I'm starting this a week before White Day in hopes that I finish it one time… we'll see ^^;
……………….
It had been exactly a month since Satoshi had returned. Satoko's brother, Shion's most precious person, was walking among them, laughing with everyone, coming to club, getting caught in Satoko's traps (instead of Keiichi, much to Keiichi's delight), and smiling all the time.
He had heard Shion speaking to him when she visited him in the hospital. He told her he was glad she came, because nobody told him anything about the outside world in the clinic.
He'd said she was a valuable friend.
It made her happy at the time, but…
He'd said, "true love," when he woke up, but he'd only been quoting the book… right? He didn't see how she felt. He didn't understand.
One month after Satoshi's arrival, she found him walking home with her.
"… They were good," Satoshi said, breaking a long and uncomfortable silence. "Those chocolates."
"Chocolate?" Shion thought for a moment. "Oh… y-you mean… the ones I gave on Valentine's Day…"
"Yes, those. Why did you give them to me if I couldn't eat them like that…?"
"Just in case they'd still be good when you woke up, I guess," Shion said. She looked away from Satoshi, trying to the redness her face was acquiring. "I… I thought it'd be fun…"
"Fun to give chocolates to a guy who's comatose?" Satoshi chuckled. "You have the strangest hobbies, Shion."
"No, that's not it! You… helped me once, so I thought I'd do something for you…" Shion bit her lip. Words, words she wasn't ready to say were trying to fly out of her mouth.
"But you already have," Satoshi said. "You took care of my sister when I was gone, and you came and talked to me in the hospital… when no one else did..."
"No one else knew," Shion reminded him. "Someone had to visit you, and Coach said I couldn't tell Satoko."
Satoshi nodded. "But still. You came every day…"
Shion's eyebrows etched together worriedly. "... Was I annoying you?"
"Annoying me? Shion, your visits were an hour where I wasn't bored out of my mind or scared about what was going on outside!" Satoshi stopped walking and placed his hand on Shion's shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. "I… I found myself looking forward to them, to finding out what was happening in the game club, to the next part of the books you read to me, to having company…"
"Really…?" This time, there was no hiding Shion's blush. Satoshi was looking at her straight on, directly in the eyes, and Shion couldn't do anything but look back.
"Yes, Shion. Really. After awhile, I… I didn't care what you talked about anymore. I just wanted to hear your voice."
"Funny," Shion mumbled, "I was waiting to hear yours…"
"Well, you can now… thank you for spending your time on me. And as for the chocolates…" Satoshi reached into his pocket.
"You don't need to give them back," Shion started to say, but stopped when she realized that Satoshi was holding up a bracelet. It appeared to be silver, with little blue beads hanging off of it.
"I don't know if they were out of an obligation or any… other feelings, but this is for you, with all of my feelings, and all of my thanks."
"It's beautiful!" Shion carefully took the bracelet and admired it. "But, it must have been expensive… why are you giving this to me?"
Satoshi leaned over slowly and pressed his lips to hers.
"Happy White Day, Shion."
