Whisked Away

Chapter 3: The Sweetness of Routine

Sky stood at the prep station, hands moving methodically through the motions of dicing onions, carrots, and garlic. The steady rhythm of her knife hitting the cutting board usually calmed her, but today her mind was too preoccupied.

Her thoughts kept drifting back to last night. She hadn't replied to Kito's message, but it still lingered in her head. She didn't know why such a simple text had unsettled her. It was just a joke, a harmless comment after a long day in the kitchen. Nothing more. Yet here she was, thinking about it. Thinking about him.

She paused, wiping her hands on her apron as she glanced around the bustling kitchen. Across from her, Ash was working her station with the same speed and precision that had earned her respect from everyone here. Ash had always been the reliable one, the grounded one. Sky envied that about her.

"Hey, you okay?" Ash's voice cut through the noise, pulling Sky back to the present.

Sky nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just zoned out for a second."

Ash raised an eyebrow. "Zoned out? You? That's not like you." She studied her sister's face, suspicion creeping into her expression. "You and Kenji okay?"

The mention of Kenji made Sky's stomach twist with guilt. Of course they were okay. Everything was always okay with Kenji. That was part of the problem.

"Yeah, we're fine," Sky said, too quickly.

Ash wasn't convinced, but she let it go, focusing back on her own task. "If you say so."

Sky exhaled, grateful that her sister hadn't pressed her further. Ash and Kenji had always had a close bond, one that Sky often marveled at. In many ways, they seemed more like siblings than she and Ash did. Kenji's calm, steady personality fit seamlessly with Ash's no-nonsense attitude. It was part of the reason why Sky's family had practically adopted Kenji as one of their own.

But lately, something was missing, even if Sky couldn't quite put her finger on it. Kenji still made her laugh, still listened patiently when she vented about work, still held her close when she was stressed. He was perfect in every way, and yet...

"Sky, we need to talk about the orders!" Chef's voice boomed across the kitchen, interrupting her thoughts.

"On it!" Sky responded, grateful for the distraction. She plunged herself into her work, hoping the busy atmosphere of the kitchen would drown out her racing thoughts.

Hours passed in a blur of orders, dishes, and plating, and by the time the dinner rush started to ease, Sky's body was exhausted, but her mind was still restless.

Just as she was wiping down her station, she heard that familiar voice behind her.

"Hey, pastry girl."

Kito. Of course.

She turned to find him leaning against the counter, a playful grin tugging at the corner of his lips. He had that same mischievous glint in his eyes, the one that seemed to suggest he knew something no one else did.

Sky rolled her eyes, though she couldn't suppress the small smile creeping onto her face. "Still on that?"

"Always." He stepped closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "You did good today. For someone who's 'used to sweets.'"

Sky couldn't help but laugh. "I'm getting better, okay?"

Kito's grin widened, his dark eyes flicking over her face with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "Yeah, you are."

For a moment, there was nothing but the hum of the kitchen and the tension between them. Sky swallowed hard, trying to break the spell, but Kito's presence was overpowering, as always.

"You got plans after work?" he asked casually, though the question hung in the air between them.

Sky hesitated. She could hear Kenji's voice in her head, telling her he'd be waiting to pick her up, just like always. She didn't have the heart to tell him that routine had started to feel suffocating. But still, she couldn't bring herself to say yes to Kito. Not yet.

"Yeah, I do," she finally said, avoiding his gaze.

Kito's expression didn't falter, but there was something unreadable in his eyes. He nodded, stepping back. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow, then."

Sky exhaled as he walked away, her heart racing faster than it should have been. She cursed under her breath, trying to shake off the tension, but it clung to her like the heat in the kitchen.

Later That Night

Sky leaned against the wall outside the restaurant, the cool evening air a stark contrast to the warmth inside. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She knew it was Kenji, probably asking if she needed him to pick her up. She didn't check.

Her mind was still stuck on Kito—his playful grin, the way he could get under her skin without even trying. It was dangerous.

Before she could spiral any further, Ash appeared beside her, holding two takeout boxes.

"Figured you'd need this after a day like today," Ash said, handing one over.

Sky accepted it gratefully, though her mind wasn't on food. She opened her mouth to say something, but stopped, the words catching in her throat.

Ash noticed. "You sure everything's fine with you and Kenji? You've been weird lately."

Sky sighed, leaning her head back against the wall. "I don't know. I feel like something's off. We're good—he's amazing, really. I just... I don't know."

Ash frowned. "You guys are basically the golden couple. Everyone thinks you're perfect for each other."

Sky forced a smile. "Yeah, we are." But it didn't feel right anymore, no matter how hard she tried to convince herself.

Ash eyed her sister, sensing there was more to the story, but she didn't push. "Look, whatever happens, I'm here, okay? Whether you stay with Kenji or not. You're my sister first."

Sky felt her throat tighten, the weight of Ash's words hitting her hard. She hadn't realized how much she needed to hear that.

"Thanks, Ash."