Sweaty Sweets

Rubicon had passed the dango shop many a time as he went on his way to the pillow pile to lounge and scrounge around. He wasn’t big on sweets, and the lines had always been so long anyways. Waiting out the line in the pile never worked out either as he either got sleepy and didn’t wake up until the next rush or Shibani got a little tired of how hot Rubi runs and unconsciously nudges him out of the pile.
Today Rubi had something deeper than a little snack to motivate him. Weeks before he had seen a beautiful box in the window. A gilded chest that would look amazing in his workshop. The lady at the store said it was an imp, and that was pretty cool too! It was extraordinarily pricey, but after doing some digging he found out that she could be bought by more than just money.
The fabled wagashi box was what Rubi needed! He saved up his earnings for some time before he was ready, and he got up bright and early to beat the breakfast dango rush. Even then the wait was over a half hour long, and more buns began to line up behind him. When it got around to Rubi’s turn he was elated. Dan looked down at him from the counter and was ready to take his order when Rubicon hefts a great sack of carats up towards him.

“One wagashi box, please!” He smiles readily.

Dan takes a long moment to look between Rubi and peeks in the sack to see if the amount was enough. The dango maker then looks at the long line and sighs. Rubi watches in confusion as Dan hands him a small ticket he’s not seen before. There’s a pause before Dan starts to explain.

“Oh this is your first time. The wagashi takes a long time to arrange. I might have it done by tomorrow.”

Rubi’s jaw slacks in shock that he’d have to wait. Then a dark cloud of sadness starts to overtake him until he hears the chef’s next words.

“You can come by after hours if you want to watch me work. Pillows’ are always open too.”

This immediately perks Rubi right up. The rhythmic hammering of mochi had always put him to sleep quickly, so Rubi has never truly seen the mochi master at work. Dan pockets the cash and continues on with the other buns orders while Rubi hopped away with a skip in his step.

Rubi spent the rest of the day as he usually would around the burrow, but his mind never left that dango shop. Even if he didn’t care for the treats, Dan’s work is beloved far and wide, so he must be doing something right. His heart shaped horns were sizzling as he thought of the lustful passion that bun must have for dango.

Evening couldn’t come soon enough for Rubi, who was pressing his face against the store window when Dan reopened the door and waved him in. It was Rubi’s first time here after hours without meeting the business end of a broom getting kicked out of the pillow pile. He followed Dan past the cushion conglomerate and waved to the dozing Shibani before entering the back room. Therein laid an elaborate setup.

One corner had many small planks of wood cut out that matched with the boxes used to carry the wagashi. Rubi wondered if he made each box himself. The center table that Dan began to kneel at had rows of small mochi in a gradient with many shades of every available color. Tools for carving perfectly shaped flowers, fruits, and more were lined up in orderly rows, and graph paper with sketched out dimensions covered the center.

Dan himself seemed just as ordered and his focus was intense. He carved each piece carefully but at a speed that showed true mastery of his craft. Chopsticks with a peculiar curve at the end were used to shape a pink flower while a different set with grooves on it were brought out to style leaves. Dan held each piece so delicately that his fingers didn’t even leave an impression in the mochi.

Rubi was in absolute awe of a master at work. So much so that he didn’t notice the hours fly by. Eventually Dan set aside his tools and took the few pieces of wagashi he had to be set in a fridge for chilling.

“This will take a few days.” He said plainly.

Rubi got up from sitting to stretch and nodded. “That’s some fine work. You ever do lessons?”

Dan smirked. “Thinking of running me out of business? You’ll need a couple extra lifetimes to catch up to me.”

“Eh? That a challenge, old man?” Rubi sparks up, ready to match his opponent in tenacity at least.

Dan just laughs. “For you maybe. For me it’ll be more time to work on the box while you pound the mochi.”

“No problem. I’ll make the fluffiest mochi and get my pet in no time.”

“Oh, another bribe for her.” Dan’s mood deflated knowing his hard work will end up in the same hands once again.

“Well yeah, I wasn’t going to pay that much for sweets. No matter how quaint.”

Rubi’s words unintentionally hit the dango maker right in the ego. Seeing that the mood has been soured, Rubi scoots his way out of the shop. He considers thanking the bun or at least saying goodbye, but it’s not like that would smooth anything over at this point. Maybe in a few days he’d pick up the order and Dan will forget the whole thing.