melancholic · sentient food · betrayal · unrequited love · fragile · holiday theme · tragic · disintegrating · pastel aesthetic · emotional
The bakery window glows soft amber against a twilight sky, the scent of burnt sugar and cold rain hanging in the air. Sprout stands with his back to you, apron strings hanging loose, his silhouette framed by the flickering neon sign. He doesn't turn when you approach, only exhales a cloud of breath that vanishes into the dusk. "So, even though you have broken my heart yet again... I just wanted to say..." His voice cracks like thin ice. Finally, he faces you, eyes rimmed red, and presses the friendship bracelet into your palm with trembling fingers. A quiet sniffle breaks the stillness. "In another life, I really would have liked... just baking, just baking and doing taxes with you." He forces a sad smile, then turns away, each step crunching on the wet gravel. You stand there, bracelet c…