Love Train
Written by Kairu Kobayashi
A fanfiction for the manga "Chocolate Cosmos" by Haruta Nana

Characters:
Sakurai Sayuki (The protagonist. Well, people usually mistake her for a "bully" just because she looks at people with intimidating eyes. But, she's just another girl in love.)

Hagiwara Katsuya (He is a young Home Economics teacher, and in the original story, he was selling chocolate bananas when he met Sayuki at the beach. He also pretended to be Kimura Takuya, a member of SMAP.)

Mutou Yuushi (He is Sayuki's "frienemy", but in fact he has feelings for her. He starts a baseball club but it becomes a "baseball-culinary" club. He tries so much to impress Sayuki.)

Nomura Mina (A boy-crazy chic. She was the one who took Sayuki to the beach.)

Harada Shiori (The quiet-type and equipped with mysterious aura. Like other quiet types, she is very observant.)

Kaji Takayuki (He is Yuushi's friend included in the gang. He encouraged Yuushi to start a club.)

Waka Kasumi (Another teacher, and her aura is somewhat annoying or boring, but she is kinda funny.)

Author's Note:

This story is originally posted in my blog due to some reasons. And the main reason is, there is no section for Chocolate Cosmos here, but I know that some writers have already posted their own under "miscellaneous" anime and manga.

I have already said in the summary that the story is told in two POV's. The first chapter will be in Sayuki's, and the second will be in Hagiwara's. I did my best to not make them OOC, but I slightly changed their "history" (meaning, their past).

[Sayuki's POV]

Not like the usual sight, the train station had an unusually small number of people. Isn't it weird because it's Valentine's Day? But, I still need to take the train. I held my books to my chest, and slowly walked towards the seat, and sat. I looked around, there was a young man (I estimate he's in his 20's or younger...) reading our Junior book. He's older (probably in college or something...) and he's still reading a Junior book? Maybe he's a teacher. Or not? I'm not sure. He was holding a paper bag with "Choco-bananas" written on it. Maybe that's his snack for later. He adjusted his eyeglasses and then he looked at me. Wait, did he notice that I was observing him? I just looked at the floor and sighed. I didn't see his face that much, but all I know is that he had eyeglasses and all.

When the train stopped at the next station where I was supposed to get off, he also stood up and walked to the door. Well, I leaped, and that caused him to drop his chocolate bananas (but they didn't spill...)!

"Oh my, I'm so sorry..." I said as I picked up the paper bag of chocolate bananas.

"No, it's nothing...they didn't spill, after all." He said, and he smiled at me. What a wonderful smile he has...and he didn't look like a normal guy after all. "Let me introduce myself. Kimura Takuya." Eh...? No way, he isn't the one from SMAP** at all! "Uh...okay." He's so cute! A bishounen!

**SMAP is a band, for those who don't know. In this story, Sayuki knows SMAP very well-unlike the original Sayuki.

He ran off holding the bag of chocolate bananas. With his face stuck in my mind, I walked along with my school bag and a pile of books close to my chest with a big smile on my face.

I arrived in school in not less than 10 minutes walking. I looked at my watch and I was quite early after all. As I walked through the noisy hallway, and when I was about to enter our classroom, Mina blocked the way and greeted me in an unusual way. "Ne, did you give anyone chocolates or flowers yet?"

"Nah. Who cares about Valentine's?" I muttered. Well, all the time and every year, I was annoyed whenever I heard the word "chocolate" or "Valentine's," except when I said it myself. I never experienced a great Valentine's. After all, it only lasts a day. I never had a good romance even once in my life.

"Come on, you'll do good this year, Sayuki-chan. Want some choco?" She offered from a chocolate box she was holding. "I'm serious, this is for you." I just took one and ate it. I tried not to have any feelings against it. "You really have no plans this year, don't you?" She sat down on one desk near the door. "No plans. Never and will never have, Mina." I replied. Mina suddenly pulled my hand and pushed me to my own seat. Yuushi and Kaji were there, and Shiori was reading a romantic novel (what the-?). It was super unusual to see them having the Valentine's spirit. "Hey, Yuushi, you really didn't receive any this time?" Kaji poked Yuushi, who was staring at the view outside (is that even a view?).

"Nah. I rejected all of them."
"Me, I accepted all of them!"
"Even their feelings?"
"Ye-oh, I forgot about that."

Suddenly, a wave of "human" girls (I'd say it was an alien invasion in class) entered the room, all targeted Kaji. Kaji immediately hid somewhere.

"Oh, did you hear about the new Home Ec teacher?" Shiori suddenly closed her book.
"I think, you're the only one who heard about that." Mina crossed her legs.
"No, I heard some girls who were from the other class. They said the new one was hot and all." Shiori opened her book again, and started reading from where she stopped.
"So it's a guy, eh? I wonder how old he is." Yuushi butted in.

"Is Sakurai Sayuki in here?" A guy from another class suddenly shouted from outside. I raised my hand. "Yeah? Any problem?"

The guy suddenly froze as I looked at him (with my usual...), and he uttered nervously, "Y-you-you're called-in the t-t-tea-teachers' office!"

"Thank you." I smiled, and walked to the teachers' office. What's it again, I wonder? Another pile of papers to be carried? Forms to be settled and brought to another building? The teachers always find me, wherever I am, whatever I'm doing. But as I slide the door open and greet them good morning, somebody has caught my eye.

"Good morning, Sakurai. You were the one I saw inside the train earlier, correct?"
"T-t-the...chocolate bananas!" My body was trembling in shock (or do you even call that shock?)
"I'm glad you have remembered. I searched the students' records and I saw your picture. Yes, by the way, I'm Hagiwara. Hagiwara Katsuya. And from now on, you'll be my student."

What?! NO FREAKING WAY. This guy I met earlier...will be my teacher?! And, he lied about his name, too!

"Please, come closer and have a seat."

I came to his table and sat at the chair in front of it. "I'm very sorry about your chocolate bananas! Are they squished? Smushed? Shaken? Destroyed? Or much worse...spoiled?!"
"Please, please, nothing will rot from just a simple fall. And the bananas are quite fine...I just ate them for breakfast."
"Break...fast?"
"Yes, correct. Breakfast. Is there something wrong about breakfast?"
"Sen...sei...are you our new Home Economics...teacher?"
"Mm-hm. Why?"
"Then, why don't you eat proper breakfast? You must eat three meals a day and-"
"No, I was just in a hurry. But I promise to eat properly tomorrow and so."

I just sighed. What the hell was I saying? Oh no, everything I said is quite shameful...all of the teachers were looking at us. Maybe they misunderstood everything!

"Uhm, sensei...can we speak about this outside?"
"Yes, of course."

I led the way and he also followed.

"You're not...Kimura Takuya." I said with a glare.
"Of course not. It was all just a joke, a joke." He said with a smile, not affected by my glare! What is he? He isn't a normal person, I guess. All the other guys and girls I glare at always freeze, or get scared or something. Even the children cry, and the animals glare back! "But, I'm sorry for lying to you."
"Okay...but, why did you call me to the office?" I asked, trying to cut off the personal conversation.
"I want to give you one of these."

He held out a dark-colored flower from his coat pocket. I wasn't really wilted, though.

"Take this."
"What's this for, sensei?" I took the flower and stared at it.

But...the flower was strange in color and also in smell. "Sensei...is it...chocolate?"

"No!" Sensei chuckled. He was probably amused by that simple question. Well, I also found my own question weird. "This one...is Cosmos atrosanguineus."

"I'm sorry but...I really don't know things about scientific names..."
"Commonly, it is called Chocolate cosmos. Well, I found some around, but these are quite fragile kinds of flowers."
"Thanks. But, isn't Valentine's a time for girls to give?"
"I really don't choose any day."
"Th...thanks...again."

I walked back to the classroom with deep thoughts, staring at what he gave me. Chocolates again? But...this isn't edible, I guess. I think chocolates are really connected to him. I sat on my chair and sighed. I really don't need a flower...and also a guy gave it. Is he gay or something**?

**In Japan and other Asian countries like Taiwan, only girls give gifts to their friends or special someone during Valentine's. Boys give on March 14, which is called "White Day".

I didn't listen to our lecture much that whole time. I was just deep in thought. Like other delinquents told me (I'm really not a delinquent or something...), to avoid the teacher's attention, avoid looking in other directions. Look straight, but don't look stupid. That way, the teacher will think that you're listening. I guess it's working...

Even with the flower far from my nostrils, I was able to smell its aroma. I haven't seen these kinds of flowers in Japan. I'm sure he got it somewhere, in a place that this kind of flowers are hidden. Wonderland? No way.

Ding dang dong...

"Class dismissed. You may now take your lunch break."

Finally...the first half of class has come to an end!

Someone poked my shoulder while I was digging the things in my bag. "Hey, Sakurai, aren't you coming with us or something?" It was Yuushi.

"Yeah, I'm just trying to find my- Eh?! Where...where is it?" I looked inside all of the pockets of my school bag, and even removed all of my books. I found no wallet.

"Sayuki-chan, we'll be waiting at the cafeteria. Yuushi-kun, let's go!" Mina led the gang out.

As I tried to remove everything inside my bag, I felt that my fingers poked through something. "Huh, what could that be...?"

I looked under my bag. THERE WAS A HOLE! My wallet probably fell on my way to school...where could I have left it? Oh no...I don't have food now...

I ran towards the cafeteria when I fell to the ground in just one second. "You bast-"

"Oh, it's you, Sakurai."

Sensei was in front of me, holding a book. "Are you alright?"

I stood up without any complaints or anything. "Yeah. But in some way I'm not."

"Then, what problem is it?"

"I don't have lunch money. I might have left it in the train station, or someplace."

"I'll treat you to lunch, then."

"Are you sure? It's not-"

"Come on, let's go, you can choose anything."

He pulled my hand as if I wasn't his student. He dragged me to the cafeteria and pushed me to the line. "Go, choose anything."

I'm really not sure if I can do this...he was forcing me to choose anything I like, but I don't know if I'll have to do something in return for him. But if I don't accept, I won't be able to eat lunch! What will I do...?

"Is it okay...if I choose spaghetti?"

"Yeah. Go on. Here's the pay." He held out 1200 yen coins to me. I grabbed it, and paid for it. Meanwhile, he headed to the teachers' line and bought something else.

After lunch, I was able to get back again to our classroom and I found Shiori sitting on her chair, still focused on the romance novel she was reading.

"What's with you? You are reading a very different novel now," I said as I sat beside her. She remained very quiet. But later on, she was able to sense where I put the flower that sensei gave me.

"I know who gave you that Cosmos atrosanguineus, Sayuki."
"Huh?! What do you mean by that..."
"It was the new Home Ec teacher, right?"

I was speechless. But how did she know that? She didn't even follow me to the faculty office.

"Y-yeah. We know each other, so he gave me one as a little gift."

Shiori went back to reading her book. Until she uttered, "When given during Valentines' day, it means, walk with me hand-in-hand, and when given to a loved one, it means, I love you more than anyone can."

W-why did she explain all those to me? Does she mean that Hagiwara-sensei likes me? No way. But he said he found it somewhere on the street or something. And he gives it to anyone. There's no way. But...although I have a crush on him, THIS CANNOT BE!

"No way, Shiori-chan...Hagiwara-sensei doesn't like me. He doesn't. AT ALL."
"I don't think he doesn't..." I heard her sigh. What's with this?! He's just a new teacher and now my friends are doing this to me?!

I tried to protest, but I don't have any proof. Shoot. Then why did I receive such a thing though we only met on the train?

When the bell rang again, I sat on my seat to wait for the end of the day. (Oh boy, I am soooo sleepy.) But now that I think of it...did someone find my wallet?! There's a very important memory hidden there...oh no...