The kitchen was a disaster. Flour dusted every surface, eggshells littered the counter, and a faint smell of something burning lingered in the air. Yuu stood in the middle of it all, her apron covered in batter and her hair sticking out in every direction. She stared at the tray of misshapen cookies in front of her, her hands on her hips and a determined glint in her eyes.
“Okay, Yuu,” she muttered to herself. “Third time’s the charm. You can do this.”
Baking was not Yuu’s forte. In fact, it was safe to say she was terrible at it. But today was different. Today, she was going to make the perfect batch of cookies for Misha Jur. Because today, she was going to tell Misha how she felt.
Yuu had been planning this for weeks. She had practiced in secret, burning through countless batches of cookies, muffins, and cakes in her quest to create something worthy of Misha. It wasn’t just about the cookies, though. It was about finding the courage to say what she had been too afraid to say for so long.
Misha was everything Yuu wasn’t—graceful, composed, and effortlessly elegant. She was the kind of person who seemed to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders, yet never let it show. Yuu admired that about her, even if it drove her crazy. But more than that, she admired the way Misha’s presence made her feel—safe, understood, and seen in a way no one else ever had.
And so, Yuu had decided to bake. Because if there was one thing she knew about Misha, it was that she had a sweet tooth. And if Yuu could make something that made Misha smile, maybe, just maybe, she could find the words to tell her how she felt.
The final batch of cookies came out of the oven, and Yuu held her breath as she inspected them. They weren’t perfect. Some were a little too brown around the edges, and others were slightly lopsided. But, they were the best she had made so far. She carefully arranged them on a plate, adding a few decorative touches with icing and sprinkles. Then, with a deep breath, she set off to find Misha.
Misha was in the library, as usual, her silver hair glowing in the soft light filtering through the windows. She looked up as Yuu approached, her violet eyes widening in surprise at the sight of the plate in Yuu’s hands.
“Yuu?” Misha said, her voice soft but steady. “What’s this?”
Yuu’s heart raced, and she held out the plate with a nervous smile. “I, uh, made these for you. Cookies. I mean, they’re not perfect, but I thought you might like them.”
Misha’s eyes widened, and she took the plate, her gaze softening as she looked at the cookies. “You… made these for me?”
Yuu nodded, her cheeks burning. “Yeah. I, uh, wanted to do something nice for you. You’ve been working so hard lately, and I thought… well, I thought you deserved a treat.”
Misha’s lips curved into a small smile, and she picked up a cookie, taking a careful bite. Her eyes lit up, and she let out a soft laugh. “Yuu, these are amazing.”
Yuu’s heart soared, and she let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. “Really? I was half-convinced they’d be a disaster.”
Misha shook her head, her smile widening. “No, they’re really good. I didn’t know you could bake.”
Yuu laughed nervously, scratching the back of her head. “Well, I, uh, might have practiced a little. Or a lot. Okay, I burned like, a million batches before I got these right.”
Misha’s expression softened, and she set the plate down, her gaze fixed on Yuu. “Why did you go through all that trouble?” she asked, her voice gentle.
Yuu’s breath hitched, and she looked down at her hands, her heart pounding. “Because… because I wanted to do something special for you. Because you’re special to me, Misha.”
Misha’s eyes widened, and she reached out, her hand brushing against Yuu’s. “Yuu…”
“I mean it,” Yuu continued, her voice quieter but unwavering. “I really like you, Misha. A lot. And I know I can be reckless and loud and kind of annoying sometimes, but when I’m with you, I just—” She exhaled sharply, laughing at herself. “I just really wanted you to know.”
Misha was silent for a moment, her violet eyes searching Yuu’s face. Then, a slow, genuine smile spread across her lips. “Yuu,” she said, her voice light and gentle. ”I love you too.”
Yuu’s eyes widened, and she felt her heart stop. “W-What?”
Misha smiled, a small, genuine smile that made Yuu’s chest ache. “I’ve loved you for a while,” she admitted. “just didn’t know if you felt the same way..”
A bright, almost disbelieving grin spread across Yuu’s face. “Oh, wow. That’s—okay, that’s really good to hear.”
Misha chuckled, squeezing Yuu’s hand. “You’re so dramatic.”
“Hey, I had to make sure it was a grand confession!” Yuu huffed. “I even went through all that baking just to—”
Misha’s breath hitched, and before she could think, she leaned forward, pressing her lips to Yuu's. The kiss was soft and tentative, filled with all the emotions they had been too afraid to put into words. Misha’s hand slid into Yuu’s hair, holding her close as Yuu kissed her back.
When they finally pulled apart, Yuu’s cheeks were flushed, her heart racing. “I… I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Misha smiled, her thumb brushing over Yuu’s cheek. “Me too,” she said. “And I’m not letting you go.”
Misha gave her hand another squeeze before picking up another cookie. “I guess I should enjoy these properly after all your effort too, huh?”
And as Yuu sat beside her, watching Misha smile with each bite, she felt something settle deep in her chest, warm and steady, like the feeling of finally being where she was meant to be.