It was after practice.
I had already handed out chocolates to Mihono-san and Nishino-san, but I hadn't given Rice-chan hers yet.
As we packed up, Thank You turned to me.
"Leave the rest for the two of you."
Then she left—quickly, mysteriously.
I figured she had something to do. Maybe she was off to deliver her own favorite chocolate. I didn't think much of it at the time. But looking back… everyone probably saw this coming.
I'd like to believe I was just being sidelined.
But maybe I was simply missing something important.
Alone in the trainer room, Rice-chan spoke.
"Viola-chan."
"What is it, Rice-chan?"
"This."
She handed me a big box.
"Valentine?"
"Yeah."
I opened it.
Inside was a heart-shaped handmade chocolate—larger and a little more imperfect than Thank You's. On it, written plainly:
I Love You
It was unmistakably a favorite chocolate.
I froze.
Why me?
Rice-chan had someone she liked. That's what I'd always believed. I must be misunderstanding something—right?
People who like Rice-chan are supposed to be younger, dependable, and strong. I'm younger, sure. But I never saw myself as reliable.
"Rice-chan, this is…"
"Rice says she likes Viola."
She smiled.
Was it admiration? Friendship? Something else?
I scrambled to interpret her words. If it was deep, I didn't want to brush it off. If it was light, I didn't want to overreact and make her uncomfortable.
This was delicate. I needed to be sure.
I took a deep breath.
No time for pride or panic.
"Can I take this to mean… favorite chocolate?"
"Yeah."
"…"
So it was.
Rice-chan had confessed.
And I hadn't seen it coming at all.