Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 266, Section 3: "Girls are like chocolates"

"Girls are like chocolates."

"After cooling and solidifying, it can be shaped into any shape."

"Although it may present different postures depending on the needs at the time, its original flavor remains the same."

Masumi forgot which book she had read this passage in.

After closing time, the coffee shop is filled with a sweet aroma that tantalizes the taste buds.

Masumi instinctively felt a little uncomfortable in her throat, and she didn't know how the girls could endure it.

He was referring to Asami and Mio, who were working closely with chocolate.

Wearing aprons and with their hair tied back with triangular scarves, the two of them had a mixing bowl in front of them and were stirring something.

"What are you doing...?"

"Hmph~" Mami curled her lips smugly, "This young lady is now displaying her talents."

What talents do you possess?

"Can't you see?"

Masumi focused her attention on Mami's actions; wasn't it just a simple matter of melting the chocolate and then solidifying it again?
"...It's obviously not this one."

As soon as she finished speaking, Mami turned her head like a cat with its fur standing on end, glaring at him fiercely.

“Masumi-kun, you’re being very rude. I’m only doing this for you.”

"For me?" Masumi's expression was strange. "Are you making Valentine's Day chocolates?"

"Of course! After all, Rinne won't allow any other snacks I make to be sold in the coffee shop besides cookies."

If I could, I would also like to refuse.

Masumi looked at the oddly shaped chocolates on the table and thought to herself.

Seemingly seeing through his thoughts, Mami giggled and stretched out her long arm, mischievously ruffling Masumi's hair.

"Don't worry, I am, after all, a pastry chef at Starry Night Cafe. I will still abide by the basic industry rules of presenting customers with the most perfect finished products."

"...Really? I forgot you also have a pastry chef role, even if it's just a pastry chef who only bakes cookies."

"Hmm... something sounds a bit off."

Mami frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "Masumi-kun, please call me 'the manga artist who bakes cookies.'"

"What's the difference between the two?"

"The difference is huge! The latter sounds like someone who, in addition to her job, has the energy to cultivate her mind and character, and is full of feminine charm and loves life."

"Hmm, does that mean every 'cartoonist who can bake cookies' is as vain as you?"

Masumi said this thoughtfully, which prompted Ms. Mami to stomp hard on his slipper.

"Whoosh! Hiss... Hah..."

She ground her heels together as if she wanted to crush Masumi, who was speaking ill of her.

"Hehe~ Masumi's mouth is wide open! Does she want me to feed her?"

Mio smiled gently and moved closer.

"Masumi, come, please enjoy."

She scooped a little chocolate sauce from the mixing bowl with a spoon and handed it to Masumi.

"Eh... Ah~"

I had no idea what was in that dark brown, viscous sauce, and it was put into my mouth without any explanation.

The blend of dark chocolate and icing flavors spreads across the tongue, accompanied by a subtle botanical aroma that seems to waft into the nasal cavity.

"Is it tasty?"

Mio eagerly awaited Masumi's answer.

"Hmm, not bad, but it's a bit too sweet. What flavor did Mio make?"

“I’m planning to make raspberry truffle chocolates, the kind that’s perfect for being decorated nicely,” she replied with a smile.

Raspberries! Truffle chocolates!?

Isn't that the kind he dreamed about last night?
Is dreaming about to invade reality?
"Why did Masumi-kun's face suddenly turn so pale? I didn't use that much force, did I?" Mami asked in surprise.

"No, it just brought back some unpleasant memories."

"I'm still shaken," Masumi said.

"Unpleasant memories..."

Both women lowered their heads slightly upon hearing this, their expressions thoughtful.

"Ah! I know."

Mami suddenly looked up, and the cheap light from the fluorescent lamp illuminated her face, which had been covered in shadow, like a light bulb that had been turned on.

"Masumi-kun must be thinking about the miserable memories of Valentine's Day during his school days, when he never even received a friendship chocolate~"

She smiled smugly and playfully nudged Masumi with her elbow.

"Oh dear~ I think there was someone like that in my class back in school. Because they were considered unlucky, they could only receive chocolates from their mothers every Valentine's Day."

"Are you introducing yourself?"

"Enough with the nagging! I'm a girl! I'm in control, and the senior students in the culinary research club feed me sweets every day. I'm already tired of chocolates! Besides, giving chocolates on Valentine's Day is just a cold, commercial tactic by food companies to promote sales, right? Not to mention, February 14th in history is a day filled with blood and tears. On February 14, 1879, the South American Pacific War broke out in Chiai's hometown of Peru, along with Chile and Bolivia. Countless families were devastated by the loss of their breadwinners, spending their days in tears. And now these foolish and ignorant people are celebrating such a bloody day! It's just like the Parisians during the World War II. While French soldiers on the front lines were still fighting German soldiers in harsh trenches, they were singing and dancing in the rear."

It's unclear what exactly offended her, but Ms. Mami's cheeks flushed red with anger as she launched into a long, rambling speech.

"Do these shallow men and women think about these things now? Do they think about the Peruvian, Chilean, and Bolivian soldiers who died fighting for the saltpeter mines? Do they think about the shells, machine guns, poison gas, and flamethrowers that devoured soldiers in the Battle of Verdun? No, because all they think about is chocolate!"

How terrifying! So there's something so heavy behind Valentine's Day chocolates?

Masumi stared in disbelief, but the next moment all those thoughts vanished like bubbles in chocolate sauce, extinguished by Mio with a spoon.

"...I think I understand now. This is a person's regret about Valentine's Day because they didn't receive any chocolates."

“No!” Mami corrected him: “It is the declaration of a small person who dares to expose the commercial conspiracies in the food industry.”

"Valentine's Day is fine no matter what, but you guessed wrong, Valentine's Day was quite popular when I was a student."

That said, how could this person manage to spout off so much without uttering a single word? What kind of structure is her tongue?

Compared to her during the rainy season, she has made tremendous progress. If she were to imitate the tone of the mischievous junior from Gagaga Bunko, she might even surpass that Sakura-san.

"Well, Masumi-kun is a handsome guy after all."

Asami sighed listlessly, "I guess on Valentine's Day in my first year of high school, I invited her to my house, and then, as if by accident, I spilled chocolate sauce on her exposed chest, and said to Masumi in a coquettish tone, 'This was made especially for Masumi, I just want you to taste it... I want you to lick it clean...'"

"You bastard, that's enough."

Masumi gritted her teeth and stopped her from rambling on and on all night, then pressed her temples and sighed deeply.

"If you hate Valentine's Day so much, why make chocolates in the first place?"

"Because all the other girls will definitely give Masumi-kun chocolates. If I'm the only one who doesn't receive a gift from Masumi-kun on White Day, wouldn't that be so pitiful!"

At this point, she cast a sharp glance at Masumi.

"Masumi-kun! You absolutely have to make up for all the meals I haven't received in the past twenty-four years!"

"Okay, okay, I'll sweep up all the Snow Kiss chocolates on the shelves of Paradise Quixote on March 14th."

Faced with the resentful Mami, Masumi agreed without thinking twice.

At that moment, the spoon covered in chocolate sauce was handed over again.

"Come on, Masumi, try this flavor again." Mio smiled sweetly.

"Oh."

After Masumi obediently opened her mouth, this time she only tasted a stronger dark chocolate flavor and icing sugar flavor than before.

"Huh? Isn't this the same as before?"

“It’s different this time. I’ve added some special flavorings.”

She clasped her hands together excitedly in front of her chest, her eyes sparkling like a puppy's.

"I was worried that this flavor would ruin the original taste of the chocolate, so I wanted to cover it up with icing. I'm so glad that Masumi didn't taste it."

"No, that's not good at all." Masumi's lips twitched.

"She clearly added it, but didn't want anyone to taste it. What exactly did Mio add to it?"

He asked, breaking out in a cold sweat.

If it were just that absurd yet real dream, that would be one thing, but right this morning, Mio casually said—

"After all, Masumi isn't the type to be easily manipulated. If we wanted to do that, the only option would probably be to drug Masumi and then imprison her."

Such a statement!

"Let's consider this a Valentine's Day surprise for now."

Mio winked mysteriously.

"No, I still hope Mio can tell me now," Masumi pressed on relentlessly.

The first and second lessons Masumi learned after entering society were to be brave enough to ask someone for a favor a second time, and to only give up after asking a second time.

This principle still protects him today.

"...I really can't do anything with Masumi."

Mio shook her head, a doting smile appearing on her lips.

"Then I'll give you a little hint: it's 'love.'"

"like!"

Masumi leaned back as if she had been greatly shocked.

"Yes, it is love."

Mio smiled and nodded.

"Just a heads-up, Mio," Masumi said hesitantly, "Love should also respect the other person's wishes."

"Of course." "Don't worry, Masumi, I won't do anything to hurt you." There were a hundred ways to comfort Masumi and put her mind at ease.

But Mio chose the most honest answer, the one that made Masumi most uneasy.

"As long as there is the power of love, it's all a small matter."

I see, you have a strong interest.

Masumi hunched over as if withered, or like a broken-backed dog that had calmly accepted its fate.

"Masumi? Are you alright?"

"No, it's nothing. By the way, where's Rinne?"

Perhaps touched by the name, Mio's eyes narrowed sharply into a line.

"...I'm organizing the things Masumi bought today in the warehouse in the yard."

"Oh, I'll go check on her."

As Mio watched Masumi leave, a shadow fell over her face. She didn't say anything, but stirred the mixing bowl in her hand even more vigorously.

He muttered to himself:

"Really... This ratio should be the best... Maybe it would be different if we added one more ingredient..."

"It's so cold."

Masumi hunched over and waddled forward like a penguin.

I left in such a hurry that I forgot to put on my coat.

Turning into the warehouse in the courtyard along the building, I saw the warehouse door open, and the heiress's figure was busy there.

"Why did you come here? And you're dressed so lightly."

Rinne frowned when she saw Masumi cowering, took off her scarf and wrapped it around Masumi's neck, then pulled the scarf up to cover half of her face.

"What if Rinne gets the scarf?"

The frayed fibers of the scarf were bunching up, making my face a little itchy.

"People dressed so lightly have no right to question those who are fully armed."

Rinne's natural tone is as cold as the chill of a winter night.

How harsh! Could it be that this world has developed extreme uniforms and life fibers?
"You came to see me all of a sudden, is there something you want to tell me?" Rinne asked.

"No, it's nothing..."

Masumi's greeting sounded somewhat unnatural, as if she was forcing herself to go along with it. Rinne, oblivious, narrowed her eyes, looking at the somewhat absent-minded boy in front of her.

He seems a bit listless. What happened?
She secretly observed his reaction, but Masumi just kept her head down with a solemn expression, not moving at all, as if something had really happened.

"Are you under pressure?"

“Hmm…” Masumi thought for a moment and said frankly, “To be honest, the pressure is immense.”

Anyone who learns that they might be drugged and imprisoned would feel immense pressure.

"Really? Then..."

Rinne suddenly opened her arms and completed everything in one smooth motion.

The scent of long, black hair filled Masumi's nostrils. The heiress rested her forehead against his chest and embraced him tightly.

Her indifferent voice reached my ears.

"How are things? Has the stress subsided?"

"Huh? What's going on?"

"I've heard that a hug can relieve half of your stress."

"Is that what they say?"

Masumi heard this for the first time. Although his body had warmed up, his stress had increased many times over compared to before the hug.

The highest peak of Mount Haruna in Gunma Prefecture is flattened because it is close to the Osaka Plain.

"What about the other half?" he asked curiously.

"The remaining half..."

As Rinne peered at his expression, her soft lips trembled slightly, and she suddenly brought her face closer.

Masumi blinked in confusion, and then felt a soft touch on her lips.

The sensation at that moment was like a gentle breeze.

I was kissed.

"what?"

After a light touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water, their lips parted.

The heir's lips were slightly cool, probably because of the outside, but surprisingly, it was very much in line with her style.

"Also, your other half is like this."

Masumi touched her lips lightly, feeling the lingering warmth of Rinne's touch.

"Well, if you still can't completely eliminate it, then we'll have to resort to the ultimate weapon."

Reinne reached under his clothes and felt a chill in her fingertips, which were slightly cold due to her low body temperature. It felt like being touched by an ice cube.

Out of caution, Masumi inquired:

"The ultimate weapon... Could it be... impossible!?"

Anyone who has ever interacted with Rinne would probably agree without a doubt that she is a cold and aloof beauty.

But only Masumi knew that Rinne was just good at hiding her emotions. But emotions are like volcanoes; the longer and harder you suppress them, the more violently they will erupt.

Those clear, purple eyes, so close to her, were fixed on Masumi without stopping.

The heiress's eyes were already very beautiful.

Her eyes shone with a bewitching light, as if igniting a raging fire of emotion.

Like a full moon shining in the sky, or a view from a high platform perfect for gazing into the distance, Rinne is just that beautiful.

"From experience, this is the most effective method."

After speaking calmly, Rinne couldn't help but blush and look away.

Like a pet that is not favored by its owner.

so cute.

"Don't think I enjoy doing this kind of thing! It's just that you always hang around me listlessly, practically implying that I should liven things up!"

"Huh! That's not true at all. Besides, that's a really weird way to liven things up!"

Masumi explained hastily.

"To be honest, I'm just a little uneasy about Valentine's Day. It seems like Mio is brewing some kind of plan."

"I see. I'll keep an eye on her while you're making the chocolate."

"The heiress is very understanding," she said, gently poking the fruit with her finger as if checking its ripeness.

This feeling of completely understanding something about herself greatly troubled Masumi.

"That would be a great help."

"Speaking of which, Haiyue has been trying to make chocolate recently."

"This, like this."

Hearing her mention Haiyue out of the blue, Masumi's heart skipped a beat; the matter from earlier that day was still unresolved.

"She said it was her first time making chocolate, and she felt like a kindergarten child, so happy and cute."

Masumi was a little dumbfounded by the heiress's relieved tone.

"What does Rinne think Umizuki is..."

Masumi sighed, not trying to hide her surprise, and Rinne herself made no attempt to conceal it either.

"Seeing Haiyue always reminds me of my past self, so I want to take better care of her."

“I see. But I have something I want to say to Rinne about Haiyue.”

"what?"

The girl with long, straight black hair, who was positioned low, looked up at him.

"Haiyue seems to have found out about what we've been up to lately."

"..."

"I am sorry."

"Ok?"

"Although I said that just now, I wouldn't say I like it, but I don't hate it either. It's all my fault for going too far that I was noticed."

Rinne surprisingly apologized frankly.

is a good boy.

Or perhaps Rinne has always been like this.

Masumi recalled those words again.

"Girls are like chocolates."

"After cooling and solidifying, it can be shaped into any shape."

"Although it may present different postures depending on the needs at the time, its original flavor remains the same."

"...However, I had considered the day when things would come to light. Now, it's just that the trial has come a little earlier than I expected."

Rinne sighed.

"There's no need to use the word 'trial'! It's not that serious."

The warm white mist exhaled sprayed onto Masumi, and the heiress asked vaguely, as if her lips were very heavy.

"What...what did Haiyue say?"

Masumi hesitated for a moment, then looked into her eyes and answered.

"She wants to be like Rinne."

"..."

The silence came suddenly, only to be broken by Rinne's sigh-like words.

The heiress looked helpless: "I just wanted to comfort Masumi, who was in a bad mood, but now my mood has gotten worse too."

"Feel sorry."

“That’s not true.” Rinne gently shook her head. “The coffee shop is my home, and I want to cherish it, so I’ve always respected Masumi’s feelings, but—”

She changed the subject.

"But at least for now, I want to respect my own feelings, and I hope that Masumi will be willing to respect mine."

Being stared at by that upward gaze, Masumi tilted her head, not quite understanding what was going on.

"What does it mean?"

A slight, endearing blush appeared on Rinne's face, and her voice was barely audible.

"...Now that things have come to this, I want to vent my frustrations first, just a little bit...that's all..."

I take back what I just said. At least for now, Rinne is a complete and utter bad kid.

Rinne, who had always been calm and restrained, made a soft sound as if she were trying to read his mind, but it was powerful enough.

In the warehouse, which should have been cold, Masumi felt a warmth gradually surging within her body.

Rinne made a wet sound, like a cat licking milk.

It was winter, but it felt as if I had suddenly fallen into the dreamlike end of a spring night.

Suddenly, the dream shattered, the bubble vanished, and the heiress stopped, looking as if she were thinking about something.

"What's wrong, Rinne?" Masumi asked, puzzled.

Rinne kept her fingers intertwined with Masumi's, and after several attempts to breathe oxygen into her lungs, her breathing finally calmed down. She hesitantly opened her lips.

"What exactly is our relationship now?"

"Eh."

(End of this chapter)