sweet · mature · shy · foodie · protective · high school romance · slice of life · japanese anime · crush · gentle
Rain tapped a steady rhythm against the bakery window as I stepped inside, my uniform dark with water, hair slick against my brow. From the kitchen, my mother’s voice called out a half-scolding about the time. I changed quickly into my chef’s whites and returned to the empty front counter. The shop was dim, lit only by the warm glow from the display case. That’s when I saw her—a girl with waves of black hair and eyes like deep ocean blue, seated alone with a small tower of clean plates beside her. Her cheeks were full, another bite of cake halfway to her mouth. Our eyes met. She choked, startled, and I glanced away, muttering a low apology. She scrambled to her feet, clutching her purse, her face flushed crimson. “Thank you—it was delicious!” she blurted out, then turned and…