Working at a little hole-in-the-wall bake shop in the countryside may not have been the most glamorous or fulfilling job out there, but for Ryouma, it suited him okay. He certainly couldn't complain anyway. His co-workers were pretty chill about working with an ex-con after the first couple of weeks and the wages are decent enough that he can rent his own small apartment just a fifteen-minute walk away. Plus, he always liked baking as a hobby, so it really wasn't that bad a gig for the 21-year-old.

Today started the same as most. He has the morning shift so that means he's in charge of making and prepping this week's specials – which also means he's gonna be up to his ears in flour and sugar until mid-noon at the latest. Though, to be honest, he's perfectly fine with it.

Being the only bakery for miles, business is consistent but still pretty relaxed compared to the city. Normally, there are only ever two or three people working at a time. Right now, it's just Hoshi and another coworker manning the shop and with it being chilly out, there's even less traffic. It's quiet save for the sound of clattering baking utensils and the occasional bell chime when a customer enters. Ryouma hears the familiar sound just as he plops a mound of dough roughly half his size onto the prepping area.

"Hoshi-kun?"

The shop is set up in a way where the prep area is stationed behind a wide piece of glass behind the counter. The owner thought it'd be a good idea if customers could watch as the bakers make everything from scratch while they're waiting for their order. Ryouma looks up from the dough he was kneading and tips up his cap to see past the counter. There, standing in the entryway, was a face he hadn't seen in roughly three years.

"Akamatsu...?" he says, honestly a bit caught off guard. He hasn't spoken to anyone from Hope's Peak pretty much since graduation. What are the chances of running into a former classmate at his court-appointed job in the middle of some podunk town?

She beams at him, scampering over to the counter right in front where Ryouma was working. Through the glass partition, she waves at him excitedly.

"I thought I recognized you through the window!" she exclaims happily.

"Uh, yeah," he says, suddenly feeling a little awkward wearing his work uniform (a light blue chef's jacket with a yellow apron and matching hat) that's covered in streaks of flour and matcha powder. It beats his prison clothes by a mile but still isn't what you'd exactly call "cool". But he can't say he's exactly unhappy to see her.

"Geez, what are the odds!" she says, her face softening. "It's been ages, hasn't it?"

"Yeah, it has," he says again, still not sure how to respond to the situation like a normal person. But Ryouma can't help but smile back. They've only spoken a couple of words, but Akamatsu still seems to be the same bubbly person she was back in high school. It was no wonder that she was so well-liked in their class, her optimism being so infectious it even reached the ex-tennis player more often than not.

Suddenly, a chattering group of older women enters the shop, abruptly snapping them of out their little reunion moment.

"Well, um…"You obviously have your hands full." Kaede shuffles her feet, feeling a bit bashful. But then she perks right back up. "But we should definitely meet up sometime!"

Ryouma isn't quite sure why, but the thought of her leaving so soon after finally not seeing each other for years rubs him the wrong way. As does talking through a piece of glass (he's had more than enough of that to last a lifetime).

"Hey, I'm gonna take ten. Second batch is on the cooling rack". He tells his coworker. The guy looks between Ryouma and Kaede and shoots him a half-lidded smirk. "Sure, no problem. It's slow right now anyway, so take your time." Ryouma ignores the look on his coworker's face as he hops from the step ladder and quickly tosses off his apron before ducking beneath the flip-up countertop. He looks at Kaede and nods his head toward the direction of one of the empty tables at the back of the bakery. It only takes a second for her to understand that he wants to sit down and nods back.

"It really alright to take a break right now?" the pianist asks as they pass the group of seniors.

"Don't' mind them" Ryouma assures. "They're regulars. Come in and sit down …every other week to gossip over tea and pick at a few biscuits. Murata will take can of the rest."

As they're sitting down, Ryouma has the chance to get a good look at his former classmate. Not in a weird way or anything, but he can't help but notice a few things. Most notably, her hair is shorter and now ends in a neat bob at her shoulders. Gone are the music hairpins in favor of silver treble clef piercings (and an additional whole note stud on her right ear). She dressed for the weather—a thick mauve turtleneck sweater and a plaid skirt over a pair of leggings. Brown boots tap softly against the shop floor.

'She looks well' Ryouma thinks to himself.

Despite being the one to invite her to chat, Ryouma doesn't quite know what to say. So Kaede, always the first to make a move, speaks up first.

"So you work in a bakery, huh?" she starts, looking around the shop before turning back to her friend. "It might be weird to say, but I think that actually kinda suits you. You always did like baking." Ryouma would be have lying if he said that Kaede remembering one of his hobbies over the years didn't make him at least a little happy.

"Nah. It is a pretty nice gig though. The owner is cool and coworkers are nice enough. Can't say I'm a huge fan of the uniform"

"But you look so good in it!" Kaede laughs, but not in a mocking way. "Like a real professional patisserie."

Ryouma shakes his head. "I wouldn't go that far. I just bake bread and ice a few cakes here and there."

"Don't believe a word this guy says" The pair turns toward the tall, lanky man walking over to them. He places a couple of cups of warm black tea table.

The man greets Kaede with a tip of his cap. "Welcome to our humble shop ma'am. Name's Murata and I'll have you know this guy is full of it. You know, that he's personally responsible for coming up with the recipes for today's specials."

"Wait—"

"Really?" the musician asks looking back at Ryouma, clearly impressed.

The shorter man looks away, scratching at the stubble on his chin sheepishly. "I just suggested a few tweaks to the originals."

"Oh, stop being modest. It was all you". Murata gives his coworker a few heavy pats on the back. "Say, would you like to try some? Hoshi made everything fresh this morning. On the house!" Ryouma is about the interject but the blonde beats him to it once again.

"Well, if Hoshi-kun made it, I feel like I have to try it." she says and smiles in a way that, for a brief moment, makes Ryouma forget to speak. By the time he snaps out of it, Murata is already spinning on his heel to get the order. He crosses his arms and sighs, resigning himself to sitting back in his seat. "Suit yourself. Don't judge me though"

Murata grins. "One order of today's special, coming right up." He shoots a Ryouma a quick wink as he walks back to the kitchen.

"Sorry about him. He means well but has a habit of meddling in other people's business." Ryouma sighs. "He didn't even tell you what the specials are."

"It fine! It's nice to see that you guys are so close." she reassures. "And I'm sure it'll be delicious no matter what it is."

"That's not exactly what I'm worried about."

Kaede wonders what exactly he could mean just as Murata returns with a tray of food. She promptly bursts into laughter.

"I figured that would be your reaction." he groans, hiding his expression behind his hat.

"No, wait—" she breathes between fits of giggling. Looking down at the baked goods, it's standard fare – a green tea melon pan and spicy katsu sandwich–but their presentation is what really sells it. The katsu sandwich, while delicately plated, is pretty normal-looking. But the matcha bun…well, it's a cat, to put it bluntly. Or rather it's in the shape of what appears to be a sleeping feline with the bulk of its "body" made out of a sizeable piece of green match dough and its face neatly drawn on with food coloring.

"It…it's that it's so cute!"

"Yup, all his idea. Real cat nut, this guy." Murata teases. "Please enjoy miss. It's even tastier than it looks." And with that, Ryouma's meddlesome coworker struts back to the front counter.

"That guy..." Ryouma mutters but Kaede doesn't seem to notice. Not wasting any time, she digs in. She takes one bite of the Neko-shape pan and her eyes widen. She quickly takes a few more, humming in delight.

"This is delicious!" the blonde boasts between mouthfuls. "Like, 'best-bread-I've-ever-had' kind of delicious. And the cream in the middle – amazing, Hoshi-kun!" When she tries the sandwich, she raves just as much. If it were anyone else, the former athlete would have waved those words off as politeness, but he knows that Kaede is much too honest to bother with flattery. So, he takes the compliments and quietly watches her enjoy his cooking. When she's almost done, Ryouma speaks up.

"Feel free not to answer, but I'm a little curious as to what brings you here? To this town, I mean. It's pretty out of the way from any major roads and there aren't any notable tourist spots around here."

"No, I don't mind." Kaede washes the last of her meal down with a sip of tea before responding. "I guess you could say that I'm on a bit of a vacation." When Ryouma raises a brow, she continues. "I just needed a break somewhere a little…quiet. Plus, I have family here."

"Is, that so?" he asks, faintly wondering if he's seen of Akamatsu's relatives visit the bakery. "Well, if quiet is what you're looking for, you've come to the right place. But it's a nice little spot."

"Well, I only just got here a couple of days ago, but I think so too." Then, in a softer tone that Ryouma almost doesn't catch and faint blush across her cheeks, she adds, "Especially since I got to see you again."

He almost thinks he mishears her, but the bashful look on her face tells him otherwise. There's a familiar twinge in his chest, one he hasn't felt since…. well, in a long time.

He's about to ask her exactly what she means when Kaede's phone started ringing. She excuses herself and steps outside of the shop so as to not disturb the other patrons. A few minutes go by before she enters again, this time with an apologetic smile on her face.

"Guessing you need to go?" Ryouma surmises.

Kaede nods. "That was my aunt calling me to rush back home." she huffs. "Apparently, she invited a few of her friends over who are huge fans of my playing. They even want me to play on my cousin's old keyboard."

"So much for a break, right." Ryouma smirks.

"Ugh...Tell me about it." she sighs. "Sorry for cutting our chat short. I really wanted to catch up more."

Ryouma shakes his head and hops down from his seat. "Don't worry about it." he waves off. "I'll walk you out. Can't leave the aunties waiting after all." Though truthfully, he sorta wishes that they had the chance to talk for a lot longer. They walk the much-too-short distance to the entrance of the shop and turn towards each other.

"Guess I'll see you around.". Kaede smiles at him, but–and it might be just Ryouma reading too much into it–there seems to be the slightest hint of sadness hidden behind it.

"Come by any time." he offers. "Could always use an extra mouth to try out a new recipe." And with that, they wave their goodbyes and go their separate ways.

When he walks back over to the counter and tries to enter the prep area to get back to work, Murata stands directly in front of his shorter coworker to block his path.

"What the hell was that Hoshi?" he barks. Ryouma looks at his nosy coworker, honestly a little peeved that he's using his height to his advantage.

"What's the deal, Murata?" But the guy doesn't give Ryouma a straight answer and only shakes his tsk-tsking down at him.

"You really don't understand the ladies, huh man. Here give this to her. Tell her it for her family or whatever." He shoves a paper bag of assorted baked goods, (Neko-pan included) into Ryouma's arms. "Hurry, the bus will be here any minute."

Ryouma looks down at the bag for a moment, confused. Then, he remembers how her face lit up would she first walked into the bakery and the sound of her laugh after seeing his Neko-themed dessert, and the look on his former classmate's face as she left. Then, it becomes stupidly clear to him. He gives his colleague a quick "Thanks" before jogging outside the shop, hoping he hasn't missed Kaede yet.

He sees the bus rolling in just as he reaches the stop. Kaede is the last in the line of commuters, patiently waiting to board when Ryouma calls out to her.

"For the aunts." he says, slight out of breath, as he hands the bag to her.

"Can I really have this?" she gasps and gives him the same smile as before that almost makes him forget how to talk. "Thank you! I'm sure they'll love it."

Ryouma decides this isn't the time to get tongue-tied as the bus is almost done boarding.

"Well, truth be told, I didn't only come here to give you some bread." he starts, ears flushing from something more besides the chilly air. "I know our time was cut a bit short today, so I was wondering if you wouldn't mind continuing catching up over dinner or something."

It's Kaede's turn to be speechless as her cheeks warm to match the color of Ryouma's ears. She's about to respond but the bus honks its horn to signal the last call. With no time to exchange numbers and not wanting to wait another hour and a half for the next bus to come by, the pianist blurts a time and place before hopping in just as the doors shut.

"Let's meet here. Tonight. 7 P.M."

As the bus drives off, Ryouma is wrapping his head around what just happened. As it turns a corner, he can see Kaede waving at him through one of the open windows. With a goofy grin on his face, he rummages through his uniform pocket and pulls out a candy stick, popping it into his mouth.

"Guess It's a date."