It all began one afternoon with a sudden remark from Kuro.
"Hey, Kaito-kun..."
Kuro was usually a whirlwind of smiles and cheer, but today her expression was uncharacteristically solemn. She actually looked like she was wrestling with a heavy burden. I tilted my head, my heart swirling with a mixture of anxiety and concern.
Then, after taking a long, dramatic pause, she spoke with a dead serious face.
"...What do you think defines the 'Ultimate Baby Castella'?"
"I have no idea."
It was something so incredibly trivial that it caught me completely off guard! What? Seriously? All that intense, brooding contemplation was for that?!
"I see... Actually, I’ve been struggling to find the answer myself."
"R-Right. I see."
Was this conversation really going to continue? To be honest, I had absolutely no interest in the subject, but... for now, I figured I should probably say something.
"Um... maybe just the most delicious baby castella possible?"
"Yes, exactly. Since it’s food, deliciousness is obviously a vital element. But I want you to think about it for a second. For instance, a super-premium version made with strictly selected, world-class ingredients and obsessive attention to detail might taste supreme. But in the end, can we really call that the 'ultimate form' of a baby castella?"
"M-Maybe?"
"I feel like a simple, rustic charm is part of what makes a baby castella what it is. If you strip that away just to pursue pure flavor... I don’t think it can truly be called the ultimate baby castella."
I loved Kuro. I loved the brightness that made being with her so much fun, the gentle way she embraced me, and her occasionally childish personality.
However, unfortunately, this abnormal obsession with baby castellas was the one thing I couldn't understand at all. Or rather, I preferred to keep it that way.
"That’s... a tough question."
"It is. But in the end, it’s better to actually try things out rather than just talking about them. So, Kaito-kun... let’s search for the Ultimate Baby Castella together!"
"..."
Somehow, I had been naturally included in the plan. Did I even have a choice? It didn't look like it. Kuro was incredibly serious, and she was gazing at me with eyes full of expectation.
It was business as usual for Kuro to suggest something outrageous, but this time, it looked like I was in for a real ordeal.
Kuro used teleportation magic to bring me to a massive kitchen. Every imaginable ingredient and seasoning was already laid out.
Wearing an apron adorned with cute frills, Kuro spoke to me while clenching her fist with determination.
"Alright! Now, Kaito-kun, what kind of baby castella should we start with?"
"Let’s see... For a start, let's clear away all that meat and fish piled up over there."
"Eh? But if we get rid of those, we won't be able to make baby castellas with meat or fish, you know?"
"Trust me, there is zero chance that those would be the Ultimate Baby Castella."
"N-No, but there are infinite possibilities—"
"Regardless, clear them out!"
"O-Okay. I understand..."
Even if I was willing to indulge her search for the ultimate snack, I had no intention of acting as a taste-tester for strange baby castellas. I made it my mission to proactively purge any ingredients that would clearly lead to a culinary disaster—mostly for the sake of my own survival.
"Well, since we've come this far, I’ll help you out, but I’d like to at least decide on a general direction."
"Hmm, you’re right. Then how about we aim for the 'most delicious baby castella' for now?"
"Yeah, let’s go with that."
I had some experience with baby castella-making since I’d been taught how to make them as a gift for Kuro before. This plan seemed reasonable enough. At the very least, it would prevent a parade of bizarre experimental snacks.
I put on the apron Kuro handed me and started with an orthodox baby castella.
"Since we’re aiming for the best flavor, we'll use high-quality ingredients... but how should we vary the taste?"
"Broadly speaking, we either modify the batter or put a filling inside. Personally, I’d like to experiment with the batter."
"I see. That would let us change the texture too, which might lead to something interesting."
"Yeah! Let's do our best together!"
Watching Kuro cook with such a happy, radiant smile, I couldn't help but smile myself as we continued our work.
We produced several batches with different variations in the batter. Drawing on my knowledge from Earth, we tried kneading in matcha and chocolate, and even adjusted the ingredients to enhance the chewiness.
The results were all quite good, but if you were to ask me if any of them was the 'ultimate' version, I’d have to hesitate. Like Kuro said, the concept of the 'ultimate' was elusive. Tastes varied from person to person, and textures that worked for one flavor didn't necessarily work for another. It felt like there was no single correct answer.
"Hmm. This is hard. Actually, maybe there isn't a right answer at all?"
Kuro stared at the numerous prototypes with a troubled expression. She seemed to have reached the same conclusion as me, muttering to herself as her shoulders slumped.
"You're right. I don't think it's possible to make a baby castella that everyone in the world would call the best. But since you're the one who started this, shouldn't the 'correct' answer be whatever baby castella is the best to you, Kuro?"
"The best to me... Hmm."
"Ah, wait! I have an idea. Why don't you try making an arrangement based on the most delicious baby castella you’ve ever eaten?"
I thought this was a brilliant suggestion. Kuro ate baby castellas every single day without fail. The number she had consumed was probably astronomical, so the most delicious one in her memory had to be as close to the 'ultimate' as possible.
"The most delicious one I’ve ever eaten..."
Kuro repeated my words, then looked at my face. Suddenly, her expression shifted as if she’d been struck by a revelation, and she clapped her hands together.
"Fufu, ahaha!"
"Kuro?"
I tilted my head, confused by her sudden laughter. She didn't seem to notice my reaction, and after laughing for a while, she looked at me with a beaming smile.
"Kaito-kun! Since we went to the trouble of making all these different kinds, let’s eat them together!"
"Huh? Oh, sure. I don't mind, but... what about the Ultimate Baby Castella?"
"Oh, that’s fine now. I’ve already found the answer."
"Wait, what?! At least tell me what you figured out before I go get the tea ready!"
"Nope, it’s a secret."
"Why!?"
I had no idea what had happened or what she was thinking. But seeing her look so genuinely happy made me feel like it was okay either way.
...I was still dying to know, though!
While watching Kaito eat the snacks with a puzzled expression, Kuromueina let another smile slip.
(The most delicious one I’ve ever eaten... was the baby castella you made for me, Kaito-kun.)
She whispered the words in her heart, her eyes full of affection as she gazed at him.
(In the end, that’s really what it’s about. No matter how expensive the ingredients are or how much skill goes into making it... nothing can beat a baby castella shared with the person you love.)
What is the Ultimate Baby Castella? There might not be an answer that satisfies everyone. However, for her, the answer was clear.
(The ultimate baby castella for me is the one I eat together with my beloved Kaito-kun. Though, I’m keeping that a secret from him.)