It was Wednesday when the rugby club held a muscle training session in the private gym. Shouichi decided to attend the practice every once in a while. Autumn was in full swing, and the temperature had gradually dropped to a comfortable 25 degrees Celsius — a welcome change. It took him roughly two hours to finish the weightlifting session with the club members. Despite the ongoing chaos at home, with Yoko avoiding him like the plague, he figured that maintaining his physical health was the least he could do.

  After talking with his best friend, Ayane, she told him that Yoko's mentality had improved. She had started eating more, smiling more, and laughing more. The news made Shouichi's heart bloom with happiness. Still, he wished he could be the one to make it happen. "I wish I could make you smile like that again... Why couldn't it be me?" He pondered melancholically as he opened the gym's door to leave.

  During a mindless stroll, Shouichi found himself standing in front of Yoko's sweet shop, now looking abandoned. The "Closed" sign had been hanging at the door for a couple of weeks. The shop had always held a special place in his heart. The friendship, laughter, and love that flourished within those walls felt so recent, he could still remember her voice and sweet smile as though they happened yesterday.

  "If only I stayed with Yoko-san... This wouldn't have happened," He muttered, clenching his fists in frustration. "I failed you... I failed you, Yoko-san." The voice of malice in his heart refused to leave him. "What am I supposed to do? She's not talking to me... She doesn't even want to see my face…" He recalled the disdain in her eyes.

  "I'm home," Shouichi called out as he entered his house, quietly slipping off his shoes and placing them neatly on the rack. As expected, there was no reply. With his head hung low, he trudged upstairs to his room. The layout of the Yamamoto residence was unusual, with his room nearly directly opposite Yoko's. If both their doors were open, they'd be able to see each other clearly. As he reached the hallway, Shouichi hesitated, glancing timidly at Yoko's closed door. He then slowly turned the doorknob to his own room.

  "Shouichi-kun…" A soft voice called from behind, causing Shouichi to jump. He spun around quickly. It was his mother, Yoko, in a white tee and jeans, looking as beautiful as ever. She nervously peeked out from a small gap in her half-open door. "Oh, hi, Yoko-san," Shouichi greeted, feeling a little nervous himself. "She's actually started dressing normally again... That's a good sign," He thought.

  "Would you mind if we talk for a bit?" She asked, her eyes inviting him in. Shouichi couldn't contain his smile, his heart swelling with happiness. "Yes... Of course."

  ***

  Shouichi sat on the edge of her bed, leaving an arm's-length gap between them. He wasn't sure how to act or what to say. It felt like an eternity since he and Yoko had last interacted like this. "I wanted to reopen the store," Yoko said, breaking the silence, her gaze fixed on her clasped hands in her lap.

  "Huh? Mom..." Shouichi turned to look at her in surprise. "Are you sure?"

  "I'm sure now," She smiled at him — the same sweet smile that always brought him immense joy.

  Shouichi's breath caught. "Wha ~ What if… What if~." He started to hyperventilate but struggled to speak, words failing him.

  Yoko reached out, gently taking his hand in hers. "You'll protect me, won't you?" She asked, her voice soft, her touch warm and soothing. "Yes... Yes, I will." His response was filled with a calm certainty, her warmth comforting his soul.

  "I know it's been tough for both of us," Yoko continued, her voice trailing off. "I'm sorry, Shouichi. I'm an adult, and I took it all out on you."

  "Mom, please don't do that," Shouichi said urgently, urging her to lift her head. When she did, he met her affectionate gaze. His heart began to race as he saw the tenderness in her eyes.

  "About the store... please let me know when you plan to open it again. I'll help however I can," Shouichi said, eager to shift the topic to the sweet shop while nervously ruffling his hair.

  "I will," She smiled, a bright, genuine smile that made his world seem colourful again.

  "Alright," Shouichi said, his voice full of emotion. "It's been nice talking to you, Mom. It means everything to me."

  "Then... would you give me a hug, too?" Yoko asked, her voice soft with a plea Shouichi couldn't refuse.

  "Of course," He replied, opening his arms wide to embrace her. Yoko's frail body fit snugly against his, and for a moment, nothing else mattered. Her delicate form, once more slender than he'd remembered, melted into his embrace. The elderflower fragrance of her perfume enveloped him, its fresh, comforting scent grounding him in the moment.

  "Hehehe... I love you," Yoko whispered, resting her ear against his chest.

  "I love you too," Shouichi replied, his words filled with sincerity and warmth.

  ***

  A week later, the Yoko Sweet Shop reopened, running smoothly once again. It had taken significant effort from both mother and son to get the shop back in business, but it had also given them something else — newfound purpose. Yoko's mental state had improved so much that Ayane no longer needed to visit every day. Yoko had begun to cook, bake, and practice making drinks just like she used to. The painful memories seemed to have faded, leaving space for a sense of normalcy.

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  Ayane continued to visit every other day, checking in on them both. She had played such a crucial role in Yoko's rehabilitation, and Shouichi couldn't thank her enough for all she had done for him and his only family.

  "Yoko-san! If anything happens, you have to let me know, alright?" Shouichi said eagerly, his face filled with concern. They were both inside a closed store in the early morning, and the boy seemed even more anxious than Yoko.

  "Understood!" Yoko smiled warmly in response. "Wait, your tie's crooked." She casually pulled him back and meticulously adjusted his tie, making sure it aligned properly with the seam of his shirt.

  "Oh…" The boy didn't object and quietly let her make the adjustments. After she finished, he added, "Thanks..."

  "There, you look great now." Yoko complimented him. She herself was dressed in a short-sleeve shirt, black tie, and black trousers — the standard uniform for Seihei School students during Summer and Autumn.

  "Hey hey hey!" A familiar voice called out as a tall figure appeared in front of the transparent door. It was unmistakably Aoyama Shinji in the same summer uniform. Next to him, the girl with jet-black hair, Morimura Ayane, waved at them, catching Shouichi's eye. Shouichi awkwardly stepped aside, embarrassed. He would rather not have people think of him as the 'mommy-type'.

  "Good morning, Ayane-chan, Shinji-kun!" Yoko greeted them cheerfully as they entered the store. The shop owner, as beautiful as ever, was wearing an apron over her blouse in pastel blue and a long flowing skirt. Her graphite-black hair was styled into a large flower bun.

  "Good morning, Yoko-san!" The teenagers greeted back joyfully, looking around curiously at the store.

  "Wow, you renovated the store?" Shinji asked, his voice tinged with enthusiasm.

  "Yeah, isn't it nice? Shou-kun's been helping me a lot with it." Yoko exchanged a brief glance with her son, and Shouichi nodded in agreement.

  "Shinji-kun, Ayane-chan, Shou-kun. Thank you for helping me out with everything." Yoko bowed low in gratitude, her voice filled with appreciation.

  "Anytime!" Shinji beamed from ear to ear.

  "Yoko-san! Please!" Ayane gasped in astonishment, cupping her hands over her mouth.

  "Mom…" Shouichi was speechless but understood his mother's affectionate gesture.

  "If you have time, please visit me after school. I'd like to treat you to some cake I'll prepare…" Yoko spoke softly, almost like a whisper. Her face flushed with a deep shade of red. For a moment, she looked like a young teenager confessing her feelings.

  "Yes! I've been craving cake!" Shinji eagerly accepted the offer without hesitation.

  "I'm planning to visit the shop in the afternoon anyway. I'll join you for sure," Ayane added.

  "Thanks, guys." Shouichi slung an arm around both Shinji and Ayane's shoulders. It was the first time he'd physically clung to his friends, and the surprise on their faces was evident.

  "Let's have a great re-opening of the store," Shouichi concluded with a smile. He was thrilled to see things turning out so well.

  "Yay!" "Free cake!" "Fufufu," they cheered, the happy atmosphere filling the Yoko Sweet Shop once again.

  ***

  "Wow!" The teenagers gasped in awe as Yoko carefully set a five-pound citrus cake on the table. The cake's top was beautifully adorned with candied lemons and oranges, each piece shimmering like stained glass. The smooth pastel yellow Swiss buttercream covering the exterior looked almost too perfect to touch. As Yoko sliced into it, the layers inside were revealed — delicate sponges alternated with pale orange zesty cream, each one promising a burst of fresh citrus flavor. It was the perfect cake to mark a new beginning.

  "Mom, you really outdid yourself. This cake is huge!" Shouichi commented as he spoke in hushed tones, the chatter in the background calming slightly. Yoko served the first slice to him as he was closest to her.

  "I might have gone a bit overboard, but I really enjoyed the process. Think of it as good practice." Yoko smiled, serving another slice to Ayane, who sat next to Shouichi in the same booth.

  "Thanks, Yoko-san! Your black coffee is perfect as well!" Ayane received the plate with both hands, beaming brightly at the shop owner. Yoko returned a quick smile and nod as acknowledgment.

  "And for the hero and his beautiful girlfriend," Yoko added with a smile to the couple sitting opposite, Shinji and Emi, who exchanged bright smiles and giggles with her.

  "Thanks! Yoko-san."

  "Thank you, Yamamoto-san."

  They both expressed their gratitude respectfully.

  Yoko shook her head slowly, saying, "It's my turn to thank all of you properly. Please bear with me as I try to recover." She bowed slightly at the waist, and the group shared a collective smile.

  "Thanks for the cake!" The gang chorused before diving into their slices.

  "Mmhh! It's so good!" Emi exclaimed joyfully as the perfect mix of sour and sweet hit her taste buds.

  "Wow! It's delicious! The sweetness is just right!" Shinji nodded vigorously as he chewed.

  "I can't believe it! This is the best cake I've had in ages," Ayane exaggerated, clearly enjoying it. Her praise prompted Shouichi to take a bite, and he found it just as amazing.

  "Incredibly refreshing!" Shouichi added after finishing his slice.

  "I'm so glad you all love it, tee hee," Yoko said, resting her chin on her palms as she observed their reactions.

  "Why don't you have some too, Yoko-san?" Shouichi asked, pointing at the remaining cake.

  "Fufufu, I've already had some earlier. Please enjoy the rest, okay?" Yoko replied nonchalantly, wearing her sweet and gentle smile. It was clear how much effort she'd put into making the cake, perfecting the recipe, and now enjoying the reactions from her customers.

  "How's your first day going, Mom?" Shouichi asked, reaching out and grabbing her arm tightly.

  "Oh! Overall, it's going alright! The customers were upset about my sudden absence, though." Yoko replied, her brown eyes sweeping across the shop. There were no other customers at this time.

  "I know it's tough, but I'm here for you," Shouichi reassured her, giving her arm a firm squeeze.

  "You'll always protect me, right?" Yoko asked seriously, her expression shifting.

  "Yes. I'll do anything to protect you. Call me, and I'll jump the school fence if I have to," He promised, absolute resolve in his tone.

  "But… I don't want you to sacrifice your youth just for me," Yoko added, torn. She'd feel safer with Shouichi by her side, but that would mean he'd have to sacrifice his club practice, outings with friends, and other things he enjoyed. It wasn't a life she wanted for him.

  "Don't worry, Shouichi. I'll always be here too, since I don't have any club activities," Ayane interjected, offering Yoko a sense of security.

  "That gives me peace of mind, thank you, Ayane-chan," Yoko smiled gratefully. "Since when did Ayane become your favourite child…" Shouichi pondered with a slight twinge of envy.