Samurai Love Ballad Party: A Series of Short Stories

Crazy Kind of Love

Crazy Kind of Love
Tokugawa Ieyasu X MC
Rating: G

It's a bright sunny day and I had been at our family's sweet shop since early morning. We had gotten an abundance of strawberries from the local farmer whom we did business with all the time. He was so kind to give us more than the usual requested so I was tasked with making more ichigo daifuku for the day since they were so popular with our customers. I was also tasked with serving customers since the usual girl sprained her ankle and we only ever had one server. It's a small shop so we never had to serve that many. Most of our customers take things to go. Today was not that day. Of all the days, it had to be a busy one, too. I heaved a sigh and wiped my brow as I saw someone take a seat at one of the tables outside. "I'll be right there!" After wiping my brow again, I walk briskly outside. I could notice an air about this man I couldn't quite place, but I dismissed it since, right now, he was but another customer.

"I don't see why you need to placate the public by being outside with these peasants," said a young man standing beside the seated one dressed much like a lord.

"Sometimes it's something that has to be done. Besides, his lordship should get out more instead of staying cooped up inside. It would do his health a great service." An older voice chimed in pleasantly and then addressed me. "Miss, I was told your place serves the best sweets."

Once I set the table, I turned to the older gentleman standing next to the younger one who gave me this look like he wanted to strike me down just for existing. I held my tray to me as if it would protect me and nodded with as polite a bow as I could muster. "That's right. We're known for the freshest ichigo daifuku."

"Well then, old man, you have redeemed yourself yet again," the young noble sitting down said exasperatedly.

"If you could, young lady, plea-"

"I can order for myself, Tadatsugu. I'm not a child." The man sitting down pouted disgruntledly. "Go away. Both of you."

The one that gave me the death look sighed heavily and left without another look at me. The one called Tadatsugu smiled kindly to me. "Miss, do take good care of milord. We will return in a few hours." He bowed to his lord and me then left to follow the death glare samurai.

"I thought they'd never leave," the young lord huffed once the others were out of hearing range. I think he was glaring a bit after them but that look quickly disappeared when he turned to me with a bright smile. "So, ichigo daifuku you said?"

Woah, don't want to meet him in some back alley for sure. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I nodded. "That's right. We make them fresh daily in small batches. Often times we sell out before we're closed."

"I'll be the judge of that," he said, that smile turning to a smirk and one I wasn't too comfortable with. Why did I feel like a deer caught in a hunter's line of sight? "Bring me some and tea," was all he said before turning away from me to watch the people pass on the street.

Quickly, I head inside with the strange looks of my parents following me as I head to the kitchen to fix a pot of tea and plate the last of the ichigo daifuku. I burned myself on the pot that had the boiling water in the process but, this lord didn't seem like one to be kept waiting. A minor burn was a small price to pay for not getting yelled at or worse. Once my tray was set, I head back.

"Here you go, milord." Setting the tray down, he frowned. "What is it? Is there something wrong?"

"Only the evidence of a clumsy girl before me," he said as he indicated the burn on my hand. "And what foolish act caused you to burn your hand before presenting yourself to me once more?"