Chapter 7)

I woke up to the bright sun shining over the window of my room, the sun's rays reflecting the window, scattering across my bed sheets. I could hear the sounds of birds chirping as I could hear them flock across the street. 

I took a big stretch, yawning as I could barely keep my eyes up after a good night's rest. It was the same comfort of having slept in my own room. I smacked my lips as I glanced the room. 

Maybe they won't notice if I sleep for 5 more minutes...

I placed my head back down on the fluffy pillow, its soft material absorbing my head as I closed my eyes again, just a few more minutes was all I needed.

Wakey wakey, you two! It's time to get up and stop sleeping!"

Clashing two pots together, Barsanti had opened up our doors with no caution and yelled at us to wake up. I groaned, tilting my body to the right, closing my ears with my hands so that I can at least soften the clattering noise of the pots.

"Nope! You can't ignore me Ogata! We have some very important stuff to do today, and you need to be at 100 percent!"

What could be more important than more sleep?

"Ughhh..."

I sighed, lazily uncovering the bed sheets as I walked towards the door like a zombie. Rubbing my eyes, I was met with Barsanti who went ahead to open up Iris' door.

"STOP BANGING THOSE POTS ALREADY!"

When Barsanti opened the door, he was met with a sudden kick to the stomach. Iris, who had most likely also woken up, looked furious. Barsanti toppled down the stairs where he had been kicked, falling face up as he slightly groaned in pain.

"Er, was that really necessary?"

"You should be thankful I did that. He would keep at it like a crazed maniac for the rest of the day until I knock him over."

He's like a wind-up toy.

"Looks like you two are doing just fine on this sunny morning! I'll wait for you to come downstairs."

Standing up like he wasn't just sprawled on the floor a moment ago, he grinned as he held his hands to his waist.

"Is there something important that you need to tell us? Because you can just say it right now."

"Can't do that. It's a surprise~"

He chirped, leaving the steps of the stairs as we looked at each other confused. We had already been prepared after we left our bedrooms, so we warily went down the stairs, waiting for what was to come of Barsanti's 'surprise'.

He was in another room inside the shop, the door closed, cluttering and clanking could be heard from the other side. It looked like something ominous was happening inside, trails of mist crept from the bottom of the ground. 

The loud noises that came from the door stopped, the mist still trailing from the ground, Iris and I stood in patience as we waited for whatever was to come out of that door.

"Heheh, couldn't wait any longer, could you? This is my most valuable possession, the ability nobody else in Avalon knows of! I have never taught anybody or shown anybody this in my lifetime."

"It better not be some joke that you're trying to pull on us."

"No, no. Now close your eyes. What I am about to show you will most definitely blind you as you awe with sparkles in your eyes! Close them, I say!"

I saw Iris sigh faintly, closing her eyes with her hands crossed. Figuring that it wouldn't be right to follow along with whatever Barsanti was doing, I closed my eyes as well.

I could hear the door jolt open, it hit the wall, creating a banging noise. A familiar aroma suddenly filled the air, but I wasn't quite sure what it was. My nose sniffed the air without command, and I could feel a small smile form on my face.

Could this be...?

"Now, open your eyes! Feast your eyes on this glorious treasure! Marvel at it's texture, it's gorgeous smell! Let your mouth drool as you wait in impatience! I have brought you...!"

We opened our eyes, as we saw Barsanti holding large tray with a round cover, the type of tray you'd see at a gourmet restaurant. Slowly, he reached for the small handle at the top of the cover, gripping it with three fingers as we watched the cover come off, and saw something so surprising it even startled Iris, who watched Barsanti's display, drool coming out of her mouth.

"Well? Do you know what this is?"

"This is..."

"Croissants?!"