Hotaru

Hello...

Hotaru

(It's still early. Maybe I'm the first one here...?)

Hotaru

!?

Hotaru

(What was that sound...? It came from the kitchen...?)

Hotaru

H-Hello...!

Mahoro

!? Oh... It's Hotaru-chan.

Hotaru

S-Sorry for startling you... Um, what are you doing over there...?

Mahoro

Ah... Um... Actually, maybe it's a good thing that it's you, Hotaru-chan...?

Hotaru

Huh? What do you mean...?

Mahoro

Hehe... Now that you've seen it, there's no turning back for you, Hotaru-chan...!

Hotaru

Huh...? Huh...?

Mahoro

Look at this...!

Hotaru

Are these... eclairs?

Mahoro

Yep! My mom brought them home. They're the nice kind you can only get at the department store food hall!

Hotaru

They really are... They're filled with plenty of cream, and they have so many toppings, too. They're so fancy.

Mahoro

Right? They have to be delicious~! But when I opened the box, I realized there are only three...

Mahoro

What do I do...? There is no way to divide three between four people...

Hotaru

Four people...?

Mahoro

Yeah. Nagi-chan does not like whipped cream, so she'll probably say she does not want one.

Mahoro

But even then, we're still one short...

Hotaru

I see... So that is what you were worried about.

Hotaru

Then I will be fine without one too. Please let everyone else have them.

Mahoro

N-No, that won't do! You're our junior, Hotaru-chan!

Mahoro

If anyone is going without, then I... I...!

Mahoro

Ugh... But they look so good...! B-But I will not... I will not eat one...!

Hotaru

P-Please do not force yourself. I think the people who want to eat them should be the ones to eat them!

Mahoro

Hmm... What if we got Houka-chan involved and the three of us ate them in secret...?

Mahoro

No, we can't do that. If Natsume-chan found out we'd been hiding something like this, she'd definitely get mad...!

Hotaru

Um, then maybe I could—

Mahoro

No! Good food is meant to be shared with everyone!

Mahoro

Because I think that is what makes everyone happy!

Hotaru

...

Mahoro

There has to be a way... Three eclairs, shared equally between four people... So everyone can be happy...

Mahoro

Oh! I know!

Mahoro

Around here...? Should I cut it around here, Hotaru-chan?

Hotaru

Y-Yes. I think that will make four equal pieces!

Mahoro

Okay... If we cut all three into four pieces, that makes twelve. Then we can divide them between all four of us...!

Mahoro

Well, they might not look quite as nice anymore, though...

Hotaru

But I am sure they will taste just as good!

Mahoro

You're right...! We did it! It is finished! Now everyone can be happy!

Hotaru

Yes! Happy! We could!

Mahoro

Okay! Then, let's plate them up right away!