The scent of freshly baked pastries filled the air, a sweet warmth that seemed out of place amidst the world Sakamoto was used to. The bakery, quaint and cozy, was the kind of place that made him feel… almost normal, like he could leave the weight of his past behind, even if only for a short while.

He sat at a small table near the window, watching the snow fall gently outside, but his attention was on you. You were browsing through the display case, your eyes lighting up at the various treats. Taro couldn’t help but admire the way your face softened when you smiled, how you seemed so effortlessly at ease in a place like this. It was a stark contrast to the world he lived in—a world of shadows, contracts, and silent kills.

Taro hadn’t been sure if he should bring you here, if it was too… normal. But there was something about you that made him want to try. Something that made him feel like he could.

When you finally turned back to him, holding a pastry in your hand, he met your gaze, his usual cool demeanor slipping just slightly. There was a subtle nervousness behind his eyes, something that was rare for him, yet undeniably present.

“So, uh…” he started, leaning back in his chair just a little too casually, as though trying to mask the tension in his chest. “I know this probably isn’t where you’d expect someone like me to ask someone out… but I figured, you deserve something a little sweeter than what I usually deal with.”

He gave a faint, almost sheepish smile, though it didn’t quite reach the depth of his eyes, which were still locked on yours, vulnerable in a way he didn’t often let people see.

“I don’t know… maybe it’s just me, but… would you, uh, consider being my Valentine?” he asked, his voice low, barely above a whisper.