It was Saturday.
No school. No magical creatures. No collapsing cake.
Just the soft, sweet promise of freedom and potato-based joy.
Because today wasn't just any Saturday.
It was the launch day of the long-awaited, hype-fueled, city-shaking debut of:
"Mochi-Crisp Fusion Bites™ – Maple Butter Edition"
Naomi and I had been tracking the release date for months.
It was our shared tradition: every season, we visited Kado's Corner, the little snack shop tucked behind the train station, and tried whatever new experimental treat they summoned from the dessert dimension.
And this time?
Maple.
Butter.
Mochi.
Crisp.
I could almost hear angels singing in fried batter harmony.
---
10:00 AM – Snack Day Begins
Naomi and I arrived early. Not camp-out-with-a-tent early, but confident, best-friends-who-know-snacks kind of early.
The line was already around the block.
Naomi groaned. "How?! The shop doesn't even open for another twenty minutes!"
I sipped my melon soda. "Some of them have sleeping bags. We're up against pros."
The person ahead of us had a shirt that said "Snack or Perish." Another had a digital line-tracker app. One girl was doing stretches to "prepare her palate."
I considered stopping time just to jump ahead.
Just one second.
Just a tiny cheat.
But no. I had rules.
No powers. Not for food.
Mostly because I'd once tried to reheat a sandwich using stop-time-movement-speed-friction and nearly set off a fire alarm.
I learned.
---
11:03 AM – Crisis in the Queue
The line inched forward.
We bonded with our snack-line neighbors. We ranked seasonal puddings. We sang the unofficial Kado's Corner Anthem (yes, it exists, and yes, Naomi choreographed hand gestures).
And then… disaster struck.
They put up a sign.
The worst kind.
(LIMITED STOCK — 1 BOX PER CUSTOMER)
Naomi and I looked at each other.
Then at the growing crowd.
Then at the anxious math we were doing in our heads.
We were just within the "maybe you'll get one if nobody hoards" zone.
Naomi whispered, "I swear, if the guy in the hat tries to buy one for his dog again—"
"Hey," I said gently, "maybe the dog really likes maple."
We both knew the truth.
That was his backup excuse snack. He didn't even have a dog.
---
11:41 AM – The Time-Stop Temptation
The closer we got, the more intense the atmosphere became.
People were humming. Someone in cosplay began praying to the Snack Spirits. A small child cried because their dad wouldn't give up their place in line.
We were three people away.
And then the staff stepped out.
"We're down to the last five boxes!" they called.
I felt the tension ripple through the line.
Then, in slow horror, the person two spots ahead of us suddenly invited a group of friends forward. Five of them.
"Oh, no you don't," whispered Naomi, gripping her wallet like a sword.
My fingers twitched.
Just one second. I could freeze time, reshuffle the line, leave them all gently relocated and mildly confused.
One second. One snack.
But Naomi looked at me and smiled, despite it all.
"If we don't get it," she said, "we'll just try again next week. Right?"
I took a deep breath and smiled back.
"Right."
---
11:49 AM – The Unexpected Twist
Just as we reached the front, the manager stepped forward with a glint in his eye.
"You two," he said. "Maple Club members, right? The girls who reviewed the Honey-Pepper Dango special last year?"
Naomi gasped. "You read that?"
"Of course." He held up a small, beautifully wrapped package. "We set aside one bonus tester box. For our favorite loyal taste-testers."
Naomi actually screamed.
I may have teared up.
---
1:12 PM – Snack Heaven
We sat on a park bench, sunlight warm, mochi bites crisp and sticky with maple and butter, still steaming in their paper wrapper.
I took one bite and nearly transcended.
Naomi sighed in happiness. "Best. Day. Ever."
And for once?
No world-saving.
No time tricks.
No weird powers or fantasy cafés.
Just friends.
Snacks.
And pure, earned joy.