Sweet as a Strawberry

Hana was still lying in bed when the alarm went off. Half-asleep, she checked her phone and turned it off, hugging her pillow like someone begging for just a few more minutes. Still, she knew she couldn’t repeat the mistake from the day before. So, albeit reluctantly, she got up and started getting ready to head out.

She went into the bathroom, washed her face, brushed her teeth, and picked out what to wear: a pair of jeans, a tank top, and a light jacket. She put on some makeup and left the bedroom. But when she walked into the living room, Shinya wasn’t sitting on the couch like the day before. The sight of the empty space gave her a strange, almost unsettling feeling, like something was out of place.

Not that she expected to see him there again or anything like that… at least, that’s what she tried to tell herself. There was something about him that caught her attention, even if she couldn’t quite put it into words. Maybe it was his gentle appearance, or the innocent way he spoke, or even those serious eyes.

Her face flushed. She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. She didn’t want to think like that about someone who, just a few days ago, had basically broken into her apartment and disrupted her routine.

Before leaving, she headed to the kitchen to make some tea. But as she stepped in, she saw something unexpected. Sitting right in the center of the table was a small strawberry shortcake, generously filled and topped with fluffy whipped cream that looked good enough to make anyone drool. Beside it, a note:

I made this for you. Hope you have a good day at work. — Shinya

She couldn’t believe that the mysterious man had done something like that for her. She didn’t even know he could bake. Especially not a strawberry shortcake, her all-time favorite dessert.

“He wants me to eat cake for breakfast?” she mumbled.

She didn’t touch the cake. She just kept glancing at it now and then while the water heated for her tea. Leaning against the sink counter, she blushed at the thought of him preparing something like that for her. She couldn’t figure out his intentions... was it just a friendly gesture? Or something more?

The water boiled, and she continued making her tea, still eyeing the cake on the table.

But it looked really good.

Like… dangerously good.

“Well… it wouldn’t hurt to try just a little,” she told herself, unable to resist any longer.

She sat down and got ready to take a small bite. Shinya had probably put effort into making it, so the least she could do was try it, even if she didn’t like it.

But after the first bite, everything changed.

The flavor exploded in her mouth, flooding her taste buds in a way that left her completely stunned. She had never tasted anything so good. And before she realized it, she was no longer just sampling it. She was devouring the cake and didn’t stop until there wasn’t a single crumb left.

With a full belly, she leaned back in the chair and sighed.

“That wasn’t bad at all…”

It felt like the world was giving her a warm hug. And for a few minutes, she managed to forget about her problems and worries. It was like the cake had some kind of anesthetic for the soul.

“It’d be nice to wake up to something like this every day…” she whispered, a genuine smile forming on her face.

Lost in a world beyond reality, she snapped back when she checked the time. Suddenly, she sprang into motion and ran out of the house. Just like a replay of the day before, she was late for work.

***

Throughout her life, Hana had worked a variety of jobs. Whether because she couldn’t stick to one place or was still searching for something she truly wanted to pursue, she jumped from job to job like changing outfits.

Unlike many of her high school classmates, she had never dreamed of going to college. In truth, she never really knew what path she wanted to follow. College, to her, just seemed like another hurdle, and she wasn’t willing to spend years on something without knowing if it’d be worth it. Instead, she chose to try a little bit of everything, hoping that one day, she’d find where she belonged.

Her first job was at a convenience store. Then came restaurants, izakayas, arcades, delivery gigs, cafés… until she ended up at the clothing store where she currently worked, helping customers. If anything, she hadn’t lacked opportunities to explore whether a job was right for her or not.

It wasn’t that she disliked working, but to Hana, work was just a means to get money for what really mattered: enjoying life. She believed every experience, every moment, was magical and deserved to be lived fully.

Every little opportunity was something to be embraced and celebrated. Every birthday, every smile, every friend’s achievement. Even when she felt uncomfortable, she tried to wear a smile and push through. Her biggest fear was living a life where she didn’t do what she wanted or never found something worth dedicating herself to.

Maybe that fear was what made her accept Akari’s offer. Because of how incomplete she felt, there was something in Shinya’s blank, lost gaze that strangely drew her in. Like a magnet. An invitation to get closer, to find out more about him.

That feeling had only grown stronger the night before, when they watched TV together. In that moment, even noticing the glances he occasionally threw her way, she didn’t feel alone.

She was sharing a moment with someone who, though a little strange, was simply there with her. Not to judge, but just to be there. To share that tiny instant. And that made her feel something more.

As she walked and thought about everything that had happened, and about the cake that morning, she tried to remember the last time she’d woken up to something like that. No matter how hard she tried, maybe it had never happened before.

And maybe… it wouldn’t be so bad to want to get to know him better.

***

After a long day of work, fatigue took over Hana’s body. Her steps didn’t carry the same energy they had that morning. But when she opened the apartment door, she felt strangely refreshed.

Shinya was sitting on the living room couch, watching Flowers of Tomorrow. He didn’t even notice Hana had walked in and only turned to her when she announced her arrival. The look he gave her made her freeze, as if she had been caught off guard, completely stunned and unsure how to react. But after a moment, she shook off the feeling and cleared her throat before speaking.

“Looks like I’m late for today’s episode,” Hana said, taking off her jacket and throwing herself onto the couch.

“How was your day?”

“It was okay… I guess,” she said, her face turning pink as she remembered the cake he’d left her that morning.

“Today’s episode is better than yesterday’s,” Shinya said, eyes bright with interest. “He found out his girlfriend didn’t like the dinner he made.”

Even though he had never heard of the drama before, he seemed genuinely into it. Hana felt like having someone to talk to about stuff like this might actually be… nice. But more than that, another thought crept into her mind. At that moment, the pieces clicked into place: the previous day’s episode, the cake that morning… That couldn’t be a coincidence.

“Shinya… did you make the cake because of yesterday’s episode?”

“Yes… why? What did you think of it?”

Hana gave a small smile. She didn’t know if it was just a kind gesture or something more… and any thought about that left her even more confused. Her mind spinning, she grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest.

“It was one of the best I’ve ever had,” she replied, almost in a whisper.

Shinya didn’t say anything, but the smile that formed on his face made her blush even harder. She felt awkward, though she didn’t know why.

Even if she didn’t realize it, the moments spent with Shinya helped her forget about all her other problems. Her job worries, her uncertainty about the future. When they were there, watching TV together, it felt like the only thing that mattered was enjoying the moment. Nothing else.

“I hope I get to eat that cake again…”

That was the last thing she managed to say that night. But deep down, what she really wanted… was for him to stay there with her, for as long as possible.