"Kaoruko Waguri?" Haruya repeated out loud.
"Ah... you're Auntie Fuko and Uncle Yosuke's daughter!" He quickly realized who the girl in front of him was.
Hearing what the boy called her parents, Kaoruko curiously tilted her head. "Auntie Fuko and Uncle Yosuke, huh?"
"Oh, sorry, I meant Auntie Waguri-san and Uncle Waguri-san," Haruya joked.
His joke went through quickly, making the girl burst into laughter.
"Pfft," Kaoruko covered her mouth and giggled. "You're funny, Sumeragi-san."
"You can just call me Haruya," he continued. "Otherwise, I think I'll be confusing myself with my mom often."
Kaoruko laughed again.
"Alright, Haruya-kun. You can just call me Kaoruko, too!"
She was quite amused by the boy's humor, finding him a bit more interesting.
Having heard of Haruya and Akari often from her mother, she was a bit interested in meeting the two.
Especially after her mom's praises about their pastry-making skills.
If there was one thing she loved more besides her family, it would definitely be pastry.
Cakes definitely held a huge position in her heart, especially for someone like Kaoruko who had a massive sweet tooth.
Her mother often took home sweets and pastry from the Sumeragi Bakery, and right after she tasted it, she could feel her taste buds exploding from joy.
And from that day forward, she sometimes came by with her Mom to the bakery during her free time to try and meet Haruya or his mother.
Unfortunately, those previous times she came seemed to be in different times in which Haruya visited the bakery, causing her to miss him again and again.
But today, it seems that lady luck has finally smiled upon her.
"Wanna take a seat?"
Haruya stood up and extended his hand towards the chair in front of him, offering it to the girl.
"Gladly," with a smile, Kaoruko accepted the offer.
Kaoruko settled herself in one of the cushioned seats near the window, her eyes scanning the bakery with quiet curiosity.
Haruya followed, placing himself across from her.
The soft light inside the bakery was caught in her blue eyes, making them sparkle almost like a pair of sapphires.
"So," Kaoruko began, her voice light and cheerful, "you're the famous Haruya Sumeragi my mom talks about? The one who's really good at baking?"
Haruya shrugged casually. "I'm not that famous," he said with a small smile. "I just try to make the pastries taste good. That's all."
Kaoruko leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table. "I've tried a lot of cakes from different places, but yours just tastes amazing! I think it's kind of exciting to finally meet the person who made them."
Haruya tilted his head slightly. "Really? So you come here often?"
"Yeah, sometimes when I have free time. But usually Mom or Dad picks up the sweets. I wanted to come on my own this time," she admitted, a small blush dusting her cheeks.
Haruya nodded, understanding. "So, this is your first time seeing the bakery by yourself?"
Kaoruko nodded, her hair catching the light as she shifted. "Yep. It's nice… it feels cozy, kind of like being at home." She paused, looking around. "Do you spend a lot of time here?"
"I help out when I can, and sometimes I just… bake for fun," Haruya explained. "It's a way to focus on something else. Makes the day feel quieter, I guess."
Kaoruko smiled softly. "I get that. Baking is kind of like magic, isn't it? You mix a bunch of things together, and when it comes out of the oven… It's something completely new. Something that can make people happy."
Haruya glanced at her, impressed by the thoughtfulness in her words. "Yeah… I guess that's one way to put it."
Hiroki appeared from the counter with Kaoruko's raspberry cake and an extra one for Haruya as well, placing it carefully in front of them.
The powdered sugar dusting gleamed in the afternoon sunlight. "Your order, Waguri-chan," he flashed a knowing smile at Haruya before quickly disappearing back behind the counter.
Kaoruko's eyes widened at the sight. "Wow… it looks even better in person!"
Haruya watched her expression. "Go ahead. Try it." A happy smile slowly emerged, feeling proud of his work.
Kaoruko picked up her fork carefully and took a bite.
Her eyes lit up immediately, and she let out a delighted sound. "Mmm! It's perfect! The raspberries mix well with the cream... and it's so soft!"
Haruya chuckled at the expressive girl. "I'm glad you like it."
She leaned back in her seat, savoring the cake. "You know, I never thought I'd enjoy a slice of cake so much on my own. I usually eat with my family."
"You can sit here and enjoy it any time," Haruya said. "The bakery's always open for anyone who wants to try it."
Leaning forward, she stared into Haruya's eyes. "But you're not always here, aren't you?"
"Oh," he realized what she was implying. "Well, I do come here at random times. How about we add each other on PINE, and I can drop you a message if I ever come by?" Haruya offered.
"It's a deal!"
Kaoruko immediately snatched her phone from inside her bag and exchanged PINE numbers with Haruya.
Placing his phone back into his pocket, Haruya nodded with satisfaction. "Let's eat then?"
There was a comfortable silence as they both ate, the faint background chatter of the bakery filling the gaps.
After a moment, Kaoruko seemed to have decided on something and leaned forward again.
"Do you ever experiment with other flavors? Like, what's the craziest thing you've baked?"
Haruya looked at the girl in front of him, wearing a hesitant expression.
This girl in front of him seemed to want to get closer and get to know him better.
Not because of any impure intentions, but he could almost sense what kind of thoughts filled her head, just by looking at her cake-shaped eyes.
Cake.
Cake.
Cake.
Finding someone who loves eating his pastry was easy, but for someone to show more interest other than the taste was pretty rare for him.
Kaoruko Waguri had successfully piqued his interest.
Haruya thought for a moment. "Hmm… probably a chocolate-orange tart once. It was… interesting. A little weird, even. But my friends loved it."
Kaoruko tilted her head, intrigued. "Chocolate and orange? That sounds unusual. I'd love to try that sometime."
Haruya smiled faintly. "Maybe I can make one next time you visit. If you like trying new things, I mean."
Kaoruko's smile widened. "I do! I love sweets… and I love meeting people who make them. It's kind of inspiring."
Haruya nodded, feeling a little warmth spread through him. "Inspiring, huh? That's a nice way to put it."
The two continued chatting as they ate, discussing everything from favorite flavors, to little baking tricks, to Kaoruko's favorite desserts in the bakery.
Time passed quietly, the warm glow of the bakery making the afternoon feel slower and softer than the bustling city streets outside.
By the time they finished the cake, they had shared stories and laughs, the beginnings of a small friendship forming over shared sweets and simple conversation.
Soon, it was finally time for Kaoruko to leave.
"Sorry, Haruya-kun. I didn't expect an hour to have already passed. I need to head home now." Not realizing how quickly time passes by when you're enjoying something, Kaoruko apologized.
Haruya waved his hand, dismissing the apology.
"There's no need for that. There's always next time. Have a safe walk home."
Kaoruko waved back energetically and left.
Looking at the girl's back, Haruya's passion for making pastry seemed to have risen to another level.
Rina suddenly came and slung her arm over Haruya's neck. "I guess making pastries isn't the only thing you're good at, huh?" She teased.
Laughing it off once more, Haruya beckoned. "Don't underestimate my learning ability. There's more where that came from."
Once again, another good day for the Sumeragi Bakery.