Thank you so much kanakokiriha and StrawberryDream15 for reviewing! As requested, I have tried to make this chapter longer than the last ones. Enjoy and review!
Kashino and Ichigo sat in silence. Ichigo was too busy stuffing her face and Kashino was secretly drawing Ichigo. He drew the look of pure bliss on her face as she ate and even drew her licking her plate clean. Kashino thought it was almost worth spending all his ample pocket money to see her so happy. Almost but not quite….. Kashino nearly had a fit when he saw the bill. 'She really is a pig!' he muttered darkly to himself.
Before long, the rest of the class arrived at the bakery. Hanabusa was shaking all over because of his precious lip-gloss and Andoh was comforting him. Kashino and Ichigo giggled. Then the baking lesson began. After watching the bakers at the bakery, the students returned to Saint Marie with their notes to practice for the annual bake sale.
Ichigo decided to add a twist to her gingerbread cookies by adding a tiny bit of lemon juice to it and Kashino made chocolate Christmas puddings. Hanabusa abandoned his roses for Christmassy poinsettias and Andoh baked a green tea Christmas tree shaped cake. Soon the practice room was full with the wonderful smell of baked goods. Ichigo sampled everybody's and gave strange Ichigo like comments. For example she told Andoh that his green tea cake was so light and fluffy, she felt like she was going to fly away. The rest of Team Ichigo sweat dropped and Kashino made everybody a cup of his signature hot chocolate.
Dawn
Ichigo/Rumi's room
Ichigo snuggled into her duvet and Vanilla softly snored in her pocket. Ichigo tossed and turned in her sleep and Vanilla woke up to hear Ichigo mumble: 'Kashino, like him so much… but he'd never like me.' Vanilla's eyes widened and she shook Ichigo awake. 'Ichigo! Wake up !' she said. 'Eh? Vanilla, what's up? It's only three a.m.' Ichigo rubbed her eyes sleepily. 'You like Kashino don't you?' Vanilla blurted out. Ichigo blushed as red as her namesake and muttered something incomprehensible. Vanilla nodded triumphantly. 'So you do like him!' After a long pause Ichigo gave a small nod. 'What am I going to do, Vanilla?' she wailed. 'Kashino will never like me!' Vanilla shook her head vigorously. 'What's not to like? You're kind, cheerful, funny, and you would look pretty good if you didn't pig out on cake so much! Besides, Chocolat is always complaining that he's much too nice to you nowadays. You should seriously confess to him.' Ichigo shook her head doubtfully. 'Do you really think so? I'm pretty sure he doesn't like me…' Vanilla's eyes flared. 'Ichigo! Cut it out! If you don't confess to him you'll never know how he feels! If you don't tell him tomorrow I'll tell Kashino myself!' Ichigo sighed resignedly. 'Yes, ma'am. I haven't got much of a choice have I?'
Kashino/Hanabusa/Andoh's room
Hanabusa woke up feeling peckish. He searched Kashino's backpack in hope of finding some chocolate. To his disappointment he found no chocolate but he found a small notebook instead. He opened it up to the front page. It was a sketch of Ichigo happily tucking into an apple pie. He flipped through the notebook searching for a picture of his charming self. To his amazement he found none. The whole notebook was filled with sketches of only Ichigo. Hanabusa hurried over to Andoh's bed and nudged him awake. Andoh squinted at the picture of Ichigo and muttered 'What a lovely self portrait Hanabusa, can I go back to sleep now?'. Hanbusa smacked his forehead in despair and told Andoh to put on his glasses. Then he slowly flicked the pages of the notebook showing Andoh the numerous detailed drawings of Ichigo. Andoh gazed at every drawing in amazement. 'It's time to talk to Ma-kun.' said Hanabusa. Andoh nodded in amazement. The two boys shook Kashino awake. Kashino was none too pleased to be woken up so early. He grumbled until Hanabusa waved the notebook in his face. At the sight of the notebook, Kashino fell silent and blushed furiously. 'You like Ichigo don't you, hmmm?' Hanabusa enquired. Kashino turned an even darker shade of red. Hanabusa took this as a 'yes' and carried on. 'So why haven't you confessed to her?' 'Ichigo wouldn't like a sadistic, gruff boy like me.' Kashino said sadly. 'Oh yes she does! Trust me; I'm the Professor of Dateology! She blushes every time you look at her and stares at you when you're not looking. Confess to her tomorrow!' said Hanabusa excitedly. Kashino stared at him hopefully. 'Do you really think so?' he asked tentatively. Hanabusa and Andoh simultaneously nodded encouragingly.