Samurai Love Ballad Party: A Series of Short Stories

A Manju Christmas (Part 3)

A Manju Christmas (Part 3)
MC x Ishida Mitsunari
Including: Maeda Toshiie, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Matsuko
Rating: G

After a long lecture about having discussions with strangers like I'm a child, I received my book and am ordered to go elsewhere. I find a spot in the kitchen and start going through the book in the hopes there's something I could use for both him and Lord Nobunaga. The book has a chocolate castella recipe so I quickly took notes, seeing if I could adjust the sugar to accommodate his lordship's sweet tooth.

But, what about Lord Mitsunari? I know his favorite snack is manju, but how do I go about trying to use this book to make some for him? I flip through the pages and see a recipe that looks similar to castella but uses cinnamon and sugar. Curious, I look for my personal book of recipes and find my manju recipe and see it could be possible to adapt it. So I get to making a small batch to test.

By the time the filling was done, Umeko and Matsuko come into the kitchen to prep dinner. "[___], you've been here all this time?" Umeko comes up and sees me preparing the dough. "Oh! Are you making something for Lord Mitsunari?" Her eyes sparkled as I gasped in shock and deny it all.

"It's pretty obvious given he only eats the desserts you make," Matsuko said with a knowing smile. Am I really that obvious?

Umeko had a determined look on her face as she pounded a fist into her palm. "Don't worry! Your secret is safe with us. We'll help you however we can!"

"Sure," Matsuko said as she looked over what I was doing. "If anyone can soften that scowly mug of his, it's you."

I had to chuckle a little and nodded in thanks. They tasted the filling and approved, but the real test was when I had to put them all together. With their help, I had enough to give to a few to let others try and see before I made them for Lord Mitsunari.

Since Lord Hideyoshi knows him best, I thought I'd take these samples to him and Inuchiyo only because he'd complain about why I didn't ask him first. If I can find them together, then I'd be able to see both of their reactions. I'm wandering the grounds, when I see Lord Hideyoshi training with Inuchiyo. Talk about luck! They're drenched in sweat so I quickly head back to get them towels and water and serve them on a tray.

"You have some wonderful timing, [___]," Lord Hideyoshi said as he grabbed a towel and wiped his brow.

"She's always been struck with that kind of luck," Inuchiyo said as he took the other towel. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Well," I start to speak when Lord Hideyoshi saw the manju.

"Are those for us?" He smiled as he poured some water for himself. "Those look good. What are they?"

"Manju, but I made them with the flavors of the holiday so I wanted to see if they were likeable."

"So, you thought it would be fine to test it on us to see if they're terrible," Inuchiyo said as he smirked.

"That's not very nice to say since [___] is obviously going through a lot of trouble to make these for Mitsunari." Hideyoshi is always kind and I try to deny the truth that he's just stated. "Oh no? Well then perhaps this will be a secret between us then." With a wink and a smile, he takes a bite."

"Tch, I don't know why you like that pencil neck for," Inuchiyo scowls as he eats his manju.

"If it bothers you so much, then stop eating what she gave you, you mangy mongrel." There was the neutral tone of displeasure I've come to know and love. Lord Mitsunari was standing not far from us with a look on his face I couldn't quite describe. Was he mad at me? Taking the tray from he, he shoved it into Inuchiyo's chest and dragged me away by the wrist. I can hear Inuchiyo complain as Lord Hideyoshi told Lord Mitsunari not to be so hard on me.

The walk to his room was filled with silent tension. Not sure what would happen, Lord Mitsunari dragged me into his room, closed the door then trapped me against the wall with a hand on the wall at the side of my head. "Just what do you think you're doing? Flirting with both Hideyoshi AND that mangy mutt?" There was definitely irritation in his voice.

"I-I was not! I was just-"

"Then you were just seeing to their needs after training, is that it?" I didn't think he'd get so close but,... pretty sure I could touch his nose with mine if he got any closer.

I swallowed my nervousness and nodded furiously. "That's right. They looked like they'd been training for hours so they could have needed water and a snack. I am a maid here so I have to make sure they're alright, even in passing." Come on, accept it. It's only logical because I work here.

Once that face of acceptance comes onto his face, I sigh in relief as he draws back his hand and put a little space between us. But only a little. "I don't recall you doing that this morning when I was training." Oh no...

"T-that's because you're always up so early like Lord Mitsuhide! You and he always are up before the sun has time to even wink." That came out a little much but it was too late to take it back.

Lord Mitsunari took a step back, that neutral face of "I'm tired of this" all too familiar. "Lazy Dillard, you'd do well to learn from one of us at least. Get out and bring me tea if you want to stay useful."

Deep sigh of relief, I head out and rush to the kitchen. When I get there, I fix up a pot of tea and place the last of the special manju I made onto the tray. I hadn't even tried it myself but, since Lord Hideyoshi and Inuchiyo liked them, I have to believe Lord Mitsunari will as well. I knock on his door and got no response, which was expected given that he was always reading something. When I enter, I was right, seeing piles of books surrounding him as I approached. Once the tray was set, the crisp snap of a book being closed and the neutral face of scrutinization appeared before me. "I see. Giving me the scraps?" He eyed the pastries with those discerning eyes of his.

"No, I made them today and they're not scraps. I just..." Oh, he's going to get mad at me for this... "I didn't get to taste test them?" I smile sheepishly as I half cringe away as I serve him tea.

"You did what?!" Oh no. "You fed Hideyoshi food you didn't check was good enough for him before you fed it to him?" Lord Mitsunari took a deep breath and calmed down a bit. "Well, given you also gave it to the mutt and he didn't die, they must be passable. Doesn't mean that they're not palatable. That tramp would probably eat anything you fed him."

Without further hesitation, he reached for a manju and bit into it. I waited with baited breath to see what his reaction was. I prayed it would be a positive one. It felt like forever before he swallowed the bite and sipped some tea. "Not altogether displeasing. Next time, just bring them to me to try if you're not all inept to do it yourself."

I smiled happily as I watched him eat them. "I actually made them for you, but I wanted to make sure that others liked them, too."

Lord Mitsunari smirked whimsically. "Always the people pleaser...." Putting back on his studying face, he pushed his cup towards me as he went for another manju. I happily refilled it in silence as he went back to studying. I took out my recipe book to write some notes and wait until he finished eating so I could take the used items away. All the while, I felt accomplished he ate the new dessert. I draw little hearts secretly in case he should see to indicate his liking and count down the days till the celebration.