Introduction
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Faire un gâteau — Bittersweet is the fifty-sixth chapter of Jun Mochizuki's The Case Study of Vanitas.
Summary[]
In the past. Luna, Mikhail, and Vanitas are sitting together at home, with Vanitas sewing something and Mikhail sat in Luna’s lap as they read a book together. Mikhail, referencing the cake pictured in the book, asks what a galette des rois tastes like. Luna is surprised to hear he’s never had one, and Mikhail adds he’s never even seen one. Luna makes up their mind. They gather up a number of ingredients and cooking utensils, earning Vanitas and Mikhail’s curiosity. Luna, proudly gearing themselves up, says they’ll opt to show rather than tell and make Mikhail a delicious galette des rois made themselves. Mikhail and Vanitas remember the last time Luna tried to cook for them and how disastrous it was. Mikhail looks towards his brother in distress. Vanitas puts his face in his hands.
Some time later, Vanitas presents them with a perfectly made galette des rois. Mikhail marvels at how good it smells while Vanitas goes on to cut the cake into thirds for the three of them. Luna explains that in a galette des rois there is a fève, a fava bean, hidden within, and whoever gets it in their slice will be king for a day. Mikhail gets excited. He stares down Vanitas with great intensity and insists that he will choose his own slice, making his brother sweat nervously and relent to his demands. The three sit down to eat their cake. Luna and Mikhail enjoy the delicious treat while Vanitas winces at how sweet it is.
Luna eats their slice and bites into something crunchy. Vanitas does as well, though he doesn’t react. Mikhail digs through his slice and his face lights up as his fork hits something within. He pulls it out with his fingers and holds it up proudly—a fève. Luna rejoices. They rummage through their things and finds a crown cut out and folded from paper. They set it atop Mikhail’s head and pronounces him “King Mikhail.” Mikhail’s eyes shine and he beams. He clutches his paper crown happily, and thanks his brother and parent before going to look at his crowned self in the mirror.
Vanitas gives a small smile as he looks at his little brother. Luna next to him smirks incessantly. Vanitas, annoyed, asks them what they want. Luna laughs and coyly says that even Vanitas can gets things wrong, such as the amount of fèves that are supposed to go in a galette des rois. Vanitas continues to eat his slice and acts as if he knows nothing. Luna smiles at Vanitas. They ruffle his hair, once again calling him a “kind child” before referring to him by his real name.
In the present. Noé is bouncing around like an eager puppy, overflowing with curiosity. He keeps trying to sneak a peek at what Vanitas is making in the kitchen, but Vanitas refuses to let Noé see. Amelia then beckons Noé to look with her, and points to a nearby table. On it is an abundance of apples, signaling that Vanitas is making a very specific treat— tarte tatin, Noé’s absolute favorite food. Noé is so overjoyed that he can hardly form words. Vanitas admonishes him, reminding that Dominique and Jeanne are still conversing within the dining room so he needs to keep quiet. Noé is so excited however that even his attempts at whispering are boisterous as ever. Noé is confused why Vanitas is making tarte tatin, and Amelia sneakily whispers to him that she believes Vanitas is trying to make up to Noé for that fight between them. Noé absorbs this, then beams as bright as the sun. Vanitas irritably snaps at him.
Dante then enters the room and comments on the rare sight of Vanitas making sweets. Noé asks what Dante came back for, as half an hour ago the three Dhampirs, after passing on Orlok’s message to the two of them, left together. Dante looks on quietly, then beckons Vanitas and Noé to come with him. He says there’s someone who wants to see the two of them. Vanitas and Noé follow Dante outside, where they find, to their surprise, two people awaiting to see them whom they haven’t seen in quite a while.
Jean-Jacques, and cradled in his arms, Chloé.
Characters[]
- Vanitas of the Blue Moon*
- Mikhail*
- Vanitas
- Noé Archiviste
- Amelia Ruth
- Dominique de Sade (Mentioned only)
- Jeanne (Mentioned only)
- Dante
- Johann*
- Riche*
- Parks Orlok (Mentioned only)
- Jean-Jacques Chastel
- Chloé d'Apchier
(*) - Denotes that the character did not appear physically, but as a part of another character's memories.
Terms[]
Trivia[]
- Faire un gâteau is literally translated as "to make a cake" from French.
[]
v - e - t | The Case Study of Vanitas Chapters |
---|---|
Parisian Excursion Arc | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 |
Bal Masqué Arc | 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 |
Hunters of the Dark Arc | 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 |
The Beast of Gévaudan Arc | 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 34.5 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 38.5 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 |
Amusement Park Arc | 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 • 54.5 • 55 • 55.5 • 56 |
Miel Incident Arc | 57 • 58 • 59 • 60 • 61 • 61.5 • 62 • 62.5 • 63 |
Intermissions | 15.5 • 46.5 • 51.5 • 60.5 |
Volumes | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 |
Omake | Romance is a✰LOVE MISSION |
Other | Vanitashu no Karute • Author's Notes |