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Valentine's Day had finally arrived, a celebration that, in Itsuki Shu's eyes, was nothing more than a way to capitalize the idea of love, a cruel invention to spend on anything in the shape of a heart. Unwilling to turn her romantic idea of love into something commercial and frivolous, she refused to participate in such parties. However...
The delicious scent of bread emanating from her favorite coffee shop made her sigh, it was delicious to fill her nostrils with such a heavenly perfume. Especially since she was rushing out of the university with only one purpose in mind: to taste the special Valentine's croissant they prepared on those dates.
Shaped like a heart, filled with pastry cream, with a chocolate coat on top and heart shaped dragées topping it, it could look like a sugar and calorie bomb to her if it wasn't prepared in the cafeteria of her favorite croissants, sure that the balance of flavors would be perfect and a path to Valhalla as soon as her tongue brushed against it.
She was definitely getting it, walking at a graceful but swift pace towards the door. Her long dark skirt moved to the rhythm of her slender legs hidden by the fabric, refusing to show her body as little as possible. Wearing a brown sweater and a beret of the same shade over her pink curls, she was the epitome of beauty and grace. A creature as beautiful and fine as Shu deserved the whole world, from her perspective. And her world at that moment was that croissant.
She was thankful that the store had two cashiers so that they could serve quicker, even though it was already late and there were few customers. That being an alert that there must be no food left, she lined up in the shortest line and waited her turn, choosing a coffee to go with her legendary Valentine's croissant.
She hadn't noticed the girl at the other checkout spot until she noticed both waiters murmuring, concerned. Her two green pigtails fell messily at the ends of her head. In a black dress with a skirt too short for Shu's taste, her style was still considered pleasing to Shu's designer eyes, although she would rather a different pick of shoes, not the aggressive booties the greenhaired girl was wearing and without her fishnet stockings.
Her examination was interrupted as they were both called over by one of the checkout clerks. "Excuse me, ladies... But we only have 1 special croissant left".
So that pretty girl was a vile croissant thief. Shu had waited a whole arduous college day for her well-deserved prize and she wasn't going to let that girl take it away from her. They were both in line at the same time, but she knew she had ordered it first and wouldn't let go of her beloved croissant, even if it meant fighting with the girl.
"Nnah..." her new enemy called out to her, somewhat startled by the stern face of the pinkhaired girl. "Would ya mind if we share the croissant?"
"Share it?", she asked in confusion. Her temper had made her imagine a whole fight when the poor girl was willing to seek a peaceful solution. Trying to hide her embarrassment for her impulsive thoughts, she cleared her throat before answering accordingly. "Of course I do, I'm so eager to try it that I don't mind if we split it."
It was better to receive half of a croissant than to be left empty-handed for being aggressive, satisfied with her new croissant companion.
Paying half and half, they each received their order, Shu being ready to sit at a table away from the noise to eat in peace.
"Ngh, hey", the girl called back to her. "Do ya want me to come with ya’? We can eat together if yer alone."
She definitely didn't understand the greenhaired girl's behavior. She was being quite friendly and willing to share with her more than necessary. Being very unsociable, she wasn't used to such generosity from someone.
"Pardon?" she said incredulously at first, though the idea of sharing a little with such a kind girl couldn't be bad. "If you don't mind my company, you're welcome," she said as she motioned to a table near the cafeteria window.
They both sat, facing each other, with their respective croissant halves on their plates.
"Nnah, I seriously wanted to try this croissant so badly. Thank ya for sharin’ it with me~" the strange girl began to speak to her. "My name is Kagehira Mika, it's mah pleasure!"
"Itsuki Shu, the pleasure is mine" she replied somewhat nervously, not so used to chit chatting. "I also wished to try this croissant, I left the college as fast as possible to get one..."
"Nnaaah, yer a college student? How cool! I'm still a senior in high school, but I'm looking for a college that teaches fashion design. What are you studyin’?"
Every time this girl surprised her more and more, it seemed almost surreal that fate put her in front of someone with such similar tastes to her.
"What a coincidence, I'm in my first year of fashion design. I can accompany you to my school to do some research on our study plan".
With a beaming smile and sparkling eyes, Mika almost throwed her strawberry milkshake out of excitement, struggling to hold it up before it successfully fell over, much to her luck.
"Would ya do that for me? Ngh, of course I want to go! We should exchange numbers to arrange our visit!"
Mika was being too forward with a stranger and she knew it all too well, but she looked so beautiful that the idea of spending time with her was a dream come true. As majestic as a goddess, Mika was grateful that she had noticed her enough to extend that invitation.
"Très bien. I don't usually use my cell phone that much, but I'll send you a text with the free spaces on my schedule so we can coordinate".
Neither of the two was sure what they were feeling at that moment, but as they exchanged a warm smile while passing each other their numbers they felt a gentle electricity that... connected them? It was strange to define for both of them, but they felt very much at ease with each other. So much so that the legendary croissant took a back seat for a few moments, until Shu looked down, embarrassed, and fixed her gaze on her still untouched food.
"The croissant is going to get cold, let's not let this pleasant chatter rob it of its perfection", Shu commented before taking a bite.
It was not as she had imagined, it was a thousand times better. The mixture of chocolate with pastry cream hammered his taste buds with pleasure. The dough was smooth and perfect, as always, but the extra flavors just elevated it to a heaven-like level, with the dragees giving it a slight crunchy texture that combined with the rest of the elements to make the most delicious food his lips had ever tasted.
Mika seemed to feel that same pleasure, sighing after chewing the first bite more noisily than Shu. It was undoubtedly the best thing their mouths had ever experienced.
"Nnaaah, it's delicious~", moaned Mika happily after a few more bites.
"I knew it would be an otherworldly experience to taste that croissant, but you mustn't neglect your hygiene, Kagehira. You have a stain on your mouth," Shu scolded her with a sigh, taking a napkin to wipe the chocolate from the corner of her lip.
Blushing from embarrassment and the contact with Shu's soft hands, Mika had to use all her brain cells to finish swallowing the piece in her mouth without choking, chewing carefully and cheeks tinged with pink. In Shu's eyes, the blush made her look sweetly adorable.
"T-Thank ya...", she murmured, averting her gaze. No one never cared so much about her before, feeling those lilac eyes fall upon her face like those of a predator. A beautiful predator she wouldn't mind being prey to.
They were both firm believers in fate and love at first sight. Could it be possible that they had met it at that small table illuminated by the orange hues of the sky and the luminous advertisements on the street?
"I see we've both finished eating. Would you like to take a walk for a few moments before we go?", proposed Shu, blushing at her unexpected social skills.
"I would love to, I don't wanna say byebye yet. I'm having a great time with ya~" .
They paid for their meal and went out holding hands to walk the streets of the city. Chatting about their classes and sewing, they both admired the other as they commented on how they made their respective outfits. They had never experienced so much happiness being with someone, someone with whom they felt an understanding and chemistry they had never expected. An unexpected love had definitely been born from the first of many smiles they exchanged throughout their impromptu date.
"I'm sorry to stop this precious moment with you, Kagehira," Shu interrupted after a while of silence, where they were both admiring the sky on a lonely park bench "But it's night now and we should both go home. I wouldn't want you to get a flu."
With a sad smile, Mika squeezed Shu's hand between hers. They had been entwined for hours and she couldn't bear the thought of letting go, fearing it was a dream from which she would soon awaken.
"Ngh, I don't wanna leave yet..."
"Me neither", sighed Shu, "But I promise I'll give you a call when I get home. We can meet again any day you prefer, it's been a delight to share this day with you.
"I feel the same way. Yer amazing Shu, thank ya for spendin’ Valentine's Day with me!"
Both of their hearts were pounding, noticing that their faces had moved closer as they spoke, being only within away from each other. The chocolate smell they both gave off was intoxicating, unintentionally bringing their gazes to each other's lips.
"Shu... I know this is kind of rushed, but.... Ngh, c-can I kiss ya?" stammered Mika with a flaming face.
Shu adopted a similar color at the request. Sure, it was rushing the idea of kissing the one she met just a few hours ago, but the idea didn't bother her at all.
"G-Go ahead, you have my p-permission," she muttered under her breath, closing her eyes, waiting to feel Mika's lips....
Which did indeed arrive, but not where she wanted them to. With a short kiss on the cheek, Mika regretfully walked away at lightning speed, her face shining even brighter than before.
"Thank ya so much, Shu. Nnah, sorry for askin’ ya something like this."
"Can I kiss you now?", this time it was Shu who asked. "On the lips", she clarified though with some fear to see Mika blushing even more. Surely Shu looked the same.
"Nnah, on the lips?! Ngh, o-of course I wanna! Ya can do it with no problems!"
Both of their faces were burning hot, but they had the courage to slowly start moving closer again, closing their eyes to enjoy each other's chocolate-flavored lips. Slowly, just a small, sweet collision of their mouths, which to them was like an explosion of emotions that made their hearts leap.
They had discovered that there was something much better that their lips were tasting. The legendary Valentine's croissant was nothing compared to that first kiss.
"I'm glad I met ya, Shu", Mika said in a whisper when they finished, their lips still brushing.
"Me too... Mika. I'll be looking forward to our next date", Shu said taking both of her smaller hands between her own, kissing them tenderly.
The walk to the train station that would take them to their homes was both cute and painful, missing each other from that very moment.
"I'll text ya when I get home so we can have a call, okay?" said Mika as she ran to her rightful train and waving goodbye. "Bye bye, Shu".
"Au revoir, Mika. Hope to see you soon", were her last words before turning and catching her train on her way home, still unable to believe, just like Mika, how a croissant changed her life.