Strawberry is Still Peak, Though

“Ooooooh…! I’ve never noticed that one!”

Taffy was crouched on the ground, her gaze eye-level at some hanami dango. Dan glanced over with a look of disinterest and annoyance. Y’know, the classic ‘I’m in a rotten mood and I have things to get to other than you’ look many people in customer service struggle to resist expressing. Even though Dan had thought Taffy would make good company after she complimented the intricate craftwork of his teddy bear mochi, her meandering conversations during this tour quickly burned off his patience.

“Yes. They’ve been available for quite a while.”

Taffy stood up and rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. “Haha… I guess I was too in love with your strawberry dango to look anywhere else… Sorry for not paying attention…”

Dan’s eyebrows raised, and he turned his head to Taffy instead of just side-eying her. “In love with them…? You like the strawberry dango that much? I know you’re not being literal, but—”

“Absolutely! I wish I could eat them all day!” Taffy clasped her hands next to her cheek. “They’re so sweet and chewy… and they’re so cute and pink!” Suddenly, she held up a finger. “But I wanna try your other dango flavors, too! And your mochi! I have to try it all! So I was browsing the stock to see what I should try next!”

The sound of Dan clearing his throat followed Taffy’s words, and his hand covered up a smile as he did so. “...I apologize for my curtness earlier. I didn't realize that I was talking to a bun with taste.” Once he managed to regain his usual stoic expression, he stepped a bit closer. “So, you're interested in trying the hanami dango this time?”

“Uh-huh! The colors are soooo cute!” Taffy pushed up her pigtailed ears. “It matches me! This must be a sign!” Crouching down again, she gazed lovingly at the multicolored dango. “I'm sure it's just as delicious as it is beautiful…”

Dan was struggling to hide his excitement. He knew his skills were impressive, but having other people know that as well was absolutely euphoric. “Well… Perhaps you should see for yourself before you buy.”

Taffy looked over at Dan and cocked her head. “What do you mean?”

“I have no doubt in my mind that you would enjoy it, but it would be such a shame to spend hard-earned carats on flavors you may not like as much as your favorite.”

It took a few seconds to process, but the moment the implications hit, Taffy shot up to her feet and clapped her hands in front of her with exhilaration. “You're saying I can sample the hanami dango for free?!”

Dan gave a nod and gestured towards the dango in question. Starry-eyed, Taffy grabbed one. She inspected it closely, trying to decide which one to take a bite of first. It didn’t take long for her to decide to start with the pink one. The flavor was very subtle, and she had to chew for a bit until the taste fully registered. When it did, however, Taffy put her other hand to her face and wiggled a bit.

“Mmm! Wowww! I don’t think I’ve ever had something this flavor before! What is it?”

“The pink dango is lightly flavored with cherry blossom,” Dan responded, “I’m rather impressed that you were able to pick up on it, especially if you’re unfamiliar with that flavor.”

By the time Dan finished speaking, Taffy had already eaten all of the dango on the stick. “That was so good… I think I still like strawberry dango better, but that would be a good one to switch it up with!” Taffy looked off at nothing in particular, clearly in a daydream, before startling back to reality. “Oh! I’m so sorry, you were talking, weren’t you… I was so smitten with the dango, I wasn’t listening…”

“You really finished all of it already? I should hope you tasted the other two like you did the first.”

“Of course I did! I just can’t help myself sometimes when it comes to sweets… I just get so excited and eat them super fast!”

Dan looked around the room, noting the different dango and mochi flavors. “...Well, since you seem to have such a skilled sense of taste, maybe I could have you try some more and give me your tasting notes.”

“Really?! I think I’d only have positive things to say, though… That can’t be super helpful, can it…?”

“That will be fine. That will be more than fine.” Dan motioned Taffy to follow him to where some blueberry dango were.

Taffy tried all sorts of dango and mochi from there, giving praise with each one she tried. Dan eventually couldn’t hold back a grin anymore. With all of the strokes to his ego he was getting, who could blame him? 

Eventually, Taffy had to head home. Dan bid her farewell, inviting her to schedule another tasting with him sometime. On her way home, Taffy skipped with the joy of making a new friend as well as a belly full of mochi.