The time was the Warring States period.
The turbulent era that began with the Oligosaccharide Rebellion.
In this hellish moment where sweets washed sweets with sugar.
I, Midoriya Souko, had seized full authority of the Western Confectionery House in place of the young Cream Puff Shogun and was heading to the final battle.
Sugahara Plains.
In a white world filled with cotton candy from yesterday's coarse sugar, I quietly waited for that moment.
"Lady Souko! Lord Eclair and several others have begun combat with the red bean mochi! Our forces have the advantage!"
The moment has finally come. With that thought, I slowly downed my milk. A plain taste—low-fat milk isn't bad once in a while. I generally prefer cocoa, but this isn't bad either. I like carbonated drinks too. And tea.
"Relay to all forces! Begin the full assault! Show the Japanese sweets the power of the Western Confectionery House!"
"Yes, Lady Souko!"
We who set up our forces first have the advantage.
Battle preparations have been thoroughly completed.
Those exhausted fools don't have even a gram of a chance.
As I munched on potato chips, certain of victory—
I heard the sound of hurried footsteps rushing in.
"Lady Souko! A report, a report!"
"Speak! What is it?!"
"Yes! There's been a betrayal! Lord Castella has betrayed us! Lord Scone, who noticed the betrayal, fled to Whole Cake Castle with Shogun Cream Puff, but they were put in the oven, and the Shogun, sensing his death...! Gaaah!"
I knew Castella had been receiving low treatment for some time due to his Japanese sweet leanings. But he should've been one of the loyal retainers who took the most pride in being a Western confection. So proud that I'd entrusted him with Shogun Cream Puff's guard.
"Why?! Why would Castella do such a thing?!"
"There's a message for you, Lady Souko."
"What is it?!"
"Kasutera and Castella are different things. As a Japanese sweet, he's evolved."
"Fool!"
That great buffoon was deceived!
No—they must have been one step ahead.
That old fox from the Japanese Confectionery House, Nara Manju no Suke.
"Lady Souko! Word of Shogun Cream Puff's death has spread through the forces, changing the tide! Our army is being pushed back!"
"What?! Impossible!"
"Lady Souko! Lord Eclair has fallen in battle! The battle line is collapsing!"
Were we calculated, those manju bastards?!
"Lady Souko! Retreat immediately!"
"Don't be ridiculous! If I leave too, how can I face the soldiers?!"
"Please, somehow! Now that Shogun Cream Puff has passed! Lady Souko is the only one who can lead the Western Confectionery House! If you're safe, even if we're scattered, we can gather again and again with you as the light of Western confections, and fight again and again! As our banner, please!"
"But—!"
"Lady Souko! Please, for our sake! For the future of the Western Confectionery House!"
I had to choose.
Would I be struck down here?
Or would I survive and protect tomorrow's Western confections?
"Lady Souko! The defensive position has been breached! The enemy's first wave will reach headquarters soon! Please hurry!"
The Western confections staring intently at me.
Seeing the light in their eyes, I felt ashamed for hesitating.
I realized there was no reason to hesitate.
"I expect your final efforts! Salad bar!"
"Salad bar!"
I saluted my brave comrades and mounted Mummy.
Normally I'd ride my partner Explode, but he's not here today for some reason. A strange horse that occasionally cries "Gora!" and "I'll kill you!", but his swift legs make him a trustworthy steed above all else. Aside from eating cucumbers, he's a partner I have no complaints about.
Taking the reins and kicking his flank, Mummy galloped.
"Young Lady Midoriya!"
Just as I started moving, a voice suddenly called from behind.
When I turned to see what it was, there was Muscles.
There's Muscles. ...Huh?
Who's Muscles?
"I am here!"
I thought very carefully.
I really thought about it carefully.
And then I thought:
Hmm.
"I didn't call you!"
"Oofah?!"
"—Midoriya."
With hazy consciousness, I moved my gaze toward the voice and there was a black mass. It's kinda fuzzy.
A yokai maybe? But looking closely, it was Eraserhead without bandages. Since there are no bandages, it's Eraserhead without bandages.
Huh? So what does that mean in the end?
If there are no bandages, he's not Eraserhead, but Eraserhead is Eraserhead, so even without bandages he's still Eraserhead, but if there are no bandages you can't call him Eraserhead, so that means he's Eraserhead without bandages but—
Yeah, I don't get it.
Well, Eraserhead is Eraserhead even without bandages. Too complicated.
Still, Eraserhead's color looks a bit better, but his condition still seems pretty bad.
While looking at Eraserhead's face, I suddenly became curious about something. Maybe he knows, so I'll try asking.
"Eraserhead..."
"What?"
"What about Shogun Cream Puff?"
"I'll listen to your dream story later."
So it was a dream.
Even though that was such a fun world.
I felt a bit sad and tears came out.
"I want to live buried in cream puffs."
"Sounds like you'd get diabetes immediately."
My heart hurts at the calm retort.
I'm hungry too. My shoulder hurts for some reason.
Shoulder? Why shoulder? ...Oh, right, shoulder.
"Come to think of it, I think I was in a pinch situation, but what happened? Heaven?"
"If you'd gone to heaven or whatever, wouldn't you be buried in cream puffs right now?"
"True."
So it's reality then.
Seriously?
No cream puffs?
Oh wait, cream puffs only would be tough too.
Also, am I maybe being princess-carried by Eraserhead? Being carried? Is that warmth against my back Eraserhead's warmth?
Ugh, no way.
"More importantly, Midoriya."
"Yes?"
I was hoping he'd put me down when he spoke to me.
What now?
"Earlier—were you awake?"
"Huh?"
I don't understand at all.
Even I, Midoriya Souko, the living goddess too beautiful who's won the Private Beautiful Girl Grand Prix Number One from Round One to Round Fifteen, don't understand.
Wait, sexual harassment?
"Well, if you don't understand, never mind. She said she was just half-asleep, All Might. Stop sulking and come here."
Muscles? I thought, and when I looked up, there was a beat-up Muscles. He looks dejected.
When I glanced sideways, there was Kacchan with a stern face. He's glaring at me with an intense expression.
Kirishima next to him is smiling wryly.
What? What's going on?
Since I don't understand, I looked around and saw the wrecked plaza and tied-up thugs.
Seeing that Hand Man, Black Mist, and the muscle-brain aren't here, I think things worked out somehow, but I don't know the process.
"Hmm, I don't really get it, but I know I worked hard."
"Yeah, you were pretty reckless though."
"Reckless, huh?"
"Yes, reckless."
"I was reckless?"
...I'm suddenly craving tea.
No, I know it's a different meaning, but when people keep saying "no tea, no tea," it makes you want it, right? Tea, tea. You'd think "give me some tea already," right?
"Hey, Midoriya."
"Yes? What is it?"
Gonna give me tea?
"What do you want to do from now on?"
I haven't understood anything since earlier.
There's no context at all.
Kacchan, Muscles, Eraserhead—all of them.
What's with those looks?
I'm the person who worked hard, right?
Aren't you gonna praise me? First, shouldn't you praise me a ton and make a big deal about it? Why the questions? You could treat me to a meal as a reward, you know? Yakiniku or sushi. I'd even take pizza. With all the toppings. ...Actually, maybe not all of them. Everything needs balance...
"Midoriya."
"Huh? Oh, about pizza—"
"We're not talking about pizza. I'm asking what you want to do from now on."
What I want to do, he says.
When I glanced at Kacchan's face, he looked somehow lonely. Like an abandoned puppy. That's rare.
"—Hey, are you listening?"
"Ah, yes. I'm listening. About what I want to do, right? Um, first I want to take a shower."
"That's not what I—"
"And then I want to change clothes, go home, and eat. Since I worked hard, I want yakiniku. Then I'll sleep. And then—"
"—It's a pain, but I'll come to school again. Tomorrow's not a day off."
For some reason, Eraserhead's eyes widened.
Is it that weird? Is it that weird for me to say something serious? Huh? Isn't that harsh?
"Is that okay?"
"I mean, it's not like... I'm just a normal high school student, you know? Also, even if I tried to skip, Mom's scary, and Kacchan would come get me anyway? I can't escape..."
An ominous feeling crossed my mind at Eraserhead's sad eyes.
It was the two characters "expulsion" that my middle school homeroom teacher kept repeating.
"What?! Wait, expulsion?! No way! I'll do as much remedial work as you want, so please forgive me! Mom told me to at least graduate high school! Nooo! Have mercy! She'll beat me up, she'll beat me up!"
"Calm down, Midoriya. ...Then what about the general studies course? Your mother wouldn't say anything about that."
General studies?
Oh, so that's what this is about.
"I'm fine staying as I am though?"
"You said you don't want to be a hero, right? I heard."
"Yes. I don't want to be a hero. I'll pass on that. But—"
"It's fine! I'm gonna become a hero who always wins like All Might!"
Saying that all full of himself.
"I definitely won't get hurt! So it's fine!"
Saying something reckless.
"I'm here!"
Grinning confidently.
"—Souko!"
"—There's something I want to do."
I have my own thing.
Because there's a big idiot I need to support.
That night, I had Kacchan treat me to yakiniku as my rightful due.
It was all-you-can-eat premium.
It was delicious.
***
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[10 Advanced Chs]