Homare Arisugawa/Wine Red Temptation

Invitation to a Sweets Salon

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

	*knocking*
Homare	May I have a moment?
Izumi	Homare-san…? Yes, come in.
	*door opens*
Homare	Director-kun, I have a request for you…
	I’m going to go to a new sweets salon that’s opening soon to gather inspiration for my White Day column.
	So, I was wondering if you’d come along.
Izumi	Eh, me?
Homare	Yes. As I’ve mentioned before, the columns and poems created with your input are all well received.
	Additionally, the theme is ‘White Day’ and the location is a sweets salon. I’d like to hear a woman’s perspective as well.
Izumi	I see…
	I’m not sure I’ll be much help, but if that’s the case, I’ll go with you.
Homare	Thank you. Well then, I’m counting on you.
Izumi	(…What a high class store. I thought it’d be more like a normal cafe…)
Clerk	Arisugawa-sama, welcome. I’ll show you to your seat.
Homare	Ah, thank you.
Izumi	I don’t see any other customers, is it reserved…?
Homare	No, this is before the pre-opening, so nobody else is here.
Izumi	(Being able to enter a shop before the pre-opening… that’s even more impressive than a reservation)
Clerk	Our pre-opening is tomorrow, and we plan to be open on March 14th.
Izumi	Is that so?
Homare	At that time, my White Day column will have been uploaded.
Clerk	We’re looking forward to Arisugawa-sama’s column.
	Well then, I’ll bring the White Day Exclusive sweets. Would you like a drink?
Homare	I’ll have black tea.
Izumi	Ah, I’ll have the same.
Clerk	Understood.
	Thank you for your patience. Here’s your assortment of White Day Exclusive sweets.
Izumi	Ah, there’s so many bite-size cakes…! They all look really delicious.
Homare	Mm, the chocolate roses that accompany it are very delicate and carefully made!
Izumi	It looks stylish too, I’d love to be brought to a place like this on White Day.
Homare	I see, that opinion is very helpful. Well then, let’s eat!
Izumi	Let’s eat! …Ah, this shortcake is amazing!
Homare	The mousse here is also exquisite. It not only looks high class, but tastes like it too.
	Ha! I feel a poem flowing forth!
	Sparkling, glittering sweets, luxurious salon, elegant waltz by natural turn!
	Another genius poem has been created! Director, what do you think?
Izumi	Eh!? Um, I agree… I think it goes well with these sweets.
Homare	Indeed, indeed! Praise me more!
Izumi	All the sweets were really amazing.
Homare	Yes, not just the sweets, but the black tea as well.
Izumi	I’d like to come here again.
	(…Ah, and I loved the songs they were playing. The music is beautiful…)
Homare	Hm? This song is…!

Izumi	Homare-san, do you know this song?
Homare	It’s a classic waltz for ballroom dancing.
	Director-kun, may I have this dance?
Izumi	Eh, right here and now!? No, that’s a bad idea! I’ll step on your feet again…
Homare	Oh, is that so? That’s a shame, but it’s not good to force it, so I’ll leave it for today.
Izumi	(Thank goodness…)
Homare	I’ll have to teach you how to dance myself, so you don’t step on my feet by next time!
Izumi	Next time…?
Homare	There’s going to be a party at my parent’s house, and my grandmother said she wanted to invite you.
	At that time, will you take my hand?
Izumi	…I understand. But, please don’t expect my dancing to improve much.
Homare	I’ll look forward to it.
	Ah, that’s right, I almost forgot. As thanks for today, I want to give you this.
Izumi	Eh? No, you don’t need-
Homare	Please, I insist.
Izumi	…Thank you very much. Can I open it now?
Homare	Of course.
	*opens present*
Izumi	Lipstick…?
Homare	It looks like lipstick, but it’s actually chocolate. Isn’t it impressive?
Izumi	Yeah, it looks so real! So chocolate like this exists…
Homare	I had no idea either… my editor told me of it the other day.
CHOICE 1: It's super cute! [+] Izumi It’s super cute! Homare I’m very pleased you like it. Izumi But, somehow I can’t bring myself to eat it… Homare In that case, perhaps you could decorate your dresser with it? Izumi Ahaha, that’s a good idea! But I might try to apply it by mistake…! Homare Indeed, I’m sure we’d get to see a new Director-kun!
CHOICE 2: It’s very unique and Homare-like. [+] Izumi It’s very unique and Homare-like. Homare Oh! That’s the best compliment you could give me! Izumi Ahaha, I’m glad! Homare Still, it’s great that you enjoy a present like this. Izumi Fufu, yes. It’s interesting, I’m very happy with it! Homare That’s good.
Izumi	Homare-san, thank you for all the delicious sweets and lovely chocolates today.
Homare	Likewise, I’m grateful that you came with me today. Thank you, Director-kun.
Izumi	(I think it’s finally time to eat the chocolate lipstick that Homare-san gave me.)
Homare	Oh? Director-kun, have you not eaten that chocolate yet?
Izumi	No, it seemed like a waste, but… I’m going to eat it now!
Homare	Well, go ahead!
	*door opens*
Banri	I’m super tired, it just kept going.
Citron	The final boss was difficult!
Itaru	Yep.
Izumi	Homare-san, this lipstick is so delicious!
Homare	Indeed! Go on, eat more!
Izumi	I will!
Itaru	…
	Uh, what was that just now? Director seemed to be eating lipstick… maybe it’s stress?
Citron	Did she hurt her head!?
Banri	What was Homare-san doing…? Like, is eating lipstick safe?
Itaru	No, we should absolutely stop them.
Citron	Let’s tell Sakyo!
Banri	Even if we tell him, what’ll he do? This is…
Homare	Hm? Just now, was somebody…
Izumi	That chocolate was really good! Homare-san, thank you very much!
Homare	I’m the one who should be saying that. Thanks to you, I was able to write another good column.
	Thank you, Director-kun.

Lesli