Kashino opened his eyes, yawning and stretching. He still wasn't used to the fact that they were now in St. Marie's in Paris after winning the World Cake Grand Prix. Today was one of their few free days, so he decided to spend it in the library learning.

After brushing and taking a bath and trying to wake a snoring Chocolat (and failing), he made his way to the library without the Sweets Spirit hovering around and annoying him.

He picked a book about fusions between caramel and chocolate, and he sat down to read. A while later, a girl sat beside him, peering into the book he was reading.

After a few minutes, Kashino closed the book, causing the girl to flinch. "What do you want?" He asked, not in an annoyed tone.

"Um.. Are you Kashino Makoto, winner of the Cake Grand Prix?" She asked in French.

He nodded, looking at the girl warily. She had shoulder length hair that was a mix between brown and blonde. Her eyes were a clear blue, but Kashino had to admit that she looked Japanese as well.

"It's great to finally meet you!" She half whispered, with a big smile on her face. "I'm Linda May, and can we go over some recipes together please?"

Kashino nodded again, finding that she reminded him of Ichigo a little. The passion in her eyes shone, and he immediately remembered Ichigo's smiling hazel eyes filled with the same passion. He smiled.

"Do you know Japanese?" He asked in French. She replied quickly in Japanese, "Yes, I do! My mother is Japanese, my father is French. I'm half Japanese. Sorry if my grammar isn't right, I'm not all that good at it," She smiled. Kashino nodded and opened his book.

She stared at the recipe. "Why do we need s-sugar if caramel can make up for the sweetness?" She asked in almost fluent Japanese.

"Well, the caramel turns bitter here," Kashino said, pointing at a step. "That's the beauty of this recipe. It's bitter, not sweet." Linda nodded in understanding, her eyes widening.

Two hours later, they had gone over plenty of recipes and Kashino was beginning to enjoy Linda's presence (he'd never admit that, though.) He discovered that Linda was amazing at maths, so her measurements were always precise, just like his own measurements.

He also discovered that she was a perfectionist. It made her anxious and stressed, but the final results were always delicious because of her careful deliberations.

Kashino suddenly remembered that he was going to practice tempering methods with Ichigo. He glanced at the time. It was in fifteen minutes.

"One minute," He said to Linda, and texted Ichigo.

Kashino devil

sorry, can't make it. we'll temper another day.

Cake Pig

: ((( you devil.. what's holdibg you up?

Kashino devil

*holding. I met a girl called Linda may and she's awesome at baking and maths

Talking to her is fun because she actually knows what she's saying

:P just kidding

Cake Pig

this linda is probably horrible : (

Kashino devil

Nah she's fun. She's half Japanese so we keep switching from french to english to japanese

Cake Pig

O wow k

…

Kashino devil

gtg bye cake pig

Cake Pig

Im not a cake pig u devil

Kashino ended up spending the entire morning with Linda, and they then had lunch together.

Coincidentally, Ichigo was gorging herself on food at the same time.

Ichigo was walking with her plate laden with food. A half smile graced her face, usually there would be a full smile but she was a bit down this time. She had just placed the plate on her table with the other Sweets Princes when she saw a familiar blonde haired boy.

She squinted, and she realized that it was Kashino. What's he doing here? She thought. She suddenly caught sight of a girl beside him, talking to him as if she knew him for a long time. Kashino had a smile on his face as he chatted, and his eyes were filled with passion. Ichigo pouted unconsciously.

"And what's our Ichigo chan pouting at?" Hanabusa asked in a teasing voice. Ichigo glared at the green haired boy and stuffed food into her mouth.

"Looks like she's not in a good mood," Andou whispered to Hanabusa, who nodded. Ichigo's frown grew. "I heard that," She said in an uncharacteristically icy voice. Andou gulped.

The three students ate in silence, with the boys casting worried glances at a not smiling Ichigo.

"Gee, I wonder what's up with her today," Hanabusa said once they were out of earshot. "She's weird."

"It's probably just an off day?" Andou asked. "Ahh wait, Ma-kun said that he'd practice tempering with her today but he just stayed in the library instead. Maybe it's that."

"This has happened before, why is she being extra sad this time?" Hanabusa wondered. Andou shrugged, and the two boys walked away, knowing that they couldn't find out.

Kashino decided to practice tempering chocolate with Linda instead. He wondered how good she was. So they went to the kitchen together.

Kashino observed that her tempering wasn't very smooth, but it was careful and performed with the right speed and pressure.

"Good, but it could be a little smoother," Kashino said thoughtfully, brushing her hand as he reached out to take the instrument.

He moved it over the chocolate in quick, smooth lines. Linda watched with wide eyes.

"Wow," She breathed. "You're amazing."

Kashino smiled. "Don't beat yourself up over the fact that you can't match me yet. I've been tempering in my uncle's shop since I was six."

Linda nodded, her eyes still wide.

Kashino had just finished when he heard a piercing scream. Both of them flinched, but Kashino knew where it was from.

"Oh great," He groaned.

"W-what was that?" Linda stammered. Kashino shook his head. "Wait a minute please."

Of course it was Chocolat, angry that Kashino hadn't woken her up early.

"You're tempering without me! You even made a friend without me! Kashino you little brat do you even care about me but it's fine if you don't because I don't give a sh-"

Kashino covered her mouth. "Let's fight another time. That's Linda May, and I met her in the library this morning. She heard your screaming, so she probably has a Sweets Spirit of her own and can see you too. Be nice, please."

Chocolat nodded grumpily, fire still burning in her eyes. She smoothed down her red apron and flew in.

Linda's eyes lit up when she saw the little Sweets Spirit, dressed in black and red, fly in. She waved happily, and Chocolat's anger melted.

"What about your Sweets Spirit?" Kashino asked, mixing in his bowl. "She's really shy," Linda replied, biting her lips and checking the temperature.

"Not bad, Kashino," She whispered evilly into his ears, causing him to almost drop the bowl he was holding. "So who's the lucky one? Her or Ichigo?" She whispered again, smirking when Kashino sputtered and turned red.

"You stupid little-"He stopped when he saw Caramel and Café fly in. Linda looked up in wonder.

"Why are you two here?" Kashino asked. "Ah, wait a minute. Linda, this is Café and this is Caramel. They're the Sweets Spirits of two of my idiotic friends, Hanabusa and Andou." Linda giggled at the word 'idiotic'. "Café, Caramel, this is Linda May. I met her in the library this morning."

Rather than looking glad to meet the newcomer, they looked stressed. Kashino looked at them, confused. "What's with that face?"

The little fairies whispered to each other and then told Kashino, "Just. Keep baking with her and stuff, and we'll tell you when you're done." Chocolat and the two others huddled in a corner discussing.

Kashino nodded, still confused. "Is something wrong?" Linda asked worriedly.

"Nothing too big, let's keep baking." They did keep baking, but the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere of before was replaced with an uncomfortable one. When the cake was on the oven, Linda told Kashino, "I think I might have to go now."

Kashino normally would have told her to stay for a while longer, but he didn't this time. "Alright. I'll decorate this cake along with one of my friends. Bye," He said, and Linda waved with a smile before hurrying along.

"So what is it?" He asked Café and Caramel immediately.

"It's Ichigo. She's really grumpy and angry and we don't know why!" Caramel said anxiously in her cute lisp.

"Oh." Kashino said. He suddenly remembered what Chocolat had said to tease him before.

"So who's the lucky one? Her or Ichigo?"

"Is Amano actually jealous?" He said. The three looked at him startled.

After a while of silence, Chocolat said, "I, I think so.."

Kashino felt anger rising within him.

"Well, tell Amano this. Why is she jealous? I can't be with other girls? Then should I get jealous every time she's near a boy?! She has no rights to be jealous, we're not even together, and why can't I even make a new friend without our strawberry Queen feeling jealous? You know what, I'm going to ignore her for the whole week because.. Argh! She can be jealous for all I care!" He shouted, leaving the three of them in shock.

"Magic Sweet Romance Video Card, come out," Chocolat whispered, half nervous and half excited.

Kashino quickly took out the cake from the oven, set it down to cool and stormed off.

"Well, heck," Café whispered after him. "Ichigo's in for trouble."

Ichigo was intending to sleep until 9 or 10, and then wake up barely in time for her tempering session with Kashino. Unfortunately, she was woken up at six, much to her annoyance.

Rumi shook her awake frantically, and Ichigo opened her eyes blearily. "Whaat is ittt," She said sleepily. Rumi thrust Ichigo's phone into her sleepy face.

[Okaza

Ichigo this is urgent!

Ichigo

Um this is her roommate Rumi, Ichigo's asleep

Okaza

As expected. Wake her up please.]

Some light entered her eyes, and she typed slowly.

[Ichigo

Good morning mom, y so early?

Okaza

Well.. Natsume fell on her arm and broke it.

Ichigo

whATTT

Okaza

It requires surgery. Just thought you should know. I don't mean to stress you, darling, just carry on sleeping after this.

Ichigo

HOW can I sleep after this? Is she ok? Can she play the piano again?

Okaza

Yeah, she's fine now, and shell be able to play again in a few months. Problem is, dad's sick so we can't have as many checkups as we want.

Ichigo

Wait dad's sick? Why didnt u tell me!

Okaza

Yeah nothing too bad, just a fever n headache, classic.

Ichigo

Wow youve got a lot on your hands now.. U ok?

Okaza

Yes Im fine, and ill live dont worry.]

And that was just the beginning.