Kaito's kitchen was rarely used for proper meals, as he typically ate in the dining hall of Lilia's mansion. However, since he often prepared tea-time treats here, the space was better equipped for confectionery-making than for actual cooking. Illness stood before a spread of ingredients, her expression clouded with a touch of worry.
With Valentine's Day arriving tomorrow, she planned to give her beloved Kaito chocolates infused with all her affection. With the cocoa Nebula had grown for her, her preparations were flawless. The only thing weighing on her mind was the decision of what to make.
"If I follow my first instinct," she mused to herself, "sweet truffles or chocolates with berry sauce would be best for Kaito-sama’s palate. But... is a simple choice really the right one? Kaito-sama is bound to receive a great many chocolates. Since so many people know his preferences, the ratio of his favorites will naturally be high. I worry he might grow tired of them if they are all the same."
Indeed, many people would be giving Kaito chocolates, and many of them understood his tastes perfectly. Sweet truffles and fruit-filled chocolates would likely be abundant.
On the other hand, giving him something he did not enjoy would be counterproductive. She considered making something other than chocolate, but she suspected many others would have the same idea. If everyone tried to be too considerate, there might ironically end up being more non-chocolate sweets than actual chocolate.
"For now, since I have the ingredients, I will settle on chocolate," she decided. "However, it would be best to keep the quantity modest. No matter how well I can store them in a Magic Box, there is a limit to how much Kaito-sama can eat at once. A small amount he can enjoy during tea time would be most ideal."
Illness had one major advantage in this regard: she was the maid in charge of his household and his personal attendant. It fell to her to prepare his post-meal tea and snacks, allowing her to serve her chocolates naturally and without fanfare.
As she worked with practiced efficiency, her thoughts wandered further.
"Matching his taste is the minimum requirement, but I should add a touch of my own personality as well. In the past, I would have considered such a thing unnecessary... but I am certain Kaito-sama would appreciate a gift that feels like me."
She immediately thought of roses. Using real petals might overlap with Rosmiel’s style, so Illness decided to focus on the appearance instead. Drawing on the experience she had gained from her various projects with Nebula, she quickly fashioned an exquisite mold with a rose motif.
She then prepared a base for the red outer shell by mixing cocoa butter with edible dye. Using magic to disperse the mixture into fine particles, she coated the surface of the mold and let it set. By pouring the chocolate into this prepared shell, she could produce vibrant, red roses.
"Hehe... cooking while thinking of one’s beloved is truly a joy."
With that gentle thought, Illness continued crafting her gift for Kaito.
The next morning, on Valentine’s Day itself, Kaito returned to his room after breakfast looking somewhat worn out. This was the result of a midnight skirmish among those—led by Shallow Vernal—vying to be the very first to greet him the moment the date changed. Illness offered him a wry smile as she set out his tea.
"It looks like you will have a busy day ahead, Kaito-sama."
"Ahaha... I’m grateful for it, really. Well, at least I’ve already made it through Shiro-san and Machina-san, so I can relax a little for now."
"Hehe. In that case, I shall give you mine while there is a lull. I worried a large quantity might be a burden, so I prepared just three pieces."
"Thank you, I'm really happy to receive them... Oh, they're rose-shaped. They are beautiful. They look delicious, Illness-san."
The three roses symbolized the affection she so often showed him. They were crafted in a bite-sized, easy-to-eat form. Kaito popped one into his mouth and beamed.
"It's delicious. The aftertaste is so clean. It's sweet, but it doesn't linger—it's very easy to eat."
"I am glad they are to your liking. I filled them with all my love for you, Kaito-sama."
"That's... a little embarrassing to hear, but thank you. I'm glad."
Watching Kaito smile, an indescribable sense of bliss filled Illness’s chest. To have him enjoy her efforts and to see him smile so contentedly from such a close distance brought her a happiness beyond measure. As she bathed in that joy, Illness’s own smile was every bit as radiant as his.
Serious-senpai: "What?! I was just blindsided by a sudden, wholesome burst of sweetness!"