Heartbroken Chocolatier (失恋ショコラティエ)

Isn't it kind of weird? Fixing up my friend with my ex-boyfriend...

Ex-boyfriend? Is that me?

I'm going to meet Kurashina-san tonight.

I decided to confess my feelings to Matsuri-chan.

Wait, Matsuri-chan.

I want Souta-kun. I want to go with Souta-kun.

Souta-kun? - For the shopping, shall we go out?

It's a date with Saeko-san. Even though I know that

Saeko-san doesn't have that intention.

I'm really so stupid.

Welcome.

Hello.

Are you looking for Koyurugi? I'll call him.

Inoue-san. - Yes.

Would you have dinner with me today?

Eh?

Sekiya-san, hello.

Hi. - Is Rikudou-san doing well?

Tomorrow is the opening of the limited collaboration shop,

so we're trying to complete preparations for that.

Wow.

If you would like, please come to see.

Teikoku department store? - Wow, amazing.

What did you come for today?

I was thinking of going out for dinner with Inoue-san.

Eh?! - Is that okay?

No, well, if you ask me so suddenly... I have, you know, many things to do...

You should go. - Huh?

Please, you should take her out.

This person hasn't had a boyfriend for ages, always thinking about nothing but chocolate -

Hey, Souta-kun, don't interfere.

Why? - I have a lot of things to do.

Things? What things? There's nothing important you have to do, is there?

I understand. I'm sorry for abruptly asking such a thing and bothering you.

Ah. - Then, I'll take my leave.

Eh? Ah, wait.

You should have gone. - No, I don't even know him well.

Because you don't know him well, you go have dinner and learn about each other.

It probably took a lot of courage for him to come here and invite you.

Well, I don't know if you're not interested in relationships.

But when you fall in love, you get renewed energy and become glowing.

I want Kaoruko-san to glow more.

Sorry I'm not glowing.

That's not what I meant.

Anyway, you don't even know why he was inviting me out.

By the way, this Sekiya-san from Rikudou-san's place,

what kind of person is he?

The way he works, or his personality, or hobbies..

Ah, I'm not looking to snatch him away from you or anything,

so don't worry! I was just personally interested in him.

Personally interested. Personally interested.

AAAAH! Souta-kun was like that too?!?!?!

Eh? Wait, wait, wait, wait. This situa-

He's not responding. - Let it go already.

Just because you're in high spirits because you got invited on a date,

don't get me involved too. - I keep telling you it's not a date.

I'm just tagging along with Saeko-san's shopping.

But...

I'm completely immune to that fairy's suggestive mannerisms.

The current me is no longer pure enough to easily fall for such tricks.

Ahh, what should I wear?

Anything is fine, as long as you wear something.

We'll probably go to have tea or a meal. I have to find some good stores.

What kind of place should I take her?

What kind. What kind. What kind. What kind. What kind.

No good. I get tired overthinking it.

Let's get back to work.

It's been a long road to here.

Meeting Saeko-san in the first year of high school and falling in love at first sight.

Finally dating at 19 years old and getting a kiss.

And two months after that, getting dumped, and heading to Paris with a broken heart.

Training to become a chocolatier.

Making a grand return back home. Saeko-san becoming someone else's wife.

And opening choco la vie, still with a broken heart.

Successfully got Saeko-san to be a regular customer,

and things have been on a stalemate since then, but,

finally, finally...

Souta-kun. Go out with me.

Finally it's a date with Saeko-san.

I'm sorry for what I did.

I'll apologize for kissing you without permission.

But I won't apologize for falling in love with you.

Eh?

I love you, Matsuri-chan.

Hang on.

I know you like someone else.

Whether that person is your friend's boyfriend, or whomever,

you can't help who you fall in love with, so I won't pester you.

But Matsuri-chan doesn't seem at all happy.

You never smile, and you never seem to be enjoying yourself.

That's why.

It really is like that. It's just like you say.

Then - - But,

I can't leave him and go out with Olivier.

I'm sorry.

I was rejected. - That idiot.

How can someone in Matsuri's social standing reject Olivier?

But I'm fine. It's not like this is the end of it.

Eh? You still want to go for it? With that type of girl?

Is Souta in a place to say that to me? - Ah, you're right.

So don't worry about it.

Yeah. - What's this? Ricdor?

Ah, Sekiya-san came to the shop today.

Just to give this?

No, actually, he came to ask Kaoruko-san out for dinner.

Eh? - But Kaoruko-san turned him down.

I see. - What a waste.

It would be good if Sekiya-san gives it another go.

Collaboration with Teikoku Department Store, huh?

With this the power of the Ricdor brand is sealed, huh?

I guess so.

Kaoruko-san. - What?

You're wearing normal clothes.

Why do I have to dress fancy for just a stakeout?

Okay, okay. Today is just a stakeout, I get it.

Wow, they said a two hour wait.

Koyurugi-san, right? Please proceed inside.

Eh?

Thank you for waiting. Please take your time.

Over here.

Figs are blended in well, it's very satisfying.

The red wine is very effective. Honey, too.

Yeah. The balance of sourness and sweetness is amazing.

But... - It's a taste intended for adults.

Yeah. - You can feel the value,

as usual it's challenging to a match.

It's so good. - What flavor was that?

Framboise? - How elegant!

Try this too.

Welcome. - Ah, thanks.

Thank you for visiting our store on our first day.

Um, is Sekiya-san around today?

Sekiya is, he's in the main shop.

Eh? Really? Oh, man.

Souta-kun. Can I see you for a minute?

Eh?

What is it?

Hey, Souta-kun. - Yes.

What do you think about me?

I respect you. As a chocolatier.

Ah, no, that's not what I meant.

Eh?

Ah, it's nothing.

Frankly, when people want to eat chocolate,

I don't know if this is what everyone thinks of eating.

But I've understood that there is no blur

to the world that Rikudou-san has painted.

Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, but

I think that Ricdor is a shop that

everyone would think of as special.

Thank you.

I sell chocolates, but

what I want to sell the most are dreams.

If all you want is to eat chocolate, you can just get it at the supermarket, right?

They have tons of chocolate that will suit everyone's tastes.

I suppose.

If there's someone that doesn't want these things,

or hate them, that's fine.

It just means that we weren't compatible with each other.

There are 7 billion people on this earth.

Even if I was hated by 6.990 billion people,

if I was loved by 10 million people, don't you think that's plenty dream like?

So I'm just going to love the people that are compatible with me.

Aren't you afraid of being hated by 6.990 billion people?

I'm not afraid.

Rather than that, I'm afraid of losing my vision.

Forgetting what I wanted to create,

becoming unable to do anything, is what I'm afraid of.

Rikudou-san, may I ask your age?

Eh? Well, I'm 37.

What?

Nothing. I just thought, as expected.

Ah, I can't hear this! I don't want to listen after all!

What?

You see, I'm kind of busy. Umm, see you. Take your time.

What's going on? I don't get it.

I'm afraid of losing my vision.

My vision.

Of course, that is

making chocolates that would make Saeko-san happy.

I really love pain au chocolat.

If Souta-kun made pain au chocolat, I think it would be super delicious for sure.

☼ akamiso presents without being sick for once ☼ Shitsuren Chocolatier

Pain au chocolat? Didn't you give up on that?

I was wondering if I couldn't fulfill the request somehow.

Someone from a first rate boulangerie in Paris is in a Japanese hotel right now.

So when I contacted that person, he said he would make an exception and give me a recipe.

I'm going to decide on one day of the week and make pain au chocolate a limited item.

People are weak against limited items.

And since it doesn't have to be made every day, the workload is light.

I don't think it will go as smoothly as you think. Don't you already have enough to do?

I don't. What I have to do right now is,

make the ultimate pain au chocolat for Saeko-san.

That's all.

Saeko-san coming every week to buy pain au chocolat.

Pain au chocolat, please!

Thank you for waiting. - Thanks.

Thank you.

Sorry.

Kaoruko-san. Wasn't that just now Fujimoto Ryoko?