Sweets Club (Tsukasa Idol Story)
Cast: Tsukasa, Sora, Shinobu, Souma, Izumi
Tsukasa: So it’s my turn now—hah!
Sora: Haha~ ♪ The menko[1] was flipped~ Shinobu-chan has nothing left in his hand, so Tsukasa-chan wins!
Shinobu: To have defeated me with your newly-learned menko hitting techniques. Suou-kun, how impressive~ ♪
Tsukasa: It’s all thanks to the kind teachings from both of you. By the way, where did you learn this?
I’ve always known it was a children’s game, but I have never tried it in this way.
Shinobu: I learned it for ASOBI club activities. Specifically when we were requested to teach kindergarteners traditional games.
Tsukasa: As expected for Circle activities—
Ahh oh no, I had completely forgotten…!
Shinobu: Wh, what is wrong?
Tsukasa: I am responsible for the sweets at our next Sweets Club meeting, yet I am still struggling on choosing something good.
Until now, I’ve been taking Sweets from my favorite shop, however the number of candidates is decreasing.
If you know of any decent Sweets shops, would you mind telling me?
Sora: Decent dessert places~.... Sora can’t think of a single thing! What about Shinobu-chan?
Shinobu: U~um, I don’t have anything either. The only things that come to mind are cheap sweets or snacks. Suou-kun, I don’t know of any Western sweets shops that you might like.
It might be good to ask friends? If we ask everyone, I’m sure you’ll find a good store…..♪
Tsukasa: Ah no no, you needn’t go that far for me. It would only cause more trouble.
I will think of it as seeking out a new store and continue my search.
Sora: ….Ah. Sora just had a good idea~♪
Tsuka-chan, bring an apple pie that Sora likes!
Sora: Sora loves apple pie, but recently it was gifted to him by Senpai!
HiHi~, it was super delicious! Sora was blown away by the perfect combination of sweet and sour~♪
Tsukasa: To the point that you were blown away…. I would like to try that as well. What store is this Pie from?
Sora: It wouldn’t be sold in any stores though~? Because it was baked for Sora!
If you’d like to eat it, you could try asking! He’s a nice senpai, so he would definitely make it for you~
Tsukasa: I’m sure he’s busy, and he would prefer not to be bothered by anything outside of work.
Handmade…would even a novice cook like me be able to make it?
Shinobu: I will look it up on my phone. “Apple pie” “recipe”....
Tsukasa: Let’s see…it seems that if you want to make a pie in earnest, you would first need to make the dough.
It’s a lot of work and seems difficult…
Ah, you’re back, Kanzaki-senpai. You’ve worked hard today.
Souma: Yes, “I’m home now.” What are you two looking at with your heads huddled together like that?
Sora: A recipe on a cooking website! Tsukasa-chan says he’ll attempt to make an apple pie~ ♪
Tsukasa: I have not decided if I will attempt it. I also lack confidence that I can do it well.
It’s one thing if I alone were eating it. I cannot even fathom making something passable enough to serve to the other Sweets Club members.
Souma: Hm…. I know a little about apple pie making techniques.
As we are roommates, I will help you.
Izumi: —Okay, so why am I being caught up in Kasa-kun’s problems?
Souma: That would be because Sena-dono is a member of Niki’s Kitchen.
Do the activities of Niki’s Kitchen not include airing a cooking video to the “internet”?
I suddenly remembered that Shiina-dono always says that he would like to have Sena-dono be filmed whenever you return.
Izumi: I don’t have free time, so if you don’t tell me about a filming ahead of time, it’s not happening?
….Well, I don’t have anything scheduled right now so it’s fine. And I don’t hate cooking.
Sora: Oh oh? You don’t have free time but you say you’ll do it?
Tsukasa: It is because Sena-senpai has difficulty being honest.
Izumi: Hold up, Kasa-kun, I can hear you?
Come to think of it, how do we get started again? You know, the part where Shiina does a silly greeting.
If Shiina isn’t here, doesn’t someone else have to do it? I seriously don’t want to be the one though.
Shinobu: Sena-dono, you’re actually being quite involved?
Tsukasa: Fufu. Naturally, he can’t be honest…. ♪
Izumi: —Have you sprinkled all the powder? Then lay out this dough and beat it with a rolling pin.
Sora: Got it, Sora will do it! Tap-tap, tap-tap…. ♪
Izumi: No no, a little harder.
Gimme the rolling pin….Like this!
Shinobu: Oho. So you put strength into it like that.
Izumi: If you wait around too long, the butter will melt and make the dough too tough. Keep beating it until it becomes easy to stretch.
Tsukasa: (...It says to add sugar and fry when the apples become soft, but what kind of condition does “soft” refer to?)
(The dictionary mentions “smooth and tender” but what in the world is a smooth and tender apple…?)
Izumi: Kasa-kun, you shouldn’t let your mind wander while cooking. If you get hurt it’ll be a mess, y’know.
It’s definitely soft enough. Can’t you start adding sugar now?
Tsukasa: …Sena-senpai, somehow you look like you are enjoying yourself. You seem so full of life.
Izumi: It’s ‘cause dessert-making is a specialty of Knights. Although you’re an exception.
Tsukasa: Ugh, right at my weakness… I apologize for my poor performance.
Izumi: Don’t be sorry—instead, work hard. Everyone’s a beginner at first, right?
The first time I held a knife, my hands were shaking so bad. And by the time I got used to it, there were a few times when I got carried away and accidentally cut my fingers.
Growing up by failing over and over again, you have memories of that kind of experience too, right? Cooking’s no different.
With this apple pie today, won’t your repertoire grow? I’m saying it’ll work out if you build up one by one.
If you do that, one day you’ll be good at cooking too. You’ll become able to say “it’s a specialty of Knights.
Izumi: Just that, I think it’ll take quite a long time….. ♪
Hey now, I said no breaks. Put on the rest of the sugar, then fry it on high.
Tsukasa: Marvelous ….☆ Both the shape and taste are exquisite.
Could it be because it was just freshly baked? Out of all the Apple Pies I’ve had, this is the most delicious….♪
Souma: Part of it may be that it was freshly baked. However, it is undoubtedly due to being handmade.
Sora: HaHiHuHeHo~♪ Sora also likes how this tastes! He thinks the Sweets Club members will like it too!
Shinobu: Agreed ♪ My hands can’t stop~, munch-munch….
Tsukasa: Thanks to everyone, we were able to make an exquisite Apple Pie. Going off of this experience, I will try to make it myself next time.
Izumi: You’ve set your sights high. You’ll be fine without our help?
Tsukasa: Yes. If I succeed, that will be the end. If I fail, though, I will keep on trying.
One day, I’ll puff out my chest and say “this is the specialty of Knights.” Please wait, Sena-senpai….♪
*menko is a traditional Japanese card game that dates back to the 17th century. Menko also refers to the cards used in the game. Basically, players try to flip over a card on the ground by throwing down a card of their own. Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menko
