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In the past, Keiichi despised White Day, Valentine's Day and all similar events. Since studing was his only "passion", every other fellow classmate was nothing but a rival to him and any interactions or gift-giving felt pointless. Of course, it all changed when he started living in Hinamizawa.
He made friends with girls from their club, and so his life started to be much more bright and breezy. Of course, there was also Satoshi who got along magnificently with Keiichi immediately after he came here. Probably it was natural, since they were the only boys around the same age. Probably Houjou's friendly attitude and kind personality made it all much easier as well.
A month ago, on the Valentine's Day he got quite a lot of chocolates from girls, what was rather assumed, considering how much quantitatively in Hinamizawa school, the female gender led the way.
Rena Ryuugu gave him especially extraordinary chocolate. Keiichi got both excited and embarrassed back then.
Tommorrow is the White Day so obviously a perfect occasion for Maebara to return gotten chocolates to all his girl classmates, either current or former.
Unfortunately, Keiichi and cooking or food making of any sorts wasn't a good match. Oppositely, it was a fatal match. If he ever brang it up, Satoko would undoubtedly agree, while Rika would pat his head to cheer him up.
Keiichi heard the school's bell and deeply yawned. He finally could go home and make those chocolates. Of course, he had to think up before of some stupid excuse that would allow him to skip the club activities. It worked, although he could swear Rena and Rika gazed at him suspiciously back then, despite their apparent sad-looking smiles. Keiichi knew it would be absolutely no surprising if they surmised something. They have always had that horribly awesome sixth sense.
On his way to the door he noticed Satoshi who was reading some book and was leaning against his old locker.
Even though he, as well as Mion and Shion, have already graduated Hinamizawa's school, Houjou came back here rather often in a free time to pick up Satoko or to hang out with her or Keiichi.
Suddenly a brilliant idea came to Maebara's mind as he approached the before mentioned boy.
"Yo, Satoshi! Are you maybe free today, when I'll end up school?" He greeted which caused Houjou to turn his gaze on him.
"Hello, Keiichi. Actually, there’s something i have to do later, sorry." Satoshi answered while closing his book.
"Let me guess... It has to do with the White Day?"
Houjou smiled gently and only nodded in response.
"We both are lucky then. I haven't made chocolates for girls yet either."
Satoshi blinked a few times, before answering. "So, you mean..."
“So, we should hang out and make the chocolate to give it back to them! You’re way more talented in the kitchen than I am.” Keiichi spoke remembering how Satoko once saved him before he burned the kitchen.
Satoshi most likely surpassed her in cooking skills, he is her older brother after all. At least that's what Keiichi thought.
"You exaggerate. I'm not really that good at these things... Satoko gives me earful about my bad done cooking constantly." Houjou replied scratching the back of his head.
“Come on, Satoshi! You got to help me out… you are the only one I could possibly ask to help me with this.” Keiichi didn’t exagerrate, there weren't many boys in his school, and even if that wouldn't be the case, they still were all younger and less experienced.
"Fine. I have chocolates to give too, after all. It will be better to do it together." Houjou answered smiling softly.
Keiichi gave him a thumb-up. "Thanks a lot, you are a real life-saver!"
After their conversation, they both went shopping to Okinomiya for necessary ingredients.
At this time Keiichi really was glad he could skip the club, even though he enjoyed it enormously. When they both ride back to his house, the sky didn't turn completely dark yet.
The two of them came to Keiichi's house, as Satoshi greeted his mom in the door. They didn’t talk too much though, since she had to go out to help her husband with something at work.
"Your mom had to go out somewhere?" Satoshi asked as they turned to the kitchen.
"Yeah, I have got used to it already." Keiichi answered bluntly, but didn’t add anything more.
He probably didn’t want to complain about these things to someone who must live without his parents. And Keiichi honestly looked up to Houjou for it and not only. He was somebody who suffered greatly, but still was one of the nicest people he has ever met and perfect older brother as well.
Satoshi wasn't really a prying person, so he didn’t ask about his parents anymore. Or more likely, he knew Keiichi well enough to be already aware of it all.
"Anyway, let's get to work already!" Maebara announced determined, but was cool off not a much time later. "By the way... How do you exactly make these chocolates?"
Houjou sighed, knowing well enough there is a lot of work awaiting him.
After he explained precisely to Keiichi how they will be making chocolates, they finally started their work.
Satoshi placed cocoa and butter in the processor and mixed, while Keiichi heated a pan and filled it with some water and then placed the bowl on top of the pan.
Houjou put the chocolate paste in the bowl and then heated until the mixture is hot enough. Then, he put the mixture back in the processor and mix till smooth, spilling some of it around.
Keiichi obviously noticed his clumsy moves, but it didn't matter to him. He admired Satoshi's determination and precision, nevertheless.
Houjou warmed the milk to room temperature. Added sugar, flour and milk to the cocoa paste and mixed the batter well so that no lumps are formed. Next, they both poured the mixture into chocolate moulds and placed it in the fridge.
"Now, we must only wait until they become solid." Satoshi spoke, before sighing deeply. Tutoring someone can be pretty tiresome, can't it?
"Well, I certainly did wisely asking you for help. Nice work!"
Finally, after waiting enough time, Keiichi took pieces out and nice smell of chocolate welcomed him.
"I hope they taste as good as they look. Impressing Rena with food must be hard, considering her awesome cooking skills. Her homemade cookies and chocolate are true paradise in mouth."
"I'm pretty sure she will appreciate whatever you give her, especially if you put so much effort in it." Satoshi took one piece of chocolate and put it to his mouth to check their taste.
Keiichi didn't even wait for his opinion and after a second did the exactly same thing.
"Well... It's certainly not bad. Probably not Rena's level but above average definitely." He announced, posing like some gourmet with an experience in his craft.
"Compliments aren't your strong suit, are they?" Satoshi answered with a teasing tone and his usual soft smile.
"Oh, jeez, have it your own way. They are really tasty. Happy now?" Keiichi spoke in a playfully irritated tone, but it was obvious no malice was intended.
"Definitely," after he said it he looked at their chocolates, it was safe to say there were various types, as they differed in size and perhaps even quality. "I guess, I'm gonna take half with me?"
"Obviously! It's painful to admit, but you did more work and splendidly as well. I'm almost feeling bad we share equally..." After just a little thought Keiichi continued. "Well, it's not like we will be eating them anyway."
"You also did excellent work. Even if I guided you, your effort and enthusiasm were enough in their own way." Satoshi said, while patting Keiichi on the head with a smile which could melt any heart.
Maebara was embarrassed in return. "C-come on, i-it wasn't a big deal..." He stammered, while blushing profusely and avoiding Houjou's gaze.
They talked yet another long time before Satoshi had to return home. Of course, he took half of their home made chocolates with him. Both he and Keiichi decided it would be better to share them now, in case either of them would run into any girl tomorrow at the morning.
Especially Maebara who will most likely go to school with Rena and meet up early with Rika and Satoko. Because of his impatience, he prefered to give chocolates to them right away. Not to mention his other classmates and the Sonozaki twins, hopefully they will be free enough to meet up.
With all those people in mind, Keiichi once again got reminded of how much happier his life has become since he moved to Hinamizawa.
He couldn't wipe old, regretful memories, but he believed he changed himself, and so he could still look brightly into the future, and wake up every day with a smile.
Maybe he will like White Day after all.