The Shinkengers were gathered around in the hall of the Shiba mansion, engaging in their own activity. Suddenly, Kotoha walked in holding a tin with a red ribbon tied around it, which probably a box of store-bought chocolates.

"Why is Kotoha holding a box of chocolates?" Chiaki thought to himself as he chewed on a sweet he was eating.

Then something came to his mind. "Aha! Today is Valentine's Day – February 14 – so Kotoha is giving out chocolates!"

Kotoha walked towards the group of people sitting around. "She seems to be glancing at me…is she giving them to me?" Chiaki secretly hoped as he stole a look at the Yellow Shinkenger.

"T…Tono-sama, this box of chocolates is for you. Happy Valentine's Day," Kotoha went past Chiaki and handed the box to Takeru instead, who was seated on his platform.

"Ah, thank you," Takeru replied.

So the box of chocolates was for Takeru after all… Chiaki's face fell a little.

However, his hopes were raised when he saw Kotoha disappear and re-entered with two more identical boxes, with different coloured ribbons on them.

"Could they be for me too?" Chiaki nervously watched her every move.

"Ryuu-san, this is for you. Gen-san, this is for you too. Happy Valentine's Day," Kotoha chirped as she handed Ryuunosuke the box with the blue ribbon, and Genta with the gold one.

"Thank you, thank you."

"Thank you, Kotoha-chan!"

Those boxes…were for Ryuunosuke and Gen-chan instead? What about me…

All hope seemed to be lost for Chiaki. Out of all the guys here, why was he the only one that didn't get a box? Couldn't she see that out of all of them, he was the one that cared for her the most?

"I'll…go to the bathroom," Chiaki got up and listlessly walked out of the hall.

As Chiaki walked along the veranda, looking at their training area, he heard a voice call him.

"Ch…Chiaki, wait up!" Kotoha ran towards him, holding something in her hand.

"Kotoha…what is it?"

"This…is for you." Kotoha handed him a box. However, it did not look like the store-bought, tin box with ribbons; instead, it was a bento-like box, with no ribbon wrapped around it.

"Open it up," Kotoha said.

So Chiaki did. In the box, he saw chocolates – however, they were slightly uneven – obviously handmade, and not bought from the stores.

"You…made them yourself?"

"Yep."

"Why? Why did you get Takeru-tachi store-bought chocolates, and gave me homemade ones?" Chiaki was slightly puzzled.

Kotoha shifted her feet, blushed a little and looked at her hands. "Don't you know? During Valentine's Day, a girl would give all her male friends chocolates. All of them would get store-bought ones…except for the one she really likes. He…gets homemade ones."

"Kotoha…are you saying…that you like me?" Chiaki was stunned, yet elated.

She did not reply. Instead, Kotoha went towards Chiaki and placed a delicate kiss on his cheek.

"I…" Chiaki was simply lost for words when that happened.

"Okay…I shall go give presents to Mako-chan and Jii-san now…" Kotoha said shyly as she hurried off, her face as red as a beetroot.

So this Valentine's Day isn't so bad after all… Chiaki smiled as he looked at that homemade box of chocolates.

Author's Note: A Valentine's Day story I decided to do to commemorate this day. The plot of this story was inspired by what my friend said: In Japan, during Valentine's Day, a girl would give all her male friends chocolates. However, the one that she really likes receives homemade ones while the rest receive store-bought ones. Quite sad for the guys with the store-bought ones if they like the girl…and I pity the girl…spending so much money!