In a particular singular turn of events, the Grand Pastries & Delicacies festival had been moved a week earlier than originally intended. This would not have proven a problem for those participants that had properly prepared prior to the event. Those who had refrained from early preparations, however, would have soon found themselves in a particular pickle.
The festival was for soon-to-be diabetics and sugar enthusiasts everywhere as they taste upon the sweetest of the sweets and the tastiest of the tasty. The opening was open for anyone to throw their insulin-afflicting, taste bud-molesting treat into the fray for the mob to try and consume. Others would attempt to sell obscure technologies based upon treats, like one ridiculous device that was powered by a jelly-filled donut.
The main competition, however, was the event everyone looked forward to. With a 1st place prize to the Chocolate Factory in Switzerland, it would be silly to assume no one would dish out their most singular creations for the chance to tour with the chocolate deviant Mr. Timmy Tonka. Some of the best dessert chefs in the world stepped out to produce strange creations to ship them to the competition in Utah of these grand United States.
So with this delicate cast of eccentric cooks and this prize of an entire tour of the most queerly built castles in the world we are left with a simple question.
"Why am I here?" asked Ritsu indignantly. She had been dragged by the Hirasawa sisters to participate in this event all the way to the States. The trio would be taking a train for Utah due to a lack of funds for a nice flight, they spent the majority of the time goofing off in the neighboring states before receiving notice that the festival will be occurring earlier than anticipated in which, in a panic, they rushed to the train station immediately to obtain tickets. Ritsu, however, had other plans and wanted to spend those plans back in Japan.
"You've been complaining this entire time," remarked Ui, "But I think you should take this chance to relax. Japan will not collapse because you are absent."
"You don't know my clients then," huffed Ritsu.
It was fine that Ritsu was with them, but the fact that she had to pay for the entire trip and these train tickets was pushing it.
Yui came up behind them wheeling in a cake taller than her. Like Yui this cake is rather straightforward leaving no room for ambiguity. It was a multilayered cake that shone with an angelic quality as its strawberry red and eggshell white frosting tempted even the most hardboiled from dabbing their finger in it. Little representations of musical instruments lay scatted on the cake that was made out of hard candy and two humble strawberries sat on the top.
"Ready!" she announced with a perfect smile.
"I'm not sure they'll allow that on there," Ritsu remarked but to her surprise several workers opened up the carriage that would perfectly accommodate the cake and wheel-barrel, "Or not."
It took a few minutes but they got the cake inside. Having reserved the entire latter end of the cabin, the people who ran this festival made sure to make all of the chefs, and their deserts, as comfortable as possible. The cabin, and the adjoining one in front of it, was all for them. Fit for royalty, the cabin only had lush, crimson carpet with golden fixtures and several high-definition televisions stationed at every other booth. It could seat at least ten people which gave it more than enough room for Yui's cake.
"Huh," Ritsu looked around, impressed that one would go through great lengths to reserve a fancy cabin like this, "Nice. I wonder what kind of nut would pay for all of this?"
"Look in the mirror and say that ten times," countered Ui.
"Anyways, you sure the cake will be fine?" asked Ritsu.
"Yep! As long as it isn't jostled too much, it should be fine!"
"What about you? You aren't going to get sick right?"
Yui shook her head, "Nope, I'll be okay!"
The train doors opened and a life-sized figurine entirely composed of chocolate gleamed before them. The chocolately figure was of a tall, Victorian-era gentleman with a viciously handsome smile as he donned a deerstalker and a caramel pipe. Ui, recoiling from the sight of this delicious, yet somehow intimidating, dessert stood back as the thing was wheeled further inside.
Behind the chocolate figure was an elderly woman, back bent with time but her milky eyes shone with a young fire that told of a strict parenting style; as if she weren't afraid to bend anyone over to give them spankings.
She looked at the cake, then at Ritsu and her company, and snuffed them with an indignant flare, "Your cake, albeit large in stature, will stand no chance against my chocolate figurine. There are forty different chocolates mixed into this dessert!"
"Oh yeah!" Yui countered, "Well, your chocolate thingy looks silly! No one wears hats like those!"
The woman didn't say anything else but wheeled her statuesque Hersey's kiss further in and right next to the cake.
"I, Miss Maple, will win the competition. You Japanese know nothing of the fine art of pastry and dessert!"
Ritsu wondered why an American like her would be so fluent in Japanese, but said nothing.
"How confident you are!" a voice drenched in a snobby French accent called from the doors, "Well, your statue may have size and quality, but it is drab, droll, and dreadfully boring!"
An entire table, donned with a pure white tablecloth, was pushed in and on top of it stood a replication of the Eiffel Tower and the surrounding four mile radius represented with shockingly accurate detail. The man pushing it was a tall, black-haired man with a fancy, yet obnoxious, thin mustache. His skin was deathly pale yet spoke of a quiet elegance.
"Oh, Monsieur Frou-frou," the woman greeted sarcastically, "Seems your style hasn't improved with time."
"That is Francis!" he corrected, "And Miss Maple, I wouldn't dare talk with your boorish and simplistic design."
Oy, oy, Ritsu thought, why am I surrounded by a bunch of weirdoes?
"Ricchan, with your personality I'm not sure you have room to judge." Said Ui delicately.
"Size and even design is coo' and all," a thick Brooklyn voice said, "But what about taste? Yer meals ain't got nuttin' on my entry!"
From the back door and short, stumpy man with a mess of blond hair stood. He had a rough looking face but his quick smile and clever gleam in his eyes read that he was either very charming or very devious. He wheeled in a three-course meal that seems to reflect the blend of New York culture. Breakfast, lunch and dinner all consisted of Italian pizza, Indian curry, Chinese noodles, and some seafood. The difference is all of the food was shaped to represent different parts of New York. There was Madison Square Garden, Times Square, Central Park, and Ellis Island all comprised of food that looked, and smelled, delicious.
"The tastes of New York," the cook said, "Represented in unique and delicious styles, made by yours truly, Joe Johnson."
These three chefs seem to be incredibly fluent in the Japanese language which probably indicates their worldly knowledge, supposing that traveling the world to show off their culinary experiences must require usage of other tongues. That or an incredible coincidence had occurred in which no indication of a language barrier exists. An optimist may agree with the former more than the latter.
"Fufu," Yui chuckled confidently, "How arrogant, everyone knows that my cake will win the competition. Compared to your flamboyant foods, my cake is elegant, beautiful, and tasty!"
"My, how the young become imprudent!" cried Miss Maple.
"I don't know the meaning of that word," countered Yui.