Afternoon at Cafe Null and Strawberry Syrup Episode 4 [Creative Awards 2025] [6 Episodes Total]

4. The Unfinished Lemon Cake

On an afternoon that still held the lingering heat of summer, Yura sighed behind the counter at Cafe Null. She had been experimenting with a lemon cake recipe lately, but it wasn't going as well as she had hoped.
The lemon cake she baked today had a better color than the last one, but it seemed a bit too sour. Perhaps she had added too much lemon juice.

Yura wanted to add it to the Null menu once she could make it perfectly. Shiori-san had agreed with the idea.

"Hey, Shiori-san, would you like to taste it?"
"Yes. It smells wonderful."
Shiori-san said after taking a bite.
"Yura, this is delicious. It makes me feel refreshed."
"Yeah. But the taste is different from last time, isn't it? I feel like it's a bit sour."
"Hmm, I wonder. But Yura's feelings, the lemons, and even the temperature are different from last time, aren't they? I don't think it has to be the exact same taste."
"You think so?"
"That's what I think. Even if it's not the same, isn't it fine as long as you make a version that you think is delicious?"
"Yeah. Thank you."
"I'm looking forward to the day you serve it to customers."
"Yeah."

That evening, Yura decided to wrap up the lemon cake to take home. She wondered what her parents would say if she asked for their thoughts. Perhaps the customers at Null would be happy about the new menu item, too. Making someone happy makes you feel happy yourself. Yura walked along, clutching the package of lemon cake while looking up at the violet-colored sky.

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