Rustica Candy House SSR "I'd Like to Be Your Friend"

[centralgoldstar]

Card story: Tonight’s Sweet, Peculiar Dance Party

Cain: Look, Master Sage. There’s a marshmallow couch here.

Akira: Indeed. It seems really fluffy. Must feel nice to sit on it.

After taking a break from investigating the candy house, Cain and I had a stroll around the place.

Cain: Huh, one of the rooms in the corner over there has its door open.

Akira: Yeah. There seems to be the sound of music as well?

Cain: Shall we go there and have a look? Please stay close to me just in case.

We cautiously walked down the hallway. As we peered inside, what we saw was –

Cain – Akira: ?

A chocolate cake with delicate limbs, surrounded by similarly leggy confections, were dancing gracefully.

Cain: What’s going on here?

Rustica: Master Sage, Cain, welcome to tonight’s dance party of our cake and candy friends here.

Akira: Oh it’s you, Rustica.

From a spacious corner, Rustica made an elegant bow as he saw us. He had been playing music on a piano painted with colorful whipped cream.

Cain: Oh, so the music we were hearing was from you? It was you who left the door open too, right?

Rustica: Yes, because I’d like to invite you and Master Sage to this dance party. Oh, how forgetful of me. Allow me to introduce you. The one who danced so beautifully just now is Count Gateau Chocolat.

The chocolate cake that had grown limbs made a refined bow to us, who were gaping.

Cain: Uhm, I just want to check, but these confections with arms and legs are your magic’s doing, right?

Rustica: Yes, they were the confections that decorated this room, but they did me a favor and became the guests of this dance party to welcome you and Master Sage.

Akira: A dance party?

Rustica: Yes, I would love it if you can enjoy a wonderous dance party with these sweet revelers in this wonderous house made of sugary treats.

Cain: Haha, I see. It’s very like you to arrange such a welcome.

Akira: How delightful. Thank you so much, Rustica.

Rustica: The pleasure is mine. Well then, would you like to have a dance?

Cain: Sure. I’d love to!

Akira: I’d love to too, but I’m not confident about my dancing.

Rustica: In that case, I’ll entrust you to Count Gateau Chocolat. As you have seen, he’s an accomplished dancer.

As Rustica gave Count Gateau Chocolat a look, the Count bowed to me and offered his hand for the dance.

Rustica: And your partner, Cain, will be the Lady Macaron. What do you think?

Cain: I’d be delighted to. There’s something I’d like to say though. Since the lady is so tiny, maybe I’ll end up stepping on her when we dance.

Akira: Our cake and candy friends here certainly have the same sizes as regular confections.

Rustica: Well, let’s do it this way then. Amorest Viesse.

Akira: Whoa!  

Cain: Lady Macaron and her friends are getting bigger.

After a moment, our sugary friends, still wearing their sugary faces, donned suits and dresses and became just like aristocrats of a refined court.

Rustica: Everyone will be able to enjoy dancing to their hearts’ content like this, I hope.

The Count Gateau Chocolat, now in human size, offered me his hand again. I nervously took it.

Akira: Ah, uhm, I look forward to the dance.

Cain: I should start too. Lady Macaron, may I have your hand?

Rustica: My esteemed guests, please enjoy this special one-in-a-lifetime night.

Thus we danced in sync with the melody Rustica performed.

Akira: (This is so fun! Count Gateau Chocolat is so good at dancing that even I can dance properly.)

Cain: What a nice tune! It gives me the feeling like I’m eating some sweet treats.

All of us danced round and round to the brightly light music. The party was filled with gaiety as the skirts of the confection ladies’ dresses swirled gracefully like blooming flowers.

Akira: (I’d never expect that one day I’d dance with cakes and candies like this though. It’s really like Rustica to create a delightful time that moves the heart out of something unexpected.)

Rustica: *chuckles* Master Sage, Cain, everyone is dancing so beautifully. Allow me to perform this song next.

Akira: (Oh, this melody is light and fluffy too, but there is a playful coquetry to it.)

Cain: I see. Somehow I get a craving for tea. Rustica, what is this song called?

Rustica: This song was written with the image of soft meringue and whipped cream.

Cain – Akira: So that’s what it is!

Before we knew it, we switched partners as we spinned along to Rustica’s music. The party became even more lively.

Rustica: Master Sage, the treasured daughter of the Viscount Pudding would like to be your partner.

Akira: Understood! Miss Pudding, I’m delighted.

Cain: I’m a bit envious of her, getting to dance with Master Sage like that.

We danced like that through countless songs. Then-

Akira: (Oh, I just realize…)

Akira: Excuse me, Rustica.

Rustica: Oh Master Sage? It seems you have a song request?

Akira: No, that’s not it. Rustica, would you like to dance with us too? I just thought it would be fun to dance with you. There’s no pressure though. Please don’t mind me if you prefer to play music instead.

Rustica: It’s no trouble at all. Since it’s your invitation, I’ll be delighted to dance. Let’s entrust our next song to Kapellmeister Blanchemange.

Cain: Oh, Rustica is dancing. In that case, how about you partnering with him for the next song, Master Sage?

Akira: Me?

Cain: It was you who invited him to dance, right? You didn’t even say ‘may I have your hand’ to him though.

Rustica: That’s a wonderful idea! I look forward to our dance, Master Sage.

Akira: U- understood! I’ll try my best! Let me do it again then. May I have your hand, Rustica?

Rustica: I’ll be delighted to!

As Rustica placed his warm hand on mine, gentle music began to fill the room. I led him with leisurely steps as we enjoyed this precious moment together.

Rustica: You granted me a great honor by inviting me, Master Sage. Thank you for this beautiful time that makes my heart dance.

Akira: It’s me who should thank you. Because you opened this dance party, I got to enjoy dancing with the magical confections and with you too.

Rustica: In that case, I should thank the me of that time when I came up with the idea of a dance party with the cakes and candies too.

Akira: Oh, so you thought of opening a dance party just as you spotted us?

Rustica: Yes. It happened that I was setting out tea and teapot in this room. ….Ah, I just remember.

Akira: Remember? What about?  

Rustica: I was preparing a tea party when the idea of a dance party came to me. The idea of inviting you and Cain to my dance party made me so excited that I forgot about that.

Akira: Ahaha, that’s really like you, Rustica.

Rustica: Thanks to that, I made the wonderful memory of being invited to a dance by you, Master Sage. I’ll have a tea party again sometime later. Allow me to invite you as an expression of my gratitude for today.

Akira: I’ll look forward to it!