A homely aroma filled the small kitchen as the female ham-human pulled freshly cooked croissants from the oven. She raised the tray so that it almost touched her nose and breathed in. It smelled delicious, as did all of her other dishes.

"… 'Ikki 'ikki 'ikki remember I'm your 'am …" The white haired ham-human quietly sang the tune as she set the tray on the marble counter, her voice complimenting the song. Bijou's voice turned to hum as she took off her apron and hung it on a wooden chair by her.

She placed her hands on her hips and smiled. "Zhere! All done! Now all I 'ave to do, eez wait for eet zee croissantz to cool down." Her fingers lightly touched her lips. "Zhen everyone can eat! I 'ope 'Amtaro likes zhem …"

A light pink blush tinted her cheeks. She shook her head, her pigtails whacking her white ears. She straightened her blue bows. "No. I muztn't think like zhat. Eet's rude not to think of zee otherz." She straightened out her navy blue mini skirt and white blouse. "Zhough … I do not think eet vhould matter too much eef I at least let 'im 'ave first 'elpingz."

Bijou swung the door open, smiling at everyone who looked up from their current activities to her. "O' vhould like a crozziant?" She asked the ham-hams. Most raised their hand, but Hamtaro didn't. Instead he had a rather confused look.

"Um, Bijou." He actually raised his hand like a schoolboy. "What's a croissant?" Bijou's jaw nearly dropped, but she refrained from doing so. Instead, she asked in a quivering voice:

"You … you don't know vhat a crozziant eez?" Hamtaro not ever hearing of a croissant before, let alone trying one was near heart stopping. It was one of her country's more popular foods around the world! She took an unnoticeable deep breath to calm herself. Do not cry over zuch a zilly thing! You know 'ow 'Amtaro can be!

"Sorry Bijou, no." A few gasps were heard as all eyes turned to Bijou, half expecting her to get upset. Poor Hamtaro was struggling under Bijou's gaze. Bijou stormed up to Hamtaro in a refined manner, and raised her brows.

"I vill zhow you zhen." She clasped his hand in hers and she pulled him into the kitchen to try a croissant.

The rest of the ham-hams stared after them as the kitchen door shut. Sandy turned to Maxwell. "Like, what just happened?"

8'

Hamtaro sat on the chair where Bijou's apron was hanging neatly as she fanned her hand over the recently cooked croissants. She pulled out a fork and napkin from a drawer and picked up one of the croissants with them, then handed it over to Hamtaro. "Careful, eet eez ztill zlightly 'ot." She warned.

Hamtaro just gave her his infamous grin then took a large bite. Bijou had to contain a giggle as his facial expressions wavered from debate to delight. "Bijou," he cried. "This is delicious!"

A blanket of red swept her face and ears which Hamtaro failed to notice. "Merci, 'Amtaro."

"No, I'm serious! This is great! Everyone should try these!" His bright blue eyes shone as crumbs were evident around his mouth. Bijou gave an embarrassed giggle, then took his napkin from his hands and wiped his mouth.

"You zilly boy! You're getting crumbz all over yourzelf!" She laughed. He wiped his mouth with his hand for any extras then grinned.

"Heh, yeah … I guess." He took a smaller bite of the croissant. Bijou nodded, still blushing while taking a china plate from a cabinet to put all the croissants on.

"The croissant looks cool to! Like bananas, sort of." She started placing croissants on the plate, trying to get a pyramid look.

"They taste good …" Bijou picked the plate up that she was going to take over to the others.

"They smell good," Bijou stopped, about to ask Hamtaro where on earth he was going with his jabbering. "Like you." Bijou nearly dropped her plate.

"Er … que?" She world around to face her multi-haired friend who's face had turned a brilliant red color, apparently realizing what he had just said, loud and clear.

"Erm … yeah, you smell of croissant! Must be from cooking for the last few hours heh …" Bijou raised her brows. I zmell of paztry…? Bijou inquired the question to Hamtaro. "Well, not in a bad way … cause they smell good, and taste good so …"

"'Amtaro, I'm zorry but I'm afraid I do not follow." Hamtaro looked up at her and looked … frightened.

"Don't hate me." He murmured, eyes wide.

"Vhy vhould I 'ate you?" Bijou asked, setting the tray of croissants on the counter.

"Cause …" Bijou placed an arm on his shoulder.

"Because …?" Her breath was close to stopping.

"Because I didn't know what a croissant was!" He shouted. Bijou sighed, crestfallen.

"Eet eez fine, 'Amtaro. Eet eez juzt a paztry." Hamtaro nodded mutely, then rather quickly left the room, still brilliantly red and clutching her freshly made croissant. Though, Bijou could hear quite a few yelps in the other room, one of which sounded a lot like;

"You idiot! You were this close!"

A smack.

A yelp.

And a 'shush'.