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The men at Jinko High were exceptionnally excited to go to school today and for one specific reason: today was February 14th aka Valentine’s Day. The boys wondered — and even made bets out of it — how many chocolates each of them would reserve and from whom.
Kifune was his usual self however as he wasn’t expected to get anything from anyone, the shy boy — and bland in his opinion — he was. He never received many chocolates from girls, anyway. This was why he was taken aback when he saw a girl — one of his classmates he recalled — somewhere near his shoe locker. The girl seemingly saw him and fled as if she was caught doing something bad. The bowl-cut boy shrugged it off quite fast. The girl was probably just embarrassed of being seen putting her chocolates in some boy’s locker.
He reached his locker and saw something foreign in it. It was a small box and… a letter… With a heart drawn on it.
“Huh?”
Kifune’s hand trembled as he took both objects to look more thoroughly into them. He opened the box and found — as he expected now — chocolates in it. They didn’t seem handmade and looked like they were bought at some convenience store. Curious, he opened the letter.
Dear Kifune,
I hope I don’t scare you away but I really really needed to say this: I like you. I have been for some time, actually. Before you think about it: this letter isn’t some crude prank. You’re so cute when you are blushing and stuttering when speaking. You’re so cool on the rugby field. I just love it when you put that balloon on your head before shooting. You are cute in everything you do. Anyway I got carried away there. I don’t expect you to go out with me right away but let’s talk it out after school? I will wait for you at the school gate after our school activities.
PS: sorry for the shop chocolates, I wasn’t able to make anything good.
Love,
Someone you might know a bit.
Kifune looked around to see if the secret admirer was still around. He sighed. Of course, they wouldn’t be after trying so hard to put the letter in the locker without being seen by him.
The second-year was in this state of confusion for the rest of the day, unable to focus on anything.
“Oy Kibucchi? Are you feeling weird?” Gion asked in his usually cheerful and loud voice.
“H-huh?! I-I’m ok!”
“But you are missing your shoots even with your magic balloon thing!”
“I…”
Kifune couldn’t retork anything.
“Gion, let’s go pratice tackles for a bit, will you?” Iwashimizu politely said.
“I can’t refuse when you are offering it, tree trunk!”
Gion went away with Iwashimizu and Hachioji came in with Sekizan. Both have noticed Kifune’s unusual stress and were worried about him.
“Are you sure you are ok, Kifune?” Hachioji asked.
Kifune was twirling his hands in anxiety.
“... I found a love letter in my locker today and I don’t know what to do…” He confessed.
“Because you think it might be a joke?” The team captain asked.
“... There is that but it’s the first time I ever received one… And they want us to meet up after the training. ”
“We can go with you, then!” Gion cheered.
“Don’t be an idiot. You will only embarrass Kifune.” Oharano shot back at his shorter team mate.
“And a love confession with a group around would be a bit…” Iwashimizu added.
“Would defeat the point of the letter.” Sekizan explained.
“Kifune… I think you should just go to the meeting and see where it goes. The letter looks genuine. Remember this secret admirerr must be as anxious as you, if not more.” Hachioji comforted.
The evening training went a little too fast for Kifune after the talk. The black-haired boy could feel his legs melting as each step was bringing him closer to the school gates. His club mates were all waving goodbyes and encouraging as they went to their houses.
He was now alone with himself, leaving his brain racing with thoughts.
Was the sender the girl he was by his locker this morning?
He shook his head. It couldn’t be her, she barely knew him.
Was it… someone from the club? They could have talked earlier….
Kifune had no clue who it could be.
“Hey.”
A masculine voice dragged him out of his anxious thoughts. Kifune turned around to see who it belonged to. He saw a man, slightly taller than him with wider shoulders and short-cut dark hair. It was Yoshino, one of his classmates. He was a popular member of the school’s judo club. Kifune had heard several girls were crushing on him. Which was understandable to Kifune’s eyes: Yoshino was sporty, smart and caring, somewhat the mom of his club as some said. He pretty much had everything for him.
“Oh hello, Yoshino. Are you waiting for someone?”
“I’m the one who kept you waiting, sorry.” Yoshino replied.
Kifune stared at the other teen in confusion. Yoshino looked back, in anxiety.
“Are you.. bothered that another boy likes you… like this?”
Kifune waved his hands.
“N-no. Not at all! I’m just… surprised, that’s all!”
“Hm. You were still thinking it was a prank, I guess.”
Yoshino looked at Kifune with a faint blush.
“Let’s walk a bit, if you don’t mind.”
Kifune nodded, following Yoshino’s steps.
Yoshino stopped abruptly near a waste ground, one they had to pass by everyday to go to school and back home.
“Here will be good enough.” Yoshino stated.
“So… Kifune…. I might not have used the best method to reach you out. I apologize if it made you feel bad.”
“Anyway. I’m not messing with you or anything. I really like you. I… just didn’t know how to say it because… a lot of things to be honest.”
“I…”
“You don’t have to reply right away. I would just be happy if you thought about it, at least a little.”
Kifune stayed silent at the confession, blushing heavily. Yoshino giggled at the sight.
“You are so cute.”
“I will think about it. I just. I think I need to get to know you more… I mean. I think it would be better!”
The other boy smiled widely before letting out a loud sigh and crouching to the floor.
“Thank god.” He whispered to himself.
“Sorry I can’t feel my legs anymore.” He joked to Kifune.
The day after, Kifune saw Yoshino talking with the girl, who was at his locker yesterday, during a class break. He listened in on their conversation.
“Thanks for your help.” Yoshino said to the girl, giving her a cafeteria ticket.
“Your welcome. Sooo Makoto... How did it go?~” The girl teased.
Yoshino must have seen Kifune eavesdropping and stared at him, shying the timid boy away with a blush.
“Not bad.” he replied to his girl friend.