For some reason, let’s assume that I was caught by an English assassin. He is cold and ruthless, trying to kill me because he thinks I’m a nuisance, even though I wasn’t his original target. While cleaning his gun, he asks me.
“Japanese, have you ever baked scones?”
As I sat in a chair with my hands tied behind me, trembling in fear, I desperately tried not to smile in a cowardly way and answered.
“I have. In high school class.”
The assassin laughed in surprise and asks again.
“Well? Did you put the jam on first? Or the cream?”
Now, this is the moment of life and death. What should I say to survive? If I tell the truth, it will be like this.
“I wasn’t provided with cream in Japanese high school.”
The assassin might feel sorry for me and spare my life.
Right after entering the second year, we had a cooking class. We made snacks using the 5th and 6th periods. The menu was predetermined, and we were instructed to make three things. One was cucumber sandwiches, one was boiled egg canapés, and the last one was scones. We also brewed black tea with tea bags.
Which means it was a class to prepare afternoon tea.
Our class was divided into six groups and moved to the cooking room, and one countertop was used for each group. The snacks our group made were far from excellent. It would not be an exaggeration to say they were terrible. The cucumber sandwiches were soggy due to moisture, the canapés looked fine but were incredibly salty, and the scones were burnt. I scraped off the charred parts and ate them, but it was hard to have any impression beyond that of a burnt, hard bread.
We received a report as homework, and the class that failed was instructed to write down the reasons for the failure.
I wanted to write “Everything was in vain,” but I couldn’t, so I briefly wrote about how overestimating the moisture content of cucumbers led to a disastrous result and submitted it.
Until I took this class, I had never eaten a scone and thought I wouldn’t have the chance to eat one for a while, but the second opportunity came surprisingly quickly. The day after the cooking class, I received a message from Osanai-san during lunchtime.
“I need help.”
I felt a little relieved. Osanai-san and I promised to watch over and help each other. But recently, I had more debts than she did.
I sent, “What should I do?”
The reply was quick.
“After school?”
It must mean she’s asking if I have time.
“OK”
“Let’s see scones.”
It seemed like the conversation didn’t match, but Osanai-san’s messages are often so concise that they lose context. If there were other matters, she would continue to contact me.
I didn’t reply any further and continued with my afternoon classes. When it was after school, I checked my phone again and, as expected, there was a message from Osanai-san.
“At the school gate. It will take about two hours.”
I was puzzled by the number two hours at first. If Osanai-san was consulting me, it meant that a situation had arisen that she couldn’t resolve on her own, or that she needed a person, even if it was just a mannequin.
If it were the latter, Osanai-san would have written “I need a person” without hesitation, so this time it was probably the former. Could Osanai-san resolve a situation she couldn’t handle on her own in two hours? As I thought about it, I began to feel that it might somehow work out. If it were me and Osanai-san, well, most things would probably work out somehow.
I packed my things and headed to the school gate. As the new club members were welcomed, various revival slogans echoed powerfully from the playground. It had warmed up considerably since mid-April. However, since Osanai-san disliked the cold, I expected she would at least be wearing a scarf, so I started looking around for a girl with a scarf after leaving the front door. But the girls I occasionally saw wearing scarves were not the same height as Osanai-san.
If she’s nowhere to be found, she must be hiding in the shadow of the school gate. I had been surprised like that before. I couldn’t fall for the same trick twice. Just as I thought that and reached right in front of the school gate, a voice came from behind me.
“Kobato-kun.”
Because the voice was closer than I expected, I flinched in surprise. When I turned around, Osanai-san was standing right behind me, frowning in displeasure.
“There’s no need to be that surprised.”
I had been looking for her and couldn’t find her. I asked honestly.
“Where were you?”
“Me? Right behind you.”
Could she be Mary-san?1
“I didn’t see you.”
“So I was behind you. I called Kobato-kun, but you didn’t turn around.”
She looked very displeased. I asked her to confirm.
“Did you really call me?”
“In my mind.”
You didn’t.
My expectation was only half right. Osanai-san was wearing a scarf. It was a voluminous gray scarf. I asked her.
“I sent you a message to meet at the school gate, so I thought you’d be waiting there.”
Osanai-san nodded.
“I came first, but it was cold, so I went back to the classroom. I saw Kobato-kun changing shoes and leaving the classroom, so I followed you.”
Which means Osanai-san tried to minimize the time spent waiting in the wind. I could have expected that, I thought, as I stood next to her.
“So, where are we going?”
“It’s not far. It’s a place called <Yashinoki>2.”
“Is it a place that sells coconut milk?”
As if pleased that I showed interest in the store, Osanai-san smiled brightly.
“You think so? No, it’s a tea shop.”
Hearing that it was a tea shop, I wondered if it meant a coffee shop. But since Osanai-san wrote in the message, “Let’s see scones,” I could guess.
“It’s a place that serves afternoon tea.”
Osanai-san nodded and said in a low voice.
“It’s refreshing to hear the words ‘afternoon tea’ come from your mouth, Kobato-kun.”
“I may not know much about sweets, but don’t underestimate me.”
“So, where did you hear about it?”
“Yesterday’s cooking class.”
Instead of saying I knew that, Osanai-san smiled vaguely. According to her, <Yashinoki> is a store renovated from an old house in an alley lined with old houses on the way to the station from school, started by a British and Japanese couple. It is said to have a reputation for offering tea time at the level of its home country. It seems that there are no other branches of <Yashinoki>.
“I don’t know much about tea culture either,” she said, and then told me.
“At <Yashinoki>, they serve a set of black tea and scones, and the scones come with jam and clotted cream. It seems that such a set is called cream tea.”
“It’s a name that sounds like black tea with cream.”
“Even if you ask me…….”
Well, that’s true.
The spring breeze blew. Osanai-san led the way, saying it was a shortcut, and we walked along the riverbank. The cherry blossoms planted near the embankment were already past their prime. I asked her.
“So, what happened?”
I thought she would tell me when we arrived at our destination, but Osanai-san started talking while looking at her feet.
“The scones were bad.”
“Oh no. That’s too bad.”
“Thank you for your warm words. Can I continue a bit more?”
“Of course.”
Not caring about my interruption, Osanai-san continued speaking.
“Just like Kobato-kun, my class had a cooking class today. The 3rd and 4th periods in a row. The theme was afternoon tea, which is probably the same as what Kobato-kun’s class made. What did you make?”
“Cucumber sandwiches, tomato sandwiches, boiled egg and basil sauce canapés, and scones.”
“Then it’s completely the same.”
I understood Osanai-san’s complaint. The scones baked during the cooking class were only spread with strawberry jam in a disposable plastic container. I learned in the class before the cooking that scones are often spread with clotted cream in addition to jam. Additionally, it was conveyed that cream would not be used in the class. It was easy to predict that a rich budget would not be allocated for the cooking class.
“Ignore the cream. I think it’s unreasonable to expect a perfect afternoon tea from a cooking class.”
Osanai-san blinked in confusion. Then she waved her hands left and right in a flustered manner.
“Oh, no, no. I wasn’t sad about the lack of clotted cream. Um…… to be precise, I was sad, but I don’t think that’s the problem.”
“Is it something else?”
“Yeah. What I’m complaining about is, as I said earlier, the scones were bad.”
The wind brushed over the river. Elementary school students were playing soccer in the riverside park. I thought for a moment.
Even Osanai-san wouldn’t expect a professional level of taste from the scones made in the cooking class. She said the lack of clotted cream wasn’t a problem either. Then, what was so problematic about the scone being bad? Only one thing came to mind.
“They should have been delicious.”
Osanai-san’s expression broke into a satisfied smile. It seemed I had passed the test.
“Since I was making canapés, I didn’t get involved with the scones. But I watched the process, and there were no mistakes in the order or skill. It should have turned out delicious, but for some reason, the scones were bad.”
I don’t know much about sweets, but I learned a few things while being with Osanai-san. One of them is that making sweets is a science and follows the principle of reproducibility. If you make it in the wrong order, it will fail. There is no chance of success if the order is wrong. While it’s true that unexpected flavors or textures can result from failure, it doesn’t change the fact that it falls under the category of failure when viewed from the original recipe.
In contrast, it cannot be definitively stated that making it in the correct order will always result in deliciousness. When hydrochloric acid is dropped on aluminum, hydrogen is produced without fail, but in a science lab experiment, the aluminum foil might shake in the wind, or one might sneeze at the wrong time while dropping the acid, or the classroom might be too cold, causing the reaction to end before hydrogen is produced.
Likewise, if one doesn’t have the skills to perform the recipe, the cooking cannot succeed. That’s obvious. But Osanai-san asserts that there were no mistakes by the person in charge of cooking. This is a contradiction, like saying 1 plus 1 does not equal 2.
…… But still, I feel like saying, “Wasn’t there a mistake somewhere?”
At my blunt reaction, Osanai-san didn’t really resist.
“You might think so. I want to think so too.”
“How bad were the cones?”
Osanai-san said it was bad in one word, but the types of mistakes ranged from nonsensical ones like confusing salt and sugar to common mistakes like burning it due to poor heat control, or even mistakes where the cooking was successful but got mixed with the sauce of another dish during plating.
Osanai-san’s answer was clear.
“They were undercooked. The teacher said not to eat that.”
“Undercooked flour is not something you should eat?”
“No. You’ll get a stomachache.”
Then it’s not just a matter of being bad. It’s something you can’t eat, so it’s a really big mistake. A car approached from the front. There were no guardrails on the embankment road, so I stepped aside to let it pass. As we started walking again, I asked.
“When does undercooking happen?”
Asking questions one-sidedly is boring, so I started listing what came to mind myself.
“Simply put, I think the oven’s heat was weak or the baking time was short.”
Then I recalled how my cooking class went.
“I think it would be like that if the preheating wasn’t sufficient.”
Osanai-san nodded.
“Yes. And the heat shouldn’t be too strong.”
I was about to say, “I see,” but then I tilted my head.
“…… Why?”
“Because the outside burns before the inside cooks.”
I see. It means that strong does not encompass weak.
“And in common, opening the oven door several times. If you’re worried about how well it’s baking and open the door, the temperature inside the oven drops. It won’t go well if you put too much sugar in either. The sugar traps moisture in the dough.”
“So there are various factors.”
“But the sugar was the right amount.”
There seem to be various causes for undercooking. However, the most suspicious one is still the oven.
“Just in case, was there a problem with the oven settings?”
Osanai-san seemed to want to say something, but she carefully started speaking.
“I didn’t see what the initial settings were. But the baking time was according to the recipe, and later I checked that the temperature setting was also as instructed.”
“Was there a possibility of machine malfunction?”
“I’m not sure…… but I don’t think so. The same class was probably held in other classes, and they would have used the same oven. Did anything happen in Kobato-kun’s class where the scones were undercooked?”
“I don’t think so.”
The possibility that the oven suddenly broke down between the end of the 6th period yesterday and the 3rd period today is not zero, but I think it’s safe to exclude it from consideration for now.
“Is there anything else that comes to mind?”
“If the dough has too much moisture or if you put in a lot of ingredients that retain moisture, it can also be undercooked.”
“If the cooking class recipe is the same, there are no ingredients in scones. What about the possibility of too much moisture?”
“I saw the person in charge of scones measuring the milk. It was the right amount, and they didn’t add any moisture other than the milk.”
Osanai-san seemed to have been watching the cooking process closely. I can trust that there were no mistakes in the order or skill. They made it according to the usual standards and baked it according to the usual standards, yet the scone failed for some reason. It’s definitely strange. I clasped my hands behind my head.
“So, what are you going to do by figuring out the cause of the failure? Do you just want to know?”
Osanai-san shook her head.
“If that were the case, I wouldn’t have called Kobato-kun.”
“I see.”
“There’s a problem.”
We left the embankment road and entered an old residential area with few people. As we walked, Osanai-san raised her index finger beside her face.
“First. The scones were made by a girl named Sawami-san all by herself.”
After her index finger, Osanai-san raised her middle finger.
“Second. A report assignment was given. We have to write down the cause of the failure and submit it to the teacher. Also, there’s no guarantee that the report won’t be disclosed in front of the whole class.”
Osanai-san then raised her ring finger.
“Third. The scones were made by Sawami-san, and since the scones failed, if we write it as it is, it will become a report saying that Sawami-san failed. But I know that there were no mistakes in Sawami-san’s process. And the real problem is that if I write a report saying that it was Sawami-san’s fault and that report gets disclosed in front of the whole class…….”
This means that her human relationships in her class might get a bit complicated. Sawami-san seems to have a high ego. Osanai-san clenched her three fingers for now and then opened her palm like a flower blooming.
“I have no idea what to do.”
“I see.”
I don’t want to cause a stir in the class. I want to go through my days peacefully without harshly criticizing anyone.
Osanai-san’s wish is very like a Petit Bourgeois, and we are indeed in a reciprocal relationship to achieve that.
“I’ll listen carefully.”
“We’ve arrived at the store.”
There was a sign with the word <Yashinoki> written in horizontal letters.
This means that the continuation of the story will be with a cup of tea.
<Yashinoki> looked like a building that had been converted from a shop. The roof was covered with tiles, and although it was two stories tall, the building was short. As I pushed open the wooden lattice door and entered the store, a blond-haired, blue-eyed man wearing a light brown apron greeted us.
“Welcome. Please take any seat.”
It was fluent Japanese.
The inside was spacious, but perhaps due to the ambiguous time, there weren’t many customers. There were wooden chairs and tables on the amber-colored floor. Osanai-san looked around the store and placed her school bag near the kitchen. I took a seat opposite Osanai-san.
The store was quiet, and somehow, there was an adult atmosphere that made me worry that a student in a school uniform would come in and ruin the mood. Osanai-san quickly flipped through the menu with a wooden cover and pointed it towards me.
“What should we order?”
The reason we came here was for Osanai-san to see the scones, and while I didn’t know exactly what she needed, I thought it would be best for her to order what she needed. However, Osanai-san shook her head slightly.
“Order what you like, Kobato-kun. I’m sorry for making you join me.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ll buy yours here.”
“Nice joke.”
That way, when I create a debt next time, I might have to pay for Osanai-san’s share as well.
The waiter from earlier brought the water. Since Osanai-san pointed with her hand, I ordered first.
“Milk tea, please.”
That was at the top of the menu. Then Osanai-san spoke.
“Cream tea, please.”
“All right.”
“Can I ask for two freshly made scones?”
The waiter smiled.
“Of course. It will take a little time, is that okay?”
“Yes.”
Lastly, the waiter confirmed the order again and left the table.
Talking will be better after the order is all out, because if the order comes out during the conversation, it can interrupt the flow of the story. However, since Osanai-san’s cream tea takes time, I took a sip from my cup and said this.
“So, what happened today?”
A woman in an apron was putting flour into a bowl in the kitchen. Osanai-san rested her chin on her hand and looked at the kitchen, not looking at me when she answered.
“I’m not sure where to start. I’m sorry for asking. How did your class go, Kobato-kun? Like, how did you decide who would knead the flour and who would cut the sandwich bread?”
I recalled my memories.
“First, we divided the class into six groups. The teacher decided the group divisions based on the arrangement of the desks in the classroom. There were groups of six and seven members.
Osanai-san nodded while looking at the kitchen. I continued speaking.
“We were told to choose a group leader with cooking experience for each group. Fortunately, our class had such a student, so there was no problem, but I think there were some groups without any. We received the recipe the week before the cooking class and were told to create a cooking schedule.”
We decided who would do what there, but the schedule was not followed.
“The work division was based on the group leader’s instructions, but the work division was not clear. It was like the person with free hands would do the next task.”
“Then it probably didn’t go smoothly.”
“You’re right. Like, one person put the flour in the bowl but didn’t take the butter out of the fridge, or the timing for cutting the cucumber and egg overlapped but there was only one cutting board, so unnecessary waiting time occurred. It felt like that.”
The plan was clumsy, the work speed was slow, and the morale of the group members was low, so there were plenty of “failure causes” to write in the report. But well, that’s what home economics class is for. In the kitchen, a black-haired woman is putting butter into the flour. The butter is cubed while still cold. Our recipe was the same. A blue-eyed waiter places a teapot and teacup in front of me. When I looked closely, the pot contained milk tea. I was a bit surprised because I thought they would pour black tea into the cup and add milk later.
Osanai-san said.
“We did almost the same. We divided into groups, assigned tasks, received the recipe, and created a cooking schedule during last week’s home economics class. What was a bit different was that when we made the schedule, we clearly defined the task assignments. Sawami-san was in charge of the scones. Kurai-san and I were in charge of the canapés. Kanou-kun and Aonakaya-kun were in charge of the sandwiches. Miyano-kun was the group leader and also did the dishes.”
“The group leader did the dishes?”
“I was also doubtful if it was okay, but the group leader had a lot of free time, and if the dishes were done quickly, the overall speed would increase. I thought it was quite good leadership.”
Listening to that, it could be so. But the important part is from here.
“…… Why was Sawami-san in charge of the scones alone?”
I don’t think it’s bad to do it alone. Cooking with multiple people is unexpectedly difficult. However, the fact that only the scones were assigned to one person while the other menus were handled by two people is significant. Was it forced upon her?
Osanai-san answered.
“Sawami-san has been to London and has eaten scones.”
“I see. So?”
“She said she knows about scones, so she asked to be in charge.”
Thinking about Sawami-san’s claim, I frowned.
“I’ve been to Nagoya and have eaten misokatsu, but I’ve never thought I was good at making it.”
Osanai-san didn’t take her eyes off the kitchen.
“I know that Sawami-san’s statement is illogical. But do you think you can say no when a classmate confidently asks to be in charge?”
If this were a matter of life and death and the group leader had strong authority, the story might have been different. Of course, that wasn’t the case in reality.
“I think it would be difficult.”
“Yes.”
In the kitchen, milk and eggs were being added to the dough. But there was one thing I was curious about in the current story.
“Sorry to put a damper on the story. It’s a very simple question, but are scones originally a London snack?”
Then, Osanai-san, who had been looking at the kitchen, turned her eyes to me and said coldly.
“Kobato-kun. Don’t ask scary questions all of a sudden. I’m not a pastry researcher.”
“I didn’t think it was a scary question. I’m sorry.”
“Scones seem to have originated in Scotland.”
Well. It wasn’t that she didn’t know because she wasn’t a researcher.
“Then is it a specialty of Scotland?”
“We can’t say for sure. Cream tea, which is scones served with jam and clotted cream along with black tea, originated in the west of England.”
Hmm.
“Then, are modern scones a specialty of the west?”
“But including cream tea, the custom of having a snack in the afternoon originated from the English nobility in the Midlands.”
“…….”
“But the custom of drinking tea itself was passed down from Portugal and spread from the royal palace. In other words, it was from London.”
As if she found it amusing that I was flustered, Osanai-san tilted her head with a slightly playful expression.
“I think the combination of scones and tea is a custom that flexibly embraces wonderful things born here and there throughout England, and it gives off an ‘All British’ feel. For me, it’s hard to say where the original home is. I don’t know if it’s a suitable example, but wouldn’t it be difficult to ask us, ‘Where did onigiri originate from?’”
Aha, this is quite a complicated story. I understood Osanai-san’s feelings when she said not to ask scary questions.
“But still, you know quite a bit. Impressive.”
This time, Osanai-san seemed to be a bit evasive.
“I just asked Kogi-san to see if Sawami-san’s claim was correct. I’m a bit embarrassed to be praised.”
Kogi-san is Osanai-san’s friend, and her father is a patissier. Even though she just asked, it’s impressive that she dug into the back of Sawami-san’s words.
I sipped the milk tea. The aroma was nice. Let’s summarize the current story.
“In other words, Sawami-san’s statement that she asked to be in charge of the scones because she had been to London is not completely wrong, but it’s not very valid either.”
Osanai-san hesitated for a moment before answering.
“Not really. There is such a thing as London-style scones, and what we made in the class was close to that.”
“London-style scones?”
“Yes. ……You’ll probably find out soon.”
Saying that, Osanai-san looked at the kitchen. The dough was being kneaded on the counter. Osanai-san said, “Let’s go back to the story.”
“So, Sawami-san ended up baking the scones, but to be honest, I wanted to bake them too. However, it wasn’t to the extent that I had to do it, and the other kids in the group were even more indifferent. If someone wanted to do it, I would let them, and I felt grateful that my burden was reduced.”
Anyway, it’s just a class. If there was a student in my group who wanted to make scones, I would have gladly let them do it.
“The cooking class started from the third period today, right?”
“Yes.”
“Just in case, but what about the first and second periods?”
Osanai-san frowned a bit but didn’t ask what it had to do with anything.
“1st period was…… English. 2nd period was P.E.”
“Was P.E. in the gym or on the field?”
“In the gym.”
I thought for a moment.
“I think it would be a bit rushed to change into the school uniform and move to the kitchen after P.E.”
“Oh, that’s fine. We did P.E. and home economics in gym clothes.”
Speaking of which, we did the same. It was probably because there was a possibility of getting oil stains.
“I’ll start from the beginning of what happened today. I’ll take questions later.”
Osanai-san starts to speak. That’s probably for the best.
“You don’t have to tell me what the kitchen looks like, right?”
I nodded. I had taken classes there, so I knew every nook and cranny.
The kitchen is on the first floor of the classroom building. In front of the classroom, there is a teacher’s desk, and on the wall, there is a whiteboard and a clock. The floor is linoleum, and there are six cooking counters arranged in two rows of three. The counters are rectangular when viewed from above, with a sink on one short side and a gas stove on the opposite short side. The long side is flat for use as a cooking surface, but there is an oven underneath. There are many drawers, but they are all locked, presumably for storing knives, so none of them can be opened. At the back of the classroom, there are shelves and a large refrigerator, and cooking utensils are stored on the shelves. There is an exhaust fan on the window, but it’s a classroom with a unique smell.
“After the class started, we washed our hands. It took a long time.”
We did the same. We were told to wash our hands for at least 20 seconds per person, and since there were at least six people in each group, it took at least 120 seconds for everyone to wash their hands. In reality, it probably took about 5 minutes.
“Then there was the teacher’s warning. Be careful of burns. If injured to the point of bleeding, inform immediately. And, never play around.”
Cooking involves fire and knives. Playing around can lead to quite serious situations. However, when I took the class, there were no such warnings.
“Then, we got the ingredients. For the canapés, we had crackers, eggs, and basil. For the sandwiches, we had bread, cucumber, tomato, and processed cheese. For the scones, we had flour, baking powder, eggs, butter, and milk. The items that needed refrigeration were in the fridge, while the others and seasoning containers were on the teacher’s desk.”
I also remember what needed refrigeration. Only the butter and milk. Osanai-san added as if she suddenly remembered.
“There was a cooler box next to the fridge. I guess the teacher used it to move the ingredients. I was so focused on the fridge that I bumped my foot.”
I heard a clattering sound, and I looked at the kitchen. The dough was on the counter, and an waiter was holding a rolling pin. Watching the dough being skillfully rolled out, Osanai-san continued speaking.
“The counter was being used side by side by us in charge of the canapés and Kanou-kun in charge of the sandwiches, while on the opposite side, Sawami-san in charge of the scones was using it alone. Sawami-san’s scone making process was roughly according to the recipe, but should I explain?”
I also read the scone recipe given during class. However, I didn’t know where the clues to solving the puzzle would be, and the more information, the better.
“Sure.”
Osanai-san nodded as if it were only natural, without showing any displeasure.
“Crack the eggs and mix them with milk. Cut the cold butter into cubes. Then, put flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a bowl and mix them evenly. Add the chopped butter and mix it further until it becomes crumbly, then gradually add the egg and milk mixture.”
“You’re not even in charge, yet you can say all that without looking.”
Osanai-san, with a straight face, laid her finger horizontally and moved it under her nose. It seemed to be an action of bragging.
“Once the dough is mixed and the powdery texture is gone, cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge for a resting time of 10 minutes. Take out the dough, start preheating the oven. Place the dough on the counter, fold it a few times, cut it out with a mold, and place it side by side on the oven tray. Brush the beaten egg on top of the dough and put it in the oven, then all you have to do is wait for it to bake.”
“Impressive.”
“…… I didn’t mention the quantity. It’s not something to brag about.”
I guess that action wasn’t bragging…….
At the kitchen, they were just cutting out the dough with a mold. Osanai-san’s scones were about to be baked in the oven. Perhaps having seen enough, Osanai-san stopped resting her chin and looked at me.
“Up to this point, there were no major mistakes or variations from Sawami-san. According to Kogi, the tricky part is when mixing the butter into the flour. The butter should be kept cold, but if you’re clumsy, it can melt. However, Sawami-san was quick, and the flour was definitely crumbly like breadcrumbs. Adding the beaten egg and milk all at once can make it sticky, but Sawami-san did it properly little by little, and the dough was beautifully finished.
“So it was perfect.”
“Yes. But the scones were undercooked.”
If I think about the circumstances I heard earlier, Sawami-san must have lost a lot of face due to the scone failure. She was so confident, but she might have said something unnecessary.
I might have thought that if I hadn’t listened to Osanai-san’s story in detail, the confident Sawami-san made a mistake due to her overconfidence. Osanai-san said calmly.
“The teacher pointed out that they were undercooked. She didn’t eat all the dishes from each group, but she ate what looked strange at a glance. The teacher frowned as she broke one of our group’s scones and took a bite, saying it was undercooked and not to eat them.”
Osanai-san said the scones were bad. In other words, she must have put the baked one in her mouth.
“At that point, you had already eaten it too, right? Was yours undercooked too?”
A silent answer came back.
If the scone the teacher ate was the only one undercooked, it could have been switched with another group’s or just that one was not cooked well. But if Osanai-san’s scone was also undercooked, that possibility rules out. After taking a sip of water from the cup, Osanai-san continued speaking.
“As if the teacher thought it was strange, she asked if it was properly baked. Sawami-san went pale and stayed silent, but Miyano-kun, the group leader, answered that they baked it for 13 minutes according to the recipe.”
Surely, the baking time for scones was 13 minutes when we took the class. On the other hand, Osanai-san had said earlier that the baking time was also according to the recipe.
“Was the only one who confirmed that they baked it for 13 minutes the group leader?”
A hesitation appeared on Osanai-san’s face.
“To be precise, it was only Miyano-kun who said that. I don’t know about the others.”
“You said that you didn’t see it.”
“Yes. I looked at the clock when Sawami-san put the scones in the oven and when they beeped after baking. I can confidently say that the baking time was about 13 minutes, but I didn’t see the timer setting.”
The oven timer in the kitchen is a dial type. When setting it, you just turn the dial, and there is no friendly feature that tells you how many minutes it was set for. Osanai-san didn’t see the exact number, but…….
But if it was around 13 minutes, I think we can say that the scones were baked according to the recipe.
One more thing, a vague but necessary question.
“So, were there any other strange points or things you noticed?”
I thought she would answer that it was difficult to say. But Osanai-san took it very seriously.
“Well…….”
Osanai-san closed her eyes and muttered, then opened them after a moment and spoke slowly.
“The tip of the knife was round.”
Saying that, I remembered. It must be for accident prevention, but I wondered if they wouldn’t let high school students use sharp knives.
“The exhaust fan was making a rattling noise. I think it would be good to fix it.”
I also remember that.
“While Sawami-san went to get the eggs, Miyano-kun brought flour and baking powder, but he was scolded by Sawami-san for doing unnecessary things.”
Well, even if one leaves it to someone else, it can be annoying if they meddle in it, even if it’s out of goodwill.
“There were a lot of plates on the table next to us. So I remembered that there was a bowl we didn’t use in the dishes.”
“There was a group that made double the amount of canapés during class.”
“I don’t understand why it’s so hard to take out only what they need.”
“Better than not enough.”
I now roughly understood the situation of the cooking class.
A subtle nutty smell wafts from the kitchen. I take a sip of the sweetened milk tea with sugar and think.
“You mentioned a few reasons for it being undercooked while walking here, right?”
“Yes.”
“I remembered that one of them was if there was too much moisture in the dough.”
Osanai-san silently nods.
“Sawami-san put the amount of milk in the dough according to the recipe. So I suddenly thought…… could someone have secretly added water or milk later?”
In other words, was the undercooked scone not due to a cooking mistake or an accident, but rather an intentional act by someone?
Osanai-san immediately answered.
“The texture is important when making dough. If the elasticity suddenly changes during work, anyone would notice right away.”
“I see.”
I answered, but I still couldn’t dismiss the possibility that it was intentional.
“Just in case, tell me what kind of people the group members were.”
Osanai-san didn’t say, “Are you suspecting them? They’re good friends!” but nodded as if it were a natural question.
“Kurai-san, who made the canapés with me, is in the track and field club, tall, a bit tanned, and always smiling. She asked me to direct her since she didn’t have much experience in cooking. In reality, even when I directed…… asked her for help, she answered okay without making a face and handed me plates or brought ingredients. When not directing her, she was watching me cook next to me.”
“Sawami-san was making scones across from Kurai-san. I think she could have reached out and added water.”
“I already said it was impossible, but it’s better not to think about the possibility that someone added water or milk to the dough.”
I guess she didn’t have much to say. Sighing, Osanai-san continued the story.
“The ones who made the sandwiches were Kanou-kun and Aonakaya-kun. Kanou-kun was good at cooking, so he did most of it alone. Aonakaya-kun said from the beginning that he had no interest or motivation in cooking, and he went to chat with a friend from another group and hardly came back to our table.”
“I wonder if the teacher scolded him…….”
“He was so brazen that the teacher might not have noticed that his group was different.”
That’s quite a story.
“How well did Kanou-kun cook?”
“Better than me.”
Even if she says that, I don’t know Osanai-san’s cooking skills.
“Sandwiches were more difficult and time-consuming than the canapés made by Kurai-san and me. But Kanou-kun made them deliciously alone without asking anyone for help. He was so skilled that he had time left, and even Miyano-kun, the group leader, didn’t say anything to him.”
“That’s perfect.”
“But Kanou-kun didn’t seem proud at all. Maybe it was because Sawami-san was feeling down in front of me, but I overheard him.”
By her secretive tone, I was unknowingly hooked.
“Wha, what did you hear?”
“I heard Kanou-kun mumbling. ……He wished he had mustard. It seems he regretted not being able to make it tastier.”
The cooking class has a set recipe, and the ingredients and seasonings used are also specified. It must have been frustrating for students who are good at cooking. Osanai-san tilted her head slightly.
“I’m not sure about the group leader, Miyano-kun. He might be in the brass band club. During the cooking class, he worked hard washing dishes, but he wasn’t silent all the time. When I put the crackers for the canapés on a plate, he warned me that it might splash water since the sink was close. When Sawami-san was about to drop the egg on the flour, he pointed out that we were supposed to mix the egg with milk in another container.”
I thought of the scone recipe.
“Was that so?”
“It was instructed in the recipe we received.”
“Did Sawami-san follow it?”
“She got angry and said not to meddle in unnecessary things, and dropped the egg as it was.”
That’s a bit strange.
“That’s deviating from the process.”
Osanai-san nodded as if it were nothing.
“Yes. But there are methods like that too. It doesn’t matter which way.”
I see. Well, no matter how you put the egg in, it doesn’t seem to be the cause of undercooking. Now, there’s one person left.
“What kind of person is Sawami-san?”
As I asked that, Osanai-san made a slightly troubled expression.
“She’s in the table tennis club. And she’s in charge of home economics.”
In charge of a subject means helping with the class, and one person is assigned for each subject in each class. The world history representative carries the teaching materials, and the English representative collects homework and takes it to the staff room. It’s a principle to decide on a candidate for the role, but if no one volunteers, the teacher pressures a student without club activities to take charge.
When I asked if Sawami-san was chosen as the home economics person by nomination, Osanai-san looked up at the sky as if recalling a memory.
“…… Yes. I think so.”
“It seems she has a lot of passion for home economics.”
“I don’t know, but she really appealed that she could be entrusted with the scones, and when the teacher distributed the recipe, she said she could make it tastier than this. …… Just, her dexterity was certainly good, but compared to Kanou-kun and other students from different classes who are good at confectionery, it didn’t feel like she usually did it.”
“Is there anything that comes to mind when she appealed that she could be entrusted with the scones?”
“Well…… I guess she was trying to raise her usual scores with the entrance exams in mind. Or maybe she wanted to appeal that she could make sweets to someone.”
“Someone? Why?”
Even if I say that, nothing special comes to mind.
We tilted our heads for a while, but the reason someone wanted something was something that others couldn’t know. In the end, we could only say this.
“Well, there must have been something.”
Osanai-san nodded ambiguously.
No matter what Sawami-san’s feelings were, the scones were not baked well.
“So, after realizing it was undercooked, did anyone say anything special to Sawami-san?”
“Yes. Aonakaya-kun did.”
He was the guy who didn’t cooperate with the cooking at all and was talking to friends from another class. I thought it was a bit annoying.
“What did he say about Sawami-san’s cooking when he didn’t do anything?”
“He said, ‘You overreacted, and this is what you get? You failed.’ Sawami-san went pale and bowed her head. But she didn’t cry.”
“I hope Aonakaya-kun gets into trouble.”
“Yes. He will.”
Osanai-san spoke as if it had already happened.
The scones are brought from the kitchen. The buttery aroma wafts gently. Each container is filled with strawberry jam and clotted cream.
I was quite surprised to see the two scones on the plate of <Yashinoki>.
“They’re big.”
The scones we baked were slightly smaller than Osanai-san’s fist. In contrast, the scones in front of me are larger than mine. Osanai-san nods in satisfaction.
“They are.”
A while ago, Osanai-san hinted that the scones we baked in class were somewhat London-like. I understood what she meant at a glance.
“London scones are smaller than this.”
Osanai-san smiled.
“There is no name for London scones, but in Kogi’s words, scones tend to get bigger the further they get from London.”
The appearances are also slightly different. The scones of <Yashinoki> are puffed up and have gaps on the sides. The scones we baked also had gaps, but not as large as this.
Osanai-san had a faint sadness in her eyes.
“…… But this size is a bit beyond the rumor. I don’t think I can finish it.”
“Well, it’s about the amount of a normal meal.”
“Osanai-san squeezed her voice out, revealing her grievance.
“Ko, Kobato-kun…… could you eat one side?”
No way, receiving a sweet from Osanai-san. What is going to happen later!
However, Osanai-san’s judgment that this is impossible is reasonable. Here, I have to answer “Okay” with a resolute determination. Then we shared the scones. I split the scone and spread the jam first.
Osanai-san spread the clotted cream first. Osanai-san might have useful information about the order of jam and cream, but right now, I want to enjoy the scone more than information. The aroma of freshly baked scones was captivating enough to make me think that way. Surprised by the thickness of the clotted cream that Osanai-san generously spread, I took a bite of the scone.
…… I see. Yesterday, during the cooking class, I had my first scone and got the impression that it was something like bread.
Even considering our class’s lack of cooking skills, I thought scones were like jam breads. Jam breads are delicious, but they don’t make my heart flutter. I thought scones were the same.
But I was wrong. This is amazing. This is delicious. This is food that cannot be replaced by anything.
The texture is a mix of “softly crumbling” and “moist,” giving a feeling of crumbling on my tongue. Such a rich and deep flavor can’t be achieved with just jam, and clotted cream alone would be too greasy. And it goes incredibly well with black tea.
How many failures must have accumulated to discover this exquisite combination? However, all those thoughts were expressed in just one word.
“It’s delicious.”
Osanai-san was enough with just that. She simply nodded and brought the scone to her mouth.
After the intense moment passed, we found our calm. Both of us still had half of the scone left.
If it’s this delicious, I can understand why Osanai-san wants to come here after school…… I thought, but then I remembered that Osanai-san had a different reason for coming to this shop. The message didn’t say “Let’s eat scones,” but “Let’s see scones.” While pouring milk tea into the now-empty teacup, I asked.
“So, Osanai-san, what did you want to see about the scones?”
Osanai-san also took a breath with the black tea. The answer was short.
“If they are aged or not.”
“Aged?”
“You can say it’s resting. I came to see if the dough is aged.”
Putting down the teacup, Osanai-san sighed softly. It seemed foolish to talk about something else while enjoying something so delicious.
“Sawami-san said when she received the recipe from the teacher that she could make it tastier. I didn’t mention it earlier because Kobato-kun didn’t ask, but specifically, she said that 10 minutes isn’t enough for aging.”
The recipe stated that the scone dough should be rested in the refrigerator between the 3rd and 4th periods. The break time is 10 minutes.
“What did Sawami-san say?”
“At least 1 hour. If possible, it should be aged in the refrigerator for 3 hours.”
It’s impossible to age the dough for 3 hours in a cooking class that lasts just over 2 hours.
If it really needs to be aged for 3 hours, then it was a mistake by the home economics teacher to choose such a dish as the subject of the cooking class. However, I still have doubts about whether it’s okay to accept Sawami-san’s claim as it is.
“Really?”
“I saw a few recipes in the library. There are definitely recipes that ages the dough. But….”
Osanai-san continues speaking while staring at the teacup.
“I don’t think it was aged in the novel I read before.”
“Tell me.”
“A woman greets a customer and says to have tea in 30 minutes. Then she goes into the kitchen, but another customer arrives, and she can’t respond because her hands are already covered in flour. While the two customers talk, the tea preparation is underway, and the woman takes out freshly baked scones from the oven.”
30 minutes from starting the dough to baking it. It’s like apples and oranges compared to our generous 1 hour and 30 minutes. And as Osanai-san said, the dough was definitely not aged in that novel.
Just in case, I checked with her.
“Don’t you think it’s something the author wrote out of imagination without having baked scones? The author might not have even been to England.”
“That can’t be.”
“Whose novel is it?”
“Agatha Christie, ‘After the Funeral.’”
She’s in the top 5 or 10 most famous British people in the world.
Osanai-san spreads clotted cream and jam on the scone. This time, the cream comes first again.
“I thought it was certain, but I came to check just in case. Since this is said to be the authentic taste. Then they didn’t age it, as Kobato-kun saw.”
“So it’s confirmed that scone dough is not aged.”
Osanai-san shakes her head.
“No. What I confirmed today is that Sawami-san’s claim that scone dough should be aged is not always correct. Just because there are recipes that don’t age the dough doesn’t mean the recipes that do are wrong. There are various recipes in the world, and as long as they taste good, they’re all correct.”
Indeed. I was hasty. I looked at the kitchen. The woman with black eyes and black hair was making another dough. Osanai-san said that the scones from this shop had an authentic taste, but…….
“Isn’t there a possibility that it looks like a British person is serving a customer and a Japanese person is baking scones, but in fact, it’s been modified for a Japanese person?”
“I don’t know if it’s been modified, but Kobato-kun is misunderstanding. The blonde man was born and raised in Japan, and the woman with black hair is from London.”
I can’t believe it. Is today my hasty anniversary?
Anyway, thanks to Osanai-san’s attitude of not neglecting verification, I was able to eat scones together.
I’m glad, but I still have some doubts. To hide my embarrassment of being hasty, I asked.
“If you wanted to know whether to age the dough or not, you could have just asked the store staff instead of going through the hassle of ordering and observing. They would have probably told you.”
Then Osanai-san placed both fists on her forehead and lowered them slightly. It looked like she was pulling up an invisible hat brim. It must have been a gesture of “That’s embarrassing.”
There are no scones on the plate. No clotted cream or jam either. Isn’t it absurd? Why do delicious things disappear when you eat them? The world is heartless.
We silently drank black tea for a while. Although we achieved our purpose of coming to <Yashinoki>, I still had no idea why Osanai-san’s class’s scones had failed.
Sawami-san insisted on baking scones alone for her own reasons. She hated it when others interfered with her making scones. When the failure was revealed, she bowed her head and endured the humiliation and scolding.
How about me? If I wanted to show off my scone-making skills, if I wanted to bake the best scones in front of everyone and stand tall, what would I do?
“…… Hmm.”
Responding to my half-conscious mumble, Osanai-san reacts.
“What’s wrong?”
I still haven’t organized my thoughts, but somewhere, there’s a vague discomfort. I tried to express it in words.
“Osanai-san said that Sawami-san has a lot of pride.”
There is no denying response.
“For Sawami-san, the failure of the scone is a nightmare. Conversely, she must have never wanted to fail.”
“That would be the case.”
“And Sawami-san firmly believed that scone dough should be aged for more than an hour.”
Silence falls for a moment.
“Would such Sawami-san make it according to the school recipe?”
Osanai-san carefully answers after taking a sip from the teacup.
“Of course, Sawami-san would have worried about that. But the practice is only 2 hours, and during those 2 hours, we have to eat and clean up, so there’s no choice.”
“That’s right. So, about that.”
Finally, I have decided what to ask. I repeat to myself that the direction of the deduction is not wrong.
“Did Sawami-san express any anxieties or complaints during today’s practice?”
If Sawami-san reluctantly followed the recipe, wouldn’t something like that have slipped out?
Kanou-kun, who was in charge of the sandwiches, lamented that he wished there was just mustard. I think that’s a natural complaint. But what about Sawami-san? Did she say nothing at all?
“Of course, not everyone who faces a situation that doesn’t go their way complains. There are many people who endure silently. But from what I’ve heard from Osanai-san, Sawami-san seems like someone who would say something no matter what. Last week, when the recipe was distributed, she said she could make it tastier, right? So, what about today?”
Osanai-san’s eyes narrow slightly.
“She didn’t say anything.”
“…… That’s strange.”
Those eyes momentarily turned cold. There was a gap. Something is hidden here. I continue speaking as it comes to mind.
“Why did she complain last week and say nothing today? Did she have no complaints today? Did she learn during this week that the scone dough doesn’t need to be aged?”
Osanai-san’s voice was small.
“Most cooking is like that, but especially in pastry making, there’s a magical aspect. Once a method works well, it gets repeated, sometimes for hundreds of years. Changing a familiar method isn’t easy for anyone.”
“Sawami-san’s familiar method was to age the dough for over an hour. …… If she could make the scones the way she always did, she wouldn’t have complained about the recipe. But is that even possible?”
During the cooking class, the dough was probably put in the oven as soon as the 4th period started. If Sawami-san’s recipe is to age it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, then to make it that way, the dough would have to start aging from the moment the cooking class began in the 3rd period. Is that possible?
It’s impossible.
…… No, there is a possibility.
“There’s only one way.”
Osanai-san nods.
“You’re right, there’s only one way.”
As if praising me who sought advice, Osanai-san doesn’t continue. If that’s the case, I can say it.
“When the cooking class started, there was already dough made with Sawami-san’s recipe in the refrigerator.”
Where did that dough come from? Of course, from Sawami-san’s house. Sawami-san had her own dough when she went to school. Perhaps she asked someone in her family who is good at making scones.
Like submitting a project completed by parents as vacation homework, maybe Sawami-san brought the perfect dough for herself. The dough isn’t that big when rolled up. It can be easily carried if wrapped in plastic wrap. As I thought about this, I suddenly felt lost.
“But it’s fine that she brought the dough, but how did she put it in the refrigerator?”
There’s a lock on the kitchen. It’s difficult to enter without a valid reason. I think the idea isn’t bad, but if there’s no concrete way to execute it, it’s just a theoretical discussion.
Osanai-san doesn’t take my question as a problem.
“Sawami-san is in charge of home economics. Her role is to prepare supplies, and there must have been a way to borrow the key.”
I want to say “I see”, but I couldn’t quite agree.
“But in Osanai-san’s class, the 2nd period was P.E. She didn’t need time to change clothes since she practiced in her gym clothes, but she had to return from the gym to the classroom, retrieve the dough, go to the staff room to borrow the key, and get to the kitchen before anyone else to put the dough in the refrigerator. Isn’t that too little time?”
Osanai-san tilts her head while holding the teacup.
“Do you think Sawami-san moved the dough after the 1st period ended? Why?”
“Because if the dough was in the refrigerator when the 3rd period started……”
As I was speaking, I realized the mistake in my thinking.
“Ah. It’s okay to do it quickly. It’s also fine before class starts.”
“Right. If she asked the home economics teacher before the morning self-study period if there was anything to prepare and was told to put the ingredients in the refrigerator, she could have put her own dough in at that time.”
That seemed like a bold guess, but thinking about it, I had also heard the clues that led to Osanai-san’s reasoning.
“The cooler box.”
The one that was next to the refrigerator and tripped over Osanai-san’s foot. Why was there a cooler box in such a place? The scariest thing for the home economics teacher is an accident during cooking, and the next scariest thing, or equally scary, is food poisoning. It’s quite conceivable to transport ingredients on the morning of the practice day.
The cooler box was used for that transport, and it was probably Sawami-san, in charge of home economics, who actually transported it. If that’s the case, Sawami-san would have had plenty of opportunities before class started.
Osanai-san said while pouring black tea into the empty cup.
“I think this way. As Kobato-kun said, Sawami-san wanted to make scones with her own recipe. While she was thinking that, the home economics teacher told her to assist with the class early on the day of practice. Sawami-san thought of this as an opportunity and decided to bring the dough from her house.”
If she knew in advance that she could enter the kitchen on the morning of the practice day, the barriers to execution would be greatly lowered. I accepted the story.
“Even if she didn’t have the opportunity to move the dough to the refrigerator, in that case, she could just make the dough according to the school recipe. She would have complaints, but it would only be the same conditions as the other classes, and Sawami-san would have nothing to lose. It’s a plan where there’s no downside to trying.”
The class started, and Sawami-san began making a new dough. After the 3rd period ended, the scone representatives from each class put their dough in the refrigerator. At that time, there was Sawami-san’s dough from home inside the refrigerator. In other words, Osanai-san’s classmates would see the dough brought by Sawami-san.
I swear that no student would have doubted it. If I opened the refrigerator during a cooking class and saw scone dough inside, I wouldn’t think, “Something’s wrong. Someone is trying to swap the dough.” I would have thought there must be some reason for it. I would have interpreted it casually and probably not paid much attention.
If this is the truth, then Sawami-san’s actions are, in a sense, cheating. But she probably couldn’t help it. Since she had been to London, maybe she felt cornered by her own words that she could be entrusted with scones.
“I don’t sympathize, but it’s a shame.”
Osanai-san is drinking black tea with her eyes closed.
“As expected, Kobato-kun. You’ve come up with a result I hadn’t thought of. Are you really okay with me not paying for the tea here?”
“I’m fine.”
We probably uncovered what happened during today’s cooking class. But even if we figured out Sawami-san’s scheme, the real problem wasn’t particularly resolved.
“So, why were the scones undercooked?”
If Sawami-san brought the perfect dough, why weren’t the baked scones perfect? Osanai-san raises her hand to call the waiter.
“Herb tea, please.”
“All right. May I clear the dishes?”
“Yes, please.”
The waiter clears the empty plates and teapot. Osanai-san watches the plates being taken away with regret and then speaks.
“I was thinking about that too. I have a thought. Earlier, I mentioned a few reasons why it could be undercooked.”
I asked various questions. There were reasons I hadn’t thought of.
“There was a reason I didn’t mention at that time.”
According to what I’ve seen so far, I can guess what that reason is right away. I interrupted Osanai-san’s line.
“In the case where the dough was cold.”
“Right. If our thoughts are correct, Sawami-san’s dough would have been refrigerated since before class started. The temperature is different from the other dough that was in the refrigerator for only 10 minutes. If she set the baking time according to the school recipe without knowing that, of course, the heat wouldn’t reach all the way.”
It would be theoretically so. But I couldn’t accept it.
“If she wanted to make scones her way and even brought the dough, wouldn’t it be strange to just set the baking time according to the school recipe?”
“It would be strange.”
Immediately answering, Osanai-san added.
“But the baking time was set to about 13 minutes as instructed.”
Right. Osanai-san definitely said that. She didn’t check the time set on the oven, but it was about 13 minutes from the start to the end of baking. Did Sawami-san forget to adjust the baking time at the very last moment? Such a mistake can be quite common. Was that what happened in today’s kitchen?
The waiter brings the herb tea. The appearance is the same teapot and teacup as the previous black tea.
As Osanai-san pours the contents, the herb aroma fills the air. I asked.
“Was Sawami-san next to the oven while baking the scones?”
Osanai-san tilts her head.
“I wasn’t watching the whole time, but…… yes, she went to the refrigerator. I remember thinking about what she was doing.”
“She didn’t just go for a moment and come back right away; she was gone for quite a while?”
“I think so.”
I imagine the scene in the kitchen. After putting the dough she brought from home into the oven and setting the timer, Sawami-san’s tasks were basically done. Osanai-san was observing various things while making canapés, and nearby, Kurai-san was waiting for Osanai-san’s instructions. Kanou-kun was making cucumber sandwiches alone, wishing there was mustard. Aonakaya-kun left the cooking station, pretending to be uninterested in cooking, and was chatting with friends.
And there was exactly one person who definitely said the baking time for the scones was 13 minutes.
“The group leader, Miyano-kun, told the teacher that the baking time was 13 minutes.”
Because the story suddenly changed, Osanai-san looks confused. I felt sorry, but I’ll explain later and continue the story.
“Miyano-kun was scolded by Sawami-san for doing unnecessary things as soon as the practice started.”
There was a similar incident once more.
“When Sawami-san was about to drop an egg on the flour, Miyano-kun advised that it would be better to mix the egg with milk in another bowl. Sawami-san got angry at that time too and didn’t listen to Miyano-kun.”
As if realizing where the story was heading, Osanai-san’s expression turns blank. I continue speaking.
“Osanai-san might not have said it, but probably the members of Osanai-san’s class didn’t treat Sawami-san sincerely. They didn’t ask if she was okay or quietly help her.”
“That’s…….”
“No, I’m not blaming. During class, it’s natural to focus on one’s own cooking. If Sawami-san didn’t ask for help, that’s even more true. I just want to say that Miyano-kun was the only one who was concerned about Sawami-san.”
She might have regretted leaving the scones to Sawami-san alone, or perhaps she had some personal feelings or relationship with Sawami-san that made her want to help.
“Whatever the reason, Miyano-kun intervened with Sawami-san at least twice, and both times he was rejected.”
Osanai-san cups the teacup with both hands and speaks.
“I think there was a third time.”
I nodded.
“Miyano-kun was concerned about Sawami-san, so he probably saw the timer setting when Sawami-san left the oven. Sawami-san set the baking time longer than the school recipe. But Miyano-kun didn’t know that, so he probably thought it was just a mistake in the time setting. He might have wanted to point out that it was too long, but since he had already been scolded twice for unnecessary interference, what if he thought he didn’t want to be scolded a third time?”
Osanai-san sighed.
“Just slightly, he would change the setting time to match the recipe. Yes, that might have been it.”
The school oven sets the temperature and baking time with a dial. Just a slight turn of the dial changes the setting, and there’s no function to verbally notify the change. It’s a very trivial action to change the setting time.
And since Miyano-kun was the one who set the baking time to 13 minutes, when the teacher asked about it, he answered 13 minutes without hesitation. It’s very natural in terms of emotional movement or the flow of actions.
But the question hasn’t disappeared.
“But in this case, I don’t understand why Sawami-san didn’t notice it. She would have put the dough in the oven and taken a breather. If the baking time was manipulated, she would definitely notice.”
With the herb tea at her mouth, Osanai-san muttered while slightly nodding her head.
“Sawami-san was probably distracted because she was doing something else.”
“Something else?”
“She probably had something to do with the refrigerator.”
I see. There was probably dough that Sawami-san made during the practice left in the refrigerator. That dough was useless, so it could be thrown in the trash without any problem. But if the dough was found in the trash can, it would be a big problem, and she might have hesitated to just throw away the food.
If she didn’t want to throw it away, the only place to hide it would be the refrigerator, but if the teacher opened the refrigerator after class, she would notice the unidentified dough left behind. Unlike her classmates, the teacher wouldn’t be able to resist uncovering the identity of the dough. Sawami-san probably wanted to move the dough to a place where people wouldn’t notice as soon as possible.
“I think Sawami-san moved the dough she made to the cooler box. If it was the cooler box, it would be natural for Sawami-san, in charge of home economics, to clean it up after class. Everyone was focused on their cooking during the practical class, and no one would have noticed if Sawami-san took the dough out of the refrigerator and put it in the cooler box. But Sawami-san was also focused on her own work and didn’t notice that the baking time had been shortened.”
It’s plausible. A person trying to deceive others doesn’t notice that their own eyes are being deceived.
To show my understanding, I nodded vigorously. However, the only regret is that there is no evidence.
There’s no evidence that Sawami-san brought her satisfactory dough from home, and there’s no evidence that Miyano-kun reduced the timer setting.
I was satisfied with the conclusion we reached and thought this was the truth, but the only regret was that I couldn’t definitively conclude that it was so. As I was thinking that, Osanai-san spoke as if she were deep in thought.
“Finally, the mystery of that bowl has been solved.”
“That bowl? Did you mention about it? Certainly…….”
“It’s about the bowl that no one remembers using, which was in the sink.”
“Yes.”
The dough was to be left to rest in the bowl.
“I think that bowl contained the freshly made dough. If she moved the dough to the cooler box, the bowl would be empty, so she probably placed it in the sink without a second thought.”
I felt wronged. I thought that if I had considered what the extra bowl was used for, I could have reached a smarter conclusion.
Osanai-san pours another cup of herb tea. That should empty the teapot.
“Thank you, Kobato-kun. Now, the only thing left is the initial problem.”
Now…… what was the initial problem? When I couldn’t recall it well, Osanai-san smiled a bit awkwardly.
“I’m really grateful to you, Kobato-kun. But I wasn’t trying to find out why the scones were undercooked. I was just thinking about what to write in the homework report.”
I thought that might have been the case when she said that.
“If there were no mistakes in Sawami-san’s cooking process, I thought I couldn’t write that it was Sawami-san’s fault for failing. If the report were to be made public, considering the relationship with my classmates.”
“You think about that too, Osanai-san.”
“Yes. Isn’t this like a Petit Bourgeois?”
Well. I think there’s no chance that the homework report will be made public in front of her classmates. Despite that, the caution to eliminate the embers is not too far from the peaceful Petit Bourgeois. Since we entered this store, no other customers have come. Is the management of <Yashinoki> okay? Are these scones too sophisticated for the clientele around here?
Osanai-san speaks.
“But I could speculate that the root of the failure was Sawami-san’s own responsibility. I think I can write that.”
“Are you saying that Sawami-san’s stubbornness was the cause?”
She opened her eyes wide and shook her head.
“I won’t write that.”
“Then, what will you write?”
Osanai-san puts down the teacup and speaks while rotating her index finger.
“For example…… I was wrong to only think about the canapés I was in charge of. Since we’re classmates, we should have helped each other more.”
A logic that while Sawami-san failed, we also had parts to reflect on for not helping. I laughed.
“That’s good. It’s fitting for a homework assignment, and above all, it’s a perfectly Petit Bourgeois-esque comment.”
“Thank you. …… The scone was delicious.”
I looked at the clock. Exactly 2 hours had passed since we left the school gate. It was a problem of 2 hours or just one scone. When we left the store, it was still too early for the sun to set outside.