Shadow walked to the counter, sliding open the display box and placing a newly baked cake inside it. Rouge was at the door, tilting the sign on the handle so it said 'OPEN' from outside. It was the start of a new day at the bakery.

Shadow liked working here. It was pleasant, with Rouge handling the socialization most of the time while he did the baking. There was Omega, who was their one and only overly enthusiastic delivery robot. And at the end of the day, Shadow took home the leftovers for Maria, who gladly devoured them in record speed while flashing Shadow a thumbs up, which never failed to catch him off guard.

Besides that, there was another thing. User, a regular cheery and chatty customer who swung by the shop everyday to grab something, anything, that Shadow baked. Even staying at the shop, eagerly chatting with Rouge about how great the food was. User had even managed to wiggle his way inside the counter one day, because he wanted to meet the baker, happily complimenting Shadow for his cooking skills (and had made Shadow's brain short circuit in the process) with that sweet, charming smile and beautiful face... Shadow would admit, User was....pleasant, too. Anyways, since then, User always talked to Shadow whenever he swung by daily.

Shadow was snapped out of his thoughts when the door opened, the bell jingling indicating the presence of a customer. Shadow watched, as Rouge waved from the counter eager to see their local regular bakery enthusiast again, as User entered the shop with a skip in his step and that same cheery smile, making Shadow's heart flutter, but he pushed it down not intending to show it.