I do not own Yumeiro Patissiere
Sweet rose memory
After Ichigo fell into the lake, Makato jumped in to help her. Satsuki and Sennosuke watched in worry as Makato and Ichigo came to the surface. The rose water was okay; the lid was sealed tight. Satsuki got angry looks from Ichigo and Makato because of what he was going to do. When Ichigo and Makato tried to dry themselves off with a towel, Satsuki admitted that he was going to give up on trying making a rose pound cake. "It's no good," he said "I can't seem to get it right".
Ichigo slapped Satsuki on the face. "Don't you dare think about giving up on the rose cake!" she shouted "it's quite clear that your dad was desperate to get the rose water to you before he died. Making rose cakes was your dream and your dad wanted you to achieve your dream. He may be gone, but that doesn't mean you should give up on the dream; your dad in heaven would be disappointed if you do". Satsuki stared at Ichigo and saw that she was right. "Okay, I'll try again" said Satsuki. Ichigo and the others were pleased to hear that. Just then Ichigo realized that her clothes started to smell because the lake water soaked her all through. "Yuck," said Ichigo "I'll have to give these clothes a good wash to get the smell out". Just then she had a thought. "I think I have an idea".
Ichigo and the boys went back to the cooking room. Ichigo explained that maybe they should try soaking the pound cake through the rose water, after it was baked. Satsuki thought that might work too, so after he baked the pound cake again he poured rose syrup and rose water into a tin. Then he soaked the pound cake thoroughly with it and then everyone tried it. This time it really did taste and smell like roses and Satsuki had added rose jam to it as well. "You did it Satsuki," said Café "you made your rose pound cake". The sweets princes felt for sure that they would win the first round tomorrow.
But Ichigo was looking thoughtful. "Is something wrong Ichigo-chan?" asked Satsuki. "Yes, Kashino, Andou-kun, you and I need to change our cakes," said Ichigo "you see the four cakes aren't even with each other. Even when you eat the pieces together the tastes will fight against each other, like the whole family is in a big argument". "It's true actually," said Sennosuke "the cakes are based on different members of a family. So what should we do?" "We shall use Hanabusa-kun's rose cake as the subject, but we shall change the Kashino's cake, Andou-kun's cake and my cake to support it" said Ichigo. "We only have tonight to change it," said Makato "but let's do it". The rest of Team Ichigo agreed. The sweets spirits agreed with the plan too and offered to help. So Team Ichigo worked on through the whole night to perfect their rose cake.
Next day it was time for Team Ichigo's match against Team Ichimatsu. The cooking class room in the middle school section was where the middle school grand prix tournament was being held, and everything was ready. The ingredients were all set up and ready, the judges table was set up and there was also a big score board. Everyone in the audience couldn't wait for the match to start. Team Ichimatsu, in their team uniform, were ready, but Team Ichigo hadn't arrived yet.
Team Ichigo, in their team uniform, were ready too. But because they were up all night working on their cakes, there were tired. Ichigo couldn't stop yawning. "Fight your sleepiness with fighting spirit Amano" said Makato. "Speak for yourself Kashino," said Ichigo "your shadowy eyes make you look like a panda". "Shut up" said Makato, rubbing his eyes. He didn't want to admit his tiredness. Just then the spirits turned up with cups of coffee for them. It was Café's extra bitter coffee, but it did make their drowsiness go away. "We better go," said Sennosuke "it's almost time for our match". "Good luck all of you" said the spirits. As they weren't allowed to help their partners, they decided to watch from outside.
Team Ichigo turned up just in time. Karashima-sensei explained what the task and theme was, and he told the teams that they had two hours to make them. He also said that the five judges would taste the cakes afterwards, and the scores for taste, technique and theme will be displayed on the board. "Two circles will mean excellent, a circle will mean very good, a triangle will mean good and an x will mean bad". The five judges were the chairman, Karashima-sensei, Ameya-sensei and two other teachers. "Have you made your air freshener cake yet?" asked Takeshi, rudely. He was talking about Satsuki's cake. "Yes we have," said Ichigo, calmly "and it will beat your cake".
Soon the match started. Team Ichimatsu wasted no time on their cakes; being very skilled. They were making the pound cakes they sold at the Salon de Marie; Takeshi with chestnut, Ryou with chocolate, Reimata with coffee marble and Shige with nuts. Rumi and Kana, who were in the audience, were commenting Team Ichimatsu. "They are all using high class ingredients" said Kana. "You're right," said Rumi "it will be tough for Team Ichigo's cakes to beat that".
Team Ichigo were working calmly on their pound cakes too. But Ichigo, Makato and Sennosuke were using different ingredients. Ichigo was making a peach pound cake, instead of of a strawberry pound cake. Makato was making a white chocolate and nut pound cake, instead of a dark chocolate and chestnut cake. Sennosuke was using black teach instead of green tea. It was clear that they did change the menu of their pound cakes. Satsuki was making his rose pound cake.
Once all the pound cakes were cooked, Team Ichimatsu's cakes looked delicious and luxurious, but Team Ichigo's cakes looked plain and Satsuki had enough time to place his cake into the mixture of rose syrup and rose water.
Soon two hours were up and the competitors had to stop what they were doing now. Team Ichimatsu believed that their win was in the bag as Team Ichigo's cakes looked plain and simple compared to theirs. Now it was time for judging and Team Ichimatsu was first. "Please organize the cakes onto one dish" said Karashima-sensei. Team Ichimatsu placed their pieces of cakes on the dish, looking like a flower. "Our cakes are based upon a family enjoying an autumn night together" said Takeshi. The judges found the pound cakes very delicious and agreed that they tasted like a family together on an autumn night. They got a red circle on the taste, two circles on the technique and a red circle on the theme.
Next was Team Ichigo's turn. Satsuki cut the pieces of pound cakes and arranged it to look like a big rose. "We've based our cakes on a family playing in a rose garden together" said Ichigo. The judges were impressed and tried the cakes at once. They found the pound cakes very delicious, especially the rose cake. "The flavours of the rose pound cake, peach pound cake, chocolate and nut pound cake and black tea pound cake go perfectly together" said the Chairman. The other judges agreed. Team Ichigo got two circles on the taste, a red circle on the technique and two circles on the theme. They had won the first round.
Team Ichimatsu couldn't believe that their cakes lost and they wanted to know why. "Team Ichimatsu your pound cakes were magnificent," said Karashima-sensei "but your flavours weren't even with each other; they were fighting against each other. Team Ichigo made their cakes harmonize with each other. Please taste the cake and see for yourselves". When Team Ichimatsu tried the cake, they saw that Karashima-sensei was right and admitted their defeat. The audience was happy for Team Ichigo's victory. So was Vanilla, Chocolat, Café and Caramel, and they did recipe cards for the pound cakes and sent them to the queen.
After the match was all over, Ichigo and the boys were having a rose cake tea party, made with their winning cakes, in the school green house where roses were growing. They were happy of their first win. "I thought Team Ichimatsu's faces were hilarious when they admitted their defeat," said Ichigo "it served them right for being rude to us". "It like I told you Amano," said Makato "defeating them was the way to pay them back". "It's a good thing that you realized last night that we had to change the cakes to make them become one with each other Amano-san," said Sennosuke "if it wasn't for your sense of taste and imagination, we would have lost". "I agree with that" said Satsuki. "Me too" said Makato. The spirits agreed too. "Well I did say that I wasn't going to let you boys down during the cake grand prix" smiled Ichigo.
Just then Ichigo took out a small plastic box from her bag and gave it to Satsuki. "Place one piece each of our cakes into the box and place on your dad's grave as an offering," she said "we will be happy to know that you had succeeded on making a rose cake". Satsuki understood Ichigo's feelings and accepted the box. When Ichigo and the boys tried the cake, they couldn't stop going at it. "This cake brings back many happy memories of when my family and I played at a park all the time together" said Ichigo. "Yes," said Satsuki "this also brings back a happy memory I had with my dad when he was alive". "I think it's the rose scent that makes you remember things of the past" said Sennosuke. "Yeah because they say that scents can stimulate memories" said Makato.
Ichigo suggested that they both needed to thank Satsuki's dad for bringing the rose water to Satsuki. "Hanabusa-kun was able to make a wonderful rose cake thanks to the flavour of the rose water". "It is actually thanks to you Ichigo-chan" said Satsuki, and he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Both the spirits and Makato and Sennosuke were surprised by that. "What are you doing Hanabusa?!" shouted Sennosuke. "Hey you!" shouted Makato "love against team members is forbidden!" Makato and Sennosuke were cross of Satsuki for doing that, probably jealous. Satsuki just shrugged of their reactions. Ichigo on the other hand just sat there blushing and said nothing.
Makato was still cross with that, and Sennosuke noticed it. He reckoned that Makato liked Ichigo, but he couldn't bring himself to admit it.
So the first round of the cake grand prix was done, and there was still more rounds to go.
Don't worry; it will be a Makato and Ichigo couple story.