我才不会对黑崎君说的话言听计从 [Side Story - Brandy (Flavored) Love]

Flashback: It is a snowy night. Young Haruto looked at a slice of cake on the plate. There is a note saying, ‘This is for you to eat. Father’. Using a fork to take a piece, Haruto mutters that it has a really strange smell. After eating it, he said that it tasted awful. End flashback.

Bandaged Haruto woke up. It is 10am. He sits up to hear Yuu saying, “Secretary-san, where should I move this?” While Secretary is holding an Egyptian coffin, Yuu is holding a totem pole. She happily greets Haruto a good morning. “Your complexion looks really good today. I heard that today is your papa’s birthday!”

Holding the totem pole, Haruto stares at it and says that Yuu is very thin and very stiff. Flustered Yuu shouts that this is a gift for his father and it is brought here from the company office. “It’s so amazing. He knows so many nationalities.”

The room is filled with statues from different countries. Haruto says that isn’t it just some junk stuff. Secretary protests that these are premium goods. “Young master Haruto is already awake. Miss Akabane, it is almost time for us to prepare.”

Clasping Secretary’s hand, Yuu exclaims yes, she’ll leave the room decorations up to him and she has bought a lot of things! Secretary tells her to relax and leave it up to him. Haruto asks what is she up to. To his surprise, Yuu says that she plans to make a cake to celebrate Kpapa’s birthday.

While pushing him to the kitchen, Yuu says besides, she definitely needs his help in order to finish the cake. “The cake store isn’t open!” Haruto says that he has never celebrated [/prepared for] someone’s birthday. Yuu exclaims that she knows!

In the kitchen, after weighing the butter, Yuu is aghast over how much butter is needed for a pound cake!? “It should be okay to decrease it a bit...” Haruto tells her to follow the recipe.

Looking at a book, Yuu says that it is quite unexpected that he knows his father’s favorite cake. Haruto says that he doesn’t know. Yuu exclaims in surprise. “Then, how come you are making me do it according to this book...”

In the book, there is a recipe with illustration for a butter brandy cake. There is a note ‘ultimate favorite’. Haruto says that this is the recipe handed down by his mother. Looking at a wine bottle, Haruto admits that he never once made this cake.

Yuu says that it is written, ‘The kids’ father likes strong flavored wine’. “It would be good to make Kpapa happy. I heard that because you are at home, he has cancelled his originally planned business trip. Let me see soften the butter... Ah, it this white sugar?”

Leaning close to Yuu, Haruto says that is salt. Yuu is shocked by that. She looks at the label and it is indeed salt. Haruto tells her to make at least something decent. Yuu tells him to also help out. Haruto says that isn’t he just supervising her.

Later on, Yuu is helping Secretary decorate. Much later on, Yuu takes out the cake from the oven. Yuu exclaims that it has perfectly risen! “It smells nice! Kurosaki-kun, you are really the god of temperature adjustment! Let me taste it a bit...”

Reading the book, Haruto tells her to brush the brandy-juice on the cake before it cools. Yuu asks him if he knows which one they should use since his house has a lot of them. Haruto tells her to get one for him. Holding one bottle, Yuu says that this one has a very strong smell...

Holding a shot of the brandy, Haruto recognizes the aroma. Yuu exclaims that this brandy contains 50% alcohol. Haruto tastes it and says that it is bitter [/unpleasant to drink]. It is ten minutes before 3pm. Yuu exclaims that this is bad, Kpapa will come home in ten minutes so she has to beat the cream well first.

While Haruto is brushing the brandy on the cake, Yuu is having a hard time mixing the cream since it is splashing all over her. Haruto tells her not to hold the mixer too high and just move it around in the bowl.

Yuu says that she has finally got it whipped. “By the way, where’s your brother? I haven’t seen him yet today...” She is surprised when he suddenly kissed her. Blushing, Yuu asks him what is he doing.

Haruto tells her that since yesterday, he doesn’t know where Sakura went. “Just like before, he is someone who cannot stay at home. Are you really worried about him?” Yuu says about that...of course. “Don’t bite my ear... if your brother [suddenly] arrives again...”

Haruto says that it is okay. “I’m simply helping you lick off the cream, that’s all. So sweet.” He licks the cream on her chin. Yuu says that she made it according...to the recipe... “But, ah, if your brother is in Japan, isn’t it better to call him to join your father’s celebration?” This displeases Haruto.

Knock knock. Secretary asks if the cake is finished since the chairman is coming soon... And, he sees the two kissing. Seeing the secretary, Yuu tells Haruto to quickly let her go...

On the phone, the secretary says, “...chairman! Young master Haruto is in the kitchen doing some dirty acts [/impure relationship] with the opposite sex...” Shocked Yuu pushes Haruto away and exclaims that they are not— Kpapa says he is already...finished [with work] so he’ll be there soon!

Haruto hugs Yuu again and says that she isn’t allowed to leave. Blushing Yuu asks if he is drunk since his tongue is so hot! Haruto says that he isn’t drunk. Still on the phone, Secretary shouts, “Chairman! Please follow the traffic rules...!!”

At the house, Haruto pops the party horn on Kpapa and says, “Happy birthday, papa.” Kpapa looks surprised and asks, ...Haruto? While carrying the cake, Yuu tells Haruto not to use all of the party horns. Holding a lot of party horns, Haruto says that he’s happy.
 
Sweatdropping, Kpapa asks, “How come you are celebrating my birthday... I even forgot my own birthday... *seeing Haruto putting his arm around Yuu while sitting on the sofa* Don’t think that because you’re winning a favor from me like this that I’ll allow you two to do things beyond a kiss.”

Freaking out, Yuu exclaims that this is the birthday cake that she and Haruto them together. Looking at the slice of cake with sweetened whipped cream on the side, Kpapa says, this is... Haruto tells Yuu not to leave his side. Holding another plate of cake to Haruto, Yuu tells him to also eat.

After taking a bite, Kpapa says that it’s so nostalgic. “Before, Yukiko always makes this cake for me and Sakura. It’s the same taste with the one she made. Ha... I also made it once during your birthday but I think you ought to have already forgotten about it.”

Haruto’s eyes widen as he recalls the cake. Kpapa continues, “I originally wanted you to taste it once but after coming back from the business trip, I heard that it was thrown away...”

Haruto says that he remembers. “I clearly remember it. It’s disgusting to death. At that time, I even thought that you are deliberately teasing me. It caused my stomach to hurt to death and I thought I’m going to die since there is no one around. You actually can make that kind of dark dish and your cooking skills is also really bad.”

Kpapa goes hmph, that is because he’s still young so he doesn’t understand taste. Yuu tells him not to quarrel today. Kpapa says that if there’s something one wants to say, it should be said at that time. Haruto’s expression soften. He says that he still wants to know a lot of things related to their family.

Moved Kpapa mutters, Haruto... Haruto mutters, especially related to Sakura... Then, he falls asleep on Yuu’s shoulder.This made Kpapa angry because it is unexpectedly not related to him [but rather, Sakura]. He darkly says, “Young lady, did you put sleeping pill in the cake?” Haruto is sound asleep. 

Surprised Yuu exclaims how is that possible, he is just drunk... Kpapa asks if she plans to take advantage of Haruto’s vulnerable state to sneak attack on him. Yuu quickly denies it.

At the courtyard, Sakura looks at the crooked Cherry blossom tree. His cellphone beeps. Sakura wonders where did that girl go to sleep today. It is a message from Lisa saying, “As a family member, you are just avoiding your responsibility, that’s all. Coward!” [<- translated from the Chinese. The English one is ‘You’re just avoiding responsibilities of having family. Such a baby!’].

Sakura curses and says how come that Liza is so blunt. Entering the house, Sakura says that he’ll just sleep at the house for today but then, is his room still there. While Haruto is sleeping next to him, Kpapa tells Yuu, “Simply also give Haruto a surprise birthday. Quickly pour some coffee.”

Aghast Yuu exclaims in surprise and asks if she also has to!? Kpapa says of course, he’ll let her experience [/see] an adult’s strength [/ability; probably what an adult can do]. Yuu sweatdrops and asks if he really knows the meaning of celebrating a birthday. Sakura sweatdrops after overhearing this.

Kpapa has put his coat over sleeping Haruto. Kpapa says that he’ll go investigate what Haruto likes [/preferences]. “And, you quickly go and draw up the plan, okay.” Yuu says that isn’t he very busy at work and Secretary-san is even waiting for him.

Kpapa says that he’s very free during Harumi summer vacation. Haruto mutters in his sleep, “Tsk, ...it’s very hard, it’s really difficult to fall asleep, Akabane...” Yuu laughs and says that is his father! Kpapa says that a bit hard pillow can relieve fatigue.

Seeing them together, Sakura recalls the time when he was happily snacking on cake with his parents and baby Haruto. He mutters, “-it seems that it’s not bad at all to go back home.”

Comment: And that is a nice side story. Actually, things can get amusing when Kpapa’s around especially due to his overprotectiveness/possessiveness of Haruto. They’re so alike. Well, if he has something similar with Yuu, that is their awful cooking skills.

It is one thing for it to not taste good, it is totally a different thing for it to cause a really bad stomachache. It would be amusing to see how he cooks though. Yuu’s mistakes in cooking is more on clumsiness like not making sure if it is sugar or salt.  

And I guess it is also about feeling that it is wasteful to use that much butter. And, yes, a bit of common sense to not lift a mixer while it is turned on. I don’t know, but I feel it doesn’t seem quite realistic. ^^; Though, I know it is for comedy.

In Kpapa’s case, I’m guessing that he is probably the type who’ll mix ingredients that aren’t in the recipe which in turn can cause a stomachache. It doesn't look raw. And, what is he thinking? Giving a brandy cake to a kid. And, I guess because Haruto threw it away, Kpapa never tried that again.

Hm...I think the kissing/licking is provoked by Yuu for asking about Sakura’s whereabouts. Ah, he seems to be also drunk. That flashback at the end makes me think that Sakura stopped hanging around at the house ever since the mother passed away. That cherry blossom tree looks important to him.

Most likely, Sakura has a special someone and that is Lisa. I’m not sure which responsibility she is referring to. Because of the expression ‘Such a baby’, the first thing on my mind was he got her pregnant and he is avoiding his responsibility.

If that is true, then perhaps, that is why Kpapa is so strict about the couple going beyond kissing. If not, then perhaps, Sakura confided to Lisa about his family and because of that text, he decided to stay in Harumi for a while. Ah, aside from seeing his family like that in the end.

And, if they are still in summer vacation, it would be interesting to see how they’ll pull a birthday surprise for Haruto. Hm...I’m not sure if it is during the field trip either. Wait...I guess it is indeed a surprise birthday because Haruto’s bday is on December. That is why Yuu is asking if Kpapa even knows the meaning of celebrating a birthday.

Hehe, apparently, Haruto is the type who’ll easily get drunk. And yes, Kpapa still believes that it is Yuu who is making the moves on his beloved son. Haha.

Secretary-san is also quite funny. He tells Kpapa what’s going on in the kitchen and perhaps, he regrets it later on since Kpapa is probably going through traffic lights. And, yes, those kind of bday gifts are really tacky. I mean, aren’t those gifts given as travel souvenirs instead of bday gifts? ^^; Scans by 腾讯动漫

Quote of the day:

In truth a family is what you make it. It is made strong, not by number of heads counted at the dinner table, but by the rituals you help family members create, by the memories you share, by the commitment of time, caring, and love you show to one another, and by the hopes for the future you have as individuals and as a unit. ~ Marge Kennedy