Invitation

Chapter 107: S2 Episode 8 - Invitation

~12 years ago at Tennouji Group's Hotel Party~

"Look, that's the President of Tennouji Group's Daughter!"

"She's only 6 and already she's being treated like an adult, going around and greeting everyone."

"Every single one of them is a bootlicker; what a desperate bunch… But she is the daughter of the hotel king."

Inside a grand and luxurious hotel was a young, 6-year-old Tennouji Mari who had a mature look on her face as she greeted the adults that surrounded her. In this memory, there was no other child in view in this vast swarm of adults that tried to coddle up to this young girl so they could reap the benefits of befriending her rich and influential father.

The young girl with wavy blonde hair and honey gold eyes showed a sullen expression that wasn't fit for a 6-year-old. Honestly, it was the expectation of having to act mature for her age without having any sort of childhood. It was sad in a way.

After doing her official greetings, she stood to the side of the large celebration room by the tables of sweets to catch a breather.

She wasn't particularly fond of sweets, but this table seemed to be the only quiet place in this entire room. Every single one of the adults she greeted just wanted to suck up to her to be acquainted with her influential father. She was sick of it.

'When will I ever be done with this? I'm tired…' Tennouji Mari sighed quietly to herself so that the adults around her wouldn't find a trace of exhaustion or weakness on her face.

"With every sigh, you lose a bit of happiness, you know," a young teenage boy, about the age of 15 or 16, with bright blonde hair, baby blue eyes, and a handsome face said from behind the young 6-year-old girl.

He held up a honey dessert and offered it to the young girl who was mesmerized by his looks and sudden offering.

"In exchange for your lost happiness, would you like some sweet happiness?" The boy asked the little girl and she faintly nodded her head.

She wasn't one to trust strangers so easily, but something about this boy made her feel somewhat comfortable. Compared to all of the people she's met, this boy seemed the most genuine with his smile and words.

Mari didn't really eat that many sweets in her dull, soulless life, but the golden dessert he held up finally showed color in her colorless world.

It looked mesmerizing along with the teenage boy, which intrigued her to have a taste of it.

She received the offered honey dessert and took a bite.

This was the beginning of the little girl's road to becoming a patissiere. This was the start of her dream that she wanted to accomplish no matter what:

To stand next to this kind boy that showed her just how colorful this world was.

* * *

"I will now hand out your marks for the end-of-term tests. Those below 50 points will have to take supplementary exams," our 2-A classroom teacher addressed.

"Kashino Makoto, you're #1 again. Everyone should follow your example," our homeroom teacher complimented as Kashino walked up to the front of the room with an expressionless look on his face to grab his test score.

"As expected!"

"He's not human!"

"Geez, again!"

An uproar soared through the classroom after Kashino's name was called up and I saw the look he had in his eyes. He had no other emotion and it was the same as usual. For some reason, I couldn't help but feel a bit of pity for him.

Kashino hails from a large family of doctors, and the condition for him to enter St. Marie was to continuously get first place in exams. If not, he would have to give up his dream of becoming a first-rate patissier and continue the family business of becoming a doctor.

"Michiko Keiko, you've done a great job as well in receiving #2 even as a new student. I'm very proud of your progress and transition," the teacher said as I walked up to the front of the classroom to receive my exam scorecard.

"Thank you. I will continue to do my best," I said, bowing my head respectfully and walking back to my desk.

"Wow, Michiko Keiko got 2nd?"

"Isn't that amazing?"

"Didn't she tie with Kashino last time?"

"That was the first time two people had gotten 1st place."

"Regardless, she's as brilliant as the sweets princes when it comes to studying, exams, and baking."

I heard the commotion stirring up as I returned to my seat and took a look at the exam score. It read: English - 95, Reading - 92, French - 98, Math - 93, Writing - 91.

'The scores aren't bad but I could have done a bit better,' I thought to myself.

I glanced at Kashino who was seated a few seats away from me and sighed.

'In order for him to not get taken down from 1st place, I tried my hardest to at least lower my score a bit by answering a few incorrectly. Although this could've gone wrong, it seems he managed to pull through to first place. This is my first time ever getting 2nd place, but it's important that he stays in this academy.'

Speaking of which, since this week was strictly exam week, I hadn't been able to bake that much during or after school due to studying. Now that exam week is done, I'll need to work even harder to catch up on that lost time of practice. We only have less than a month left until the final round of the Grand Prix.

After our teacher had finished calling on people to receive their exam scores, the sweets princes gathered around my desk once class was over.

"They're announcing the final tournament at the Christmas Party today!" Andou explained cheerfully as Hanabusa and Kashino stood by his side.

"Oh, it's already that time," I acknowledged with a faint voice.

'I really have to work hard if I want to win. The Grand Prix is soon and I need to focus on solidifying my techniques and foundation. If not, we'll have to admit defeat to Team Tennouji…'

Andou handed me an invitation that he received earlier in the day for the Christmas Party he referred to. I looked at it and it read:

- "St. Marie Academy's Christmas Party! Grand Prix participants are invited to attend this Christmas Party located in the Cafeteria. Please have your chef jackets ready" -

"I wonder why it says for participants to *ready their chef jackets*," Hanabusa noticed and I nodded my head.

"You're right. It's a bit strange. They'll most likely be making us bake for people at the party," I brought up and the three boys nodded their heads in unison while contemplating the idea.

"Well, classes are over so let's go," Kashino instructed and so we left the classroom and made our way toward the cafeteria.