Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a baker in Saito is like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded. So, I wake up at the crack of dawn, right? The sun’s barely peeking over the rooftops on Kōen-dōri, and I’m already knee-deep in flour. I mean, who needs sleep when you’ve got dough to knead?
First thing, I’m mixing up this new matcha croissant recipe. I’m all hyped, thinking it’s gonna be the next big thing. But then, bam! My mixer decides to throw a tantrum. Flour everywhere! I’m talkin’ a snowstorm in my tiny shop on Saito’s main street. I’m cursing like a sailor, and my cat, Mochi, is just sittin’ there, judging me. Like, dude, you’re a cat. What do you know about baking?
After I clean up that mess, I head out to grab some fresh ingredients. The streets are buzzing, as usual. Saito’s got this vibe, ya know? The cherry blossoms are still hangin’ on, and I swear, they’re the only thing keeping me sane. I stroll down to the local market on Saito-cho, dodging people like I’m in some kinda video game.
I get to the market, and it’s packed! I’m elbowing my way through, trying to snag the best matcha. I finally find this old lady selling the good stuff. She’s got this twinkle in her eye, like she knows her matcha is magic. I’m like, “Yo, give me your finest!” She laughs and hands me a bag. I’m feelin’ like a champ.
But then, outta nowhere, I hear this loud crash. I turn around, and some dude just knocked over a whole stand of mochi! I’m talkin’ mochi flying everywhere! I can’t help but laugh. Like, who does that? The poor vendor is losing his mind, and I’m just standing there, trying not to snort.
I finally get my matcha and head back to the shop. I’m pumped to try out my croissant recipe again. I’m mixing, rolling, folding—feeling like a pastry Picasso. But then, my oven decides it’s had enough. It’s like, “Nah, I’m not heating up today.” I’m about to lose it. I’m yelling at the oven like it’s a person. “C’mon, you piece of junk!”
After a few minutes of me having a meltdown, I finally get it to work. I pop those croissants in, and the smell? Oh man, it’s heavenly. I’m practically drooling. I can already see the customers lining up outside on Saito-dori, and I’m like, “Yes! They’re gonna love this!”
But then, just as I’m about to pull them out, the power goes out. Just my luck, right? I’m standing there in the dark, surrounded by dough and despair. I’m ready to throw in the towel. But then, I hear a knock on the door. It’s my buddy Kenji, the local barista. He’s got a portable generator! I’m like, “Dude, you’re a lifesaver!”
We hook it up, and I finally get those croissants out. They’re golden brown, flaky, and perfect. I’m feeling like a rockstar. I open the door, and the crowd goes wild! People are grabbing them like they’re the last slice of pizza at a party. I’m grinning ear to ear.
As the day winds down, I’m cleaning up, and I can’t help but think about how crazy it was. Saito’s streets, the people, the chaos—it’s all part of the ride. I love this city, even when it drives me nuts. I head home, exhausted but happy, ready to dream about flour and sugar.
Tomorrow’s another day, and who knows what’ll happen? But I’m ready for it. Bring it on, Saito!