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The streets at one in the morning were as quiet as if someone had hit the mute button. Shinonome Akito had only just stepped off the stage at the Live House, his orange forelocks soaked through with sweat, a few strands of yellow highlight plastered to his forehead. As he removed the bone ornaments from his stage costume, the streetlamp caught the brief flash of muscle definition in his arms. His build didn't appear particularly bulky from the outside, but beneath it lay considerable solid strength, honed from years of leaping across stages and hauling equipment.
Akito was starving. The show had ended three hours later than planned, his stomach completely empty, and only sweets capable of triggering a dopamine rush could fill that hollow exhaustion. But at this hour, nearly every eatery near the Live House had pulled down their shutters.
Turning the corner, Akito spotted a light still glowing.
It was a newly opened shop, its sign reading "Traum Gifts" in slender, elegant lettering. There were hardly any reviews online, but Akito didn't have the luxury of being choosy. He pushed open the glass door, and a wind chime rang out crisply.
Behind the counter stood a tall, slender young man with unusual hair, the left half pale blue and the right half deep navy. He looked up, his upturned silver-gray eyes strikingly clear under the light, and a small beauty mark beneath his left eye lent a touch of softness to his otherwise somewhat cool expression.
"Welcome." His voice was gentle and polite, carrying that particular distance reserved for first encounters. "What can I get for you?"
Akito glanced over the display case. The desserts inside were exquisite, each arranged at the perfect angle. He grabbed a few cheese cakes of different flavors, but as he turned to pay, he noticed a shelf in the corner that looked completely out of place.
The items on it were downright bizarre. There was a piece of chocolate that looked like it had melted and solidified again, dotted with spice granules that had no business being in a dessert; several twisted cookies in an earthy brown of indeterminate origin; and a completely unlabeled box containing what appeared to be some kind of chocolate cake.
Akito furrowed his brow, his curiosity piqued, and pointed toward the corner. "Excuse me, what are those?"
The blue-haired young man's gaze followed his finger, his expression calm. "Experiments. I made them to satisfy my own curiosity. If no one takes them, I'll eat them myself, so there's no need to pay. Help yourself."
Akito raised an eyebrow. He'd been to many dessert shops, but he'd never seen anyone display their failures with such nonchalance. The person before him looked perfectly courteous, even a bit aloof, yet his words carried an unexpected bluntness.
He stepped forward and took three at random.
"Thank you for your patronage." The young man said, packing Akito's purchases into a paper bag. "Enjoy your meal."
Akito glanced back as he exited the shop. The other party had already returned to tidying the counter, as if the conversation had been the most ordinary thing in the world.
Back at his apartment, Akito tried the cheese cake first. The texture was dense and silky, the sweetness just right, the best he'd had in months. Then he turned his attention to the strange-looking experiments.
The first one he regretted the instant it hit his tongue. Some indistinguishable blend of spice and herb exploded in his mouth, so bitter he immediately downed half a glass of water.
The second was barely edible, the texture like chewing a damp sponge.
The third made him pause. The exterior was a crispy caramel shell, but inside it concealed a warm dark chocolate lava, with an incredibly subtle layer of salted butter cookie crumble sandwiched between. He'd never encountered this combination at any dessert shop before.
He ate the other half too, sitting on the sofa and savoring the complexity on his palate. The city lights outside the window were sparse, but he suddenly found himself intensely curious about the two-toned dessert shop owner.
Just what kind of person could make something like this?
From that day on, Akito became a regular at Traum Gifts. The Live House he frequented was near the shop, and stopping by for a few desserts after a show became part of his routine. He learned the owner's name was Aoyagi Touya, and that the shop's name had been coined by his bandmate Kamishiro Rui, a tall, perpetually smiling purple-haired man whose first visit happened to coincide with Touya's "Russian roulette-style experimental creation." Rui ended up eating a cupcake the exact same unsettling color as his hair, and the expression on his face was so spectacular that KAITO, who had been with him at the time, still burst out laughing whenever he remembered it.
And Touya was the only person Akito knew who could get the better of Rui. He spoke directly, his thoughts pure, and occasionally came out with such eccentric remarks that Rui's carefully crafted pranks found nowhere to land.
Akito and Touya gradually grew close. That polite, cool exterior Touya had worn when they first met slowly peeled away, revealing the softness underneath. Touya began to remember that Akito didn't eat carrots, and would deliberately substitute pumpkin puree for carrot puree when making toast. When Akito visited, he would bake extra of Akito's favorite deluxe strawberry cream pancakes. When Akito complained about the terrible sound system at some venue, he would listen quietly, then hand over a latte at just the right temperature.
Akito realized he had begun looking forward to the sound of that wind chime every time he pushed open the glass door. He memorized the locations of Touya's unusual ingredients, the awkward way Touya acted when wearing a new apron, and the sight of Touya's face when he grew dizzy from making his experiments too sweet and slumped against the counter in a daze.
Then one night, standing before Touya after the shop had closed, Akito suddenly realized he no longer walked through that door for the desserts.
He stayed because he wanted to see more of Touya. The sight of Touya's back as he busied himself before the oven in his apron, the way his nose scrunched up when he tasted a failed experiment, the light that sparked in his eyes whenever he created something new. Every time Akito discovered a side of Touya he hadn't seen before, it only made him more eager for their next meeting. He wanted to remain in this place where Touya was.
Akito was a determined person, stubbornly so when it came to goals he had set his mind to. He had always known what he wanted, and once decided, he never let go. And right now, what he wanted was Touya.
He confessed one night after Touya closed up shop. Touya froze first, his eyes flashing in the lamplight as if checking whether this was a dream. Then he lowered his head and said in a very soft voice that he had actually liked Akito too, but he had always assumed Akito simply thought of him as an ordinary friend, a dessert shop owner he visited often.
Akito stepped closer and reached out to tuck Touya's wind-mussed blue hair behind his ear. His touch was light, but his gaze was unwavering.
"Do you really think I'd go to the trouble of running to your shop every day for just a regular friend?" he said. "Your desserts are delicious, but I like the person who makes them even more."
Touya's face flushed completely red, his fingers gripping the edge of his apron.
A year later, on a rainy day, Akito carried Touya's suitcase into his own apartment. Touya carefully arranged those small flower-printed paper bags in the kitchen drawer, while Akito set out two matching pairs of slippers by the entrance.
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The oven hummed softly, the aroma of butter spreading through the kitchen. Touya slid the last batch of cookies into the oven, carefully adjusted the temperature and timer, then straightened up and rubbed his brow with the back of his hand.
He wore a white lace-edged apron, trimmed with delicate floral embroidery. Akito had found it for him at a vintage market the month before, saying it suited him perfectly. Touya's ears had been burning when he accepted it, but wearing it every day now felt completely natural, even secretly sweet.
He hummed one of Akito band's newer songs, a track with upbeat rhythm but sharp lyrics about resisting conformity. Touya didn't quite understand the rage in rock music against social norms, but he loved the way Akito glowed on stage. Every song Akito wrote, Touya had secretly learned by heart, and sometimes after closing up shop he would hum those melodies all the way home.
Today was their one-year anniversary. Though Akito didn't seem to remember, or at least hadn't shown any sign of it. That morning, Akito had simply mentioned a daytime show at the Live House and said he'd probably be back in the afternoon, then pressed a kiss to Touya's forehead, ruffled his hair, and hurried out the door.
Touya wasn't disappointed. He planned to use this rare day off to develop a new cookie recipe, carefully adjusting the sweetness level. Akito loved the rich flavor of cheese cake, while Touya himself preferred lighter tastes, so he tried adding a small amount of cream cheese to the butter cookies, then coating them in a thin layer of dark chocolate. This way it wouldn't be too sweet, yet still had plenty of depth.
He wanted to share them with Akito over afternoon tea when he returned. Just imagining the expression Akito might make when tasting the new cookies made Touya's lips curve upward.
The oven thermometer needle climbed slowly. Touya focused on the dial, making sure every marking was precisely set. His fingers still carried the scent of butter and cream, the lingering fragrance of a long session kneading dough.
That was when a pair of arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
Touya's whole body jolted, nearly knocking into the counter before him. But in the next second, he caught that familiar scent, the faint citrus shampoo and residual stage makeup cologne that always clung to Akito.
He turned his head immediately, the corner of his lips rising involuntarily, eyes curving into a lovely arc, his face still carrying the lingering warmth of being startled.
"Why are you back so early—" he got halfway through the sentence before stopping short.
Akito was looking at him with that all-too-familiar expression. The kind that meant he wanted to do something, the kind that made Touya's heart race and his cheeks burn.
Akito didn't answer. He lowered his head, took one of Touya's hands, and brought his nose close to Touya's fingertips, inhaling the lingering scent of butter and cream. Then he opened his mouth and took Touya's index finger inside.
The warm tongue slid from fingertip to knuckle, slowly and deliberately licking every inch of skin. Touya's knees went weak instantly. The base of his fingers was one of his most sensitive spots, and Akito knew this, never hesitating to exploit that weakness.
"Wait—" Touya's voice had already changed pitch, a soft tremor in his trailing tone, "Akito—"
He fell backward, right into Akito's waiting embrace. Akito's arm caught him steadily, but his tongue showed no sign of retreat, instead intensifying its assault around Touya's knuckles.
Touya couldn't hold it in, a delicate moan escaping his throat. He bit his lip immediately, but it was too late.
Akito paused and lifted his head to look at him.
Touya wore the lace apron Akito had bought for him, had been humming Akito's song just moments ago, and the oven was baking cookies prepared for the two of them. The way he looked up at Akito was completely defenseless, his eyes reflecting the warm kitchen light, that beauty mark beneath his left eye standing out against his burning cheeks.
Akito felt something filling his chest. Satisfaction, possessiveness, and something even hotter.
He bent down and lifted Touya into his arms, carrying him the few steps to the kitchen counter and setting him down.
Touya knew exactly what Akito intended. He frowned gently, his voice carrying a resigned complaint. "If you mess up the kitchen again, cleaning up will be a hassle. And licking my fingers like that just now was unsanitary—"
But his body was honest. Touya's hands braced against the counter, his back arching, legs parting naturally into a completely open posture. His face was red as a fully ripened peach, yet he tilted his head up to meet Akito's eyes, his gaze holding no trace of refusal.
Akito felt like he was about to lose control.
He buried his face in Touya's neck, nuzzling his fluffy orange head against Touya's soft cheek, then worked his way upward to find Touya's lips and kissed him deeply.
Touya's arms wrapped around Akito's back, fingers gripping the fabric of Akito's stage costume, pulling him closer. He kissed with complete earnestness, eyes half-open, gazing at Akito's face so near his own, those aonibi green eyes brimming with intense emotion.
Outside the window was afternoon sunlight, and inside the oven the cookies were slowly turning golden brown, the scent of butter and their intertwined breaths mingling together.
They kissed for a long time.
Akito's hand slipped beneath the edge of the apron, Touya's skin carrying a faint chill from having just touched cold water. Touya trembled slightly but didn't pull away. Akito's fingers traced slowly upward along Touya's waistline, his movements not exactly gentle, carrying an impatient urgency, yet somehow miraculously restraining his strength, as if afraid of hurting him.
Touya was always passive in this regard. He wasn't good at expressing his needs, always surrendering the initiative to Akito. But each time he kept his eyes open, gazing at Akito, wordlessly conveying his feelings through his gaze. That earnest look was more than Akito could bear.
Akito tugged open the apron ties and murmured something against Touya's ear. Touya's ears turned crimson instantly, but he nodded.
For the next few hours, the kitchen held only the low hum of the oven and the sound of their mingled breathing. Akito pressed Touya against the counter, his movements carrying his usual dominance, yet each kiss landed impossibly light. Touya's fingers tangled in Akito's orange hair, occasionally making small sounds, burying his face in Akito's shoulder each time, only to have his chin lifted so the kissing could continue.
When it was over, Touya's legs were still trembling slightly. Akito lifted him down, and Touya nearly couldn't stand steady, having to lean against Akito for a while to recover.
"Go take a bath," Akito said, his voice somewhat hoarse.
Touya shook his head and pointed at the oven. "The cookies should be done."
Akito sighed, helped Touya into a chair, then put on oven mitts and opened the oven himself. The rich scent of butter and cream wafted out, the cookies' surfaces a beautiful golden brown, their edges crisped to perfection.
Akito drizzled the dark chocolate glaze Touya had prepared earlier over the cookies, then placed them in the refrigerator to cool for a while. While the chocolate set, Touya had gradually regained his strength and came over to pick one up and offer it to Akito.
"This is my new recipe." Touya's voice was soft, but his eyes sparkled. "Today's our anniversary. I wanted to treat you for always working so hard, so I specially adjusted the recipe. I hoped you'd tell me if it suits your taste."
Akito was taken aback. Looking at the cookie in Touya's hand, he thought of Touya busying himself before the oven in that apron just now, and how Touya must have been looking forward to sharing these cookies with him before he came home, and suddenly felt that his own surprise might not be enough.
He took the cookie, bit off half, then held the remaining half up to Touya's lips.
"You try it too," he said.
Touya hesitated a moment, then opened his mouth and accepted the half cookie from Akito's fingers. His lips brushed Akito's fingertips, their gazes colliding, and Touya's ears grew warm again.
The dense cream cheese melded perfectly with the crisp butter cookies, the thin layer of dark chocolate coating melting slowly on the tongue, the sweetness just right, enough to be rich without making him dizzy.
"It's delicious," Akito said, his voice carrying genuine warmth.
"Mm." Touya nodded, a bit of cookie crumb stuck to the corner of his mouth. "Even better than I imagined."
Akito naturally reached out and wiped the crumb away for him. His fingertip grazed the corner of Touya's lips, and Touya blinked, his smile softening even more.
He turned to take out an elegant tea canister from the cabinet. It was black tea he had carefully selected, specifically chosen to pair with these cookies. Touya's movements as he brewed the tea were graceful and practiced, the sound of water pouring into the teapot pleasant to the ear. Akito stood nearby watching, occasionally reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Touya's ear.
"You started preparing this before I came back?" Akito asked, leaning against the counter.
"Mm." Touya looked down at the teapot. "I figured you must be tired from the show, and you should have something good to eat when you got home."
He poured the brewed tea into two cups and handed one to Akito. Akito took the cup but his eyes remained on Touya.
As Touya prepared their afternoon tea, he kept staring at Akito. His gaze was bright, as if holding stars, the corner of his mouth carrying an unmistakable anticipation.
Akito understood immediately.
He laughed, set down his teacup, and pulled a velvet box from his pocket.
"For you," he said.
Touya's eyes lit up instantly. He set down what he was holding, took the box and opened it. Inside was a set of white hair clips, each adorned with tiny bone decorations, styled to match Akito's stage costume.
"They're designed to go with my stage outfit," Akito said, his voice a bit self-conscious. "I thought they'd look good on you."
Touya immediately took out the clips and fastened them into his hair. The pale blue and deep navy strands adorned with pure white bone clips looked unexpectedly perfect.
He looked up at Akito, his smile so bright Akito couldn't look away.
"Thank you, Akito," Touya said, stepping closer. "I'm so happy. This is my favorite gift."
His voice grew even softer. "I love you the most."
Akito felt his face burning. He averted his gaze and muttered, "Saying that so suddenly."
"Because it's true." Touya didn't retreat, stepping closer instead. "Akito, you always work so hard, and you never give up on what you want. I used to feel like I didn't deserve something this wonderful, but every time, you tell me that I am worthy."
He placed his hand over Akito's on the table, their fingers intertwining, his palm warm and soft.
"Being with you is the luckiest thing that's ever happened to me."
Akito turned his head, his gaze resting on Touya's earnest expression, and finally couldn't help but smile. He squeezed Touya's hand back, closing his fingers around that warmth.
"You've always been worthy," he said, his voice dropping lower. "I'm just as lucky."
Touya paused for a moment, then his smile grew even brighter, his eyes rimmed with the faintest hint of moisture.
They sat on either side of the table, cookies and black tea arranged between them. Afternoon sunlight slanted through the window, falling on the new clips in Touya's hair and refracting into gentle light.
They chatted about their recent work. Akito mentioned that the Live House had installed new sound equipment, so the next show would sound much better. Touya said Rui had come by the shop yesterday, and this time he tried a wasabi cream puff, his usually impeccable composure cracking for a full three seconds as he walked out the door.
Akito laughed so hard he nearly spilled his tea.
"That guy had it coming," he said.
Touya's eyes curved into crescents as he reached out to wipe a cookie crumb from the corner of Akito's mouth. Akito caught his wrist, didn't let go, and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of his hand.
"Let's go out for dinner tonight," Akito said. "I know a new café that has good blended coffee."
"Okay." Touya nodded, his fingers sliding naturally to interlock with Akito's.
Their hands remained clasped beneath the table, never parting.
In that quiet afternoon, the scent of butter and the steam of black tea wove together, forming a promise more real than any vow. Touya knew Akito would embrace him from behind while he cooked in his apron, and Akito knew Touya would always be waiting by the oven for him to come home. They both knew there would be countless more afternoons like this.
They sat facing each other like this, smiling, chatting about trivial matters, as they had every day before, and as they would every day to come.
After that, nothing could ever separate these two. They would continue walking on this path together, through more rainy days and sunny ones, through every ordinary yet warm day.