Mash had originally scheduled the cream puff party two days after the remote conference, but considering the need to inform students across academies and, more importantly, to allow everyone involved with him to process their emotions, the date was pushed back a full week. Finally, after the bare minimum recovery period, Mash returned to Schale—and the day arrived.
"…This was supposed to be a celebration for Sensei's discharge, a *1 commemoration of the conference wrapping up neatly. We were to make cream puffs at each academy and hold a party here at Schale… But what in the world is THIS!?"
"Wow, amazing—everyone's is so uniquely individual!"
"There's a limit to individuality!"
Every single student had brought wildly distinctive cream puffs—or rather, food. Gehenna, Trinity, Millennium, Abydos—each poured their heart into creations for Mash… But Rin, who'd volunteered as MC, could do nothing but tsukkomi at the utterly unforeseen full-course catastrophe.
"…Let's start with Gehenna… Hina, Committee Chair—what is this?"
"Cream puffs. With some arrangements."
"Yes, cream puffs—though most of the shells are charcoal black… This is just charcoal sandwiching cream. Not food. Is this some kind of fire-starter fuel?"
"…I've barely ever cooked… and it failed."
"How do you even achieve this…?"
"W-we thought low heat for 10 minutes, high for 3… that's what the Disciplinary Committee all agreed on."
"Guh…! This is why brain-dead Gehenna—!"
"Kiki… B-but rest assured! The Cafeteria Club made perfect cream puffs!!"
"Yes—except for that octopus-like monster over there clinging to Sensei."
"Juri-chan, this kid's super attached to me for some reason."
"S-sorry, Sensei! Hey, Pan-chan— I know you're happy Sensei's back, but give him space! He's still recovering…!"
Gehenna's offerings were literal charcoal… Most Gehenna students, who left all cooking to the Cafeteria Club, were first-time cooks with no proper recipes—resulting in ash and failure. Pandemonium Society brought piles of pudding (charcoal aside, not even cream puffs). The only decent entries: Fuuka bullying the Gourmet Research Club into submission, and Aru & Convenience Store 68's contributions.
"…I-I did follow the recipe properly…"
"…The president was the most normal."
"As expected of Aru-sama…!"
"Is this that dark matter thing?"
"Convenience Store 68, you're under arrest."
"Pure grudge!"
"…Next, Millennium. The Maid Club, Game Dev Department, and Seminar produced excellent cream puffs… but—"
Rin hoists Engineer & Veritas's creation: toxic-colored orbs that scream hazardous to humans. At least, not chewable by human teeth.
"What is this?"
"…W-well… our philosophy is 'as long as it provides nutrition'… so…"
"We've never really cooked…"
"So we thought, let the machines handle it—"
"But extreme focus on efficiency and budget cuts… turned it into something cream-puff-adjacent."
"Can you even eat this?"
"Absolutely not."
"That's why I said 'Let's make them together!'~!"
"You get stubborn in the weirdest places. Save the engineer spirit for elsewhere."
"Ugh… I just wanted the cute kouhai to say 'Senpai's amazing~'…"
"…Training Club is just protein."
"Rude— it's custard-flavored. With shoe-dough cookie crunch. We have chocolate, strawberry, matcha—all prepared."
"Nobody asked, and we want normal cream puffs!!"
Breathing heavily, Rin turns to Trinity. Unlike Gehenna or Millennium's corpse-piles, Trinity's entries show serious effort—researched recipes, premium ingredients befitting young ladies, teamwork… but.
"Why can NONE of you make actual cream puffs…?"
"W-wow… I've never seen desserts like these… they look delicious."
"—No… We started with normal cream puffs— But someone suggested roll cakes or parfaits too, and…"
"It got fun, and we couldn't stop. Halfway through, everyone just made whatever they wanted."
"Tea Party, Knights Hospitaller, Sisterhood, Justice Task Force—all wiped out."
"The only one who stuck to cream puffs was Tsukigi-chan ⭐︎"
"I-I… tried my best…"
Trinity students got carried away with the joy of creation, abandoning the cream puff party premise entirely—each making their favorite sweets.
"Abydos… adorably shaped, vibrant colors—cute cream puffs."
"Mmm, we made them with Sensei long ago. Used that knowledge."
"We've got peach, melon, strawberry—lots of varieties~"
"…N-not that I'm excited… but… for Sensei…"
"You say that~ but Serika-chan looked the happiest~?"
"D-don't say that, Senpai!!"
Abydos delivered the highest-quality, most appetizing cream puffs—wolf-shaped cookie dough, whale-motif éclairs—every piece charming.
"—And Izuna-san, Wakamo-san… care to introduce yours?"
"Of course! —A dish that captures hearts, cherishes, gently warms… just like Mash-sensei himself— Its name—"
"Hamaguri clam red miso soup."
"AT LEAST BRING DESSERTS!!!!"
"Whoa, this is insanely good. Rin-san, it warms you from the inside—perfect."
"That's great, but—!!"
"Fufufu… As your beloved wife, this is only natural—"
"Wait? But Nee-sama said she's never made anything but cream puffs and was nervous this time—"
"Izuna."
"Y-yes!! Won't say extra!!"
Izuna and Wakamo, desperate to please Mash, researched alone… and produced Hyakkiyako's specialty clam red miso soup. Mash's high praise? Result: acceptable.
"And finally, the former Arius members now at Schale…"
"…Sorry, Hime told us, and Sensei fed us a few times, but…"
Arius brought no cream puffs or sweets. Mostly tasteless rations reminiscent of their branch-school field meals. Sugar-coated: dystopian slop. Realistically: feed.
"We… only know this."
"We've only ever eaten this…"
"Um… just looking at everyone else's makes me hungry…"
"…" (drooling silently)
"—Anyway, everyone tried their hardest… Let's eat. The cream puffs." swoosh
Mash stands, mouth full of everyone's cream puffs, and declares—
"—Fuufiif haaf fiishuu kuriimu paatii, faafihie faou hajimemashou!"
The cream puff party—begins.
"…Never thought it'd turn out like this~."
"Like what?"
"Wah!? M-Mash-kun, you were there? Didn't notice."
"Stealth is my selling point."
"First I've heard."
"So, like what?"
"…Everyone eating cream puffs together, no barriers of academy or affiliation—just connecting… It feels a little unreal."
"…I see."
Mika had slipped to the office's edge, gazing at Kivotos's glittering nightscape. Inside, the party buzzed with cream puffs—and human connection, unbound by grade, school, or ties. Pre-Schale Mash? This party would've been impossible.
"…Look, Mash-kun. They're awkward, but Arius… they look happy. Without you interrupting, that circle might've been just Trinity and Arius."
"Well, that future didn't happen."
"You said 'without interrupting'…"
"—Honestly? I never thought I could create something like this."
"…?"
"Coming from another world, zero knowledge, teaching, fighting… I never dreamed I could make a space where everyone laughs like that."
From an isolated mountain in another world, Mash still wondered: Did I really create this? The scene before him felt unbelievable.
"…It's not perfect yet. I want better relationships, closer bonds—that's my goal now."
"So like you~… Yeah, some still aren't fully okay with it… But right now, they're forgetting that and sharing cream puffs— In Kivotos's history, as far as I know? This is rare. Amazing."
"Really? I made history."
"…That confidence is a good point too. Here—ahhn."
"Ahhn."
Mash, hands still in casts, lets Mika feed him a bite. As she does, memories resurface—from that battle:
'Until Mika-san atones… let me carry that sin too.' 'I won't leave you alone.' 'What are you doing to my princesses?'
He'd said "princesses"—plural. Mika understood his approach to students… but still felt a tiny jealousy. So—she decides on a small prank.
"…Maaash-kun!"
"Fwhai?… gulp… What—"
"Ei ⭐︎" smooch
Mika leans in and plants a gentle kiss on his cheek. Mash freezes, eyes wide, stunned.
"…Eh?"
"Always, always—thank you for everyone, for me! This is my reward ⭐︎"
"…R-reward… reward…?"
"Fufu—see ya~ ⭐️"
"W-wait—hey—"
Ears red, Mika dashes to Nagisa and the others. Mash touches his cheek, dazed… Did that just happen…?
"…This too… is youth. —Something I protected… something precious."
Everyone—Mash's friends—eating cream puffs together, no fights, no shootouts, just harmony… Mash's heart feels full.
"…Good job—me."
For the first time, he smiles gently and praises himself. As his usual face returns—
""""Sensei~~~~!!"""" "Mash-kun." "My beloved~~♡"
"—Coming!"
Called by his students, Mash steps forward—into the future.
Eden Treaty Arc
Complete
"And from here… the final stage. Sensei still has many trials ahead… Of course, I—Kurofuku—will stand as an obstacle… As an adult, as a villain… heh."
"Kukuku… Sensei, you are a pest to us… But also our nemesis. You don't know, but actually—I—"
"—am a sore loser."
*1: Remaining issues are being resolved in order.
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