"Huh? Only one. That's strange. I thought we'd see more, given that it's the Prince-sama's shoe locker." Reiko said.
"What is it you wanted to see so badly?" Kuri said.
"It always happens in manga, you know...That thing where the chocolate just comes pouring out.' Reiko said.
"I really don't think anything like that could happen." Kuri said.
"I get it. This is probably the result of actions similar to that of the cuckoo chick." Mana said.
"Cuckoo?" Kuri said.
"Just like the cuckoo chick pushes the shrike's eggs out of their nests, the girls have thrown out the chocolate that was already here, so that their own chocolate would stand out. The proof is in that garbage can." Mana said.
"Ah! They're all thrown away!" Kuri said.
"So that's it? What an awful thing to do." Reiko said.
"And I am the hawk, who is after the final remaining chocolate." Mana said.
"Eat it! Eat that thing!" Reiko said.
"Um, but that belongs to Yuki-kun." Kuri said.
"It's all right." Reiko said.
Today is February 14th, Valentine's Day. Kuri thought.
"'Sup?" Kyo said. "Hey."
"K- Kyo-kun...!" Kuri said.
"His yearning to fight has been unabashed since this morning." Reiko said.
"Give it to Sohma-kun!" Girl said.
"Give Sohma-kun..." Girl said.
"...the chocolate!" Girl said.
"Without fail...!" Girl said.
"The girls sure are scary these days." Reiko said.
"It's like they're about to rush out from around some street corner." Mana said.
This may be the most terrifying occasion for a member of the zodiac. Kuri thought.
"Here, these are for you, Reiko-chan and Mana-chan!" Kuri said.
"I owe you one, every year!" Reiko said.
"I'm so happy. What would you like in return?" Mana said.
"Oh, no, you don't have to return anything! This is just to thank you for always being there for me." Kuri said.
"Kyo~o-chan! Here! Some chocolate for you!" Girl said.
"Kyo-kun is quite well-liked." Reiko said.
"Yeah, so popular! This is Kyon-chan here!" Boy said.
"Today is... Valentine's... then? I'm going home! No, that's no good. It's dangerous at home, too. A journey... yes, I'll go on a journey. I will disappear for a while!" Kyo said.
"Kyo~o-ku~un! My love!" Kagura said.
"She came, all right!" Yuki said. "He just didn't want to see Kagura-san. Sure enough."
"But it's Valentine's! This is an important event between lovers, right?" Kagura said.
"Who is lovers with whom here?" Kyo said.
"Kyo-kun, we don't need any funny business. The house will get busted up, after all." Shigure said.
"Dammit! I should have left on that journey earlier! How could I have known today was Valentine's?" Kyo said.
"Usually, people realize it." Yuki said.
"So, did you give him your chocolate?" Kuri said.
"About that, Kyo-kun is bashful, and he just won't accept it from me. Happy Valentine's, Kyo-kun! Take this chocolate, stuffed full of my love!" Kagura said.
"Don't want it. Would any man eat such sugary chocolate as that!?" Kyo said.
"Is that right? Kyo-kun, you don't like chocolate, do you?" Shigure said.
"Yeah, I hate it." Kyo said.
"Eat it! Stop complaining and eat it, I said!" Kagura said.
"I said I wasn't going to, and I meant it!" Kyo said.
"Come on! Say you're gonna eat it!" Kagura said.
"No way!" Kyo said.
"Say it!" Kagura said.
"No way!" Kyo said.
"I said say it!" Kagura said.
'No way! Not even if it kills me!" Kyo said.
"Kuri-Chan, by any chance have you prepared any chocolate?" Shigure said.
"As a matter of fact, I decided to give some to everyone, and got some ready. I should have asked to see if everyone likes chocolate, first." Kuri said.
"I sure would like some of your chocolate, Hikawa-san." Yuki said.
"Sure! Let's see now, here!" Kuri said.
"Thanks." Yuki said.
"And this is for Shigure-san." Kuri said.
"Oh, there's one for me too?" Shigure said.
"Isn't that what she intended from the start?" Yuki said.
"This is for always taking trouble to look after me so." Kuri said.
"Oh, no, it's no trouble, don't be silly." Shigure said.
"Still, I'm so happy!" Kur isaid.
"Kuri-chan's chocolate of love, it heals the tired body and soul." Shigure said.
"Um, if it's okay, there's one for you, Kagura-san." Kuri said.
"For me too? I'm so happy!" Kagura said.
"And, if I could, I have some for Hatori-san, Hatsuharu-san, and Momiji-kun that
I'd like to give them." Kuri said.
"You sure have prepared a lot of them, huh?" Shigure said.
"The wrappings were so cute, I got carried away in my happiness. But, I'm not sure whether everyone likes chocolate or not." Kuri said.
"Don't worry about what Kyo-kun says." Shigure said. "Overall, it's those who are the most manly that would eat without being embarrassed. He just doesn't understand what real manliness is. Those who would trample on another's heart, and another's love, fall short as humans even before falling short as men."
"Um, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have chosen chocolate, but um, Fist Crackers, or Thunder Rice Cakes, or something more masculine. Those sound delicious too..." Kuri said.
"F- fine! I just have to eat it, right? I'll eat it!" Kyo said.
"Hooray! Kyo-kun ate my chocolate!" Kagura said.
"K- Kyo-kun...? Here." Kuri said.
"Okay then, I'll come by again!" Kagura said.
"You don't have to!" Kyo said.
"You know, Haru-chan said something. He said that Kyo-kun and Yun-chan were getting along now, and that if they got to know each other better, then maybe they'd get along better too. If that happened, I'd be happy too! Bye-bye!" Kagura said.
Sohma House
"Here, Ha-san, Valentine's chocolate from me!" Shigure said and Hatori slammed the door in his face. "Forgive me, I was joking! It's from Kuri-chan! Let me in."
"Idiot." Hatori let him in.
"We brought some for everybody!" Shigure said.
School
And so, in this way, Valentine's Day passed by.
"Okay, that's it. Everyone, pencils down!" Mayuko said.
Then, another month went by, and before I'd realized it, we had finished our final exams.
"Whew!" Kuri said.
Studying for the test was tough, but I love the feeling of release afterward. Kuri thought.
"Hikawa-san, How did you do?" Yuki said.
"Yuki-kun...It went very well. I was able to fill in much more of the answers than usual." Kuri said.
"What!? You did good!? That's terrific, huh!?" Reiko said.
"Yes...Kuri-chan, you can do it if you try." Mana said.
"Yuki-kun taught me what I was studying. He was very careful and easy to understand, even though he had his own things to do. Truly, truly, thank you so much!" Kuri said.
"That's... going a bit overboard." Reiko said.
"Sohma-kun... Sohma-kun is smiling sweetly for some reason!" Girl said.
"What is it? What is he talking about!?" Girl said.
"I'm too afraid of that Vibe girl there, and can't get close to them..." Girl said.
"Mana-chan , it would seem you should be able to study quite well!" Boy said.
"Really?" Mana said.
"Yes, yes, you've got that Vibe thing, you're pretty smart, and during the previous final
exams, how much did you raise your grade point average?" Boy said.
"Let's see... As I recall, I had supplementary lessons every day, and my parents were called in. That's right, my mother cried." Mana said.
"Was that because of- what do you call it, your Vibe power?" Boy said.
"It means that I was dumber than my Vibes could cover up for." Kuri said.
"Relax, Mana. There's sure to be an even bigger dummy." Boy said.
"Hey, you're not talking about me, right?" Kyo said.
"Huh? Well of course we are!" Boy said.
"I've never taken any supplementary, or had my parents called in!" Kyo said.
"Kyon-Kyon, you actually are able to study!" Boy said.
"Hey, what do you mean, "actually!?"" Kyo said.
"Oh? Yet you can't do a thing when it comes to winning matches?" Boy said.
"T- that's got nothing to do with it!" Kyo said.
"You're the type of fool who, you know, earnestly studies hard, then when the test comes and it covers something else, self-destructs, right?" Boy said.
"I'll wring your neck!" Kyo said.
"Lately, when he's been shutting himself up in his room, it appears he has been studying after all." Kuri said.
"So it would seem." Yuki said.
When I imagine how he looks studying, it's heartwarming. Still, when it comes down to it, Kyo-kun is more suited to actively moving around. Kuri said.
"Ah, Hikawa, do you have a moment?" Mayuko said.
Xxx
"Yes...Is something wrong?" Mana said.
"I, uh, u- um, I have to go give it my all!" Kuri said.
Xxx
"Wow, it's been a while, huh? So you've finished your final exams?" Woman said.
"Yes! Starting today, I will be working hard again, so, I ask you for your kind regards!" Kuri said. "Allow me!"
"What a nice helper." Woman said.
Xxx
"Kuri! Welcome home!" Momiji said.
"Momiji-kun!" Kuri said.
"I just got here myself, you know! Come in, come in! This way, this way!" Momiji said.
"This late at night, and he's still so lively!" Kyo said.
"This is my first time to Shi-chan's house, and I'm so excited!" Momiji said.
"Good evening! We just got home!" Kuri said.
"Welcome back." Shigure said.
"The annoying one has come over!" Kyo said.
"Ah! You must be refreshed after your bath, huh, Kyo~o?" Momiji said.
"There's something about the tension when you're around that irritates me!" Kyo said.
"Kyo's picking on me!" Momiji said.
"Momiji-kun, surely you must be hungry." Kuri said.
"I a~am!" Momiji said.
"You see, that's what's irritating!" Kyo said.
"K- Kyo-kun..." Kuri said.
"Momitchi, have you told us the reason why you're staying over tonight?" Shigure said.
"Mm-mm, not yet. I have a question for Kuri!" Momiji said.
"Y- yes?" Kuri said.
"What is the date tomorrow?" Momiji said.
"Let's see, tomorrow is... March 14th." Kuri said.
"Bingo!" Momiji said. "March 14th is White Day! That's why tomorrow, Kuri, I'm giving you a trip to a hot spring as a present! I call it "Me and Kuri's Carefree Hot Spring Steam Trip!"
"You don't have to call it anything." Yuki said.
"Hot springs? Which ones?" Kyo said.
"You know, there's that one place that the Sohma run, right?" Momiji said.
"Ah, that place." Shigure said.
"T- to be invited to go to a hot spring, or any expensive place like that- it's too extravagant for me, and I'm sure to catch it." Kuri said.
"Uh, you know, Kuri-chan it's just a hot spring. After all, it's not like he's saying you'll be going to Paris, or something. It would be a shame to turn it down." Shigure said. "Take this chance to relieve yourself from the strain of your job and your housework, okay?"
"Unless, Kuri, you're not happy about it?" Momiji said.
"I'm happy! Most joyful!" Kuri said.
"Yuki and Kyo are coming too!" Momiji said.
"What the hell are you speaking up for others so readily for, you brat?" Kyo said.
"Aw~ A~aw, go with us, go with us!" Momiji said.
"Don't be stupid! You were wrong to think I that was going!" Kyo said.
"What about you, Yuki? You don't want to either?" Momiji said.
"I'm going! You've gone to such trouble, and all." Yuki said.
"Ya~ay!" Momiji said.
"All the more reason not to go." Kyo said.
"Why? You don't need to worry about money. I've saved up my allowance." Momiji said.
"That's not the problem." Kyo said.
"Speaking of money, Kuri-chan. I hear you still haven't paid last month's installment for your class field trip fund. I got a call from your Grams, after she was contacted by whoever is in charge of that, saying that if it was necessary, she would pay for you." Shigure said.
"S-She can't! N- no! I won't have such a thing! Last month... there was a lot going on... but I can pay it off with the money from my work this month, so it's all right. I told this to the teacher in charge already, s- so I apologize for having this inconvenience you." Kuri said.
"But, Kuri-chan , you worked well enough last month, so how is it that you-" Shigure said.
The cost of the Valentine's chocolate...?
"Say, say, where are you going on your field trip?" Shigure said.
"It still hasn't been decided." Kuri said.
"You stup-!" Kyo said.
"Y- yes?" Kuri said.
"The bath... you... go..." Kyo said.
"O- okay...?" Kuri said, leaving to take a bath.
"Well done, well done. You controlled yourself well." Kyo said.
"That's right, though... It's not like chocolate falls out of the sky. Kuri-chan had to have paid for it out of her own pocket." Shigure said.
"How is it that we didn't realize that?" Yuki said.
"She was smiling so gleefully, that's how! How were we supposed to realize it like that!? I don't know if she felt obligated or what, but what was she doing, making things that much harder on herself!? She could have used that money to buy clothes for herself, or to pay that installment fund, right!? That was just stupid of her, you know!? Some day, she's going to be down and out! You can't live your life if you spread yourself too thin!" Kyo said.
"Say, say, you know what? I had a class meeting yesterday. And so, there was a kid who, before the class meeting, bought a book and brought it. The book was called
"A Complete Collection of Stories of the World's Fools." This kid loves funny books. Before, he brought a book called "Universe of Stew" to-" Momiji said.
"What is it you want to tell us?" Kyo said.
"Right, right. So anyhow, see? Everyone read his book together. One of the stories, see, was this one called "The Most Foolish Traveler in the World." There's this foolish traveler who was on a journey. When you ask how foolish he was, see, he would always be immediately swindled. He was tricked by the people in the city, and he had his money, his clothes, and his shoes cheated away from him. However, the traveler was a fool, so he was deeply moved when the townspeople said that they were helped by him, and he said "I wish you happiness, I wish you happiness." At last, the traveler had become completely naked, and since even this traveler had become ashamed, he decided to travel through the forest. And then, this time, he met the goblins that lived in the woods. The goblins wanted to eat the traveler's body, and they deceived him with their flattering words. Of course, the traveler was tricked, and gave them one leg, and one arm. In the end, the traveler had become just a head, and he gave his eyes to the last one of them. That goblin, as he was eating the traveler's eyes, said "Thank you. In gratitude, I give you this present," and left something. However, it was just a slip of paper, that had "fool" written on it. Still, the traveler cried great tears. "Thank you, thank you. This is my first present ever. I'm so happy, I'm so happy. Thank you, thank you," he said, as from the eyes he had lost, he shed great tears. And then, the traveler died like that. That was the end of the story. My friends all made fun of the traveler. While they did, I closed my eyes and thought about the traveler. I thought about the traveler, who had been tricked, and become only a head, and who was crying as he said thank you. And then I thought..."Ah, how sorry I feel for him." Loss... and hardship... It's useless to just think about them. The traveler didn't think about those things. It's just that, as much as someone else may think that's foolish, it wasn't all that foolish to me. As much as someone may think that it's worth it to trick someone, I wouldn't trick them. All I really want to do is make them happy. What about you, Yuki? What about you, Kyo? Or do you think it's foolish, after all? What do you think, when you close your eyes?"
Xxx
"I'll go for you." Kyo said.
"Kyo-kun, good morn-" Kuri said.
"The hot spring...I'll go for you. I didn't prepare anything to give you in return. Instead... I'll put up with that damn Yuki and go along for you. Maybe you wouldn't particularly care... if I was there or not, but..." Kyo said.
"No, no! It would be much more fun if you were there for me! I'm so happy! Thank you so much! I'm so happy! Thank you so much!" Kuri said.
"You... There really is...nothing I can do about you." Kyo said.
"Kyo's got the hots this morning!" Momiji said.
"I do not!" Kyo said.
"He's got the hots!" Momiji said.
"Shut up!" Kyo said.
"Kyo's picking on me!" Momiji said.
"What's going on?" Shigure said.
"Good morning! Kyo-kun said he would kindly go to the hot spring with us." Kuri said.
"Well, what can you do?" Shigure said.
I'm so looking forward to this! Going together with everyone on a "Carefree Hot Spring Steam Trip!" I'm so looking forward to this!