Sayuri had never believed that a simple touch could destroy someone from the inside. Since the day her body collided with his, sending her falling to the ground, she hadn't been able to sleep properly anymore. The warmth of his hand helping her back up, the soft voice apologizing… and that addictive vanilla scent haunted her night after night.
Ever since then, her sleepless nights had become unbearable. But that night, the feeling was even worse. Rain slid down the bedroom window while she sat on the floor hugging her knees, trying to understand why her heart raced for someone she didn't even know.
She didn't know his face. All she remembered was his voice and his scent: vanilla… old books… and something strangely comforting.
She closed her eyes for a moment and, like punishment, that fragrance invaded her memory once again.
Her chest tightened.
"I must be going crazy…" she whispered to herself.
Because no one should miss a stranger.
A few days earlier…
Sayuri woke to the sound of birds, strangely cheerful despite the gray sky outside. Summer was coming to an end. Still sleepy, she sat up slowly, slipped into her slippers, and walked to the kitchen. As usual, she sat beside the window, quietly watching the sunrise while preparing her coffee with brown sugar and a little cream.
She sighed softly, but before taking the first sip, she glanced at the clock—and immediately panicked.
"I'm late again… I can't get another warning!"
She rushed back to her room, changing clothes in a hurry while trying to tie her hair at the same time.
"Crap, crap, crap…"
Grabbing her red umbrella, she practically flew out the door.
The streets were still wet from the rain, and Sayuri weaved through people while nearly slipping, barely avoiding bicycles and umbrellas along the way. When she finally arrived at the university, she stopped at the entrance, breathless.
"No way…"
The classroom was still empty. The professor was late.
"Divine miracle," she muttered dramatically, placing a hand over her chest.
"You seriously need to start sleeping earlier."
Sayuri turned and found Yume sitting on top of a desk, scrolling through her phone while secretly eating chips.
"Hey…" Yume narrowed her eyes. "Don't tell me you're still thinking about the mysterious guy."
Sayuri dropped into the chair beside her. Just remembering that scent, that touch… made her heart race all over again.
"I tried not to," she admitted quietly. "But I can't."
Yume raised an eyebrow.
"You barely even saw his face."
"I know… and that's the worst part."
Sayuri lowered her gaze and opened her notebook.
"It feels like an addiction, Yume. The more I think about him, the more I feel like I need to find him again."
Yume burst out laughing.
"Okay, now this is starting to sound like a romance novel."
Embarrassed, Sayuri hid her face in her arms.
"Don't make fun of me…"
"Then you need to find this guy already," Yume replied. "Who knows? Maybe he's the love of your life."
Sayuri laughed, not believing a word of it, but neither of them imagined… that he was much closer than they thought.
During class, the two of them spent more time whispering about books, photography, and ridiculous romance theories than actually paying attention. And, as always, after classes they ended up going to the Library Café.
The small café felt frozen in time. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the aroma of old pages, creating a strangely comforting atmosphere. Sayuri loved that place. She loved wandering between the shelves in silence, running her fingers along book spines as if searching for another world to disappear into.
"I love this smell," she whispered softly.
It always calmed her down. It felt like escaping reality and forgetting all her responsibilities.
Later that afternoon, on her way home, she decided to take a shortcut through the park. With summer almost over, only a few flowers remained, glowing beautifully beneath the last rays of sunlight.
Sayuri took a few pictures to secretly send to her grandmother. Her father hated when she "wasted time" with photography.
"Hobbies don't build a future," he always said.
And then it happened again.
That scent.
Sweet and warm.
Vanilla mixed with old books.
Her heartbeat quickened. She looked around immediately, but saw no one. Even so… it felt like he was nearby.
Back home, the sound of her mother's heels echoed through the kitchen while dinner was being prepared.
"You're late," her mother said while setting plates on the table.
"I stopped by the café after class. I wanted a new book…"
Her mother sighed, clearly disapproving.
"You should focus more on your studies. Reading is a good habit, but your education comes first."
Sayuri lowered her eyes.
"Yes, Mom."
"Well, then I hope you start acting more responsibly."
She pressed her fingers against the kitchen counter.
"I'll try harder."
"I hope so."
The next morning, Sayuri woke up strangely excited. It was Saturday, the only day her parents were usually home. Maybe this time they could finally spend time together like a normal family.
She hurried to the kitchen.
"Mom?"
Silence.
"Dad?"
Nothing.
The emptiness of the house made her stomach twist. Then she noticed the note left on the table. Her fingers tightened around the paper before she even finished reading.
"Business trip."
"Don't waste the weekend."
"Study for your exams."
Not even a "sorry."
Sayuri tore the paper apart, and the sound of it ripping echoed louder than it should have.