I do not own Yumeiro Patissiere

The Bitter Circumstance of the Kashino Household

Today's school day was finished and all the students were going back to their dorm rooms. Ichigo was getting jitters while holding text books in her arms. Tomorrow was a final exam. "I hate it when it comes to the final exams," Ichigo said to Rumi "it always makes me feel jittery". "I understand;" said Rumi "the finals are not always the best to look forward to. Still we both studied hard for it". "You're right we have" said Ichigo. "I hope you have studied hard for it Amano" said a voice; it was Makato. "I hate to have the A-group getting a deduction of high marks because of you". Ichigo got cross. Makato was a student with very high marks and he had been a top student ever since he entered St Marie Academy. But it didn't mean, to Ichigo, for Makato to look down on her with school studies. "Listen to me Kashino you sadist!" she shouted "I have studied a lot for these finals thank you, and my grades are good as well thank you. And just because you are an A+ student, that does not mean you can just put pressure on me so there!"

Ichigo was so cross she wasn't concentrating on the stairs and she ended up slipping down the stairs and hurting her head. Makato saw the commotion, picked up Ichigo, and quickly took her to the nurse's office. Sennosuke and Satsuki heard of Ichigo's accident and they went to the nurse's office to see if Ichigo was all right. Ichigo was okay, but she did have a bump on the head and she had some plasters on her face. The nurse suggested that Ichigo should go to a hospital to have her head checked. The sweets princes agreed and they offered to go to the hospital with Ichigo.

They were soon on the bus to the hospital. "You guys didn't have to come," said Ichigo "I could go myself". "Its fine Amano-san" said Sennosuke. "Besides you are our teammate Ichigo-chan" said Satsuki. "You should be careful Amano" said Makato. "It was your fault that I fell down the stairs Kashino," said Ichigo "you got me cross by being a sadist". Makato got cross by that comment. "Now, now calm down" said Sennosuke. They soon reached the hospital; it was a big hospital. Makato stayed outside, while Satsuki and Sennosuke went into the hospital with Ichigo.

The inside of the hospital was massive as well, and Ichigo and Satsuki and Sennosuke were waiting in the waiting room. "Why did Kashino stay outside?" asked Ichigo. Sennosuke and Satsuki explained that this hospital was owned by Kashino's family; in fact everyone who worked here, doctor and nurses, are related to the Kashino family. "Kashino-kun actually told me once that his parents were doctors," said Ichigo "he even told me that only his uncle was a chocolatier". "It's true," said Sennosuke "and there is something else you should know about".

Before Sennosuke could tell Ichigo about something, a nurse told Ichigo that the doctor was ready to see her now. Ichigo saw a female doctor and explained about her slipping down the stairs and hitting her head. The doctor had a feel on her head to check for any bumps. "It doesn't look or feel serious," said the doctor "but I'll x-ray your head to check". While Ichigo was being checked she noticed that the doctor looked like Makato. "Please excuse me doctor," said Ichigo "but are you a relative of Makato Kashino?" "Oh so you know my son Makato?" asked the doctor. Apparently she was Makato's mother. "Yes I'm a classmate of his at St Marie Academy" answered Ichigo. The doctor frowned when she heard the words St Marie Academy. "I wish that boy will come to his senses, quit that school and come back home to be what he's supposed to be" she said.

Ichigo couldn't believe what Makato's mum just said; the way she said that was like she didn't want Makato to be a chocolatier. When her examination was over, Ichigo told Satsuki and Sennosuke what Makato's mum said. "Is she against Kashino of attending St Marie Academy?" "Yes," said Satsuki "in fact everyone in the family is against Makato of being a patissier" The boys explained that when Makato was born he was supposed to become a doctor like everyone else. "But Kashino didn't want to be a doctor, he wanted to be a chocolatier like his uncle is" said Sennosuke. "Kashino told me that before actually," said Ichigo "he also told me that he's only close to his uncle and not any other member of the family". "That is true," said Sennosuke "and Kashino did manage to get permission to attend St Marie Academy, but the condition was that he had to always be on the top of everyone, and if he didn't he would be forced to quit it at once". Ichigo was not happy about this. "It's stupid though;" she said "the one who decides on Kashino's future is Kashino himself, not the family". "We agree," said Sennosuke "but it's that type of family I'm afraid". Ichigo felt sorry for Kashino.

Suddenly Chocolat turned up. "Something bad has happened" she said. "What's happened?" asked Ichigo. Chocolat explained that while they were waiting outside, a car came up. Then a man in a black suit grabbed Makato, placed him in the car and then drove off. "Do you know where they were going?" asked Ichigo. "There was a woman there too, and Kashino said that was his older sister" said Chocolat. "Then my guess is they are going to where Kashino lives," said Sennosuke "I know where Kashino lives because I've visited it before". "We should hurry" said Chocolat. Everyone agreed, and they left the hospital to Makato's house. "I take it his sister is against him being a patissier too?" asked Ichigo. "I'm afraid so" said Sennosuke. Ichigo thought this was really ridiculous.

Makato lived in a big mansion; his family was wealthy. Right now Makato was tied up in bandages and his sister Miyabi wanted to talk to him. "I know what you are going to say sister," said Makato "but I am not going to be a doctor. I am going to be a chocolatier like our uncle". "I remember that you used to play at the man's store all the time when you were younger," said Miyabi "but he was adopted into the Kashino family by a marriage. As the first born son it is your destiny to be a doctor like everyone else".

At that time Ichigo and the others arrived at Makato's house. Ichigo was surprised with how big the mansion was. "So how are we going to get inside?" asked Satsuki "I mean I doubt they are just going to let us inside". "Who goes there?" asked a voice. The voice belonged to man named Muraoka and he was a servant to Miyabi. "What are you doing here?" "We are Makato Kashino's friends," answered Ichigo, bravely, "we know that his sister kidnapped him and brought him here, and we are not leaving until we see him". Muraoka could see that Ichigo was indeed a friend of Makato's, as she had come to bring him back to St Marie Academy". So he let her and Sennosuke and Satsuki in.

Meanwhile Miyabi was still trying to persuade her brother to become a doctor instead of a chocolatier. "The family will accept you as a doctor, but they won't accept you as a patissier," she said to Makato "you will be alone". Just then Ichigo and the others entered the room. "That's enough!" shouted Ichigo "what kind of sister are you, persuading her own brother to do something against his will". "Amano, what are you doing here?" asked Makato. "Rescuing you of course" said Ichigo. She turned to Miyabi. "What is wrong with Kashino being a chocolatier? He is happy with making chocolate. I've watched him make chocolate lots of times, and he enjoys doing that especially when it comes to tempering with chocolate; he tempers it non-stop during practice. Seriously if status and duties are the only things this family cares about then it's no wonder Kashino is only close with his uncle and no one else in this family, and I don't blame Kashino for that". Miyabi stared at Ichigo. 'This girl shows no fear,' she thought 'and she cares about Makato's feelings'. "Since you have no idea of how delicious Kashino's chocolate is, I suggest you try one of his chocolate cakes" said Ichigo. "Hey Amano" said Makato. "Okay I will," said Miyabi "but if I don't like it Makato will have to quit St Marie Academy".

"Why did you ask my sister to try my chocolate Amano?" asked Makato, who was not pleased with this. "Have you forgotten about what you told me once Kashino?" said Ichigo "action speaks the truth better than words. So it's obvious you have to make a chocolate cake to prove to your sister about your desire to be a patissier". "For once I agree with Amano" said Chocolat. Makato sighed; he couldn't argue against Ichigo and Chocolat. "What cake are you going to make Kashino?" asked Sennosuke. "The opera cake," said Makato "my sister loves the opera cake". So Makato got to work on making an opera cake, and the others helped out too. Satsuki and Sennosuke explained to Makato about Ichigo's results in the hospital, and Makato was relieved to know that nothing was wrong.

Soon the cake was done and Makato presented a piece of the opera cake to his sister and his sister tried it at once. "You are a lot different from when you were little Makato" said Miyabi, after she tried the cake. Miyabi explained that when Makato was little he would cry all the time from loneliness because their parents were always so busy all the time. Ichigo, Satsuki and Sennosuke were amazed to know that Makato used to be a cry baby. "But now you have found your own path and you have made many new friends. And I find your cake delicious". This meant that Miyabi accepted the cake and Makato was allowed to go to continue studying at St Marie Academy. Chocolat made a recipe card of the opera cake and sent it to the queen.

Before Makato and the others left, Miyabi explained that Muraoka was her fiancée. "My parents probably won't accept it," said Miyabi "but I will fight to obtain my true happiness". She also asked Makato to make her wedding cake for her in the future, and Makato agreed to. Then Makato and the others left on the bus back to St Marie Academy. "I can't believe that your parents don't accept your choice of wanting to become a patissier Kashino" said Ichigo. "They're that type of parents," said Makato "and even if I presented a cake of mine to them, they would still not accept my dream and they would try to make me give up on it". Now Ichigo really felt sorry for Makato; it wasn't nice having parents like that. "But I am going to keep on staying as top student, win the grand prix and study in Paris" said Makato.

Those words made Ichigo remember the finals test that was tomorrow. "Make sure you pass Amano" said Makato. "I may have bumped my head, but I haven't suffered from amnesia for the finals thank you Kashino" replied Ichigo.

I know I said that Ichigo isn't a klutz in this story but having her slip down the stairs was the only way I could have her go to the hospital.