Did anyone notice how the belts on some cookies are the same as Dark Cacao's and how some are different? Lemmie show you, all these belts have the same pattern as Dark Cacao's
I honestly think it might be discerning their faction, I thought it was discerning rank at first but then I realized that Caramel Arrow would have a medium-ranking belt which is just not the case with her.
I also thought it might have been age as well but then I realized that Affogato Cookie (who seemingly has been in the citadel for a while now) would have had a child belt. (due to most children having a purely blank belt.) Adding onto this, a blank belt is a basic belt, not discerning any faction.
I also think that they probably are only given their faction belt once they are of age as I would assume people probably go out for certain factions so not showing it off until you're able to protect yourself is probably a good idea. Or maybe is just showcasing your age/battle capability and ability to go into battle if someone needs to make a quick judgment of who needs to leave in a battle situation.
Plus, me being me bringing this back to Dark Choco and Dark Cacao, it would make the fact that Dark Choco has no belt an angsty detail because he essentially saying that he isn't in the faction anymore <3