The Flame-Kissed Forgiveness

Though Xiaobai and I always reconciled after every argument, we couldn’t always rely on time to mend our fences. With her gentle nature, Xiaobai surely desired a resolution as well. This time, I resolved to take the initiative.

“[J] Xiaobai.”

I tapped my finger on the table, drawing her gaze.

“[J] What is it?” Xiaobai retorted, a spoon still clutched between her teeth, her eyes narrowed like a wary stray cat.

“[J] Please don’t be angry anymore, I admit my mistake.” I clasped my hands together once more, begging for her forgiveness.

“[J] Your apology lacks any sincerity whatsoever! Do you have any idea how much it hurt when you squeezed my chest back then?! I genuinely cried, you know!”

Xiaobai turned her face away, shoveling spoonfuls of ice cream into her mouth. Merely recalling the incident seemed to inflame her.

“[J] Leidi-chan… a girl’s chest is very delicate. You mustn’t vent your grievances about breasts so directly on Ping-chan’s chest.”

It seemed Sister Ruka had become a fence-sitter. Then again, her chances of being forgiven were far greater than mine. What I couldn’t quite grasp, however, was why the person sitting beside me was also timidly covering her own chest with both hands…

“[J] See? Even Sister Ruka, who didn’t experience it, is scared, aren’t you?”

‘Don’t press your advantage right now… your emotional intelligence will stoop to Yamada’s level…’

“[J] So, have you already forgiven Sister Ruka?”

I ventured to ask, hoping to resolve one issue at a time.

“[J] …Sister Ruka wasn’t really at fault to begin with, so it’s not really a matter of ‘forgiving’ her. I was just too angry, and she got dragged into it because of you! Yes! Because of you!” Xiaobai declared, first holding up a finger-shaped chocolate at me, then biting into it with a defiant ‘crunch, crunch!’

It looked rather amusing, actually…

“[J] Ping-chan~ I’m so touched!”

‘Oh, wow… other people’s fence-sitters at least only swayed with the wind. My fence-sitter had actually uprooted herself and bolted to the other side…’

“[J] Sister Ruka… I’m still eating ice cream, don’t hug me so tightly…”

Xiaobai must have still been bothered by Sister Ruka’s gaze from earlier, yet she forgave her with a blush. Truly, that was Xiaobai—so incredibly gentle.

“[J] Xiaobai~”

I tried to approach Xiaobai, just as Sister Ruka had, but—

“You! Don’t you dare come any closer!”

She immediately blocked me with an outstretched hand!

A sharp pang—my heart felt utterly wounded!

“[J] Princess, your magical flames have arrived! Go ahead and burn away the thorny rose vines around Sleeping Beauty~” Prince Aoyama suddenly entered, a knowing look on his face, carrying a large, flame-shaped, blue-green cake. He had already shed his Mr. Gudela disguise.

‘That guy… he wasn’t eavesdropping just now, was he? He’d better be careful not to get rotten ears!’

“[J] Huh? I didn’t order this cake, did I? I’ve run out of my coupons.”

‘Xiaobai… your reading comprehension scores must be abysmal… This was clearly ordered by me, wasn’t it? Oh no, extorted from this guy, to be precise.’

‘Speaking of which, this blue-green flame shape? It must refer to the will-o’-the-wisps found in graveyards, right?’

“[J] This is a complimentary gift. If you two sisters come here often, my sister and I would be delighted.” Prince Aoyama placed the cake in the center of the table with a charming smile, then settled into the seat beside me.

‘Heh, increasing favorability without resorting to lies? Quite clever of you.’

“[J] It’s a gift? It looks so expensive…”

‘Her mouth was practically watering, yet she still feigned modesty? This might be the perfect moment to break through Xiaobai’s emotional defenses.’

“[J] Xiaobai, let me serve you a slice of cake.”

I stood up, picked up the nearby cake knife, and prepared to cut. But Prince Aoyama quickly stopped me.

“[J] Be careful, Colt. My sister’s cake is truly like fireworks.”

“[J] Hmm?”

‘A pun, even here? That I hadn’t anticipated.’

“[J] What, what?! Will it explode?” Xiaobai’s eyes sparkled as she propped herself up at the table.

‘Hey… where did that sulky, angry expression go?! Am I really less important to you than this strangely shaped cake?’

“[J] Allow me.”

Taking the cake knife, Prince Aoyama skillfully made numerous shallow cuts along the tips of the flames, all under our watchful eyes.

“[J] What are you doing?”

“[J] I’d like to know too.”

‘To be honest, I was quite curious myself, but I didn’t show it as overtly as Xiaobai and Sister Ruka. It just didn’t suit my image. Better to wait and observe.’

“[J] Everyone, please return to your seats. The dazzling fireworks are about to begin.”

It truly seemed dangerous upon closer inspection. With a smile, Prince Aoyama gently urged the curious Xiaobai and Sister Ruka back into their seats. Then, he lightly touched the tip of the flame with the point of the cake knife.

Pong~

Fireworks—

They bloomed!

The cake, where Prince Aoyama had just scored it, bloomed like petals along the knife marks, revealing a black and white inner core resembling an egg.

It was chocolate! The top of the chocolate egg continually puffed out white steam, then melted like a candle.

Just as I thought it was over, there was another red egg inside the chocolate egg! Incredibly, the egg burst open upwards!

From within, colorful fruit pulp sprayed out, falling meticulously and decoratively onto the blooming cake petals.

At that moment, the melted black and white chocolate, as if by agreement, spread from the center, staining them. The entire process flowed seamlessly, describable only as perfection!

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap—!!!

Thunderous applause erupted. Everyone present, save for Prince Aoyama who still held the cake knife and smiled, applauded this wondrous performance and Princess’s exquisite skill.

“[J] That’s amazing! I could never do something like that!”

“[J] How wonderful! It really is like fireworks!”

“[J] Such perfect artistry demands applause.”

Among the three of us, Xiaobai applauded the most enthusiastically. More than hunger, her face was now filled with sheer admiration. Meanwhile, Sister Ruka, seated next to her, regretfully eyed her fork, eager to dig in.

“[J] This is our most popular Will-o’-the-Wisp Lava Cake from this dessert theme, a proud creation of my sister that combines both visual appeal and delicious taste. Everyone, please try some.”

“[J] Mm.” x3.

Everyone eagerly accepted the plates offered by Prince Aoyama and began to savor the dessert.

“[J] Mmm~ It’s absolutely delicious~”

“[J] Wow~ My mouth will never be able to appreciate any other dessert again~”

As they ate, both Xiaobai and Sister Ruka closed their eyes in blissful indulgence. It was truly an exquisite delicacy.

I, too, gently brought a small piece of cake to my mouth.

‘Oh, wow?! There was yogurt inside the melted chocolate?! I hadn’t noticed at all before; what incredible skill!’

“[J] Ah. By the way, it’s worth noting that this cake is unexpectedly high in calories. If you’re not careful, your weight might become quite problematic.” Suddenly, Prince Aoyama dropped a rather unwelcome bombshell!

And those who were utterly blown apart were—

Sister Ruka and I, frozen in stunned silence…

‘He must have done that on purpose… or was it his way of getting back at me?’

I set down my fork, gazing with a complicated expression at the tempting delicacy on my plate.

‘This was just too… cruel, wasn’t it?! For such a delicious work of art to be a woman’s sworn enemy… it was truly outrageous!’

“[J] Leidi? Sister Ruka? Why aren’t you eating anymore? Isn’t it absolutely delicious?”

‘Had Xiaobai not heard such crucial information?! We’d gain weight!’

“[J] Xiaobai… this—” (I hadn’t even finished speaking.)

“[J] Ugh—let dieting die!”

“[J] Eh?!” x3. (Yes, you read that right, it was three.)

Sister Ruka had already finished her internal struggle… and utterly surrendered! Wait?! Hadn’t she said she couldn’t gain weight? Was that a lie?!

“[J] Leidi, are you afraid of getting fat? Ah, I remember you saying you have a tendency to gain weight easily. Hmm?!”

Suddenly, Xiaobai clapped her hands, as if struck by a thought.

Then, with that angelic smile, she uttered words only a devil could speak.

“[J] If you don’t eat four or five plates, I won’t forgive you, you know~~~”

……

……

We stared at each other in silence. Finally, under Xiaobai’s chilling smile, I steeled myself and tremblingly brought the devilishly delicious treat to my mouth… piece after piece, I kept eating.

‘Xiaobai… she’s learned some bad habits…’