Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The afternoon this summer was hot. Utahime thought to herself as she furiously mixed the cake batter in her bowl. Business today had been slow. Even though normally, it would've flourished. If not for those tea women who had a habit of spreading rumors over her head.

"Have you heard? She killed her husband. .."

"How dreadful!"

"Heard he'd died from eating some of her cakes..."

Obviously all of what was said was untrue. But people had a habit of only believing what they heard from others. It was stupid if she thought about it honestly. She'd never done anything to hurt or anger anyone in the community. So she couldn't understand why it gave them joy to make her already difficult life harder.

Her husband had died shortly after returning from the war. The war had taken a lot from most people. She could still remember bitterly how it'd taken her husband's sanity— Hence the scar across her face. He'd been more irritable when he'd returned. Even more than usual. Different from how he was when they'd married  almost five years ago. The same kind and loving husband who showed her off in town in the early stages of their marriage. And bought her things was no more. In fact, he'd turned into an empty husk that.... that hit her. The thought made Utahime's eyes sting.

They'd been married for five years and only one out of those years made her happy. The remaining four were dreadful. Even before the war, he'd revealed his true colours.

Maybe they spread such rumors about her head because she hadn't cried at his funeral. Or because she didn't bat an eye either. Their marriage had been a farce. Sold by her father to a man in a neighbouring community just so he could gamble away her bride-dowry. Like she'd been a nuisance he'd wanted to be rid of.

The image of her husband hanging lifeless out her window still haunted her in occasion.

Utahime was no more the naive eighteen year old girl who had hoped to be loved. If anything, she abhorred the thought of marriage and hoped to live a life alone in her small house atop this bakery she managed to open after her husband's passing eight months ago. As he wasn't alive to continue running his small saloon. People said she'd insulted her dead husband by remodeling. Turning the backroom into a kitchen fit for a baker. And adding an oven and a better stove.

She hadn't even worn black to mourn him. Mostly because she didn't own any black dresses and hadn't been able to buy one. Although she knew deep down did wouldn't have bothered.

The local blacksmith, Fushiguro Toji, had her thanks.

He was probably one of the few people who understood how foolish rumors were. And how important fresh beginnings were as well. As he'd come to this town three years ago with his son, Megumi. Who had only been four. His wife had died a few months after the birth of his son. As birth had taken a toll on her health. And although he'd left his old town to find peace here, some still said he'd killed her. Utahime believed he hadn't. Because he still had the cabinet print of the beautiful dark haired woman grinning from ear to ear with little Megumi who had probably been a month old. It had been the first thing Utahime had noticed when she'd stepped into his smithy which stood just beside his home on the outskirts of the small town. For a time, she'd helped babysit Megumi while Toji worked in order to keep him away from the soot and smoke of his father's smithy. But now the little one was old enough to go to the schoolhouse and from her observations whenever he came to her bakery after school for lunch, her shy Megumi had made friends. And was happy.

Letting everything set in the heat of the oven, Utahime stepped out of the kitchen once she heard a chime from her door bell which signified a customer entering the bakery.

"Hello ... What can I get..."  she trailed off once she met his baby blue eyes under his black Stetson hat. Shielded partly by his messy white bangs. Satoru grinned. Taking off his hat and heading for the counter. Utahime composed herself. Swallowing thickly, Utahime spoke. Although it came out like a soft whisper. A stutter,

"....y-you..." Clearing her throat again, she brushed her damp hands over her worn white apron. Tied over her simple brown skirt and cream shirtwaist.  Covered in stains. Both the ones fresh from today and those that couldn't be washed out anymore. Observing this man, he seemed so out of place in her small bakery. And at the same time, he seemed new. As she'd never seen him before in their small town.

"Devil's food cake.. if you have any. I'd 'preciate it, Darlin'..." His lips were full. Pink. It took a moment before the words registered in her mind. Her cheeks warmed. Chastising herself internally for stuttering and staring at this man like some girl with a crush. "... Alright..." She managed to say without stuttering. Thankfully. Stepping out from behind the counter. Trying her best to ignore the man's unwavering gaze which swept over her body. It felt almost invasive. And Utahime was suddenly self conscious about the scar across her face. Wishing her hair wasn't in a messy low bun so she could shield the crack in her beauty.

Gathering her wits. She carefully took the  Devil's Food cake which had been on display. The thick chocolate cake was a mouthwatering sight. And it was her favourite to prepare. Probably what had attracted this man into her bakery. And packaged it carefully in a brown cardstock paper box.  The man gave a pleased nod when Utahime named her price for payment. Only to surprise her with too much. And when she'd scrambled to give him his change, he'd mentioned she should keep it.  Surprising her more by his strange behaviour.

And before she could process everything, he was already wishing her a lovely day. The chiming of her doorbell dragging her back to reality.

She couldn't understand if this was a kind gesture on his part or if he had some ulterior motive. Utahime had learnt  to examine the behaviours of others. Especially men. To protect herself. Because her husband had been kind once. Until he'd hurt her over and over again. She shivered uncomfortably.  This man had a sort of mysterious air around him. And even though he had tipped her a little extra. And had been nothing but polite to her. Utahime was terrified of him coming to her small bakery again.