Ichigo's POV

Ichigo knelt down behind a wall of conveniently placed bushes as she listened in to the conversation between Fumika and Leon. "How have you been?" Leon asked Fumika.

"I have been busy with the preparation ever since I left France to come here," Fumika replied, "I see you've been busy yourself."

"Yes, I've been teaching Koshiro Miya for the last few weeks. I'm planning to go back to France now that my debt has been paid off." Leon answered

"I'm surprised. I never heard you speak anything of this debt. I was especially surprised when Miya said that you've been teaching her. How has she been doing?" Fumika asked.

Leon shrugged. "Well, honestly, she doesn't pick up things as fast as I'd like. I think I got used to having you as a student, and you're a quick learner."

Ichigo gasped. So this was the french teacher that Fumika had been talking about. She hadn't expected him to be so renowned.

Fumika smiled, "Well, you're forgetting that I had Henri-sensei teaching me then as well so it might've been easier for me to comprehend."

Henri-sensei too?! Ichigo was awed. Fumika was on a whole different level, being able to learn under professionals, even though she was the same age as Ichigo.

"I would say it's even more impressive that you were able to focus on my lessons… I know how strict he is."

Fumika laughed, "He's not that strict. Don't let him hear that, who knows what he might do if he heard you say that."

"True, but I'll be safe for the time being since I'm going back to France tonight," Leon said

"Well, now that you've met Team Ichigo, what are your thoughts about them?" Fumika asked

Leon thought it over. "I don't know about the rest, but the chocolates made by that Kashino were extremely impressive for his age." I can definitely see him opening up his own shop in the future."

"That I can agree with. Many people have said that and although those skills are nothing compared to yours, it is really impressive," Fumika agreed.

"Oh, right, you're planning on going to Paris as well, right?" Leon asked. "Have you decided on a time?"

"Not specifically yet. Henri and I have decided it would be after the end of the Grand Prix here," Fumika answered.

Fumika was planning on going to Paris? But, she never told the team before. Ichigo worriedly looked at the girl. Was she planning to leave without even saying goodbye?

"Well, feel free come and visit me when you're there, maybe you could teach my students about how it's like at the Grand Prix."

Fumika sweatdropped, "I'm not sure about that so I won't make any promises, but I will promise to visit."

Leon nodded. "That's good. Well, I'll get going now, I need to pack."

Fumika nodded, "Of course. It was great to see you again and I'll see you in Paris."

Leon waved as he walked away. "Goodbye."

After she couldn't see Leon anymore, Fumika turned to stare at the bushes for a while, sighing. "Ichigo, stop hiding and come out, I know you were there. I could hear you when you hid."

Ichigo gasped loudly, in a hurry to stand up. There were grass stains on her hands and leaves in her hair. "F-Fumika-chan! Sorry, I was just curious."

"Spying huh? So you heard everything we just said?" Fumika placed her hand on her hips as she raised an eyebrow.

"Um, yeah, sorry." Ichigo smiled sheepishly. "But is it really true that you're going back to Paris when the Grand Prix is over? Why haven't you told me and the team yet?"

Fumika stayed silent before she nodded, "Yeah, I'm leaving Japan and heading back to Paris after the Grand Prix is over."

"Oh…" Ichigo's voice trailed off. "I'm guessing that you've already completed the preliminaries in Paris?"

"Yes, my team and I have already competed in the Paris preliminaries a few months ago and now we're heading to the World Grand Prix coming up," Fumika answered.

"So you already had a team…" Ichigo muttered. "Ok, if we win Japan's Grand Prix, then we'll be going with you to Paris, right?"

"The winner of the Japan Grand Prix will earn a trophy and an invitation to the World Grand Prix in Paris. Yes, I will be there but winning isn't so easy. Don't forget Mari." Fumika stated

"Right, President Tennouji will be our biggest rival." Ichigo nodded her head. "We'll be trying our best."

"Trying your best will only get you so far. Mari will be your biggest trial to get to the World Grand Prix, so keep that in mind," Fumika shrugged, turning to walk away

"Yeah, I understand. I hope we'll be able to compete against each other there." Ichigo said, smiling.

Timeskip

Fumika's POV

Fumika sat in the surveillance room and watched as the preliminaries ended and the main tournament progressed. Team Koshiro had lost against Mari's team and Ichigo's team had won against all their enemies, making it to the final round.

The final round was between Team Tennoji and Team Ichigo and the theme was "dream." Fumika was sitting in her chair when she felt his presence behind her, "It's finally come down to this, huh? Mari versus Ichigo."

"This is the battle you predicted, isn't it? You knew the final battle would end up being between Ichigo and Mari," Henri stated.

"Ah, I can't say I predicted it completely, but I knew that it would end in a battle between Team Tennouji and Team Ichigo," Fumika replied.

"And here we are, the ultimate battle between the two teams. Now, come on, did you forget that you're representing your team," Henri reminded.

Fumika nodded, getting up and fixing her uniform. Fumika followed Henri as they walked toward the stadium. Fumika watched from her position as Henri sat down in his seat and Karashima-sensei stood up when the lights dimmed.

"We will now begin the finals of the Cake Grand Prix. First: Team Ichigo!" Karashima-sensei announced.

Smoke flowed in as the lights moved around the room before focusing on the right side where Team Ichigo emerged from underneath the floorboard.

"Team Tennouji!" The lights focused on the right side of the classroom as Mari and her team emerged from the floorboard. The lights turned off before the turn on again, moving across the whole stadium, causing them to look around confused.

"And now, allow us to introduce a special guest. A representative from the team that won the Grand Prix in Paris…"

Fumika took that as her cue to come out of the darkness as the lights focused on her, "Nijino Fumika!"

Mari, Team Ichigo, and the students turned around shocked as Fumika walked forward, past the sea of students. Mari and Ichigo watched Fumika shocked as she smiled at both of them and continued walking to the judges' panel.

Fumika was handed the mike, as she faced the stadium, "My name is Nijino Fumika and I am the leader of Team Fumika, the team that won the Paris Cake Grand Prix. I represent my teammates to come and see who will win the Japan Grand Prix and be a part of the World Grand Prix. I look forward to seeing who will be a possible foe for my team and good luck to both teams, may you succeed."

Fumika turned and walked, nodded at Henri before she turned and sat down in the seat next to Henri while Ichigo and Mari continued to look at her shocked.

"And now, we will begin the match between the two teams! Let the cooking commence!" Karashima-sensei announced.

The 9-hour timer started ticking as the teams started their preparations and the cooking.

Ichigo's POV

Although they had been competing for a full nine hours, Ichigo did not feel fatigued at all. Rather, she was the most alert that she had been all day. The team watched the scoreboards nervously as the judges announced the scores. Ichigo looked at Mari's team who was also watching the scoreboard intently. Mari's determined expression mirrored hers. Ichigo turned back as they totaled up the score.

In the end, their score was 1838, and Team Tennouji's score was only one point higher. Ichigo turned to her teammates in despair, her eyes watery. "I'm sorry…"

"What are you talking about?" Kashino suddenly shouted. "Thanks to you, we were only one point behind."

Andou nodded enthusiastically, "That's right."

"You did great, Ichigo-chan!" Hanabusa added reassuringly.

"You guys…" Ichigo sniffed, "We've worked hard."

Sounds of clapping began to resonate around them. As the judges stood up, the clapping stopped and they began the award ceremony. Chairman Moriyama handed Mari a trophy and chuckled, "I'll see you again in Paris."'

"Henri-sensei will now give some general remarks," Karashima-sensei announced through his mike.

"First, to everyone on Team Tennouji, congratulations on your victory. If you improve your originality, even though you'll be up against strong opponents, I feel you would have a good chance at winning the World Cake Grand Prix." Henri said.

Henri complemented, "And even though you lost, I was surprised by the fight you put up, Team Ichigo. You are far beyond the level of middle schoolers."

"Kashino, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Raise your head. If you had finished in time, I would've given you a higher score than Rui." Henri stated, causing Rui to flinch.

"Ichigo, your petits gateaux surprised me the most. You still have a lot to learn about the technique, but you put your feelings into each of the three petit gateaus and I could sense the incredible talent you have to put a smile on people' faces," Henri complemented

Ichigo's eyes sparkled as she looked at Henri, blushing. "Henri-sensei…"

Henri looked at Ichigo's team, smiling. "A while ago, I asked permission from the chairman of the main campus in Paris. In recognition of the high level of the Japanese Saint Marie boarding school, team Ichigo will also be invited to the World Cake Grand Prix and the Team B representative of Japan."

Ichigo looked at her teammates, her smile widening. "We'll be able to continue on to the World Grand Prix!"

Kashino was wildly grinning as well, "Yep, our efforts paid off."

Fumika's POV

Fumika sat at the airport with her suitcase beside her as her mind wandered off. Fumika was thinking about the Grand Prix. Fumika's hands unconsciously clenched as she remembered what Henri said to Ichigo when he complimented her.

All her life, she worked to gain acknowledgment from Henri, to surpass him and force him to recognize her. Not only as a rival but truly recognize her as a good patisserie and compliment her for her pastries.

He complimented Ichigo so easily and yet it took her so long and so much time to gain his hard-earned acknowledgment and it just wasn't fair. Fumika's sweets spirits poked their heads out and looked at Fumika worriedly, "Fumi-chan, are you okay?" Galexi asked.

"Come on Fumika, cheer up. We're going back to Paris so shouldn't you be happy?" Sucre said, flying in front of Fumika's face.

Fumika looked up at them and gave them a sad smile as she nodded but the three were clearly still worried about her. "Fumika, come on, cheer up. I'm sure everything will be alright," Cream assured.

Fumika smiled as she looked down at the ground. What was she thinking? Is she jealous of Ichigo? Not a chance. They are right. There will be plenty of opportunities to prove to him that she was a worthy patisserie and a worthy rival.

Fumika looked up as she patted her cheek, "Right. I'm going to be alright. I can do this. My teammates are waiting for me!"

The three sweet spirits cheered up, seeing that Fumika was back, "That's the spirit!" Sucre exclaimed.

"Fumika, the airplanes here!" Henri shouted, standing at the boarding area with their passports and seats.

"Coming!" Fumika shouted, getting up as she hurried over to Henri with her sweets spirits trailing behind her.

Henri headed into the plane. Fumika stopped and glanced out the window, looking at the view of Japan as she made a silent vow. With that, Fumika turned and followed Henri as they both boarded the plane, heading back to Paris, France.

Kozakura: I know I know, it's been forever since we've updated but we're back. The first book is officially finished and we are now working on book 2. I know book one wasn't very good and didn't have a lot of plot or anything but we'll try to do better in the second book so you can look forward to that. Thanks and I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please comment if you have any good ideas for the second book where they will be in Paris for the World Grand Prix.

Skylight: yeah, what Kozakura said. Honestly, the more than a year-long hiatus was my fault since I'm lazyyyyyy, but not to worry, for our second book we'll make sure to have all the plot outlined before we even begin to post any chapters.