Sayuri had never believed that a simple touch could destroy someone from the inside out.
Ever since the day her body collided with his and sent her falling to the ground, Sayuri hadn't been able to sleep properly anymore.
The warmth of his touch as he helped her up, his soft voice apologizing… and that addictive vanilla scent had begun haunting her night after night.
Since then, her nights had become unbearable.
But that night, the feeling was even worse. Rain slid down the bedroom window while she sat on the floor hugging her knees, trying to understand why her heart raced for someone she didn't even know.
She didn't know his face. All she remembered was his voice and his scent: vanilla… old books… and something strangely comforting.
She closed her eyes for a moment and, like punishment, that scent flooded her memory again.
Her chest tightened.
"I must be going crazy…" she whispered to herself.
Because no one should miss a stranger that much.
A few days earlier…
Sayuri woke up to the sound of birds, strangely cheerful despite the gray sky. It was one of the last days of summer.
Still sleepy, she slowly sat up in bed, slipped into her slippers, and walked to the kitchen. As usual, she sat near the window, watching the sunrise. She grabbed a cup and poured herself some coffee, adding brown sugar and a little cream.
She let out a deep sigh, but before she could take her first sip, she glanced calmly at the clock—and panicked.
"I'm late again… I can't get another warning!"
She ran to her room, hurriedly changing clothes while trying to tie her hair up at the same time.
"Crap, crap, crap…"
She grabbed her red umbrella and practically flew out the door.
With the streets still wet, Sayuri rushed past people, nearly slipping several times while dodging bicycles and umbrellas.
When she finally reached the university, she stopped at the entrance, breathless.
"No way…"
The classroom was still empty.
The professor was late.
"A divine miracle," she muttered dramatically, placing a hand over her chest.
"You seriously need to start sleeping earlier."
Sayuri turned and found Yume sitting on top of a desk, scrolling through her phone while secretly eating a snack.
"Hey…" Yume narrowed her eyes. "Don't tell me you're still thinking about the mysterious guy."
Sayuri dropped into the chair beside her. Just remembering that scent, that touch… made her heart race again.
"I tried not to think about it," she confessed quietly. "But I can't."
Yume raised an eyebrow.
"You barely even saw his face."
"I know… and that's the worst part."
She lowered her gaze, opening her notebook.
"It feels like an addiction, Yume. The more I think about him, the more I feel like I need to find him again."
Yume burst out laughing.
"Okay, this is starting to sound like the plot of a romance novel."
Sayuri hid her face in her arms, embarrassed.
"Don't make fun of me…"
"Then you need to find this guy already," Yume replied. "What if he's the love of your life?"
Sayuri laughed softly, not believing it.
But neither of them imagined… that he was much closer than they thought.
During class, the two spent more time whispering about books, photography, and ridiculous romance theories than actually paying attention.
And, as always, after class they ended up going to the Library Café.
The small place felt frozen in time. The smell of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the scent of old pages, creating a strangely comforting atmosphere.
Sayuri loved that place. She loved wandering silently between the shelves, running her fingers along book spines as if searching for another world to step into.
"I love this smell," she whispered.
It always calmed her. It felt like escaping reality and forgetting all her responsibilities.
Later, while heading home, she decided to take a shortcut through the park.
With summer coming to an end, only a few seasonal flowers remained, and they looked beautiful beneath the last rays of sunlight touching their petals.
Sayuri took a few pictures of the flowers to secretly send to her grandmother behind her father's back.
Her father hated when she "wasted time" on photography.
"Hobbies don't build a future," he always said.
And then it happened again.
That scent.
Sweet. Warm.
Vanilla mixed with the smell of old books.
Her heart skipped a beat. She looked around, but saw no one. Even so… it felt like he was nearby.
Back home, the sound of her mother's heels echoed through the kitchen while Sayuri prepared dinner.
"You're late."
"I stopped by the café after class. I wanted a new book…"
Her mother sighed, clearly disapproving.
"You should focus more on your studies. Reading is a good habit, but your studies come first."
Sayuri lowered her eyes.
"Yes, Mom."
"Well, then I hope you start acting more responsibly."
The girl pressed her fingers against the counter.
"I'll try harder."
"I certainly hope so."
The next morning, Sayuri woke up strangely excited.
It was Saturday, the only day her parents usually stayed home.
Maybe they could finally go out together like a normal family.
She hurried into the kitchen.
"Mom?"
Silence.
"Dad?"
Nothing.
The emptiness of the house made her stomach twist. Then she noticed the note on the table.
Her fingers tightened around the paper before she even finished reading it.
"Business trip."
"Don't waste the weekend."
"Study for your exams."
Not even a "sorry."
Sayuri tore the note apart before she even finished reading it. The sound of the paper ripping echoed louder than it should have.