the flowers between us

Before I could even think of a proper escape plan, the manager had already returned with several plates of exquisitely arranged pastries. Each dessert looked delicate and perfect, like they belonged in a high-class banquet rather than a school festival. The scent of freshly baked tarts, buttery croissants, and decadently layered cakes filled the air, making my stomach betray me with a low rumble.

I tried to ignore Diana's knowing smirk as she leisurely picked up her teacup and took a sip.

"Well?" she prompted, setting her cup down and leaning her cheek against her palm, watching me with amused patience. "Go on. Give it a taste."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Why do I have to do it first?"

Diana sighed dramatically, gesturing elegantly at the pastries. "Because, my dear Sera, this is your café project too, is it not? We can't risk selling inferior desserts. And since you're the one with such refined taste—"

"That is not a thing," I grumbled.

"—it only makes sense that you be the first to sample them," she finished smoothly, offering me a too-sweet smile that immediately put me on high alert.

I sighed, defeated. There was no winning against her.

"Fine," I muttered, reluctantly picking up a fork. My gaze flicked over the array of choices, my fingers hovering uncertainly before settling on a small fruit tart topped with glistening berries. Might as well start simple.

The moment I took a bite, I nearly melted.

The tart was perfectly balanced—the crisp, buttery crust paired flawlessly with the light, creamy filling and the fresh, sweet-tart burst of berries. It wasn't just good. It was dangerously good.

Diana's lips curled as she studied my reaction. "I take it that's a yes?"

I chewed slowly, trying to keep my expression neutral, but I knew I had already lost the moment Diana's smirk widened.

"Shut up," I said before she could gloat.

She chuckled, reaching for one of the desserts herself. "I didn't say anything."

Her entire tone said otherwise.

I quickly moved on to the next pastry—a chocolate éclair, dusted with fine cocoa powder. As soon as I bit into it, the rich, velvety filling practically melted in my mouth, the dark chocolate glaze adding the perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness.

Diana watched me carefully, her crimson eyes twinkling with mischief. "That good, huh?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, forcing myself to set the éclair down before I devoured it entirely. "I've had better."

Her brows lifted in amusement. "Liar."

I hated how easily she could read me.

Diana reached for a small petite gâteau, a delicate strawberry mousse cake with a glossy glaze. With graceful precision, she sliced a tiny bite, lifting it towards me.

"Here," she said, her voice smooth and honeyed. "Try this one."

I froze, eyes darting from the cake to the fork she held out for me.

"...You expect me to just eat from your fork?" I asked, my voice a pitch higher than usual.

Diana blinked innocently, tilting her head. "What? You're the one who said we needed to hurry up and decide, didn't you? This just saves time."

Lies.

She was enjoying every second of this.

But before I could argue or come up with some excuse, she leaned in slightly, holding the fork closer to my lips, her expression effortlessly confident. "Come now, Sera," she murmured. "Don't make me beg."

Oh, she was definitely doing this on purpose.

My face burned as I hesitated for a moment too long, which only made Diana's smirk widen.

And then, with as much dignity as I could muster, I leaned forward and took the bite.

The moment the sweet, airy mousse hit my tongue, my mind nearly short-circuited.

It was incredible. The strawberry flavor was light and refreshing, balanced by the subtle richness of the sponge layer beneath it.

I chewed slowly, trying to ignore how warm my face felt, while Diana simply watched, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

"Well?" she asked, amusement dripping from her tone.

I swallowed, forcing myself to glare at her. "It's fine."

Diana laughed, leaning back in her chair. "Oh, Sera. You're adorable when you try to act composed."

I almost choked. "I—Excuse me?!"

She rested her chin on her palm again, her expression unreadable yet playful all at once. "Nothing. Just enjoying the view."

I wanted to die.

Somewhere deep in my soul, I knew—I just knew—that I was never going to live this down.

And yet, here I was, sitting across from Diana Hayes, glaring at a beautifully crafted dessert as if it personally offended me.

The last plate had just been set before us—a small, elegantly layered cake, with soft pastel mousse and sponge, decorated with delicate edible petals. It looked almost too perfect to eat.

"What's this?" I asked, already intrigued despite myself.

Diana's smirk widened, the glint in her striking green eyes unmistakable. "That," she said smoothly, resting her chin in her palm, "is the Velvet Petal Cake—named after the café itself. It's our signature dessert."

I hummed, eyeing it suspiciously. "It looks… dangerous."

"Oh, it is," Diana mused, twirling a fork between her fingers like she was plotting something truly devious. "It's smooth, decadent, and impossibly sweet…" Her voice dropped, just slightly, as she smiled. "Kind of like you."

I short-circuited on the spot.

"W-WHAT?!" I nearly knocked over my glass, my whole body heating up like a furnace.

As if that wasn't bad enough, I suddenly felt it—the lightest brush of movement against my leg.

Oh no.

I froze, eyes widening in horror as I realized Diana was subtly rubbing her foot against my calf beneath the table.

SHE WAS DOING THIS ON PURPOSE.

"H-Hey!" I jerked back so fast that the entire table almost shook. "Relax!"

Diana let out a soft chuckle, tapping her fork lightly against the plate as she regarded me with undeniable amusement. "Flustered, Sera?" she asked, voice smooth as silk.

Yes.

But absolutely not was I going to say that out loud.

"I—You—" I exhaled sharply, willing my face to stop being on fire. "You're impossible."

She only grinned, like I had just given her the highest compliment. "And yet, here you are, sitting across from me, about to eat a cake made in my honor."

"That's not—! Ugh!" I groaned, grabbing my own fork before she could make this any worse. I stabbed a piece of the cake and shoved it into my mouth, mostly to keep myself from saying something dumb.

And then I almost melted.

Holy—this is actually amazing.

The cake was light, silky, with a sweetness that wasn't overpowering. There was a subtle floral hint, a gentle balance that made each bite irresistible. I was already craving another before I even swallowed.

Diana, watching me like a cat toying with its prey, arched an elegant brow. "Well?"

I chewed slowly, forcing myself to act indifferent.

"…It's fine," I muttered, barely able to lie with a straight face.

Diana let out a delighted laugh, leaning back in her seat. "Oh, Sera," she sighed, swirling the tea in her cup. "You're so cute when you try to act indifferent."

I almost choked.

This was a disaster.

A delicious disaster, but a disaster nonetheless.

Diana was winning, and we both knew it.

I needed to get out of here before I completely lost my dignity.

Luckily, the universe finally decided to take pity on me.

Diana set her teacup down with a soft clink, stretching her arms in a way that looked far too casual for someone who had just spent the last ten minutes utterly destroying my composure. "Well," she mused, "it looks like my manager has things handled for now—finalizing the orders, keeping the other customers happy. Which means…" She turned her gaze back to me, her smile soft, yet undeniably teasing.

I braced myself.

"How about a walk?" she suggested, tilting her head toward the window. "There's a garden trail not too far from here. It's a nice little spot—peaceful, good for digestion, and perfect for people who need to cool off."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Are you implying that I need to cool off?"

Diana leaned forward, her smirk widening as she rested her chin in her hand. "Oh, Sera," she purred. "I don't imply. I state facts."

This woman.

I exhaled sharply, pushing my chair back with a little more force than necessary as I stood. "Yeah, sure," I grumbled. "Why not?"

Diana's laugh was soft and knowing, but she didn't press further. Instead, she stood as well, brushing nonexistent dust off her uniform before offering me her arm.

I stared at it.

She wiggled her fingers expectantly. "What? You're not going to take it? You did walk in here with me arm in arm like we were a happily married couple, remember?"

I felt all the blood in my body rush to my face at once.

"D-DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT!" I stammered, hastily linking my arm with hers just to shut her up.

Diana laughed again, but didn't say anything more. Instead, she simply led me outside, the warm afternoon air greeting us as we stepped onto the stone-paved streets of Fiore.

As we began our walk toward the garden trail, I did my best to ignore the way my heart was still hammering in my chest.

And, more importantly, I tried to ignore the way being close to Diana—her arm in mine, her presence effortlessly charming—felt a little too… nice.

The garden trail had led us to a secluded spot at the very edge of the park, where the noise of the city melted into the rustling of leaves and the faint chirping of birds. The late afternoon sun bathed the field in golden light, making the flowers dotting the landscape look like scattered gemstones across the grass. It was beautiful—too beautiful, too intimate.

I was about to comment on it when suddenly, warm arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back against a soft, steady figure.

I tensed.

"D-Diana?" I squeaked, my body stiffening as a chin rested gently on my shoulder.

"Shh," she murmured, her voice lower than usual, almost hushed—like this moment was something fragile, something she didn't want to shatter. "Stay like this for a little while. This feels… nice."

Nice? NICE?!

Nothing about this was nice for my sanity.

I could feel her warmth against my back, the steady rise and fall of her breathing, the way her grip around my waist was firm but gentle—like she was afraid I'd pull away but didn't want to let go.

I swallowed hard. My heart was doing backflips.

Then, just as I was starting to come to terms with the very real possibility that I was about to spontaneously combust, she moved.

Before I could react, Diana spun me around, and suddenly, we were face to face, so close that I could see the gold flecks in her deep green eyes.

The air between us shifted—the teasing glint in her eyes was still there, but beneath it was something else. Something dangerous. Something that made my breath catch in my throat.

And then—

She leaned in.

Her hand cupped my cheek, her thumb brushing against my skin, and for a single, heart-stopping moment, I forgot how to think.