Smiling Strawberry Parfait 8
“I feel awkward when you say it like that. I’m just an amateur, after all.”
“There’s no such thing. To be honest, perhaps Chika has a talent for confectionery making.”
He says this with a hint of jealousy.
As the daughter of pastry chefs, she might possess a talent for confectionery making.
Sōma, who is painfully aware of his mediocrity, finds the possibility enviable.
However, Chika, dressed in a lavender-colored apron, gives a wry smile.
“I’ve made confectionery a few times with my parents, but I never felt I had any talent for it. So I became more of a consumer. It’s not just about confectionery making; I don’t feel like I have any exceptional talents like my parents or Miki-chan.”
“I see…”
She seems to have her own thoughts, considering the presence of so many talented individuals around her.
“Anyway, wouldn’t you like to try it, Sōma-san?”
Chika aims the spoon filled with the parfait toward Sōma.
“I’m good. I ordered it for you to try.”
“Don’t say that. You mentioned earlier that you wouldn’t know until you actually tasted it. There’s more to gain from trying it yourself than just listening to my impression.”
“That’s true, but…”
Her argument is entirely valid. However, he still hesitates while gazing at the spoon.
Seeing his hesitation, Chika smiles slyly.
“Are you embarrassed to eat what I eat?”
“Well, yeah, that’s exactly it. If you’re aware of it, you shouldn’t say it out loud.”
Her words hit the mark, making his cheeks turn red as he pouts.
“Fufu, I knew it would be like this.”
Every time she laughs, her bare white shoulders glimmer brightly.
“Embarrassed Sōma-san is really cute. I feel like patting your head.”
“Seriously, stop saying such things while you’re dressed like this.”
He feels like he’s a kid.
“Since I’m going to eat it, lend me the glass and spoon.”
He might be teased about indirect kissing or something, but it’s still better than being fed by her.
However, Chika naturally rejects his request.
“No, I’ve always been the one being fed, and I’ve never had the chance to feed someone else. I want to try it. You’ll help me with something I want to do, right?”
And she brings the spoon closer to his mouth.
“Sure, but within my limits.”
“I want to feed Sōma-san. You want to taste this parfait to study its flavors. There are only benefits for both of us. There’s no reason to refuse?”
“My sense of embarrassment isn’t being considered.”
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.
He retorts half-heartedly, but she pays no attention and playfully moves the spoon back and forth near his mouth.
“Come on, just take one bite? It’s really delicious, and it’ll be a learning experience for you too.”
“Uh…”
He can’t bring himself to refuse firmly. After hearing Chika’s impressions, his desire to try it himself had grown stronger.
He wanted to experience the taste change that she described as ‘fun’ and see how much of an accent the supposed ‘filler’ cornflakes could provide.
He wanted to confirm it with his own mouth.
“There are no acquaintances in the restaurant, okay? Besides, there are plenty of customers eating from each other’s plates. Look, over there.”
When she looked in the direction she pointed, there was a college-aged couple sharing each other’s parfaits.
“…Seems like it.”
“In that case, there’s nothing strange about us doing the same.”
Shame and curiosity about the taste wrestled inside his mind.
“There’s a saying that goes, ‘Asking is a moment’s shame, but not asking is a lifetime’s shame.’ Don’t you think you’ll regret not trying it here?”
“If you just pass the spoon and parfait over to me, everything would be solved.”
“I absolutely refuse to do that.”
“I knew you’d say that, damn it.”
He glared and then let out a big sigh.
“Come on, feed me.”
He values his dreams more than his embarrassment.
That’s the kind of person Sōma is.
“Okay then, here it goes.”
When Sōma opened his mouth, Chika happily fed him the spoon.
“…actually delicious.”
He had heard good reviews, but actually tasting it made him understand why.
The sweetness of the whipped cream, the sweet and sour taste of the strawberries, the smooth and creamy sauce, the fluffy sponge cake, the crunchy cornflakes——all the flavors mingled together in perfect balance inside his mouth.
A calculated harmony of flavors was packed into the glass!
“Would you like another bite?”
“Please.”
Curious about the so-called taste change she mentioned, he accepted her offer and had a second bite.
Indeed, the taste and texture subtly changed between the first and second bites.
It’s just a parfait, but it’s more than just a parfait.
I can’t help but realize that the world of sweets and desserts is truly deep.
” …that serious face again.”
“Did you say something?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Chika laughed and brushed it off, then brought the spoon to Sōma’s mouth again.
“Anyway, have another bite.”
“I ordered that for you to eat. I’m good.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Come on, don’t hold back.”
“Fine, just one more bite then.”
Saying that, Sōma allowed Chika to feed him another bite of the parfait.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself.”
As he spoke, feeling the smoothness of the whipped cream filling his mouth, she nodded with a smile.
“Oh, absolutely. I’ve never had an opportunity like this before.”
The realization that she was doing something she wanted to do, taking care of someone instead of always being taken care of, brought a smile to her face.
And that smile was a different one from the one seen in the classroom.
It was a smile with an air of maturity, like that of an older woman, filled with affection and a sense of responsibility.
Seeing Chika with her mature outfit and this kind of smile, Sōma felt like he was probably the first person to witness this side of her.
Thinking that way, he didn’t feel bad about it at all.