Autumn Festival and Baby Castella 2
“Um, may I have a moment?”
Miki, standing at the podium, offered a lifeline to the two of them.
“Unfortunately, Chika, another class has already applied to run a cafe. According to the rules of the cultural festival, it’s prohibited for the same grade to have competing presentations. If you wanted to do a cafe, you should have applied earlier.”
That rule was probably to prevent feelings of superiority and inferiority within the same grade.
If one side was bustling and the other side was deserted, the losing side would feel quite miserable.
“Is that so? Then, how about crepes?”
“That’s what class 7 is planning to do.”
Chika, who had her cafe proposal rejected, suggested an alternative, but it was immediately rejected.
“Hmm…”
It seemed that Chika, who wanted to make Sōma work by doing something sweet-related, crossed her arms and began to think while standing.
“Then… how about this, remember the rolled ice cream that was popular when we were kids? If we roll the ice cream and shape it like roses, it’ll look good, and it’s nostalgic, so I think it will be popular. Surely no other class is doing that, right?”
“Indeed, no other class has applied for that. But if you’re going to make roll ice cream, we’ll need a cold plate to freeze it, right?”
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“Can’t we just rent one from somewhere?”
“Chika, just so you know, each class only has a budget of twenty thousand yen. We’re a public school, not a private one, so they don’t give us that much money. I don’t know if there’s a place that rents out cold plates for roll ice cream, but do you think you can cover the rental fee for the plate, the cost of the ice cream ingredients, the containers for the ice cream, and the decorations for the classroom with just twenty thousand yen?”
“Ugh…”
“Whatever we make, it’s either going to have to involve borrowing the home economics kitchen or bringing a hot plate or portable stove from home.”
After Miki’s dismissal, Chika slumped back into her chair, disappointed.
“Maybe making a donation box is the best idea after all?”
“I absolutely refuse! Uh, let me think…!”
Chika vehemently shook her head to reject Sōma’s suggestion, groaning as she tried to come up with a better idea.
Then, a student timidly raised a hand.
“Wakui-san, please go ahead.”
Encouraged by Miki, a petite girl with pudding-like hair began to speak.
“What about baby castella?”
“Baby castella… you mean, the ones that are often sold at festival stalls?”
Miki made a circular gesture with her finger.
“That’s right. The typical offerings at cultural festivals include things like yakisoba and okonomiyaki, which use a griddle. Foods that use a hot plate. So, I thought, why not sweets made on a hot plate? We could bake baby castella on a hot plate, decorate it in a festive style, and maybe we could even serve customers while wearing yukatas. Wouldn’t that be fun?”
Miki pondered over Wakui’s suggestion.
“That might be a good idea… As Wakui-san said, yakisoba and okonomiyaki are already taken because they’re classics, but baby castella hasn’t been claimed yet. It’s very cultural festival-like, and it differentiates us from the others.”
After nodding at the decent idea, Miki turned to Chika.
“What do you think, Chika?”
“It’s much better than a donation box. It’s sweets, after all.”
“Anyone else? If you have a different idea, please speak up now. Honestly, we’re really cutting it close.”
Miki looked around the classroom again, but everyone seemed to agree with Chika, and no one raised any objections or alternative proposals.
“Then, it’s decided that our class will run a baby castella shop. Let’s see, the roles will roughly be divided into those who bake the baby castella and those who serve. Anyone who wants to bake, please recommend yourself to Ichinose. Those who want to serve, come to me.”
As Miki said this, Wakui raised her hand again.
“Um, my family has a hot plate for making takoyaki. I’ve never made baby castella, but I’ve made takoyaki many times, so can I join the baking team?”
“Then, Wakui-san, how about you take charge of the baking team with Ichinose? Is that okay?”
“Yeah, I brought up the idea after all.”
Wakui nodded happily.
“…Make sure to confirm with me too.”
Sōma muttered as he watched the exchange between Miki and Wakui.
It seemed he was naturally expected to take charge of baking the baby castella.
“Well, I’ll do it.”
It was just like him.
Once he smelled ‘sweet’, he’d want to make it even if he was told not to.
Baby castella is a sweet made by pouring castella batter into a takoyaki pan and baking it into round shapes.
They are also known as “suzu-yaki” and are a staple at festival food stalls.
However, Sōma had never made baby castella before.
This was because there was no takoyaki maker at the Ichinose household.
***
“Wakui, can I talk to you for a moment?”
After school, he called out to the pudding-haired girl who was about to leave.
“I-Ichinose!? What’s up?”
Surprised by the unexpected call, she stopped in her tracks, the keychains and can badges attached to her school bag clinking noisily.
“About the hot plate, could you bring it the day before the festival? I’ve never made baby castella before, and I’d be too nervous to do it for the first time during the festival, so I want to practice.”
“Oh… that’s what you need. Sure, that’s fine. Then, how about all of us on the baking team practice making them together the day before?”
“Sounds good. We should probably do that.”
As Sōma nodded in agreement with Wakui’s suggestion, she hugged her bag tightly and smiled happily.
“Ichinose, let’s do our best together at the cultural festival.”
“You bet.”