When the cherry blossoms fall to the ground...
And the scent of perfume fills the air...
The air sparkles with a new life and light...
As the gates of Whole Cake Academy open for the day...
Pudding yawned as she woke up at her usual time of 4:30 in the morning.
This was the start of her day, the first person up in the Charlotte family household.
Rolling out of bed, she put on a nice pink dress with a ruffled collar. Picking up her hairbrush, she took the tangles out of her long brown hair. Finally, she took her apron off the foot of her bed. She looked at the other side of the room to see the snoring form of Flampé. The little brat was always the last one up in the morning, almost late for school.
This is why Pudding woke up earlier than everyone to prep for the day.
Then again, I've always been a morning person.
Down the stairs, into the kitchen, and right to her cooking station. She had to make breakfast for the house, lunches for everyone that goes to school, place out pre-made lunches for the workers, and make sure the young ones got to school on time. It was a taxing task, but someone had to do it.
"Good morning Pudding, I woke up to give you a hand!" The jovial voice of Compote rung out as she poked her head into the kitchen. "You always wake up so early to prepare for everything, so I thought you would like some company."
"Oh!" Pudding nearly dropped the bowl of eggs she was whisking. "Good morning to you Compote. I'm not used to seeing people in the morning. If you could, maybe you can help make some lunches for the younger siblings and the ones in school."
Compote nodded, happy to help her youngest sibling. "My, I remember when we got some of those young ones. In fact, I remember when you were introduced to the house. So many people living here, everyone from broken houses, abandoned at the doorstep, even from the previous orphanage where the original group of us came from."
Pudding watched as the elder made rapid fire salads, sandwiches, and fruits. "Why do you take in all these people? Some have long necks, some have long legs, the dectuplets all look the same, and some of them have weird disabilities."
Compote gave her a small smile. "I remember something that Mother Caramel used to say about a place where everyone can be welcomed. Linlin wanted to take that philosophy to heart. While some found her dream ridiculous, some of us found it quite charming." Taking out all the lunchboxes, she started putting the lunches together. "Then the fire burned the house down and took the life of dear Mother Caramel. Sadden by our mother figure gone, Linlin took me, Perospero, Katakuri, Oven, and Daikufu out of the house and we found this place. Then, with the help from some friends, we found lost children and took them in. Providing them with shelter and food, we have been doing this for years. I've raised so many of you."
Pudding smiled, making a rather large cake for Linlin. "Wow, I never knew all that. Makes me smile when I think about of Chiffon, Lola, and Praline are doing in their own families. They should be sending some letters soon."
Alarms started ringing from nearby rooms, jolting the two from their conversation. "Seems like the family is starting to wake up!" Pudding gave Compote a look. "Let's get the table set!"
"Hey! Stop hogging the jam!"
"Pass me the butter. NO I WANT THE BUTTER!"
"How dare you take the last piece of bacon!"
"Anana is prodding me with her knife! Make her stop!"
"Wiwiwi, never a boring morning in this house."
Scraps of food went flying everywhere as the young ones and some even splattered on the walls. The tablecloth was ruined with stains, crumbs, and knife holes from Anana. Pudding sat at the other end of the large table, ducking her head to avoid another teacup thrown in her direction. Everyone was eating like nobody paid bills, had jobs, or even went grocery shopping.
To be fair, the last one had a bill so high that the family accountant nearly had a stroke.
"Mail run!" The tall form of Custard came into the room, pounding on her brother and sister's heads as she went to her side of the table with the mail. Passing the newspaper to Brûlée, handing the mail to the respective sibling, and then pausing when she saw a pink note. "Ooh, a mystery letter!"
"Yoink!" Poire snatched the letter out of her hand, grinning mischievously. "Thanks for the letter sis! I'll be happy to see who sent it!"
"Hey! Hand it over sharptooth!" Custard protested, trying to get the letter back and avoid being bit by her sister.
"Knock it off Poire." Galette took the letter from her hands and saw the address. "Odd...it says, "To the prettiest Charlotte girl" on the note."
There was silence as you could hear every spoon, fork, and knife drop from that proclamation alone. Perospero chuckled as he took a long sip of tea before looking at the table.
"So...whom is the letter for? Which female is the prettiest female in the house?" He joked, awaiting the explosion that would occur.
Flampe got up and made a cutesy face. "Lemme see the letter! I'm the cutest one here, so maybe I can open it myself." She held out a hand. "Can I please, big sister?"
Galette hesitated before handing the letter to the brattiest sibling. Almost immediately, she tore the envelope with a sadistic glee as a pink letter floated into her hands.
"Ooh...a love letter!" Flampe grinned at the females who were curious, ones who were trying to act like they didn't care, and the small majority who were too old to care. "It says, "To the Charlotte family girls, I await our many dates and hope you will say yes. I will do whatever you want me to do for the whole day. Please send your replies soon. Love your admirer, Monkey D. Luffy!" Oh wow, isn't that the boy Linlin-san likes?"
Pudding gave her a harsh glare as the pink haired girl was still getting ready upstairs. Some of the sisters were intrigued that the young man wanted to date them. Some thought it was a farce of some kind.
"You've got to be kidding me! This punk thinks he can date by sisters?" Cracker exclaimed, squeezing the hands of Custard and Angel. "He thinks he's so slick, I'll go wipe that smug look on his face."
"He's probably bluffing. No male would ever want to date every girl in this family." Cinnamon said, rolling her eyes. "Plus, we might be too good for him. I see no reason to reply."
"Agreed, a man like him is just trying to get something out of us." Amande replied, keeping Anana from poking her with her knife. "Let's go over to his house and beat him up."
"Why not reply to his letter of love? I find it quite romantic when a boy sends a love letter!" Melise sighed happily, twirling her hair. "It's quite old fashioned and sweet."
"I agree." Panna said, surprising some of her sisters. "I never met a boy who would ask out all of us at once. Even some of us have been craving someone who loved us despite our imperfections."
The boys watched as some of their sisters looked away sadly. There were some people who found their family weird and odd. They've been called freaks, monsters, and even some have bullied them in the past. Pudding heard many stories of Brulee getting beat up, Poire nearly getting her teeth pulled out, and even Jarscarpone getting poked out on her neck. Smoothie and her sisters were ridiculed for being taller than some people along with others. The only ones who never got bullied were Flampe, Wafers, and Normande, but that was because they were still so young.
"So reply then!" Pudding proclaimed, slamming her fist on the table and startling the group. "Gosh darn it, everybody deserves to feel special about themselves! We have so much confidence in ourselves and in others. If Luffy wants to give you all the times of your lives, go and take advantage of this opportunity."
"She's right, you know." The rumbling voice of Katakuri rung out from his scarf. "He's a nice guy. I trust that he won't break your hearts."
Now if big brother Katakuri said he was fine, then maybe they would take this chance. It wouldn't hurt to see how the young man who be in a date. Taking a deep breath, Compote went to speak as well.
"Shall I get the pretty papers from the office?" She smiled at the stunned looks on their faces. "What, you've got to write a pretty letter back to the boy you like!"
A shudder ran down Linlin's back as she felt something strange was about to happen in her house.
I don't know what, but I feel like hurting that stupid Strawhat boy!
