(Hmm... There really are quite a lot of recipes for making homemade snacks and sweets.)

(Hopefully, I can find one that's not too difficult, but it also needs to be something Tsukasa and Saki will enjoy...)

(Come to think of it...

What kinds of sweets do they actually like...?)

(I vaguely remember going over to their house this one time and...)

(Mrs. Tenma baked a lot for us.

All of them were delicious, and Saki and Tsukasa also seemed to enjoy them very much...)

Cupcakes...

Yes, that seems like a beginner-friendly option.

Then, I'll give it a try when I get home from school tomorrow.

*Sigh*

Okay, I've bought everything the recipe said I'll need...

Seeing them all laid out like this... There really are a lot of ingredients involved. And I'm apparently going to need all of them to make my cupcakes.

Will I actually be able to...?

No, I don't have time for that.

I need to just give it a try.

(The recipe says...

“Soft and fluffy chiffon cupcakes that anyone can make!”)

(This may be easy for others, but I'm someone who hadn't used a kitchen knife until very recently.)

(So, I'll need to proceed carefully without letting my guard down...)

Okay, let's get started.

First, place some eggs and sugar in this bowl... No, wait, just the egg whites... How do I do that...?

Oh, I see! You can use half of a shell to separate out the yolk from the whites.

...?

Hang on... Use half of a shell...to separate out the yolk...?

I understand what it says...

But my mind doesn't seem to think that's possible...

Th-There... I cracked it in half...!

Now to use this to separate out...

N-No...! The yolk split in half... And what's left is... There's no way I'll be able to get just the whites out...!

Okay... I'll try that again...

(This says you make something called a “meringue” by beating the egg whites...?)

(But for how long...?

Will this really turn out as fluffy as what's in the photo for this recipe...?)

(I don't know, but I'll just have to keep beating...)

Okay, the meringue's done.

Next is...

What...? I'm supposed to place the meringue in the bowl of yolks and mix them together...?!

Just how much mixing is this going to make me do...?

All that's left is to let them bake...

(Also, that took up quite a lot of my time. This recipe suggested that it wouldn't take so long...)

(And the kitchen's become a mess...

I should clean everything up before Mom and Dad get home.)

(I followed the recipe as closely as I could, but I'm really not sure how they're going to turn out...)

...!

I guess they're done.

(This looks...completely different from the photo in the recipe... They look considerably flatter. Squished even...)

(Where did I go wrong?

No, I should taste them before making any conclusions...)

Here goes nothing...

*Grimace*

(It...)

(It tastes sweet like some kind of cake...

But this texture... It's terrible. I feel like I'm eating paste...)

(The recipe said that these should turn out soft and fluffy...)

(I know sweets aren't exactly my favorite thing... But more to the point, these cupcakes...)

(They taste awful...)

*Sigh*

(Maybe I aimed too high...)

(No, wait...)

(I can have someone teach me.)

(MEIKO and KAITO know how to cook and bake very well...)

(As busy as they are, my hands are tied. I have no choice but to ask them for their help...)

I know it's getting late, but I think I'll go over to see them now...

Welcome.

Hm? Toya? Are you by yourself today...?

Yes, for a personal matter.

Is it just you here, Miku...?

Yes, are you looking for someone?

I was hoping to speak with MEIKO and KAITO, but I guess they're not here at the moment...

*Nod*

They're both gone right now.

KAITO's practicing with Rin and Len, while MEIKO just left to deliver some food she'd made for them.

So, I'm watching the cafe while she's out.

I see...

Mind if I ask what you were hoping to talk to them about? If you like, I can tell them later for you.

No, that's okay.

I can just come back tomorrow.

If you say so...

But... Don't hesitate to ask if there is something on your mind. I want to help you in any way I can, Toya.

Miku...

Then, if you don't mind listening...

Yes, of course.

I see. Which is why you want to learn how to bake something special for White Day...

Speaking of which, Toya, you don't have much experience cooking, do you?

Yes, that's right. When I tried on my own, things didn't go so well...

However, that did show me more or less what I am and am not able to handle.

So it wasn't all a waste. That's good.

Anyway... You're hoping to make some cupcakes, yes? That should be on the easy side in terms of baked treats. At least, I think I remember MEIKO saying something like that.

Yes, the recipe I found also said it was “beginner-friendly”.

I see. Then, that means I could also make them.

Wait, Miku, you know how to bake?

I've never made cupcakes before, but I think I can since I've been helping MEIKO cook on a regular basis...

I had no idea...

(I was going to ask MEIKO and KAITO for some advice, but I didn't know Miku could also cook.)

(MEIKO usually has her hands full running the cafe, and KAITO tends to be busy being Len's teacher...)

(On the other hand, if Miku does know how to cook... I may be causing her a bit of trouble, but it may be worth asking her instead.)

Miku, if possible...

Would you mind teaching me how to bake cupcakes?

Sure, I'd be more than happy to.

Thank you. I really appreciate it...

So, when would you like to make them? Also, where?

I'm sure MEIKO will let us use the kitchen if we ask her.

Right. But it's already getting late, so tomorrow after school may be best...

(Also, where...? It would be nice to be able to use this cafe's kitchen...)

(But she just lent it out to KAITO and Len. Knowing that, I sort of feel bad about asking her to let us borrow it...)

Why don't we make them at my house...?

Sounds good. I should be able to teach you as long you have your phone out.

So, I'll head over tomorrow. See you then.

Thank you, Miku.