Hello?

(MEIKO said that it'd be okay for me and Akito to enter, but I'm still not sure if I should have...)

Okay, all that's left is to take this dough and let it cool in the fridge!

Yes, and we need to be careful to not touch it too much. Otherwise, the butter may melt away.

Okay! Got it!

(They seem to be making something in the kitchen together... But what...?)

Yes, that's it!
Just wrap it in plastic and... Hm?

Oh, Toya! Welcome!

Huh?! T-Toya?!

I'm sorry for interrupting. I heard that you had this place to yourselves today... Shall I leave?

Not to worry! Oh, but... If you don't mind waiting a second, we need to wrap this in some plastic first. So, Len, let's get to it...!

O-Okay!

Phew... Thank you for waiting, Toya. I apologize for us being a little all over the place.

No, that's okay.
More importantly, that looked like...

U-Uhh...!

We were actually just making some cookies.

K-KAITO, why'd you tell him?!

Haha! Sorry, but I had a feeling that he'd find out regardless of whether or not we told him.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to spoil your secret.

Oh, no. That's totally fine!
It's actually okay if you know, Toya.

But please don't tell MEIKO, Rin or the others. We want to surprise them with these!

Surprise them...?

It's almost White Day, right?
So, we want to give them some gifts.

But it wouldn't be much fun to give them something simple, so I thought I could make them their gifts. KAITO was just showing me how.

I see. Now I understand...

Truth be told, MEIKO is a much better baker than I am. However, they're meant for her, so we can't really ask her to help us.

Yes, I agree.
I hope they turn out well, Len...

Me too! Oh, also...
Don't tell Kohane or An too! I wanna give them some too!

Okay, I promise not to tell them.

Still, White Day...
I'll need to think of something soon.

Do you know who you're going to be giving back to, Toya?

Well, I plan on giving back to those important to me...

Azusawa, Shiraishi, my mom...
MEIKO, Miku, Rin and Luka.

Haha! It sounds like you also have a lot of recipients in mind.

But I think it's good that you wish to show so many different people how much you appreciate them.

Yes, well...

(People who I wish to show my appreciation for... Now that I think about it, that is a fairly long list...)

(Then, I'd like to give back to them as well...)

(We're even having our dinner party right around White Day, so it can also be my way of thanking them for inviting me.)

Toya? Is something wrong?

Oh, no... Actually, some friends I've known since I was little invited me over to their house for a party.

So, I was just thinking that I could do something for them in return.

Then, you should come up with something really nice for them! After all, we're talking about White Day here!

Something really nice...

Yes, I agree with you.
I'll try giving this some more thought.

It really is wonderful, isn't it?

Huh? What are you talking about?

Me? Why, White Day, of course.

I mean, even if you wish to show others how much you appreciate them, opportunities to say how you actually feel don't come often, no?

However, having an entire day dedicated to doing just that makes things much easier.

For instance, Len here has trouble expressing how he truly feels, but is working very hard in preparation for White Day to make up for his shortcomings.

H-Hey, don't phrase it like that!

Oh, just outside the window... Isn't that Akito?

Ah, yes...
It's almost time for us to meet.

But... If we don't act quickly, Azusawa and Shiraishi will also end up coming here.

Len, I'm going to explain what's going on to Akito and try to move our meeting location...

You will? Thanks, Toya!

Not a problem. So, you two, good luck baking those cookies.

Thank you! Have fun at practice, Toya!

(*Sigh*
They really do have a large assortment of sweets and snacks available here.)

(I hope I'm able to find something that both Tsukasa and Saki will like...)

(This shop seems to primarily make baked sweets...)

(Madeleines, macarons, poundcakes and all sorts of other treats.)

(I'm not the biggest fan of sweets, but I have a feeling that Tsukasa and Saki will like something from here.)

(No, wait...)

(They'll probably end up liking whatever I give to them...)

(In that case...)

(Something really nice... That's easier said than done.)

What should I do...?

Ah, Aoyagi, hello there.

Kamishiro...?

Fancy seeing you here.
Were you browsing gifts for White Day?

How did you know?

Well, you were staring at that display case full of sweets and sighing. It was easy to connect those two dots.

More importantly, you seem somewhat concerned... Were you having that much trouble deciding what to buy?

I was just...

(Wait, Kamishiro works with Tsukasa at the same show stage...)

(He may be able to give me an insight into what Tsukasa likes...)

(Then...)

Um, actually... Would you mind if I asked you for some advice?

No, I don't mind since I've already finished doing what I came here to do.

Thank you very much. Then...

I see...
So you wish to give Tsukasa and Saki something very special.

Yes, and you spend quite a lot of time with Tsukasa. That's why I was hoping you could give me some advice regarding him.

Yes, well... I don't know Saki all that well, but I may be able to help you with Tsukasa.

At the same time, I feel that they'd like whatever you choose to give them.

Yes, I had a feeling...

But it seems like you won't be satisfied with just that.

So, um... I'd like to get them something really nice. Something they'd both genuinely enjoy.

Hmm... Then, why not make some sweets for them?

What? Make some for them...?

Yes. I was actually fortunate enough to receive some homemade gifts for Valentine's Day from my fellow troupe members, and I sort of couldn't believe how happy I felt.

It was a strange sensation.
I tried thinking about why I felt that way...

And I ultimately arrived on those gifts being imbued with their respective giver's thoughts and feelings.

Their thoughts and feelings...

Yes. You could even tell that each gift they made was for a specific member of our troupe.

Of course, there are countless ways to convey how you feel to others...

With one of them being making something for them. Which I'm sure they'll both enjoy very much.

Yes, I see...
That is a wonderful idea.

But, I...

I did actually think about making something for them.

But I don't have much experience cooking or baking... I'm afraid that I'll disappoint them by making something that isn't very good. So, I've been shying away from that...

Hmm... I see...

But I've begun to change my mind after hearing what you said, Kamishiro.

I'd like to make something for them that comes from my heart...

So, thank you for the advice.

You're welcome, and good luck.
I hope they like what you make for them.

Me too!