Chapter Text
February 14th
Apparently, it was an annual tradition every Valentine’s Day for Eiko to gift a small bag of chocolates to everyone at the BB Lounge. They were clear bags with an assortment of mini chocolates likely from a convenience store, but Eiko did put the effort in decorating the bow.
That’s what Kabe understood when he observed her giving a bag to Owner, and then to DJ Satori. Then, he watched her give one to the bartender.
“You spend a lot of money doing this every year,” the bartender pointed out. “Wouldn’t it be cheaper to just make them yourself?”
“Come on, you know I’m really bad at making chocolate,” said Eiko. “Remember the first year I started doing this?”
“Yes, it was awful and I almost got sick. I’m just saying with practice, your cooking could get as good as your singing.”
“If I had more time these days, I would.” Eiko sighed. “I do miss having homemade chocolates, though. My mom used to bake the best kind for me when I was a kid.”
Kabe started to squirm. He was sitting at a table in the back corner, intending to quietly work on his raps, and trying to ignore the fact that it was Valentine’s Day.
Unfortunately, Eiko was not.
Just great, he thought. Why did Eiko have to treat the holiday like they were all back in school again? Wasn’t she aware of the horrors and stress of it all?
Because he remembered, and Kabe wasn’t interested in reliving it.
Zero chocolates in junior high (and the ones from his mother didn’t count)...and only a few in high school. During his final year, he and Sasatcho did a total tally count as to how many they received over the years. Sasatcho surprisingly beat Kabe by two. It was an embarrassment when compared to the amount the other boys got from the girls in their class.
There was no escaping it. And it was possible that Eiko wasn’t giving everyone chocolates. Maybe she was picking and choosing. He wasn’t expecting anything being the newest addition to the group.
It’s no big deal if I don’t get any, Kabe told himself over and over again...since junior high.
He needed to assure himself of this. After all, he was used to it by now.
But knowing that this was Eiko…
Somehow, that really bothered him. He wasn’t going to be able to escape the thoughts and the dread going through his head right now.
Eiko then approached the quiet boy with the glasses who always attended her shows and wore that EIKO shirt. His existence was a bit more acknowledged since it was discovered that he was the creator and moderator of Eiko’s fansite.
“Thanks for all your help,” Eiko cheerfully said, handing him a bag of chocolates.
The boy left the club quite happy.
Now Kabe was more nervous than ever as he watched her move across the room. He didn’t know which outcome he should dread more. Even if they were just ‘friendship chocolates’, it’s not like he would know what to say if she gave him some. Thank you? That sounded too simplistic.
He would try to think of something.
But his heart suddenly sank when she walked straight past his table and disappear behind the stage. Did she not see him? He was in an obstructed view of the club where it was more quiet. Perhaps that was why she hadn’t notice him all day.
Or maybe she did and was intentionally ignoring him.
He didn’t know. What Kabe did know was that Kongming was in the breakroom, exactly where Eiko was headed. Of course, she wasn’t going to forget about him.
This was the moment Kabe decided he had enough. He put himself through enough mental anguish today and gathered up his notes with the intention of leaving early.
“OH MY GOD!!! SOMEONE HELP!!!”
Kabe dropped his papers. The cry was Eiko’s, clearly coming from the back. He knocked over his chair in an effort to reach the breakroom within seconds.
“Eiko!”
Owner and the bartender quickly rushed into the room behind Kabe, confused at the sight that laid before them.
A very panicked Eiko was pointing at one of the couches where Kongming sat. His lips were sucked in, but his cheeks looked unusually swollen...like a goldfish.
“He-tried-one-of-my-chocolates-and-then-he-started-making-a-weird-face-and-now-he’s-not-saying-or-breathing-or-doing-anything!”
“Maybe he’s allergic?” the bartender theorized.
“That’s impossible!” Eiko argued. “I never get the ones with nuts in them!”
Owner took a closer look at Kongming. There seemed to be no reddening of the cheeks or skin inflammation that was normal for an allergy.
Finally Kongming’s mouth started making a chewing motion.
It was at this moment when Owner roared his head back in laughter, much to everyone’s surprise.
“Too sweet for ya, Kongming? You’re the first Three Kingdoms general to ever try chocolate! Don’t worry. It takes time to get used to it.” Owner gave Kongming a slap on the back which got him to chew and finally swallow what was in his mouth. Seconds later, Kongming seemed to be looking normal again.
“Ah yes. It does seem to be an acquired taste,” he said. “Did I detect a hint of citrus within that sweet delicacy?”
Eiko was so relieved to see her tactician was still in one piece. “Oh, you must have had a lemon-flavored chocolate! I guess it might have tasted a little sour.”
Kongming smiled. “Indeed, quite a fascinating combination. I suppose, I was taken aback by it. I do apologize for scaring everyone.”
“Should I call an ambulance?” the bartender asked Eiko. “I mean, he did almost di-”
“I WASN’T TRYING TO KILL HIM!”
Kabe sighed. With that crisis averted, he could now gather his things and start heading home.
About five minutes after he left the BB Lounge, Eiko was going through her things and was surprised to pull out one of her bags of chocolate from her backpack. “That’s odd. I thought I gave them all out. Who did I forget?”
She then looked at the personal tag she wrote on the bow.
“AAAAAAAAAAH!!!! HAS ANYONE SEEN KABE?!!!!”
…
Kabe had just made it down the block. The only thing he had to look forward to now was a night’s sleep (if his restless mind would allow it).
“KAAAAAAABEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!”
He thought he was imagining it, until he turned around.
Eiko was running frantically up to reach him.
He froze, allowing her to catch up. When she was finally got close, Eiko stopped. Her knees nearly buckled. She was on the verge of collapsing, leaving Kabe bewildered.
“Eiko, what are you doing?!”
The next minute was spent with Eiko trying to catch her breath again.
“Oh, I’m so sorry! I was wondering where you were today and then that whole thing with Kongming happened and I just forgot…”
“Huh? Forgot what?”
Eiko then pulled out a small bag. “To give you your chocolate.”
Kabe was surprised when she placed the small bag of chocolate in his hands.
She said, “I make these for everyone at the club each year...well...not make them, really. Just the bag. I didn’t know what kind of chocolate to get you...”
Kabe looked closer and noticed that the chocolate in the bag was fancy. This had to come from a more upscale chocolate store. She really does go all out.
“I would have felt so awful if I hadn’t…”
“Ah! You didn’t need to, really,” Kabe nervously assured her. But deep down, he was in disbelief he even got a Valentine chocolate at all.
Eiko was starting to feel a bit awkward. “Well...have a good night.”
As she started walking away, Kabe blurted out, “Eiko!”
She turned around.
“Ah...um...thank you.” That was all that could come out of Kabe’s mouth.
But it was enough to make Eiko smile. “Happy Valentine’s Day!” She waved goodbye and then was gone.
On that street corner, Kabe took a closer look at the bow on the bag. Eiko indeed colored in some polka dots on the ribbon. Then he noticed the personal tag. It had writing on it.
‘To Kabe: my favorite singing partner. Let’s keep making music together. -Eiko’
She had other singing partners? Kabe wondered. Well, maybe it was just a figure of speech.
There was no denying how sweet the thought was though. He was starting to feel relief that she hadn’t forgotten about him after all.
In fact, he would say that it was the best Valentine chocolate he had ever received.