Time: 4:00 PMLocation: Setagaya Ward
"Yaho~ minna-san, I'm Winter-sensei!"
"In this world, a touch of sweetness, a gentle breeze, and a beautiful little parfait can totally change your mood, right?"
"Because sometimes, happiness is really just that simple."
Beneath the golden rays of the setting sun, Kasumigaoka Touji—now dressed in his casual fit with a signature fox mask half-hiding his face—stood confidently before the French dessert shop, Sweet Memories. The orange light shimmered softly on the glass storefront as the camera rolled.
Passersby paused momentarily, some casting a curious glance at the young man speaking animatedly to a camera, but none lingered. In modern Tokyo, where influencers and content creators have become as commonplace as vending machines, such scenes no longer turned heads.
"Yesterday, a viewer recommended this adorable dessert shop tucked away here in 3-5 OO-cho, 3-chome, Setagaya Ward, and said—'Winter-sensei! You absolutely have to try it!'"
"So, after school, I went home, changed clothes, and came straight here~. No regrets!"
Touji's tone was cheerful, almost teasing, as he reached for the door and pulled it open. A gentle bell chimed overhead.
In truth, he'd arrived ten minutes earlier. He'd greeted Kinoka Domoto-san—the pastry chef and owner—discussed the filming arrangements, and then began his shoot.
"Look at this place, na~. It's like walking into an elegant dream."
He gestured around him, leading the camera slowly through the interior.
"Minimalist with a blue-gray color scheme... very modern, very stylish. Nothing flashy, nothing loud, yet everything feels intentional. The quiet tones make the colorful desserts truly pop—it's like they're practically whispering, 'Eat me~!'"
Kasumigaoka Utaha, holding the stabilizer camera, swept in close to capture the jewel-like confections glimmering under warm lights: brownies, macarons, pound cakes, strawberry tarts, mille-feuille, chocolate mousse...
They weren't just desserts—they were works of edible art. Every single piece looked ready for a gourmet magazine spread.
The lens returned to Touji, now standing beside the 'Parfait Showcase'. He smiled.
"Speaking of desserts, there's one thing we absolutely cannot ignore—parfaits."
His voice dropped slightly for dramatic effect.
"If there's a country in the world that loves parfaits with all their heart, it's definitely Japan. Whether it's in dramas, cafés, or convenience stores, parfaits are basically everywhere. But you know, it's not just about piling sweets into a cup. A good parfait is like... like an orchestra!" Touji spread his arms theatrically. "Layers upon layers—fruit, cream, mousse, chocolate, nuts—all in perfect harmony."
He pointed to the glass case behind him.
"And this shop's signature? Parfaits. Real ones. Designed by none other than Kinoka Domoto-san, who actually has a design background! No wonder every parfait here looks like a miniature gem."
"These aren't just treats—they're edible art, I swear!"
He went on to explain that the parfaits here were known as 'jewel parfaits' by locals. Meticulously crafted, their balance of textures and flavors was said to be top-tier.
Then, with practiced flair, he placed his order: the store's signature fruit parfait. It came packed with fruit jam, vanilla mousse, pudding, whipped cream, dried fruit, and even chocolate sticks, crowned with slices of fresh strawberry and orange.
"Waa~ so luxurious!" he exclaimed, his voice shifting slightly higher as if channeling an excited anime character.
"Just looking at it makes me want to scream 'itadakimasu~!'"
In addition to the parfait, Touji also ordered several other highlighted desserts: vibrant macarons, a picture-perfect strawberry tart, mille-feuille layered with crisp pastry and custard, and a decadent chocolate mousse.
He settled into a window seat with a relaxed sigh, the soft hum of the city outside framing the moment like background music in a slice-of-life anime. He glanced at Utaha.
"Time to feast, Utaha-chan!"
...
This shop visit took about an hour.
By the time they finished, it was already past five o'clock, and the sky outside had dimmed into an early evening hue, painted in shades of violet and soft amber.
Kasumigaoka Touji took the phone from Kasumigaoka Utaha's hand, briefly browsed the footage with a discerning eye, then turned to Kinoka Domoto. "I'll finish editing the promotional video and send it out as soon as I can," he promised. They discussed the next steps regarding payment before Touji and Utaha finally left the dessert shop.
As they stepped outside, Touji took a deep breath of the crisp evening air, stretching with a satisfying groan. He twisted his neck, then looked out at the street that was now even livelier than it had been in the afternoon, glowing under city lights and alive with chatter.
Glancing to his side, Touji asked casually, "Wanna grab something else to eat?"
He honestly couldn't eat another bite himself, but habits die hard. He figured Utaha might be the same.
"Nope, I'm totally stuffed," Kasumigaoka Utaha shook her head, her long hair swaying with the motion.
She had already eaten a generous portion of cake, and even polished off Touji's leftovers—not to mention her second cup of coffee. Any more, and she might've needed to be rolled home.
"Hmm... then how about we stroll around a bit before heading back?"
Touji glanced around as he spoke. Though he'd passed through this part of town before, he'd never really taken the time to explore on foot. The district felt alive and radiant, with storefronts lighting up one by one and crowds buzzing with energy. Besides, walking off a full stomach sounded like a good idea.
"Sure." Utaha didn't hesitate to agree. She seemed to have had the same idea.
They picked a random direction and began walking slowly, side by side under the warm glow of streetlights.
...
"Let's go out and have some fun this Saturday," Touji said, breaking the comfortable silence after a few steps.
Utaha looked at him, intrigued. "Where to?"
Just as she asked that, her gaze followed his—and landed on a love hotel lit up with gaudy neon signs.
"Oh? A one-day getaway to a love hotel?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, voice laced with playful sarcasm.
Touji didn't even flinch. "Hmm... That's possible. Not a bad suggestion at all," he mused, rubbing his chin with a mock-serious expression.
"Alright, alright," Utaha smirked. "Then I'll write a script. We can cosplay while we're at it."
"Oi, that's the spirit! Utako-sensei, you really know how to enjoy life!"
Touji gave her an enthusiastic thumbs-up, eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm genuinely looking forward to the script from the great Kasumi Utako-sensei."
"Fufu, no worries, Otouto-kun. I won't let you down!"
With a confident smile, Utaha's wine-red eyes gleamed as she turned to him and asked:
"So? Want to be the loyal dog... or the imprisoned criminal?"
"I just thought you were reliable, but now I'm already disappointed!"
Touji sighed dramatically, clutching his forehead like a tragic protagonist.
"Geez, Touji-kun," Utaha raised a single slender finger in mock chastisement. "Being too picky won't lead to happiness, you know."
"That proverb doesn't even apply here, baka-neesan," he groaned, half-exasperated, half-amused.
Their bickering echoed down the street, blending into the laughter and footsteps of the evening crowd.