Author's Note: Thanks for the thumbs up, Tanaka Hikaru! I can't promise you to update faster, but I'll try. It's just that recently, a huge wall blocked me from getting to imagination land. Anyways, enjoy the chapter!

The date is February 11th. With Valentine's Day closing by, the stores were all filled with lovey dovey decorations as well as sales on chocolates. I was hiking the steep hill to get to my school with the temperature not as cold as New Year's. To my left and right were random female students talking about who they wanted to give the chocolate to. Huh, what's so special about giving someone a chocolate? And Saint Valentine isn't even related to romance at all in the original biographies! Maybe it's just a made up story made by the chocolate industries to increase their income or something.

I threw away the thought, knowing that it'll only tire my mind. I guess I should focus on something else instead. The couple that was born in the New Year was doing well, without any problems whatsoever. And I'm pretty sure Akiyama would give her boyfriend a chocolate for the event.

School went by uneventfully. When the last bell of the day rang, I automatically walked towards the music room like a robot. It's been a habit of mine to do this after school.

"Good afternoon, Yamamoto-kun." Kotobuki greeted me as I walked in. The familiar scent of tea can be smelled.

"Yo," I greeted, throwing my bag to the bench where Yui sat, honing her skills in fingerstyle guitar. I noted Tanigawa is absent, and remembered that today he had cleaning duties.

"Hiromi-kun, I can play it!" Yui said to me, a proud smile on her face.

I'm not surprised. "Let's hear it, then." I said to her, feeling rather proud.

She played the tune with grace, without a single note missed. The song is 'Romance d'Amour', a basic song for the novices of fingertsyling.

"It's so soothing." Akiyama commented as the tune filled the room.

I closed my eyes and let my sense of hearing took over. What Akiyama had stated is true, when you hear someone else playing, you'll say that it's pretty good. But if the player heard the tune they played, they will say that it isn't good enough. There's always a feeling of unsatisfactory, though the others stated that it's good.

"Great job." I praised her. "I'll teach you the next song tomorrow."

Yui gave me a happy smile that's quite pleasing to my eyes. Somehow I felt really tranquil when she did that.

"You really are something else, Yamamoto-kun. What would Yui-chan be without you…" Kotobuki said to me. It seems she really enjoyed hearing the tune Yui played just now.

"It's an essential to learn fingerstyle for guitar players. I'm just sick in hearing people stating they can play the guitar when they only learn the chords." I explained to the blonde.

Kotobuki sighed, looking disappointed. "As expected from Yamamoto-kun…" She muttered.

"Come again?"

"Ah, nothing…"

"You're hopeless, Yamamoto." Tainaka stated plainly. Akiyama pressed the palm of her right hand to her face.

What the hell are these girls talking about?

Yui put a hand on my shoulder. "It's alright, Hiromi-kun, it's alright." She said with a smile. I raised one eyebrow, feeling rather confused.

What, they're expecting a different answer? I think it's the most suitable answer of all, I don't see any other options here…

Just as I was in a state of daze and confusion, the door opened, revealing a handsome face with the everlasting smile on it. Tanigawa greeted everyone in the room, gently putting his bag on the bench. He then walked towards his girlfriend and kissed her lightly in the cheek, resulting in a blushing black haired woman.

The day went by like any other days, with the club chatting and Yui practicing. Even though it seems like an infinite loop, it's quite fun. I don't know why, but I'm actually enjoying myself being here. It's like a second home to me.

I went home with the earlier conversation with the girls on my mind. I don't get it, what were they expecting? No matter how much I think of it, I still don't get the answer. Feeling rather tired, I decided to throw the mystery away for another day.

Arriving at my home after a few minutes of walking, I took a bath to refresh myself. It was when I decided to go for a smoke my phone vibrates. I took a look at the caller I.D. to see the name 'Chihaya' on the small screen. Wondering what he wanted, I flipped open my phone and pressed it against my ear.

"Hello?"

"Ah, Hiromi, regarding Valentine's Day…"

"What about it?" I asked, a bit curious.

"If you receive something that reminds you of me, please don't mention my name. Knowing you, I think I need to tell you of this." Said the other side of the line.

"What? What are you talking about?" I was confused, unable to decipher his saying.

"Well, you'll find out soon. Just remember what I said. Have a good day." He then hung up, leaving me dazzled.

I raised an eyebrow at the phone, though it won't give me answers. I decided to throw my phone to the couch and let my tired mind rest for a while.

"Whatever."

February 14th, Valentine's Day. As I hiked the steep hill to the school, I saw most of the female students carrying bright colored bags of various sizes. Though some of them were looking pretty nervous, the rest were walking in high spirits with a burning determination on their eyes. I also noted that the males were also excited, wondering if they'll get something from their sweethearts.

Me, I walked just like any other day. Even though I can't get the words coming from Chihaya out of my mind. I'm quite curious at what'll happen today.

The class went by in a flash, though not really tiring due to the easy subjects for today. I walked to the clubroom with Yui by my side. She was acting a bit funny, she's never been this quiet. I decided not to ask, though. It might be a private matter that she doesn't want to share. To our left and right were female students giving their chocolates to the males, with a visible blush on their faces. I guess this is what you call as 'love is in the air'.

As we reached the clubroom, we saw not a single soul inside. It was pretty deserted, like there was a murder case here. It's pretty suspicious, I suspected that it was a setup for me. I vaporized the thought of that, though. I don't think the club would set me up for whatever reason.

"It sure is quiet." Yui said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah." Was my short answer.

Yui sat on the bench, setting her bag beside her. I can't help but notice her weirdness, she's pretty anxious about something, yet I can't put my finger on why. Did she want me to ask? I don't think I'll be able to help her if she were to confess her problems to me.

Deciding to let it go, I took my guitar from the stand. "Alright, I'm gonna teach you the next song. You ready?"

Yui snapped out of her daydream, looking at me with an anxious expression. "Ah, before that…" She then reached out for her bag, opening it. The girl took out a rather feminine bag of small size with pink colors and a few mix of white hearts printed on it.

"This is for you, Hiromi-kun!" Yui shoved the bag to my face, blocking my view.

I raised one eyebrow, then snatched the bag, revealing a blushing Yui looking towards the floor. I took out the content of the bag to see a small white box. Inside it, was a pile of chocolate truffles, looking pretty delicious.

"For always helping me out." Yui said to me with a soft smile, her usual cheerful self is back.

"Thanks." I muttered. I took a piece and put it inside my mouth. The taste was bitter, just the way I liked it. But this taste… it reminds me of…

Chihaya!

So this is what he meant by those words. But why can't I mention his name? I'll have to ask later.

"How is it?" Yui asked me, leaning closer to my face with a curious expression.

"Dark chocolate… I like it. Thanks, Yui."

She shot me another one of those sweet smiles, the one that made me feel pretty tranquil, peaceful. Somehow I don't want that smile to disappear, I don't know why. Without a reason, I automatically smiled with her, it's like a ghost possessed me into smiling or something.

My ears picked up some sounds from outside, near the door. Curious, I strode my legs quietly to the door and opened it with a sudden movement. There stood the rest of the club in a good position for eavesdropping.

"Uh, hello, Yamamoto." Tainaka greeted me nervously.

"What the hell are you guys doing?" I raised one eyebrow at the obscure sight.

"Nothing." Kotobuki stated calmly with her usual smile, walking into the room followed by the rest of the club.

"Ah, I need to use the bathroom." Yui stood up from her seat and scurried away towards the said location.

"I see you got a chocolate from Yui." Akiyama said after the door closed, looking at the box I held.

It was pretty obvious she's acting. She might forget that I'm a master in microexpressions. Though a bit annoyed, I decided to let it slip this time. I see these guys tried to set me up to being alone with Yui.

"Yeah, so?"

Tainaka sighed, shaking her head a few times. "You really don't know what it means when you received chocolate on Valentine's don't you?"

"It's obligatory chocolate. Everybody receive that." I said to her, tossing another piece of the bitter chocolate to my mouth.

"Is it really obligatory chocolate?" Kotobuki asked me with her usual gentle smile on her face.

"She gave it because I helped her with the guitar."

"Well, she doesn't state that it's obligatory chocolate, right?"

"Just shut up."

So I received a chocolate in Valentine's Day. Big deal.

As expected, Tanigawa got a chocolate cake made by his lover. Of course, he was way too happy to receive it, and landed a kiss to show his gratitude. How goddamn romantic.

That evening, I went to Castanet Café to work. Of course, I demanded an explanation from the chef.

"Hirasawa came to me a few days ago, asked me to teach her how to make a good chocolate for Valentine's. The reason I warned you was because I don't want to hurt her feelings."

"Hurt her feelings? How so?"

"If you stated that the taste of the chocolate was familiar to mine, she would think that the chocolate she gave to you wasn't really special." He turned his head to me, looking serious.

I'm quite confused by that logic. "I don't get it. The familiarity of the taste doesn't matter, it's just a matter of good or bad."

"Yeah, well… that's your way of thinking. The society's way of thinking is pretty different, y'know. Hirasawa wanted to give you something special, something that you won't receive from other people. If you liked the chocolate she gave you, then she would be pretty happy that her creation was liked by someone she loved. But if she were to buy a chocolate bar from a convenience store, she would not be as happy. You get where I'm going with this?"

"Kind of… if I told her it was your recipe, she won't feel that the chocolate she gave to me was special." I'm starting to understand his meanings.

"Precisely. It's like when you're writing a song using someone else's lyrics." Chihaya gave me a revolver hand gesture.

"I see… thanks for warning me." I don't know how I'd feel if I were to hurt Yui's feelings.

"Yeah, well… you need to know a bit of people's feelings if you want to befriend them."

People's feelings, huh… I rarely thought about that. Since I'm always alone, I don't think thinking about people's feelings is necessary.

I guess I need to start thinking about it.