Chapter 5
This chapter was translated by yuugs, shizuumi, and Ran, and proofed by kuririn, yuugs, kittensparkles, and dei-hime!
One day...
The moment I opened the classroom door that morning, the students inside stopped talking all at once and turned to look in my direction. Even when I just stood up from my seat and started walking, I could feel everyone's gazes following me.
...Now that I thought about it… The atmosphere at Hakuo Academy had been sort of weird since this morning.
We were well into the new semester. The unforgiving chill of winter was finally beginning to let up. Since the start of February, I'd grown used to rubbing my shaking hands together while walking to and from school.
After completing the most arduous class of the week― Monday first period―I frowned, thinking about the odd feeling that had been growing since that morning.
Chizuru Yukimura: "......"
Classmate A: "......"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Um... Do you have a minute?"
Classmate A: ‘!! W-What is it, Yukimura? Oh, do you wanna tell me something? Whatever it is, you can tell me!"
Chizuru Yukimura: "...No. Sorry. It's nothing, actually."
Seeing the jumpy, nervous state my classmates were in made me frown even more deeply. And it wasn't just my classmates, either. Everyone I passed by in the hallways, all the senior students...absolutely everyone had been acting downright strange since that morning.
Classmate B: "......"
I'd lock eyes with people, and they'd quickly look away.
Classmate C: "......"
The opposite happened, too. People would shoot me an earnest look whenever I said something inconsequential. Honestly, just what in the world was going on with everyone...?
And then, during the lunch break after morning classes, I just couldn't stand how everyone was staring at me anymore. I rushed out into the hallway as soon as the bell rang. When I first enrolled, I got a lot of stares as the only female student, but even so...
Chizuru Yukimura: "I feel like people are staring at me even more than they did back then..."
In the courtyard. In the corridor outdoors. I grabbed my bento and walked off, hoping to get away from all the stares. I looked for anywhere I could go where no one else would be around. The place I finally settled on was the quietest room in the school.
Chizuru Yukimura: "―Excuse me."
Keisuke Sannan: "Oh? What an unexpected guest to have."
Susumu Yamazaki: "Yukimura-kun? What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "No, I feel fine, thank you. Actually..."
[time skip as she explains]
Keisuke Sannan: "...I see. You feel as though you're drawing even more attention than usual."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Yes. I may just be being overly self-conscious, but I feel like there's always someone who's looking at me. Is there anything...strange about me today? Like my appearance, or..."
Maybe I had bed-head, for example. Or maybe my jacket was buttoned wrong. As I spun once in place to show them how I looked, Yamazaki-senpai quickly averted his eyes.
Susumu Yamazaki: "......"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Oh, something must be out of place then, huh? Is it my clothes? Or my face...?"
Susumu Yamazaki: "No, there's nothing wrong with your face. You look as good as you alw― um, you look like you always do!" Yamazaki-senpai hurriedly shook his head for some reason.
Sannan-sensei smiled wryly and said:
Keisuke Sannan: "I haven't seen the situation firsthand, so this may be mere conjecture, but… could it be that all the students in your vicinity look restless and agitated?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Ah, yes. Now that you put it that way, I think that's right. Someone nearly jumped out of their skin earlier when I called out to them. I wonder if I did something wrong without noticing, somehow...?"
Keisuke Sannan: "I suppose. You may be correct, in a certain sense."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Huh...?"
Keisuke Sannan: "Hehe, in short, you are at fault for being too attractive."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Whaaat...!?"
Keisuke Sannan: "I think you will come to understand what I mean soon enough. Isn't that right, Yamazaki-kun?"
Susumu Yamazaki: "...I do not understand why you're trying to drag me into this."
Sensei had called me 'attractive'... Could it be that he was teasing me...? I reflexively shot him a reproachful glare, but he showed no signs of noticing. He gave me a sweet smile and spoke again.
Keisuke Sannan: "Ah, more importantly, it seems as though you have yet to eat your lunch."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Yes. I couldn't stand to stay in the classroom any longer, so I didn't eat there."
Keisuke Sannan: "Well, then, why don't you eat here? It seems you brought along your bento."
I felt that he had deftly dodged my questions somehow, but… I decided that I'd take him up on his offer for now and gave a little nod. I ended up staying much longer than I'd intended to. By the time I left the infirmary, I had very little of my lunch break remaining.
Chizuru Yukimura: "I'm pretty sure that my first afternoon class is math with Nagakura-sensei..." Maybe it was because I had had a good meal, or because I had talked with those two, but I felt a little less anxious. "...But, for the time being, I need to find somewhere to kill a little more time."
Then, as I walked off, away from where math would take place, a huge obstacle blocked my path and my vision.
Shinpachi Nagakura: "Whoops! Where are you off to, Yukimura-kun? Don't you have math in just a bit? If you wanna skip my class, then I don't wanna hear about it!"
Chizuru Yukimura: "No, I wasn't intending to do that..."
Shinpachi Nagakura: "Hm? Well, where are you going then? Toilet?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "......" Nagakura-sensei sometimes was a little...lacking in tact. "No, that's not it. Actually..."
[time skip as she explains]
Shinpachi Nagakura: "So your classmates are acting kinda weird, huh? I see."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Do you know something about it?"
Shinpachi Nagakura: "Well, that's, you know… It's just that time of year." He folded his arms, nodding sagely to himself as he replied. "The day that men both dream of and dread… Valentine's Day!"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Oh..."
I hadn't been consciously aware of it because there were still a couple of days left before the 14th, but now that I thought about it, it was already February. Valentine's ads usually flooded the city around now. That would more or less explain all the attention I had been getting since that morning. It was actually a bigger mystery that I hadn't noticed sooner...
Shinpachi Nagakura: "You're the only one in the whole school who can do something for Valentine's Day, Yukimura-kun. Who does the school idol's heart belong to? Anyone would be interested in finding that out."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Please stop. This is so embarrassing… Incidentally, how about you, Nagakura-sensei? You sound like you're excited for Valentine's Day."
Shinpachi Nagakura: "Of course. This year, I'm definitely going to get chocolate from some beautiful ladies for once!"
Chizuru Yukimura: "'For once,' huh..." I was sort of wondering if he'd ever gotten any before, but I decided not to ask for the moment.
Shinpachi Nagakura: "Well, I think that there are tons of guys who are hoping to get chocolate from you, but… If you feel obligated to go around and give some to every one of 'em...no matter how much you have, it'll never be enough. It'll at least be peaceful around here until the 14th, so just forget about it for now! C'mon, let's head to class!"
After he had explained what was going on, Nagakura-sensei started walking, leading the way to the classroom.
Would it be easier for me to go back in if he was there with me...? I decided to follow after him.
Chizuru Yukimura: "Valentine's Day, hmm..."
Now that he’d mentioned it, I realized I really did need to start thinking about it. The holiday was inching closer and closer.
‘What should I make this year...?’
My afternoon classes felt like they'd lasted longer than usual, but they were finally over. A feeling of freedom came over me as the final bell rang. School had finished for today. The moment homeroom ended, I left the classroom.
Thanks to the chats I had during lunch break, I knew the reason why everyone was acting like that, but that didn't change how uncomfortable it made me. On the contrary, now that I knew what everyone was expecting from me, I felt more and more like I couldn't stand to stay there a second longer.
Chizuru Yukimura: "Phew..."
As the sun began to set, the shadow of all those chocolatey expectations caused my face to fall. Soon enough, the day that gave women the courage to confess their love would roll around. A day where girls gave both chocolate and their hearts to the object of their desires, hoping to start something.
Chizuru Yukimura: "Who in the world should I give―" I was shaken from my thoughts by some sort of commotion going on right in front of me. "What's with this crowd...?"
There was a throng of people, all crowded around some sort of notice board affixed to the hallway wall. I spotted some people I recognized amidst the crowd and called out to them.
Chizuru Yukimura: "Amagiri-senpai, Shiranui-senpai!"
Kyuuju Amagiri: "Oh, it's Yukimura-kun. Are you on your way home?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "I was, but… What's going on over here?"
Kyou Shiranui: "Don'tcha think it'd be faster just to see it? Hey, you―move it or lose it!"
I stepped into the space Shiranui-senpai had made for me and began to read the bulletin aloud.
Chizuru Yukimura: "'Announcement― Beginning tomorrow, students will undergo random personal effects inspections for a week. Entertainment and gaming systems, as well as unnecessary food and drink, will be confiscated’...!?"
Kyuuju Amagiri: "Starting tomorrow and lasting for one week. In other words, until Valentine's day. The perfect plan to eliminate any potential chocolate-giving."
Kyou Shiranui: "And the only person nasty enough to think this up… Well, you can take a guess, yeah?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Don't tell me...it's Kazama-senpai?"
Kyou Shiranui: "Naw, it ain't our boss. He's aiming for the opposite, actually."
Kyuuju Amagiri: "Yes. Contrary to this announcement, Kazama-sama is impatiently awaiting his chocolates."
Chizuru Yukimura: "So, if it's not him, then it's..."
???: "It hurts to be called ‘nasty,’ you know?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Kaoru...!"
Pushing his way through the crowd, Kaoru strode swiftly up to where we were standing.
Chizuru Yukimura: "Kaoru, what does this mean? Is this notice from the disciplinary committee?"
Kaoru Nagumo "Of course. It's our job to correct any disruptions to order within the school."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Why are you doing such a thing...?"
Kaoru Nagumo: "Why? Isn't it obvious? If we take no preventative measures, the riffraff won't have a shred of shame coming to pester you for obligation chocolates. But if it's banned from the school grounds entirely, everyone will have to give up, right? You should be grateful to have such a kind older brother."
Chizuru Yukimura: "But, if things are like this now, if I happen to bring romantic chocolates, won't they end up being confiscated, too...?"
Kaoru Nagumo: “! ...R-...Romantic chocolate, you say? Hmph, well, say whatever you like. If I recall… You don't have anyone you want confess to in the first place, right?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Well..."
Kaoru Nagumo: "Or...don't tell me you intend to confess to someone like Toudou or Okita, or even Saitou...!"
Chizuru Yukimura: "I-I didn't say anything like that...!"
Kaoru continued to rattle off a rapid-fire stream of questions while completely ignoring my objections. How should I put this...? I had had no idea he was even capable of looking as frustrated as he did now.
Kaoru Nagumo: "Anyway, you're still too young! You absolutely can't bring any chocolate! Got it? You absolutely cannot!" Kaoru went to the trouble of reminding me twice before he briskly marched away. I was left dumbfounded in his wake and turned around to face Amagiri-senpai and Shiranui-senpai.
Chizuru Yukimura: "...Amagiri-senpai, Shiranui-senpai. I'm sorry you had to see such a shameful display."
Kyou Shiranui: "I mean, I don't mind, but… What even was that?"
Kyuuju Amagiri: "It seems that the inner workings of an older brother's mind are just as mysterious as those of a woman's..."
After that, I parted ways with Amagiri-senpai and Shiranui-senpai and passed through the front gate on my way home. Even if I set aside the random inspections for now, I couldn't escape the fact that Valentine's Day was fast approaching.
Chizuru Yukimura: "I really don't have a choice. I need to start thinking about what chocolates to make… And the person I want to give chocolates to, huh?" My mumbled words turned to white fog as they left my mouth, floating up out of anyone’s reach in the pink sky.
Just one week left until Valentine's Day.
I wondered whether anyone would accept these sweet, aching feelings in my heart…
I wanted just a little more time.
But time still marched on regardless, and the days couldn’t very well get longer just because I wanted them to…
Before I even knew it, the calendar already read mid-February.
I spent my Saturday afternoon preparing for Valentine's Day, which was fast approaching…
I visited the Hakuo Academy cafeteria with Osen-chan and Kosuzu-chan over the weekend.
Sen Suzuka: "This is Hakuo Academy's cafeteria? I saw a little bit of it during the cultural festival, but it really is spacious."
Kosuzu Suzuka: "Ours is a little bit smaller. Lots of people bring bento lunches anyway."
Usually, I was the only girl here, so it felt really strange seeing other girls in school like this. The two of them looked at the unfamiliar menu and grinned.
Sen Suzuka: "Look, Kosuzu! Doesn't this pudding sound delicious?"
Kosuzu Suzuka: "Osen-san, we're not here to eat or anything..."
Well, Kosuzu-chan was right. We didn't come here today to eat...
Genzaburou Inoue: "I hope you three weren't waiting long. Everything's ready now."
Chizuru Yukimura: "That must have been a lot of work, Inoue-san. Thank you so much."
Kosuzu Suzuka: "But is it really alright? For people who aren't students here to borrow your kitchen like this?"
Genzaburou Inoue: "You've already gotten permission, haven't you? Besides, you're from Shimabara Girls' High School. There's no need to be shy."
Sen Suzuka: "Well, we'll take you up on your offer, then… So? How about we get started? Time to make chocolates!"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Yeah!"
Genzaburou Inoue: "Now, I don't want to get in the way of you girls, so I'll stay in the back and leave you to it. You're free to use whatever equipment you need in the kitchen. Just be careful with the stove."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Sure thing! Thank you so much!" After thanking him, we first lined up all the ingredients we had brought in a row.
Chizuru Yukimura: "...Fresh cream. Unsalted butter. Cocoa powder..."
Kosuzu Suzuka: "Wheat flour, eggs, baking powder..."
Sen Suzuka: "Chocolate to use, more chocolate to use. Oh, and some chocolate to use."
......
Chizuru Yukimura: "...Um, Osen-chan? Are you making a life-sized chocolate statue?"
Sen Suzuka: "Huh? What, Chizuru-chan, would you be the model for it?"
Kosuzu Suzuka: "It's surreal to imagine that being eaten..."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Absolutely not!"
Sen Suzuka: "Oh, boo... Well, we're not even making one big chocolate in the first place anyway. We'll be making lots of smaller ones."
Kosuzu Suzuka: "Osen-san has a large circle of friends. She also needs to prepare some for her relatives."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Ohh, I see..."
Sen Suzuka: "It must be nice for you two. You look like you're making chocolates to give to your special someone."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Huh!?"
Sen Suzuka: "Well, I don't know if you have anyone like that to give chocolates to, Chizuru-chan… But lately, Kosuzu's gotten close with that Ibuki-kun guy we met at the pool, see."
Chizuru Yukimura: "S-Since when...!?"
Kosuzu Suzuka: "I-It's not really like that… These chocolates are just friendly ones..." With her ingredients cradled in hand, Kosuzu-chan's expression softened tenderly, her muttered protests weak. I felt a bit jealous seeing that, but I also found myself making a similarly fond face.
Sen Suzuka: "Now, then, how about we make those chocolates?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Yeah! Let's do this!"
I wondered if I'd ever make such a tender face as I put my heart into what I made. But either way, I had to do my best making them...!
Before anything else, our first step was to warm things up. The chocolate we heated inside the bowl slowly started to melt.
Chizuru Yukimura: "Now, next is..."
With the chocolate's sweet-smelling fragrance, it was only natural that I was reminded of someone.
The very first face that came to mind was Sannan-sensei's. He'd helped me countless times over this past year. There were parts of him that were shrouded in mystery, but he was always kind to me, and was a wonderful teacher who was concerned about my well-being. I didn't know whether he'd accept them…
But if I could make him happy with these chocolates, that would make the effort worthwhile.
While I thought about that, at the end of the day… even with the tasty chocolates prepared, I wasn't even sure that I could bring them to school in the first place...
Chizuru Yukimura: "Hmmm..." Maybe I could trick the Disciplinary Committee one way or the other during the inspections...
Osen-chan and Kosuzu-chan cocked their heads a little at me. Maybe because they realized that I'd stopped working at some point.
Sen Suzuka: "What's wrong, Chizuru-chan?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Nothing, I just don't know if I can bring these to school, even though I've made them."
Kosuzu Suzuka: "...What do you mean?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "The truth is..."
[Transition while she explains]
Sen Suzuka: "That's what the inspections are for...? What the heck!? That's so mean of them!"
Kosuzu Suzuka: "The fact they're doing it now means they're totally targeting Valentine's Day."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Yeah..."
Hearing the situation, the two were infuriated. They stopped making their chocolates and looked ready to run over and give the Disciplinary Committee a beating right this second. I shook my head in a hurry at them.
Chizuru Yukimura: "C-Calm down, you two. It's already been decided anyway..."
Sen Suzuka: "But, isn't that just totally tyrannical!? Maybe if I go and give them a complaint or two..."
Kosuzu Suzuka: "Osen-san. You'd be sure to cause havoc if you did that, so try and bear with it. ...Although, even though it's definitely unfair, I feel like there is some point to it. Speaking practically, you have fewer boys to worry about wanting chocolates from you thanks to that notice."
Chizuru Yukimura: "You...have a point, but..."
Sen Suzuka: "Mm..."
Kosuzu Suzuka: "You can't really do much seeing as it's already been decided, and if there's someone you want to give chocolates to, you could just do it on your way home, right?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Yeah..." Honestly, Kosuzu-chan might've been right. Even if I wanted to give chocolates to someone, there wasn't any reason I had to bring them to school...
Sen Suzuka: "...I think that’d be a waste. I mean, Valentine's Day alone is a whole page in this chapter of our lives as high schoolers, right? There's meaning in giving chocolates to the person who you want at school, plus you'll make memories that way, too."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Y-Yeah... I guess that’s true too..."
Sen Suzuka: "If there's someone you wanna give them to no matter what, then this is the one chance you get this year! You can't give in to the rules!!"
Kosuzu Suzuka: "But I think it'd be really sad if you got your chocolates confiscated as a result."
Sen Suzuka: "...Well, whatever you end up doing, it’s all up to you, Chizuru-chan."
What was the right thing to do? I thought about that in the back of my mind as I finished preparing my chocolate dessert.
And then, Valentine's Day arrived.
The inspections had been going on for a few days and today was no different… Everywhere I went, I could see students from the disciplinary committee around me. It made me nervous as I walked down the hallways. I was more keyed in to my surroundings than I needed to be, and the way I gripped my bag probably looked really suspicious.
Chizuru Yukimura: "......"
Male Student A: "Yukimura."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Y-Yes!"
Male Student A: "Morning... Hey, what're you so jumpy for?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "N-Nothing―it's nothing."
I kept glancing at my bag that had my chocolates in it and walked down the corridor.
Prefect A: "Yukimura, I'm from the disciplinary committee. Please open your bag for inspecti―"
Chizuru Yukimura: "I-I don't know about any chocolates!"
Prefect A: "Huh? Um, no one said anything about chocolates..."
Chizuru Yukimura: "I don't know anything!" I walked off in a hurry. Even if people started talking to me, I had to pretend I never heard them...!
[Minigame Victory]
Chizuru Yukimura: "Haah, haah...!"
The chocolates I intended to give to Sannan-sensei were inside my bag. However, I'd be caught and forced to hand them over if I simply stood there doing nothing.
Chizuru Yukimura: "If I can at least reach my classroom...!"
I'd be able to hide them in my desk, and I didn't think they'd chase me that far anyway… I panted as I ran up the stairs, two at a time, heading straight for Class 1-1.
Chizuru Yukimura: !?
Suddenly, something caught onto my arm and I found myself off-balance. Was I caught―!?
???: "Quiet," A voice whispered into my ear in a hushed tone, and when I turned to look―
Chizuru Yukimura: "Sannan-sen―..."
Keisuke Sannan: "Shh..."
Chizuru Yukimura: "......"
He silenced me by putting a finger to my mouth. I stayed quiet as I pressed closely against the stairway railings...
Prefect A: "Did Yukimura come this way?"
Chizuru Yukimura: !
I could hear the students walking along the second floor corridor, wondering about my whereabouts...
Prefect B: "Well... She might've used the staircase on the other side."
Prefect A: "Alright, let's head there, then!"
Chizuru Yukimura: "......"
Keisuke Sannan: "...There they go. Seems like we managed to fool them well enough."
I let out a breath as I sighed in relief, before turning around to give him a smile and a bow.
Chizuru Yukimura: "Thank you so much for helping me, Sannan-sensei."
Keisuke Sannan: "Not at all. You have it quite rough out there. It's Valentine's Day today after all, so you'll be chased around quite a bit. I would be happy to help clear up their misunderstanding, if you so wish."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Eh...?"
Keisuke Sannan: "If I tell them that you really don't have any chocolate on you, they'll stop chasing you, won't they?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Th-That's not quite..."
Keisuke Sannan: "Don't tell me...you actually brought some with you?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Yes... I did..."
Of course, there was no way I could have made the answer sound any better. Even if the person I wanted to give them to was none other than Sannan-sensei himself. It'd be a little awkward to hand it to him in a place like this, where we might be seen by passing students at any given moment. I'd wanted to hand it to him after confessing my feelings in a quiet, calm, and peaceful way, if possible...
Chizuru Yukimura: ...!
Suddenly, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps as the people searching for me drew closer. It was about time for morning homeroom, but even the mere act of walking to the classroom seemed dangerous...
Keisuke Sannan: "Over here, Yukimura-kun."
Chizuru Yukimura: "R-Right...!"
The both of us continued up the stairway as I followed his lead.
He brought me up to the roof.
Keisuke Sannan: "We should be safe here for now. There's a blind spot here that can't be seen from the doorway, so let's hide there."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Thank you so much, Sannan-sensei...!"
I was really glad to have him on my side. I wouldn't have been able to protect my chocolates if I were all by myself.
Chizuru Yukimura: "......"
Besides, this might have been my one and only chance… We were lucky enough to end up alone together. However… What he said next crushed my feelings on the matter.
Keisuke Sannan: "But this really won't do."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Huh?"
Keisuke Sannan: "I never thought that you of all people would actually intend to give chocolates to someone..."
Chizuru Yukimura: "E-eh? Wha―!?" I unconsciously raised my voice.
His words had a hint of a chiding tone hidden beneath them.
Keisuke Sannan: "You're the only girl in this school, which means that there's only one boy out there who'll be receiving your chocolates," He said it in a gentle yet strict way. Like he was dragging this out on purpose. "Of course, I do think that those feelings you're harboring within your heart are important. But there should have been another way... One where you could have avoided this entire mess if you'd just exercised a little patience, no...?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "......"
I really couldn't wrap my head around it. To think that the very person I intended to give the chocolates to was lecturing me about it, of all things… I'd unconsciously let my guard down around him, immediately assuming that he'd be on my side, since he always seemed to stick by me.
Keisuke Sannan: "However, we're already in this situation anyway, so there's nothing we can do about it now. Besides, I'm not one to sit by and let your heartfelt chocolates get snatched away just like that. So, maybe that's a good thing. I always have your best interest in mind."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Sannan-sensei..."
Keisuke Sannan: "If you ever find yourself cornered with nowhere to flee, you're always welcome in the infirmary, you know...?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Y-Yes..."
He smiled when he saw the shaky nod I gave him. Then, he left the rooftop. He was probably going back to the infirmary.
Chizuru Yukimura: "......"
I felt my shoulders droop a little from having missed the opportunity to give him my chocolates. I guess he left me alone in this place to give me a little room to think.
Chizuru Yukimura: "I wonder what I should do with this… I made these chocolates with you in mind..."
In the single year I spent here after entering Hakuo Academy, I'd been under his care. He'd helped me out more times than I could count. I made this chocolate as a way to thank him for all the trouble he'd gone through for me as well.
Chizuru Yukimura: "I know that you might not accept these chocolates of mine, but..."
‘But, I really want to tell you how I feel.’
Chizuru Yukimura: "...I suppose I should go after him."
I gathered up my courage and placed my hand on the rooftop door with determination. I hoped I could get through the corridor without meeting anyone along the way...!
The corridor was empty, thankfully.
Chizuru Yukimura: "......"
I chose my path carefully and made my way to the infirmary.
Chizuru Yukimura: "If I can get past this corridor, all that's left will be―!" ‘Just getting through the infirmary door!’
I clutched the bag my chocolates were hidden in tightly and darted around the corner of the hallway.
Chizuru Yukimura: "......!"
Standing in my path was...
Toshizou Hijikata: "Yukimura, you..." He had a stern look on his face.
Susumu Yamazaki: "......" Yamazaki-senpai was there, worriedly looking between us.
Chizuru Yukimura: "W-Why..." I found myself unable to hide my disappointment at seeing the two of them in my way.
Toshizou Hijikata: "I never thought that you'd actually come here, of all places..."
Susumu Yamazaki: "Just as I feared."
It seemed like Hijikata-sensei and Yamazaki-senpai had already predicted that I'd be heading for the infirmary. Hijikata-sensei gave me an exasperated look as I prepared for a confrontation.
Toshizou Hijikata: "......"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Hijikata-sensei, no matter how much you ask, I'll never hand my chocolates over to you!"
Toshizou Hijikata: "Calm down, Yukimura," he held out a hand to stop me. "I got zero intentions of forcing you to do that."
Susumu Yamazaki: "I couldn’t even want to joke about snatching any possession of yours, either."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Then why are the both of you here?"
Toshizou Hijikata: "I'm just here to see if you're really prepared to open this door."
Chizuru Yukimura: "......"
He was trying to gauge the extent of my true feelings with that roundabout question. I just about managed to understand what he was trying to tell me between the lines. It was… the shadow of my anxiety that I'd hidden deep in a corner of my heart, ever since that one Christmas day... Ever since I left the party that night.
'You don't know what you're getting yourself into.'
'You don't even know Sannan-sensei all that well yourself.'
That was what Hijikata-sensei was trying to say.
Toshizou Hijikata: "I've got nothing against those feelings of yours, honestly. It doesn't matter who you fall in love with. Whether or not you prepared chocolates for them is up to you… But do you really know what kind of person the man you call 'Sannan' is?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "The kind of person he is...?"
Sannan-sensei's face floated into my mind before disappearing as soon as it came. The midterms, the pool incident, the cultural festival and Christmas… He was always gentle and kind. Every memory I had of him was as such.
Toshizou Hijikata: "It's not for me to say, but he's actually a pretty complicated person, with his own issues. So, don't you think it's a little too early to be confessing your feelings to him when you still don’t know anything about all that?"
I could see his worry for me clearly written onto his features. Did he know something that I didn't...?
Susumu Yamazaki: "I don't know if you're actually aware of this, but he's been exceptionally kind to you ever since you started attending."
Chizuru Yukimura: "...Isn't that because I'm the only girl attending this school?"
Susumu Yamazaki: "That's right. He might just be keeping an eye on you to ensure that you don't feel overly stressed here. I'm a health committee member, and have been in contact with him for a year longer than you. And based on my experience, I'd say..."
His expression looked like he was remembering something of his own experience as he let out a tired sigh.
Susumu Yamazaki: "He's definitely not as kind and gentle as he makes himself out to be..."
Chizuru Yukimura: "......"
I knew that the both of them were worried for me, and only had my best interests in mind. That was why their words pierce through my very heart. But, even so...!
Chizuru Yukimura: "I'm thankful for how kind he's been to me up till now. Even if he was just being especially nice to me, and isn't normally a kind person… Even if I'm nowhere close to finding out what kind of a person he truly is...!"
I knew that he probably had another side to him that he'd yet to show me. But that was also what drove me to want to know more about him.
Chizuru Yukimura: "I'm grateful to him for always being there for me, for helping me throughout this whole year. And that gratitude I have for him won't ever fade. These chocolates are proof of that. I want to give these to him, no matter what!"
I could now say it with no regrets. That it would hurt more to never know who he was at all!
Susumu Yamazaki: "Yukimura-kun..." My words must have reached them, because their speech faltered in surprise.
Keisuke Sannan: "What are the three of you doing out here, causing such a ruckus? Haven’t classes started by now?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Sannan-sensei..."
Keisuke Sannan: "Ahh, Yukimura-kun. You don't look too well… You might be coming down with a cold. How about you come in and check your temperature, just in case?"
He didn't make a move to ask me anything, only tugged my hand and invited me inside the infirmary.
Toshizou Hijikata: "......"
Susumu Yamazaki: "......"
Hijikata-sensei and Yamazaki-senpai both watched me with conflicted expressions...
Keisuke Sannan: "Are you alright, Yukimura-kun?" He asked the instant the door to the infirmary slid shut.
Chizuru Yukimura: "Uh, umm..."
Keisuke Sannan: ...?
Chizuru Yukimura: "Did you... did you hear everything that happened outside?"
Keisuke Sannan: "No. It's unfortunate, but I couldn't really hear much of what was going on from the inside."
I was relieved to hear him confirm that. Determined to accomplish what I had come to do, I opened my bag and took out the chocolates.
Chizuru Yukimura: "Sannan-sensei, here..."
Keisuke Sannan: "Huh?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "I made these chocolates intending… to give them to you. I'm well aware that I shouldn't be doing this at all. But... you're the only one who’s watched out for me during my first year in Hakuo Academy."
Sannan-sensei had supported me more than anyone else. So...
Chizuru Yukimura: "I just wanted to tell you how I felt today, no matter what!"
Keisuke Sannan: "...Yukimura-kun..."
Chizuru Yukimura: "The fact that I was able to enjoy coming to school everyday― I think it's also thanks to you, since you've always treated me so kindly...!"
Keisuke Sannan: "......"
He pursed his lips, but remained silent… Perhaps it was because he never thought that he'd be the one to receive these chocolates. I could clearly feel his shock.
Keisuke Sannan: "This is certainly an unexpected turn of events..." he muttered that softly as he accepted the offered chocolates. "...Are these gratitude chocolates?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Huh!?"
He wore his usual gentle smile, but his question really put me on the spot.
Chizuru Yukimura: "...Uhh..."
I found myself at a loss for words. They weren't exactly gratitude chocolates… Because I wasn't one to give chocolate out freely to just anyone. And also because I had made these chocolates specifically for him.
Chizuru Yukimura: "......"
Still… saying that they weren’t would certainly raise some questions and turn some heads. And it wasn't like I was actually confessing to him or anything of the sort.
Keisuke Sannan: "Hehe..."
He smiled at my hesitation for some reason, as I stood there, mulling over his question. And then, he smiled, like he was looking into some dazzling light.
Keisuke Sannan: "Thank you for your heartfelt chocolates, Yukimura-kun. I am deeply moved by your feelings."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Sannan-sensei..."
That compassionate and gentle voice of his made all my initial nervousness melt away.
Keisuke Sannan: "I might be a little skeptical about this whole Valentine's affair, but― of course, that being said, this event might be a good opportunity for one to show their gratitude."
Chizuru Yukimura: "...Thank god..."
I breathed a sigh of relief at his response. I was really glad that I managed to tell him how thankful I felt to him, and that he accepted my feelings.
Keisuke Sannan: "However… I still have much to learn, myself."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Huh?"
He smiled wryly, perhaps seeing some childishness in himself, too.
Keisuke Sannan: "I'm very happy to receive chocolates from you. It really makes my heart sing… This joy makes me feel as if I've really returned back to my student years once more."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Really?" Back when he was still a student… ‘I wonder what kind of student he was?’
Keisuke Sannan: "Indeed. Well, I wasn't particularly inclined to seek a relationship at the time."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Is that so..... ...Eh...?" When he was a student? I had a sudden bad feeling about the way he said it.
But, before I had the chance to ask him about it… He continued speaking.
Keisuke Sannan: "How about I eat these, since you've already given them to me?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Eh? But class is..." There was only a little while before classes would start.
Keisuke Sannan: "Ahh, that should be alright. I'll just have to put a word in with Hijikata-sensei, since he's in charge of your next lesson. As a teacher, I shouldn't be encouraging you to feign illness, but… It's Valentine's Day today, so the whole school's in quite the frenzy. It would be much better if you wait for things to calm down before you return."
Chizuru Yukimura: "Th-Thank you!" I thanked him out of reflex. Everything he suggested was done out of consideration for me.
Keisuke Sannan: "I'll go prepare some tea. Would you care to join me?"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Oh... I'd rather you eat the chocolates by yourself. I made them specially for you, so there's no meaning to it if I'm the one eating them."
Actually, I want only him to taste them.
Keisuke Sannan: "......"
Chizuru Yukimura: "Sannan-sensei?"
Keisuke Sannan: "...No, it's nothing."
He unravelled the white ribbon and carefully removed the wrapping paper, revealing the box underneath. He pried open the lid of the bright red box. Enclosed within were orangettes au chocolat, seasoned with yuzu lemon skin flavored with liquor. I was thinking of him while making them, so I made them a little bitter: a mature taste.
Keisuke Sannan: "This looks so delicious, it's almost a pity to eat them." He was grinning from ear to ear. Just watching him lifted my spirits.
I had some mixed feelings about it, myself, but I was glad that I put the effort in.
And then...
I enjoyed speaking to him as I waited for the tea to cool down. That might have been the first time we'd ever been in each other's presence for such a long time. I hoped that we could spend another day together like that, someday. And then, hopefully I'd be able to learn more about him. Eventually, maybe I would even see his true self...