Helplessly Bad Luck?!

Mizuki doesn't have much time to frequent the thought, leaping into action once Sebastian is distracted. They choose a comfortable spot next to the river, right by the bridge where Mocha lays out a quilt she prepared.

Mizuki, placing her heel against the bark, pulls herself up by the branch, praying to the Good Lord that she won't plummet back down at a time like this. The canopy of the tree rustles, grabbing both the attention of Sebastian and the guards. One of them notices the fabric of her dress in the trees, whispering to the other before dismissing the thought.

Mizuki presses her lips tightly shut in anticipation, sitting balled-up on the branch of the tree. To get a better view, she holds her palm over her eyes and squints.

"Thank you for inviting me out today," Sebastian smiles warmly, helping himself to a piece of carrot cake and serving a much larger slice to Mocha. "You deserve more for the hard work."

Mocha accepts the cake, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "You're such a gentleman. I wanted to get to know you better..!"

"Oh, and your hair is lovely today," Sebastian points out. For a while more, they continue chatting about sweet-nothings, talking about their lives and the little details which they both seem to enjoy. They speak so animatedly, it's hard to assume they're not close. Before they realise, they've finished all the food - all, well, but Mocha's buns. On the last few bites of his Apple Pie, Sebastian stares at the food with a doubtful expression.

"...And Faer told me that, no, those weren't apples, they were—" Mocha notes Sebastian's puzzled expression, halting herself mid-sentence. "Is something wrong?"

"No, of course not! That was rude of me," Sebastian blabbers, stuffing the rest of the pie into his mouth. He exaggerates his chewing in an attempt to show his satisfaction, pointing at his cheeks. Mocha laughs at his attempt.

"Did you make these yourself? It tastes different from the ones you usually bake for me," Sebastian swallows, ruffling his hair. "W-Well, not for me but—"

He shuts his mouth, cupping his palm over it sheepishly. "No, er, I do make pastries especially for you to try," Mocha confesses. "But these aren't mine."

Sebastian relaxes. "Y-You know, I'd still love to t-try any new recipes if you have them," he suggests meekly. Mocha's eyes widen. Mizuki's back straightens and she almost topples the wrong way, having to grapple onto the tree with all her might to prevent an accident. Oh no, she laments mentally.

Mocha pulls out her pig-shaped buns from the bag, handing them to Sebastian with excitement bubbling within. It's the first time she has had anyone willingly ask for her food. Even her closest friends around town are reluctant to keep her pastries around. Sebastian takes it from her hands and bites into it, not waiting much longer. For a few moments, he chews happily, surprised at how good it tastes.

Mizuki lets out a sigh of relief, lying against the back of the tree. And then comes coughing and squelching, attracting Mizuki's attention. In her attempt to get a better look, she shifts her weight a bit too forward and falls. She attempts to pull herself back up, only to have the branch snap off and fall with her. By the time she has recovered, she spots Sebastian vomited into the river, lurched forward while Mocha frantically comforts him.

With a horrified expression, Mizuki hopes to roll out of the scene peacefully.

"M-Mizuki..?" Sebastian's voice cracks behind her. Mizuki clenches her fist, wincing. She turns around with a very non-suspicious grin, leaning her palm against one side of her hip.

"What's good?" she chuckles awkwardly. Mocha frowns sadly.

[Side Quest: Bartender on the Other Side - Console Mocha]

'Attempt 1: Get Mocha-A-Boyfriend Failed', Mizuki makes a mental note before scrambling forward to help Sebastian onto his feet, hanging his arm around her shoulder so she can help him back to the pub.

"I messed up," Mocha flails her arms in defeat before sinking to the ground of her bakery. She buries her face in her palms dejectedly. "How will I ever confess my feelings to him?"

Mizuki takes a seat beside her, analysing her surroundings for any probable ideas. She drums her finger against the floorboards, gaze falling upon a pamphlet hung against the display case. Words. Paper. Putting two and two together, she realises a letter couldn't go wrong! It's much easier to do than a proper meet-up and it can be summarised too.

Letters are always short and sweet - Mocha loves the idea too. She doesn't have parchment or anything fancy that she can write with so Mizuki leads her to a quiet place where she can sit, helping her write a proper note. All Mocha has is a feather quill and notebook paper, scribbling nothing else but a 'Dear Sebastian'. "What do I write?" Mocha questions. Mizuki pauses, blinking blankly at Mocha. They stare at each other, expecting either one to talk.

[Side Quest: Bartender on the Other Side - Help Mocha successfully write a letter without using the wrong sentences]

...Mizuki has never written for someone before. Taking a deep breath, she looks over at the slip of paper with Mocha. "How about a... 'Thank you for going out with me earlier. I really enjoyed it but I'm sorry you feel sick because of my food…?'"

Mocha nods, writing it down in tiny, spaced-out handwriting. Mizuki thinks hard when Mocha doesn't look, rubbing her chin in thought while eliminating any line in her head that doesn't make enough sense. Mocha looks up at her. "Uh… I… really like spending time with you and I don't always get the opportunity to say it." Mocha scribbles this down.

"You are the only one who has cared for me and treated me unlike everybody else, the only man who has been there to consider what I like and what makes me happy," Mizuki narrates more fluently, fidgeting with her fingers as a faint blush creeps up to her cheeks. "We don't talk to each other a lot and maybe that's because we're busy but I… don't want to let that stand between us."

"There are loads of things I want to do for you - with you - that I couldn't see myself doing with anyone else, even the close friends that I've grown to make. You might just be a stranger— (Mocha changes this to 'the Bartender across the street') and all we might do is little things to look out for each other but…" Mizuki tilts her tool backward, raising her gaze to the ceiling animatedly. "Will you like me if I become a better baker?"

Mocha shoots her a side-eyed look. Dropping her pen into the ink, she remarks, "Hirashi-chan, you've gone red."

Mizuki blushes furiously. A brief moment of her memory flickers through her mind, one of her looking up at Hinata while he's carrying her up the stairs. She covers her face, stubbornly looking away in embarrassment. "No, it's nothing."

Mocha flashes a knowing smile, tucking the letter into a tea-stained envelope. "It's too early to bother him with this, isn't it? Could you wait until nighttime till you visit him?"

[Side Quest: Bartender on the Other Side - Wait until nighttime (18:00 - 22:00)]

[Sincere Love Letter received]

Mizuki, not knowing how else to pass her time, tucks the letter away and assures Mocha that she'll leave him the letter at a better time. As she pushes the bakery door open, right in the Plaza in front of her sight, she catches a scuffle. A crowd of people has gathered but in a nucleated formation, fearful expressions worn on their faces. Mizuki looks back at the bakery before hesitantly stepping out to analyse the commotion.

In the center of the plaza, she recognises several military soldiers, all armoured up and with their spears pointed skyward. Mizuki steals a few daring steps forward, wrenching her neck. A woman is sprawled pitifully across the ground, blood where mouth hovers over, her dress tattered up, likely from a beating. "No, lady, you skipped your taxes for two weeks!"

Squinting her eyes, she catches sight of the woman's face, recognising her as the woman who owns the restaurant, Olive and Garden's caretaker. Instinctively, Mizuki's eyes search for the poor children, hoping to see them safe.

To her horror, she finds them captive under the clutches of two soldiers standing right in front of the blacksmith, forced onto their knees. Olive has his head hung low, hair falling over his eyes while Garden makes occasional attempts at running towards her guardian. Mizuki clenches her fist in rage.