Today is February 14th, Valentine's day. The day that is apparently a very important date for romantics. Which I am not. "*sigh* Why is this even important?" I sat inside an empty guild as all of the quests were closed for the day.
With the excuse being,"Take the day off to spend with your love 3" and it was mildly annoying. I really needed to get some cash in general. Neptune blew on my cash on grocery shopping.
"Aw man. This is gonna be annoying." I stand up and leave the empty guild. All around Planeptune there were two types of people out today. Either people who were on dates or people who were angry that they were alone. I was neither of em. I couldn't careless about the date, I only found it a minor inconvenience. Everything was decorated with hearts and pink and it was sorta bad for my eyes. As I entered Compa's apartment I was bombarded with the smell of chocolate and ice cream. What's going on... I walked into the living room to see Compa, Neptune and Vert eating giant jugs of vanilla ice cream and boxes of chocolates. All the while they were crying and watching the show I had recorded for myself. Jonathan's romantic adventure. "Ok, what the hell is going on here? Are you guys ok?" I ask them, genuinely worried about them. I've never seen them like this.
"A-Arcy..." Neptune says in a hushed tone. "Why does nobody love us?!" Neptune stuck a huge scoop of ice cream in her mouth and tears fall down faster. "WAHHHH." Vert and Compa joined in on the crying. I shouldn't have expected a serious problem. I walked into the kitchen, grab a glass of water and down it, attempting to get rid of the headache that the girls crying gave me. The sound of the front door opening caused me to walk over to it. There stood Iffy, who had a pamphlet in her hand.
"Oh, hey there Iffy. Don't tell me you're here to join in on Neptune." Iffy jumps at the sound of my voice.
"O-Oh. Sorry, I didn't see you there." Yet you were looking right at me. " I was daydreaming a bit."
"Okayyyyy. Are you ok?" Why is everyone acting so weird today? Iffy puts the pamphlet to my face. I grab it and read the cover. It says
"Free lunch for you and your Hubby! For all pairs that come to our restaurant you will be treated to our special valentine's themed meal, free of charge!
Of course this is a limited time offer, so bring your lover! 3" On the cover was a stereotypical happy couple holding hands and feeding each other chocolates
"What, you wanna go to this?" I ask her. She nodded while facing the ground. "I mean, I would go with you but this is for couples isn't it? We aren't one." This isn't a confession is it? Nah, Iffy wouldn't be into me like that.
"W-Well, I was thinking that we could just act like one...I've always wanted to try this place out but it's so expensive." I look at the restaurant and can't help but agree. It's one of the highest rated in all of Planeptune, hell all of Gamindustri. It's run by Gordon Blamesy, the famously angry chef.
I look at Iffy and she stares back with puppy dog eyes, tears in the corners of her eyes to add effect. "Dammit. Fine. Just because it's you." This better not bite me in the ass. "Let me go tell Nep-"
"Don't!" She suddenly yells. "Just tell her that we got a quest or something."
"Ok...If you say so." I walk to the living room and am greeted by even louder crying. This is a joke right? Right? "Yo, Iffy and I are going to go do a quest. Call me if you need anything that is important. You hear me, Important." Neptune waves me off and dries off her tears with a a piece of chocolate then shoves it in her mouth. That's gross.
"Bring us some more ice cream, ok?" Vert asks from the background.
"And puddin!" Neptune adds.
"Yeah, Yeah." I walk to the door and pat Iffy on the back. "Ready?"
"Y-Yeah."
The walk to the restaurant was a quiet one when compared to all the other walks on our adventure. "WELCOME TO MY RESTAURANT!" The chef, Mr. Gordon greeted us when we reached the door. His yelling immediately made my ears pop. "I ASSUME YOU ARE HERE FOR THE COUPLE SPECIAL." Gordon was a blond haired man who had a face that was always in a frown.
"Yes, and please stop yelling sir..." I plead.
"Oh, sorry." He changed from yelling to a pretty nice and stereotypical proper accent. "I just got in a fight with a fake couple. They attempted to trick me. But that won't happen again!" I felt my sins, if you could call it that, crawl up my back.
"Yup, cuz we're a great and completely real couple. Totally not pretending. Right Iffy?" I put my arm around her waist in order to add to the lie.
"Y-Yup! I love him so much!" Iffy said in a very static voice. She immediately began blushing after she talked, making Gordon laugh.
"Well then. Welcome to my restaurant. Go inside and the waiters will lead you to a table." We did as he asked and were seated near a window overlooking a park. Iffy and I were seated face to face. The entire restaurant was decorated with hearts and other valentine's day decorations. Everyone that was seated there were couples, young and old.
"Well, that was easier than I thought. Right?" Iffy was completely still, her face beet red. "You alright?"
"Y-Yeah. I-I-I'm good." Iffy picked up the menu laid out before her and covered her face with it. She's been acting really weird today...wait. She's always this weird. Never mind. Now then, I'm hungry. I grab the menu and my eyes immediately picks up on a wonderful steak. I could already feel myself drooling.
"So what are you going to get? I think I already found my pick." Iffy started fidgeting with the menu.
"What can I get for you two, today?" A waiter who looked like he was dead inside asked us. Iffy jumped at the question.
"I-I-I-"
"We still need some time sir. For now we'd like some water." The waiter nods at me and walked away. "Are you sure you're alright, Iffy? Your acting stranger than you usually do."
"What does that mean?!" She whisper yells at me. "It's just...this place makes me feel weird." She pouts and shrinks in her seat.
"Oh. I guess I can see your point. Being surrounded by couples is a little nerve racking." Iffy sighs and puts her menu down.
"I just wish...the person I'm was here with would get the message." I could barely hear what she had said.
"Ohhh. I get it." Iffy sits up at this. "You wanted to come with the person you like! I didn't think that you had a crush on someone. Well, who is it? Do i know em?" Iffy smashes her fist against the table, shaking it. The noise made everyone look towards us. Iffy waved them off, then glared at me.
"You're an idiot." It felt like the sentence could kill me.
"Haha...sensitive subject, huh..." Iffy puts the menu back up to her face, refusing to look at me. What'd I do?
"Are you ready now?" The waiter comes back. He puts two glasses of water on the table.
Iffy shots me a glare before talking to the waiter. "I'll take the...um..."
"Yes?"
"Givemeyourlovepancakes." Iffy says super fast, with the waiter being the only one who is able to write it down.
"Ok then Miss. Now then sir, what will you have?" I look down at the menu and realize that it has really dumb names. That explains why Iffy said it like that.
"I'll have the 'Take My Big Meat Baby, Steak'" The man giggles before writing down my order.
"Very well. I'll be back with your order soon." When the waiter leave, I get kicked in the leg.
"Ow! Why Iffy?!"
"W-Why would you choose such a stupidly named meal?!" Her face was red with anger.
"It's not my fault that it's such a weird name!"
"Yeah well...what?" Iffy looked out the window next to us and put her face in her hands.
"What's...*sigh* Of course." Outside the window was a young looking purple haired girl, who is all too familiar to me. She had her face pressed up to the glass, so much so that her breath was visible on the glass. "Neptune..."
"Hey! Whatchu doin?! Ya on a date?!" Her voice was barely audible, meaning she was yelling really loud outside.
"Neptune...leave." Iffy whispers.
"What?! I can't hear you! I'm gonna come inside, just give me a sec!"
"Neptune don't-" Iffy was too late, Neptune was already gone and almost immediately was at the side of our table. "What?!"
"Soooo, you two in a date or something? Oh! Bread!" Neptune doesn't even wait for our response, she grabbed a chair from an empty table, pulled it up to our table and started stuffing her mouth with the bread that was put on the table.
"Neptune...what are you even doing here?" I ask.
"Momhhmhomh"
"Finish eating first!"
"*gulp* I came here in cuz I was looking for food." Of course. "Plus I was a little suspicious of when you said that you two were going on a quest."
"W-Why?" Iffy asks.
"Well, first I heard you yell before Arcy told us he was leaving. So that was fairly obvious." Neptune said all matter-of-factly while putting a shit ton of butter on another piece of bread.
"Why would you be suspicious?" I ask. "It's not like you were jealous or anything, right?" Neptune coughed up the bread she ate.
"Of course not!" Neptune yelled. If the employees didn't know she was here before, they do now. "I just wanted food."
"Um excuse me. " The waiter came up to us. Once he looked at Neptune his entire face filled with sudden realization. I look at Neptune and notice that her mouth was absolutely filled with pieces of bread and she was attempting to fit more in. Goddess of Planeptune. "You know what, I'll just say this is an exception. She's obviously..."
"She's very special." Iffy finishes for him. "Does this mean we still get the deal?"
"Sure... she just can't order anything. I'll be back with your food." Neptune shrugs off what he said and continues eating(?) bread.
"Neptune, you are insane." She nods her head excitedly and swallows.
"I may be insane, but I'm also amazing." The waiter leaves our plates without saying a word. "Ohhh! That steak looks so good! Let me have a bite, Arcy!"
"Let me taste it first, dammit." I cut a small part of the pretty large steak lead the fork into my mouth. "T-This is amazing!" The meat is so juicy yet tender. It feels like I'm eating perfection.
"Let me taste!" I reluctantly cut a piece for her and motion to pass her the fork. "No. Feed me!" What are you, four? I stick the fork in her mouth and she begins chewing. Only to sing in joy. "SOOO good! Ahhh, amazing."
"Seriously?" Iffy asks us. Her face was in a scowl that I've become too familiar with. "Not only did you feed her, but you gave her an...ugh." Iffy clenched her fork so hard that it bended around her fist. I'm screwing up so badly today!
"Gave me what?" Neptune asks. "Oh! An indirect kiss!" Neptune shouts in delight. Again, gaining the attention of the restaurant.
"Neptune, seriously lower your voice." I flick her on her forehead, causing her to yelp and leaving a small red mark. "And what the hell is an indirect kiss?"
"You can't be serious." Iffy asks and she presses her head into her hands. "How can you not know what that is?"
"I don't know, man. I've been very lonely." I've barely had any interactions with people over my life.
"*sigh* An indirect kiss is when someone puts something in their mouth that another person had before them."
"So like saliva transferring or something?" Iffy nods her head. "That's not a big deal. I don't see why you guys make such a fuss about it."
"It's cuz it's romantic Arcy. It's common sense."
"Neptune, yo shouldn't be talking about common sense." Neptune bops her own head. "Maybe I do know nothing about romance..."
"Oh you don't." Iffy says. "I know from first hand experience."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Oh my god..." Iffy ignores my question and continues eating pancakes. They looked really good. They were heart shaped, covered in red syrup, had cherries and strawberries. An explosion of red. Iffy notices me staring at her plate. "You want a taste, don't you?"
"Not necessarily." I look down at where my steak should have been. Instead there was an empty plate. "Neptune..."
"DE-LISH!"
"I'd like a bite of your food, Iffy. If you please." Iffy sighs and cuts be a piece of the pancake. She sticks the piece to the fork as well as a cherry.
"H-Here." She held out her fork to me, attempting to feed me.
"Thanks!" I go for the fork only to hit my head against a surface. That surface was the back of Neptune's head, who had taken my bite away from me.
"Hmmm. Could use more sugar."
"Neptune!" Both Iffy and I whisper yell.
"My bite..." I felt my stomach growl. "I'm so hungry..." I glance at Iffy pleadingly.
"Sorry Partner. I gave you an offer and you lost it. And it was such a great chance..."
"Ugh...Thanks a ton Neptune."
"You're welcome!" Neptune and I waited for Iffy to finish her pancakes to leave. As we left, the waiter patted me on the back. As a sign of pity.
Iffy and Neptune went ahead of me toward Compa's apartment, as I had to do some grocery shopping for Vert and myself. The shop was filled with even more decorations and it was getting a bit tiring. After that color overload, on the way home I saw something strange...something so strange I couldn't tell if it was real at first. Actually no, it was a pretty normal sight but it did make me feel a bit sad. Right outside of Compa's apartment building there was an entire bouquet of flowers thrown on the ground and a closed box of chocolates leaning against the side of the building. I guess someone got dumped. Damn. I picked up the bouquet and box with my free hand. This shouldn't go to waste.
When I entered the apartment, everyone was in the living room, playing video games. They were so immersed that they didn't even hear me come in. I place the groceries on the counter and the first thing I do is place the flowers in a vase with water. Next I open the pretty large box of chocolates and find a note inside.
"To you, my friend. I hope you have a great holiday. Now I must be off to find soda!
To:Arc
From:MAGES."
"I'm sorry what?" That girl somehow tracked me down, left the flowers and chocolate against the building and expected me to take it? Is she a genius or an idiot? There was a line left to read on the letter so I did just that.
"P.S. Don't tell the organization is gave you this. Or maybe you are the organization?! DUN DUN DUNNN"
"She wrote 'dun dun dun' idiot." I threw the letter in the garbage and withdrew the contents of the box. Inside were five smaller boxes of chocolates. How convenient. And they are all color coded. Great.
I strolled into the living room with four boxes of chocolate in hand. "Woah, what do you have there, Cutie?" Vert was the first one to notice I was back. Probably because she was the only one not playing.
"Just some chocolate for you all."
"Chocolate?!" Neptune jumped up from the couch and began jumping up and down in excitement.
"Ok, calm down." I gave everyone their color coded boxes. purple for Neptune, green for Vert, blue for Iffy and pink for Compa. "Happy Valentines day, I guess."
"Awww. Thank you Arcy. I really appreciate it." Compa came up to me and hugged me. "I really needed it. Love you~"
"No problem, Compa." i hug her back.
"W-W-What?!" Iffy, Neptune and Vert yelled out.
"What?" Compa lets go of me and looks confusingly at the girls.
"When did you two become a-a-a..." Iffy kept stumbling over her words.
"Ohhh. Don't worry Iffy. I love Arcy as a friend. Not in a romantic way." Iffy sighs and smiles. "Hehe. Don't worry."
"Hmmm." Neptune hums. "Maybe you two would be a good couple." Compa blushes a bit. "Or maybe me!"
"No way! I think I'd be better." Vert interrupts. "After all, I do have the assets."
"I don't know. Arcy might be a lolicon." Neptune says happily.
"Ok, I think this joke has gone too far." Annoyance filling my voice. Everyone laughs at me.
"Sorry sorry. It was just so fun, Cutie."
"Please stop calling me that Vert." Jeez. I never thought being the only guy would be so strange. I'm the punching bag. "I went grocery shopping. So let's start dinner. I'm starving thanks to someone."
"Hey, it was me. What did you expect." Good point.
And so Valentine's day, came and went. During dinner I couldn't help but feel a bit strange. And a thought popped into my head that never did. I hope next year I'll have someone to spend this day with correctly... I looked at the girls around the table, as I wondered it. Maybe I should step on a route...but who. Who do I care about. And then I was struck in the face with a piece of chicken.
"HAHAHAHA!" All four of the girls laughed. You know what, maybe not.