A Sugary Master

With the loud thump of a wood hammer swung over shoulder, Sugar watched with a practiced eye as Dan continued to make mochi. The other bun was clearly trained, making this whole process look effortless, but only a fool would mistake this craft as easy. Sugar still remembered his frustrations with the sticky dangos and while he had made some that verged on perfect, he still felt he was not any closer to Dan’s own ability.

It had even taken some time, after their first lesson, for Dan to trust in Sugar’s capabilities. He might have accepted the other knew now the ways in which to make dango, but Sugar still felt like he had to prove himself in learning the art of pounding mochi.

Sugar let out a low breath, his shoulder still aching as he quickly fold over the rice dough before Dan could swing the hammer down again. “I have to give it to you Dan, I can’t imagine doing this every day. Not even my more eccentric desserts have this level of physical labor.”

Dan hummed, inspecting his mochi, “I’m sure I could not do what you do, just as you will never make mochi in the way I do.”

Sugar frowned, “Am I doing this wrong?”

Dan shook his head, “Not wrong, it’s just how you would make mochi. Different to mine, but good in your way.”

Sugar took a moment to think, staring down at the mochi he folded once again. “So different but the same? Like how my version of chocolate cake is different to another cafe’s?”

Dan nodded.

Sugar sighed quietly, “Well if I can make my own taste as well as yours does, I’ll have considered it my win.”

Dan moved then, feeling the dough with his hand and declaring it as finished. “That’s the texture we’re after.”

Sugar quickly followed Dan’s lead, feeling the mochi with his hands. “I’m still impressed you never hit my hand.”

Dan raised an eyebrow, “I’ve been doing this a very long time.”

“So you have.” Sugar laughed, watching as Dan took the mochi away and put it in a loud bowl.

Dan gestured for Sugar to stand beside him. “We’ll use this to make ice cream mochi.”

Sugar looked surprised, “Out of season?”

Dan almost looked amused, “You wanted to learn, so I thought to teach you more than you already know of mochi.”

Sugar snorted, “Very well then teach me how to make this mochi.”

Over the course of the next hour, the pair worked tirelessly to fill mochi balls with the sweet ice cream filling before it would melt. By the end of it, Sugar’s hands were ice cold and he felt a burning in his fingers that only came from precise work.

“I imagine they’ll go to chill now,” Sugar questioned, looking at their handy work.

“Yes,” Dan agreed, moving the mochi into a bowl to carry towards a fridge. “I have some I completed earlier for you to taste.”

“For me to taste…?”

“You were very dedicated to learning this craft, I thought I would reward you for your efforts.” Dan returned to Sugar’s side, holding out a perfectly chilled mochi.

Sugar smiled, shaking his head fondly, “Very well.” He never knew what to think about Dan as a bun, but he had to admit the man was kind in his way.

Sugar took a bite.

There was a moment of silence, before his expression brightened, “Delicious. Although I might be bias, these mochis are my favorite seasonal ones.”

Dan nodded, “You always buy a lot that time of year, I thought you would enjoy learning how to make them.”

Sugar was stunned into silence for a moment, he didn’t even realize Dan would remember things like that. “You… you are truly one of a kind Dan.”

Dan shrugged, getting back up to finish cleaning his work station.

Sugar could only watch him. He didn’t think there was anyone in the burrows that was as special as character as Dan, who might seem so gruff but has a kindness to him all the same. Maybe Sugar could take what he learned and make mochis for others to enjoy, just as Dan made mochi for him to enjoy.