#ShirokumaLiteratureClub In the Kitchen Where the Wind Lingers ~Short Fiction~

I am sliding in to participate in Kosuke Komaki's fun project, "Freezer."

The deadline is today, Wednesday, 2/11, at 23:59. Thank you for your support.

*This story is a work of fiction.

In the Kitchen Where the Wind Lingers

——I am baking a soufflé again today with her, even though she shouldn't be here.

When I opened the freezer door, white frost drifted out softly.

The afternoon light was reflecting off the kitchen sink.

From inside, a small scrap of paper slid out along with a piece of ice.

"Spring Breeze Soufflé"

The moment I saw those words, I felt as if time had turned back just a little.

It was Tomoko's handwriting.

I remember.

On the day we were preparing to open, in the shop where the smell of oil mixed with the scent of new wood,
Tomoko sat on the counter and said,

"It's okay if it's hard. If the customers smile, that makes it all worth it."

I have always remembered that smile.

Years have passed since then, and the bustle of the shop eventually turned to silence, but
the air from that day still lingered a little in the back of the kitchen.

I set my hands to work.

The sound of cracking eggs, the rhythm of the whisk,
they each unraveled my memories one by one.

While I was whipping the meringue,
the wind outside the window shook the curtains for just a moment.

It was as if someone had whispered, "Mix that a little more gently."

I turned on the oven, and the aroma of the baking soufflé spread throughout the shop.

The same sweet, warm scent as back then.

When I broke the soufflé, steam rose up,
and the light passed through it.

As if a spring breeze were blowing through.

The following week, I wrote on the blackboard.

Spring Breeze Soufflé - Limited Quantity.

Every time the door bell rang, the number of smiling customers grew.

Those smiles filled the shop like the wind.

The powdered sugar scattered on the counter caught the light and danced brilliantly.

On the night after business ended, I placed a small letter in the corner of the kitchen.

The corner of the recipe card placed on top of the letter
glowed faintly, illuminated by the light of the oven.

The hum of the freezer sounded a little softer.

I straightened my back and slowly turned off the lights.

When I stepped outside, the night breeze brushed against my cheeks.

The sky was clear enough to freeze, but
deep in my chest, the warmth like a freshly baked soufflé remained firmly.

As I walked, I whispered softly.

'Hey Tomoko, spring is coming again.'

~ The End ~

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