Down to the Wire (1)

Chapter 95: S2 Episode 2 - Down to the Wire (1)

'I knew it wouldn't be this easy!'

Since the announcement was loud, I was definitely sure that my team, who were busily preparing the pumpkin cakes in the back, had heard it.

I was still hung up on the news that only the team that could achieve 1st place would be getting an immediate final spot in the Grand Prix. Despite this news, I wouldn't relent or slow down. I would just have to continue selling our pumpkin cakes to the guests at a faster rate.

Now, it was all down to who could sell out their dessert the fastest—Team Tennouji or Team Michiko.

And so, I did my best to sell our desserts quickly. But little did I know that something sneaky was going on behind the scenes…

* * *

"The team that can get 1st place will be admitted straight away into the final round? I might have a chance now! Just wait and see, Michiko Keiko!"

A girl wearing a puffy princess dress, expensive make-up, and extravagant curls was determinedly gritting her teeth as she glanced at the Pumpkin Cakeshop that had a large number of customers lined up. She stood at a booth called "Mont Blanc" that was fancily decorated. It was none other than Koshiro Miya.

Her Mont Blanc shop was running in 2nd place as of yesterday and she was also doing well in service today, though it could not be compared to Team Michiko's Pumpkin Cake or Team Tennouji's Egg Tart.

In numbers, it was obvious that she was losing to them, but she wouldn't give in.

Her mont blancs that were being sold were beautifully exquisite and were made with the highest quality of ingredients. At best, it looked like she would be receiving 3rd place if Team Tennouji or Team Michiko remained in either 1st or 2nd place.

Due to her setbacks and bad blood with Michiko Keiko of Team Michiko, she was willing to bring her down so that she could be first, even if it meant taking down Team Tennouji to get there.

"*You!* Start preparing the mont blancs faster! We'll lose if we keep going at your pace!" Koshiro Miya screamed at her two henchmen and another student who was paid to join her.

"Gah! Scary..." The three of her "teammates" said, cowering back in fear from their fierce princess.

"Marron! We can't let Team Michiko or Team Tennouji get first place! Sell 100 more of our mont blancs properly!" Koshiro Miya demanded a small and weary fairy that was similar in appearance to her. The small fairy had the same curls and mischievous look on her face as her partner but her eyes clearly had bags under them, as if she was being overworked.

"Eh?! I've been working non-stop helping you with the Mont Blancs already! I'm hungry!" The petite fairy complained in annoyance, rubbing her small belly.

"Stop complaining! I said 100 more if we want to get first place!" Koshiro Miya commanded impatiently.

"Geez, you treat spirits really roughly!" Marron lamented, unwillingly giving in to her partner's demands.

'Michiko Keiko and Tennouji Mari think they have this competition in the bag, but I'll make sure I put them in their place! If anything, I'll make sure that Team Michiko falls behind me!'

Readying her latest model of an expensive smartphone, she tapped on a contact that said "Daddy", and put her phone against her ear.

"Daddy, send more of the company's people here to the academy! At this rate, Miya will lose if you don't!" Koshiro Miya pressed her father from the other line forcefully.

"R-right now?" Her father, the president of the popular sweets company, "Chateau Seika", known for being a ruthless man—was easily overtaken by his daughter that he spoiled so much. If she wanted something, he would give it to her immediately.

"Yes, right now!" She yelled through the phone and quickly ended the call.

Just 10 minutes later, professional people dressed up in business attire were crowding around Team Koshiro's Mont Blanc shop and it could be seen that Team Koshiro was making a comeback.

At this rate, with the large blob of people that were crowding around Team Koshiro, they could even match up to Team Michiko and Team Tennouji.

Because of this sudden influence of numbers on Koshiro Miya's side, other regular customers began growing curious due to the sudden rise in popularity and also lined up at the Mont Blanc shop.

Just when people were sure that Team Tennouji and Team Michiko would be fighting for 1st place, Team Koshiro interjected and now the three teams were fighting to take the lead.

"Who would've thought! Team Koshiro has gathered a large number of people, now it seems like Team Tennouji, Team Michiko, and Team Koshiro are fighting to take 1st place! At the rate things are going at now, the three top teams will be selling out soon!" The announcer on the speaker exclaimed and the plaza was bustling with commotion after this sudden change of events.

'Hahahaha! Take that, Michiko Keiko and Tennouji Mari! With this amount of people here, there's no way they'll be taking first place! Hohohoho!' Koshiro Miya laughed mischievously to herself due to the sudden rise of popularity.

The hopelessness she felt from yesterday after witnessing Team Michiko and Team Tennouji sell out at an astonishing rate, quickly disappeared as she took full advantage of the situation, even resulting in cheating for her chance to win.

* * *

As I continued to sell our pumpkin cakes, I noticed that a flock of people, mostly businessmen and businesswomen, were gathered at Team Koshiro's Mont Blanc shop. I had completely forgotten that Koshiro Miya and her team were a part of the competition, but what was with the sudden rise in popularity? How did their numbers increase so much to equal up to my team and Team Tennouji's?

I was suspecting something was going on behind the scenes at Koshiro Miya's shop.

"Team Koshiro suddenly is in the lead! T-they're quickly selling out! Team Tennouji and Team Michiko are not far behind!" The announcer declared which made me utterly confused.

'Goddammit! I never expected that this would happen!'

Despite the sudden rise in popularity at Team Koshiro's shop, I wouldn't give in too easily. I did my best to sell our pumpkin cakes at a speedy pace and refused to become flustered.

"Keiko! We've finished plating the rest of the desserts!" Fraise announced to me as she came back from the back room along with the three boys and their sweets spirits.

"Good, because things have changed and we're going to need all hands on deck. Guys, help me sell out these cakes so we can be 1st place!" I requested their aid and the boys didn't hesitate to jump in.

They quickly grabbed our plates of pumpkin cakes and speedily served them to our customers. At this rate, we would catch up to Team Koshiro, maybe even surpassing them.

"Oh, look! It's the Sweets Princes!"

"They look even more handsome up close!"

"They're like knights in shining armor!"

"I think they'd all pair fine with the Ice Princess, no?"

"Can I get your number?!"

As the boys and their spirits heard the news and saw the large crowd of businesspeople flock at Team Koshiro's Mont Blanc shop, all three of the boys scoffed.

"H-How underhanded! All of those workers are from Chateau Seika!" Andou exclaimed in frustration.

"That's cheating!" Kashino spouted with great disdain but I tried my best to keep cool.

'Even resulting in cheating, huh, Koshiro Miya! This just proves my point that you have earned none of your own accomplishments by yourself!'

"Calm down. There's nothing we can do right now. Just focus on serving our guests respectfully and efficiently," I said cooly, continuing to smile at our customers who came next in line.

Now that the four of us were serving the customers together, we were quickly catching up to Koshiro Miya and her team, but it wasn't only us.

Team Tennouji worked with all hands on deck with their members to sell their desserts quickly. It was hard to tell who was in the lead now.

"Ah! Team Michiko and Team Tennouji have made a comeback! Both only have a few more desserts to sell! Who will take 1st place?" The announcer's words made the three teams very eager to keep going. I felt my hands going at a million miles an hour just to sell these pumpkin cakes.

When serving the cakes with the Sweets Princes, I noticed that we were down to our final twenty.

'We have 20 more left to sell! We have to beat them in this! Only then, will we be admitted as a finalist in the last round!'

I wanted that immunity more than anything. If it meant skipping the semi-finals, who wouldn't be eager?

"It seems like all three teams are down to the wire! Only a few more dishes to serve and we'll see who takes 1st place! Will it be the high school 3rd-year team, Team Tennouji? The middle school 3rd-year team, Team Koshiro? Or, will it be the young middle school 2nd-year team, Team Michiko?"

The people at the fair who wandered around were now officially absorbed in this battle to see who would get 1st. People even placed bets on which team they thought would get first, which made the crowd erupt in even more noise.

'Come on! We have to keep pushing! We have to do this!'

I could feel the stress and anxiety rise in me as we only had a few dishes left to serve. The boys were becoming frazzled as well due to this dire urgency of events.

'5 more left!'

"Here you go—Please enjoy—Thank you!"

'3 more!'

"Thanks for coming!"

'1 more—'

"—And that's it! Team Tennouji has sold out! Thank you all for your support!" A voice rang from across us at the Egg Tart shop.

"And it seems it is Team Tennouji that has sold out their desserts first! Only a second later, Team Michiko has finished!"

After selling our last dessert, it was them who had finished only a split second before us.

"H-how?" I questioned out loud. I couldn't believe it and I froze in place as the announcer's voice rang through the speaker.

'How did we… lose?'