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The sky had started turning orange, and the Furin school festival buzzed with noise all around the building. Students and visitors flocked to the food booths, games, and the open-air stage. But on the second floor, things were much quieter.
Umemiya hadn’t meant to find anyone there — he just wanted a quiet place to eat the cheesecake he’d bought, which looked too soft and tempting to leave sitting in a plastic bag for long. But when he slid open the door to one of the empty classrooms, his steps halted.
“Suo?”
Suo Hayato stood near the window, arms folded, half his face obscured behind his usual black eye patch. The wind nudged his deep red hair slightly as he stared out in silence — unreadable, as always.
“Your shift at the nurse’s office just ended?” Umemiya asked with a small smile, stepping inside casually.
Suo gave a small nod. “Just got off. Needed some air.”
“Ohh~ I just bought cheesecake. Wanna join me?”
Suo glanced briefly at the bag in Umemiya’s hand, then turned his gaze back outside. “I’m on a diet.”
Umemiya let out a quiet laugh and walked in without hesitation, hopping up to sit on one of the desks.
“You always say that,” he replied, pulling the cake out of the plastic. The soft scent of vanilla and cream cheese filled the small room.
He poked a bite-sized piece with a plastic fork and popped it into his mouth.
“Mmm~ This is so good. Are you sure you don’t want a taste?”
Suo finally turned toward him — just slightly, but enough for their eyes to meet. Umemiya grinned and extended the fork toward him.
“Cheesecake peace offering,” he joked.
Suo didn’t respond. He only stared, his silence stretching. But Umemiya didn’t mind — he knew Suo well enough to know that his silences were never empty.
A few moments passed before Umemiya’s voice returned, this time softer — quieter, more honest.
“You know… after I lost my parents, I couldn’t taste anything for a while.”
Suo’s eyebrows lifted just slightly — a small reaction, but real.
“I’d eat, but it was like chewing on air. Everything tasted like plastic. No sweetness, no spice. Like even my tongue went numb.”
He stared at the piece of cake in his hand.
“But when I started wanting to live again — when I found people who made me feel like I still belonged in this world… the taste came back. Even a slice of cheesecake felt like sunlight.”
He looked up at Suo again, this time with a gentle smile that wasn’t just teasing anymore.
“I don’t know what you’re carrying. But I do know you deserve something sweet too.”
He extended the fork again — this time, slower, softer.
Suo stayed quiet, but his fingers lifted slightly, just enough to almost reach.
For a moment, the world held its breath.
And then—
SLAM—!!
The door slid open.
“Hey! Is anyone here? We need hel— Oh! Sorry!!” A flustered student quickly backed out and shut the door.
Suo immediately pulled his hand back.
Umemiya looked at the fork in his hand. The cheesecake was still perfectly fine — but the moment was gone.
He let out a small, dramatic sigh, lips pouting.
“Haishhh… We were so close.”
Suo… smiled. Just a little. But enough.
He didn’t take the bite today.
But maybe, just maybe… next time.