“Yah!”
I smeared the flour on the table onto Jiyu’s face. Her face turned white with flour powder. Seeing that, I held my stomach and laughed out loud. Jiyu covered in flour reminded me of a clown.
“Hana, you!”
Not to be outdone, Jiyu dipped her finger in flour and pointed it at me. But I swiftly dodged her finger with my nimble body. Then, I grabbed her hand and forced her to wash it under running water to prevent her from smearing more flour on me.
“Ugh!”
Jiyu protested, but she couldn’t overcome my strength. While we were playing around, the teacher walked in. Seeing our state, the teacher frowned and said sternly.
“You shouldn’t play with food! Hana! Jiyu!”
“Yess~”
Returning to our seats, we paired up in groups of three to prepare to make cookies. The teacher displayed a presentation on how to make cookies in detail. As expected from a wealthy school, the presentation’s quality was excellent. Normally, shouldn’t the quality be a bit grainy?
But even from a distance, the clarity was impressive. Starlight Guild really has a lot of money.
“First, soften the butter!”
The teacher demonstrated the method while teaching everyone. I started softening the butter in the round container with a spatula. All the ingredients were already set up on the table, though I didn’t know when they were placed there. All we had to do was mix the ingredients to make the cookies.
“Next, add the sugar!”
The teacher picked up the sugar container on the table and started pouring it into the round container.
“Don’t confuse it with salt!”
She seemed to be cautiously warning against a beginner’s mistake. I laughed and poured the sugar into the container with the melted butter. I love sweet things, so it’s okay to add a lot, right? But seeing me pour the sugar, Yumi cautiously said.
“Hana, aren’t you adding too much?”
“No, Yumi. You need to add this much to make sweet cookies!”
Yumi also added sugar, but it seemed like she only added half as much as I did. If you add that little, the cookies won’t be sweet and won’t taste good…
But well, personal preference, right? I imagined the sweet cookies being made and me eating them as I worked hard on making the cookies.
Following the teacher’s instructions, I looked at the completed dough with shining eyes and smiled.
“Jiyu! Yumi! Look at this! Doesn’t it look delicious?”
Jiyu looked at my dough and then at her own, saying.
“Just looking at the dough, I can’t tell…”
Still, being young kids, they lacked appreciation. At this point, they should at least give a compliment! I picked up the round container and put it in the fridge to chill. Jiyu and Yumi also placed their dough next to mine. Each table had its own fridge, so we didn’t have to worry about mixing up the dough with other kids’.
Making cookies was so much fun. And not only was it fun, but I also had the chance to taste the cookies I made myself, which made it even better. Just thinking about eating the sweet and delicious cookies made my mouth water.
“Hana’s cookies are going to be super sweet! I saw her pouring sugar earlier, and it was no joke!”
“Really? I should sneak one of Hana’s cookies later!”
Saying that right in front of me. I decided that as soon as the cookies were done, I would eat them before Jiyu could reach out.
While we were chatting, the teacher told us to take out the cookie dough. Opening the fridge door, I took out the dough, which had risen a bit. I placed it on the cutting board and used a rolling pin to flatten it.
“Huh?”
But there was a big problem. It was impossible to make the elephant-shaped cookie dough I had promised Jiyu and Yumi earlier. The cookie cutters only had circles, stars, and triangles. Sneaking a glance at Jiyu and Yumi, they seemed to have forgotten our earlier promise and were using the cookie cutters to make cookies.
Seeing that, I felt relieved and took the circle cookie cutter, pressing it into the dough repeatedly. After all, circle cookies are the standard, right? I diligently stamped out the cookie dough like using a seal.
“Everyone, have you pressed the cookie cutters into the dough? The teacher will put them in the oven, so please wait quietly~”
Probably thinking that high-temperature ovens are dangerous for kids, the teacher personally placed the cookie dough into the oven. Unlike the other kids, I could handle it myself… Despite my pouting mouth, I obediently handed the cookie dough to the teacher.
The cookie dough in the oven soon emitted a delicious smell.
The cookies started to give off a warm, inviting scent. I wasn’t sure what kind of cookies would come out, but at least it seemed like they weren’t a total disaster.
“Hana, when the cookies are done, give me one too!”
Jiyu kept pestering me from the side, demanding to eat my cookies. Well, I could spare one. I’m generous like that.
As Jiyu and I bickered back and forth, a *ding* sound came from the oven, signaling that the first batch was done.
As soon as the first oven chimed, the others followed in quick succession. It was time to meet some delicious cookies!
The kids stood close to the oven, watching the teacher pull out the trays. The sweet, toasty aroma seemed to reach all the way over here.
The teacher handed out the cookies to their respective owners. My cookies were placed on the table too. I picked one up and popped it into my mouth.
*Crunch!*
The crispy cookie entered my mouth. I chewed it slowly, savoring the flavor.
‘Not bad.’
For my first attempt, it was a huge success.
“Hana’s cookies!”
Jiyu grabbed one of my cookies and took a bite. After a few chews, she twisted her body and said, “Too sweet!”
Yumi, seeing Jiyu’s reaction, also grabbed one of my cookies.
“Ah!”
Yumi chewed a few times and made a strange face.
“It’s such a Hana-like cookie.”
What does that even mean? A perfect cookie like this doesn’t exist in the world. It’s the kind of cookie only I can eat.
—
“Maru!”
Maru came to pick me up at the school gate. My eyes sparkled at the sight of her shiny car. I wish I had a car like that too.
Of course, I could afford one with the money I have now, but without a driver’s license, it’s like a rice cake in a picture—out of reach. Hiding my disappointment, I got into the passenger seat. I swung my short legs and relaxed as Maru drove.
Now, I didn’t need to be terrified like the first time I rode with her. Experience really does make a difference.
“What did you do today, Hana?”
Maru asked about my classes while driving, like a curious parent. Well, it’s been decades since Maru graduated from elementary school, so she must be curious about what happens there now.
“We made cookies!”
I giggled and fiddled with the bag of cookies in my pocket. I planned to share them when we arrived at the research institute building. The cookies were too delicious to keep to myself.
“Really? That sounds fun~”
Maru, who also had cooking classes in school, looked surprised and asked more questions. As we chatted, we quickly arrived at the institute. I got out of the car and dashed inside. I couldn’t wait to share my cookies.
Taking the elevator up, I found people still working in the office. Since elementary school ended early, it was only around 3 PM, not yet 6 PM, so I could share my cookies with everyone.
“Is this Hana’s cookie?”
“It looks delicious~”
Bora, Haru, and Maru each took a cookie and popped it into their mouths. I stared at them, waiting for their reactions.
The people who ate my cookies made strange faces. Was it so delicious they couldn’t even describe it?
Of course, my cookies couldn’t possibly taste bad! I bounced around, circling the people who had eaten them.
“Delicious, right? Delicious, right? Want more?”
I pulled more cookies out of the bag, offering them around. They seemed to be drinking a lot of water, but that’s normal when eating something dry like cookies. I didn’t think much of it.
Next time I make cookies, I’ll share them with everyone again!
