Steven talks to Connie as he looks down at the beach from the patio outside the temple. The skies around Beach City are slightly cloudy but overall sunny, with a strong breeze kicking up sand on the beach into the air.

Connie asks Steven, "And how are you doing today?"

"I don't have any major mood swings one way or the other," Steven replies, "Just kinda feel normal but I know it could come out of nowhere."

"Yeah I'll talk to my mom," Connie replies, "I know I've heard these symptoms before but I don't know from what. I'll get back to you. It's gonna be OK."

"Thanks," Steven replies.

"Anytime," Connie responds, "You'd do the same for me. Anyways, I got violin lessons. Cya."

"Bye have fun," Steven replies hanging up. He again looks at the beach and decides to head into town. He once more begins to climb the fence only to find that there has been a gate installed.

He turns around to see Garnet who, with a smile, nods.

"Thanks this is way easier," Steven replies opening the gate and closing it back before heading to the Big Doughnut where he greets Lars who naps behind the counter, "Morning Lars."

"Huh?" Lars stirs from his slumber and removes a magazine he was using to block out the light to see Steven, "Oh, morning Steven. What'll it be?"

"Strawberry filled," Steven replies, "How you doing today?"

"Oh I'm just thinking of bad jokes," Lars explains, "No luck thinking of anything funny."

"Yeah well if you have any funny jokes bashing Rose," Steven smiles, "Lemme know."

Lars hands Steven the doughnut as Lars elaborates, "So what does your magic belly button actually do anyways?"

"Well," Steven explains, "I can float, create bubbles around myself and others and... this."

Steven summons his shield and elaborates, "I'm still getting a feel for some of it. Oh! I also have healing spit. It's as gross as it sounds."

"Healing spit?" Lars inquires, "Hey don't go spitting on Rose's grave then huh?"

Steven laughs, "Yeah she's better off staying dead."

Lars replies, "Hey you're new in town."

"Yeah," Steven replies.

"So if I revealed some secret no one would believe you," Lars elaborates.

"Yes?" Steven explains, confused.

"Awesome I need a favor," Lars explains, "You got any eggs at your house? Can I bum a couple of eggs?"

"Sure?" Steven more asks then replies, now lost.

"Great can you do me a favor and meet me here at six?" Lars requests.

"Sure?" Steven replies.

"I appreciate it," Lars replies, "See you then."

Steven leaves, eating his doughnut and returns that night as the Sun sets to see Lars waiting for him behind the counter as Sadie glares at Lars, glaring daggers as she states, "I'm the only one who does anything around here. You're a real jerk."

Lars looks away as Sadie leaves. Steven waves, which turns Lars's frown right around as he opens the door for Steven who hands him a carton of eggs.

"Perfect!" Lars exclaims, "Come on!"

Lars leads Steven to the back room where Lars turns on a stove and reveals various ingredients from his backpack.

"OK enough with the shady stuff why am I here?" Steven asks.

"OK here's the deal," Lars explains, "As you probably say I've really fallen behind here and... frankly in school too. Truth is I've been feeling unmotivated because my real passion is cooking."

"Isn't this where they make the doughnuts?" Steven asks.

"Not since..." Lars explains showing Steven the location of the incident, "The accident..."

Lars elaborates as he begins to mix a cake batter from the ingredients he brought, "Anyways no one knows my real passion is for cooking and I'm to scared to tell anyone. I'm not good at school and I'm a bad friend to Sadie. I'm just..."

"Lemme guess," Steven sighs, "You're scared that if you're bad at this you won't be good at anything at all."

Lars nods, "Yeah exactaly."

"I can't say I fully relate," Steven admits, "But I understand to a limited extent. I had to hide my powers and lie throughout most of my childhood. I was never of much help to Jasper in combat against corrupt Gems. So what, you want me to taste test it and your plan is if you are bad at it no one's gonna believe you admitted any of this to me and that's the reason you're telling me?"

"You're sharp kiddo," Lars smiles, "Yeah. That and, you seem like a cool kid."

"Lars I'm not the best person for this," Steven admits, "I've been having these mood swings and sometimes when I'm feeling down, like, really down, I can lose all sense of taste."

"Are you feeling down right now?" Lars asks.

"No," Steven replies.

"Then it's fine," Lars shrugs, "I suffer from aniexty and sometimes it makes me nauseous but I've never lost all sense of taste. You're a buddy of mine because, like, I dunno. You give me this trustworthy vibe I guess. I kinda feel that... you know how it feels to be not enough for your parents. To want to be better but not know how."

Steven looks down at his Gem and sighs, "Kinda. Yeah. Jasper did not like Rose..."

Lars puts the finished mixture into the oven as he explains, "Yeah I hear that. I'm thinking of dropping out and going to culinary school over in the big city. Maybe then I can make them proud for once in my pathetic life."

"Lars I get feeling like a failure," Steven explains, "I think back to all the Gems I let Jasper shatter. I think about the mass grave in the center of the Earth. I just... yknow it's a fair bit to deal with."

"And I thought I had a lot on my plate," Lars comments, "Steven, you've been through a lot for someone your age. How do you do it?"

"I..." Steven concedes, "Don't... I put on this smile and try to make others happy but... it's hard."

"You're doing a pretty good job at making me feel better," Lars assures Steven as a timer goes off and Lars removes the fresh cake from the oven and applies frosting to it. He slices it and offers a slice to Steven who wolfs it down eagerly, the taste beyond exquisite.

"Man this is great!" Steven exclaims, his mouth full, "Dude you're amazing at this!"

Lars smiles, "Thanks man. Is it really that good?"

Steven exclaims, "Heck yeah it-"

Steven suddenly stops eating when thoughts of Rose and her murder rush into his mind and sighs, "Darn it it's gone."

"Gone?" Lars asks.

"I started thinking about Rose out of the blue and my sense of taste?" Steven explains, "Gone without a trace."

"That quick?" Lars asks.

Steven sighs, looking away, "Yeah... it's been like this for a while now. I'm gonna head out. Anyways though, yeah, you should just be a chef. You'll do your parents proud. Cya."

"Cya Steven," Lars replies as Steven waves goodbye and exits.

Lars exits with the leftovers and enters his home to see his parents watching T.V.. He takes a deep breath and remembers Steven's words before he sighs, "Mom... dad... we need to talk about my career path..."

Steven, meanwhile, heads back to the temple and holds his head, images flash in his mind of gem shards and Blue Diamond. Of being kidnapped. Of lies. Of Rose. Of the horrific figure that is Yellow Diamond. The women who wanted him dead.

Finally, as Steven breaks down crying he recalls Jasper. Where's Jasper? Where's...

"Mom..." He pleads, "Where are you? I can't trust anyone else. I can't even trust you but..."

Steven is unaware he is being watched. Sea who was around the corner, looking at a photo of her and Jasper on the boardwalk of Ocean Town, listens in to Steven's breakdown. She takes a deep breath and sighs. She puts her hand over her mouth and quietly cries herself.

She mutters to herself, "I miss her too but..."

Sea sighs, "Jasper is never coming home..."