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Hakuno stared at the selection of Pocky before her as she stood in the middle of the local konbini near her home. There was a part of her that knew she should just get herself some Pocky and hightail it to school before the horde of schoolgirls- her fellow classmates came in and bought up the remaining stock of the treat.
Already, the selection was kind of picked over. No doubt from salarymen and women trying to find something for their significant others. Was it worth it to stand here debating what she should be getting? She was wasting precious minutes.
She most definitely did not want to fight her classmates just for her snick snacks.
Yet, as Hakuno stood there inspecting the pocky choices for what had to be the millionth time, her thoughts kept going to one particular exchange student. The blond, arrogant guy from the Near East, who also somehow spoke perfect Japanese, and who she was very sure was a secret otaku.
That, or he was also a polyglot. Did Gilgamesh also have a MeTube where he showed off how many languages he spoke, just to get people praising him online?
Hakuno wasn't sure which was more annoying, but it would explain Gilgamesh's gigantic ego.
Before she could debate any further, Hakuno reached out and grabbed two boxes of her favorite Pocky- strawberry, of course- before she made her way to the drinks section and grabbed two containers of her favorite banana milk. There. Now she could go pay and get the hell out of the store before she was stuck waiting in a long line.
What did Gilgamesh even do in his free time? Hakuno thought as she made her way to the counter to pay. More importantly, why did she care?
Gilgamesh never shut up when they were in class. The man liked to talk her ear off way too much. From her looks, which he often called plain. To video games, what she was doing, why she was hanging out with people like Shinji, or what she was doodling in her notebook.
She wasn't even sure why she was bothering to get the guy something for Valentine's Day. One moment she was just here for her own snacks to get through the day, and then the next she had two milks and two boxes of Pocky in her hands.
It was because Gilgamesh was a transfer student, Hakuno told herself. Plus, Gilgamesh was in her class. It was a nice thing to do. Gilgamesh, for whatever reason, decided to, unfortunately, attend school here in Fuyuki. As a guest in their school, and as one of her classmates, it made sense that she would want to help Gilgamesh experience true Japanese culture.
In this particular case, Gilgamesh could experience how Valentine's Day was celebrated in Japan. That was it. She was just being nice and a good fellow classmate.
As Hakuno paid for her things and left, another thought occurred as she walked towards her high school. Gilgamesh would probably get to experience how Valentine's Day was celebrated in Japan without her help.
Objectively speaking, Gilgamesh was a handsome person. He was tall, pale-skinned, and he had blond hair that almost looked like gold when the sun shone just right on his hair through the classroom windows.
And then his eyes. She had never seen eyes quite like Gilgamesh's before. It wasn't even just the color of his eyes. However, the red was indeed a unique color. Each time that Hakuno caught sight of him, she couldn't help but be reminded of the most vivid of reds in her paint collection at home. However, even if she painted him, not that she would ever want to, but if she ever painted Gilgamesh, she was sure that not even her most expensive paints could do the color of his eyes justice.
Not to mention, the shape of his eyes was also not like anything she had seen before. Not only was the bastard lucky enough to be blessed with double eyelids, but his eyes nearly looked like a cat's. Or a snake whenever he was annoyed.
Not that she personally had noticed or anything. Anyone could put that much together with just a couple of glances. That being said, there was a high chance that Gilgamesh's desk would be filled with chocolates by the time the day ended. Probably his locker, too.
So this was good then. She could shove the snack and milk at the guy and go about her business. If he didn't want it- well, Rin never turned down anything free.
As Hakuno approached the school gate, she could spot that mess of blond hair in the distance. It looked like he was talking to his green-haired friend, even as the other was running off.
This was a terrible idea. He could get the wrong idea. She didn't actually like Gilgamesh. She was just being nice.
Being a good classmate and all of that.
"Your friend looks like he's in a hurry," Hakuno commented as a way of greeting as she neared the guy.
As Gilgamesh's attention turned to her, Hakuno realized just how much of a bad idea this was. They barely got along. Their form of communication was hardly above being snarky back and forth. She was just glad that they didn't have any projects together. It was bad enough that she was stuck in school with him for hours on end during the day.
Having to spend hours upon hours with him after school? She'd throw herself out a window. Maybe. She wasn't sure how Enkidu could stand him.
Clearly, you don't think he's that bad if you've bothered to get him something for Valentine's Day, her traitorous mind thought.
"Naturally. Enkidu cannot miss the bread lines. He is rather fond of the bread here," Gilgamesh replied, a smirk coming to his features at the sight of her. "You are never here early, Kishinami. Special occasion?"
Yeah, maybe Rin would enjoy this better. There was a part of her that, if she were smart, she would've just nodded and walked off. But she clearly wasn't smart. There was obviously something wrong with her brain cells this morning.
So instead of running away, she moved a tiny bit closer and began to rummage around in the 11-7 bag in order to get Gilgamesh's things out of it.
"You could say that. It's Valentine's Day. Well, it is your first Valentine's Day here in Japan. I figured I would show you how we celebrate before you inevitably get overwhelmed by a horde of girls."
"Oh? Are you sure that you're not here because you wish to confess your feelings for me?"
She should just throw this Pocky at his face. It was all Hakuno could do not to roll her eyes, even though she felt her cheeks heating as she got the Pocky and banana milk out of the bag.
"Hardly. We are classmates. We sit next to one another. I am just trying to be a good classmate. And I never see you eat anything while you're here," Hakuno replied, holding out the items to him.
Gilgamesh raised a brow as he accepted the treats. He looked them over his eyes, lingering on the banana milk.
"Ah, and your solution to this is to bring me junk food."
"Banana milk is not junk food! It's good."
The pocky was for sure, but milk was milk. He couldn't argue that.
"And you indulge in this banana milk often?" That smirk was back on his features as he began to attempt to open the milk. "And yet you are still so short. Truly, not all of us are created equal. Or perhaps you are, in fact, not drinking enough milk to grow those short legs of yours."
He was such a jerk! Hakuno huffed, watching him struggle before she rolled her eyes, taking the milk from the guy. She could open it for him. As a treat.
"You're going to maul that container of milk. Too rich to drink out of small cartons like this?"
"I prefer my milk non-fruit flavored," Gilgamesh replied with a shrug. "I drink and consume quality nourishment, you see."
Yeah yeah. Rich exchange student. She got it. Even his cologne called her poor as his scent invaded her senses. Forget the school bag he had over his shoulder.
"Yeah, well, perhaps you should live like a normal Japanese student today," Hakuno replied, handing the drink back to him now that it was open. "Or at least be sure to be nice to the many girls that are sure to give you a ton of chocolate today."
"Oh, is that jealousy I'm hearing, Kishinami?"
It wasn't. It really wasn't. She was just being kind. A word that clearly wasn't in his vocabulary! She watched Gilgamesh drink. Was that a hum she heard? Did he like the drink that much?
She shouldn't have liked hearing that pleased sound as much as she did. She wasn't going to think about, couldn't think about what that meant.
Yup. It was time to go. Hakuno adjusted her bag, nodding as she turned her attention to the school doors and prepared to go. She could enjoy her own banana milk before class started. Maybe buy a yakisoba bread before Enkidu bought them all up.
"Bye, Gilgamesh. See you in class. Hope you have a good Valentine's-"
Hakuno paused, feeling a hand around her wrist. She glanced back, finding Gilgamesh's red gaze looking intently upon her.
"Since you are so concerned about my well-being, I assume this means that you are willing to show me how a "normal" Japanese student lives?"
"What?"
That wasn't what she had meant at all! She hadn't even implied that she wanted to show him anything like that.
"You will meet me after class. We will go get whatever you dignify as dinner."
He didn't need to look so satisfied and smug as he kept talking, Hakuno thought as she tried to process what he was telling her.
"I am aware of how this works. Girls are supposed to take the men that they adore on a date today, correct?"
Of course, he knew how Valentine's Day worked in her homeland. He spoke Japanese fluently.
"Yes but- I-I was just being nice. You are misunderstanding, Gilgamesh."
"Am I?" Gilgamesh held up the strawberry Pocky as if that were proof enough. "So I imagined that your hands were slightly shaking, and the blush that stained your cheeks as you handed off your gifts to me?"
Yes. Yes, you asshole. You couldn't have known, Hakuno thought. How had he even clocked that?! She was sure it hadn't been noticeable at all.
"Gilgamesh-"
Hakuno felt her breath catch in her throat as she once again found Gilgamesh invading her personal space. He was so close. She could smell his overly expensive cologne that smelled like cedarwood, sage, and cardamom.
"So we are in agreement then. You will meet me after class. I will look forward to this so-called teaching of yours, Kishinami."
And just like that, his touch was gone from her wrist. Hakuno glanced back as Gilgamesh sauntered off, the lingering scent of his cologne in the air left in his wake.
She had definitely miscalculated. She glanced down at her bag, suddenly not feeling the banana milk or the Pocky at all.
She didn't like Gilgamesh at all. He was a pushy bastard on his good days, and just a straight-up asshole any other day.
She needed at least two more banana milks to get through the day.
And she was for sure taking Gilgamesh to the most unhealthy place she could think of for dinner.
If only to get him to complain. Or hear that pleased hum again as Gilgamesh realized that he enjoyed peasant food.
That would be funny, Hakuno told herself as she entered the school building. It would just be a good time and a one-off outing.
That was all.