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Sakura knew about Valentine's day, but had no use for it. No one spoke to him in middle school, especially not girls. They bullied him just as much as the guys, but he couldn't punch them to make it stop.
Now, he’s walking down the street carrying ten separate bags of chocolate, given to him by girls. Most were gifts meant as a thank you for saving them while on patrol. He remembered most of them, but Sakura wasn’t even the one they talked to. He leaves that to his classmates.
Kotoha teased him relentlessly at breakfast. His only mercy was that Umemiya wasn't there. It would have been ten times worse. When they have a target the two are merciless. Recently he's been able to team up with them against each other, so at least he isn't the only one suffering anymore.
Umemiya will still find out. Probably before school even starts, he has eyes everywhere. It’s actually hilarious. He has a communications network over this entire territory with the integration between Makochi and Furin high. A high school gang leader might actually be the most influential person in town.
He’s dragging his feet to delay his arrival, hoping that if he gets there closer to the bell the questioning won't be as bad.
It’s wishful thinking.
As soon as he enters the entire room goes silent. After a moment Suo, ever the instigator of chaos, asks; “Ohoh, did our dear Sakura get valentines gifts on the way to school?”
His smile is a little unnerving, still in the way he gets before a fight. His eye is trained on the bags in Sakura's arms.
He puts them down on his desk to scratch the back of his neck. He can feel his cheeks flush.
“Yeah. On my way over a bunch of girls kept stoppin’ me, saying they wanted to give me thank you gifts. I don't get it though, you guys are the ones that usually talk to them.” His voice gets increasingly quiet as they all listen.
Then the class erupts with sound.
“Ooo our class captain is pretty popular huh?” Kiryuu asks as he drapes his arms around Sakura’s shoulders.
Neire nods his head, pulling out a notebook. “Ive noticed three girls on patrol this week that exhibit signs of a crush on Sakura-san.”
Sakura sputters. “What!?”
“Graciously accepting gifts is a great virtue.” Tsugeura says as he comes over from the window, a big grin on his face.
Behind him he can hear, “Awe I want valentines day chocolate too.”
“No way any girls gonna give you some.”
Sakura puts his head down on the desk. Maybe if he ignores them they’ll stop.
“Sa-ku-ra-chan, don't ignore us. We want all the details of your wild morning.” Kiryuu says in his ear.
He bolts up, knocking Kiryuu off him. “Ah! Don't call it that! There was nothing wild about it! A bunch of girls just kept showing up on my way!” He's starting to feel a little hysteric. “I don’t even know how they knew where to find me!”
“Oh Sakura-kun, you underestimate how dashing you are. Of course girls are going to give you chocolate.” Suo says with a teasing grin, though it still has an edge, there is real mirth in his eye.
Sakura flushes to his ears and groans. “Please stop. You guys can have the chocolate, take it and your questions with you.”
Unsurprisingly no one takes him up on the offer. Non-stop for the rest of the day he’s getting questions about the chocolate. Even from people outside of 1-1!
How did the news even spread so fast!?
His saving grace is that Umemiya didn't make an announcement when he found out. Sakura had actually been worried about that. He did text him though.
Ume
So I heard you got some treats today 💖🏹
Sakura
No.
Ume
Oh really? So Kotoha didn't see you with an armful of chocolate this morning?
Sakura
Shes a snitch
Ugh fine yes I got chocolates
DO NOT make an announcement about it
Ume
But Sakuraaaa I want to tell everyone the good news!
Sakura
No
Or i wont talk to you at all today
Youll be left in suspense
Ume
…
Ugh fine. But you better come to the roof after school!
Sakura
Okay
—
Sakura walks to the roof like it's a plank off a pirate ship. He knows exactly who's gonna be behind that door. His two biggest headaches at this school.
As soon as he walks through an excited Tsubiki pulls him into a hug, almost making him drop the bags in his hands.
“Ah! Stop! Give me some room!” Sakura yells. Tsubiki gives him a kiss on the cheek and then drags them over to the table where Umemiya is already lying in wait.
“Ohoh, look at this. My little brother is all grown up, getting valentines day chocolate from a bunch of girls.” Umemiya has a shit eating grin on his face, already chuckling at Sakura's misery.
“Yeah, yeah I know. Laugh it up.” He says with a deadpan look. “I’ve been getting it all day.”
“But it’s so exciting! You even brought it up here for us to see!” Tsubiki tugs the bags towards them. “Awe look at all the wrapping paper. These are so cute!”
“I don't even get it! Why are they giving me chocolate? I didn't even talk to some of these girls, my friends did.” He sounds as exhausted by it as he feels.
“Well you left an impression on them. You have a very charming character you know.” Umemiya’s still smiling but it's softer now. “They are just repaying the kindness.”
“Ugh.” He lays back against one of the benches, his arm draped over his face to hide the blush he can feel there. “It would be kind if it didn't cause me so much grief today. Suo kept giving the bags dirty looks. Kiryuu kept on complimenting me, and Neire was trying to guess what chocolate came from which girl we helped. I spent the entire day as red as your stupid tomatoes.”
Both of them start cackling, Umemiya recovering first. “The joys of having friends, am I right?”
That makes Sakura smile under his arm. “Yeah I guess.”
With a sigh he sits up, “You guys can have some if you want. I brought it up to share.”
Predictably, this gets him two enthusiastic “Awe’s” while Tsubiki traps him in another hug.
The joys of having friends, huh?