Hello, this is Mashiro.
Today's story takes place in the studio before rehearsal.
It was a Sunday morning.
The atmosphere was a little calmer than usual, and I was getting everything ready before the lesson started.
Checking the speakers.
Looking over the schedule.
Preparing drinks for hydration.
And of course, checking the studio floor before everyone arrived.
Everything looked perfect.
Or so I thought.
*Knock knock.*
Someone tapped on the studio door.
π€ Mashiro: "Come in."
The door opened, and in walked Shizuku.
In both hands, she was carrying a beautiful box.
A very beautiful box.
An extremely beautiful box.
π Shizuku: "Good morning, Mashiro~"
π€ Mashiro: "Good morning, Shizuku. And that box is...?"
π Shizuku: "I brought a little treat for everyone~"
*A little treat.*
That's what she said.
But the box already looked far beyond "a little."
The texture of the ribbon.
The elegance of the paper bag.
The weight and design of the box itself.
My manager instincts were telling me one thing.
This was definitely not an ordinary snack.
π€ Mashiro: "Thank you very much. May I ask what it is?"
π Shizuku: "Just some baked sweets we had at home~"
"At home."
That answer sounded very casual.
The box, however, looked anything but casual.
Just then, Hinata burst into the room.
𧑠Hinata: "Morning! Oh! Sweets!?"
π Shizuku: "Ufufuβͺ They're for everyone~"
𧑠Hinata: "Yay!"
Aine, Ruka, and Rei arrived soon after.
π©· Aine: "Wow... they're so pretty!"
π©΅ Ruka: "Wait, the box already looks photogenic."
π Rei: "...Better not look up the price."
π€ Mashiro: "Rei, do you know something?"
π Rei: "No. But sometimes not knowing is the peaceful option."
She may have had a point.
When we opened the box, rows of tiny baked sweets were arranged beautifully inside.
They looked like jewels.
For some reason, I felt like I had to sit up straight just looking at them.
𧑠Hinata: "Can I really eat this!?"
π Shizuku: "Of course you can~"
π©· Aine: "I feel weirdly nervous..."
π©΅ Ruka: "Can I take a picture first? No, wait... I kind of want to eat it first!"
π Rei: "Probably best to eat them one at a time."
𧑠Hinata: "This isn't the kind of snack you eat all at once!?"
π Rei: "I don't think so."
Hinata looked a little disappointed.
But the moment she took one biteβ
𧑠Hinata: "...!"
𧑠Hinata: "What is this!? It's amazing!!"
π©· Aine: "It's so good...!"
π©΅ Ruka: "Okay, wow... this is definitely a 'eat before posting' kind of dessert."
π Rei: "...Not bad."
π Shizuku: "Ufufuβͺ I'm glad you like them~"
Everyone's expressions lit up at once.
Shizuku smiled softly as she watched.
To her, this may not have been anything unusual.
But the thought behind itβ
bringing something special just to make everyone happyβ
was very clear.
...However.
I happened to notice a small card at the bottom of the box.
The shop name.
A neat product description.
And a carefully printed number that looked suspiciously like the price.
π€ Mashiro: "..."
π€ Mashiro: "Shizuku."
π Shizuku: "Yes~?"
π€ Mashiro: "Was this really just... a *little* treat?"
π Shizuku: "Yesβͺ Just a little~"
π©΅ Ruka: "Mashiro, your face just froze."
π Rei: "You saw it, huh."
𧑠Hinata: "Huh!? Saw what!?"
π©· Aine: "Maybe it's one of those things we're better off not knowing..."
I quietly slipped the card back into the box.
And decided I had seen absolutely nothing.
Before rehearsal even began, Shizuku's treats had made the whole studio feel just a little more glamorous than usual.
Just a little.
...At least by Shizuku's standards.
To Be Continued...