Chapter 1
On this planet, society is split not just by traditional gender roles but also by a distinct biological hierarchy: Fork, Cake, and regular humans.
This division is no accident; it traces back to a failed genetic experiment from millennia ago, when humans attempted to adapt to the planet's harsh conditions. The outcome of this experiment led to the emergence of three distinct groups, each with unique biological traits and societal functions.
Since that time, a curious paradox has taken hold: flavor represents both life and death.
Regular humans revere food as the highest form of art, celebrating their culinary skills at extravagant food festivals where they showcase their passion for taste.
In contrast, Fork, who typically lose their sense of taste upon reaching a certain age, are fixated on their inability to savor flavors. Regardless of what they consume, they cannot experience taste, except for the sweetness of Cake. This makes them a perceived threat due to their predatory instincts towards Cake, as they are always eager to eat but never truly relish “the festivities”.
For Cake, life is a mix of pride and trepidation. From the moment they are born, they exude a unique sweet aroma—ranging from decadent chocolate to fresh strawberries and rich caramel. Their flesh, blood, and bones are infused with sweetness, making them an irresistible target for Fork. They grow up aware that their bodies are both a blessing and a curse. Some Cakes willingly offer themselves to Fork in clandestine rituals known as the "Last Supper," seeking to achieve a form of immortality through the eater's soul. Others resist this fate, attempting to mask their scent with herbs or chemicals, though few manage to succeed.
Especially over time, witnessing this abnormal disorder is gradually occurring more and more every day and becoming more difficult. Humanity then created a new rule to control the relationship between Fork, Cake, and ordinary people.
Flavor Act
It was established centuries ago following the most significant Cake massacre in history, which laid the foundation for this regulation.
The law mandates that all Cake must register their identities with the authorities from birth, wearing a small tracking device on their wrist to monitor their whereabouts. They are compelled to reside in "Gardens"—enclosed areas protected by glass walls and guards—to shield them from the Fork. Any Cake discovered outside the Garden without proper authorization will be apprehended and returned to Gardens, or worse, sold on the black market.
Conversely, Forks are monitored by the "Flavor Guards" an armed group comprised of regular citizens. Each Fork is required to wear an electronic collar that tracks heart rate and adrenaline levels—if these levels rise near a Cake, the collar will sound an alarm and may even deliver a shock to prevent an attack. The penalty for a Fork eating Cake is severe: they face a public execution, being hanged on metal poles in the city square, where crowds gather to witness the grim spectacle as a warning to others.
In stark contrast to this severity, the southern wilderness operates under a more relaxed version of the law. It is a haven for fugitives where Cake can escape the Garden, Forks can evade their collars, and ordinary people engage in smuggling. Yet, the threat of the "Flavor Guards" looms large: patrol drones occasionally scan the area for biological signatures to track down offenders.
—————————
The wind swept across the desolate landscape, carrying dust and the eerie sounds of debris swirling in the fractured sky. Rusted metal pillars jutted up like the spine of a long-dead creature, while pale purple wildflower bushes quivered in the breeze.
Vita moved slowly, her black shoes crunching on the parched ground, each step echoing like a heavy heartbeat. The electronic collar around her neck felt cold and cumbersome; despite being partially damaged, it still emitted faint beeps—a chilling reminder of the rules, as if to signal that her freedom was still under surveillance and restraint.
Vita's existence as a Fork was bleak, marked by her time in a filthy slum where she toiled in grueling jobs like resource extraction and metalwork. To make matters worse, she was haunted by a profound loss of taste. Every morsel of food felt like ash in her mouth, each breath was devoid of life, and an insatiable hunger gnawed at her, driving her to scream endlessly.
Because of that, two months ago, she devised a plan to escape that wretched place. Seizing the opportunity during the guards' shift changes, she navigated the roads and surrounding areas with a few clever tricks. Ultimately, she succeeded in breaking free from that hellish existence.
Unfortunately, her collar, though partially damaged, remained functional enough to emit weak signals. This posed a significant risk, as it could lead the "Flavor Guards" to her if they realized she was missing. Her only chance now was to either disable it completely or hope they wouldn’t detect the faint signal it emitted.
In this quest for freedom, Vita found herself in a desolate wasteland, yet she understood that true freedom was a luxury unattainable for someone like her, a Fork.
The loss of taste equated to a life plagued by relentless hunger and the emptiness that followed. The most terrifying aspect was the madness that threatened to consume her, driven by the scent of Cake, and being hunted down and hunted by everyone because of them. Those very feelings had stripped her of any hope for total freedom.
With a sarcastic smile, Vita pressed on. She had no idea how far she had traveled, but when she finally paused, she found herself standing before a vibrant field of wildflowers.
Then she saw Seele. In the midst of the wildflower field, Seele stood gracefully, her blue-black hair dancing in the breeze, her eyes soft and serene like the depths of a tranquil lake reflecting the sky's glow. Though her white dress bore the marks of dust, her beauty remained undeniable. And a small locator on Seele's wrist blinked a faint red light, indicating it had been disabled, but not entirely.
Seele was a Cake, a runaway from the Garden, and Vita recognized her immediately as the sweet fragrance enveloped her senses. It was a delightful blend of melted honey, warm vanilla, and a whisper of ocean breeze. The scent wafted through Vita's nostrils, slid down her throat, and wrapped around her heart like an invisible cord.
—————————
Three years prior, Vita and Seele had endured a terrifying experience together when they were both held captive in a covert government lab.
This facility, hidden deep beneath the East Slums, was where scientists, under the pretense of “human enhancement research,” conducted experiments on Fork and Cake to suppress their predatory instincts and weaponize Cake’s alluring scent.
At 17, Vita was a Fork who had been captured after her collar malfunctioned, leading her to unintentionally attack a regular person in a moment of hunger. Seele, just 15 at the time, was a Cake who had been taken from her family when her scent manifested at birth and sent to the lab to “contribute to science.”
Their first encounter occurred in cold, sterile cells, where flickering fluorescent lights illuminated the strong smell of disinfectant. Vita was shackled to the wall, her electronic collar tightening with every growl of hunger. Meanwhile, Seele was confined in a glass cage a few meters away, her sweet aroma of honey, vanilla, and an unusual ocean scent seeping through the gaps, driving Vita wild yet somehow grounding her.
They encountered each other but had no way to communicate with each other. All they could do was sense one another's presence from afar, helplessly witnessing each other's pain. Their existence was meant to be filled with moments like this, trapped as experimental subjects, confined and utterly stripped of their freedom.
Then, one fateful night, the experiment went awry, resulting in a massive explosion that led to the facility's swift collapse, rendering all systems inoperable. The sound reverberated everywhere as people scrambled in panic. In the midst of the chaos, Seele seized the opportunity presented by the shattered glass cage and rushed to free Vita, fully aware that Vita was a Fork. With a voice that trembled yet held firm resolve, Seele declared.
“I won’t allow you to perish here.”
Together, they made their escape through the waterlogged tunnel, hands clasped tightly, navigating past the wailing sirens and the fallen bodies around them.
Since that time, they became unexpected allies, with Vita vowing to safeguard Seele from the "Flavor Guards" while Seele has come to see Vita as more than just a Fork driven by instinct.
However, their freedom was short-lived; they were soon torn apart again. Seele was recaptured and returned to the Garden, while Vita was taken and forced to work in the slums.
Three years later, destiny reunited them in this desolate place.
—————————
As the sweet fragrance of Seele enveloped Vita, a wave of memories surged back: the time spent in the cell, Seele's screams during the drug injections, and the cold yet firm grasp of her hand as they made their escape. That scent was not just a lure for Vita; it was a thread that tied them together through the long years of separation.
“Vita?”
Seele’s voice was gentle yet tremulous, reminiscent of wind chimes caught in a tempest, drawing Vita’s awareness back to the present. She tilted her head, her bright blue eyes fixed on Vita, the light within them flickering between astonishment and deep feeling.
“Is it truly you?”
Vita offered a smile, though it was marred by a surge of emotion.
“I’ve been curious… about what you taste like, after all these years, Seele.”
The words slipped out before Vita could hold them back, and the collar emitted a sharp warning beep. A faint electric jolt coursed through her neck, making her clench her teeth. Vita despised the rules and resented how they turned her into an adversary of Seele, the very person who had rescued her from the shadows.
Seele hesitated, her breath hitching. A flash of fear crossed her face, not directed at Vita, but at the thought of the rules tearing them apart once more. She recalled the nights spent in the Garden, confined behind glass barriers, dreaming of Vita and wondering if she was still alive, pondering what kind of life she was leading, if it was a good one.
Now, seeing Vita in her current state, Seele mustered all her bravery and spoke with resolve.
“You’re not like them; you’re the one who saved me from that nightmare. You know you’re not the Fork that Cake feared. Vita isn’t the one Seele fears.”
“I don’t want to hurt you, Seele.”
Vita responded, her voice rough, each word strained. She balled her fists, her nails digging into her skin until they bled, fighting against the overwhelming hunger. Seele’s scent intensified, sweetening the air like sugar, pulling her deeper into despair. The collar beeped once more, the electric shock more intense, causing her to collapse to her knees.
Vita shut her eyes, but memories surged back: Seele freeing her, hands trembling yet resolute. The scene blended with a haunting image—Seele’s pale complexion, the taste of blood lingering sweetly. It was both enticing and agonizing, like a blade piercing her heart.
“Vita, I have faith in you.”
Seele knelt beside her, grasping Vita’s hand. Her warmth spread like a flickering flame amidst the chaos.
“You are more powerful than that collar, more resilient than the rules.”
Seele’s eyes glimmered with a delicate yet unwavering hope, a soft glow in the shadows of the past.
But doubt gnawed at Vita. She felt split in two: one part yearning to protect Seele, as she had vowed after their escape, while the other craved to consume Seele, trying to fill the emptiness left by Fork.
Her mind raced, her heart raced, and the collar crackled with energy so intense that she screamed, her body trembling.
“Seele, get away!”
Vita shouted, her voice cracking.
“If you don’t leave, I’ll hurt you—and they’ll end me!”
Her throat was parched, saliva pooling in a predatory instinct, her hands trembling as they reached toward Seele.
Yet Seele stood her ground. She wrapped her arms around Vita in a firm embrace.
“I’m not scared of you,” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“If you feel the need to eat me, then go ahead. But deep down, I know you won’t, because you’re Vita, the one who brought me hope.”
Tears streamed down her face, warm and salty, as the GPS device blinked more rapidly.
In that instant, Vita found it hard to breathe. The sweet fragrance of Seele surrounded her, threatening to push her over the edge. Yet, the warmth of Seele’s embrace cut through her hunger, like a needle piercing through her chaotic thoughts. She shut her eyes, concentrating on the sensation rather than the scent, focusing on Seele’s presence.
Memories rushed back with clarity: the sound of water flowing in the tunnel, Seele’s icy grip, her voice softly urging, “You have to live, Vita,” amidst the wailing sirens. It wasn’t Cake—it was Seele, the only one who saw her as more than just a beast.
Vita bit her lip until it bled, using the sharp pain to pull herself back from the brink. She inhaled deeply, refusing to let the scent overwhelm her, instead recalling the promise made in the tunnel.
“I won’t let you die.”
Her heartbeat slowed, the beeping of the necklace fading. She envisioned tearing Seele apart, but then questioned: What would follow? The emptiness would remain—and Seele would be dead. The thought of losing Seele was more painful than any hunger, a knife twisting in her chest. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her hands trembling as they fell to her sides.
“I don’t want you to be just a fleeting taste.”
Vita whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She grasped Seele’s hand, summoning her willpower to suppress her instincts. Each breath felt like a struggle, but she concentrated on Seele’s rhythm, syncing with it as they had when they escaped together.
The hunger lingered, but it no longer held the reins, for Seele had given her a more powerful reason to resist. Vita pulled Seele close, tears soaking into her shoulder.
“Thank you, Seele.”
She said, her voice unsteady yet resolute.
“Thank you for finding me, for supporting me, for having faith in me, Seele.”
Vita tugged at her collar, allowing it to drop to the ground with a loud crash—a powerful gesture of liberation, not only from the constraints but also from her own instincts.
They rose together, hand in hand, amidst the wildflower field. The hum of the “Flavor Guards” could be heard in the distance, yet neither turned back. A Fork and a Cake, not as hunter and hunted, but as two souls who had rescued one another, now defying the norms to seek their freedom. Vita had reclaimed her power, not by denying her true self, but by embracing something far more significant.