Kanmuri and Azuma shared a room (therefore Suwabara and Kawachi shared a room, which wasn't a very good idea, since old rivalry still courses through them). That day, they all had particularly pleasant learning sessions. At least, Suwabara only felt like smashing candy flowers for some, as opposed to all, of the time. And Kawachi was actually listening to Kashino 20 percent of the whole lecture. Kanmuri and Azuma got along with Andou and Ichigo fine before, so there was really no need for much improvement there.

Anyway, Kanmuri and Azuma got a phone call that night. To their surprise, it was from Manager. They shouldn't be surprised—it was, after all, quite normal to hear from one's employer when on a "business" trip. However, Manager was that type of person who liked people to "build character" through experience—he'd probably dump you on a desert island in the middle of winter with nobody but your sworn enemy for companionship and not blink an eye.

Before the phone call, Manager and Tsukino were debating whether they should call and who should make the call. They knew the ulterior motive of this mission—er, business trip—but they didn't want to tell them the news. It was sad to think that the foursome's carefree trip of pure learning and enjoyment was now to be tainted with a more—well, not so fun reason. In the end, Manager lost and they finally came to an agreement that it was now or never that they dial their number.

Manager's voice was slightly apologetic and was dripping with fake optimism, "Hey guys! How are you doing? I hope you're doing good. I'm just swell!" Then, after some scuffle (which was probably Tsukino hitting and urging Manager to get to the point), Manager changed his voice to a more serious tone. "Okay, I'm going to stop beating around the bush. We didn't just ask you to go to St. Marie for learning to make some sweets for our shop. There was another reason. The main reason we asked you to go was to recruit help."

Azuma and Kanmuri shared a look. The two boys were confused and didn't know what to make of the news. It didn't sound very important or serious, yet the tension in Manager's voice was palpable. Azuma repeated, "Recruit help? Like, asking people to work in Pantasia with us? I'm sure there are some students here willing to…."

Manager cleared his throat and continued, "Maybe I'm not being clear enough. We don't just want any person. We are here for a specific someone. This someone has solar hands."

The boys' mouths hang open in an "o" shape. Solar hands? In a patissiere school? Azuma's mind flashed back to his first baking session with Ichigo. The warmth of her hands was abnormal, that's true. And that time in the bowling alley, when he held her hand. Manager's voice boomed, "This someone is Ichigo. Amano Ichigo. I believe she is your mentor Azuma. To become such a talented patissiere with solar hands, now that is impressive. Especially specializing in strawberry tarts."

Kanmuri then understood the reason for all the seriousness. This sweet, innocent girl with a passion for sweets discovers that she has these legendary solar hands, which are suited for making bread. In the world, there are about a mere nine hundred people with this special, God-given gift. It would be a real shame to not use it—this gift others would kill their own grandmothers for. Maybe a normal person would be able to me bread and sweets maker at the same time, but not special, shining people like Ichigo. Her talent in sweets making helps her overcome her natural disadvantage of having solar hands, and still lets her win in the Cake Grand Prix. However, in bread making, this disadvantage will instantly transform into an enormous advantage, plus her innate talent in baking, her potential is astronomical. What is at stake here is a gift and a passion.

Azuma was still in the dark about this dilemma, and Kanmuri explained it to him. By then, Manager had hung up, and Azuma acted like he had way too much sugar and caffeine before bed. Azuma stuttered, "But, but! You know! Passion! What you love doing! More important than anything! But, solar hands! We really need people with solar hands! If she says yes, Andou, Hanabusa, and devil—I mean, Kashino, would be heartbroken! I know! I could work twice as hard to make up for her! Yes! I could!"

Kanmuri didn't bother to correct him at this time. He decided sleeping on it would be the best course of action now. Soon after, Azuma was tired from ranting, and turned off the pillow to sleep as well.

Both boys got up early that morning, and Kanmuri concluded his jumble of thoughts from last night, "Really, we shouldn't be worrying over this. Ichigo should decide. Tonight, you're tutoring her in math and I'm helping her with science and French tomorrow. Andou has to help out with his family resturaunt, and I insisted on tutoring her. We could use these opportunities and ask her, one on one, so the others won't be there to influence her."

Azuma just nodded, and asked, "I wonder if the others know."

Kanmuri smacked his head. How could he have forgotten this point! If Kawachi and Suwabara knew, this would be easier. Four people is better than two people, at least. Azuma also brought up another, less vital but more thought-provoking question, "How does Manager know she has solar hands?"

At their learning sessions, Ichigo noticed that Azuma acted oddly. "Is anything wrong?" Ichigo asked.

"What? Why would anything be wrong? There is nothing wrong with me! Absolutely nothing!" Azuma exclaims, sweat forming on his face. Ichigo got kind of suspicious, but decided to let it go. After all, it wasn't like it could be anything that big, right?

Wrong! This Ichigo discovered during their math session. Azuma's behavior almost made her wish she asked Kashino to tutor her instead. Azuma kept on starting sentences he would never finish, and his nervousness really started to worry her. Vanilla was also affected. Vanilla whispered, "Don't you think Azuma is a bit, fidgety today?"

Ichigo nodded, slightly so Azuma wouldn't notice. She was afraid Azuma would jump if she made a sudden, jerky movement. "What's wrong?" Ichigo asked again. Math could wait. Azuma basically already finished the whole worksheet for her anyway. She would just stare at it later until it made sense.

"Okay. The truth is….." Azuma started but (once again) didn't finish.

Ichigo sincerely urged, "Tell me! I will help you!"

Azuma gave in. "The truth is that you have, um, you know, solar hands."

He whispered the last part. And when Ichigo asked for him to say it again, Azuma almost fainted. "Solar hands!" Azuma said unnecessarily loud. "You have solar hands!"

Ichigo blinked once. Then twice. She looked at Vanilla, whose mask of indifference mirrored her own. "Yay, I suppose. It is supposed to be really rare and good for making bread, right? You have it too, I heard." She carefully said. She still didn't understand why Azuma would worry about telling her this news so much.

Unable to hold his feeling of injustice for this whole situation, he blurted, "You don't understand, do you!" And promptly burst into tears. It didn't take much to bring Azuma to tears—after all, Kawachi's fake sob story did the same. He explained why this was so said and injust, and Ichigo said matter-of-factly while smiling, "Well, I could just do both!"

"But you can't! You have to give 110 percent of all you've got into either one! For someone who has as much talent as you, to treat either field half-heartedly would be so wasteful!" Azuma exclaimed.

Ichigo just made a fist and pounded herself, confidently saying, "I could do it! I would focus on making sweets, of course, but during the summer and vacation I could work at Pantasia."

Azuma had thought of this before, but after hearing Ichigo put it that way…..Maybe it could work. After all, they already had Azuma and Kanmuri with solar hands, and others could acquire solar gauntlets like Manager, Kawachi, and Suwabara. He'd have to discuss this solution to Kanmuri and Manager. Azuma sniffed and said, "You're right. I think that should work."

He thought of adding "thanks for cheering me up", but that seemed inappropriate since it was really Ichigo's problem. Azuma just smiled and said, "Now, want to get back to those math problems?"

Ichigo nodded and smiled back, glad that her friend was back to normal. Vanilla, on the other hand, blinked worriedly at her spoon. Was it just her, or did her spoon's pink symbol just fade into a dull gray for a second?