Chapter 8)

Barsanti's surprise definitely was not what I had expected.

Instead of something out of this world, what was inside the tray he had made us wait for, were three croissants. Steam had been coming off of their bread, it appeared that Barsanti had just made them.

"Food? Why food?"

"This isn't just any regular type of food, Ogata. These are my most famous, most magnificent, most glorious croissants that only I know how to make."

He grabbed one of the croissants from the tray with his careful hands, lifting it up towards his side. 

"These aren't just any regular croissants, you see. These are filled with a specific type of chocolate, something you can never find in the whole of Avalon. It has been glazed with sugar I had prepared, only I know how to make the sugar, made from several substances that must be made exactly. The bread of the croissant is soft, when you put it in your mouth it's like chewing on a cloud."

As he had been talking off about how great his croissants were, I glanced over at Iris, who had actually been drooling, mouth wide open as she stared with a glint in her eyes towards the croissants. 

Perhaps she has a sweet tooth?

"And to top it all off, the secret ingredient, the secret thing that differs these croissants from all the others in Modena, well, you'll see once you put them in your mouth!"

He pointed the tray towards us, holding one croissant in his hands as he dropped it into his mouth, chewing slowly, he gulped, and moaned in delight as he finished the croissant in one go. 

"I guess I could try them."

I reached out for one of the croissants, holding it in my hands, I could feel its softness, it's golden brown texture had a crunchy feel, but my hands could penetrate the crunchiness. The sugar glaze that scattered the croissant looked powdery, the sugar sparkling as I moved the croissant. There was no chocolate to be seen, but I supposed that I would be able to taste it once I took a bite.

I hadn't noticed until now, but Iris had nabbed one of the croissants, drooling as she held it with both hands. I could hear her muttering under her breath, things like "This looks so good." and "I can't wait to eat you." She noticed me looking at her, and started to blush out of embarrassment. 

"You could try to not look at me while I'm eating!"

"Sorry, sorry...!"

I looked back at my own croissant, and without further hesitation, I took a big bite, almost a quarter of the croissant was in my mouth. I chewed and chewed, until finally, I learned.

This is the best thing I've ever had in my entire life!

Iris had also taken a bite out of the croissant, and as she finished chewing, it looked like she had melted out of happiness. She made gleeful sounds as she prepared to take another bite out of the croissant.

I could see the chocolate from inside of the croissant, it's taste was like milk chocolate, and its chocolate substance had been drooling from the croissant's bread. Prepared, I took another bite of the croissant before it could fall to the ground.

It wasn't before long that the croissant was no longer in my hands, but rather had been eaten by me. Iris had finished her croissant way quicker than me, her eyes were closed as she held a smile like she just had the greatest feast. 

"Well? What did you think? Was it what you expected?"

"It went beyond expectations... What the hell were in those croissants?"

"Hmhmhm. Say, are you feeling full right now, by any chance?"

Now that he said it, I was feeling like I had eaten a lot more than just a croissant. It wasn't the type of full where you feel bloated, but more like you had eaten just the right amount food to be able to be energetic.

"I am...?!"

"Looks like you found out my secret ingredient! These croissants have the secret ingredient to make you full whenever you eat them! Don't ask how though. I won't tell you~"

"Whatever it is, it's amazing. I wouldn't have imagine you being able to create something so good."

"Huhu, don't flatter me! You should expect this whenever you decide to spend time at my shop. But of course, these croissants were for a special occasion. I would only make these for myself."

"Huh? What's the special occasion?"

"Why, training of course!"