"You're already done, Kitakami-kun?"
Yuigahama, who had been scolded by Yukino over and over again, was still stuck on getting the butter-to-flour ratio right.
She kept either adding too much butter or using the wrong type of flour.
"Done. Keep going," Yoru replied calmly.
"I'm just a clumsy airhead with zero girl power, aren't I…" Yuigahama muttered in despair.
Yoru put on oven mitts and placed his tray of cookies into the oven.
Meanwhile, Yukino flipped her own cookies and began guiding the struggling Yuigahama step-by-step.
Yoru took out his phone and started reading the news.
He still had plenty of time before his appointment with Gabriel.
Bored, Yoru scrolled through World Cup soccer news as he sat off to the side, quietly waiting.
A little while later, Yukino's batch of cookies finished baking. She also helped flip over Yoru's for even heating.
Yuigahama finally completed hers too, though the unbaked dough didn't look promising.
"Maybe it just looks bad. Once it's baked, it might still taste okay," Yuigahama comforted herself as she placed her tray into the oven.
"Come try them," Yukino called out to the two of them.
The moment she pulled the baking tray from the oven, the scent of freshly baked cookies filled the home ec room.
If they had to score them: Yukino scored a 100, Yoru a 90, and Yuigahama only managed about 30 points.
"Smells amazing~"
Yoru picked up one and, before even tasting, could already smell how good it was.
He took a small bite. Not bad.
Not too sweet either.
Yukino nodded to herself approvingly.
"So good!" Yuigahama called out with a blissful expression.
After a while, Yoru's batch was also done. The texture was nearly identical to Yukino's.
Just a bit sweeter, and slightly less appealing visually—not quite pretty, but still acceptable.
Everyone tried a piece of each other's.
Yoru only had one more bite of his own.
Then came the highly anticipated moment: Yuigahama's cookies were done baking.
The instant Yukino helped take them out of the oven, Yoru could tell they were a failure.
She must've gotten the ingredient ratios wrong.
Same oven, same temperature, same baking time—but Yuigahama's cookies came out dry and shriveled, like sponge cake left out for days and dried by the wind.
Visibly, the texture was already a disaster.
No need to even taste them to know the result.
"Let's try again next time, Yuigahama-san," Yukino said after glancing at the time.
Every Friday, she had to return home for a family dinner. Her sister, Yukinoshita Haruno, would be picking her up soon, and she didn't have much time left.
"Well… want to at least try how it tastes?" Yuigahama sounded a bit down. After all, this was meant to be a gift for her mother.
"Yukinoshita-san, what should we do with the cookies?" Yoru jumped in to shift the topic.
"If you like them, take them all. If not, toss them…" Yukino replied, looking at the two trays.
Different cultures handled food waste differently.
In Japan, tons of food that had just barely passed its "best by" date—still perfectly edible—was routinely thrown away.
Every year, several million to tens of millions of tons of food were discarded.
Besides, Yukino and Yoru hadn't made that many. Just a bit—not truly wasteful.
"If you two don't want them, give them all to me."
"I'll let Yumiko and the others try."
Yuigahama looked enviously at Yukino and Yoru's successful cookies.
Then she handed her own cookies over for tasting.
Yoru took the first bite. The moment his teeth touched it, he realized—he couldn't even bite through it. It was hard.
The texture was like survival rations—dry, crumbly, and even a bit bitter.
Still, he put on a good act, not letting it show.
"Well… passable, I guess?" Yoru answered as he met Yuigahama's expectant gaze.
Yukino didn't look convinced. Just seeing the shape of the cookie told her it was a total failure.
Still, she carefully parted her lips and took a bite.
So hard! So awful!
A flicker of discomfort passed across Yukino's face as she forced herself to swallow.
"…Not great. Barely acceptable for a beginner," she commented.
It was clear she was trying to spare Yuigahama's feelings.
"Really? Then I'll try one myself." Encouraged, Yuigahama reached for a cookie.
"Try it later. Let's clean up the classroom first. Don't stay too late," Yukino interrupted.
She felt it was better for Yuigahama to try it alone—so she wouldn't be discouraged in front of Yoru and herself.
Then Yukino began assigning cleanup tasks for the room.
By the time they finished, it was already 5:30—considered late.
The three of them finally left the club building.
Yoru walked at the back, fairly quickly, carrying a few bags of cookies. Yuigahama had forgotten to take hers.
Up ahead, Yukino was arm-in-arm with Yuigahama, chatting as they walked.
Just as they stepped out of the club building, a mature-looking woman with shoulder-length hair—who looked about 70% like Yukino—appeared.
"Yukino, you're finally out. I almost went in to find you…" Yukinoshita Haruno stood in front of her little sister, then glanced at Yuigahama.
"Please don't come into the school without permission, sis. You're not even a Shuchiin student," Yukino said helplessly.
"Hello, Yukino's sister. I'm Yuigahama Yui, a friend of hers," Yuigahama quickly introduced herself.
Honestly, just looking at their faces, it was obvious the two were sisters.
Yukino has a friend?
Haruno was slightly surprised, but also pleased for her sister.
"Sorry to interrupt you two," Haruno said politely.
"Oh no, I'm the one who kept Yukinon too long," Yuigahama replied with an awkward smile.
After a brief chat, Haruno led Yukino away.
Yuigahama headed for the soccer field to find Yumiko.
It was Friday, and Hayato would be playing a full soccer match. Yumiko was likely there watching.
Yoru had no choice but to speed up and follow her.
"Yumiko~!"
From a distance, Yuigahama spotted Yumiko, whose striking blonde hair stood out by the field.
She called out excitedly and waved.
Just then, Yoru arrived, holding the cookies Yuigahama had forgotten.
"Oh, thank you, Kitakami-kun. I totally forgot," Yuigahama finally realized.
"No problem. I'll head off now."
Yoru shook his head, took a glance toward the soccer field, then left.
He was thinking about Megumi.
These past few days, she'd been having lunch and chatting with him every noon.
The golden treasure chest's progress was going up fast.
At this rate, it might open in another two weeks.
"That Kitakami… why is he with Yui again?" Yumiko frowned deeply.