"Goodness." Juri was standing in a pile of wrapped Valentine's Day chocolates that had just avalanched out of her fencing locker. Another large box fell out with a plunk, as if for emphasis. "That's an awful lot of chocolate." Miki watched nervously as Juri began to sort the myriad chocolates she had received into neat piles. Of course, his admirers had left chocolates in his fencing locker, stacked perfectly, but Juri had so much more. And it wasn't that he was jealous of Juri, but that he was jealous of those who had given her the chocolates. Would the small chocolates he had made for Juri, still buried in the back of his locker, be appreciated?
"It's sweet, but I still wish they didn't spend so much of their pocket money on chocolate for me." Juri winced as another brigade of chocolates came tumbling down. "This is ridiculous." Miki could feel his cheeks become hot. Should he even attempt to give Juri his chocolates? Carefully he unearthed the box of dark chocolates with salted caramel he had spent so long making yesterday.
"Something wrong, Mickey?" Juri asked, taking a break from sorting. Miki blushed even harder at the endearment. "Did you get chocolate from a special someone?"
"N-no." Miki bit his lip. Why did he have to stutter?
"Oh. That's too bad." Juri made a disgruntled noise as an errant box dropped on her head, disrupting her perfect curls. "Ridiculous, ridiculous, ridiculous. This entire silly tradition is ridiculous. Don't you agree, Miki?"
"No." Miki didn't stutter this time. "I think it's nice to have a day like Valentine's Day, where it is easier to feel brave in confessing one's feelings because many others are doing the same." Juri stood up, smiling slightly.
"Don't tell me those are for me," Juri said smoothly, gesturing to the lovely gold box in Miki's hands. Miki swallowed hard, lost in Juri's gaze, her eyes the emerald of spring and hope. He could do this.
"Yes." Slowly, ever so slowly, he extended the gift to Juri. Her eyebrows quirked. Wordlessly, she took the package, opening it in the pragmatic way she did most things. Miki waited, breathless, as she lifted a chocolate to her mouth. She smiled.
"Perfect." Juri ate it delicately, taking the time to enjoy the subtle flavors of the confection. She chuckled at the look on Miki's face when she finished. "Come now, Mickey, you don't have to be so embarrassed! You very well know that this is my favorite type of chocolate." She placed the box onto the high shelf in her locker so she wouldn't lose it with the rest. Her words hung in the air. "Miki?"
"I love you." Miki looked down.
"I know, Juri murmured. She cupped Miki's chin in her hand and brought his eyes up to meet hers. "I love you, too." Juri kissed him, an arm slipping around his waist to bring him closer. The kiss tasted like bittersweet chocolate and trust. It deepened, making Miki's head spin until a large cracking noise sounded and another load of chocolate boxes dumped itself on Juri and Miki. "This is way too much chocolate, damnit!" Juri shouted.