Fake It Till You Make It

Chapter 108: S2 Episode 9 - Fake It Till You Make It

* * *

As we made our way to the large cafeteria, we could see a crowd full of bustling people. Children, students, and adults of all ages were mixed into the crowd who were excited and cheerful for this party.

The cafeteria was decorated with a large Christmas tree in the center with yellow lights and big glass ornaments hanging from it, Christmas reefs that hung on the tall windows and walls, and countless circular tables set up with foods and desserts.

"It looks like there are lots of kids," Hanabusa acknowledged as we took a glance at the large crowd.

"I guess Michiko was right about having to make desserts for the crowd later," Andou said.

'It was a wild guess but wow, there are a lot of people here. And this is just to announce what the final round's theme is…'

"Look at Team Tennouji, they seem calm and collected over there," Kashino pointed at Tennouji Mari and her group members that stood to the side, chatting happily together with a sparkling drink in their hands.

"Aren't you guys kind of nervous about going against Team Tennouji?" Andou asked us, a bit startled as he looked at them from afar.

"Honestly, it's hard not to feel nervous. Tennouji Mari is the daughter of the Hotel King. Her childhood friend is a rich merchant's son, Kaidou Rui; Saeki Ryou is the son of a food critic; Takagawa Reiji's family has a long-standing French confection shop. Every one of them knows what top-class tastes like; they're the blessed group of elites," Hanabusa explained as I stared blatantly at Team Tennouji.

From afar, they did seem awfully calm.

"This is no time to feel nervous when the round hasn't even started yet. Gather your wits before you fall to the pressure. Remember, we have to win this," I said with determination to the three boys and their sweet spirits who stood by their side.

After all, it was the two most capable teams of the academy: Team Tennouji and Team Michiko. Whatever it came down to, I wasn't ready to admit defeat at the hands of them.

They're respectable high school 3rd years who surpass taste, appearance, and sense in their desserts, but regardless of how nervous I might feel when going against them, I have to make sure that I won't buckle down under all of the pressure. This is everyone on Team Michiko's dream on the line—we have to win this Grand Prix to study abroad in France.

*FLICK!*

All of a sudden, the lights in the cafeteria went out and the room was pitch black.

We could see no hint of light anywhere and people started to panic.

"What's going on? Where'd the lights go?!"

"No way, it's pitch black!"

"Mama, I'm scared!"

After complaints and concerns came out of people's mouths, a familiar man's voice reverberated throughout the entire cafeteria.

"EVERYONE!" An old man's voice announced on a speaker.

Suddenly, we could see the sweets spirits' staff shining and sparkling as they danced in the air. Their staff gave a magical light that nobody could take their eyes off of. It was lovely Sweets Magic.

"Wow, the spoons are floating!"

"How are they doing that?"

"Is that even possible?"

After shouts of shock and surprise came from the little children and adults, the old man's voice spoke loud again in a microphone.

"Good evening everyone! What is everyone's dream, I wonder? Those who've come to St. Marie Academy aim to be patissiers, but if there is a dream cake, what kind of cake would it be? I'd like to see it at least once," the man explained, which caught the attention of all the people in the room.

As he talked, only those who had sweets spirits could see other spirits conduct their sweets magic. They all worked together as they waved their gold staff around and pointed it at the large Christmas tree that was centered in the room.

A long ray of light and sparkles completely overtook the Christmas tree and a few seconds later, after the sparkles had faded, we could see a strangely familiar figure that was one of the first things I'd seen when I entered the academy.

It was the Sweets Spirit Queen but in the form of a cake.

"The tree turned into a cake of the Queen!" Sweets spirits, who hadn't participated with the other performing spirits, exclaimed in surprise.

Everybody alike was excited to see the sudden appearance of a realistic cake that was based on the statue of the Sweets Spirit Queen.

"It's amazing…"

I was utterly speechless at the sight I was seeing.

'Sugar sculpted wings, whipped cream dress with frills, and a chocolate tiara. It looks just like the statue!'

*FLICK!*

The lights were finally turned on and now everybody could see who was talking.

"I wonder if we've piqued your interest, hohoho!" A familiar chairman's laugh spoke through the microphone as he stood next to a tall man with bright blonde hair and baby blue eyes.

"It is the esteemed Henri Lucas's creation!"

Chairman Moriyama announced joyfully as he presented Henri Lucas that stood adjacent to him.

I knew Henri Lucas was good, but I didn't think that he had the capability of doing something this spontaneous when just recently he was trying to invade my personal business.

The conversation that day had changed my outlook on him because I wasn't sure if he'd divulge my secret to the public or if he'd stay true to his word and keep quiet. Regardless, that didn't dissuade the fact that this man was really talented.

'Hmm… I guess he was Mom's student.'

"For the final round of the Grand Prix, the theme is "Dream". A whole cake, *petit gateau, sugar and chocolate sculptures will be combined; depict your various thoughts and represent them in your "Dream Dessert"," Henri Lucas said out loud as both teams adjacent to each other heard the announcement.

(Petit gateau* - The phrase literally means "little cake.")

'The theme for this round is "Dream"? What are we going to make out of that?'

"Good luck, Keiko," Tennouji Mari said as she faced me directly.

Her honey gold eyes seemed determined as a slight smile formed on her lips. Regardless, she seemed completely unaffected by Henri Lucas's announcement of the theme. The light in her and her three other team member's eyes was unwavering, as if nothing could move past them.

'Argh!'

I twitched my eyes and held my stomach that felt like it was being stabbed with pins and needles.

Once I looked at them, I suddenly felt a piercing pain in my stomach that I couldn't explain. My body ached so much and I had no clue why I felt like that. No matter how I felt, I never expressed my intense pain out loud. Whatever I felt didn't matter but whatever I and my team would do next, did.

"You too, Mari. I look forward to what you're going to make," I said with a small smile that showed no hint of the excruciating pain I felt. I acted completely calm and unmoved by their relaxed expressions because I had put one up, too.

'Well, I guess it's fake it till you make it.'

After exchanging wishes of good luck to each other, Chairman Moriyama spoke through the microphone again.

"Now that the finalists' greetings are done, let's continue on with the party! Could each team switch into their chef jackets? We will have you make cakes for the children invited today, hohoho!"