Recipe 10: Birthday gifts and Stolen Kisses

Author's note: I am very sorry for the late update, I had my annual exams and before that I was very sick! I'll update regularly after March 21st hopefully. And wow, tenth chapter! I always abandon my stories half way, but I was able to write this much thanks to my amazing readers! *Hugs* Thank you so much! So here's another story for you special little angels, enjoy!

Kashino lay on his right side on the small bed, abandoning the bedsheets and trying to block out his dorm mate's, Hanabusa's, snores, and the snores of his Sweets Spirit, Chocolat.

"I wonder what they're gonna give me.." He muttered, and then closed his eyes.

Ichigo looked at the calendar on her bedside table, and smiled. The next date was circled: Makoto's birthday. "I know you're excited for tomorrow but you should probably sleep," Vanilla said, even though she was excited too. Ichigo nodded.

Hanabusa, Andou and Ichigo had wracked their brains trying to find a gift for him.

(Flashback)

"Should it be a surprise party?"

"Ichigo chan, no! He'll totally figure that one out.."

"Yes, he's smart. Not as smart as me, though." Chocolat said, and Vanilla glared at her.

"Please stop fighting!" Caramel said in her baby voice. "Wait, how about a cake?"

"He makes way better cakes than us!" Ichigo fretted.

"Hmm.. If we work together we may be able to make a better one." Andou settled the question unknowingly.

"Wait, why didn't I think of that?!" Hanabusa pulled at his green hair furiously. Ichigo simply smiled.

"Ah Andou kun, you're a genuis!"

"Um, what did I do?"

"Stupid. We're gonna make a cake for him," Hanabusa finally recovered from his initial shock.

"Together." Ichigo finished.

"Oh. I like that. Let's do it then. We'll need to go to the library for recipes."

"Hard recipes." Café said.

"Yes.. Come on then."

"Thank goodness his birthday is on a Sunday! We can make the cake then." Ichigo said, and followed the two boys.

(Flashback end)

Ichigo woke to incessant buzzing and an irritated Vanilla shaking her. She groaned. "Uhh give me an hour.. It's Sunday.."

"Oh wait.. Today's Makoto's birthday!"

She flung the alarm clock on the floor and it broke, unfortunately waking her roommate.

"Oh sorry.. Go back to sleep."

She quickly dressed, and ran to the kitchen. Andou and Hanabusa were waiting impatiently for her.

"Ichigo chan, you're late," Hanabusa smiled. Andou waved it off. "Let's get started. No use scolding someone for being late."

Soon they were hard at work. The sun shone above them and they were all sweating. They removed their aprons because they were too hot, and the warm kitchen didn't help either.

(A/N: Haha SUNday get it? I'm so.. Boring.. Ha-ha.)

"Hopefully the chocolate doesn't melt.." Andou said nervously as he stepped away from the elaborate chocolate sculpture they had created. A cake was baking in the oven too. The Sweets Spirits felt the heat more than they did, and they were sitting in the fridge.

"Um.. Don't kill me.. I might have over-proved the cake.." Ichigo squeaked.

They just sighed. "Everything's going wrong!"

Meanwhile, Kashino was waiting in the rose garden. They had told him to wait for a 'serving of surprise'. He wandered into the greenhouse, yawning.

"Maybe I should go check on them.. They're taking and while, and this weather is too hot for me to be standing outside." He muttered. He walked near the kitchen, and he smelled something burning.

"Uh oh."

He ran in and burst through the door.

"Guys, the oven-"

There was a boom, and it sent burnt cake and debris everywhere. Hot matter that could easily burn them.

When the smoke cleared, they were all on the ground. Hanabusa was behind a counter, coughing because of the thick smoke. Andou's face was buried in his arms, probably because his eyes were stinging from the smoke. The Sweets Spirits were on top of the fridge, luckily unharmed, but shaken very much. Kashino was in front of Ichigo, holding his arm in front of her protectively.

"Ow," Kashino said, and that was enough for everyone to scramble to his side.

There was a big bleeding gash on his cheek, from the flying objects. A knife was lying on the floor beside him.

Hanabusa cursed and quickly grabbed a tissue and wet it. Andou dabbed it on the wound, and Ichigo could only watch in shock. Then she spoke up.

"Makoto, can you stand up?"

She helped him up, and everyone helped him walk to the nurse's office, much to his protest. ("My cheek is injured, not my legs!") Half an hour later, there was a big band aid on his cheek.

"M-Makoto kun.. Sorry. It's all my fault."

"No, it's all our fault." Andou spoke up. "Sorry."

He smiled. Even though he was disappointed, he was glad no one was injured except him.

"At least you're alright."

Ichigo smiled, and ran to him to embrace him. The other two boys laughed as Kashino became strawberry red. "I mean o-obviously I'm disappointed."

They all knew he didn't mean it.

"The oven malfunctioned due to heat. It wasn't any of your faults." The teacher told them the next day. "Pity his birthday gift got ruined along with it."

The four bakers nodded. "We have to make it up to him." Ichigo whispered, and the two boys nodded. That evening, they were in a different kitchen with the Sweets Spirits.

"We only have time to bake a small cake.." Ichigo sighed. Vanilla settled on her shoulder. "Well, it's better than nothing isn't it?" They all nodded.

"Okay, so we're going to make individual cakes and combine them at the end. We have to make sure that the flavours don't clash. What will you be making, Amano chan?"

"Something with strawberries. Fruity taste, not too sweet."

"That would go well with the chocolate rose cake I'm making."

"Then it'll be marzipan for me. Let's start!"

The normally empty kitchen was filled with a flurry of activity and excitement. Ichigo had decided on a new, original recipe and she was nervous because it was her first time making it.

"Ichigo, relax! We analysed this so many times!"

"But still what if I mess it up! Aah.."

Vanilla sighed.

Hanabusa was going to mix a rose and a chocolate sponge cake together. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"As long as I get the proportions right it'll taste fine, Café.."

"Do you even know the proportions?"

"Not really.."

"What if you mess it up?"

"I'll make another.. Oh wait there's no time for another. This'll have to do.."

Andou was carefully crafting derailed marzipan figures. "Do you have time for all of them?" Caramel asked.

"Hopefully.."

Kashino was studying in the library. I wonder what the others are up to..

The three of them were done at 6 sharp. Ichigo had had a very innovative idea. Her tart was small and round, so she had suggested that they cut a hole in the sponge cake and put her tart in. They shaped it to a chocolate candy shape, and Andou had iced it and put cute little people on it. (Including a devil which Ichigo had begged him to make)

The Sweets Spirits had been a great help too. Caramel had saved a pot of caramel from a burning death, Café had ensured that the sponge cakes were mixed in right proportions and Vanilla and Chocolat for once weren't at each other's throats. Chocolat had great tips about making the chocolate and strawberry as flavourful as possible. Vanilla had helped Ichigo with her new recipes.

Ichigo took a shaky breath. "Okay, it's time."

The others nodded. "I think you should be the one to bring Ma-kun here."

Ichigo nodded and gulped. She ran out to the library and brought Kashino with her.

"What is it?"

"A.. Surprise."

"Oh. I told you that you didn't have to make it up to me. It's fine, really!"

"No.. We wanted to. Come on."

When he got in the kitchen, Caramel weakly blew a party whistle. "Happy birthday.." They sang. Kashino looked at the cake curiously.

"Ma-kun, we didn't have time for anything more. We wanted to give you something beautiful and elegant even though it'll never be as elegant as how you make them.. Chocolate is not exactly our forte."

"It doesn't matter, Andou kun. If it's given from all of you, I'd even love a burnt sponge cake.." He blushed at what he had just said. Hanabusa patted him on the back. "Ah Makoto kun is getting sentimental. How sweet." Soon Andou was back to his role as peacemaker. He and Ichigo sweat dropped along with the Sweets Spirits.

"Are you going to taste it yet, stupid?" Chocolat fluttered impatiently. "We made it in just half an hour you know. Hard work. So taste it!"

The room became silent and filled with tension. Kashino picked up a knife and spoon and sliced away. He put a piece in his mouth. The room was almost exploding with nervousness!

His eyes became wide. "W-what is this?"

"Um.. My new recipe and Hanabusa's rose plus chocolate sponge cake and Andou's marzipan.." Ichigo stammered.

"This. Is. Amazing." Kashino reached for one more piece. "All of this cake is awesome, but Ichigo.. Your new recipe made it even better! And who had this genius idea of placing it in the sponge?"

"M-me.." Ichigo said, turning red.

It was Kashino's turn to hug her, and she blushed even more. Everyone laughed. Then they joined the hug.

"Thank you everyone. It's very hard to say this, but I-I'm really grateful to have such g-great friends.."

The room erupted in aww's and Kashino became as red as Ichigo.

"The Ichigo (strawberry) red couple!" Vanilla announced, and they all laughed.

"What shall we call this dish? And your recipe, does it have a name yet?" Kashino asked Ichigo.

"No.. Let's call my recipe 'Surprise'?"

"Cheesy name if you ask me.." Chocolat muttered.

"H-how about 'Stolen kisses'?" Ichigo said, looking at Kashino shyly. He smiled. "Sure," and he gave her a peck on the cheek, much to her embarrassment.

"That's a stolen kiss."

"What shall we call the dish then?" Chocolat asked. Her question was unanswered as everyone ran out of the room. "Agh answer my question!"

"Too bad, Chocolat. No one listens to you." Vanilla teased. Chocolat growled and chased a laughing Vanilla around.

"Aand they're back," Hanabusa said.

Thank you for reading! 😊 See you next time!