Anime: Yumeiro Pastissiere

(Y/n)'s POV

The luxurious scent of dark chocolate and coffee perfumed the air as I set the opera gateau on the table. Coating it with a layer of ganache and silver chocolate decorations, I laid back and breathed a sigh of relief.

Along with the opera, I had baked six chocolate cupcakes. Swirling coffee-flavoured icing over the cakes in a spiral, I then adorned them with coloured chocolate roses.

Setting the cakes to the side for cooling, I began washing the equipment. Cool tap water ran over my skin as I scrubbed the batter and paste off the bowls.

The doors to the kitchen opened as St.Marie's three sweets princes waltzed in. The three cast their eyes on me before settling on the cakes on the bench. I hurriedly rushed to finish drying the equipment I had used and picked up the cakes, balancing them carefully on my hands.

"Do you need some help?" asked Hanabusa.

"No, I'm fine, thank you."

"Who are you? I've seen you around the academy but I have no idea who you are," exclaimed Kashino.

"...(Y/n). My name is (Y/n)."

I bowed towards the three and walked to the door, which Andou had so kindly opened for me. Heading down the long hallway, I avoided paths that were heavily populated and stuck to the quiet, deserted corridors of the building.

Arriving at the back gate, I noticed my family's butler, Kiri, waiting by the door. He smiled and held the door open for me to get through. I quietly thanked him and walked outside, where my mother was waiting inside the car with my older sister.

Kiri quickly opened the car door and held the opera gateau in one hand as I carefully climbed inside with the cupcakes. I passed the cupcakes to Naomi (your sister) as Kiri handed me the cake.

"May I?" Naomi asked.

"Of course, I made the cupcakes for the family. Kiri, feel free to have one later."

"Thank you, (Y/n)-sama," he replied.

"No one realised your identity, right?" mother asked.

"No, of course not."

If the sweet princes hadn't figured it out, that is. My parents, being world-famous patissieres themselves, had decided my fate before I was even born. I was to continue their legacy, and not a single failure was acceptable.

Yet, their fame did not come without consequences. There have been many targeting their recipes and secrets, occasionally threatening to kidnap my sister. I was kept hidden from society in order to avoid this.

Kiri stopped the car once we had arrived at our manor. Waiting for mother and Naomi to leave first, I handed the cake to Kiri for him to take inside.

Stepping outside, I breathed in the scent of the flowers blooming in the garden. An uneasy feeling crept behind me and wrapped its fingers around my neck, almost choking me with its grip.

The constant feeling of onlookers watching my every move, this feeling of never-ending judgement. Someone...was here and they were watching me from a place I could not see.

Turning around to face the road, I searched for the person hiding behind the trees or in the bushes...but my effort was simply exercised in vain. Swiftly glancing over the scenery again, I headed inside, hoping desperately that such a feeling was just cruel imagination my mind had conjured up to frighten me.

No one's POV

Like the girl had expected, there were people following her but these people were not paparazzi nor reporters. They were just students, students with dreams.

"She almost noticed us," commented Andou.

"Kashino, why did you even want to follow her? She'll label us as stalkers," added Hanabusa.

"(Y/n)...of course. Her name's (L/n) (Y/n), the daughter of the prestigious (L/n) family. No wonder she kept her identity a secret..." Kashino exclaimed, ignoring the green-haired boy's comment.

"This place is huge. Should we go knock on the door?" Andou asked.

"What? She'll know we followed her for sure," Kashino replied.

Yet, what they didn't realise was that Hanabusa had already waltzed up to her doorstep. The two quickly rushed to his side as he rung the doorbell. A tall, finely-dressed man answered the door, his grey hair combed back with inhuman precision.

"Good afternoon. How may I help you?" he asked.

"We're here to see (Y/n)-chan," Hanabusa answered.

What the heck is he saying? We don't even know her and he's already dropping all honorifics and using 'chan', thought Kashino.

"Are you perhaps her friends from school?"

"Yes, we are."

"My my, isn't this a problem," muttered the butler.

"What is it?" Andou asked worriedly.

"Don't mind me. Please, come inside. I'll take you to (Y/n)-sama."

The three went inside, almost gaping at the large, luxurious interior of (Y/n)'s house. A glistening chandelier hung from the high ceiling in the foyer as softly patterned cream wallpaper decorated the walls.

Various statues and paintings adorned the hallways. Everything was spotlessly clean with not a thing out of place. Kiri led them up the spiralling staircase and down the hallway.

He knocked on a door near the far end. The four waited patiently as (Y/n) replied with a 'I'll be there in a minute' and opened the door, her relaxed composure soon turning into one of surprise.

"Your friends have come to see you. Do not worry, I will keep your parents busy whilst they are here," Kiri exclaimed and bowed before leaving.

(Y/n) thanked him and quickly ushered the three inside before shutting the door. She offered them to take a seat, although she only had two chairs so Andou had taken the beanbag while she sat on her bed.

"You three...followed me," she said more as a statement than an accusation.

"It was Ma-kun's idea. He was curious about you," replied Andou.

"A-as if! I was just suspicious, that's all," argued the blushing male.

"(Y/n), I believe you have peeked his interest. Your red string of fate is bound to be connected to his," Hanabusa said.

"W-what?"

(Y/n) looked at Kashino, who returned her gaze with one of embarrassment and disbelief. She broke into a laugh, catching him off guard.

"Allow me to introduce myself then, Mr Future Boyfriend. My name is (L/n) (Y/n)."

"*blush* K-Kashino Makoto."

"Aww, Ma-kun, invite me to your wedding, okay?" said Andou.

"We're not even in high school yet!" the blonde male exclaimed, exasperated that everyone was teasing him.

"Gentlemen, I ask that you lower your voices. My parents aren't supposed to know that you're here and you three followed me nonetheless. I believe you owe me an apology," (Y/n) said, drawing their attention away from Kashino.

She flashed a gentle smile towards him, who stared at her with wide eyes. The three apologised, surprisingly sincere yet a small part of their hearts harboured happiness for they would not have known each other otherwise.

"Would you three care for a cupcake? My mother and sister had one each and I offered one to Kiri. Luckily there are three left," she exclaimed.

"What about yourself?" Andou asked.

"I'm fine. I don't bake for myself. I bake for others so please give it a try."

Kashino was the first to take one, the icing melting almost instantly in his mouth as he bit down and cake delicately soft, with just the right amount of sweetness.

She's...amazing, he thought.