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February 13, the eve of Valentine's Day.
With that youthful holiday almost here, even the ruthless, merit-first halls of AN High were awash in the sweet scent of chocolate and an atmosphere syrupy enough to rot the teeth of single students.
Merchants went all-out: Keyaki Mall had turned into a sea of heart stickers, cute motifs, and cocoa displays.
Every shop offered "couples' discounts" or "singles' specials," anything to prod sweethearts to spend—or push lone wolves to buy gifts for their secret crushes.
Yet Yukio had slipped away from the hubbub, heading for the usual meeting spot with his agents—the little grove beside the first-year dorms.
He'd come here so often he felt he could stroll the paths with his eyes shut.
"Yukio-kun!" Karuizawa, waiting early, waved happily, jogging over and handing him a flat box still cool to the touch.
No need to ask: inside lay her feelings—hand-made honmei chocolate.
Their relationship had grown so close that Karuizawa didn't blush quite so easily, yet as she offered the box her head dipped and her eyes shied away.
Yukio took it, a pleased smile on his lips. Hand-crafted chocolate could never match luxury brands—but the heart inside was sweeter than any master's confection.
Seeing him accept it gladly, a spark of joy lit Karuizawa's blue eyes. "Hehe— I used the way you like your coffee as a guide. Sugar's low, sweet but not cloying. I hope it's okay."
"Thank you. I'll savor every bite—and I'm sure I'll love it." Only then did Yukio recall her odd questions about coffee back at the start of February—so she'd been planning this all along.
That, in turn, made him think of every girl's peculiar message that day…
Karuizawa knew none of this; her delight was tinged with nerves. "I—I tasted it myself. It seemed fine, but I'm not sure it really matches your taste."
Half eager for praise, half afraid it wouldn't suit him, she didn't mention how she'd plucked blades of grass while waiting, dropping them one by one—He'll like it, he won't like it…
Remembering that childish game of counting petals made her cheeks heat.
Yukio opened his mouth to speak—ears twitching. Footsteps behind them?
No time to think. He tugged Karuizawa behind a tree, moving silently back.
She started, but she'd been through enough; the panicky girl of old was gone. She steadied her breathing and looked at him, confused.
Yukio jerked his chin: Someone's coming. Karuizawa nodded, held her breath.
A figure stepped from the shadows—and Karuizawa clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp. She breathed the faintest whisper. "Kushida? Why Kushida? Waiting here for a secret date?"
"Big news—the girl who's friends with everyone yet says she's not dating anyone is meeting a boy in the woods?"
…Yukio, too, saw who it was and felt a bad premonition. Don't tell me—
Sure enough, Kushida paced a moment, pulled out her phone, and the next second Yukio's phone buzzed in his pocket.
Thankfully he always kept it on vibrate here; if it had rung, he'd have been caught between both girls—mortifying if not dangerous.
On a sudden impulse he tugged Karuizawa, signaling a silent retreat. Curiosity or not, she preferred more time alone with him, so she followed.
They crept off like burglars, then traded amused looks and chuckles. Remembering Kushida still waiting, Yukio apologized. "Sorry—I will eat all your chocolate, every last bite. But I've got something to do in a bit, so I can't stay long."
"No worries." Karuizawa beamed, no hint of sulk. "You're busy. And I know you'll be with Shiina all day tomorrow—that's why I brought mine early."
"Mhm—." Her thoughtfulness made affection surge. He lifted her chin and kissed her softly.
Only after she trotted off, cheeks crimson, did Yukio fish out his phone. As expected: Kushida asking him to meet in the grove.
He doubled back; a few minutes later a grinning Kushida greeted him like sunshine.
Yet behind that radiant smile was a sharp intuition. "Ten minutes ago I heard someone running, hid to peek, and saw Karuizawa slip away."
"Why were both of you coming from that direction?"
Yukio froze—he almost wanted to pull out his phone and play Love That Never Reaches.
Face thick as ever, he rebounded. "So, where's my chocolate? Don't tell me you came empty-handed."
"…?" Now she was the one wrong-footed. But she puffed her cheeks and produced a flat box. "Here. Less sugar, light ice—just like your milk-tea order. Chilled about an hour."
Yukio gave her a look that said understood. "Nice—good to know doting on you isn't wasted."
Kushida rolled her eyes but thought: Maybe I should team up with Karuizawa more. Two bright, cheerful girls together—surely we can outshine that bookish Shiina…
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