glassb

(To have Lada showering me with compliments like that... I really am blushing.)

(Especially considering how I just stole from her snack stash...)

Oh, Gummy, there's something I have to tell you.

What is it, Istina?

While I was back at the room working on my outfit, I didn't have time to go to the canteen. I'm afraid I ate all the snacks you had hidden in the living room cabinet.

Oh? I don't remember putting any snacks there.

But I found a package of cookies, they were pumpkin-flavored. I remember you were into pumpkin for a while.

Pumpkin, huh...? Let me think...

Istina...

Oh no... Gummy... why did your face turn so dour...?

Did those cookies taste really extra bitter and bad?

I... paired them with some coffee.

I burned those pumpkin cookies when I was baking in the canteen this morning.

But it hurt my heart to think of throwing them away, so I put them in the bottom of the cabinet. I figured I could find some use for them.

I mean, eating them won't do anything to you, but...

You've said enough, Gummy, I get it.

Just go home and get some rest! Leave it all to Gummy here. When everything's baked up, I'll call everyone to taste test!

With nothing to it but the traditional Ursus elements... hm... it feels a little shallow...

What if we added a little something else? Something like... a puzzle game?

With just an outfit, a set of clothes, is there really a way to add deductive reasoning? Probably not.

But if we put it into the desserts—No, that won't work. It's not like we can make a puzzle out of them.

What about using the deductive elements as a sort of decoration?

Still a little off...

I've got it!

Istina pulls a stack of books from the cabinet.

These books just might give us what we need.

'The Death of Ilyich, the Suspect', we can't well use this one.

Hm... let me think... with these books—

The idea is coming together, this should be possible.

Then we put the rest of them as padding underneath.

Need a few more clues... a chessboard, maybe? Let me see...

Welcome back, Sonya.

What are you doing back here?

I had another idea. I need to revise the layout of our festival booth.

The layout—Oh...

(Whispers) I'm getting a headache.

I heard that.

Huh? 'The Death of Ilyich, the Suspect'? I borrowed this book.

I recommended it to you.

I forgot.

So, do you remember the plot of the book?

Nope.

What about the name of the killer?

Not coming to me.

So what exactly did you read?

I never remember anything after I finish a novel.

Like, what's the point of remembering the plot of a book? Not like I'm gonna be a writer.

Forget it. This is my fault. I still have unrealistic expectations of you.

(Whistles)

Now then, there will be a puzzle in our booth, and it derives from these books.

'Ten Little Durins', 'The Feranmut Four', 'Murder in Mossmead'... I feel like I've read these, but I also feel like I haven't.

You've been through all of them, and somehow didn't retain a thing.

I thought you'd be able to solve this puzzle, but now I find you can't.

As if I even wanted to.

Not worth your time?

I just couldn't care less. I'm dead tired from hauling that crap all afternoon. The last thing I need is another pain in the ass.

How about this? If you solve the puzzle on the day of the festival, I'll do your homework for you exactly once.

You've been skipping Hypatia's class lately, haven't you?

Deal!

On the other hand, if you can't solve it...

Hm?

We'll need a punishment. One I've not yet thought of.

Hmph. Punishment, huh? As if that scares me.

I'll be in my room.

You'll what?

What else am I gonna do? I told you, I'm dead tired. I'm going to bed.

I thought you'd at least take a book back to review. You have to prepare for the puzzle.

I know I'll be able to solve it when the time comes. Sleep is more important for now.

Well, good luck, Sonya.

Thanks—

Zima takes a few steps toward her room before turning back to Istina.

Actually, Anna, there's something I've been meaning to ask you since this morning.

Go ahead.

I've never seen you so passionate about something like this. You're even more into it than Lada is. You're totally committed to getting it perfect.

But why?

Any guesses?

Hm... to make Lada happy?

Making Lada happy is a delightful thing, but that's not the reason.

To sell lots of sweets?

You've forgotten, Sonya, everything at the festival is free.

So what's the reason?

I just want to know what it feels like to go all in, for once.

All in?

Have you lost your marbles? You're suddenly missing the old days?

This is different, Sonya. Listen to me.

Back in those days...

Back in those days, we went all in and put it all on the line because if we slipped up even for a second, we were dead.

But this is different.

Now we're going all in on a happy little thing. How long has it been since we've busied ourselves with a happy little thing?

Think about it. The core of a food festival is a pleasant holiday atmosphere and the joy of eating. It doesn't get much more fun and relaxed than that.

So...?

What we did before, we did out of necessity. But now, laying it all on the line for a delightful little festival... I've never tried anything like that. And I want to.

When the day of the festival comes, it'll probably be a lot of fun.

Zima shrugs.

I think you're having fun already.

Am I?

Yeah.

...hm.

Welp, I may not get what's so much fun for you...

But I hope it makes you happy.