The moon was up in the sky, a chilly wind blew through the trees, and Ichigo Amano was back.

A smile was wide on her lips as she rushed towards the gate of St. Marie Academy with a newfound sense of determination and a clear purpose.

This time, Ichigo Amano wouldn't let herself be crushed. But if she was, she would just stand back up again and improve. She was sure of this.

"I'll study really hard and make people smile with my sweets!" She promised to herself. That was her resolution, and there was no way she would be backing down again. She thought back to her dear grandma, to that strawberry tart, and to those kind words. She wanted to be just like that, to make her grandma proud. "So I'll…!"

Ichigo reached the gate, where two familiar figures waited.

"Thank goodness you are back." Andou smiled in relief.

The girl blinked. She wasn't expecting them to come greet her… "Uh… I…"

"We're sorry!" the two teens exclaimed at the same time, bowing down their heads.

"We said such mean things to you without considering your feelings." Hanabusa said.

"We've reflected on our actions since then." Andou continued.

"I have to apologize, too." The brunette declared. "I'm really sorry."

"Then," the narcissist of the group stepped forwards. "We'll shake hands and make up."

Smiling, Ichigo accepted his outstretched hand. Andou soon followed, placing his own hand over theirs.

"You are back already." The oh-so cold voice of the demon known as Kashino rang out. His blunt comment would usually annoy her, but on this particular moment, it only added to Ichigo's joy. "It's almost the dorm curfew time."

"Kashino…"

"Kashino submitted a fake notification of absence to the dorm superintendent, covering up for you."

"That was his cunning work."

Ichigo smiled. Cunning indeed.

The blond looked to a side. "Shut up."

"Sorry…" Ichigo apologized. "Thanks, Kashino."

"Well, this time, I've said a little too much as well."

Ah… Ichigo thought happily. Having friends is certainly nice. Talking about friends…?

"Where's Mizuki-chan?"

"Oh…" Andou sweat dropped. "About that… she…"

"ICHIGO!" The small group turned towards the voice, which came from the depths of the forest. Out came another brunette, her hair a mess and cascades of tears sprouting from her deep blue eyes. "At last, something good has happened!"

"M-mizuki-chan!? What happened to you?"

"Ah, well…" the brunette stopped her tears and brushed the residues away. "I was a bit too stressed out and went to punch some trees."

"You were that worried… for me?"

"Well, that was one of the factors." Mizuki replied casually, now fully recovered from her previous state.

"The pantry ran out of nuts, too." Kashino added.

In a split second, Mizuki was bawling again. "A-a tragedy!"

Ichigo definitely didn't know what to make out of the situation. She was about to ask something else, but Andou cut in.

"We only have nine minutes till curfew!"

"Kya!" Mizuki exclaimed and took the other brunette's hand. "Run!"

As they ran, Ichigo couldn't help but ask yet another thing. "Why were you waiting for me outside?"

"Ah… well…" Hanabusa laughed nervously.

Mizuki grinned, once again having a defined mood swing. "I forced them to."

In that particular moment, Ichigo couldn't help but think that Mizuki could be a teensy bit scary at times.

!yay!

Mizuki POV

Three months have passed since the little Ichigo accident, and a lot has happened. And when I say a lot, I mean not so much. Actually, the only remarkable thing that has actually taken place is Ichigo's steady improvement under Vanilla's Spartan training. Well, to say the truth, I should be included there too. As a trainer, I mean.

"BEAT IT FASTER, ICHIGO!"

The girl, completely oblivious of all the possible misinterpretations of my previous phrase, winced lightly and complied to my orders, whisking the bowl of egg whites on her hands at top speed.

"Can't I just use an electric mixer?"

I scoffed. "Of course you can't! Meringue is a sacred thing – it must be made with your utmost dedication and shall not be defiled by machines. Besides, it's an excellent exercise!"

"Eh… don't you use a stand mixer for meringue, Mizuki? I've seen you do it…" Amande whispered from my shoulder.

"Shush!" I turned to Ichigo again. "FASTER!"

… Yeah, I'm also involved in her training. It's all for friendship, though!

Well, as I was saying, three months have passed and it's finally Christmas season. This meaning two things: nut-based desserts are on their peak right now, and the Academy is to donate Christmas cakes to charity.

Two great things, in my opinion.

However, it also meant that Amande had to go back to the Sweets Kingdom. Not too great.

"Ah…" I mourned one day after finishing my Christmas cakes, some cranberry-pear tarts with a walnut crust and crumble. "Amande… I miss your annoying presence. Come back to me!"

"Hm." Ichigo nodded. "I miss Vanilla too."

"Well," Andou said. "They had to go back home to prepare their Christmas party. You can't blame them."

"Café was really happy too. Apparently he is in charge of the party."

"Do you really think they'll be okay?" Kashino asked to no one in particular.

"Of course idiot. They may be small, but they can take care of themselves." I pouted.

"I didn't mean it that way, idiot."

"SAY THAT AGAIN, I DARE YOU!"

"Idiot."

"VOI!"

Completely ignoring the fact that I was currently threatening Kashino with a wooden spatula, the remaining three carried on their conversation.

"Ah, you are right." Hanabusa said, referring to Kashino's earlier comment. "They weren't able to help us with our cakes today…"

"What do you mean?" Ichigo inquired.

"Hiyami, put down that spatula."

"Caramel has to take those pictures of the cakes we make and send them to their Queen."

"Oh, Vanilla does that, too."

"If they miss these cakes, they must be losing points or something."

"Hm…"

"Oi, Andou, help me!" Kashino cried pathetically as I stalked closer, but was ignored once again.

Luckily for him, a glimmering tower of choux pastries stole my attention and saved him.

"Oh my, Ichigo-chan!" I exclaimed giddily, dropping the spatula. "Is that a Croquembouche?"

"Yup!"

Andou smiled. "Not bad, Amano-san."

I whistled. "It's massive!"

"My grandma made them when I was little and I guess I challenged myself to make it."

"Amano." Kashino said, "Croquembouche isn't a Christmas cake."

"That's true." The narcissist added. "It's used for weddings and other celebrations."

"But I think doing it like a Christmas tree was a very good idea."

I brought a finger to my chin, noticing something. "Is it just me or do the three of you always continue each other's sentences?"

I was ignored.

"I also think it's well made." Kashino turned to Ichigo. "But I guess you can't make a normal Christmas cake. And you only made one."

Ichigo pouted. "Are you complimenting me? You don't have to hold back!" She took a choux. "Even I know that a croquembouche isn't a Christmas cake. But, Grandma says that if you let yourself be boxed in by common sense, you won't be able to make cakes that make everybody smile."

I put my hands in a prayer position and bowed a little. "Ah, thank you, Ichigo's-grandma-sama, for justifying my existence."

Kashino glared at me. "You aren't a cake."

"Shhhhh."

"I suppose your free spirit comes from your grandmother." Hanabusa chuckled.

"She seemed like a wonderful person." Andou continued.

"Yeah, thanks!"

"Well then, I'll show it to the teacher!" Ichigo took the platter in her hands and walked away and… she slipped backwards, completely ruining the gorgeous tower.

"No!" I wailed dramatically. "It was beautiful…"

"There's no time to remake it." The most Japanese one of the group said.

"We'll help you do a simple cake instead."

"Okay… thanks."

"That's the first time I've seen someone slip on a banana peel."

And so, operation MKWS (murder Kashino with a spatula) resumed.

!yay!

The cake sale arrived quickly enough. The flow of customers was dense and steady, and all the cakes sold out really fast. Well, all cakes other than Ichigo's.

I played with my hair absentmindedly as I stared at Ichigo from a distance, while Hanabusa, Andou, and Kashino chatted amongst themselves.

"Hm… such a shame, she didn't get enough time to finish the cake properly…" I sighed. "And to think she put so much effort in it."

"I feel sorry for her." Kashino agreed.

"Wow, what a surprise."

"Is there anything we can do for her?" Andou wondered.

"Well, we can always use the power of advertising." I said before striking a pose. "I'm sure my beautiful self can bring lots of people in!"

Both Kashino and Andou sweat dropped. "You've been spending too much time with Hanabusa."

I gasped and placed a hand to my chest, offended. "How can you group me up with him? Impossible!"

Another person passed by Ichigo, completely ignoring her. As she sighed heavily, looking upset, the matter of conversation turned back to her.

Hanabusa flicked back his hair. "I guess I can only cheer her up with my smile in a time like this."

"That only shows how useless you are." I deadpanned.

We all looked up as a middle aged man walked up to Ichigo and, finally, bought one of her cakes.

I squealed happily and hugged my friend. "You did it! Well…" I let her go. "Actually he did it, but… You get the drill!"

"The croquembouche would have sold more quickly, though."

I nodded in .

Kashino let out a thoughtful 'hm', catching our attention.

"What is it, Kashino? Someone you know?"

"I feel like I've seen him somewhere. But where?"

I gasped dramatically. "Could it be… A stalker!?"

"…Don't be ridiculous."

!yay!

Turns out the stalker was just a jazz musician looking for his lover, even after abandoning her seven years ago. Of course, with us being cute little angels, we just had to help him.

Oh well. At least Ichigo's Croquembouche idea was useful at the end.

Hello! I'm back! (after forever)

Is this story back on track? Well, I hope so. I can't say for sure though, so… cross your fingers. Eh.. that's pretty much all I'll say. So… yay?

*hides behind a wall*

Don't kill me. Please. Just review happy thoughts.

Please.

(Also, if you got the reference I threw in, make sure to check out my new story, 'Not Your Usual Coffee Addict', that I have in my other account (WaruWaru))