'......Yashiro............,I can't,I can't,I can't......'
'Hold on, Magda!We're almost ...... there!'
'Wha,wha!You're being pushed too hard!Calm down!
'Yashiro-san, please hang in there!We're almost there!

The kitchen of the sunlit pavilion had turned into a battlefield.

'It looks so delicious, Yashiro-san!It smells sweet, as if the spirit gods are smiling on us!
'Aah! I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.I ............ can't stand it anymore!
'......!Delia's power has been increased!
I can't stand it!My foot!My foot went into the ground. ............ Oh, dear!The building's starting to creak!I'm not sure what to do.

In order to make a prototype of the cake, I asked Sister Bertina to inspect and audit the work process on behalf of the church. ...... It was obvious that Bertina would go berserk in front of the sweet food.
That's why I asked Delia to restrain Bertina. ...... That was a mistake.
The sweet smell of the cake and the sight of it was enough to send even Delia into a tailspin.

Magda was the only one she could rely on.
But that's about to run out of steam. ...... At this rate, the cake will be devoured before it's finished!

I'm not sure what to do.I've brought you here!
I'm not sure what to do.Thank God!
'What's with the ............ summoning me to this place, and the ...... hellscape?

Norma drops the smoking pipe in her mouth.

'I'm sorry, Norma!Please hurry to ...... the kitchen and help Magda!
'......, I can't help it. ............'

He picked up a dropped cigarette, twirled it around and inserted it into his cleavage. '...... Isn't it hot?

'Oumalo!You hold those guys too!'
'Oui, no, no, no, no!Murimurimuri!You can't!It's ...... embarrassing to ............ touch a woman.
'Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're a useless fox!

I'm not sure if you've heard of this, but I'm sure you've heard of it.
...... I still don't understand the values of these guys, like the fact that the anteater brothers are not interested in Millie and are only interested in Magda, or the fact that Umaro is fine with such a s*xy sister. ......

I'm not sure what to do.I'm sorry.Isn't it over yet?
I'm sure you're right.That's right!All you have to do is put the whipped cream in a squeeze bag, decorate it, and put the strawberries on top of it. ......
'Strawberries?It's like the will of the spirit gods.If you put the strawberries on top of the pure white whipped cream like the heart of God the Spirit and the warm colors like the heart of God the Spirit, it is truly a sweet dedicated to God the Spirit!I think I have the right to be the first one to get it, Yashiro!
So!I'm sure you're not the only one who has a problem with that.

Bertina's eyes are bloodshot.
...... That's not the face of a saint.

It's not fair!I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to try.
I'm not sure what to do.I'll do it later!
'I've just been promoted to a favorite!
'Just you wait!

Delia is transforming into a beast.
...... d*mn, it was a mistake to let this guy in the kitchen.

'...... Magda's in danger, too.
'Wait!Wait, wait, wait, wait!You are the last line of defense!Please hold on!
'......Muh ......I want to live up to Yashiro's expectations ............ ............ but'.
'What is it with these kids?

If it weren't for Norma, the defense line would have collapsed by now.
I'm not sure what to do.

I'm not sure what to do.I'm not sure what to do.


'd*mn it, oh d*mn it!Let me at least make a cake calmly!

I hurriedly decanted the whipped cream and garnished it with strawberries!

''''' ohhh!

There were shouts of joy from everywhere.
There were countless people at the entrance of the kitchen.
Loretta's brothers and sisters, Theron and Wendy, the Yaplok family, Becco and Assunto.
Some people from the forty districts were also invited.

Yashiro-san!I'm ......!How dare you not let me in? ...... Come in, ......, get out of here!You can't see me!

So, naturally, Imelda is here too.

'Yashiro!Can you hear me?

That's Estella's voice.
She's shouting from the dining room, over the crowded kitchen.

'Oh!How's it going over there?
'I'm ready!

Good. It seems everything is ready.

'Yashiro-san!Cake!Cake for me!To me, the auditor!
'No, I'll go first!I'll do whatever Yashiro asks of me, my friend, my most trusted, me first!
'...... Magda, I can't take it anymore. ......'
'Then I want to eat too!
'Hey!Don't push me!It's dangerous. ............ It's dangerous!

The beasts of prey lost their reason and pushed Norma away and rushed into the cake.
If we don't do something, the cake will be ruined. ............?


There's no cake for those who can't play nice!


Everyone stopped moving immediately.
The people who hadn't listened to my repeated warnings stopped moving with one shout from Jeannette.
The red eyes are as clear as the ...... clear sky. ...... No, they're frightened.

'......When Jeannette is angry, it's when she's serious. It's possible that she's not serious about giving you a cake.'
'It's scary how serious the manager can be sometimes, isn't it?
'...... It's not like Yashiro, who is kind of sweet.'
I'm sure.

They ...... lick me, but can listen to Jeannette?
I'll make you cry for real next time. ...... individually.

'Come on, Yashiro. Let's cut the cake.'
'Yeah, sure.'

The kitchen is now quiet, making it easier to cut the cake.
I mean, ......, should I have done this from the beginning?
No, it's only after the rampage that they realized how serious Jeannette really is. They have a guilty conscience. d*mn.

Cut it up and taste it. Before ......, I'll ask Bertina.

'First of all, Miss Bertina. Did any of these steps violate the Church's definition of a cake?

If I say 'violated' here, of course this cake will never be eaten by anyone. It's going in the dashbox.

'No problem. From now on, the sale of this cake is permitted in the name of the Church.

Hmm. It's a foregone conclusion.
Otherwise Bertina can't eat the cake. She had to say yes, from the start.

'Well, ......'.

I slowly approach the blade to put the knife into the freshly made cake. ............

'Ah, yes. Ginette.'
'Yes?'

I stop and call out to Jeannette.
Jeannette turns to me with a curious look on her face and tilts her head.

Before I say anything to Jeannette, I quickly look at Magda, Loretta, Bertina, Delia, and Umaro.
Bertina's not going to forget the plan just because she wants to eat cake, is she?

Loretta and Delia quickly leave the kitchen, and the crowd of people moves toward the dining room.

Good, good.

'I'm sorry, but can you go get Estella for me?


'Estella-san, is it?
'Yeah, yeah. I've asked her to do something for me.'
'Yes, sir. All right. I'll bring her right away.

With that, Jeannette walks towards the dining hall without a second thought.


--She didn't know what would happen to her later.


The moment Jeannette turns her back, I quickly decorate the cake with sixteen thin candles that I had Bekko make and a plate made of sugar candy that I had prepared in advance.
Everyone in the kitchen except Jeannette smiled at me.
Ginette was the only one who didn't know.

It was getting dark outside the window.
This morning, I went to Percy's house, and then I went to Nepheli's house to get some eggs, and then I went to Sunshine Pavilion to be audited by Bertina, and I just passed the audit, and ...... Sunshine Pavilion got permission to sell cakes.

...... I'm glad I got it in time.

'Estella~san. Yashiro-san is ............ here!

As soon as she left the kitchen and stepped into the dining room, Ginette screamed.
It was because the lights in the dining room suddenly went out.
The lights in the kitchen went out at the same time.

Estella turned off the lights in the dining room, and Magda turned off the lights in the kitchen. Just as we had planned.

'What?What?Ah, sir!What's going on?Um, is everyone okay?

The cafeteria was enveloped in darkness, and the first thing that came out of Ginette's mouth was a voice of concern for everyone.
It was very typical of Jeannette.

'Ginette-chan. Over here.'
'What?Estella?Um, is this ......?'
'It's fine. Here.'

I can hear her voice.

Estella leads Jeannette to the dining room.
Here, she finally lights the candle on the cake.

A pale light illuminates the kitchen.

Relying on this flickering light, the rest of us in the kitchen moved together to the dining room.

The dining room was pitch black.
There, I could feel the presence of countless people.
I can't see their faces, but I know that there are many people there.

'Ginette'.

As I leave the kitchen and enter the dining room, I call out Ginette's name.

'Yes, sir. ............What?'

Ginette turns around and her eyes widen as she sees the flames flickering on the cake.

With Ginette staring at me, I slowly walked up to her.
Estella skillfully led Ginette to the table.
I put the cake on the table and said to Ginette.


'Ginette. Happy birthday.


Today is Ginette's birthday.

'............What?'

I've never been in the habit of celebrating birthdays before, so I'm sure you won't be able to feel it, but ...... the events of the past few days have been like telling me to 'celebrate Ginette's birthday in a big way'.
Ginette's birthday was suddenly announced.
In a city where it was not customary to send flowers, I created an atmosphere where people could send flowers more easily.
I learned of Ginette's favorite flower, which happened to bloom, and was able to see it with my own eyes.
I heard that there was sugar, and after some difficulty, I was able to obtain it.
I have just obtained a permit to sell the cake.

All of them have appeared in front of me one after another in the past few days.
...... God is such a bastard.
He must have been laughing at me as I was running around frantically.
Are you happy now?


But I made it.


I was really close.
I almost gave up.
But then things happened.
As if to tell me to go all out.
If you're desperate, you can make it just in time, just under the deadline.


I want to celebrate Jeannette's birthday in a big way. I need your help.

I spent the day yesterday going around to everyone I know and asking them to help me with this plan.
I persuaded the people of this city who do not have the custom of celebrating birthdays and told them how important and meaningful it is.

And I was once again reminded of how popular Ginette was.
Even those who had initially said, 'I don't understand,' agreed to help us, saying, 'For Ginette's sake.
If it hadn't been for Jeannette, we wouldn't have been able to do something of this magnitude.

After all, there are so many people gathered in the Sunlit Pavilion now.

People I've come into contact with at the Sunlit Pavilion.
Other than that, people I've met in various places.


I've invited many from the forty districts.

It's a grand party, no less than the standing-room-only parties that some lords hold at their homes.

Sixteen small flames flicker on top of the birthday cake that brings the party to life.
On a plate of sugar confections in the middle of the cake, the following words are written.

"Happy birthday, Ginette!Happy birthday!

Everything had been prepared for the sake of the one girl who had been protecting this sunny pavilion.
This time, this space, these people...
This time, this space, and these people are all here now just for Jeannette, no one else.

'............ Oh, that ......'
'Ginette, try blowing out that candle with one breath.'
'Huh?At ......, but...'
'That's how we celebrate in my country. Everyone clap when the fire goes out!
'''''' Oh, ''''''!

Many people in the room watched with bated breath.
The atmosphere is tense.

Ginette, who had been looking confused and hesitant, took a deep breath.
Then ......

'Phew~......!

With a single breath, the flames were blown out and a huge round of applause erupted.
Then, the lights were turned on in the sunlit pavilion.

Inside the brightly lit restaurant again, there was ......

'Wow ......'

Under Estella's leadership, the restaurant was decorated with warmth and a handmade feel.
My brothers and sisters, the kids from the church, Mo-Mat and Yap-Lock also helped.
Everyone who cared about Ginette helped out generously.

'Oh, that ............'.

Ginette was the only one who didn't understand the situation.
She was restlessly looking to the right and left, touching her cheeks and hair.

'Jeannette. This is a token of my gratitude.'

Estella says, holding out a flower.

'Estella-san ......'.

Ginette gently takes the flower.
Immediately, countless flowers surrounded Ginette from all over the place.

'...... Manager. Congratulations.'
'Thank you for everything, Manager!
'Gogo, gogo, rice, always delicious!
'Ginette, my flower is from the tomatoes we grow here!

Each of them has their own personality, and their flowers are not unified.
However, all of them had a ...... big smile on their faces as they presented the flowers.

'Mi............ everyone......'

The bouquet grew larger and larger in Jeannette's arms as she carefully accepted each flower from everyone.

'Congratulations to Jinette-san ............'.

Millie presents Ginette with a large sunflower.
She says it's an image of the sunny pavilion.

'Millie-san ......'

Ginette's voice is shaking with tears.
Before she knew it, Ginette's bouquet had grown so large that she couldn't hold it.

'Oh, um, ............ everyone ............, um, I'm not sure if you ......I don't know if you understand this, but ............I ...... ......I'm .................. happy.'

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.
Her big eyes were shimmering with happiness, as if they were about to break .......

'Ginette.
'...... Yashiro-san.'

I called out to her, and the crowd quickly cleared a space for me.
Well, a word from the planner is a must at a party, isn't it?
Spectators, stay where you are and listen quietly.

'You surprised me.
'...... Yes. You surprised me.'

Ginette giggles.
I turn to her and look at her face for a moment.
Her cheeks were red, her eyes were moist, and she was smiling, which was very Ginette-like.
I honestly thought it was a nice face.

'In my country, we celebrate the birthdays of our family and friends in a big way like this. No, it doesn't have to be a big celebration. It doesn't have to be a big celebration, just a small congratulations.
'...... nice ......, it's a very nice custom .......'
'This cake is essential for this.
'No way. ...... So, Yashiro, have you been ............ busy the last few days?'

I don't answer, I just smile and take that as an answer.
I'm not going to boast about my hardships.

'It has a happy taste, perfect for such a happy occasion.
'Is that so?I'm looking forward to it.
'Isn't it?Estella.


'Yes, yes.'

At my signal, Estella slips the knife into the cake. The strawberry shortcake, cut into eighths, is placed on a plate and handed to Ginette.
Magda and Loretta take care of the bouquet of flowers, which they hold in both hands, and carry it to the side.

'Today's hero is Ginette, you know. I'll give you the right to eat first.
'Eh, but!

Ginette looks at Bertina and Delia, who were rioting in the kitchen earlier.
...... Thank God they're adults.

'Oh, um, ...... is that okay?I'm not a .......'
'That's your cake.
'It's my .......'
'It's got your name on it.'

Estella made sure to put a plate of sugar candy on it. Very thoughtful, indeed.

'............ It's true, isn't it?

Her eyes began to water again and she held her fork with trembling hands.
Then slowly cut the cake into bite-sized pieces.

'...... It's soft.

You can feel the fluffy texture just by looking at it.

'............'

Then, gently take the cake on your fork into your ...... mouth.

'Ah ..................'

With an exhale, Jeannette's face turns pale pink, and a smile of happiness spreads across her face.

'......Sweet!

She held her mouth, trying not to miss the sensation that spread in her mouth, and slowly soaked up the aftermath as if savoring it with her whole body.

'It really tasted like ............ happiness.'
''Right?''

After placing the bite of cake on the table, Jeannette turns to me.
She puts her hands together and bows deeply.

'Thank you so much for .......'

She keeps her head down and doesn't look up.
Perhaps he is overflowing with gratitude.
But ...... this isn't the end yet, is it?

'This is my gift to you.

I'm glad I got this one in time.
A hair ornament in the shape of Ginette's favorite flower, the Soleil, with its beautiful, large, bright orange petals, is fastened to Ginette's hair.

'What?

Ginette looks up quickly and touches the hair clip with both hands fearfully.
Estella comes in front of Ginette with a mirror.
She holds the mirror just where she can see her face and points it at Jeannette.

Ginette looks into the mirror, turns her face slightly to the side, and stares at the hair clip.

'............ Soleil............... ...'

There, Jeannette's tear glands finally broke down.
A large tear falls down her cheek.

'............My............ most favorite... My favorite ............ flower is .............'
'I couldn't get you a real one, though.
'That's not true!It's .................. now ......... ...No, this is .............'

She wiped away her spilling tears with both hands, but still wiped away the overflowing tears again and again, and Ginette said in a clear tone.


'This diadem is ...... my lifelong treasure.


Whoa!A cheer went up.
The mission was a success. That's what I call it.
Everyone in the room was happy.
Everyone was celebrating.
Everyone's heart was in one place.

I'm sure the custom of celebrating birthdays will take root in this city.
As long as everyone remembers this feeling.

And ......
Every person in this city will celebrate someone's birthday.

And ...... and ............


We ate cake at the sunny pavilion and we made a lot of money!
Great event!
Special day, great!
It's a special day, and it loosens your purse strings!
It's my birthday!
And sell it, shortcake!

Oh, dear.Noo-ha-ha-ha-ha!

"Mr. Yashiro.

Jeannette, who has no idea what's in my heart, stares at me with pure eyes.
And then ............ and eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

'Yashiro-san!

Jeannette jumps on me.
...... I mean, you know, that ............ thing, she hugged me.
She put her arms around my neck and squeezed me.

'..................Thank you,......!



His voice was trembling with tears and a bit scratchy,............, but he sounded very happy and warm.


I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that,......, .............
In fact, it's all for my benefit. ............ You don't even know you're being used ...... to fight!Yeah, that's right!I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea,

It was all calculated!
I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that.

I'll be back!
'Hey, don't cry!What?I'll be back.Eat the cake and stop crying, okay?

This is also, of course, ...... calculated as ......, you know?

I'm sure you're right, Yashiro.I'm an auditor, and I'm getting a cake!
'And me!
'Oh, me too, me too!You did a great job behind the scenes this time, didn't you?
'...... Magda is the winner.'
'I want it too!
'But you know what? Look closely. This isn't enough, no matter how you look at it.'
'Yashiro-san.
'Yashiro.
'Yashiro'.
'......Yashiro'
'Onii-chan!
Make '''''! '''''
'Look at this situation and tell me, guys!


Yeah, yeah.
It's all so calculated!
Oh, God!All right, all right!I'll make you a hole!
I'm gonna bleed you out!

You know, I'm--



I'm feeling pretty good today.