I read too much manga with love themes- Oh, okay, BL manga. And I decided I wanted to do something sort of in the same vein. This is the result.

P.S. The chapters are short and there's not much detail because I wanted to keep certain things vague and I knew the details would give it all away. So, sorry.

Also, I ran out of good presents to give... ^^"

To Arthur, there was no point to Valentine's Day.

Shops sold heart-shaped things or things in pink and red at a slighter higher price than normal – but, really, they were just the same as what they usually offered. Large signs and billboards pandered to those who still believed it was a holiday solely for love. Adverts on the TV practically screamed about it for weeks on end. Everyone at school always, always, became obsessed with who would confess to who and who would ask who to the dance.

Frankly, Arthur was fed up with it.

He told his two best friends that on their journey home from school the day before it. "I mean," he added, "no-one's ever given me a love letter."

"Maybe that'll change this year," Matthew suggested, keeping his eyes on the pavement as he dodged around a puddle.

"Yeah, don't be so down about it!" Alfred declared, giving Arthur a thumbs up.

"I'm not 'being down'," Arthur retorted, slightly annoyed and dismayed they were saying almost the same as all his other friends had today. "I'm just being..." He trailed off, wondering if 'realistic' was the right word.

"Cynical?" Matthew suggested.

Turning red, Arthur huffed and crossed his arms. "Oh, shut up. You know what I mean."

"Are you not gonna give someone a Valentine's, then?" Alfred asked.

"Don't be daft," said Arthur, glad he was already red in the face. If Alfred thought he had a crush, he wasn't sure he would be able to live through the teasing.

"Why not?" asked Matthew.

Looking between them both, Arthur found himself faced with almost identical expressions of curiosity. The two cousins were so similar he often forgot they weren't brothers. Shaking his head, he said, "Because I don't want to take part."

"Aren't you gonna go to the dance?" Alfred quizzed him, frowning.

"Well, I won't have a date, will I?"

They stopped at the intersection they had reached by that point, Matthew and Arthur turning to Alfred who would be leaving first. As usual, they said their goodbyes and Arthur figured he would be saved from more talk of Valentine's Day. But Alfred brought them back to it as he turned to go, calling over his shoulder: "Perk up, Artie! You could get one tomorrow!"

Once he had left, Arthur sighed and turned to walk along the street, Matthew following him. "I swear," he grumbled to Matthew, "if he gives me a Valentine's out of pity, I'll strangle him."

Matthew grinned. "That's not getting into the spirit of the day," he pointed out.

"Don't care," said Arthur with a huff.

Falling into a companionable silence, they continued along. Only the cars and the birds made any sounds. Arthur liked this part of their journey home: after the chaos of the day (school and whatever Alfred forced them to do afterwards), the quiet of being with Matthew was peaceful. Even when they spoke, it would be calmer and quieter than the rest of his conversations that day and they lifted Arthur's spirits no matter what had happened earlier in the day.

Today, however, Arthur began to feel a little restless. After all their talk about Valentine's Day, he had grown curious. Were the two cousins advocating it because they were thinking of giving something to someone? And if so, who? Why hadn't they told Arthur about their crushes? Fiddling with the strap of his bag, he wondered if he should ask, chewing lightly on his lip. Finally, he could bear it no longer and looked up at Matthew. He blinked when he noticed that Matthew was watching him with a slight frown.

"Hm?" Arthur said, blinking at him.

"Are you really not going to give anyone anything?" Matthew asked him.

"No. Are you going to give someone something?"

"I might do," Matthew admitted, glancing away. "I'm just not sure whether I should or not... They... I've heard them say the same as you. How they don't like Valentine's Day. I don't think I should do anything..."

That made Arthur feel horrible – he'd probably just inadvertently discouraged his friend from confessing to someone. For a moment, he battled with himself, working out what to say. Then, rubbing at his nose, he said, "Well. I mean... Matt, I know I said I didn't like it but... that's not to say... I wouldn't like... you know."

"Huh?"

"If-If someone were to... a letter... you know."

Matthew tilted his head, a smile playing on his lips. "If someone were to confess to you with, say, a Valentine's card, you mean?"

"Yes. That," Arthur answered, knowing he was red in the face by now. "I wouldn't hate it. I'd be... well... pleased, I suppose. Flattered. So, if you want to give someone a card tomorrow, you should, regardless of how they feel about the day in general. Everyone likes being confessed to – that's why there's romances." Arthur's eyes widened when he saw Matthew raise an eyebrow. "Novels," he hastened to add. "Films. Ah! You know what I mean!"

Sniggering, Matthew nodded. "I know. Thanks, Arthur. I think... I think I will do something."

"Good," said Arthur, sighing with relief. They reached the junction for Arthur's street and they paused, both of them shifting on the balls of their feet. "Well, see you tomorrow, then."

"Yup." Matthew turned to go, paused and turned back. "Are you really not going to give anyone anything tomorrow?" he asked, curiously.

"No," Arthur insisted. "I'm going to treat it as just another school day."

"Okay. Bye, then."

They parted ways and Arthur walked the last few yards to his house, thinking, pondering. By the time he'd reached his house, he made his decision and hurried upstairs to do his homework.