I am the Entertainment Tycoon Chapter 1012: Daifuku Plum Pie

Five minutes later, just as the anime episode hit its commercial break, a soft, melodic chime echoed from the kitchen console, announcing the baking cycle was officially complete.

"Perfect timing," Theo said with a smile, carefully shifting a sleeping Angel off his lap onto the plush sofa cushions.

"Go, go!" Aurora urged playfully, her eyes glued back to the kitchen entryway. "The smell has completely taken over the house, big brother. I need a slice right now."

Theo pulled on his oven mitts and stepped back into the kitchen. The moment he cracked open the oven door, a completely different sensory wave rushed into the room. While the first pie had filled the house with savory comfort, the Daifuku plum pie released an incredible, deeply sweet, and complex aroma. The sharp, tart fragrance of the bubbling plums had caramelized beautifully under the heat, blending seamlessly with the warm, earthy notes of the cinnamon-infused anko and the rich, buttery scent of the golden pastry crust. It smelled exactly like a traditional Yamatese confectionery shop hidden inside a classic Pendragonian bakery.

Using a flat wooden server, Theo carefully brought the piping-hot ceramic dish over to the living room coffee table, placing it safely on a heatproof mat. The top crust had turned a flawless, lacquer-like golden brown, and the delicate flower patterns he had carved earlier were venting streams of rich, plum-scented steam. Through the cuts, Aurora could see hints of the vibrant purple fruit and the gooey, melted white mochi bubbling right beneath the surface.

"Wow," Aurora breathed, her hands clasped together as Maya peered over the back of the sofa, equally intrigued by the fresh scent. "It looks even better than I imagined."

Theo didn’t keep her waiting. He used his blade to slide a generous, thick wedge of the warm pie onto her dessert plate, making sure to capture a perfect cross-section of the layers. He then served an identical piece for himself, set the knife down, and settled back onto the couch.

Aurora immediately dug her fork into the pastry. The crispy top crust shattered with a satisfying crunch, revealing the soft, stretchy layer of melted mochi that pooled beautifully over the dark, rich red bean paste and strawberry jam. She took a large bite, letting out a quiet, happy sigh as she chewed.

"The texture is unreal, Theo!" she exclaimed softly, her voice filled with delight. "The crust is so crispy, but the middle is totally soft and chewy, just like a real Daifuku. And the plums are so tart that it keeps the whole thing from being too sweet."

"Exactly what I was aiming for," Theo replied, thoroughly enjoying his own slice as the anime resumed on the television screen. The natural acidity of the hot plums balanced the dense sweetness of the anko perfectly, while the warm, gooey mochi tied the entire bite together in a completely unique mouthfeel.

Sitting side-by-side with his sister, surrounded by their contentedly lounging cats, Theo felt a wave of complete tranquility. Sharing this unique, successful culinary experiment in the quiet comfort of their home was the absolute perfect conclusion to his long Monday.

"I have to tell Ayia about this," Theo suddenly said, pulling his phone from his loungewear pocket.

"Oh yeah, what is Ayia-nee up to right now?" Aurora asked, her fork hovering over her plate.

"It’s a family gathering," Theo replied, scanning his notifications. "But it’s just a routine family matter. That’s why she and Shizuka will be staying in Sakura City until Thursday. They are even using their weekly scheduled free day this Wednesday to extend their trip."

"Ah, I see," Aurora murmured before letting out a soft sigh. "Over the past few months, I’ve gotten so used to seeing Ayia-nee and Shizuka-nee during our morning workouts. It feels a bit strange not having them around for days at a time."

"Yeah, it really does," Theo agreed, his tone laced with a quiet sigh.

He would be lying if he said he wasn’t deeply missing his girlfriend. Still, he understood that Ayia’s extended family was large, and since the majority of them resided in Sakura City, it was only natural for her and Shizuka to travel back home to visit them from time to time.

Theo tapped his screen, opening his chat with Ayia to snap a quick, well-lit photo of the cross-section of the flower-patterned dessert pie sitting on the coffee table. He added a playful caption: "Our latest culinary experiment is a massive success. Aurora approved. You’re missing out!"

He set the phone down on his lap, but it buzzed almost instantly. Ayia was already online, and the photo had immediately caught her attention.

"Wait, what am I looking at?" her reply popped up, filled with curiosity. "The top looks like a beautiful classic pastry crust, but is that a layer of white peeking through the plums and anko? What kind of pie is this?"

In her pure excitement and burning curiosity over how he could possibly combine those textures, her name on his screen instantly switched to an incoming video call. Theo smiled, tapping the green icon to accept, and propped the phone up against a glass on the coffee table so both he and Aurora were in the frame.

Ayia’s face filled the screen, her golden eyes wide with fascination. Behind her, the traditional wood-paneled walls of the Yamada estate in Sakura City were visible, and Shizuka’s dark hair could be seen popping into the top corner of the frame.

"Okay, you have to explain this to me right now," Ayia demanded with an enthusiastic expression. "How exactly did you transform a delicate Daifuku into a baked pie?"

"It’s all about the structural layering," Theo explained fluidly, gesturing toward the plate. "Instead of abandoning the mochi, I stretched a thin, pliable sheet of it directly inside the flaky pastry shell. It sits comfortably over a base of sweetened anko and chunky strawberry jam, with fresh, tart plums sliced heavily over the top."

Ayia gasped, leaning closer to her camera. "No way! You actually baked a soft, stretchy mochi layer inside a crispy pie shell? That is brilliant! The natural acidity and tart juices from the baked plums must cut through the dense, heavy sweetness of the bean paste perfectly. That’s such a great idea! I need to see the exact layout for this the second I get back on Thursday!"

"I saved you a piece," Theo chuckled, leaning back into the couch. "But I can’t guarantee Aurora won’t sneak down into the kitchen and devour it before you return."

Shizuka immediately pushed her face into the video frame, narrowing her red eyes playfully at the screen. "Don’t you dare, Aurora-chan! If that pie is missing when we get back, I can’t guarantee that what happens next time a spar training happens. Maybe Ayia and I will have to spar with you..."

Aurora leaned into the camera’s view, letting out a nervous but amused laugh. "Okay, okay! I promise to keep my hands completely off your slice, Shizuka-nee. But I definitely am not afraid of you two! I want to take you out!" She said with a defiant expression.

"Oh, really?" Shizuka said with an amused expression, "It seems that the distance had emboldened you."

"Not really," Aurora denied, "I just feel I can take both of you in a spar!"

"Oh my god!" Ayia exclaimed, "Aurora-chan, stop! You have no idea how Shi-chan can be cruel! Yesterday she attacked me out of nowhere just to make sure I was with my skills ’up to par’!"

Aurora’s eyes widened when she heard that; it was only then that her mischievousness gave its place to fear, "Hmm, Shi-nee, you know I’m just kidding, right? Please, don’t beat your little sister." She said with puppy eyes.

Theo and the girls laughed out loud when they heard that, the four of them chatted for a while longer before Aurora and Shizuka left the place to leave the two lovebirds to talk.

Theo smiled, shifting the conversation back to their well-earned break. "How is the family gathering going, anyway? Everything peaceful over there?"

Ayia sighed softly, leaning her chin on her hand as Shizuka drifted back into the background. "It’s fine. Just the usual traditional, high-protocol dinners and endless catch-up conversations with Grandpa Takeo and the current family leadership. It’s loud, traditional, and exhausting. Honestly? I’m completely spent. I’d much rather be at your house eating that Daifuku Plum Pie."

"The morning workout definitely missed your presence today," Theo noted softly, his voice carrying a genuine warmth. "It felt incredibly quiet running the session without the two of you pushing the pace on the high-tier sets. Take it easy; it is just a few days anyway. Plus, you should enjoy your time with your family."

The two of them talked for a while longer before bidding farewell.

As the call disconnected, Theo locked his phone and slid it away, the lingering sense of missing his girlfriend entirely comforted by the lively visual connection. He leaned back against the plush cushions, completely content as he and his sister turned their attention back to the resuming anime episode.