Youko couldn't help commenting on the box that sat, seemingly unopened, on Sei's desk. Valentine's Day was a week ago, for goodness sake.
"Decided to accept more this year, and got more than you could finish?" she asked, her tone light without any trace of bitterness. Though Youko had feelings for Sei, she refused to give into jealousy. She could imagine Sei's reaction, and didn't want a repeat of the nastiness from the Shiori Incident.
Sei laughed.
"Those are from Yumi. After those awful ones she made last year, I'm afraid to try them. You think Sachiko would have warned me, but I guess she wanted revenge."
"You did taunt her and Yumi quite a bit, as I recall," Youko commented.
"Yeah, I did, didn't I?" Sei smiled fondly at the memory. "Anyway, I'm not going to fall for that again. I'm not eating these."
"You wimp," Youko teased.
"You could try one," Sei offered. "Since you're so brave, and all."
Youko laughed. "But Yumi made these for you! Besides, you don't think she'd pull the same trick twice, do you?"
"I guess not. Still, she's not exactly known for her cooking skills. I'd still fear for my health!"
"You're incorrigible! She made those chocolates with her pure feelings of love for you, you know," Youko said, only half-joking.
"You sound like a bad romance novel," Sei griped. "Fine, I'll try one, but you'd better be prepared to call an ambulance." She winked, and acted out a terrible death scene, grabbing her throat and rolling her eyes.
Youko groaned. Sei and her dramatics.
"Go on already," she urged.
Grabbing a chocolate from the box, Sei popped the whole thing in her mouth. Youko made a moue of distaste at the crassness, but let it pass.
Sei chewed thoughtfully. "Not going to win any prizes, but not bad either," she commented.
"Really?" Youko asked doubtfully, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. It seems she's improved."
"Mind if I try one?"
"Go ahead." Sei made a sweeping gesture.
"Thanks."
Youko smiled and picked one up, taking a bite that was perfectly in keeping with decorum, as though to further chastise Sei for her boorish behavior earlier.
But her smugness vanished immediately as she choked on the confection, desperately trying not to gag. It was the most vile thing she'd ever tasted, she was sure! Quickly recovering her composure, she discarded the rest of the chocolate and turned to glare at Sei instead.
Sei laughed for hours.
