you’d like to join?”
“Hmm. Would you mind waiting a moment? This has been such an amazing experience that I’m struggling to choose.” She really did look lost; she put a hand on her cheek and sat there deliberating.
“That’s absolutely fine. In that case, let’s focus on clearing up for now and then hear your verdict after that.”
“If you don’t mind, that would be perfect.”
So much for Lady Saeko’s seventy or eighty percent certainty of our team coming out on top. Lady Sakura’s current indecision was totally at odds with that.
As I helped with the tidying, belated doubts began to creep in. I started wondering if we’d really made the right choice of dessert, or if there might have been a better way to win her over. I still think it was the best option, though. Probably.
Once the restaurant was looking spotless, Lady Sakura sat up straight with a look of resolve.
“Have you made your decision?” Lady Angelica asked. “If you’re still not sure, I’m sure we can postpone this for another day.”
“Thank you for being so considerate, but that won’t be necessary. I’ve made up my mind, and I’d like to inform everyone here and now. I wouldn’t leave you without an answer when you’ve all come here just for me.”
Lady Sakura stood up.
“First, I’d like to express my gratitude for this incredible opportunity. It’s truly an honor for such esteemed salons to have extended their hands to me. Even though I’ve had to choose one, I must say that you were all extremely close. I’ll thank each salon properly afterward, but first allow me to tell you my decision.”
She paused for a moment, then gazed out, her head held high.
“The salon I wish to join is...”
Tension filled the air as we waited.
“The Sky Salon!”
Gasps of surprise and disappointment filled the air across the restaurant.
With a grunt of frustration, Lady Asuka grimaced. She had been absolutely certain of her victory, which could only have magnified her annoyance.
Meanwhile, Lady Rosalie collapsed onto the table with a sigh. “No luck for us.”
Lady Kagura stayed silent, but I could see a measure of relief on her face.
Continuing, Lady Sakura explained, “Honestly, it’s painful to have to choose only one. The Paradise Palace is made up only of other girls my height, which is something I’m quite conscious of. I’m sure I’d have felt a sense of kinship and enjoyed many more carefree afternoons drinking tea there. The tart you served was also absolutely incredible. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything so delicious in all my life. If it were purely a matter of flavor, the Paradise Palace would win hands down; I can say that for sure.”
She closed her eyes a moment, savoring the memory.
“The Gloriana Guesthouse had a truly extraordinary atmosphere, and I had a sense that I would have been right at home there. Here in a foreign country, far from home, I got a taste of my own country. It’s also rare in this day and age to have many opportunities to wear such fine dresses, so wearing one every day is such a fabulous idea. The dish you presented was the same as the Sky Salon’s, and I’ll share my thoughts on the two cakes in a moment, but yours was truly scrumptious as well. Seeing cherry blossoms at this time of year was also a rare pleasure indeed. I could tell what great pains you’d gone to in order to show me a warm welcome. At the Gloriana Guesthouse, I’m confident that we’d have pushed each other further in an atmosphere of mutual respect.”
Her opinion of both salons so far was exceptionally high. It actually made me nervous to hear what she’d say about the Sky Salon.
“Last, but certainly not least, the Sky Salon has a breathtaking view, and I’m certain that I’d thoroughly enjoy spending time there. However, that’s not the key point. The Sky Salon isn’t seeking members just to enjoy one another’s company over a cup of tea. Everyone is there to share in and support Kagura’s dream. In a sense, our meeting was about whether we could be of use to each other. I found this greatly appealing. If I were here purely to enjoy my time as a student in Japan, the Paradise Palace and Gloriana Guesthouse could easily have provided that. However, I came here with my future in mind. To that end, you could say it’s vital that I...yes, that I make use of Kagura.”
She spoke with passion. She had come to Japan for the sake of her own dream.
“However, that alone would have only barely scraped a win for the Sky Salon. In the end, I was able to judge based on another important factor, which is the prospect of forming a real connection with the members. As such, what really cinched it was the Sky Salon’s fruitcake. Isn’t that right, Sara?”
Smiling, she turned to her Seraph, who was standing a short distance away.
However, Sara just looked to the side and said, “I haven’t the foggiest idea what you mean.”
Her mistress chuckled. “Is that how you’d like to play it? In that case, allow me to explain. You see, that fruitcake is something Sara often made for me when we were younger. Naturally, she’s capable of making far more elaborate sweets, but whenever I wanted to eat fruitcake, she’d make one just like that. It always had little emphasis on presentation but a huge variety of flavors. That’s why I found it so interesting that you recreated exactly that dish. So perfectly, in fact, that I almost thought Sara might have made it herself. I don’t know if the Gloriana Guesthouse made the same choice by coincidence or if they’d investigated my tastes and preferences. Either way, although it was the same type of cake, the flavor and appearance were quite different. Naturally, the one from the Gloriana Guesthouse was more delicious.”
Lady Sakura looked in Sara’s direction again.
“What surprises me is that Sara told other people about this. She tends to be shy around strangers, so I’d never have expected her to tell anyone about the distant past. It looks like she’s been able to make good friends at this school. Sara is family to me. Our meeting changed both our lives. Now she has friends she can share her past with, and that’s precious. That might even be more of an achievement than forming a connection with Kagura. That’s why I’ve chosen the Sky Salon. It’s the place where both the past and the future can be honored.”
Now that Lady Sakura had poured her heart out, everyone looked pretty convinced by her explanation.
Lady Asuka went over and shook her hand. “At least you agreed that Mei’s dish was the most delicious. We’ll have to be satisfied with that.” From her point of view, it seemed she’d lost the war but won the battle.
“It really was incredible,” Lady Sakura replied. “I could eat it every single day.”
From above the petite pair, Mei grabbed on with both hands as if she still didn’t want to let Lady Sakura go. “You’re welcome anytime. Even once you’ve joined the Sky Salon, you could still visit every day.”
One thing was clear: Mei was far more frustrated at the loss than her mistress.
“If I’m eager to eat one of your confections, I’ll definitely call on you,” Lady Sakura replied politely.
She released Lady Asuka’s hand and turned to the Gloriana Guesthouse members next.
“Your salon was absolutely lovely as well. I know you’re pulling out all the stops to make it really special. It would have been an honor to have helped you with that.”
“Don’t worry,” said Lady Rosalie, “I appreciate the sentiment. Even though I couldn’t recruit you, I’ll keep improving my salon. One day, you’ll say it’s a shame you didn’t pick the Gloriana Guesthouse after all.”
“I can’t wait. If you reach that point, I’ll ask, no, demand that you let me visit.”
“The day will come! In the meantime, would you mind if I occasionally ask you for advice on British customs? There’s so much I don’t know.”
“Of course not. That would be absolutely fine.”
A relieved expression formed on Lady Rosalie’s face. She’d done absolutely everything she could and achieved plenty.
Finally, Lady Sakura shook Lady Kagura’s hand. “We’ll be seeing a lot of each other from now on, and not only in a social sense! I’m eager to get started.”
“Yes, I think it’s going to be a fruitful partnership. However, I don’t want you to think the Sky Salon is all business all the time. There’ll be plenty of time to sit and relax, and I hope you have a wonderful time there. To me, both the members and the salon itself are absolutely irreplaceable.”
“I see your point. If you only cared about business, things might not have turned out this way.”
Both ladies looked at me and Kirara. It was almost like they were showing recognition for us.
Gently embracing me from behind, Himeko giggled and said, “I’m glad your efforts were appreciated.”
“I didn’t do it on my own. Lady Saeko gave me the idea in the first place, and we couldn’t have done it without Sara.”
“True, but I think your own popularity is what put you in that position to begin with.”
She squeezed tighter and nuzzled her cheek against mine, indifferent to all the gazes now firmly focused on us. Feeling a complicated mixture of happiness and embarrassment, I let Himeko keep cuddling me until she’d had her fill.
✤
After that, Lady Sakura followed Lady Kagura back to the Sky Salon; apparently, they had a bit more to talk about today. Kirara and the Kokonoe sisters accompanied them, but Lady Saeko, Lady Sumire, and their respective Seraphs headed back to the dorms.
I wasn’t exactly sure why, but Himeko and I loitered outside Erisu’s École Kitchen for a while. As she held my hand, all she said was that she wanted to stay a little longer. My guess was that she was waiting for Lady Shion to come out.
Eventually, she and Aoi appeared in the doorway. Himeko practically ran over to them, just as I’d expected.
“Shion!”
“Congratulations on winning over Sakura, Himeko. It was quite a spectacle to behold. Everyone gave it their all.” The smile on Lady Shion’s face suggested she was in a very good mood.
“I see,” Himeko replied hesitantly. “I’m glad you had such a good time. However, you’re ultimately the reason why this became such a large event, aren’t you?”
Without letting her smile drop for a moment, Lady Shion cocked her head in puzzlement. “How so?”
“Please stop trying to feign ignorance. I know you were the one who leaked information about Sakura to Rosalie. She knew things that no one outside the school’s administration should have had access to.”
“Hmm, yes. I suppose I can’t deny it.”
Finally, she’s admitted that she’s the culprit! She must’ve decided that there’s no need to hide it anymore now that the battle for Lady Sakura is over.
“I heard that Sakura was joining the school and wondered if there was some way I could use that to my own ends. Rosalie was right there just when I needed someone. Along the way, I got quite fixated on gathering intel. I even managed to pinpoint that fruitcake was her favorite, but I couldn’t go as far as reading her memories, so I didn’t know exactly how it should be made. You managed to beat me, Misaki.”
Under her piercing gaze, I tensed up. “No, erm, I didn’t do anything.”
Himeko took a step forward as if to protect me. “Now that it’s all over, can you please tell me why you did it?”
“Yes, I suppose I will.” In an instant, the smile dropped and she wore a serious expression. “I was bored, so I wanted to have some fun.”
“Really? That’s all?”
“That’s all. I was really, really bored, though. I’ve been waiting on you, Himeko.”
“What?”
“I remember what you said to me a long time ago—that when you started at this school, you’d make it so much better. You’d make it into a more fun and exciting place. But it’s been a year and a half since you joined and you’ve done nothing of the sort.”
“But—”
“I know it’s easier said than done, and you’ve had a lot on your plate. Still, none of that is my concern. I decided that if you didn’t feel like changing the school, I’d have to do it myself.”
“I’m really sorry that I haven’t done more, but—”
“You don’t need to apologize,” Lady Shion replied, her voice kind as she turned to walk away. “I’ve already learned not to expect anything from you. I’ll take care of it instead.” She turned her head slightly and shot a challenging gaze at Himeko. “You can just watch in silence.”
Anguish haunted Himeko’s eyes. “Shion, I never intended to lie to you. I still want to make the school a better place!”
“Don’t strain yourself. Stick to your figurehead deputy chairman role.”
With those scathing words, she departed with Aoi. Unable to stop them or make a counterargument, Himeko stood and watched Lady Shion go with a look of frustration and regret.
✤
Himeko walked back to her dorm with leaden footsteps. She didn’t say a word along the way. Not wanting to leave her alone, I tagged behind. Even though we’d won today, with Lady Sakura set to join the Sky Salon, any joy resulting from that had totally vanished.
Her mood didn’t lift at all when we got to her room. I suggested we have a bath, hoping that would cheer her up, but she remained totally silent even after we went into the bathroom. I ended up just watching her from inside the tub as she washed without my help for once. There was nothing I could do.
Himeko had wanted to make this school better. However, as far as I knew, she had only done the bare minimum. There was nothing inherently wrong with that, of course, but it sounded like she hadn’t stuck to what she’d told Lady Shion.
I know there must be some reason behind it, but I have no idea what it could be. If only I could do more to help Himeko. Maybe I should ask her. The problem is, if she tells me, it’ll inevitably make me want to be even closer to her. Then it’ll be tough to break off our relationship when the time comes.
Leaving Himeko’s side was already difficult, but I couldn’t imagine what would happen if we forged an even deeper relationship.
I blew bubbles in the water.
When Himeko finally showed me a smile, it looked slightly forced, but I could tell she’d come back to herself a little. “I’m sorry you had to see me like this.”
“Please don’t worry about it. You can always be yourself in front of me.”
“Thank you, Misaki.” There it was—the usual Himeko smile. “By the way, it’s almost summer vacation. Will you go home and see your family?”
“No, I was planning to stay here the whole time.”
“Excellent! Then we can be together all summer.”
“Oh! Yes!”
It sounded like Himeko planned to stay on campus over the vacation too.
“I wonder if anyone else from the Sky Salon will be sticking around?” she mused. “Kagura will probably be going back to see her family, and Inaho too. I don’t know about the others, but Sakura only just got here, so I doubt she’ll be going anywhere just yet. Either way, the Sky Salon will be pretty empty, so we can enjoy having it all to ourselves!”
“That sounds nice. I’ll do my best to make delicious treats for you.”
Himeko chuckled. “I can’t wait.”
She turned off the shower and got into the tub behind me. Wrapping her arms around me, she said, “During the summer, I’m going to set myself straight. It might end up giving you a lot of work, but I could really use your help.”
“That’s what I’m here for. I’m your Seraph.”
The word “Seraph” was a weighty one, as was the position it represented. I was Himeko’s Seraph. Every time I said it, it seemed to grow in significance. At the same time, something was starting to grow inside me. A feeling that was very comfortable and made me want to surrender myself to it.