Author's Note(s): Hey, guys... I have nothing to say... Beta is Aihara Awayuki...
Story fact(s): It's Ukemo's filler chapter... Shortest chapter so far...
Disclaimer: Chapter 1.
Episode IV: Ukemo's Bake-off
~OHSHC; Music Room #3~
"Ukemo, I hear about this bake-off you're involved in. What's going on with that?"
Two weeks after the play, the Hosts and the others were spending time, relaxing. Haruhi had heard the news of a bake-off from a girl in her literature class.
Ukemo perked up in her seat. "Oh, well, it started out like this..."
Flashback
"Hey, Ukemo," the club president, Ichiha Sharaki, exclaimed, coming by said girl. Ichiha was a third year with crimson eyes and black hair held back by a ponytail.
"Hi, Ichiha," Ukemo beamed up to her. "What can I help with?"
"Oh, I have an idea," Ichiha replied, waving her hand dismissively. "How about a bake-off?"
"A bake-off?" Ukemo blinked, smile turning into a frown.
"Yes, between you and me," Ichiha responded, gesturing between the two of them. "For fun."
"Okay," Ukemo shrugged, pondering the idea.
"Great," Ichiha smiled, walking off.
Flashback over
"...and that's that," Ukemo shrugged, taking a bite of her cake. Karai sat beside her, reading a book.
"To me, that's sounds suspicious, Ukemo," 'Naomi' hummed, laying in her sister's lap while playing a video game. "Urgh, No fair, Kaoru!" She glared at the said twin laying in his brother's lap while playing the same video game.
'Kaoru' chuckled, smirking, "I'd have to agree with her."
"As do I," 'Hikaru' nodded, watching his brother.
"As do I," 'Mayumi' sang, also watching her sister.
"Well, I'm excited for it, whether you four agree or not," Ukemo huffed, before chomping on her cake.
"Me too," Hani beamed, nodded his head. "It turns out I'll be a judge in the contest. Ichiha asked me to be."
Ukemo paused in her cake eating when she heard that. "Really?" she squeaked, getting nervous.
"Yep, but don't worry," Hani smiled, reassuringly. "I'm sure your cake will be delicious as ever. Right, Takashi?"
"Hmm," Mori grunted, nodded his head.
Hani turned serious for a second. "But I'll have to be fair." Then, he smiled once again, "Kay?"
Ukemo giggled cutely, "Okay." before going back to her cake.
"Damnit, Naomi!"
"Serves you right, Kaoru~!"
"Switch back, you four!" Haruhi exclaimed sternly, knowing that the two sets of twin had swapped again.
"Aw, but Haruhi~!" The two twins whined, pouting at her. "That's boring~!"
"It's getting old," Haruhi sighed, face-palming.
"I wonder who the other judge is going to be," Tamaki stated, thinking about it.
"One can wonder," Kyoya commented, typing on his computer. He paused briefly, looking around. "Where's Sakura? She was just here a second ago."
"Said something about meeting with her boyfriend to go home," Haurhi replied, thinking back.
"Yeah, she helped us clean before leaving, though," Ukemo explained, gulping down another bite full of cake.
"Of course," Kyoya nodded, turning back to his laptop.
~OHSHC; Home Ec. Kitchen~
Soon, the day of the bake-off came and Ukemo learned something that made her more nervous than she already was.
"What?" Ukemo exclaimed shockingly, blinking at Ichiha.
"Tatsuya Tsutsumi will be the other judge of our bake-off," Ichiha explained, smiling. "Problem?"
"Yes, that's my family's company's rival," Ukemo shrieked, waving her arms around animatedly.
"Oh," Ichiha blinked, before shrugged. "Oops." She turned away, before a smirk tug on her lips.
Ukemo started to panic before she heard a chorus of male voices.
"Hey, Ukemo!"
Said girl turned to see the Host Club and their guests. She walked over to them, with an eyebrow raised.
"What are you guys doing here?" Ukemo asked, frown on her lips.
"We thought that we'd give you support," Tamaki replied, smile on his lips.
Ukemo looked uneasy at the guests that were anxiously staring at her. She pointed at them, indicating them.
"And the guests wanted to see Hani eat cakes," Kyoya smoothly explained, earning a nod.
"Best of luck, Ukemo-senpai," the guests bowed to her in unison.
"Thanks, I think," Ukemo replied, tilting her head in confusion.
Oh, she's adorable, the guests thought.
"I can't wait to try out your cake, Ukemo," Hani beamed, popping next to her. "Is it one of your family's recipes that you made yourself?"
Ukemo shook her head, "No, it's my...own..." She started to panic inwardly again when she saw a medium-height, elderly-looking man. He had a thick mustache and goatee and piercing green eyes that remind Ukemo of a snake. He wore a white button-up shirt and black trousers. This was who Ukemo was afraid of and the reason why she was panicking: Tatsuya Tsutsumi, the owner and director of 'Flower Treats', rival to her family company 'Kui Delights'.
"Hello, Miss Kuisumi," Mr. Tsutsumi bowed to her still form.
"Hi, mister Tsutsumi," Ukemo replied softly, bowing to him in return.
"Weren't aware that you were in this competition," Mr. Tsutsumi huffed, standing straight. "My niece, Ichiha, just asked me to judge this bake-off." Ukemo froze while still bowing to him. "I'll just have to be fair. I am a gentlemen after all. Good luck to you." He walked away from the group.
"Ukemo?" Hani voiced, noticing her frozen state. "Ukemo?"
"Who was that guy?" Kaoru asked, looked at the direction the man.
"Tatsuya Tsutsumi, he runs a dessert company that rivals' Ukemo's family company," Kyoya explained, also looking in the same direction, along with the other hosts. "Also, his niece is Ichiha Sharaki, the Club President of the Baking Club."
"That seems too convenient for Ichiha," Hikaru commented, suspiciously.
The hosts heard a squeak, and turned to find Ukemo back in upright position, clutching her blushing cheek. Hani stood beside her, beaming satisfied.
"That did the trick," Hani giggled cutely. "I hope the bake-off starts soon..."
He just kissed me! Ukemo thought frantically. Granted on the cheek, but still. How can he still be calm about it?
Ukemo felt a hand on her shoulder, making her look to see her foster sister. "Karai? What are you doing here? What about your club for the day?"
"I came here to support you," Karai explained, surprising the Host Club. It was the first time that they had her spoke a sentence. "Just like any sister would support a sister." Karai ruffled Ukemo's hair, smiling softly as her foster sister whined about her messed-up hair.
"Alright, if I may have everyone's attention," a girl from the Baking Club spoke up. "We have the cakes already baked and sliced for the bake-off." She gestured to two three-tiered cake on a table. One cake was a dark brown, almost black with icing ruffles delicately covering it. The other was a white pastel cake that was smooth with a large iced strawberry on the top tier.
"All that is needed is the judges we have here to taste them and they give their input and make a decision. We have third year Mitsukuni Haninozuka of Ouran Academy and Tatsuya Tsutsumi, the owner/director of 'Flower Treats'." She gestured to the said man that appeared next to the table. "Now, let the cake-tasting of the bake-off begin!"
With that, a slice of each cake were placed on a plate and presented to the judges. Hani ate his two pieces faster than Tatsuya Tsutsumi, but he still took his own time to judge the cakes carefully. After they were done, the same girl from before came up to the two.
"So what do you think about the cakes they were served?" the girl asked, before looking at Hani. "Hani-senpai?"
Hani adopted a serious critic-face. "Both cakes are delicious. Whoever baked the strawberry cake must really know me because I love strawberry very much. The chocolate cake is very rich in texture and very moist. If given the option, I would choose both cakes. However, the cakes have their flaws. The strawberry cake while delicious is a cake that's overused and can be quite bland. The chocolate cake is very rich and delicious as well, but the flavor is too sweet. That's all I have to say."
The girl nodded, turning to Tatsuya. "Tsutsumi-san?"
"I'll have to agree with my fellow judge: the cakes are delicious. I would serve both in my company, but one of the contestants is the daughter of my company's rival. The strawberry cake is overdone, but that doesn't take away its taste. The chocolate is rich and moist, but the flavor is too sweet. I don't mind sweets, but I don't like treats that are too sweet."
"Okay, they have judge and critic the cakes," the girl told the audience, before turning back to the judges. "Of these two cake, which would you choose?"
"I would choose the strawberry cake," Tatsuya replied, gesturing to the said cake. "Simply because the chocolate cake is too sweet to me."
"Hani-senpai? Which cake would you choose?"
The room grew suspended as Hani tapped his chin in thought. Ukemo grasped her foster sister's hand in anticipation, holding her breath.
"While my favorite kind of cake is strawberry, I really like the chocolate cake," Hani commented, smiling. "I can tell that whoever made that cake worked really hard in making it."
The girl scratched her head in confusion. "It seems that we have a tie. What do you want to do, Ichiha-senpai?"
Said girl tapped her chin, "We could have a set of other judges try the cakes and choose that way."
"But where would we get such judges?" Ukemo asked, stepping forward.
"I know a few chefs that might the judging better and more fair," Tatsuya pointed out, pulling out his phone. "I'll just make a few calls."
"Then it's settled: we'll redo the bake-off this Friday and have three judges the cake, instead of two," Ichiha explained, before gesturing to the cakes. "Now, you are free to enjoy the cakes."
The Hosts' guests scurried off to try the cake. The Hosts hanged back to talk to Ukemo and Karai. Unknowingly to everyone, Ichiha smirked darkly.
~OHSHC; Music Room #3~
"Goodbye, ladies~," Tamaki sang, waving at the last guest as they walked out.
For the Hosts Club, they were cosplaying Ancient Rome, wearing togas over tunics. On their feet, they wore sandals.
"I say men, that was a success, wouldn't say?" Tamaki smiled, proud of them, mostly himself however.
"Boss, that's what you say after every time we cosplay," the Hitachiin twins remarked boredly in unison, sending Tamaki into his woe corner.
Soon, the five, expected girls came through the door. The Akiyama twins smirked when they saw the togas on the Hosts.
"Ancient Rome?" they asked in unison.
"Yep," the Hitachiin replied in unison.
The girls, including Haruhi, helped clean the room and were done within ten minutes. Sakura slipped out as soon as this happened, something that Kyoya had noticed that was happening more frequently.
"Ukemo, will you tell me which cake was yours?" Hani asked, pouting at the girl.
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell until after the official winner is announced tomorrow," Ukemo replied, smiling sympathetically. "Don't worry, all will revealed."
"Oh," Hani whined, pouting. "
"Good luck, Ukemo-senpai~!"
"Thank you! I'll need it tomorrow..."
~OHSHC; Mysterious Location~
"You're saying that if we chose this cake you'll pay us how much?"
"You heard me. You must choose this cake, though in order to receive every cent. Understood?"
"Yes, Madam."
~OHSHC; Home Ec. Kitchen~
The three judges happened to be some of the top chefs in the city of Bunkyo, including some of the middle class chefs. They had tasted the cakes that looked the same as the cakes used a few days before. The crowd was the same as before except with the addition of Sakura and the Akiyama twins and the absence of Tatsuya Tsutsumi.
The same girl who hosted the last time came forward. "The judges will now make their decision. Judge 1?"
"The strawberry cake."
"Judge 2?"
"The chocolate cake."
"Another tie? Well, Judge 3, it comes down to your decision. Which cake is better?"
Suspense. Breaths held. Bodies tense.
"The strawberry cake."
The girl breathed, "Contestants, come and claim your cake." She seemed to be disappointed with the result.
Ichiha and Ukemo walked up to the table that had the cakes. Ichiha stood in front of the strawberry cake while Ukemo stood in front of the chocolate cake.
The crowd gasped at the results. Some had their mouths gaping while others covered theirs. The rest looked on with sympathetic frowns. However, the Hosts and the other girls, especially Karai, looked worried at the tears on Ukemo's face.
Ichiha offered her hand in sympathy. "I'm sorry, but this was all in good fun, right?"
"Right."
3...2...1... Karai counted off in her head.
Ukemo ran out of the room, tears streaming down her face. The Hosts and other girls started to go after her. Karai stopped them, however.
"Let me do it. I'm her sister," Karai simply stated, before running after Ukemo.
A moment or two passed before anyone said anything.
"Poor Ukemo-senpai..."
Hani pouted, before a piece of paper on the floor caught his eye. He picked it up and read it. It seemed to be a recipe and in Ukemo's handwriting.
"Black Chocolate Cake," it read.
This sparked an idea in Hani's head.
~OHSHC; Home Ec. Kitchen~
The weekend was a depressed one for Ukemo. She cried until she cried no more. She baked with a delay in it.
The same girl that had announced the bake-off came up to her. "Ukemo-senpai, I'm sorry about what happened. But I think you should have won. Your cake was delicious."
"Thanks," Ukemo mechanically replied, "You should enjoy it while it lasted because I'm not making anymore."
"Oh," the girl dejected, "I wish you wouldn't give it up."
Suddenly, Karai busted through the door. Ukemo and the girl flinched as well as a few other people in the room. Karai plucked Ukemo up and threw her over her shoulder gently.
"Where are we going, Karai?" Ukemo asked, blinking.
~OHSHC; Music Room #3~
Soon, Ukemo was plopped on the floor in front of the doors. She blinked, before looking up at Karai.
"What's going on?" Ukemo asked, frowning cutely.
"Open it," Karai replied simply.
When Ukemo did, she was met with the Hosts and their guests eating a familiar cake. Ukemo gapped at the scene.
"But how?" Ukemo asked quietly.
"Hey, Ukemo," Hani waved at her.
Soon, the Hosts had gathered around the third-year girl coming into the room.
"Your cake is pretty popular with the guests," Kyoya remarked, being one of the people not eating the cake. "I never been one for sweets though."
"How?" Ukemo asked, coming to the Hosts.
"When you ran out of the room Friday, you dropped the recipe you had made," Haruhi explained, smiling gently. "Hani-senpai found it and came up with the idea of serving your cake to the guests."
"But who made the cake?" Ukemo asked, remembering that the boys ordered their cakes.
"We called a couple of special chefs to do that," Tamaki replied, indicating to the two adults.
Ukemo gasped when she saw that it was her parents. Her parents smiled, donning chef outfits. She had tears of joy in her eyes and ran over to her parents, embracing them.
"We got a call from the Haninozuka heir saying that this recipe was made by you," Okito explained, placing a kiss on his daughter's head.
"We tried it out and tweaked it to where it didn't taste as sweet as it did before," Amika continued for her husband. "That was the main issue with it. We can see what you were trying to do."
"After that, we made it and it was a success and victory to us," Okito smiled, presenting a piece of cake to Ukemo.
"We deemed the cake, 'Kui Delights' worthy," Amika stated, earning a surprise look from her daughter. "That's right, honey. It's officially a Kui Delight now. Black Chocolate Cake."
"And it was Mitsukuni Haninozuka that called you, right?" Ukemo asked, wanting it to be confirmed.
"Yes, he's such a nice boy," Amika replied, patting her daughter's head.
Ukemo nodded, smiling softly. She walked over to Hani, who didn't know that she was coming over. When she got close enough, she leaned in and placed a kiss on his cheek, surprising him.
"Huh?" Hani turned to face Ukemo.
"Thank you, Mitsukuni," Ukemo stated, smiling at him.
"Oh, you're welcome," Hani beamed.
The guests squealed at the adorableness of the two, deafening several eardrums.
And done!
End of chapter note(s): Again, nothing to say... Either than...
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~Luv, Flutejrp