New chapter! Lucky you, haha.
Sorry that it's been a little while since I uploaded, I only have a few pre-written chapters left so I'm trying to pace myself a little :P
Thanks to all of you who leave reviews, I love reading about what you think of my fics!

The garish sparkly hearts and multicolored paper chains that Keroro put up for the party make our living room look like a kindergarten classroom at Valentine's.

I sit cross-legged on the floor leaning against a wall, watching everyone mill about. When Keroro comes over to me and hands me a cup of something that's dark red and, I'm sure, painfully sweet, I accept it without looking up at him.

"Are you having a nice time?"

I shrug indifferently.

"Oh, right!" Keroro says. "This is for you." He hands me a red, heart-shaped card with lace trim.

I take it and glance down the front. On it is a hand-written message:

"Happy Valentine's Day, Sergeant Major Kululu!

- Keroro"

"Thanks," I reply. He's drawn a little picture of me at the bottom of the card. I look happy.

"Did you bring a date, sergeant major?" he asks.

"Mm. No."

"Everyone else has one!"

I look around and see that, yes, everyone else has a partner.

"Kululu!" the sergeant implores. "We talked about this!"

"I don't care," I reply, carefully setting the drink down beside me. I place the card in my breast pocket and my fingers brush against Giroro's knife.

"Why didn't you bring a date?" Keroro inquires.

"There wasn't anyone I wanted to bring...," I mumble.

"You could have brought someone, though, right?"

"Nope."

Keroro sighs. "Yeah, okay, whatever. Listen, I have to go give Tamama his card too." He pats my head, then rushes off, saying, "Make sure to bring a date next time, sergeant major!"

There won't be a next time..., I think to myself.

Wait, what?
I have to question my own thoughts. There was no reason to think that. I'm not going anywhere. Or am I?

I remember what the lance corporal asked me.

"Are you going to go and try to convince Giroro to come back?"

No. That isn't a good idea. I can't do that. I can't. Giroro isn't coming back. He just isn't. I have to accept that.

Giroro's never coming back.

But what if I were to go to him?

No, I can't. Giroro wouldn't like it.

Saburo kisses his wife and then comes over to where I sit. He plops down next to me and asks something that I don't quite catch and therefore ignore. He repeats the question. "Kululu, how are you doin'?"

"Fine."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

The clock on the wall strikes seven and as if on cue, I rise from the floor.

"'Bye, Saburo."

"Where are you going?" he asks, frowning slightly.

"Gotta go," I answer. I'm not sure why I replied like this. I'm not even sure why I'm leaving. But I know that for whatever reason, I have to go.

"Go? Go where?"

I laugh mysteriously to avoid answering and leave the room.

I descend to the base and grab a backpack from a closet on the way down to my room. I hear the clocks in the base tolling the hour too.

Seven o' clock! Time to go!

I get a change of clothes from a cabinet in my room and shove them into my bag. I stow my laptop and a package of curry in the backpack as well and then sling it across my shoulder. A smile creeps across my face as I scrawl a note to Keroro before heading out of my room, returning to the main areas of this home, crossing the hallway to the front door, and quietly exiting the Hinata house.

Keroro -

I'm going go to Keron for a while. Just visiting. Maybe I'll be back, maybe I won't, ha ha.

Don't follow me.

- SGM Kululu

There goes dat boi!
O shit so long!

Kululu is officially on his way to get his man! :D