Day 8 prompt - Taste: Sweet (200 word)


Lieutenant Ohtori Kensaku was about to doze off by the door as the breeze blew past. The cherry blossoms were still in bloom, and their fragrance colored the winds. For some, to lose themselves in it was often too easy, him included.

At least, that was his plan until he felt a nudge on his shoulder.

"Food," Shoukaku said as she placed the plate and cups of tea on the porch, her voice almost song-like. "Thought you might be hungry after having to follow Mikasa dai-senpai all the time."

"Well, I'm more tired than hungry, but thanks," Ohtori said. On the plate were sakuramochi, small, well-arranged, and so alluringly pink. When he tore into one, it didn't take much effort to get into the generous amount of red bean paste, the nostalgic sweetness filling every corner of his mouth and making him tear a little. He ended up chewing on the sweets longer than needed before swallowing to keep the sensation longer—even after he did, it seemed to cling.

Shoukaku giggled at that and helped herself to her handiwork after disposing of the leaf wrapping. She found the red bean paste was a touch too sweet for her liking when she chewed on the mochi slowly like a breeze. But in it, she found a sense of respite and another step toward closure.

"How appropriate this is," she remarked. "But we deserve this, didn't we?"

Ohtori laughed. The taste of the red bean paste he had still refused to go—and by the looks of it, it was the same for her.

"Yeah, we do."

"Come to think of it; I should make more later as an offering to Zuikaku."

"I'm sure she would love some."

Shoukaku nodded and helped herself to another piece. She was always cautious when it came to sentimentality, but for now, she would allow herself to see the sweetness as the taste of the days to come.