Text

The Garage

HotaruHello...

Hotaru(It's still early. Maybe I'm the first one here...?)

Hotaru!?

Hotaru(What was that sound...? It came from the kitchen...?)

HotaruH-Hello...!

Mahoro!? Oh... It's Hotaru-chan.

HotaruS-Sorry for startling you... Um, what are you doing over there...?

MahoroAh... Um... Actually, maybe it's a good thing that it's you, Hotaru-chan...?

HotaruHuh? What do you mean...?

MahoroHehe... Now that you've seen it, there's no turning back for you, Hotaru-chan...!

HotaruHuh...? Huh...?

MahoroLook at this...!

HotaruAre these... eclairs?

MahoroYep! My mom brought them home. They're the nice kind you can only get at the department store food hall!

HotaruThey really are... They're filled with plenty of cream, and they have so many toppings, too. They're so fancy.

MahoroRight? They have to be delicious~! But when I opened the box, I realized there are only three...

MahoroWhat do I do...? There is no way to divide three between four people...

HotaruFour people...?

MahoroYeah. Nagi-chan does not like whipped cream, so she'll probably say she does not want one.

MahoroBut even then, we're still one short...

HotaruI see... So that is what you were worried about.

HotaruThen I will be fine without one too. Please let everyone else have them.

MahoroN-No, that won't do! You're our junior, Hotaru-chan!

MahoroIf anyone is going without, then I... I...!

MahoroUgh... But they look so good...! B-But I will not... I will not eat one...!

HotaruP-Please do not force yourself. I think the people who want to eat them should be the ones to eat them!

MahoroHmm... What if we got Houka-chan involved and the three of us ate them in secret...?

MahoroNo, we can't do that. If Natsume-chan found out we'd been hiding something like this, she'd definitely get mad...!

HotaruUm, then maybe I could—

MahoroNo! Good food is meant to be shared with everyone!

MahoroBecause I think that is what makes everyone happy!

Hotaru...

MahoroThere has to be a way... Three eclairs, shared equally between four people... So everyone can be happy...

MahoroOh! I know!

MahoroAround here...? Should I cut it around here, Hotaru-chan?

HotaruY-Yes. I think that will make four equal pieces!

MahoroOkay... If we cut all three into four pieces, that makes twelve. Then we can divide them between all four of us...!

MahoroWell, they might not look quite as nice anymore, though...

HotaruBut I am sure they will taste just as good!

MahoroYou're right...! We did it! It is finished! Now everyone can be happy!

HotaruYes! Happy! We could!

MahoroOkay! Then, let's plate them up right away!