Ichigo decided to wait him out, before confronting him about the disastrous date. Because if it was one thing she learned about boys, they were pretty simple creatures. They were a lot less confrontational than girls and would let go of feuds and embarrassing situations after some time was given.
This 'safety net' of time period was to give him the false illusion that he was in the green light. Like nothing went wrong. Heck, he thought Ichigo REALLY DID have an emergency. He didn't know they had this whole thing planned and a safety word for emergencies.
"Boys are too easy to trick," Ichigo laughed under her breath quietly; she momentarily sucked in her breath as Ameya-sensei passed to check their creations.
After getting a perfect score for her creation, Ichigo began to wash away her utensils. She waited until all of their supplies were packed away and then latched onto Kashino's hand the moment he could attempt to walk out of the classroom.
"Where do you think you're going, you little jerk?" Ichigo asked quietly.
Kashino froze. Hanabusa and Andou looked at each-other and decided to rush out of there before they also got the brunt of her anger. Kashino tried to run after them, but stopped short when he felt her fingernails dig into his skin. The burning sensation kept him rooted to the ground.
"You're not going anywhere, you little fucker," Ichigo swore and started to drag him next to the statue of the Queen of Sweets Spirits. Sensing no one was around, she looked at Kashino with a defensive look.
"Well? What are you doing there, gawking like an idiot? Explain yourself!" Ichigo barked.
"I don't know what you want me to talk about! I didn't insult you this time!" Kashino exclaimed.
"I do have to admit, that is some kind of achievement. Headlines! Kashino Makoto, an elite at St. Marie's branch in Japan, was able to keep his god damn mouth shut for an hour and a half today! Like I care about that crap," Ichigo glared, "Tell me why you had to just go ahead and criticize food when you are on a date with Miya?"
Kashino put his hands up in defense and said, "Well it's not my fault that they didn't make good quality ice cream!"
"There are children starving in this world and you had to be a brat about something not tasting 'good enough', and worse you have to do that during a date?! It's a god-forsaken DATE, not the CAKE GRAND PRIX!" Ichigo yelled, "DID IT HURT TO BE A LITTLE CONSIDERATE?"
"All I was doing was critiquing the ice cream," Kashino argued.
"On a DATE? Listen, blondie, there are situations in which you can criticize and not criticize. A DATE with a GIRL is not when you can be a full-out jerk and negatively review everything you eat. You get your sorry butt and apologize to her, ok?" Ichigo threatened, "Or so help me, I will punch your nose in."
Kashino nodded and Ichigo didn't wait for him to say anything else before she stormed away from the statue, leaving him all alone.
-x-
"Wow, what kind of sorcery is this? Kashino ACTUALLY apologized!" Vanilla laughed as the two made some cakes for Natsume's birthday.
"Well I taught him a lesson on how not to be an A-hole," Ichigo smirked, "Hopefully he took notes. His test will be in the form of a second date with Miya."
"When will the date be?" Vanilla asked once the cake was in the oven, "Tell me all the details."
Ichigo laughed, "Well…"
-Flashback-
It had been that same night Ichigo cornered Kashino and had that 'talk' about the disastrous date. After threatening him to go apologize to Miya and offer compensation, Ichigo's phone rang as she did French homework.
Deciding to call a study break, Ichigo snapped her book shut and accepted the call that flashed on her screen. The moment she pressed the green button on the screen, Miya's excited voice thundered through the speakers.
"Woah, calm down Miya!" Ichigo laughed nervously, not able to comprehend her fast chatter.
"He apologized for how horribly the date went and was willing to spend time with me before we go on another date!" Miya exclaimed.
"…well that's nice," Ichigo said, stunned. She thought he would hastily ask Miya on another date just to get Ichigo off his back. But he was putting some real effort to get to know Miya.
"I know! I was thinking the same thing too. I thought he would smooth things over with a second date but he wants to spend time getting to know me before we plan the next one," Miya sighed dreamily.
"Just know that our safety word will stay the same, ok?" Ichigo reminded her.
Miya laughed and said, "Of course! But wait…don't you think he will think it is suspicious that you would magically have an 'emergency' every single time?"
"Miya, if it is one thing you need to know about boys, is that they are too simple to suspect such things. He sent me a 'get well' text," Ichigo snorted, "It will take him a long time to realize our trick. And by the time that happens I will come up with a new trick up my sleeve."
"Alright, if you say so," Miya said nervously.
"I insist. Now, tell me how it goes, ok? If possible, send me pictures of you two together," Ichigo laughed.
"…and that's how my threats worked," Ichigo narrated to Vanilla.
Vanilla beamed for a moment, but then frowned after a while. Ichigo knew something was up with her little sweets spirit, so she decided to probe her for answers. "I know what look. What's the matter now?"
"It's just… everyone is starting to fall in love with someone but you," Vanilla lamented.
Ichigo flushed and stammered, "W-What? Stop this nonsense, Vanilla!"
"It's true! Caramel told me Andou-kun has a crush on Kana and is thinking of writing a love note for her, Satsuki-kun is thinking of making candy roses for this cute girl whose one grade your junior, Lemon. Kashino and Maya are close. That insane girl Mari is after Henri-sensei. And who are you after?" Vanilla asked.
Ichigo frosted a couple of roses next to a star she made out of sliced strawberries on Natsume's cake. She should've known Vanilla would pop this question, the little fairy was a romantic at heart as well. "I didn't come here to have a boyfriend, Vanilla. My life won't be over if I don't fall in love right away. Goodness sake, it hasn't been one semester here!"
Vanilla wasn't convinced. Nevertheless, she wasn't about to start peer-pressuring her partner to talk about things she didn't want to talk about. However, that doesn't mean she won't bring it up later. She won't be satisfied until Ichigo has a boyfriend.
"Well let's take these cakes to my room. Natsume will be coming tomorrow," Ichigo smiled as she placed Natsume's birthday cake in a box.
"What will you two be doing?" Vanilla asked.
"Oh, she and I will have a picnic near the pond. She has to leave later on tomorrow for home. Thankfully her birthday falls on a Saturday this year," Ichigo smiled.
"Your parents are willing to drive her here? Even though they don't like you?" Vanilla asked, shocked.
Ichigo sighed and shrugged, "When you're the star of the house, parents are willing to keep you happy. Natsume is their pearl. If she's happy, then they are happy."
The little blonde sweets spirit could sense the sad undertone of her voice; it pained her that Ichigo felt like she wasn't good enough for her parents. So, what if she didn't want to play an instrument? What kind of parent would basically disown their own child for not liking the same things they do? Aren't parents supposed to foster and nurture the dreams of their children?
"Your eyes ask a million questions," Ichigo remarked at the conflicted look on Vanilla's face, "I am guessing it has to do with the last statement I just said."
"I just…can't believe such horrible parents exist," Vanilla hesitated to frame her words.
"There are worse parents in the world. Some would physically, emotionally or mentally abuse their own children. Some have killed their children, or violated them in ways unspeakable. World is cruel, Vanilla. There are good parents, yes. But my parents are nowhere near how horrible they can get," Ichigo sighed.
"It doesn't mean you deserve this neglect from them," Vanilla argued.
The brunette smiled and patted her little friend on the head with two fingers and said, "Thank you. You're too sweet."
"I guess we should get some rest," Vanilla suggested.
"We should. I want to make sure tomorrow is memorable for Natsume," Ichigo smiled.
The very next day, Vanilla decided to spend with the other sweets spirits. Although it was highly unlikely Natsume could see her, she knew Ichigo could. Vanilla knew trying to bother Ichigo could make it seem like the brunette has gone nuts; as Ichigo would 'seemingly talk' to nothing.
From what she observed, Natsume was a very cute girl indeed. Vary affectionate, happy and adorable. A loving younger sister. She could see why Ichigo would dote over Natsume. This girl adored Ichigo and was always in awe of her.
"She seems like a nice girl, desu," Caramel said, floating over to Vanilla.
"That's true. I'm glad Ichigo has a kind sister," Vanilla sighed, "Her parents on the other hand aren't so sweet."
"That's bad! Poor girl, desu," Caramel lamented.
"Why aren't her parents supportive?" Café asked.
"I don't think they view being a patissiere as a professional career. They view it as a hobby," Vanilla sighed.
Chocolat snorted and said, "That's lame. Her parents suck, just like Kashino's parents."
Vanilla, for the first time in decades, secretly agreed with Chocolat. For the first time she didn't feel like strangling the fairy that specialized in chocolate.
"Ichigo! When do I get to eat my cake?" Natsume asked excitedly.
"Just a moment! I have to put the candles on it," Ichigo counted the candles on it, one for each year of Natsume's age.
"What if I become, like 40? Are you going to put that many candles on it?" Natsume asked, giggling.
Ichigo laughed and said, "That's why there are the number candles. Don't worry, you will always be a sweet little girl to me. But even I don't want to create a fire hazard on your special day. No matter how many years from now."
Natsume snorted but nevertheless blew out the candles. Ichigo clapped and asked, "You made a wish?"
"Yes, but like I tell you every year, I can't tell you!" Natsume grinned.
Ichigo rolled her brown eyes and brought out a knife to cut the cake and serve it on a plate. Handing the first slice to the birthday girl she said, "I hope you like the cake!"
"Anything you make is definitely edible. And don't let mom and dad know, but far better than anything they can conjure in the kitchen!" Natsume whispered and whipped her head as if she were a criminal guilty of a crime.
Ichigo laughed and motioned her to eat the slice of the cake. Natsume took her fork and cut off a piece of the cake, popping it in her mouth. Her eyes lit up in recognition of the flavor of the cake.
"Strawberry!"
"Yes, I know you love it as much as I do, if not more," Ichigo grinned, and took her slice.
The two girls polished half of the cake together, with Ichigo packing the rest of the cake for her to take home. After promising to not let their parents have even a crumb of it (Ichigo still had a grudge against them), Ichigo decided to move onto the presents.
"I was shopping for supplies for your cake when I ran into a music shop. I know you are one for everything music and…I don't know if this is related to the piano, but I found these adorable silver treble clef earrings. I just had to buy them for you!" Ichigo explained when Natsume opened the gift.
"I love it! Can I put it on?" Natsume grinned, marveling the gift.
"Silly girl, of course you can!" Ichigo smiled and assisted in helping her sister placing on the stud earrings.
Natsume took out her phone, selected the camera app, and switched the camera to the selfie mode. Tilting the head to each side to inspect each earring, she exclaimed, "I am never gonna take them off!"
Ichigo laughed and said, "Well take them off to clean them once in a while! I don't want dirt to build up and cause an infection."
The younger sibling pouted but nevertheless agreed to do so. The sisters spent a considerable time together, walking around the campus and with Ichigo giving Natsume a tour wherever guests weren't restricted on campus. When 7:00 pm rolled around, the two siblings found themselves at the gate. They were reluctant to go back to the harsh realities the world holds outside.
"I think this is the part where we have to say goodbye," Ichigo whispered.
"When will I see you again?" Natsume's eyes teared up, "I remember a week ago, mom and dad don't want you back at our house for Christmas."
"I had a feeling they would say that," Ichigo sighed, "I have a friend who is more than willing to let me stay at her house for Christmas."
"But when will I see you again? I'm scared," Natsume whispered.
"You will see me for the summer," Ichigo promised.
"That is if mom and dad want to see your face," Natsume snorted.
Ichigo gripped her sister's hands in her own and said, "Look at me."
When her sister complied, Ichigo said, "No one can take us apart. Not even our parents. I will always make time for you. Sure, we won't be able to see each other as much as we wish. But you have a phone. And you can call me. They can't prohibit from you talking to me, can they?"
"No…" Natsume trailed off, sad.
"Chin up. Hope is not lost," Ichigo said, tilting her sister's chin up to meet her own gaze, "We will meet again. It won't be forever."
The moment they hugged, a black SUV pulled up in front of the school. Natsume, knowing her mother's vehicle from anywhere, squeezed her sister in anticipation. Then, they slowly detached from each other. Natsume opened the gate, and looked at her sister.
Ichigo sadly smiled and waved her right hand.
Giving a weak smile of her own, Natsume stepped out and closed the gate. Slowly she tore her gaze from her older sister's eyes and disappeared into the SUV, the vehicle speeding off the moment her door slammed shut.
And somehow, it felt like she had been stabbed in the chest.
TBC…