The thirteenth day of the Month of Wood... With Valentine’s Day only a day away, an air of restless excitement drifted through the streets. In a small general store tucked away in an alley off the main thoroughfare, a voice rang out.
"And that’s why, Shaltan! You have to teach me how to make chocolate!"
"…Er, yes. I was just about to start on my own, so I suppose we could make them together."
Though slightly overwhelmed by Fate’s sudden appearance, Alice agreed and led the Goddess to the kitchen.
After borrowing an apron from Alice and tying it on, Fate scanned the array of cooking utensils with a curious murmur.
"It’s pretty simple, right? You just buy some chocolate and melt it in a bowl over hot water."
"No, store-bought products have too many impurities for my liking. I’ve prepared my own chocolate here, which I made myself starting from the cacao beans."
"…Impressive. You actually started from the beans?"
"Actually, to be precise, I grew the beans themselves. I managed to produce some magnificent cacao by creating the perfect environment for them."
"…Y-You went that far?"
"Of course. This is a gift for Kaito-san, after all. I enlisted Lilliwood-san’s help to ensure I had the absolute best quality possible."
Indeed, Alice had spent over a year preparing for this very day. To grow the supreme cacao beans, she had secured the cooperation of the World King, Lilliwood, on the condition that she would share a portion of the finished chocolate with her.
Those supreme beans had been cultivated by mobilizing Lilliwood herself and the entire host of tree spirits under her command. Naturally, Alice’s obsession didn't stop there; every other ingredient had been sourced with an almost frightening level of dedication.
She had traveled the world to find the perfect milk, and she had even hand-crafted every single cooking utensil from scratch to ensure that no metallic or unwanted flavors would taint the final product.
"…I-I see. Well, I’m certainly looking forward to seeing how it turns out."
"Indeed. Now, as for you, Fate-san… let’s see. Let's keep it simple. Please take this bowl with the ingredients and give it a thorough stir."
"Got it! Leave it to me!"
Taking the bowl of chocolate and ingredients from Alice, Fate began to stir with an expression full of determination.
One rotation, two, three… and then Fate stopped, turning back toward Alice.
"…Is something wrong?"
"…Shaltan… I’m exhausted."
"That was too fast! You only stirred it three times!"
"No, I worked hard. I worked incredibly hard… so I think it’s probably fine to call it finished now, don't you?"
"Of course it's not! It’s barely even mixed yet!"
Alice stared at her in utter exasperation as Fate claimed she was spent after barely moving her hands.
After spending a significant amount of time coaxing and persuading the sulking Goddess, Alice finally managed to get the chocolate-making back on track.
"…Phew… pant… It was worth the struggle! This is looking great!"
"I hate to break it to you, but I did almost all the work. And while I’m sorry to ruin your triumphant moment, we still have to shape them and add the decorations."
"Whaaat?! It’s that much of a chore? I really underestimated how much work goes into making chocolate."
"And I certainly underestimated just how much of a slacker you are, Fate-san…"
It was a constant battle against a Goddess who tried to skip out on work the second Alice’s back was turned.
Even Alice, who had known her for a very long time, was left speechless by Fate's sheer laziness—especially considering she was the one who had begged for the lesson in the first place.
While Fate reluctantly poured her chocolate into the molds and waited for them to set, Alice proceeded with her own masterpiece.
Alice’s hands moved with blurred, supernatural speed, crafting delicate, beautiful candy sculptures to adorn her creations.
"…Hmm. Perhaps I went a little too far with the detail?"
"Hmm? Whoa… Shaltan, that’s incredible! Those are… yeah, that’s Kai-chan and his pets!"
"Yes, Bellfried and Rin. I’ve even varied the color of the candy for different sections, so I think the likeness is fairly accurate."
Alice called it 'fairly accurate,' but her skills were at the world’s absolute pinnacle; the candy crafts she produced were nothing short of fine art.
"It really is amazing… Oh, that reminds me. What kind of chocolate are you making for yourself, Shaltan?"
"Eh? Ah, I’m making Sachertorte. A full-sized cake would be a bit much, so I’m making a miniature version…"
"Ooh… that sounds complicated. Hmm? Wait a minute…"
Fate had been admiring Alice’s confectionery skills, but she suddenly paused, her face scrunching up in thought. Alice tilted her head, watching her curiously.
"Shaltan… just as an example, could you shape chocolate into something specific like you did with the candy?"
"Eh? Yes, I can manage most shapes, but…"
"Then, could you make this chocolate into the shape of me?"
"…I could, but what exactly are you planning to do with that?"
"You know! It’ll be like a 'come and eat me' sort of thing!"
"…W-Well, if that’s what you want, Fate-san… I suppose I can do it…"
"Yay!"
With a skeptical look on her face, Alice picked up the chocolate that had been tempered and set with magic.
"…So, even if you say you want it to look like you, there are a lot of ways I could do it. What kind of pose or outfit are we talking about?"
"In the nude!"
"…Excuse me?"
"I said, in the nude!"
"…Yeah, no. Unfortunately, I’m not intimately familiar with the details of your naked body, Fate-san, so I don't think I can make that."
Faced with Fate’s blunt demand for a nude sculpture of herself, Alice’s face settled into an expression of weary exasperation for what felt like the hundredth time that day.
She could guess what Fate was getting at, but the truth was, Alice had never made a point of staring at Fate while she was undressed. She could replicate a clothed version down to the last stitch, but she couldn't recreate something she hadn't seen… or rather, she had no desire to try.
"Oh, don't worry about that. I’ve got a model right here for you."
"Wait, stop! Fate-san, why are you starting to strip like it’s the most natural thing in the world?! Stop right there!"
"Ehh? But if I don't, we can't make the 'Heart-pounding, Alluring Goddess Chocolate'!"
"Putting aside that headache-inducing name for a moment, what on earth are you trying to make me create?! Absolutely not! Rejected! Even if you show me, I’m not making it!"
"Boo… Shaltan, you’re so stingy."
"This has nothing to do with being stingy!!"
"Fine, then you can even 'touch' me if you want!"
"None of this is okay! Why are you looking so proud of yourself?!"
…And so, the chaotic chocolate-making session continued, with Alice being dragged along by Fate’s endless whims.
The Kimashita Tower rises!