A/N: Ah, originally this was supposed to be a random prompt to help break me out of my writer's block, but it kinda took a life of its own. Please let me know what you think! Written in Takumi's POV.


We were just boys, six years in fact. Two clumsy boys trampling around Mr. Amodio's garden. Strawberries were always your favorite, especially fresh grown in the summertime. Greedily, we picked the little red berries, occasionally popping them in our giggling mouths until we were chased off the property. We normally ate the rest of our little bounty by the time we got home, but Momma still knew what we were up to.

It was your first victory, a clean sweep across the board, 3 to nothing. You crushed your opponent like I knew you would. I was so proud, proud that you were my brother, proud that you had grown so much. I never will forget that wide smile on your face, the glow in your eyes as you turned to me. Yes, brother, you did it and I saw everything. The strawberry and crème cake was brilliant. You were brilliant.

She was your first love. The blue haired girl from the port city. She was such a great match for you, both of you so kind and selfless. The way you slaved over those little pink macarons told me that this was getting serious. And, of course, I had to help. The strawberries in the dish needed to be the brightest, sweetest berries we could ever buy. And when you returned from your date, I could tell by the look on your face that you had succeeded in impressing her. Oh, you were absolutely through the roof.

Boccone Dolce, the sweet mouthful. You perfected the dish, putting together the right combination of chocolate and strawberries in a meringue. Finally, something you had mastered ended up on the Trattoria's menu. You collapsed into a heap of happy tears and soon, I joined you. I told you, when two halves of a whole come together, perfection is born. Aldini is complete when we're together.

So why must I live in such an imperfect world?

You were taken away from me. One phone call, one rainy night, took away everything I knew about the world, about happiness and love. I stayed up all night in that hospital room, shivering, sobbing, praying to the gods to please keep you on this Earth. But you were taken away from me.

The reason I will never buy strawberries and the reason I cry myself to sleep each night are one and the same.