Cold Shoulders

SUMMARY:

Ichigo left to go to Saint Marie. She seemed to adjust and make new friends too. The Sweets Princes and the spirits. However, what about the friends she left back home? When students from Ichigo's old middle school come to Saint Marie for a sweets-making class Ichigo sees her old friends again. But... why are they acting so cold. "Taka-chan? Yocchan? Mimi-chan? What's wrong with you guys?" Can Ichigo make her friends realize that they haven't been replaced, or have they?

Me: May you rest in peace.

Ichigo: Who are you praying for Berry-chan?

Me: For Misslovelyprincess. She's gone now. Too bad, she was such an amazing writer. Lots of people were happy because of her stories even after she quit.

Ichigo: She must be great.

Me: Yeah, my favorite was her story, "Nothing is Sweeter than Love"

Ichigo: What's it about?

Me: About Kashino proposing to you.

Ichigo: W-WHAT?!

Me: Oh, Hi folks! I'M BACK WITH A NEW STORY! This one is dedicated to MyLovelyPrincess. I was going to post this the week before last week but I was too distracted.

*Kashino walks in*

Kashino: What the—? Why are you going to post another story? You're not even halfway through with your other story! (only heard what I last said)

Ichigo: Yeah! What will happen to "My Jealous Knights"? (still dazed)

Me: I'll still update! Sheesh. I just wanted to get this idea out of my head. I'm not putting any story in hiatus.

Kashino: And wasn't this supposed to be named "Harshly Rejected"

Me: I changed the title!

Kashino: Putting that aside, you're already distracted with school work and—

Me: Well... that's true but think about! No one has really mentioned Taka-chan and Yocchan or any of Ichigo's childhood friends in the anime except for that single episode. I somewhat thinks it's unfair for Ichigo to forget about them. And by the way, (turns to readers) I don't know how to put it in between the series so I'll just say it's whenever time when they were in first year.

Kashino: Oi, Yami!

Me: What is it know Kashino?

Kashino: How can you possibly work on TWO stories and still update regularly?

Ichigo: Kashino is so negative.

Kashino: I am not! I'm only stating facts. Why would you—

Me: *Why do I always let you talk in author's notes?* Okay! Well anyway enjoy the story. I only got the names of her two childhood friends in episode three and I don't know which is which so I made up the third girl's name, their surnames and personalities. Sorry if I can't make good personalities for characters.

Kashino: HEY! LET ME FINI—

Me and Ichigo: I/Berry-chan does not own Yumeiro Patissiere.

Me: Nor the Neil Flambé Capers by Kevin Sylvester!

Kashino and Ichigo: Neil Flambé? Who is that?

Me: You'll find out later!

Prologue:

Flashback:

"Class, I have an important announcement!" The teacher tries to wake up his sleepy class. It was the last period, Home Economics, so everyone's worn out. The students raise their heads or almost fall off their chairs as they suddenly wake up. Others are annoyed because of their interrupted conversations. The teacher rolls his eyes and scribbles something on the board.

Xxx. X, XXXX

"This date, class," The teacher explained. "is when we'll be visiting St. Marie Academy!"

Taka, Yocchan and Mimi flinched. Even the mention of the school gives them this lonely feeling in their chests.

"This is absolutely perfect class! Since our lesson is now about baking, the school agreed to let us go to their for a baking class with them."

The class, except the three girls, cheered. St. Marie Academy was very popular in their school.

"St. Marie Academy? Isn't that the famous school for sweets?" One boy asked.

"Yeah! And I heard that there were three totally hot and smart guys called the Sweets Princes!" Another girl squealed. The other girls swooned, "The Sweets Princes..."

The teacher slams the table. Everyone jumps in surprise. "We're going there for a sweets-making class, not for 'sightseeing'. Okay girls?"

The girls nodded in defeat. "Yes... sensei..."

A boy from the back raises his hand.

"Yes?" The teacher acknowledges him.

"Isn't Amano-san studying in St. Marie Academy?" He asks.

The teacher looks surprised. He thinks for a moment, then answers. "That's right. I heard that she's competing in the Cake Grand Prix now. If my memory serves me right, we'll be joining her class that day."

Taka scratched her desk. Yocchan whispers for her to stop that. "Stop vandalizing school property." She whispered.

Taka raises her hand, the teacher, in turn, calls her name. "Yes, Suzuki-san?"

Yocchan and Mimi pulls Taka's shirt, but she wouldn't sit down.

She puts her hands on her waist before she asks. "Sensei, what if I don't want to go to this class?"

Sensei raises a sceptical eyebrow. "What's wrong Suzuki-san? Aren't you friends with Amano-san? I thought you'd be rather pleased with this announcement."

"I am not friends with her." Taka says through clenched teeth.

Sensei sighs. "The class is going to St. Marie Academy whether you like it or not. If you don't go, I'll have to make you do something else. Like a 100 page essay on the History of sweets. Would you like that?"

Taka was stumped. She hated homework. She sighed and hmphed. "Fine." She sat down without saying another word.

She took out her wallet, inside the inner pocket was a picture. A picture of a very familiar girl. She was wearing a goofy smile as she ate her strawberry ice cream. She still had the same curly pigtails but this time they were in ribbons. Even though it was only a picture of her a few months ago, she looked so young.

"Ichigo..."

Present time: At Nijioka Middle School...

Three girls were on their way home. One girl has short dark green hair topped with a yellow headband and light blue-green eyes. The girl beside her has orange-brown hair tied with a pink ribbon to a curly ponytail that matches her orange eyes. The third girl standing on the other side reading a book has long and straight purple hair which compliments her soft blue eyes. You would probably think that they're having fun and chatting about their studies and interests or even boys or thinking of a place to go to while walking, but they're not. In fact, they're more depressed than ever.

Not because of a failed test.

Not because of a heart break from a boy.

Not because of family problems either...

"Ugh! This is so annoying!" Orange-head shouts as she stomps the floor. This is Suzuki Taka. She's the type of girl who loves theatre and arts. She stars in every musical or play there is at school, loves to paint and gets a locker full of love letters and gifts from her admirers every morning. She usually throws them out and since she's not interested to fall in love, which is ironic since she loves watching it happening to others. The downside is that she has an ego and some sort of temper problem.

"We were supposed to forget about her!" Taka screams. She flails her arms in the air before letting them fall back down to her sides. The girl with green hair puts a hand on Taka's shoulder. "Calm down Taka-chan. Everyone's starting to stare." Her name is Kobayashi Yoshida. She's a sporty girl who is in love with track and field. She started running ever since she was a little girl and now she's the best runner in middle school. She can outrun even a high school student. She is loves competitions but she has a hard time accepting her losses. She seems really brave but the truth is she is really sensitive and overprotective of her friends.

The purple haired girl whispers under her book. "Quiet please. I'm almost at the part where Neil Flambé runs towards the building to save Angel and Isabella from Carlotta!" Lastly is Tsukishima Mimi. She is a shy girl that hardly speaks. She is really approachable though and is the best secrets keeper ever. She's really smart because of her love for books. She loves books so much it annoys her friends. She just shakes the insults off and says to herself, "The words of my beloved books are more powerful than yours."

Right now she's reading a book called "Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders" wherein the protagonist is a 14-year-old arrogant wunderchef who is also a four star detective. He, the cops and his cousin Larry are trying to catch a serial killer who seems to target chefs and how their bodies have mysterious notes that are somehow connected to the Journey of Marco Polo back to Asia. It's a funny and exciting read by the way.

Back to her character profile! Mimi likes to cry a lot but when you use up her very LONG patience, she becomes even worse than Taka losing her temper. I won't tell you why, it's too horrible to mention.

Taka threatens to hit Mimi on the head, she uses her book as a shield. Yoshida or Yocchan (as I would like to call her) grabbed Taka's arm and pulled the angry girl close to her. "Whoa there Taka. You're being too overactive about this." Taka pushed her away. "So?!" She asked angrily. "Aren't you guys mad too?!" The other two remained quiet. Yocchan nervously spoke up. "Y-Yeah we are but..." Taka cut her off. "How can you guys still like her?! She left us without our consent! And the worst part is..." She paused to rub the tears in her eyes with her handkerchief. "Taka-chan..." Mimi whispered, closing the book slowly.

Taka put her hand down, accidentally letting go of the handkerchief as she said:

"... She didn't even say goodbye."

Flashback: The day after Ichigo left for St. Marie Academy...

Yocchan is running to Ichigo's house with Taka and Mimi. She seemed faster than ever.

Taka and Mimi were practically limping behind her. Trying to catch up with the best girl runner of the school is like running in a marathon, even though they were only running for a few minutes.

"W *huff* Wait for us *huff* Yocchan!" Mimi pleaded, slowing down for tiredness.

Yocchan started to run backwards in place. She laughed. "Haha! What's wrong slowpokes?"

Taka stopped, annoyed. She rubbed her sore legs. "I'm *huff* sorry." She said sarcastically. "I was *huff* made for *huff* singing and *huff* acting, not *wheeze* running."

Mimi fell to her knees. "So tiring..." She complained.

Yocchan pouted. "Geez, you guys don't get enough exercise do you? Besides, we have to pick up Ichigo, it's our yearly anniversary on when all four of us became friends. Let's go now okay?"

Taka and Mimi smiled. "Sure!" The pat their legs and started running again.

Once they reached Amano residence, they knocked the door cheerfully in unison.

Mr. Amano answered the door. "Why hello girls!" He greeted. "What brings you here?"

"We came to see Ichigo!" Taka answered.

"Yeah, it's that time of the year again Mr. Amano." Mimi added.

Ichigo's dad looked at them curiously. "What are you talking about?"

The girls looked at him curiously this time. "It's our yearly friendship anniversary Mr. Amano. That's why we need to see Ichigo." Yocchan answered.

Mr. Amano rubbed the back of his neck. He looked at them nervously.

"Is something wrong Mr. Amano?"They asked at the same time.

Mr. Amano took a deep breath. He pinched the top of his nose. "I don't like being the bearer of bad news girls but," He put on a goofy smile. "Ichigo left to study for St. Marie Academy yesterday. Didn't she tell you?"

His last words didn't fail to startle the girls. At first they didn't believe it. They checked each of their cell phones.

No new messages.

They tried calling her.

This number has been disconnected.

"Oh right." Mr. Amano laughed. "She fell down the stairs one time and because of bad luck, she broke her phone with the fall. Her simcard wasn't spared either, so we had to buy her a new one."

The girls thanked Mr. Amano and left. As soon as they did, all their conversations were filled with the scent of betrayal.

"I can't believe she would do that!" Taka complained. Angrily marching the whole way to school.

"It was her dream to be a Patissiere right?" Mimi hopefully asked.

"Yeah! She must've had a good reason." Yocchan added.

"A good reason to leave without telling us? And on the exact day of our friendship anniversary too!"

"T-that may be t-t-true, b-but maybe if w-we go v-visit her we can c-clear this—" Mimi stuttered before she was cut off.

Taka turned to them with tears in her eyes. "What right does she have to make us visit her? She was the one that left! She should be explaining things to us! Not the other way around!"

Yocchan unexpectedly agreed. "Y-You're right... She doesn't deserve friends like us! SHE CAN JUST GO TO THAT SCHOOL AND NEVER COME BACK!"

Mimi sighed. She stood in the middle of her two friends and pat their shoulders. She couldn't help but cry too.

"Sure, sure. Let's go to class."

She felt betrayed as well, even so, she never stopped calling Ichigo a friend, and even though they might never admit it, neither did Taka and Yocchan.