"Okay, now we just sprinkle on a little powdered sugar, and..."
As Trey put on the finishing touches, Grim and Ace cheered, "Finished!"
"Fin...ished..." Deuce added in before he put his head on the counter with a thud.
Seeing Deuce's depressed state, Ace whispered to them in confusion, "Did something happen to him while you were shopping?"
"Let's just say he's still reeling from a shock." Hoshi gave a dry smile, "Better let him work through this one himself."
From afar, Hoshi could hear him groan in despair, "For sixteen years, I was so sure..."
Sixteen years? Ace wasn't sure what happened to him. Not wanting to get involved in it, Ace ignored him as he stretched, "Yeah, whatever. I'm pretty beat. Making tarts sure takes it outta you."
"I thought it was quite fun!" Hoshi smiled as she remembered how well the tart shell turned out from the oven and covering the tart with the chestnut paste! It smelled very fragrant and sweet!
"Hey fam! You look wrecked. Are the tarts done? Ooh, those look sooo cute! Lemme snap a quick pic for Magicam!" Cater suddenly bursted into the kitchen with his usual cheery personality as he whipped out his smartphone and began taking pictures.
Hoshi's eyes widen in surprise, "Cater?!"
"What, NOW you decide to show up?" Ace glared at him.
Without wasting a heartbeat, Cater swung an arm around his neck and replied with a carefree smile, "I just came to see how hard my little newbs were working."
"It's tough work if you're not used to it. But there's no better cure for the ails of fatigue than something sweet from the oven!" Trey said as he brought over another tart before cutting into it, "Help yourself to some of this tart."
"YAY!"
Ace eyed him with suspicion, "Pretty funny how you managed to show right when it was ready to eat, Cater."
Cater gave a guilty smile, "Heh heh. Someone's gotta be the official taster!"
Grim sniffed at the slices of tart and drooled, "Mmmm... That smells so good... Glossy chestnuts on top, fluffy cream below... I can't wait another second, I'm going in!"
Ace took a forkful of the tart slice and his eyes widen in surprise as soon as he ate it, "Oh, dang!"
"Yuuum! Liked and subscriiibed!" Cater smiled as he took a bite of his slice of the tart.
However, for some reason, Hoshi raised a brow in surprise. Was it just her or was his smile much smaller than it was when they were in the cafeteria?
"Is something the matter, Cater?" She called out to him curiously.
"Eh?!" Cater looked taken aback with surprise, "Well, yeah! The tart is amazing, duh!"
"This is like something from a fancy bakery." Deuce commented in awe as he had a bite too.
"Rich in flavor, yet not too sweet... It's like chestnuts are dancing across my tongue!" Grim purred in delight after taking one large bite.
"Is that... a good thing?" Trey laughed awkwardly.
"Oh, Trey! You gotta do the thing." Cater pointed out to him eagerly.
"The thing? Oh... That." Trey gave another small laugh.
Confused, Ace raised a brow, "Uh, wanna fill me in here?"
Ignoring his confusion, Trey asked, "What's everyone's favorite food?"
"Me? Probably cherry pie. Or hamburgers." Ace responded.
"Canned tuna's at the top of my list. Then maybe cheese omelets, roast meat, pudding..." Grim responded eagerly.
"If I had to pick, I guess I'd say... omelet rice?" Deuce responded hesitantly.
"I like a nice lamb chop with diablo sauce." Cater responded with a bright smile.
"All right, you've got it..." Trey took out his magic pen and waved it over the tart slices, "Let's "Paint the Roses"!"
There was a small flash of light as Deuce muttered in confusion, "Huh? What does that mean?"
"Take another bite of your tart and see." Trey smiled.
"Huh? How-" Ace took a bite and was stunned, "Now it tastes like cherry pie!"
Curious, Grim followed suit and gasped with glittering eyes, "It's just like canned tuna! *munch* *munch* Now it tastes like a cheese omelet! And grilled meat! *munch* *munch* And pudding!"
"Try not to eat too fast, Grim." Hoshi warned him and wiped the cream stick on his whiskers with a napkin.
"Neat trick, eh? That's gotta be a hit when Trey's having tea with the ladies." Cater joked.
"It's very impressive. Is changing flavors your signature spell, Trey?" Deuce questioned seemingly having forgotten about the earlier incident.
"Technically, it's "overwriting characteristics." I can change taste, color, smell, whatever. It only lasts for a little while." Trey explained, "But it is kinda like covering up the real thing hence, 'painting.'"
"If I had magic like that, I could be eatin' canned tuna every meal of every day!" Grim exclaimed in awe, "That's way better than Riddle's stupid collar magic!"
The sudden mention of Riddle got Trey's smile to stiffen as he hesitated with a look of disappointment, "Oh, that's in a whole other league. His signature spell is a weapon. Mine's just childish prestidigitation."
Huh? Hoshi noticed a strange aura around Trey. It was definitely not the omnious black veil that surrounded the others. Instead, this one was a dark red color perhaps near brown, even. It brought a sense of discomfort and alarm to Hoshi, but she was unsure why.
"Speaking of Riddle - it's too late to give him these now." Grim spoke up with a grumpy look as though he no longer has the energy to deal with him, "Let's call it a day and do it tomorrow."
"Don't forget that tomorrow's the unbirthday party. You don't want to be late." Hoshi reminded them hesitantly.
Hesitant, Ace asked in defeat and embarrassment, "Hoshi, can I crash with you again? It doesn't sound like I'll be allowed back in my own dorm tonight."
"Again, seriously?" Cater looked to him in disappointment.
"It isn't right to keep mooching off of Hoshi, Ace." Deuce scolded him.
"Yeah, it ain't! If you wanna stay tonight, you gotta pay for the privilege! Ten cans of tuna!" Grim cried out in protest.
Hoshi groaned, "What happened to my opinion?"
Grim puffed out his chest, "I'm the boss here!"
Hoshi scoffed a laugh, "I see… Too bad that means I lost my can opening privileges… guess I'll just have to let Grim open the tuna cans with the can opener in his paws…"
"What?!" Grim screeched, "Wait! I still need you to open the can!"
Hoshi smiled triumphantly, "Then I guess I get a say regarding the sleep over."
It shouldn't be too hard. After all, setting aside her gender, getting permission from Riddle would be difficult for them, especially Ace.
"What?! Guess I'm sleeping outside, then." Ace sighed in despair.
Trey hesitated and was left in deep thoughts before he raised a brow, "How did you stay in Ramshackle dorm last night?"
"Me? I couldn't just clean out a room in the middle of the night, so I dozed on the one of the lounge's sofas." Ace responded.
"Yesterday was really an exception." Hoshi sighed, "The snoring was loud, so I made sure to lock the door and put Grim next to it."
"So, that's why I woke up on the ground?!" Grim looked to her in disbelief.
"Hm..." Trey nodded in deep thought before nodding his head, "Fine. We might be okay with it as long as you stay in the lounge. In fact, why don't you go and stay at Hoshi's dorm too, Deuce, so you can keep an eye on him? As vice housewarden, I can issue you a sleepover pass."
"A sleepover pass?" Hoshi looked up in confusion.
"That's right." Trey smiled, "With that, they can sleepover at your dorm without breaking the rules."
A sleepover pass?
It sounded familiar to her, but where had she heard it before?
She frowned before it dawned on her.
Hold on a second! They are going to stay over in her dorm?!
Her jaw dropped in horror, "H-hold on-!"
"That's our Trey, always spoiling the newbs." Cater's words cut her off and he sighed, "What fun for you. Ooh, maybe I'll come too! What do you say, Hoshi?"
Disappointed to have to keep an eye open at night again, Hoshi shook her head as Trey agreed with a dry smile, "No pass for you."
"Wait-!" She tried again, but was quickly cut off once more!
"Aww. Sad trumpet... Womp womp wooomp." Cater joked as he mimicked the sound of a trumpet.
A small laugh erupted from her lips. Cater chuckled, "Ah! You finally laughed!"
"H-huh?" Hoshi jumped in surprise. It's just something about how this noise made her want to laugh. She really should control her emotions better!
"Sorry to dump them all on you, Hoshi." Trey apologized.
Though reluctant, Hoshi nodded, "At least it's just for tonight. It's not too big of a problem. I'll just ask the ghosts to pass through the halls more often tonight."
"You're kidding me!" Ace despaired in horror and he screamed, "Tomorrow's the unbirthday party. Finally, I'm gonna get rid of this stupid collar! Just you wait, Riddle!"
"Yes, yes." Deuce nodded with a troubled look as he sighed, "I'll make sure he doesn't get himself into anymore trouble."
"Huh? Oh, thanks!" Hoshi smiled gratefully as she put away the apron.
"Huh? Are you going somewhere?" Grim looked up as he noticed her beginning to put the tart into a small paper container for food.
"Yes. I need to make a stop by the library for a bit. Grim, you don't normally find library all that interesting seeing how you don't like books during class..." Hoshi hummed, "But you should still try to read more."
"Nah. Let's just go back to the dorm. Come on, guys! Let's go!" Grim declared to the boys.
"I can be the perfect escort and bring Hoshi to the library." Cater smiled, "I'll see you at the dorm."
"All right." Trey smiled, "Then, once I'm finished cleaning, I'll head on back to the dorm first. Remember, don't be late."
"Yes, sir!"
As Hoshi and Cater left for the library, she made a detour back to the chestnut trees and called out to the chipmunks. The two poked their heads out and looked around before seeing her and hurrying down as Mister chipmunk called out, "Oh hey! It's you again! Did you finish that tart already?"
Cater was taken aback as the chipmunk climbed down the tree trunk. The newbie is talking to chipmunks?!