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February 14th, Valentine’s Day. Ichika likes the holiday; an excuse every year to share chocolates with her best friends, seeing what each other decided to make and enjoying them all together. She’s never really thought of it as a romantic occasion because of that. There’s never been a person in mind that she wanted to give any serious chocolates to, nor has there been anyone she wanted any from. Well, until this year, that is.
It’s difficult to say when her feelings for Nene started to blossom. Maybe it was when they first started practising together. It could’ve even been the first time she heard the girl’s enchanting singing, that day in the park. Or maybe it happened slowly over time, made stronger with every smile or shy glance, never letting her heart rest for long before Nene made it start pounding all over again. Either way, Ichika knows that what she feels for her is different than what she’s ever felt for anyone before. Saki’s been attempting to convince her to act on those feelings, but she’s never been able to, always backing out at the last moment. Still, she made sure to prepare some — entirely platonic — chocolates, wrapped in a cute little bag and tucked away in her satchel. There’s some in there for Haruka, Kohane and Minori too, so she feels less awkward about it. Yet still, thinking about when to actually give them to her, she finds herself flustered, unable to formulate any sort of plan other than mindlessly wandering to Kamiyama High after school and looking for her.
Even by lunch break, she’s still worrying over it. She chews on her yakisoba bread, lost in her thoughts, barely noticing when Saki waves a hand in front of her.
“Hello~? Earth to Icchan?” she calls.
She snaps out of her daze, flushing with embarrassment as she realises how long she’s been staring into space. “S-Sorry, Saki, I didn’t mean to ignore you like that.”
Saki sighs, a fond exasperation that normally she was on the receiving end of. “It’s okay, I’m not mad. I’m just worried about you.”
“Ah…” Ichika shakes her head, attempting to reassure her. “You don’t need to worry. It’s just…”
“Nene-chan’s gift, right?” Saki smiles. “Icchan, don’t sweat it! We’ll just take you to Kami High after class, simple! And if you don’t wanna do it in person, I can just give it to my brother to pass on for you instead.”
“Saki…” she says. The girl’s strength really does lie in bringing up the mood of others. “You’re right, I don’t need to be so worked up about it. I’ll just go and give it to her.”
Saki grins. “Hey, there’s the spirit! It’s gonna go amazing, I prommy!”
Ichika chuckles. “You prommy?”
She sticks her tongue out, and Ichika rolls her eyes. With the reassurance, her stomach feels a lot less like spaghetti, and she’s slowly starting to pick up confidence in her plan.
“Trust me, it’s gonna go great. Nobody’s gonna be happier to get your chocolates than… Nene-chan?!”
Saki’s eye’s is caught by something behind Ichika, over her shoulder. Her eyes are wide, and she makes a face like she can hardly believe what she’s looking at.
“Saki?” Ichika asks. “What’s the…”
She trails off as she turns to follow Saki’s line of sight, and comes face to face with Nene.
Nene, who is not in her classroom, but outside of the window somehow.
“K-Kusanagi-san!?”
Nene, her cheeks red, hovers awkwardly behind the glass, avoiding direct eye contact. She taps on the window pane shyly, and Ichika realises she wants it open. She reaches over and undoes the latch, pulling it open for her.
“H-Hi, Hoshino-san.” Nene mumbles.
Ichika gapes at her, unsure what to even say. “H-Hey. Uh… what are you… doing here?”
Nene’s cheeks darken, her expression bashful. “Um… I wanted to give you — you guys, your Valentine gifts, but I wasn’t sure when I should come over, and then…”
“How are you even up so high!?” Saki exclaims. “This window’s like, six feet up!”
“N-Nevermind that now,” she rushes. She then holds up several boxes wrapped in different coloured bows, and starts handing them to Ichika one by one. “This one is for Hanasato-san, and this one’s for Azusawa-san…”
Ichika takes them and sets them on her desk, still processing half of this bizarre situation. But a part of her flutters, touched at the knowledge that all this time, Nene had the exact same worry as she did.
When she turns back to her, Nene’s only holding one box left. She’s looking at her directly now, her violet eyes filled with determination, but not entirely free from nerves, either. Scarlet-faced, she holds out the last box, wrapped with dark blue ribbon. “...This one’s for you, Hoshino-san.” she says softly. “I hope you like them?”
She already loves them. There’s nothing in her mind that Nene could ever do that wouldn’t be enough to set her heart ablaze, but she isn’t brave enough to say it just yet. So she gives Nene the biggest, warmest smile she can manage, and takes the chocolates. “Thank you, Kusanagi-san… I know I will.”
Nene’s smile brightens, obvious relief sweeping through her, and for a few long seconds they share that moment of quiet joy, eyes fixed on each other.
Until Saki nudges her with her elbow and whispers, “Icchan, your gift?”
Snapping out of it, Ichika gasps. “Oh, right! Hang on just a sec!”
After rooting around in her bag for a few seconds, she retrieves the cutely wrapped package and holds it out to Nene, her shyness forgotten in her desire to return the gesture. “I made these for you, so… please enjoy them.”
Wide eyed, Nene takes it with both hands, looking at it with surprise. “You made them yourself?”
“Ahaha…” Ichika laughs. “Well, I tried my best, anyway. I think I’m okay at making chocolates now, so they should be fine.”
Nene laughs too, holding the bag to her chest so as to not drop it. “I’m sure they’re great. I can’t wait to try them.”
“NENE! ARE YOU FINISHED YET?” booms an unmistakeable voice. “I THINK MY SPINE IS GOING TO SHATTER!”
Disbelieving, Ichika looks out the window to discover none other than Tsukasa; who, it turns out, is the reason Nene is able to reach the window. He has her on his shoulders, and his face is red with the struggle of keeping her up.
“T-Tsukasa-san?!” she says, worried. “Are you alright?”
Behind her, Saki gasps and runs up to the window too. “Onii-chan!? What are you doing!?”
“ISN’T IT OBVIOUS!” he yells. “I’M ASSISTING WITH NENE’S DELIVERY MISSION!”
Now Nene’s face is redder than ever, her ferocious blush reaching the tips of her ears. “Oh my god… I told you I’d tell you when I’m done! You’re gonna get us caught, dumbass!”
“WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME!? I GO TO ALL THIS TROUBLE TO HELP YOU, AND—”
Unfortunately, as he tries to argue back, he loses his balance one and for all. Before Ichika can even think to react, Tsukasa stumbles backwards and brings Nene crashing down with them, the two of them letting out equally loud cries.
“OH MY GOD!?” Saki screeches, nearly falling out the window herself in her effort to peer down at them. “ARE YOU TWO OKAY??”
Although Tsukasa seems to have landed firmly on his rear, Nene looks relatively unharmed, aside from rubbing her elbow and wincing. “I’m fine!” she calls up. “I think your brother broke his ass though.”
Tsukasa whips around to glare at her, red-faced. “Do not address my posterior with such derogatory language!”
Unable to help it, Ichika bursts into laughter. Saki soon joins her, and she can see Nene laughing too down below. Even Tsukasa manages to have some humour about it, wounded though his pride may be. Ichika watches Nene as she giggles, feeling her heart swell three sizes with affection for her. In her hand still are the chocolates Ichika gave her; even on the way down, she’d clung to them tight.
Maybe someday she’ll be brave enough to give Nene something even more special than truffles.