Sorry for the late update! SUPER LATE! I'm so so so sosososososososososososo sorry. I promise I'll try to update more whenever I have the time to! I've just been super busy! Hope you enjoy the new chapter! I do not own Yumeiro Patissiere!

I knocked on the door to my house.

It flew open, with Kazune innocent staring at me. He smiled at the four of us and gave me a bear hug. I didn't know whether to hug back or wore about my dignity.

Karin awed, while Hiroshi smirked and Ibuki patted Kazune's head.

"Kasume! Kasume! Guess what? Mom says she's gonna show you guys cool stuff! And Daddy says he's gonna work with you guy too! Can I watch please Kasume?" he asked sweetly.

I sighed and just nodded while I motioned for everyone to follow me into the house.

Mom rushed up to me and engulfed me into a hug. I was choking before she released me and motioned for us to follow her into the kitchen. I feel like we have everything in our kitchen. Maybe it isn't nice as the shop's kitchen, but it feels sweet and homey.

"Kasume, I'm assuming you're Karin," she said, pointing to Karin.

Karin smiled and nodded eagerly.

"You're..."

"Ibuki, pleased you meet you ma'am," he said politely.

"And you must be Hiroshi! Nice to meet all of Kasume's friends! Now, big project huh... You guys can make anything you want to, so we'll just provide some inspiration, and your dad will be here soon," my mom said to me.

I nodded and was a little overwhelmed. So many things happening at the same time!

Everyone of them seemed awed. My mom in flesh rather than TV. I didn't know what was so interesting, but she was a big star in the cooking world. Her cake "Angel's Smile" was so popular, everyone who probably like sweets have heard of it at least once in their life time. I almost felt guilty for having it so many times throughout my life time.

Hiroshi shuffled around nervously while my mom fussed about us.

"I'll leave you guys here to practice. We need to get the Le Reve de Coulours ready for opening. Bye!"

And just like that, my mom left.

I have to say, I was expecting something a little more than just hi and bye. Kazune follwed mom outside the door without a glance back at us.

"Kasume, close your mouth!" Hiroshi hissed.

I quickly clamped it shut and tried to focus on our project. Something that can be put inside a famous sweets shop must be done with creativity, and it must taste good compared to our usual everyday cakes. What can we make?

"I think it should be something...involving strawberries!" Candy announced loudly.

I raised my eyebrow. Of course. Strawberries since my mom was famous for her Sourire de l'Ange. It was literally a strawberry tart with corn meal and rhubarb. I wonder if...

Karin nodded, "Yeah, but what else?"

Banging my head onto the table, I sighed. My creativity juice was leaked out. No...it wasn't that. There were just too many choices and it was hard to decide just one!

It had been hours since my mom left. Hiroshi and Ibuki said they'd take a walk around for inspiration and visit some sweet shops that were open in the area, while Karin and I didn't get anything done in these three hours.

Suddenly, Candy banged her tiny hand on the table.

"That's it! Kashino Kasume!"

I shot up and sat up straight as I could. Candy sighed. "If you're so worried about that, why don't you just relax for a bit?"

I looked at her questioningly. "Eat some sweets!" she yelled at me.

Karin agreed with Candy, so they both started working stuff in the kitchen. I didn't really want to do anything, so I sketched a little bit inside my sketch book.

When Karin, Candy, and Cream were done, I wanted to awe over it and brag about how awesome my team mates were.

It was a cupcake,yellow covering on the outside, with a faint scent of raspberries inside. I think that the things that impressed me the most, was the smell. There was something about the cake that they made which made my mouth water.

Candy carried a fork over to me. I put a piece into my mouth and almost cried.

It was so delicious.

What did she use?

I kept eating it. It was so refreshing.

I could taste many different layers, along with the lemon jam mixed with the raspberries. They contrasted nicely, and there was even a tiny hint of mint, giving it a bang. Strong flavors. It was like a war in my mouth, each fighting for control. But they each came in order. First the lemons, then the raspberries, and finally the mint, giving it a nice finishing touch to the cake.

"Karin! Des is awe som!" I said through my stuffed mouth.

She grinned. No wonder she was in the A Group. I don't know if I can make sweets like this in such a short time, and with such contrasting flavors. She must've worked so hard to be able to achieve such a high level.

I gasped.

"That's it!"

I sketched out Karin's cupcake while she stood over my shoulder along with Candy and Cream to watch. I drew the exterior part of it, and added some extra raspberries on top, followed by a nice mint leaf. On the bottom, I scribbled, "Karin, Candy, and Cream's cupcake. Using Lemons, Raspberries, and a hint of Mint for this, it has a whole new flavor and explodes in my mouth."

Snatching my phone, I dialed in Ibuki's phone number. I crossed my finger that he had his phone with him at this moment.

"Hello?"

"Ibuki! We have some inspiration! Can you guys come to my house right now?" I asked.

I heard a tiny voice behind Ibuki. "That's great!" Probably Marshmallow. Then Fudge's voice came over the phone, "It'd better be good Kashino Kasume!"

"Alright guys. So Karin, Cream, and Candy made me a cupcake while you guys were gone. It tasted really good."

I shoved them the remains of the cupcake, as they each cut off a piece and put it into their mouths. They both nodded in agreement. Karin clapped her hands while Cream beamed.

"Let's start!"

Karin and I worked on the jams. Lemon, and Raspberries. Hiroshi and Ibuki would work on the cake itself, and mixing the whip cream. The Sweet Spirits were all flying around and helping us in whatever way they could.

I blended together the lemons while Karin worked on the raspberries. When they were done, I boiled them inside a pot, stirring the bottom so that it didn't burn. Soon, foam arose from the pot. They tasted so good...but I had to scope them out or else the jam would be liquidy.

I stirred, while I scoped. Stir scope throw. A repeating process which could get boring if you did it too much.

When we were all done, Hiroshi and Ibuki started putting together the cake while Karin and I rested our tired hands for a little bit. I wasn't used to siring this much. The only reason I knew how to do this was because I've seen my parents do it before, but I never did it hands on. It was probably not a big deal. Professionals probably have to deal with this problem everyday.

"Kasume! We're back!"

I glanced up from the place I was sitting and saw my mom, clutching a box tight to her chest along with dad, and Kazune behind her.

"Hi mom! We thought up of what we were going to make!" I cheered.

My mom glanced at the finished project at the table, then she grinned. "I guess we have enough to eat then. Kazune, Makoto. Let's all eat some of their cupcakes shall we?"

Mom said they were delicious. A nice balance of lemons and raspberries. My dad said we could tone down the mint and whipcream a bit if we wanted more of the lemon and raspberries' power. I thought that was a nice advice. Kazune eagerly kept staring at the box that mom had carried in with her. I wonder what was inside it.

Finally, when we each had about two or three, my mom opened the box.

Ibuki, Karin, and Hiroshi's eyes all widened.

"Sourire de l'Ange! Angel's Smile!" I cheered happily.

Wait a minute.

I glanced at my mom accusingly. It was a weekend. Why would she go to the store to get it ready when it wasn't even opening right now? I think...it opens during the afternoon. She must've gone there to make this as a surprise for us when she came back. I suddenly felt thankful, and sorry for accusing her of abandoning us alone with the project.

Karin glanced at me nervously. They had said it was rare to even have it once in your life time. She must be treasuring this moment or something like that. I guess..

Finally, dad cleared his throat.

"You know, we're going to have that cupcake in our shop. It better taste good, and make lots of sales during the first few weeks," he grumbled.

My jaw dropped. Of course! Out of all the sweet shops I thought of, I left out our own!

Kazune laughed and ate more tart and cupcakes. I smiled, glad I was in this family. They were unusual, and surprising, but even so, I love them very, very, much.

Suddenly, mom called me over while dad was talking to the others about sweets.

"Don't the four of you remind me of something..."she mumbled.

"Who?"

"Us."

I looked at her in confusion.

"Us?"

"Team Ichigo all those years ago. Ibuki is just like Hanabusa. Karin somewhat resembles the personality of Andou. Hiroshi is an exact image of your father, and well. You obviously remind me of myself."

I felt embarrassed. That was a high compliment, and I knew I was like my mom, she just never said anything about it.

"T-Thanks mom."

After lunch, we set off for school again, and I had the sketch book in my hand.

On the last page, a new addition had been added.

The Lemon-Raspberry Clouds.

Karin and I named it, with the picture of whipped cream as clouds in our minds. Now all we have to worry about, is what we're going to get on this project. Mom explained it would be graded a week later, seeing how the sale rates were at the shops they were being brought to. Of course, it'll just depend on how well your sweets matches the shop.

Wish us luck!