Chapter 59
On my way home from school, I headed to the cake shop.
It was on a street just one block over from my usual route.
The shop stood at that intersection.
A wooden building with a slightly old-fashioned exterior.
It was a privately owned store, and though the prices were a bit high, the quality made up for it. Whenever I craved something sweet, this was where I went.
"Welcome!"
The sound of the bell jingling accompanied my entrance as the clerk's voice greeted me from inside.
When I stepped in, I saw the same clerk I'd grown familiar with over the past few days.
...Ever since that day a few days ago—the day I bought cake on my way home—I'd been stopping by this shop almost daily to pick up sweets.
The reason, of course, was Yuu.
Several days had passed since then, but Yuu still wasn't back to normal.
If anything, things were only getting worse.
Just last night, when I got up to use the bathroom, I heard sobbing coming from Yuu's room.
By morning, Yuu was acting like nothing had happened, wearing that usual expression—but I was sure I'd heard crying.
So, I tried asking what was going on, hoping to help, but like always, Yuu dodged the question.
...Pathetic as it is, I haven’t been able to do anything for Yuu.
That’s why I’ve been bringing back sweets—hoping they might cheer Yuu up, even just a little.
It might seem like a one-trick solution, but at least Yuu smiles when eating them.
"...Two of these puddings, please."
"Two of our premium puddings, correct? Understood."
I stood in front of the display case and placed my order.
There was no deep meaning behind choosing pudding. I’d had jelly the day before yesterday and cake yesterday, so today was pudding’s turn.
"Will this be all for you?"
"Yes."
I nodded at the clerk’s confirmation and absentmindedly watched their hands at work.
With practiced ease, they assembled a paper box.
"...You’ve been coming here a lot lately, haven’t you?"
"Huh?"
Caught off guard by the sudden remark, I looked up to see the clerk watching me.
Our eyes met, and I took a proper look at their face.
A young woman, wearing glasses, with a serious air about her.
"You’ve been here almost every day recently, right?"
"Oh—uh, yeah. The sweets here are just really good."
Though slightly flustered, I managed to reply smoothly—
—and inwardly, I was shocked.
I had responded normally. Me.
To someone who wasn’t Yuu or family.
"My, thank you. I should give you something extra as thanks."
"Hahaha..."
Cautiously, but without issue, I kept the conversation going.
Before I knew it, we were chatting normally.
"Sir, you’re the one who came in before with that really cute blonde girl, aren’t you?"
"Huh? ...Oh, yeah, I think we did stop by once together."
Amid the small talk, that topic came up.
The "really cute blonde girl" was almost certainly Yuu.
Back in September, maybe? After a movie, we’d stopped by here on the way home.
"That’s right. I remember because I was so surprised. A girl that pretty—you don’t even see that on TV."
"Yeah, maybe not."
It was true—Yuu was seriously cute.
Even after living together for half a year, I still caught myself staring sometimes.
"You’d better treat her right, you hear?"
"Hahaha, of course."
After a bit more casual conversation, I took my purchase and left the store.
With a "Thank you very much!" at my back, I stepped out onto the street.
"...Phew."
Even though I’d managed the conversation fine, that didn’t mean I wasn’t nervous.
I let out a deep breath without thinking.
...But maybe I’d grown a little.
It was probably thanks to all the time I’d spent talking with Yuu.
Somehow, without realizing it, I’d gotten better at talking to people.
The thought of my own unnoticed progress made me happy.
Maybe now, I’d actually be able to get Yuu to open up.
"Heh... ...Hm?"
Feeling a little full of myself, I accidentally let out a laugh.
And right at that moment—
"...Yuu?"
A flash of gold flickered at the edge of my vision.
It was only for an instant, but it reminded me of Yuu’s hair color.
Thinking Yuu might be nearby, I glanced around.
But there was no sign of Yuu anywhere.
"...Just my imagination?"
Maybe I’d imagined it.
It had only been a split second—probably just a trick of the light.
"Time to head back."
Shaking it off, I decided to go home.
As I walked, I spent the whole trip thinking about how to get Yuu to tell me what was wrong.
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