Life at AN seemed to have slipped back into its ordinary rhythm: regular classes, regular fooling around with friends—a picture of peace.
But once February arrived, currents began to churn beneath that calm surface. More students than one could count had secretly singled out their own targets and started harboring… other thoughts.
During the mid-period break Ibuki had been wrestling with herself for a long while. At last she made up her mind, left her seat and walked straight to Shiina.
"Hiyori, um…" Ibuki almost never sought Shiina out alone; at most the two of them hung out with Yukio after class—meals, movies, walks.
"N-nothing," Ibuki muttered—an expression of rare difficulty crossing the usually decisive face of the samurai daughter. You've already prepared yourself so why are you still hesitating?
Summoning that resolve, she finally blurted out her request: "Hiyori… w-would you… go to the restroom with me?"
"Eh?" Shiina blinked, puzzled—not by the request itself, but by the fact that Ibuki was the one inviting her.
It might be a global school-girl habit: during breaks girls liked to visit the restroom together, while boys who paired up were usually off to smoke and shoot the breeze.
The mystery was that Ibuki belonged to the minority who never did this; she was famously independent. So Shiina was genuinely surprised.
Er… if Ibuki invites another girl to the bathroom, Shiina thought, it can only be to challenge her to a fight, right?—though that was unfair. Whatever else, Ibuki bore Shiina no ill will; a lavatory brawl would be ridiculous.
Ever perceptive, Shiina guessed Ibuki had some embarrassing matter unsuited to a crowded classroom. She rose with a gentle smile. "Sure, let's go~"
By now the rest of Yukio's class no longer found the Shiina–Ibuki pairing strange; they'd seen it often enough.
Reaching the restroom, the two did not enter the stalls. They merely washed their hands, glanced in the mirror, and then—rather than return—took a roundabout route down an empty corridor.
When they were certain no one else was around, Ibuki glanced left, right, then hesitated again. Shiina waited patiently. Finally Ibuki squared her shoulders—to hell with it!—and blurted. "Hiyori, c-could you… teach me how to make chocolate?"
"…"
That's it? Shiina's cheek twitched. She'd expected something earthshaking after all that angst—and in a sense, it was big.
Mention chocolate and Shiina instantly understood: "Ah—so Mio wants to hand-make a true-love Valentine's gift~"
Valentine's Day on Sakurajima Island was the opposite of Yukio's homeland: here girls gave chocolate to boys to show their feelings—either honmei chocolate (for boyfriends or the one they truly liked) or giri chocolate (for friends, colleagues, etc.).
Honmei was normally home-made to prove sincerity; giri could be any store-bought box.
"...Mm." Having her intention exposed in one sentence left Ibuki crimson, the tough-girl façade gone; she was every inch a shy maiden in love. Why did a simple question about chocolate feel so mortifying?
"Of course I'll help~" Shiina agreed at once. She genuinely wanted a good relationship with Ibuki—especially over something so important.
"You… you'll help?" Now it was Ibuki's turn to be confused. She'd half expected a polite refusal. After all, weren't they rivals?
If Shiina kept the skill to herself, made hand-made chocolate, while Ibuki showed up with a store-bought box, Shiina would score big points with Yukio.
Yet Shiina hadn't even considered that. Her frank consent left Ibuki's thoughts spinning. Aren't we competing for the same guy?
Noticing the doubt in Ibuki's eyes, Shiina giggled softly—"pfft"—reached out, and clasped both of Ibuki's hands. Her gaze shone with sincerity.
"Mio, there's no need to overthink it. Loving someone is wonderfully beautiful. I know that feeling very well—don't you? After all, our beloved is the same person, isn't he?"
"So the longing you have—to give hand-made honmei chocolate on Valentine's Day—I feel exactly the same."
"If I purposely refused you, I wouldn't just hurt you; I'd be denying my own feelings as well. So let's work hard together!"
Ibuki blinked, then slowly understood the warmth in Shiina's eyes. Right… The desire I have, she has, too.
Her tense heart gradually eased.
"Mm! Then… I'll be counting on you, Hiyori!"
...
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