Sweet Hunt - Chapter 2

Ritsu: Where're we goin' next, Maakun?

Mao: I made some reservations over at Café Cinnamon — I thought you could show off your sweets-making.

Ritsu: Ahh, you did mention somethin' like that earlier… I'll put allll my love into making them ♪

Mao: I'm glad you're actually cooperating with me on this, but… Are you gonna be okay? We're gonna need sweets that aren't that gross-looking, you know, just like we talked about before.

Ritsu: Ahaha. I know there's a time and place for everything.

While I wanna show everyone exactly who I am, right down to how I cook, I get the impression that people don’t really like the way my food looks...

So I just made sure that the recipe I'm doin' this time'll look good — like this drink ♪

Mao: You brought a thermos...?

Ritsu: First question: what do you think is in it?

Mao: ...Why'd you turn this into a quiz show?

And isn't this kinda short notice? What's in it... A smoothie?

Ritsu: Bzzt, wrong. That's too bad~. Minus ten points from Maakun.

The correct answer was… Cola ♪

Mao: Whoa, you can make cola? But I heard the recipes for that kind of stuff are a trade secret.

Ritsu: You don't know, Maakun? What are you, a Cola-newb?

The kind they sell is confidential, yeah, but that doesn't mean you can't just make your own.

By boiling down some spices and a secret ingredient, I've made my own special cola ♪

Mao: Ooh… Spices?

Yeah, your sweets may look nonsensical, but you can’t make a drink look bad, right?

Ritsu: Exactly~ But it's undiluted, so you have to add soda water to it to carbonate it.

I thought it'd be juuust right for this project of yours 'cause all I've gotta do is carry this one thing around ♪

Take a close look at this syrupy solution… Isn't the strange stickiness of it soooo charming ♪

Mao: Chr— that seriously doesn't look right at all...!? Why does the sugar syrup look like it's growing!?

But the smell seems okay…? Yeah, it’s really not bad… I wonder what the secret ingredient is?

Ritsu: Oho, y'wanna know? Heheh, that's a trade secret ♪

Niki: Ugh…

Mao: Huh? There's noises coming from the shrubbery over there… Is somebody there?

Ritsu: It sounded like a groan… Should we take a quick peek?

Hmmm…?

Niki: Ah… Th-thank God, I'm saved… Do you have anything to eat…?

I'm… I'm sooo hungry, I'm starving… I'm gonna pass out…

Mao: Uhh…. You're from Crazy:B, right? Shiina-senpai? You good?

Niki: I-I can't go on… Food… Of any kind…

Mao: Geez, he's really pale… What should we do…? Got any food with you?

Ritsu: All he needs is calories, right? Why don't we just give him my cola?

Mao: Good idea. There's a vending machine here, so I'll go buy some sparkling water — in the meantime, get everything ready!

Ritsu: Okay. Sure am glad I brought this thermos.

Mao: Ritsu! I got it!

Ritsu: Thanks. Now we just mix it together, and…

All good. Go on and drink up, now ♪

Niki: I-I'm saved… A real life-sucker— no, I mean, a lifesaver!

(Gulp, gulp)

(Gulp, gulp, gulp)

Mao: He's really chugging it…

Ritsu: He's pretty much drained it, huh?

But that's because it was super tasty, right? How was it?

Niki: ...What is this?

Ritsu: Huh?

Mao: Maybe it wasn't because of that, and he was just really thirsty…?

Niki: N-Nah, you're wrong! This was the most delicious drink I’ve ever had!

To think that there was someone capable of making such amazing cola so close to me… I'm speechless!

You made this, didn't you!? You're a culinary genius!

Ritsu: Ah ha, you must be a real chef if you're singin' such high praises to my cola ♪

Well, Maakun? Doesn't this just make you appreciate my cooking all the more? It's not about looks — chefs value how it tastes above all...♪

I know. Why don't you try some? There's not a lot left, but I can give you a little bit.

Mao: Here?

Ritsu: Yep, I want you to have some before it's all gone, so isn't this the perfect time?

Mao: I guess I'll try a little if you're gonna keep asking… Let's see…

...Whoa, what's that flavor? It's seriously amazing… How'd you make it?

Niki: I wanna know, too! I'm great at recreating dishes I've had at least once, but this exquisite taste seems difficult to mimic…

Tell me your secret ingredient!

Ritsu: That's a trade secret — is what I was gonna say, but honestly, I can't remember the recipe.

I just grabbed some ingredients from the common room and kept mixing and tasting them over and over again — and accidentally made that cola.

If there'd been some left over, I would’ve given the thermos to you to check it out, but seeing as there's none left at all —

I’d have to try remaking it from scratch.

Niki:...What?

Nononono, you've gotta be pulling my leg!? You mean I'm gonna be wondering what the secret to this cola is for the rest of my life!?

I can't believe there's not a recipe for this at all… How will I ever recover from this shock!?

Ritsu: Mm, I can’t help you there… I think your only choice is to try your best to recreate it, y’know?

You said you have confidence that you can, right? I mean, I'll tell you if I remember anything, but you're on your own until then.

Anyway, we were headin' over to Café Cinnamon. Right, Maakun?

Mao: Ah, yeah, we were. See you later, Shiina-senpai!

Niki: H-hey! I wasn't done talking to you yet!!

...But I guess that's that. Just like he said, I’ll have to recreate it without a recipe.

Alright. I'll reproduce the flavor of that cola perfectly — my pride as a chef's on the line!