As the morning session went on, Akari forgot all about her troubles as she lent her focus to her schoolwork. Eventually, the bell rang to mark the recess period and Akari and Chinatsu packed up their things and head out into the halls. The pair was making their way towards the Tea Ceremony Room until they were stopped.

"Akaza-san," a girl rushed up behind her and put her hand on her shoulder.

"Ah, Mariko-san!" Akari greeted, "What's up?"

"Your English book," the girl said handing it to her.

"Oh, thanks."

"Oh, and just so you know, I handed it around to a couple of people. Just letting you know."

Akari assured her that it was no problem, and with one last expression of gratitude, the girl left.

"What was that about?" Chinatsu asked as the two continued to walk.
"Oh, remember? I lent her my English book earlier."

"Oh, yes. Right."

The two reached the Amusement Club lair. Chinatsu paused as they reached the door. Akari looked at her and saw that she was a bit frightened. "Is everything okay, Chinatsu? You look a bit pale."

"Oh, it's nothing, Akari. It's just that I'm a little bit nervous is all. For what I'm about to do." Akari smiled, understanding what she meant.

"Hehe, don't worry, China-chan! I'm sure everything will go well!" Chinatsu smiled at the use of the nickname and with a new sense of confidence, opened the door. The two seniors were there. Yui was reading a book of poems. Kyoko lay face down on the floor, sulking away to herself.

"Mmmmmmm,"Kyoko groaned into the floor. "'ow com nebedy gav me ny ledders."

Yui sighed herself. "Oh, get over it! You should be happy. I'm not going to be taking your plushie after all."

Kyoko looked upwards at her and shot a frown, "Yeah, but I really wanted to wear your underwear-ow!"

Yui struck her on the head with a book. "You are seriously sad over that!?"

Kyoko sat upright, rubbing her head. "Ow! Did you seriously just hit me with a book?"

"I can only hope some knowledge was beaten into you."

"So mean!"

Chinatsu looked at the two perplexedly as she sat down. "What's all this about?"

"I'll tell you if you kiss my sore spot and make it better, Chinatsu-chan!" Kyoko grinned mischievously. She stuck the top of her head out in the direction of the pinkette.

Chinatsu stared at her with an expression of irritation on her face. "What kind of proposition is that? Just tell me what's happening."

"Oh, that's right! You weren't there," Akari filled her in. "They're having a bet to see who gets the most love confessions!"

"Ooo, that's an interesting bet. What are the conditions?" Chinatsu asked.

"If Yui wins, then she gets to keep Kyoko-chan's first ever Mirakurun plushie." Chinatsu interrupted her with an evil laugh.

"HAHAHA! That's excellent!"

A bead of sweat went down the back of Kyoko's head. "Why-why is that so funny to you?" the blonde asked worriedly.

"And if Kyoko wins," Akari continued, "then she gets…well-" she paused, and blushed in embarrassment.

"What?" Chinatsu followed up.

"Well, she gets…um," too embarrassed to say it out loud, Akari leant in and whispered it in Chinastu's ear. "WHAT!?" Chinatsu jumped up indignant. "YOU PERVERT! HOW DARE YOU EVEN MENTION YUI-SEMPAI'S UNMENTIONABLES! IS NOTHING SACRED TO YOU!" she yelled at Kyoko. Kyoko simply smiled and chuckled.

"I know. It's great, right?" She immediately resumed her pouting, "Or at least it would be if I actually got any confessions! Oh!" she fell back on the floor, lying on her back. "Ohhhh!" she grimaced as if in pain.

"Hmmm, I'm a bit disappointed as well. I didn't get anything either," Yui said blankly, "I mean, I didn't actually suspect that I would have earlier, but after getting pumped up for it, it's a little anti-climatic actually."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll get something, sempai," Chinatsu grinned.

"Thank you, Chinatsu-chan!"
"Thank you, Chinatsu!" Kyoko shot up and waved at her.

Chinatsu stared at the blonde deadpanned again. "YUI-sempai!"

"Ugh! Chinatsu!" the blonde fell again.

"To be fair," Yui continued, "it was kinda stupid of us to bet on how many love confessions we would get. I mean, that's not even controllable!" She then returned to her book as Kyoko returned to the floor.

Wow, today keeps getting better! Chinatsu thought to herself. Not only do I have amazing gifts for Yui-sempai, but it'll help her win a bet and another gift. A lot of pressure actually, but we can do it, Chinatsu!

Chinatsu gulped, and pulled out her gifts from her bag. "Ummm, Yui-cha, er, -sempai!"

Yui looked up from her book. "Hmm? What is it, Chinatsu-chan?"

Chinatsu smiled very nervously. I'm probably looking like some freak of nature right now! she thought. "I just wanted to give you my Valentine's Day gift to you!" she said handing her the heart-shaped box and the flowers.

"Oh, hey! Flowers as well as chocolates!" Yui said, accepting the gifts. "Thanks, Chinatsu-chan. That was very thoughtful!"

Chinatsu's nerves began to kick in. Her body temperature increased and her palms sweat. No, not now! No nerves.

"There's something else," she said, encouraged now due to the praise. "I've heard you've been wanting this for awhile, so here." She withdrew the video game from her bag. Yui's jaw dropped.

"Whoa! No way, not Destiny Delirium XIV!" Yui said, amazed. "This is so expensive, though! Chinatsu, you didn't have to get me this!"

Chinatsu smiled, happy at the reaction she extracted from her sempai's beautiful face.

"Well, what are friends for? Hehe," C'mon Chinatsu, don't loose courage now! You're on the cusp of an absolute victory!

"Hey, Chinatsu-chan! What about me?" Kyoko perked up, temporarily sabotaging the moment and the momentum. Chinatsu shot her another fierce glare.
"What about you?" she said gravely.

Kyoko frowned. "Ugh! You don't have to be so mean. I'm your sempai, too. You should give me a gift!"

Ignoring her, she returned her attention to Yui. "There is one more thing, sempai," Chinatsu said, blushing now, and feeling nauseous. She pulled out the envelope. "It's a-eh!?" Kyoko snatched the envelope out of her hand. "It's a card!" Kyoko exclaimed as she read the inscription, 'For: Sempai.'

"For me, Chinatsu-chan?" Kyoko batted her eyelashes at her. "I knew you really did care for me and that you were just playing tsundere the whole time!"

Chinatsu looked at her with an intense ferocity. With fire and rage in her eyes, she stood up tall. "Give. That. Back."

Kyoko stood up. Chinatsu ran clockwise around the table, and Kyoko counter-clockwise. "Gotta catch me, Chinatsu-chan if you want it!"

"Give it back! Give it back! Give it back!" Chinatsu yelled after her.

"Would you two stop it and act your age!" Yui said. "Especially you, Kyoko!"

Akari just tried to dodge them. The two continued this until Chinatsu finally leapt on Kyoko and the two came crashing down on top of Akari's bag, spilling its contents all over the floor.

"Oh, come on, guys! You knocked my stuff everywhere!" Akari pouted.

Chinatsu, now on top of Kyoko snatched the envelope from her hand. Kyoko threw her hands around her. "Aww! A romantic skipping and now a lying embrace! It's just like in my dreams, my dear, little Chinatsu!" Chinatsu grimaced and elbowed her in the abdomen.

"Ow!" Kyoko let out. "Get off of me!" Chinatsu exclaimed, rising up as Kyoko rubbed her sore stomach.

"Seriously! What's with the violence!"

"I'm so sorry, Akari-chan. Let me help you out."

"Thanks, Chinatsu." The two picked up the notebooks and textbooks that were now strewn all over the floor. Chinatsu picked up Akari's English textbook, and nearly put it back in the bag automatically until she noticed something astray.

"Eh? What's this?" she inquired as she studied a thin, white sheet protruding from the book.

"What's what?" Akari asked.

Chinatsu opened to the pages the sheet marked and found that they were the pages that they were assigned for homework. She removed the item from between the pages. It was an envelope. There was no mistaking who it was intended for – Akari's name was written on it.

"Akari, there's an envelope in your English book. It's addressed to you."

Kyoko and Yui turned their attention to the pink-haired girl.
"Eh? What's going on?" Kyoko asked.

Akari took it from Chinatsu's hand. "What-what could this be?" Akari asked with a spontaneous case of nerves.

"Well, seeing as how the 'i' at the end is marked with a heart, I think it's a … love letter, Akari-chan!"

"WHAT?" Akari asked.

Kyoko leapt up. "WHAT?" she mimicked. "Akari got a LOVE LETTER?" Yui also stood up a bit flabbergasted by this news. Everyone in the group was shocked. One of them had just received their first ever love letter, not just personally but in the entire group. And, furthermore, it was Akari of all people.

Akari focused on the inscription of her name – it was done in fine cursive and in bright red ink. The heart was in pink, indicating that the author invested thought into this.

The other Amusements could barely contain their excitement another second.

"Open it!" Chinatsu decreed excitedly.

"Yeah, Akari, open it!" Kyoko repeated

Akari looked at her friends nervously and a bit embarrassed. Yui, seeing this, stood up and went beside her. She put her hand on her shoulder.

"If you'd rather go outside and be alone-"

"Boo! No! Read it aloud, Akari!" Yui shot her a serious glance.

"This is Akari's letter! And she'll decide what to do with it!"

"No! No! It's okay," the redhead said. She sighed, "I'm just a bit nervous is all. "

With one final and deep breath, Akari ripped open the envelope and pulled the letter out.

"Dearest Akari," she said aloud, "The content of this letter is for you and you alone. All of these thoughts inside it are reflections of my truest beliefs," she then began to mumble. She paced around the room, reading on. Silence descended on the room as her three friends watched on in interest. The tension and drama were maddening.

Then, Akari turned deep scarlet, probably for the first true time in her life. She felt her head go hot. Kyoko went aghast as she saw her friend's expression!

"She's gone red!" she exclaimed. "Lemme see! Lemme see!" Kyoko jumped towards the letter. Akari was too distracted to stop her, and the ecstatic blonde seized it from her without much quarrel. Akari sat down on the floor while Kyoko's eyes explored the letter. She gasped and she bit her hand.

"That is-" she said, "That is-"

Akari just sat on the floor in a daze with a moan. What's happening to me? Is that letter cursed?

"-unfair! This letter is so unfair!" Kyoko continued. "Akari has no presence and isn't that desirable. How does she get a love letter first?"

"Eh?" Akari perked up upon hearing this. She stood up and confronted Kyoko, making her pouting face.

"Oooohh! That is not true! Akari is TOO desirable!"

Kyoko chuckled, seeing an opportunity to tease the poor girl. "Oh, wait! Akari! Are you saying that you LIKE what the letter says?"

"EH!?" Kyoko's remark threw a wrench in Akari's thought process. "What are you saying? Look, just give me the letter back!"

Akari tried to grab it, but Kyoko held up too high. "You DO like what the letter says!" Kyoko exclaimed. "That means that Akari's gotta girlfriend, girls!"

"Kyoko-chan! Give it back!" Akari continued to jump, but Kyoko utilized her height to its fullest advantage. She jumped around her as the poor redhead continued to leap for her letter.

"Akari's gotta girlfriend! Akari's gotta girlfriend! Akari's gotta girlfriend!" She jaunted childishly and playfully as she jumped around her.

"Give it back, Kyoko-chan! I do not have a girlfriend! Just give it back!"

"What are you? Five-years-old?" Yui interfered. "Give Akari her letter back," she commanded.

"Yeah, sempai! Quit being a pain!" Chinatsu added.

"Pfft! Get off! I was just joking around!" she insisted. "Here's your girlfriend's letter, Akari!" she lowered her hand.

The redhead snatched the letter and pouted some more. "She's not my girlfriend! She's just my … my …" Akari blushed while she bit her tongue, struggling to find the proper nomenclature. "What's the word?"

"Lover," Kyoko snickered.
"No!" Akari rebutted.

Chinatsu put her hand to her chin and thought about it as well. "Oh! I know! Your admirer!"

"Yeah!" Akari blushed fiercely. That term didn't help, but it was better than the alternatives, as well as more fitting. "That! She's my admirer."

Kyoko smiled, as she waved the comment off. "Oh, admirer nothing! It's a fake, Akari! Someone is playing a joke on you!"

"What? No, that's not true! This is a genuine love letter!"

"Hmpf! No, it's not!" Kyoko crossed her arms and pouted.

"Is so!" Akari refuted.

"So, isn't!"

Yui chuckled snidely and poked at Kyoko's shoulder. "Oh! Do I detect a hint of jealousy, Kyoko-chan!"

"No! I'm not jealous," Kyoko said, trying to remain cross.

"Oh! I think it is! I think you're just jealous that Akari beat you to the punch."

"No! That's not the reason!"

"Oh? Then, what other reason could there be?"

"It can't be true, Yui, because it's not fair! I'm the leader here! I make things happen! I'm the one with the catchphrases and who sells the merchandise!" She threw her hands up in the air, "I should get the first love letter!" She then threw her head down on Yui for support.

"What are you talking about? Merchandise? Catchphrases? And again – since when were you group leader!?"

Kyoko proceeded to weep into Yui's shoulder. "Quit overreacting," Yui said while patting her on the shoulder.

Akari reread her letter until she was poked in the shoulder. "Um, Akari?" Chinatsu asked, "I know it's not any of my business, but can I have a look at the letter?"

"Hmm," Akari hesitated, but ultimately agreed, "sure. Here."

Chinatsu read the love letter. As she perused through those crafted words, a smile possessed her face and it wouldn't relinquish its hold. It was, without a doubt, a masterpiece of romantic literature.

"Aww!" she let out, overwhelmed by the piece, "Akari! This letter is amazing!" she grabbed her friend's hands in solidarity.

Akari smiled, temporarily fighting off her embarrassment. Chinatsu's support served to alleviate at least some of the tension. "Hehe," she chuckled nervously, "You think so?"

"Yes! I'm jealous, too!" she said smiling. "I wish someone would write me a letter like this! It's beautiful! Beautiful beyond words!"

"Well," Akari scratched the back of her head. "It is a very nice letter…"

"Yes! What do you think, Yui-chan?" Chinatsu said bringing the letter over to her.

"Eh? I don't know." In actuality, Yui was curious as to the letter's contents herself, but at the same time, she didn't want to violate Akari's privacy. Even if she consented, the very act of asking, in her eyes, would be a great imposition.

"It's okay, Yui-chan!" Akari said cheerfully, "Everyone else already read it, so you might as well."

Yui nodded as she accepted the letter, "Well," she said, still trying to justify it to both Akari and herself, "I am a little curious." She looked to the redhead for one final nod of approval. After receiving it, she dived in. After the second paragraph, Yui stood a couple of feet back and put her hand to her chest. Kyoko was forced to stand up on her own.

"Wow," she said, but to no one in particular. She read another paragraph. "Wow!"

"Akari," she said, "this is beautiful!" Akari again flushed in embarrassment.

"I mean, to think that you are the inspiration for these words. I mean," Yui struggled to find the words, "I-I can't even look at you right now." Yui faced away and looked at the dry wall.

Akari turned deep red again. The usually stoic girl's reaction to this only served to accentuate her embarrassment. Meanwhile, Kyoko furtively snatched the letter from the distracted girl.

"Stop it, you guys! You're all embarrassing me for real!"

"You shouldn't be embarrassed, Akari-chan!" Chinatsu insisted. "You should be happy! Not everybody gets such beautifully crafted letters!"

"Yeah," Akari stammered in agreement, "but still….I don't know…it feels-"

"hehehehehe!" The conversation was interrupted by the sound of snickering. Kyoko was crouched in the corner, reading the letter to herself. She fell down on her back, laughing to herself.

" 'Oh, Akari!' " she quoted, " ' Your eyes are, to mine, deep, lavender lakes of serenity, that I long to dive into!' HAHA!" A now ruffled Chinatsu marched over towards her corner. "That's so cheesy!" the blonde continued.

'Hmpf!" Chinatsu snatched the letter from her hand," Well, I think it's beautiful and very bold!" Kyoko said nothing, wiping away a tear from her eye. "Boy, Akari! Your admirer sure is funny!"

"You're just laughing because your jealous that Akari has someone special like this," she said, stamping off, "and you don't because you're annoying and nobody loves you!"

"Ouch!" Kyoko said, "That was so NOT an attritional response."

Chinatsu ignored her handing the redhead back her letter. "So, anyway," Kyoko continued, "You're going to go meet her, then?"

The three re-acknowledged her. "Huh? What're you talking about, Kyoko-chan?"

"Her offer!" She leapt up and rejoined the group. "Right here," she said pointing to the last paragraph of the letter. Akari skimmed past the poetry, and discovered what her friend was referring to. It dropped a huge weight on her chest. It was a proposition.

"Oh, yeah! I see it now!" Yui said, "Whether you reciprocate these feelings or not, I invite you, my dearest Akari, to meet me by the tree by the front of the school, ten minutes after the final bell. There, you can give me your response."

"With love and most truly yours," Chinatsu said cheerily, "your secret admirer."

"Egghhh!" Akari grimaced nervously, flushing again.

"Oh, Akari!" Chinatsu said, "You HAVE to go!"

"Errr!" Akari backed up nervously, "I don't think I can do it! It's too embarrassing! I don't think I could face her." Akari shook her head violently.

"Eh? But if I seem to recall," Chinatsu refuted, "earlier you were complaining about how you wanted something special for Valentine's Day. Before the teacher came in, that's what I think you said. Well, you're wish came true."

"No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!" Akari continued to shake her head as the tension of being admired overcame her. "I was just talking! I don't want anything special! I don't want a girlfriend! I don't want to be in love! I just want everything to remain the same!"

"Calm down! No one's saying you have to be her girlfriend now or that you have to be in love or anything like that," Yui put her hand on her shoulder. Akari calmed herself. "But you should at least just go and see her, Akari. I mean, it must've taken her a lot of courage to write this. You at least owe her that much."

"But," Akari replied, "but I don't know whether or not I'll like her or even if I should like her or not," she looked aside, hoping to find a clear answer to this dilemma. "And I don't know if I want to gulp date her or not. I'm not sure how to respond to this."

"Oh, that's easy!" Chinatsu interjected, smiling as she dispensed her knowledge, "this is what you should do.

'There you are, at last, my love!' Akari said, dressed in knight's armor. She flashed a smile that reflected the beams of the sun. And in her mouth, she held a rose.

The admirer stood before her, dressed as a fair maiden. The sun cast its rays down upon her, giving her a translucent radiance. The shade of the tree enveloped Akari, making her appear both strong and mysterious.

'So, my Prince Akari,' she said shyly, 'what is your response?' Akari smiled coolly, causing the admirer to feel faint. She looked away from her handsome beauty. 'I understand if I don't fit your criterion, but-uh!" Akari placed her hand on her chin, silencing her rambling. With her free hand, she caressed her tender cheek.

'You silly fool,' Akari said calmly, 'of course I accept. Now, kiss me!' She leaned in-

"EH!?" Akari interjected loudly. "I feel like that skips a lot of steps!"

Chinatsu just smiled on, lost in her own delusion. "That's the only response that this girl deserves for writing such master poetry."

"But I don't want to get married so soon!" Akari said panicked.

"Hey, Chinose," Yui said sarcastically, "we're trying to think rationally here. Can you put your glasses back on and get some tissues, and offer some more grounded advice?"

"Huh?" Chinatsu said, snapping back to reality's rhythm. "Oh, sorry sempai! I was just possessed by the romance!"

"In any case," Kyoko interjected, "I do agree with them. You should at least see this girl and give her a chance."

"Huh, Kyoko-chan?"

"Yeah, I mean, c'mon! How many times do you get an offer such as this!"

"Yeah, and if you're not ready," Yui offered as beneficially as she could, given that she's never been in this situation before, "then just tell her that honestly. Put her down easy."

As she sat in her desk in her last period class, Akari reflected on her friend's advice. With mixed anxiety, she counted down the final seconds on the clock, her heart jumping at ever tick. She could hardly hear anything the teacher was saying she was so enwrapped in her own thoughts. She had reread the letter a hundred times by this point. When the bell finally rang, she took a deep breath, and gathering her stuff arose from her seat.

Her pinkette friend, smiling, put her hand on her shoulder, "You ready?" she asked excitedly.

"No, I don't think so," Akari responded, chuckling, "but I'll give it a shot anyways."

"You want me to come with you at least until she comes?" she asked as the two went out into the halls.

"Oh, no! That's all right. You head back to the clubroom. I'll join you guys when it's done."

Chinatsu nodded, and the two waved to each other as they parted ways. Akari breathed deeply and calmed herself. She was nervous, but at the same time excited. I have a secret admirer! The thought finally dawned on her. Despite all the talk that I have no presence, I have a secret admirer before everyone else does. That's pretty cool! And she did write me a beautiful letter. She read it as she walked down the halls. Let's at least go see who it is! I'm sure she'll be nice and excited to see me.

A/N: So, the end of chapter 2. I wonder if I wrote Kyoko's reaction properly. I mean, it's kind of manic, but then again so is she. This is where the story really starts to come together I feel. It's not going to be a long one, only one more chapter, so don't get too attached. But I recently had the thought of, 'Wouldn't it be cute if Akari got a love letter on Valentine's Day?' and the rest was history. Plus, I needed to take a bit of a hiatus from Yuri Orpheus. I'm glad I got to writing this! Akari is actually one of my favorite characters ever and she deserves more love, both in the show and in real life. Not many Akari-centric fanfictions unfortunately! Don't worry, Akari! Your harem dream will one day come true!

Per usual, leave a REVIEW if you liked it as well as favorite it. Or even if didn't like it, review anyway. Please! I love receiving feedback!

Until next time.