just the idea of the fortune teller being able to sense the outcome every time she lets her wife go off on her missions, out scouting, to battles, knowing that everything will turn out alright and that she will come home safe, being able to put her heart at ease as well as share the calm and collected aura with her wife.
and yet it’s impossible for things to always go well and sometimes chongyang cake has no choice but to let her go, even though she knows the future promises an ill outcome, suffering or loss or pain; and the vagueness of it all just makes it so much worse. and she lets chrysanthemum wine go, still. because she understands her morals and sense of duty to help others, she can only warn her wife to be careful and maybe suggest something to avoid the unfortunate turn of fate, but she can only do so much. and so chongyang cake sees chrysanthemum wine off and goes numb, mechanically going about her daily tasks, waiting in apprehension, dread in her gut, not sure what condition chrysanthemum wine will come back in or if she will be able to come back at all.
Aizen and Amazake left the area. The people who crowded to see the scene also started to leave one by one.
Natto, Umeshu and Chongyang Cake left the Sweets Street and decided to have a stroll in the River Beach while having a talk.
Natto: My name Natto, and she’s Umeshu. Thank you very much for your help earlier.
Chongyang Cake: My name is Chongyang Cake. No need to thank me, because I’m just stating the truth.
Natto: What you said to Aizen earlier, was it true? You really can see...
Chongyang Cake: Mm. But you don’t have to be careful with your words like that. It’s true that my eyes can see misfortunes that will befall on a person, but it’s not like it’s a taboo topic for me.
Umeshu: In other words, when we met in the shop in the Sweets Shop back then, you already know that Aizen will come to attack us?
Chongyang Cake: That’s right. But, based on my experience, I know that misfortune is always proportional to fortune. And I don’t want to change someone else’s fate by prying into their business too much. That’s why I didn’t tell you about it.
Natto: Then, why did you decide to return?
Chongyang Cake: ... I suddenly find myself thinking. I can’t tell anyone on how they can escape from their misfortune, but if I can help them resist such fate... I think I’ll be able to find some peace.
Natto: Aah, I see now. You’re very kind, Miss.
Chongyang Cake looked stunned for a moment before she turned her face the other way to hide her expression.
They were able to hear the sound of people’s cheers then. The Sweets Street turned silent all of sudden as everyone present looked up at the sky. It’s the launching of the first fireworks.
Natto: Ah, it’s the sign that the firework show will start soon! The main show will start right after this!
Umeshu: Natto, we have to go to Oden’s shop and meet up with everyone. Chongyang Cake, do you want to go with us?
Natto: That’s right, let’s watch the fireworks together!
Met with Natto and Umeshu’s expectant gaze, Chongyang Cake nodded her head.
Rice: Uuh... what should I do...
Umeshu: Huh? Is there someone crying?
Natto: It’s from the riverbank. Let’s go and see who it is.
They came to a coffee house. It so happened that the pâtissier is in the middle of making a cake right near the entrance.
Not only Umeshu and Natto, two girls dressed in eastern-style clothing also seemed to have their interest drawn by the sight.
Osmanthus Cake: “Just like a single snowflake that makes a flower bloom, a touch of man makes the sweets rejoices”... what a superb skill! Chongyang Cake, what do you think about it?
Chongyang Cake: I’m but someone who float with the tide, so I won’t tell my evaluation.
Natto looked somewhat excited as he took out his writing brush and started throwing questions.
Natto: Hello! I’d like to ask, how come the creams don’t melt despite it’s currently under such a high temperature?
Umeshu: (I knew it, Natto’s interest went toward the materials used...)
Pastel De Nata: ...
Chocolate: Welcome, everyone! He’s our shop, Satan's Coffee House’s proud pâtissier, Pastel De Nata! Ah, he’s a little tired today, though. If you have questions, please come here and ask me instead.
When Huangshan Maofeng stood at the entrance of his shop, he saw someone familiar passing by.
Only after a hossu staff entered her line of view that Chongyang Cake realized she's passing in front of Huangshan Maofeng’s fortune telling shop.
Turning her gaze, she saw a smiling Huangshan Maofeng and the flag behind him, flapping in the wind. Seeing the “not a fraud” written in big size on the flag making Chongyang Cake’s eyebrows furrowed, thinking that the word instead screams suspicious to her.
Huangshan Maofeng: My, to think that I’ll see you here, Chongyang Cake! You’re my first customer today! My, my, congratulations~
Chongyang Cake: Somehow I knew you’ll say that.
Huangshan Maofeng: Ahem! Just like how it’s worth to wait to get a delicious meal, there’s no need to deliberately make yourself stand out in order to get famous... and that’s what makes my fortune telling known to be accurate! This time, in the spirit of good fellowship, I’ll read your fortune for free. How does that sound?
Without waiting for Chongyang Cake’s answer, he led her to the fortune reading table. Then, he threw three coins onto the table.
Chongyang Cake: ... What does it says?
Huangshan Maofeng: You’ll meet a friend, chances upon a fortune, and gets an even bigger luck. I see, you’ll be lucky today!
Chongyang Cake: What does that mean?
Huangshan Maofeng: Chongyang Cake, you should try changing yourself starting from today. If you can get rid of your restrictions... something good is bound to happen, you know?
Chongyang Cake: Get rid of my restrictions...? Are you telling me to inform people of their good and bad lucks? I can’t do that, I’ve vowed to myself that that I won’t tell others their fortune.
Huangshan Maofeng: Well, it’s up to you whether you want to do it or not. I’m just telling you the result of the fortune reading.
Chongyang Cake: Thank you for the wonderful reading. To show my gratitude, let me get rid of that restriction you spoke of for a bit and read yours in return.
Huangshan Maofeng: Read mine in return?
Chongyang Cake: Be careful with what you say for today.
Huangshan Maofeng: Hmph... conversing is what I do for work. I can’t heed your warning. I won’t believe in your reading. I won’t!
