Collection
By: MeisterYM
Valentine's Day
While walking towards his classroom, Shido Itsuka heard someone call his name from behind.
"Shido!~"
Shido turned around to see a girl with dark plum hair and indigo colored eyes running towards him with something in one of her hands.
"Oh, morning Tohka. What's up?"
Tohka held the item in her hand out to Shido after she had reached an arm length distance.
"Here."
Shido took the item from Tohka's hand with bewilderment and stared at it for a few seconds. It was a red, heart-shaped box with a golden bow placed on top of the cover.
"Is this…chocolate?"
"That's right."
"For me?"
"Yeah. The others and I decided to make some."
Tohka confirmed Shido's suspicions while giving a nod.
"O-Oh, thanks…"
Tohka noticed the expression that Shido's face was making.
"What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing."
Shido shook his head, trying not to worry Tohka.
"It's just that…well…you know…"
Tohka tilted her head, showing that she was puzzled.
"I…got some chocolate from someone else too…"
It took Tohka a moment to process what Shido was saying, but eventually she began to understand.
"Oh, that."
Tohka spoke normally as if she wasn't bothered by the circumstances that Shido had pointed out.
"It's okay, just think of it as obligation chocolate."
"Are you really okay with that?"
"Yeah. Everyone and I already planned to offer it like that."
Tohka replied with a cheerful smile.
"Just make sure you actually try it, okay? Everyone worked really hard on it."
"Yeah, of course."
Shido gave a quick nod.
"Thanks, again, Tohka. I'll make sure to try them."
"Good."
Tohka continued to smile brightly.
"Come on, class is about to start."
Tohka passed Shido and entered the classroom, enjoying her day like she always was. Shido followed shortly after with a smile, grateful that things turned out well.
"And then she just went inside the classroom."
"Oh?"
Kurumi Tokisaki spoke as if she was upset.
"So, did you have some?"
Scrubbing sounds could be heard.
"The chocolate? Yeah, I had some. I promised her I would."
"I see."
More scrubbing.
"How did they taste?"
Shido looked up at the ceiling as he replied.
"To be honest, they were pretty good."
Shido smiled proudly.
"Tohka's gotten better."
"Is that so?"
Shido suddenly held his hands up in a panic.
"O-Of course yours were really good too."
"Really?"
Even more scrubbing. Shido could feel the rhythm growing quicker.
"H-Hey, Kurumi."
"Yes?"
"Are you…mad?"
"Why, of course not."
Even though his back was facing her, Shido could feel Kurumi smiling darkly from behind. Despite the ominous atmosphere, he tried to convince himself that she truly wasn't upset.
"T-That's good…"
"It'd be rude to reject Tohka-san and everyone else's feelings after they worked so hard, after all."
"R-Right?"
Shido gave a nervous laugh.
"Of course mine tasted better, didn't they?"
Shido hesitated for a millisecond too long.
"Didn't they, Shido?"
The atmosphere was growing even tenser.
"Y-Yeah…"
Shido apologized to Tohka and the others in his mind several times over, hoping that they would understand that someone's life might be on the line if he replied differently.
"Then that's good."
The pace of the scrubbing was beginning to slow down.
"Shido."
"Y-Yes?"
Kurumi had finally stopped scrubbing Shido's back.
"I'm going to run the water now."
"O-Okay."
The moment Shido agreed, an incredible chill suddenly ran through his back, causing him to jump forward and stand straight up. A stream of cold water had run down his back.
"You are mad!"
Kurumi turned her head away while slightly pouting.
"My, I have no idea what you're talking about."