Chapter 11

The Tastiest Season

Fall is the season of food.

Story 1

Honoka: Hee hee... Honoka: Hee hee... Heh heh... Kotori: Huh? What is it, Honoka? Honoka: I, um... Hee hee... Umi: If she's giggling this badly... Then it must be something to do with food. Honoka: Ha ha! You're right, Umi! Take a look at this! Umi: This... This is a stamp card for that bread shop you always go to, isn't it? Honoka: That's right! It's a stamp card, and I only need one more stamp to fill it! Kotori: Wow, that's great, Honoka! Honoka: Finally! I've been going there every day. Umi: Mind if I take a look at it? Kotori: Wow, that's a lot of stamps! Umi: Y-you have to eat 300 pastries to fill that card?! Honoka: Yeah, I've been working hard! Umi: It says, "Customers who fill this card will receive a very special gift." Kotori: A "very special gift," huh? I wonder what it could be? Honoka: I have no idea what it is, either. I've asked the staff at the bread shop, but they won't tell me. Kotori: Maybe it's a special plate for serving bread? It'd be really cute if it had a picture of bread on it. Umi: It could be a coupon of some kind. Kotori: But if it were me, I'd be hoping it was material with a bread pattern on it. Then I could make a bread outfit! Honoka: That would be great, Kotori! You could make an archery uniform for Umi out of it... That'd be so cute. Umi: No, thanks! Honoka: I-I was just kidding. What kind of prize would you want, Umi? Umi: That's a good question... I'm not really interested in prizes, so another loaf of bread would be enough for me. Honoka: I see! I'm sure there isn't anyone who wouldn't be happy with more bread! Kotori: Hee hee. Honoka really loves her bread, doesn't she? Umi: Well, you'll find out the next time you go to the bread shop, won't you? Honoka: That's right! Ooh, now I really want to know what the prize is! Honoka: That's it! I'm headed to the bread shop right now! Kotori: Huh? You're going now? Honoka: I'll be right back. See you later! Kotori: Well, she left... Umi: Ignoring the fact that she was motivated by a prize, there's something to be said for her level of enthusiasm. Umi: Honoka's been gone for a while now... Kotori: I wonder what she got. I'm all excited to find out! Honoka: Hey! Umi! Kotori! Umi: She's back! Honoka: Sorry I ended up taking so long. I was talking about the prize! Kotori: Show us what you got, Honoka! Honoka: Oh, yeah... It was this! Umi: That's just a plain white piece of paper... Honoka: It's great! It's really amazing! It's the biggest news ever! Honoka: They're going to let me come up with my own original bread, and then make it for me! Kotori: You're going to come up... Umi: ...with an original bread?

Story 2

Eli: So, you're going to come up with a design and flavor, and the bread shop is going to make it for you? Honoka: That's right! Isn't it awesome? Maki: That's pretty awesome. So, what kind of bread are you going to ask them to make? Honoka: That's the thing... I like so many different kinds of bread, it's hard to choose. Kotori: She's been focused on it since yesterday. We should help her. Hanayo: If that's the case, then everyone should name their favorite bread. Maybe that'll give us a clue. Honoka: That's it! I need your help, everyone! Nozomi: Oh, well, mine is definitely pork buns. Stuffed full with double filling, please. Maki: Come to think of it, pork buns aren't really bread... Nozomi: Well, they're just like bread. Umi: I also like Chinese steamed buns. I think it's better to go with something not too sweet. Nozomi: What about pork buns without the pork... Then again, the pork's the most delicious part, isn't it? Eli: I like Russian fried buns called piroshki. I've made them myself, too. But they take a while to make, so I don't do it often. Kotori: Piroshki handmade by Eli. Sounds delicious! Nico: I like custard brioche, because it's just like me. Sweet and fluffy! It's the best. Rin: You know, I've never looked at a custard brioche and thought it was like you, Nico. Nozomi: I would've guessed you're more like a meatball sandwich. Nico: No way! I'm a custard brioche! Hanayo: I'd like to try bread made out of rice. Umi: Can you even make bread out of rice? Hanayo: I'm not sure how you'd make it, but it seems like it would be chewy and delicious. Eli: That sounds just perfect for you, Hanayo. What about you, Maki? Maki: I like sandwiches. You know, a little tomato and chicken seasoned with basil would be perfect. Kotori: That sounds delicious. And quite stylish! Rin: I want ramen bread! They make bread stuffed with other noodles, so ramen wouldn't be too hard, right? Nozomi: That's a great idea! And if you added barbecued pork, it'd be really nutritious! Hanayo: What about you, Kotori? Kotori: Everyone's favorite breads sound so delicious... I can't decide... Honoka: Um... Hmm... Let's see... Umi: It looks like Honoka still can't decide. Maybe this backfired... Honoka: All of your ideas really match your personalities... But I can't come up with anything that's like me. Nozomi: Something just like you... It's hard to think of a bread that's as energetic as you. Eli: What if you went home and asked your parents? Honoka: Hah! That's it! Nico: Whoa... Take it down a notch! Honoka: Ooh! Ooh! I've got the greatest, most amazing idea ever! Rin: What is it? Honoka: Bread, with Homura Bakery's red bean paste inside! Hanayo: Huh... Honoka: It's like East meets West! Oh, I think I've finally got it. It's like my greatest invention! Umi: Honoka... You know about sweet bean bread, right? Honoka: Huh! Kotori: Honoka... Eli: I wonder what happened with Honoka's bread? Nozomi: She was really worried... Honoka: Hey! Everyone! Here it is, the Honoka bread! Kotori: Ah! Let me see! Let me see! Rin: Is it ramen bread? Umi: Wh-what's this? Maki: The bread... It has everyone's faces on it! Hanayo: S-so cute! Honoka: Heh heh. And inside is my family's red bean paste. Nico: They made nine of them? Wow, this is amazing! Honoka: Of course! I thought it would be a waste to just make bread for me... Honoka: So I told the baker about you all, and they made these! They said we should call them the next time we have an event. Eli: It started out as just Honoka's bread... But it ended up being everyone's bread. Kotori: Honoka's face looks so cute! Everyone's bread is cute! They look just like us! Honoka: Yeah! Bread is the best!

Story 3

Umi: How about we stop practice for a quick break? Honoka: Great. I was just thinking I could use a break... Kotori: Yeah. Practice is really fun, but taking breaks is important too. Nico: So tired... Hanayo: Om... Om nom... Rin: Oh, you're eating a rice ball, Hanayo... Wish I had one... Honoka: It looks delicious. Gulp... Hanayo: I made a bunch. Please, everyone, help yourselves. Honoka: All right! Thank you! Rin: You'll make a good wife! Hanayo: Eep... Rin, you're embarrassing me! Nozomi: Hanayo, your rice balls really are delicious! Eli: Yeah, there's just the right amount of salt in them. Kotori: Thank you for the food. I feel like I'm really ready to practice. Maki: Yeah. The second half of practice can be tiring, but after eating that rice ball, I feel revitalized. Hanayo: That's right! Rice balls are great when you're exhausted from practice. Hanayo: They're a good pick-me-up when you're tired in the morning. Hanayo: They're filling, so you don't get hungry in the middle of class... Hanayo: The point is: I really recommend rice balls! Honoka: That's amazing, Hanayo! You're like the rice ball master! Hanayo: Uh... Heh heh... Umi: Do you have any secrets to making your rice balls, Hanayo? Nico: Oh, I want to know, too! Mine are pretty good, but yours are even better! Hanayo: I'll teach you all everything I know! Honoka: All right! Let's have a rice ball class! Kotori: I'm looking forward to the rice ball class! Eli: Ha-ha! Today, Hanayo's the teacher. Hanayo: Good morning! Honoka: Good morning! Let's do our best today... Whoa! You carried all that rice here, Hanayo? Hanayo: Yep! It's the rice for the class today. I figured we could split the leftovers... Ha ha. Umi: But... That's over 20 pounds of rice! Honoka: We already got rice. You didn't have to bring so much... Hanayo: Of course I did, Honoka! Honoka: Huh? Hanayo: The ingredients you use are the soul of rice balls! I brought the absolute best rice for making rice balls! Honoka: Oh, I see! Ha ha ha... Hanayo: First, we have to prep the kitchen! Please wash your hands, everyone! Don't forget to clean under your nails too! Together: Yes ma'am... Nozomi: Hanayo's in serious teacher mode! Rin: She's pretty cool like that! Nico: Heh, heh, heh. Challenge accepted! Kotori: Um... So, let's work together and start making rice balls.

Story 4

Honoka: OK, my hands are clean. Nozomi: The rice looks like it's almost ready, so we can probably get started. Umi: Even the water used to cook rice is important, huh? Looks like I'll be learning a lot today. Kotori: It's all you, hanayo. Hanayo: Ye-yes! Nozomi: Wha... Hanayo, your voice is shaking! Hanayo: Th-thank you ev-everyone for co-coming today... Rin: Calm down, Hanayo... Maki: I know how she feels. It can be pretty nerve-wracking to be the center of attention. Eli: Even though we're school idols? Maki: But that's completely different. Right, Hanayo? Hanayo: E-Exactly! Someone help me... Kotori: It's all right, Hanayo! Here, I'll help you out. Nico: I can help yo too. With my adorable face up here, it'll draw everyone's attention off you. Umi: That sounds like Nico's logic. Hanayo: Thank you, Kotori and Nico. With you at my side, I'm sure to do great! Honoka: Oh! It looks like the rice is ready. Hanayo: Let me see... Aah! Eli: What's wrong, Hanayo? Did you not cook it properly? Hanayo: It-it's beautiful... And the smell... Yum! Today's rice ball class is sure to be a... success... Eli: Is cooking the rice properly something to get surprised about? Rin: Well, Hanayo really loves rice... Kotori: Hanayo, I'll put the rest of the ingredients you brought over here, OK? Nozomi: It looks like we're going to make some delicious rice balls today. Hanayo: Today I brought salmon, pickled plums, seaweed, and leaf mustard. We're going to start by making plan rice balls. Honoka: You say "plain" rice balls, but they still look really delicious. Hanayo: Hee hee... The type may be plain, but that doesn't mean the flavor doesn't matter. Umi: ...Om nom... Maki: Hey, Umi! Why are you sneaking food?! Umi: Huh? Sorry about that. They looked so good... I didn't even... Nico: I can't believe this! They're so delicious! Rin: You two are sneaky! I want to eat one, too... Eli: So, the secret to making delicious rice balls is the ingredients, then? Nozomi: It seems that way... Hanayo: It's important to be particular about the rice and other ingredients, but that's not the most important part. Kotori: Is that so? Well then, what is the most important? Hanayo: The most important part is the emotion you put into making them. You need to think, "This will be delicious." Hanayo: Just focus on those feelings, then channel them into the rice balls! Honoka: These rice balls will be delicious! Umi: I want the people that eat them to think they're delicious. Hanayo: Heh heh. I don't think we really needed the rice ball class. Anyone can make them. Maki: But, I've never thought about it that way. Nozomi: So, what's really inside these rice balls is our feelings, huh? Honoka: That's amazing, Hanayo! You're like the rice ball master! Hanayo: That's a bit much, but thank you. Heh heh, shall we keep making rice balls together? Together: Yeah! Nico: Done! I made a "Love Nico" rice ball! Rin: I'm done, too. It's not really triangle-shaped like it should be, but... it's full of my feelings! Umi: Well then, shall we get to eating? Eli: Yeah... But shouldn't we swap our rice balls first, so they taste eve better? Honoka: Great idea, Eli! Time for a rice ball exchange! Nozomi: Rin, your rice ball's delicious! It's full of love. Rin: Kotori, the grains of rice in your rice ball are so fluffy! Maki: Hey, Nico! Your "Love Nico" rice ball doesn't have anything in it! Nico: That's because plain rice balls are the most delicious! Maki: Really? ... I guess it's pretty good. Honoka: So yummy! This is the first time I've ever had such a delicious rice ball!