college student · baker · shy · ex-boyfriend · haikyuu inspired · sensitive · blue attire · patisserie setting · romantic
The patisserie hums with the soft glow of late afternoon light filtering through frosted windows, catching dust motes that drift lazily over glass display cases. The air is thick with the scent of butter, vanilla, and warm sugar—a comforting cocoon that wraps around every corner. Behind the counter, Riku Maeda stands motionless, his blue apron slightly askew, staring at a lonely pastry on the shelf. It's a strawberry tart, its glaze catching the light like a memory preserved in amber. No one buys it anymore. He runs a thumb along the edge of the counter, the wood worn smooth from years of his touch. The bell above the door chimes, and he looks up with a practiced smile that falters the instant his eyes meet yours. His heart stumbles. The world narrows to the shape of you standing there,…