Baumkuchen Maya Tendo/Bond Story

*Maya chose this motif for the special assignment "Personal Expression and Its Manifestation"—a baumkuchen is not just a pastry, but a solitary being that sits comfortably beyond history. From "Golden Overlapping Heartbeat, Baumkuchen."*

* Chapter 1
* Chapter 2
* Bond Level 15 Talk
* Bond Level 30 Talk

Motivation, Hope and Despair

 **Futaba:**(Hmm, I think Tendo rented out a rehearsal room to practice—)

 **Maya:****(????)**
"No! It is only in despair that I want to convey these feelings..."

 **Maya:****(????)**
"That what shines out there is HOPE!!"

 **Futaba:**......

 **Futaba:**(Ugh... I hate to say this, but her performance is so captivating... She's in the middle of her rehearsal so maybe it's best not to interrupt her.)

 **Futaba:**(But... What is she rehearsing?)

 **Futaba:**(Okay, it's been three hours already and I think Tendo should be calling it a day by now. Let's see—)

 **Maya:****(????)**
"Love takes form the more feelings you have!!"

 **Futaba:**(Oh, she's enthusiastic as always...)

 **Futaba:**(Huh!? Her towel hasn't moved an inch... She didn't take any break at all?)

 **Futaba:**(....It's not good to interrupt her. I will come back later I guess.)

 **Futaba:**......

 **Maya:****(????)**
"You may hesitate to reach out, but don't be afraid..."

 **Maya:****(????)**
"Open your mouth!!"

 **Futaba:**J-Just take a break already!!!

 **Futaba:**...Oh crap!

 **Maya:**Isurugi-san...?

 **Futaba:**Oh no! Sorry, it suddenly slipped out of my mouth...

 **Futaba:**You have been practicing for almost six hours straight, right? I thought it was time to stop and take a break.

 **Maya:**Six hours...? Oh, it has been that long?

 **Maya:**Thank you very much. I might have lost myself a bit.

 **Futaba:**A bit...?? Anyway, it was such a passionate performance. What were you rehearsing for?

 **Maya:**I think you also know about this special assignment, Isurugi-san.

 **Futaba:**Oh, the special assignment... It's the one where you get to choose your own motif and etude, right?

 **Futaba:**But, wait, our group's theme is sweets, right?

 **Maya:**Correct. And I chose baumkuchen as my motif.

 **Futaba:**B-Baumkuchen!?

 **Futaba:**But I heard things like "despair", "hope", and even..."destruction" in one of your lines earlier...

 **Maya:**Was there something wrong with that? The topic is "Personal Expression and Its Manifestation", right...?

 **Maya:**This means that in order to attain such noble taste, each layer of the baumkuchen needs to reach a perfect level of equilibrium.

 **Futaba:**A perfect level of equilibrium...?

 **Maya:**Yes... As you can imagine, it will not be easy to execute.

 **Maya:**However, I must use everything at my disposal to express the splendor of baumkuchen on the stage...!

 **Futaba:**Well, what about "destruction"...

 **Maya:**That one is the strong urge to eat baumkuchen.

 **Futaba:**So "hope" is like the feeling of happiness while eating it?

 **Maya:**Exactly. More like the expression when one gets to eat it.

 **Futaba:**What about "despair"...?

 **Maya:**It is the hole in the middle of a baumkuchen. It represents sadness and emptiness...

 **Futaba:**(This doesn't look good...!)

 **Futaba:**(S-She's overthinking it. If I keep asking, something bad might happen...)

 **Maya:**Oh... Sorry I talked too much. Is there anything I can do for you, Isurugi-san?

 **Futaba:**Ah, right. I'm going to visit the head of the house next time, and I thought I'd bring a baumkuchen as a gift.

 **Futaba:**Since you know baumkuchen quite well... Oh yeah, can you recommend me some shops, Tendo?

 **Futaba:**\*nom nom\*... So good!

 **Maya:**Right? The baumkuchen is so soft it melts the moment you put it in your mouth...

 **Futaba:**Ah, I know why this baumkuchen shop got your approval. Thanks for taking me out on your day off.

 **Maya:**Don't mention it. Besides...enjoying the baumkuchen again like this made me realize many things.

 **Maya:**I seem to have been so emotionally driven that I lost sight of the essence. I should have just enjoyed this blessing simply.

 **Futaba:**...Is that so? Well, I think that's a nice change of pace.

 **Maya:**Yeah. Thank you so much, Isurugi-san.

 **Futaba:**It's nothing really... I just wanted to ask for a good baumkuchen shop.

 **Maya:**Heh heh, I see.

 **Maya:**Well then, I'll let this joyous feeling take shape on the stage and show everyone how magnificent a baumkuchen can be—

Special Time with You

 **Futaba:**—Hello, Kaoruko? Hey, don't get mad at me over the phone like that.

 **Maya:**......

 **Futaba:**I told you, I'd get you the same one instead... What do you want me to do then... H-Hey!!

 **Futaba:**\*sigh\* She hung up on me...

 **Maya:**...Hanayagi-san?

 **Futaba:**Oh, Tendo. You heard that?

 **Maya:**Sorry. I came to get a drink and happened to overhear.

 **Futaba:**It's fine. I was the one who was speaking loudly.

 **Futaba:**She was being unreasonable and selfish again.

 **Maya:**She was wondering if you and I went to café together... Right?

 **Futaba:**Correct. You're sharp as always.

 **Maya:**I sensed that through the frustration emanating from you.

 **Futaba:**Well, I give up... She suddenly got upset when I told her that I would get her the same baumkuchen if she wanted it so badly.

 **Maya:**The same...

***\*slip\****

 **Futaba:**Hm? Did you hide something just now? A cake box??

 **Maya:**This...is a baumkuchen that I bought at that same store. I am sorry, but I cannot give this one away.

 **Futaba:**I'm not asking for it!!

 **Maya:**I'm really sorry, but this baumkuchen is special to me.

 **Futaba:**I said I was not asking for it!

 **Futaba:**But I guess I'm in trouble now. I don't know how to make her feel better again...

 **Maya:**Right...

 **Maya:****(Baumkuchen)**
"—Hey, what do you think the hole in a baumkuchen tastes like?"

 **Futaba:**Huh? The hole in a baumkuchen??

 **Futaba:**And you are—

 **Maya:****(Baumkuchen)**
"Yes. It's me, Baumkuchen. It's an honor to meet you."

 **Futaba:**Oh, I know what you mean. Both the calm elegance and the light, sweet voice are the very image of a baumkuchen.

 **Futaba:**So, where were we. The hole...?? So what's with the hole? It's not like we can eat that part...

 **Maya:****(Baumkuchen)**
"Exactly. However, there's something you might have misunderstood."

 **Maya:****(Baumkuchen)**
"Your friend is not angry just because she wants to eat sweets. I think what got her angry was that she couldn't eat sweets with you."

 **Futaba:**Oh...!!

 **Maya:****(Baumkuchen)**
"Like I said, the middle part of a baumkuchen is where one should not put their fork in. If you are able to know the source of the problem, you can fix it quite easily."

 **Futaba:**Thanks... I will make sure to make this an unforgettable moment.

 **Maya:****(Baumkuchen)**
"Yes, please do. May you have a wonderful time—"

***\*slip\****

 **Futaba:**I already told you, I'm not going to take your baumkuchen!!

 **Maya:**Heh heh... Well, see you later then.

 **Maya:**A baumkuchen will be even more special when you share it with your loved ones.

 **Futaba:**Oh! Thanks, Tendo.

 **Maya:**......

***\*beep beep\****

 **Maya:**—Oh, hey... Sorry to call you out of the blue, Saijo-san. I got the baumkuchen I told you so much about.

 **Maya:**Heh heh, don't mention it.

 **Maya:**Yeah. Let's meet after dinner today, shall we...?

 **Maya:**It is interesting to be able to perform with a baumkuchen motif.

 **Maya:**I feel bad for Isurugi-san, but I couldn't help but enjoy that baumkuchen.

 **Maya:**Saijo-san even complimented me on it. She said it was so delicious.

 **Maya:**But I think it would have been better if she complimented me on something else—like my acting.