Author's Notes: This idea suddenly popped up in my mind one day and I had to write it! Those pesky Strawberry Custard Cakes are something else, I tell you. This is a one-shot spinoff.
It's not related to the Tasteless series, but it sure as hell is influenced by it!
Enjoy!
The Fastest Way To The Heart
The fastest way to the heart is through the stomach.
That was something that Springfield often told herself as she baked those cakes in her cozy Cafe Springfield for afternoon tea service. Everyone in the base seemed to like her cakes, after all. Seeing all their smiles warmed her heart.
However, when Springfield was preparing the Cafe for afternoon tea, she had an unusual guest who marched into the cafe. It was the Griffin logistics officer Kalina. The lively officer waved weakly to Springfield and she was carrying a plain white box with a red ribbon.
Kalina set down the box on the Cafe's bar counter and called out to Springfield.
"M-miss Springfield… have you seen the Commander around?"
Springfield shook her head and explained,
"I'm sorry, Miss Kalina. The Commander usually comes in after dinner service. He probably isn't in the base right now."
Kalina groaned, threatening to claw off the skin from her face in frustration,
"Guhhhh… that bastard orders a cake and isn't here to sign off on the delivery. Plus I still have all those combat reports to write to HQ…"
The logistics officer then paused. Her eyes then shone as they turned to Springfield and a smile formed on her lips as she proposed,
"Say, Miss Springfield. You're the adjutant, right? Maybe you can sign off on the delivery! That way I can get back to wo… I mean, you can get afternoon tea service going!"
Springfield looked around the cafe and already saw the first of her many customers trickling in. A haggard G36 approached Springfield and whispered to her,
"Master. I tried telling them we weren't ready for afternoon tea yet, but Walther-fraulein insisted on…"
Springfield heaved a sigh before she shored up her determination to reply,
"It's okay, G36. We're ready for afternoon tea. Go take everyone's orders and I'll slice up the cake."
G36 obediently nodded and then hurried over to seat the Cafe Springfield's handful of excited customers. Springfield then turned to Kalina and conceded,
"Fine, I'll sign off on this cake. But I'm using it for afternoon tea. I'll explain it to the Commander later."
Kalina's expression brightened up as she brought out her tablet device with the delivery order. Springfield signed the document with a few taps on the screen and Kalina went on her merry way.
With that, Springfield opened the box and found an unusually large Strawberry Custard Cake. It looked eerily similar to the ones that Springfield made herself.
"If the Commander wanted cake, I could have baked one for him…" Springfield mused.
Aside from that, however, she wasn't sure how good that cake would taste.
As Springfield sliced up the cake, the hot headed yet endearing WA2000 made a beeline for the bar counter and took a seat before Springfield. As soon as WA's eyes met with Springfield's, WA's face flushed red and she turned away with embarrassment as she deflected,
"I-it's not like I'm sitting here because I want to be close to you or anything! Hmph~!"
Looking at the pouting WA then gave Springfield an idea. She took a small slice of cake and served it to WA with a smile as she said,
"I appreciate you being here so early every time, WA-chan. So, here's some cake on the house! I changed the recipe a bit, so I want you to tell me what you think - okay?"
WA feigned disinterest, but she was clearly stealing glances at the cake. It didn't take long before WA gave in.
"Hmph. Fine - if you insist. B-but I'm not doing this for your sake, d-dummy…"
WA took a bite and Springfield watched her customer with great anticipation. After a short while, WA looked Springfield straight in the eyes but stayed silent.
That was strange, Springfield thought. WA never had the courage to look Springfield in the eye before. So, Springfield prodded,
"Uhm… so how was it, WA-chan? What do you think?"
WA then suddenly dropped her spoon and reached for Springfield's hand and declared,
"I think… I think that I love you, Spring. Please marry me! I'll make you happy - I promise!"
Springfield's cheeks flushed red and countered,
"Huh!? WA-chan! You're being unreasonable! Just… please, tell me how it tastes!"
However, WA simply wouldn't let go of Springfield's hand. What in the world was going on!?
While Springfield was being aggressively fawned over by WA, G36 returned to the counter and reported,
"Master! I've already served tea, but everyone wants cake! If we don't hurry…!"
As Springfield desperately pried her hand from WA's grasp, she turned to G36 and begged,
"G36…! I have a favor to ask!"
A bead of sweat formed on G36's brow, but she dutifully answered,
"I'll do what I can, Master."
Springfield pointed to the cake in the box and instructed the maid,
"Please take a slice and taste it, G36. I need to know if it's ready to serve!"
G36 nodded and did as she was told. She went behind the counter, took a slice of cake and tasted it. Springfield finally managed to pry her hand out of WA's and she turned to her trusty barmaid for her reliable opinion.
All of the sudden, G36 turned towards Springfield again and took her hand just like WA did. G36 held Springfield's hand firmly in hers as she urged,
"Master. I swear to serve you faithfully for the rest of my life. I may only be a humble servant, but I beg that you let me take your hand in marriage!"
Springfield's face then grew pale at her barmaid's sudden declaration. Then, in the blink of an eye, WA snatched Springfield's other hand again and protested,
"Haaaah!? I proposed to Spring first! Spring and I are in the same echelon! We fought in the trenches together! Our bond is stronger than yours, G36!"
G36 nearly tackled the other end of the counter as she furiously confronted WA and countered,
"Master orders me around as she pleases. I am prepared to do anything for her if she asks. Anything! My love for her is deeper than yours, Walther-fraulein!"
Beads of sweat started dripping down Springfield's brow as the two German dolls were suddenly fighting over her. If their death grips didn't kill Springfield, then her embarrassment from the wild things they were saying would finish her off.
While Springfield was stuck between her enamoured friend and her smitten barmaid, she noticed the mischievous M14 and FNC taking advantage of the chaos on the counter.
M14 and FNC swiped slices of cake from the box on the counter and then proceeded to feed each other. Springfield watched in horror and wondered just what the strange cake would do to the two junior dolls.
Those two dolls then got down on their knees and faced Springfield as well.
M14 planted her forehead on the ground and begged,
"Springfield-oneesama! Please marry me! I'll let you win MVP sometimes! I promise!"
FNC, on the other hand, clasped her hands together as she offered,
"Onee-sama~! Onee-sama~! If you marry me, you can be my mommy! Ahehehe~"
Springfield wriggled her way out from between the warring WA and G36 and eyed the large cake that still remained in the box. It made her wonder just what in the hell her Commander ordered off of Kalina - and why everyone who ate it fell head over heels over her.
Was it because Springfield was the one who signed off on the delivery order?
The rest of the customers in the cafe then watched the chaos at the counter, unsure of what in the world was going on.
Then, a devious smirk formed on Springfield's lips.
Springfield wrestled her way out of WA's and G36's grips and then turned to the lovestricken dolls around her. She then told them,
"WA-chan. G36. M14. FNC-chan. If you really want me to marry you, I don't want you to fight each other. Got it!"
Almost immediately, the warring WA and G36 broke off their brawl. Animosity between them remained, but they were waiting on every word that Springfield' spoke.
Now that she had their attention, Springfield gave her orders,
"Okay, everyone. I'll need your help with afternoon tea service. There's enough cake for the base, so help me serve it all - okay?"
The four dolls then stood in attention and followed Springfield's orders passionately. The four of them then served the strange strawberry custard cakes to all the excited customers in the cafe.
The smile on Springfield's lips then grew wider.
The greatest afternoon tea service in her cafe's history was about to begin.
…
Later that evening, in the Commander's office, Springfield and the Commander went over the daily briefings as they always did. However, the Commander opened his tablet device with dismay. He then brought up a list of transactions and showed it to Springfield and argued,
"I don't remember approving any of this, Spring. All these oath rings - and all these maid costumes?"
Springfield chuckled and waved the Commander's concern away,
"Surely Miss Kalina made a mistake. She has been overloaded with work lately after all. Let's file a complaint in the morning… but for now, why don't we take a break?"
She then brought out a smaller box, set it down on the Commander's desk and opened it. Inside, there was a pristine slice of Strawberry Custard Cake.
Springfield brought out a small fork and scooped up a piece of the cake. She then brought the cake towards the Commander's mouth as she gently cooed,
"Commander. Say 'aah'~!"
The Commander eagerly did as he was told and ate the piece of cake.
Springfield watched closely as the Commander gulped down the cake. She then leaned forward towards him and asked in a sultry voice,
"So - what do you think, Commander? Ufufufu~"
The End