✤
“We’re back,” Lady Kagura called out as she entered.
By the time she returned to the Sky Salon, it was close to curfew. With her usual smile, she went to the central table with Kirara and the twins following close behind.
From the looks of things, everything had gone according to plan and the date of the competition had been finalized. Without even being called, all the Sky Salon members gathered around the table.
“Sorry it took so long. Sakura has quite a busy schedule right now! She’s been talking to the other salon leaders as well, you see.”
“So, at the very least, she does intend to join a salon,” Lady Saeko remarked.
“Yes, that much is clear,” Lady Kagura replied. “The timing is set for the week after exams finish. On the first day of the post-exam break, each salon will open their doors to her, then all three will throw a joint tea party. Sakura will make her choice after that.”
Lady Saeko nodded. “That’s the only timing that makes sense. Summer vacation is so soon afterward.”
“When she comes to visit us here, I’d like all of you to mingle with her and have a proper chat. Also, just so you’re aware, members of the Paradise Palace and Gloriana Guesthouse will be present too. They won’t sit down with her, but they’ll be closely observing our words and behavior to ensure we don’t violate any rules.”
“There are rules?”
“Well, none that are set in stone. We mustn’t try to bribe her, for example.”
“Fair enough,” Lady Saeko murmured, sounding convinced.
“The order in which she’ll visit each salon is as follows: the Sky Salon, then the Paradise Palace, then the Gloriana Guesthouse. The sweets at the joint tea party will be served in the same order. This is based on Sakura’s request for the highest-ranking salon to go first.”
“It sounds like she’s a big fan of keeping things fair and impartial.”
Puzzled as to how she’d reached that conclusion, I interjected, “Huh? Why?”
“It makes sense if you’ve ever watched a contest based on scoring points,” Lady Saeko said. “The first player always sets the baseline for the others. No matter how amazing their performance is, they’ll almost never get a perfect score. If they did, there’d be no room left in the scoring system if the next player turned out to be even better. Right?”
“I see, yeah.”
“Which means that with the Sky Salon first in the running order, we become the yardstick and it’ll be easier to assign points to the others.”
“That’s probably just what she was thinking,” said Lady Kagura, agreeing with Lady Saeko. “I don’t see it as a major problem, however. It might weaken her impression of the Sky Salon a tiny bit, but I don’t think she’s the kind of person to let herself be swayed by that.”
In the end, there were only three salons competing. They weren’t being graded out of a hundred, nor was there any scoring system that would be affected by rating the first salon too highly. It probably wouldn’t be an issue.
However, looking at me, Lady Saeko put on an affected tone that sounded very concerned indeed and said to Lady Kagura, “Well, I see your point when it comes to the order she visits the salons, but for the tea party, I think it could be an issue.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Think about it. The very next team going after us is the Paradise Palace, led by Mei.”
Lady Asuka may have been the salon’s leader, but Mei was undoubtedly the one who was really eager to win over Lady Sakura, so no one corrected her.
Lady Saeko continued, “I heard all about Mei’s patisserie skills from Misaki. Apparently her handmade sweets are so supremely delicious that they were beyond description. She said they’d be fit to serve to the emperor himself.”
I hadn’t said that at all, but I figured Lady Saeko was exaggerating on purpose.
“True, I’ve heard rumors like that as well.” It sounded like Lady Kagura hadn’t sampled any of Mei’s treats either.
“According to Misaki, no girl would be able to resist Mei’s creations. Sakura will be her captive without a doubt.”
“I mean, I’m sure that would be true of any normal, person, but—”
“Which is why we have a plan!” Beaming, Lady Saeko clapped her hands once; the preamble was over. “Misaki told me she’s dying to make the dish we serve Sakura.”
Lady Kagura’s crystal clear gaze shot through me. “Is that so?”
I knew it would come to this. Reluctantly, I stood up.
“Well, I think it would be nice if Kirara and I could do it together. Mostly, I just feel like we’ll make a real impression if we serve her something homemade, not something that comes from a store.”
“You certainly sound confident.” Lady Kagura’s stare remained fixed on me and grew even more intense.
I gulped. “Yeah. I suppose I am.”
The confection Lady Saeko had suggested was something very specific indeed. If we could make that, we’d beat what Mei made—albeit not in the most obvious way. Even if I still didn’t know Lady Sakura that well, I couldn’t imagine how she’d come away from it with a negative impression.
“Understood. In that case, I’ll leave that part up to you. Kirara, work with Misaki.”
“Yes, milady.”
She didn’t even know what we were making yet, and she looked confused, but she agreed nonetheless.
Having said that, if she’s willing to leave such a big part of the competition to me at the drop of a hat, it must be like Lady Saeko said. Lady Kagura thinks the tea party is just a footnote; she’ll already have persuaded Lady Sakura to join before that point.
“Tee hee,” Lady Saeko giggled. “Incidentally, I have a favor to ask you, Kagura.”
“Certainly. Go ahead.”
“During the tea party, I’d like everyone to get a chance to sample Mei’s dish.”
Lady Kagura paused for a moment. “Very well. I’ll ask everyone to adjust their plans so that all three sweets, not just Mei’s, are made in sufficient portions for everyone to try some.”
“Thank you!”
Lady Saeko was apparently just that eager to give Mei’s fabled goods a try.