The Classmate Who Is Adored by Everyone Smiles Teasingly Only at Me-Chapter 2V1 .7 - Smiling Strawberry Parfait

Smiling Strawberry Parfait 7

“Hey, wait…!”

“Come on, let’s hurry.”

Ignoring Sōma’s protest, she continues pulling him.

“I was looking forward to going to the café with you, Sōma-san. The coffee shop we went to the other day was lovely, and today’s café looks fashionable too.”

“No, come on, can’t you let go? I can walk by myself?”

“No way. If that’s the case, then you won’t come with me, right?”

Chika’s grip proves unexpectedly strong.

No matter how much he tries to shake her off, he can’t loosen her hold.

“Come on-come on, let’s go quickly.”

She says cheerfully and continues to tug him along.

“Give me a break…”

He can’t help but pray that no one he knows sees him in this embarrassing situation.

Today’s café has a bright atmosphere, completely different from the previous coffee shop, with upbeat pop music playing as background music.

The fragrance in the air is more sweet treats than the aroma of coffee.

Most of the seats are filled with young customers, creating a lively atmosphere.

“Excuse me, we had a reservation.”

Chika, still holding onto Sōma’s sleeve, shows the reservation screen on her smartphone, and the waiter, who seems like a part-time employee, smoothly guides them to a window seat with a nice view outside.

“…Good grief.”

As soon as Sōma was freed from Chika’s grasp and sat on the chair, a wave of exhaustion hit him.

“Sōma-san, you sound like an old man.”

“Shut up.”

He glared lightly at Chika, who had taken a seat across from him, blaming her for making him this tired.

“I’ll have a Strawberry Parfait and Iced Tea, please.”

To the waitress who brought a glass of water and a wet towel, Sōma placed an order from the menu he had decided on beforehand.

“A Parfait, huh?”

Chika tilted her head slightly, looking somewhat surprised.

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“This place is famous for its Parfaits.”

Looking around the interior, they could see several women enjoying Parfaits.

“Um, I don’t mean to offend, but Parfaits are just a bunch of ingredients stacked in a glass. You can find everything you need to learn just by searching for photos online…I think it should be enough.”

“I understand what you’re trying to say. But, you never really know until you try it yourself.”

Sweets and desserts are meant to be enjoyed with all five senses——sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.

Just looking at something online won’t give you an experience beyond visuals.

Indeed, the process of making a Parfait is simple.

However, Parfaits created by skilled professionals are clearly different from amateur attempts.

“If anyone could make something at a professional level just by looking, the world would be full of professionals. Dessert-making isn’t that easy. At least, I’m not so skilled that I can improve just by looking at photos.”

Sōma has realized this from repeatedly making sweets since elementary school.

He knows he’s just an ordinary person. That’s why he has no choice but to work hard and study.

While Sōma was discussing these things, Chika gazed at him intently, propping her chin on her hand.

“… What’s up?”

When he’s gazed at by her current mature atmosphere, his cheeks start feeling itchy.

“When it comes to sweets, you get really serious, don’t you?”

“Well, of course. Becoming a pastry chef is my dream.”

It’s only natural to be serious about one’s dream.

If you’re not serious about your dream, then it’s not a dream.

“That kind of Sōma-san is very cool.”

“It’s annoying how you can say that so casually.”

“I guess it’s because I’m used to being called cute all the time, so I have no resistance to saying things like that.”

“I’m not used to it, so stop it.”

He can count on one hand the times he’s been called cool in his fifteen years of life.

Reaching for the glass of water to hide his embarrassment, Chika smiles slyly.

“That’s why I think it’s cute when Sōma-san gets embarrassed.”

“… I’m telling you not to say that.”

Being with this girl, his expressions are constantly shifting between being embarrassed and looking serious.

“We apologize for the wait.”

By the time Sōma finishes his water, the waitress brings the Strawberry Parfait and Iced Tea.

“Wow, it looks beautiful.”

Chika exclaims as she looks at the Parfait.

Her explanation that ‘Parfaits are just a bunch of ingredients stacked together’ is certainly not wrong.

If you search for Parfait recipes online, simple steps are pretty much all you’ll find.

However, the real thing is different, the disparate ingredients come together to form a single sweet treat.

Egg-colored sponge cake, ruby-colored strawberry sauce, fox-colored corn flakes, white snow-like whipped cream, and shiny jewel-like strawberries.

The vibrant ingredients form beautiful layers, creating a visually pleasing dessert.

“It’s beautiful.”

Sōma expresses the same sentiment as Chika.

Even if given the same ingredients, Sōma wouldn’t be able to arrange them in such a beautiful way.

It’s research, experience, and sense that create these gorgeous layers.

“Then, would you like to try it?”

“Sure.”

At Sōma prompts, Chika responds with a light bow before slowly inserting a long-handled soda spoon into the Strawberry Parfait.

She progresses through the layers of strawberries, whipped cream, and strawberry sauce, savoring each bite.

Finally, when the spoon reaches the bottom of the glass, she shares her thoughts.

“It’s fun.”

“Fun?”

Sōma is surprised by her unexpected choice of words.

“Each individual ingredient is delicious, of course, but the fun part is how the flavors gradually change as they come together in your mouth. There are no repeated combinations of the same taste and texture. Every time you scoop, the contents on the spoon change slightly, keeping your taste buds entertained.”

“So that’s why you find it ‘fun.’ I see.”

“In that sense, the most interesting part is the cornflakes.”

Chika points to the fox-colored layer right in the middle of the glass.

“I used to think it was just for volume, but when I tasted it with a conscious effort, I realized that this layer serves as a crunchy contrast to prevent the dessert from becoming monotonous. It’s not too much or too little; it functions perfectly as an accent.”

“…amazing.”

“Yes, there’s a reason it’s so highly regarded.”

“No, no. What’s amazing is you, Chika. I’m impressed by how seriously you tasted it. It was the right decision to appoint you as the taste tester.”

Not only does she have a keen sense of taste, but she also possesses sharp observation skills and analytical thinking.

Even though Sōma has made confectionery his mission, he’s not entirely confident that he can come up with such a smooth and accurate analysis.

Chika seems delighted by the praise as she shrinks back slightly, seeming a bit unsure of herself.