103 Unexpected Visitor (2)

Chapter 103: S2 Episode 5 - Unexpected Visitor (2)

"This is Mr. Henri Lucas if you hadn't guessed so already. Mr. Henri was originally a high school division teacher, but for today, he'll be a lecturer for the middle school division," Teacher Ameya explained as everyone in the room was excited to be taught by a high-class patissier.

I wasn't necessarily reluctant but it was hard to look this man straight in the eye because of the picture that I saw a long time ago where he stood with my mother. I could still recall a young-looking boy, possibly around my age, smiling with my mother who was 22 at that time. I guess seeing him right in front of me was hard to believe because he used to be my mother's pupil some time ago.

By doing the calculations in my head, Henri Lucas would have to be around 28 or 29 right now.

In any case, I considered that it would be good practice if Henri Lucas could teach me a few things to further my practice during this time since I would need all the expertise and training I could get.

I could only get so much out of what my mother had taught me in the past, so it'd be good to learn a few things from a man who used to be my mother's student.

"Class 2-A, today you will be making Strawberry Shortcake with me," Henri Lucas announced to the class and everyone looked at each other after he spoke. Most had annoyed looks on their faces.

"Why are we making it again?"

"I practically have it mastered by now!"

"This is so dumb…"

As he heard about all the complaints coming from the students, he chuckled in response.

"Haha, as all St. Marie students know, strawberry shortcake is a cake born from Japan. A strawberry shortcake made with fluffy genoise and cream doesn't exist in France," Henri Lucas explained as I listened carefully.

"That's because lots of French confections are bulky and heavy," Kashino, who was standing right beside me, chimed in.

"That's right, the French's is bulky and heavy, and Japan's is soft and fluffy. I experimented with this in my *recette. Now then, let's get started," Henri Lucas began as he carried a large bowl full of eggs.

*Recette means "recipe" in French.

*CRACK!*

He elegantly cracked an egg into an empty bowl and began his demonstration as he explained major points, gave advice, and skillfully made the dessert.

As I saw him move elegantly and efficiently, I was mesmerized by his smooth movements. He didn't waste a second when he moved on to the next step and it looked like he was enjoying the time he spent baking.

To be honest, it really seemed as if I was seeing my mother again. I could truly see the movements and techniques my mother taught me and it was definite that Henri Lucas was my mother's student in the past. Though he did use some of mom's techniques when it came to his skillful speed, he still added himself to it which made it uniquely his own.

It was as if a strange emotion was stirring within me and I didn't know what it meant. Perhaps it was longing for my mother who I hadn't seen for 6 years? Maybe it was grief because she'd died? I didn't know what was going on with me as I looked at the adult man baking in front of the whole class.

I seemed to have been in a daze for so long that Kashino was nudging me on my shoulder to snap out of it.

"Michiko, if you have time to space out in the middle of the demonstration, then steal with your eyes," Kashino reminded me coldly as I began to look closely at Henri Lucas's movements.

Henri Lucas had grabbed a washed red strawberry and was rubbing it against a paper towel.

"Look, he's rubbing the seeds off of the strawberry one by one," Kashino quietly explained as I nodded my head in agreement.

'He's right, he's going that far…' I noticed as Henri Lucas began garnishing the strawberry shortcakes with the seedless strawberries on top.

"Finished," Henri Lucas declared as he placed the last strawberry on the last shortcake.

This man had made a simple strawberry shortcake that could serve the entire class and he'd cut each cake into a small square slice so that everyone could have a taste.

"All right, please keep passing them back," Teacher Ameya instructed as she passed plates of the strawberry shortcake to the students in the front so that they could pass it to those in the back.

I received mine and observed it.

'It's simple but very pretty. I would say that he captures the essence of the traditional Japanese strawberry shortcake without going over the top in decoration or appeal.'

Of course, others thought differently.

"Isn't it… kind of plain?" Some students began complaining in disappointment.

"Yeah, I thought he was going to make something more amazing."

"Just by how it looks, it's just a typical strawberry shortcake. I've eaten tons before, what makes this any different?"

"Are you sure he even got 1st place in that World Grand Prix in France?"

For some reason, I was beginning to feel a bit agitated after hearing their complaints since they were only judging it by its simple appearance.

'Seriously? These guys are going to complain about it looking too simple? Surely when you're given free food, you shut up and eat it,' I thought with a bit of frustration as I furrowed my eyebrows.

As everyone in the room had taken a bite out of Henri Lucas's strawberry shortcake, all of our eyes widened in excitement after experiencing an otherworldly taste.

"W-what is this?"

"I'm in heaven…!"

"There's depth but the cream is so light!"

"And together with this airy, light moist sponge, it's as if I'm on a soft, gentle cloud."

"This feeling is definitely heaven."

I'd also taken a small bite out of the cake and was taken aback by the taste.

'On top of the cake is the sweet scent of strawberry fields. It feels like I'm an angel soaring through the heavens…' I thought highly in my mind as I nodded my head in acceptance. It was quite similar to the taste of the strawberry shortcakes that my mom would make, but Henri Lucas had elevated it to fit his own taste, and for that, I respected him.

"AMAZING!" The students in the room exclaimed in unison and some began crowding around Henri Lucas. Some were apologizing for saying bad things about his shortcake before trying it, while some were—*ahem*—admiring him "wrongfully".

* * *

It was after Henri Lucas had made them the strawberry shortcake that their classes were done for the day. They had all retired and changed into their casual clothes after they finished class. The Sweets Princes and Keiko returned to the cooking lab an hour after their class was over to practice.

They had practiced for a bit together before the boys wanted to leave to grab some food to eat.

"Michiko, you're still going at it?" Kashino questioned as she nodded her head in response while turned away, busily conducting more of her rigorous practice.

"We'll be right back. Make sure to watch the flame," Andou instructed and she slightly nodded her head in acknowledgment.

"Make sure you don't tire yourself out," Hanabusa briefly reminded but she disregarded it.

"She's barely listening to us now…" Andou noticed as he and Hanabusa made their way towards the exit of the cooking lab.

"Well, that's Michiko for you. If she starts something, she has to finish it, regardless of how much work she has to put into it," Hanabusa said as he shrugged his shoulders, giving up indefinitely.

Kashino walked a few feet behind the two boys as he glanced over to see Keiko's figure that was turned away from the rest of them. He was undoubtedly bothered while she continued to work herself hard, but she didn't acknowledge his looks of concern. In her eyes, she didn't even believe that Kashino would look at someone with that much worry, but then again, she was too focused on doing other things than paying attention to the boys who cared more about her than she thought.

'She's getting undeniably thin…' Kashino observed as he noticed her slim waist got even slimmer and her arms and legs got even bonier. She was stick-thin and unhealthy.

He didn't say anything to her because she was busy, so after looking at her thin, frail figure from behind, he quickly followed after the two other boys who'd left the cooking lab.

Once they left, Fraise began to speak out her concerns for Keiko again.

"You don't want to get food with them, Keiko?" Fraise asked the girl but she shook her head in response.

"I can't worry about eating, I need to focus on practicing. Whether I eat or not, doesn't matter because I'll still be tasting my desserts," Keiko explained in rebuttal and Fraise had nothing to counter it.

Keiko was right that she tasted every dish that she'd finished making, but then again, she'd only take a small bite out of it and never finish it. It was because of this that Fraise couldn't counter her human partner, but her human partner was also wrong in claiming that she was still eating when her "eating" could only be compared to "nibbling".

'Gosh, when will this stubborn girl learn to listen to me? Doesn't she know that I'm worried about her!' Fraise pouted her cheeks in frustration but didn't say anything more in fear of angering Keiko.

"Miss Michiko Keiko, I advise that you listen to your concerned sweets spirit," a voice interjected out of nowhere which caused both Keiko and Fraise to flinch in surprise, stopping whatever they were doing.

'T-this voice is…" Both Keiko and Fraise turned around to see a tall and handsome adult man who stood by a tall window with a smug smile on his face.

His arms were crossed over and he was leaning against the wall as he stared deeply at both Keiko and Fraise.

Henri Lucas?