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Emu invited me over too that rich house to bake again, more more house is close enough so I might as well walk there.
It's quiet about, 11am everyone's at work and and the rest of more more jump is just having a nice rest day.
The doorbell echos in a once quiet and affluent neighborhood. Both Emu and Saki are pretty wealthy but Emu is leagues. It's shocking they live in the same neighborhood, except Emu is that giant estate with a whole ass gate you have to call a fucking bodyguard too get in. I'm not even there yet and I feel the richness radiating at the end of the street
"Hi Airi!!!!?!!" Saki appears at the other side of the door
I smirk "Are you ready for some baking?"
"Yes!!!!!!" She squeals "Bai Tsukasa!!!!"
"Let me know when I can pick you up!" Tsukasa's small voice replies
"I can walk home by myself!!!!"
I drag her off to Emu's she's barely processing that she's holding her very idols hand. I feel it tense and relax pretty confusingly.
I look up at the castle that was the Otori estate. If you have a gate on your house and a bodyguard to answer the door??? Jesus christ.
I press the small door call button, staring oddly at the little camera on it.
"Who are you?"
A man's strict and slightly overworked voice retorts
"We're here to bake with Miss Otori? We're making cupcakes for our friends"
"Cmon in"
The gate screechs open like it's older then Saito , and we walk in trying to not step on the lush green lawn.
"HAIII!!!!!!! I PREPARED EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!! LET'S BAKE LET'S BAKE LET'S BAKE!!!!!!!!!! OH YEAH I ALSO INVITED MAFUYU BECAUSE I WANTED TOO!!!!!!!!"
"Wait we're on your street!! How'd she get in?"
"WE USED THE SUPER DUPER UBER SECRET OTORI FAMILY ENTERANCE!!!!!!! WE GOT AROUND THE HOUSE AND WIGGLES AND SILTHERED THROUGH THE SILLY OTORI VENTS AND POPPED IN THROUGH A SUPER DUPER FANCY MOCHIZUKI FAMILY PIECE!!!!!!"
My brain is aching from all the shouting, and wait I've heard Mochizuki's art looks like rotting organs- wait they went through the vents??
I step in and I feel like the cleaniless and pure wealth in here just sprays off the middle class in me. We go into the kitchen and I lock eyes with Asahina. She looks different, dawning a pair of heart sunglasses and a heart floppy headband. A wonderful attire set for valentines.
Like little fairies, we get to work. Methoditcally putting ingredients into the mix, Saki scrambling round the kitchen like a desperate mailwoman. Emu chanting wonderhoy into the frosting so it 'tastes more wonderhoy'
Mafuyu was just. Washing the dishes, so I offer to let her bake the batter instead. I watch as she slowly pour a little cocoa powder and vanilla extract. She robotically places it in the oven. And just stands there, staring into it, it was pretty intimidating how Mafuyu was staring at the oven. There was an empty expression on her face. And an extremely negative aura raditating from here.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!" Saki shrieks from the other side of the room. Staring guilty at a batch of pathetic chocolate cookies that looks like fresh dirt mixed with mayonnaise with little star sprinkles trying to salvage it.
"What. Even happened."
I whisper. I've never felt so scared. I didn't know anyone could be this bad at baking.
She just looks back at me. An expression plastered with panic, despair, grief, and betrayal. A crooked fake smile on her face.
Emu zips over, snapping a bit off one of them. And eating it.
Silence. Everyone is glaring at Emu, like a jury deciding a verdict.
"Tastes. Like. Burnt. Chicken."
She sounds like a bomb survivor, witnessing and feeling incomprehensible horrors.
I feel Saki's soul sink into the spilled flour on the floor. The meteorite on that tray mocking her life choices. I sigh and move the little tray forward and helped the greiving Saki make a new batch. I look over at Mafuyu and Emu, Mafuyu finally stops death staring the cupcakes and takes them out, a beautiful golden brown. Emu has prepared 3 different frostings, she bathes the cupcakes in a mix of red, white, and pink. She's skillful at it. Too be fair with muscles larger then mine then of course she's good at this stuff.
Finally, the cookies have been remade, and the cupcakes decorated. They look perfect.
Mafuyu picks up a cookie, studying it like it's a small creature. And takes a small bite. Her eyes widen the tiniest bit.
Emu looks over in shock. But not in freight like she always does. But happiness. Her eyes sparkle as headbutts mafuyu's stomach, toppling both of them over.
"I SENSE A REAL SMILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She celebrates. Mafuyu just shys away but never denies it. Those two always get me sometimes.
I pick up a cupcake and holding it near Saki's face. Making her instantly turn red. She snatches it from my hand and side eyes me as she takes a bite.
Then, we all sit in the Otori house living room sinking into the endless sea of cushions.