Chocolate Kiss Vol. 1: Forgotten Love Song

mm

on the fron

emed guest, to Ch

ustic haven, where you can relax

est, our cakes will

break. Our service is the b

wise, listen for

all appear, take it with

ant a wish, to thos

iven to those who mak

I dig

hould let

e bliss that you will ex

he ushered me to an empty table. He looked as crazy a

a fairy tale. In fact, I was the one who named the attendant 'Mad Hatter' two decades back. It was bec

les and chairs, oak barrels, and warm, dim lighting courtesy of countless candles on every tabl

ns. Some were in the shape of a bear, some are small, like ferrets, and some had humanoid shapes but sported what seemed to me

So much so that I wondered if it was because of my childishness that

o mine talk. I couldn't help but feel disappointed when I rea

" the Mad Hatter asked me

at him inc

g his silly rhyme before giving me a table. Then, he would bring me a treat depending on the season. In springtime, it would be a tart or any fruity dessert. In hot summer mo

e the Mad Hatter had a

that wide smile that for a moment I wond

nd decided to choose the fi

rrot cake and a

on the table in a

ears, the Mad Hatter made a quick bow and uttered t

he sequence. Was it because I am already grown up so I am now able to choose what I want? Or was there something mor

d known back then, and I still remember it now. What I do not know, how

as my mind had called upon that memory, I looked up from my table a

hat I laid my eyes on her twenty years past. It was as if she was stuck in a place

of the real world. There was no breeze yet her long white hair flowed like gentl

ette that was shaped nothing like a human. It disappeared as quickly as it came, c

younger self, or the adult one. I have never been able to forget her face. Even lo

me once again when I had finally reached her side. She looked at me for a moment, her fox-like re

ply, and my heart soared

oes reco

countertop, a small mist had appeared and just as she turned around, it had solidif

her eyes lingeri

lmost inaudibly before shi

ognizing me was short-lived as I saw her brows furrowed in

oung one," she spoke in a manner th

ee the image of a snowy white fox overlapping with her body. Her body began to flicke

er teeth and I could feel her temper escalate. A

"Are the gods trying to insult me

oy. You should know not to listen to beings who toy with ot

from that place and through a tu

was darkness. Blinking to adjust my sigh

am had

had decades ago, but the endin

p beside my bed and sat up to grab t

top. It had a picture of a girl with one hand pointe

picture were the w