First Valentine's
February 14th, 2000
Shortly after the Beach Trip
"Oh my Gosh! Erin, you will never believe who I got chocolates from!" Kai said excitedly, running up to her desk.
Erin looked up from her book she'd been reading and raised a brow at her. "Who?"
"Kazuki!" She said excitedly, shoving the brightly wrapped candy in her face.
Erin laughed, shooing it away. "Okay, okay, I see it."
"I knew he'd been checking me out! I also got some from Shota and Tomo." She said looking around Erin's desk. "Where's your chocolates?" She asked.
Erin gave her a look as if it was obvious. "I didn't get any?"
"Oh... Well don't worry. It's still early in the day, you'll get some." She said sitting down at her desk.
Erin inwardly laughed. She didn't want chocolates from anyone in school. There was only one person she cared about.
The only person who had been on her mind since the beach trip.
Hatori.
Butterflies rushed through her at the thought of him. She thought back to him kissing her on the boat, and she felt her cheeks burn.
She tried to push the thoughts away. She couldn't get blushy at school. Kai would make fun of her, and pry. She hadn't told her about Hatori yet. Well she hadn't told anyone about Hatori yet, but that was besides the point.
Would Hatori give her chocolate for Valentine's Day?
She would see him when he came to pick her up…
No that was silly. It's not like they were dating. They were… Well she really didn't know. They obviously were together… They just never put a label on it. Maybe she could ask him...
No, she couldn't ask. That would be awkward... Maybe she would just wait a few weeks, and then ask. Yeah, that was a much better plan.
"Um, Erin?" A voice asked, pulling her from her thoughts. She looked over to see Daisuke Sakamoto standing next to her desk.
"Oh, hey Daisuke-san, what's up?" She asked quietly. He probably wanted the homework answers again.
"Here, I got these for you." He said, placing the bag of chocolates on her desk.
Her eyes widened in surprise as she stared at the pink bag. Her face turned red. She couldn't accept these, right? She looked around at all the other girls clad. Why did he give them to her of all people? Why not one of the other prettier girls?
Sure she and Daisuke had been in the same class for a while, but it's not like they were friends. They talked occasionally, but it was never about anything important.
She turned to say something to him, but he was already gone.
"See, I told you not to worry." Kai said with a smile.
Erin put the chocolates in her bag. "I wasn't worried…" She mumbled, but Kai didn't hear her.
The day went by quickly. Erin excitedly gathered her things as the final bell rang. She ran out the building to see Hatori waiting there as he always was. She smiled and ran up to him. "Hatori!" She said excitedly.
He looked up from his phone and smiled. "Good day today?"
She shrugged. "It is now." She said timidly, her face turning pink.
He chuckled slightly, and opened the car door for her. "Come on, I'm taking you somewhere." He said.
She tilted her head. "Where are we going?" She asked.
"You'll see." He said with a smile.
She sighed and shook her head. "You know, did I ever tell you I hate surprises?" She asked, but he pretended not to hear her.
As they drove, Erin talked amicably about her day. Hatori smiled and listened contently. Everything seemed brighter now that she was around.
They drove for a little bit until they were outside the city at a park. Erin's eyes widened as she looked out onto the big frozen lake that was there. "Woah! I've never been here before!" She said, excitedly getting out of the car and running towards it.
"Make sure you're careful, you don't want to trip." He laughed, watching her run ahead as he shut the door.
"Look Hatori! It's completely frozen! It's so beautiful!" She said excitedly.
He smiled at her genuine excitement. She was so adorable when she got like this. Something as simple as a park brought her so much joy.
Erin looked up at the big rocks along the bank of the pond. "I bet if you climbed up there the view would be amazing." She said.
Hatori frowned slightly as he looked up at the rocks. "I'm sure it's just as pretty from down here." He said matter of factly.
She shrugged and walked back to him. "What brings us here?"
He smiled. "Well with it being Valentine's Day, I thought I'd take you somewhere to spend time with you." He said holding her hand.
Butterflies raced through her. "Oh, that makes sense. So… um…" She said trying to work up the courage to ask.
He looked down at her. "So?" He questioned.
"Does… Does that mean I'm your valentine?" She asked sheepishly.
He laughed and cupped her cheek with his hand. "Of course."
He smiled at the way her face turned beet red from his words. He leaned in and kissed her forehead.
Hatori was still new at this. He had never celebrated Valentine's Day with anyone before. It felt like it had been a lifetime since he was actually with someone. He hoped he was doing everything right. Erin deserved the best, he wanted her to be happy. He just wanted to make her smile, make this day and every day special for her.
His eyes drifted over to a coffee vendor, and saw he was selling hot chocolate.
He looked down at her and gestured to the stand. "Would you like a warm drink? I know you said you don't drink coffee, do you like hot chocolate?" He asked.
She smiled wide and nodded. "Yes! I love hot chocolate! Do you think they have whipped cream?" She asked.
"I don't know, let's see." He said leading her over.
Lucky for him the vendor did have whipped cream. He smiled at the way Erin's eyes lit up at the sight of the mountain of whipped cream atop the hot chocolate.
They sat on the bench together, looking out at the sunset. Hatori took a sip of his coffee before looking over to her and laughing.
She had somehow managed to get whipped cream all over her face.
She looked at him confused. "What's so funny?" She questioned.
He shook his head, pulling out a napkin. "Nothing, I've just never seen someone with such a talent of getting food on their face." He said, wiping the whipped cream off her face.
Her face flushed at the statement. "Oh, I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. It's cute." He said softly, finishing up.
"It probably isn't… It's embarrassing. She muttered, looking away in an attempt to hide her face.
He chuckled and shook his head. "I have to say, this is quite different from the Valentine's Day I'm used to having." He said, changing the subject.
Erin looked at him. "What do you usually do?" She asked, sipping her drink.
"I usually don't do anything. I just work." He shrugged.
"I bet in high school you got lots of valentines." She said, swinging her legs. A good looking guy like Hatori? He was probably super popular with girls.
"Well I went to an all boys high school so no, not exactly." He said matter of factly.
"Oh. I guess that makes sense with the curse and all." She said, double checking to make sure she wasn't sitting too close to him. The last thing she needed was having to carry a seahorse back in her pocket.
He nodded and looked over at her once more. "What do you usually do?"
She laughed slightly. "Nothing. I've never dated anyone before, and no one really gave me valentines in school…" She paused, holding her cup close to her. "J-Jirou, my cousin, he used to get me chocolates every year when we lived together." She said quietly.
"That's nice." He said. He was surprised. Erin rarely talked about her childhood, not that he could blame her.
"Yeah, It was silly. It all started when I was 8. Me and Suki had chicken pox so we couldn't go to our Valentine's Day party at school. We were devastated. Jirou cheered us up by getting us some candy. He told us that he was the only valentine we would ever need, and he promised he would always get us something… And he did. Even if we didn't talk much… And I pushed him away…" She said trailing off.
Jirou… Would she ever see him again? Did he notice she was gone?
What was she saying, he probably didn't.
They weren't close anymore, not like when they were kids.
Hatori noticed the sad look on her face. He frowned slightly. He wanted to help her, but he didn't know how.
He went to sat something, when she shook the thoughts from her head. "However, today I got chocolates from Daisuke." She said, going back to hot chocolate.
Hatori raised a brow at this. "Who's Daisuke?"
She shrugged. "Just some guy in my class. He must've given them to everyone if I got one."
Hatori blinked as he stared at her. Someone gave her chocolates? It was childish of him, but he didn't like the idea of that. He should've gotten her chocolates. How could he forget that? He mentally kicked himself for not remembering.
Did she like the chocolates? Did this Daisuke find her pretty? Was he hanging around her a lot at school?
He felt himself become jealous, something that rarely ever happened to him. He shouldn't feel like this. Getting jealous over some guy giving her chocolate? How juvenile.
"That's nice, isn't it?" He asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
She laughed slightly. "I guess. Although, the chocolates are wasted on me."
"Why's that?" He asked looking down at her.
"Cause I already have you." She smiled, her big brown eyes looking up at him happily.
Hatori felt his heart skip at her words. "Good. Can't have someone taking you away now." He said, looking out onto the setting sun.
She laughed and rested her head on his shoulder. "You're so weird Hatori." She said watching the sun sink down.
"Can we come here again next Valentine's Day?" She asked innocently.
"If that's what you want, then of course." He said, enjoying the feel of her head on his shoulder.
"Will I still be your Valentine?" She asked, looking up at him.
Hatori felt his cheeks warm slightly at the question. A year from now seemed like a lifetime away. With his curse and his family, well a year from now was hard to plan out. However, he wanted it to happen.
He wanted to be with her every Valentine's Day.
"I hope so." He whispered, squeezing her hand.
He was still learning, but he would get there. And if he was lucky, he would be back here every Valentines Day with her.
It seemed like an impossible wish given who he was, but maybe, just maybe, it would come true.
Meanwhile in a small convenience store in the city, Jirou stood staring at the candy section. In his hands was Suki's favorite candy, peanut butter cups. However, that wasn't what he was staring at.
He was staring at the milk chocolate caramels. Erin's favorite candy.
This was the first year he wasn't buying both.
Would she miss not getting candy from him this year?
What was he saying, of course she wouldn't.
Wherever she was, she probably wasn't even thinking of him. It's not like they were close.
He sighed and bought the peanut butter candies.
"Young man, if you're this late on buying Valentine's candy, you need to buy more than just this." The cashier said matter of factly.
Jirou laughed and ran a hand through his hair. "No, these are for my sister."
"Good. I feared for your life." The cashier said, handing him his receipt.
"Don't worry, I'm not that unprepared." He laughed, before saying his goodbyes.
Once he got home he noticed a note left on the kitchen counter.
Took your mom out, we'll be back later. Dinner is in the fridge.
-Dad
Guess it was just Suki and him tonight. He definitely needed to get a girlfriend. Spending Valentine's Day with his sister was a little sad at this age.
He walked upstairs to her room to find her painting her toenails. She looked up at him. "Sup Valentine?" She laughed.
He rolled his eyes, sitting down next to her. He handed her the candy. "Here ya go." He said.
"Yes! I've been waiting all day! You sure know how to keep a girl waiting." She said.
"Oh hush. You got it, don't complain." He said with a smile.
The two of them were quiet as Suki went back to her nails.
"It was weird. Only buying one thing of candy and not two." He said quietly, leaning his head against the wall.
Suki paused, looking over at him. "Yeah, I bet... I miss her."
"Me too." He said staring at the ground. "I just hope she's alright, wherever she is."
"She is. I know she is. I don't know how, but I just have this feeling that she is. Does that make sense?" She asked.
Jirou nodded. "Yeah I guess."
"Don't worry, we'll see her again. Maybe a little space is good for her. I'm sure you'll be able to buy her valentines again soon." She said happily, tousling his hair.
"I guess you're right." He said.
"I know I'm right. I'm always right. Listen to your older sister." She smiled.
He furrowed his brows. "Suki, you're older by like a minute." He said matter of factly.
"And in that minute I gained life experience. And minute or not it still makes me older." She sneered. "Your name is Jirou. Jirou means 'second son.' Emphasis on second." She said with a smile.
"Shush, or I'm taking the chocolate back." He said sternly.
She held the chocolate close, and rambled on about how mean he was, and that he was an Indian giver.
He smiled and rolled his eyes, as he stared out the window to the starry evening sky. Maybe Suki was right. One day he would be able to give her candy again.
A promise was a promise after all.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
February 14th, 20??
Jirou knocked on the front door holding the bags of chocolate caramel candies.
Hatori answered the door and smiled. "Jirou, how did I know it was you?"
"Wow Hatori, you're psychic now? Congratulations." He laughed, giving him a nudge.
Hatori shook his head. "Come in. We were actually about to go out shortly." He said opening the door.
Jirou walked in and removed his shoes.
"How are things at work?" Hatori asked.
Jirou sighed. "Busy as always."
"You're doing alright?" Hatori asked, looking at him up and down.
Jirou waved him off. "Of course. Trust me I'm the last person you need to worry about. You have your hands full already."
Hatori smiled and nodded. "You come bearing gifts I assume?" He asked, closing the door.
"Tradition is tradition." Jirou said, setting down the bags of candy. "Where did you say you were going?" He asked, but he was cut off by Erin walking out of her room.
"Jirou! I was wondering when you would stop by." She said, excitedly running up to him.
His eyes widened. "Geez Erin, you gotta be careful. You'll trip." He said, holding her steady.
She rolled her eyes. "Jirou, I'm fine. You worry too much." She said, before spotting the candy on the counter. Her eyes lit up. "Oh my gosh! I've been craving these! Jirou, you're the best!" She said, happily opening the bag.
Jirou laughed. "I'm glad you like it, Happy Valentine's Day."
"Although your timing is awful. We were just about to leave." Erin said, unwrapping a candy and popping it in her mouth.
"It's alright. I can't stay too long anyway. I have a date tonight." He said with a smile.
"Good, you better be taking Kat somewhere nice." She said, unwrapping another candy.
"Of course." He laughed, watching her happily eat the candy. He looked between the two of them. "Where are you guys going?" He asked.
"The park of course. We're gonna watch the sunset." Erin said, grabbing her coat.
Jirou crossed his arms."The park? I don't know Erin, sounds like a lot of walking. Are you sure you don't want to go somewhere else? Hatori back me up here." He said looking towards him.
Hatori laughed. "Like she'll listen to me. Don't worry She'll be fine, I'll make sure of it."
"Yeah Jirou you worry too much. I'm just going to the park, I'm not running a marathon."
"Still…" he said, frowning. He wasn't even trying to hide the worry in his voice.
"Just go on your date, have fun, relax." Erin said, pushing him towards the door.
He raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, Alright. But you better be careful." He said sternly, putting his shoes back on.
"I will, I will, I will. How many times do I have to say it?" She said exasperated.
Jirou looked down at her, still not believing her. He looked to Hatori who gave him a reassuring nod. 'Everything will be fine.' He mouthed.
Jirou sighed. "Fine. Have fun, call me if you need anything."
"I'm not calling you on your date." She laughed. "Now go, I love you, thank you for the chocolates." She said shooing him out the door.
He laughed. "Love you too, and you're welcome."
Erin watched him leave and sighed. "He's such a worry wart. I think he's worse than you." She laughed, looking over at Hatori.
"It's how he shows he cares." Hatori said, grabbing his keys.
"Yeah, I know." She said, grabbing his shirt and looking up at him. "Excited for the park?"
"Of course." He smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Does this mean I'm your valentine?" She asked with a smile.
He laughed and pulled her close. "You'll always be my valentine." He said softly.
"Good. Now let's go. I don't wanna miss the sunset." She said happily, walking towards the door.
"Erin." He called and she turned to face him. "I hope you know we aren't walking far. And you need to be careful and watch out for ice." He said sternly, looking down at her.
She rolled her eyes for the millionth time. "Hatori, don't worry I'll be fine." She said once again.
"Alright. Let's go." He said, opening his hand.
She grabbed on happily and he led her to the car.
Once they were there Erin of course got excited to see the frozen lake.
He watched her carefully, as she walked around.
She looked back at him and Hatori took in how beautiful she was in the setting sun.
She walked up to him and buried her face in his chest. He smiled and held her close. "I love you Erin." He said softly.
"I love you more." She said.
He chuckled. "Is that so?"
"Yeah." She said, holding him tight.
He smiled, looking across the frozen lake. It was another Valentines Day, and he was lucky enough to spend it with her by his side. To stand here and hold her close, well he couldn't ask for anything more.
He looked up at the sky.
'Thank you. Thank you for granting my wish.'
He smiled. Yes, she would always be his valentine, everyday, every week, and every year.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
AH! I finished in time! I got this idea like a few hours ago and wanted to post it before Valentines Day was over! (It's 11:20pm right now lol.)
Anyway, Happy Valentines Day Everyone! I hope you enjoyed it and spent it with your loved ones! I wanted to write a cute little bonus chapter for the holiday considering I've never written Valentine's Day in my stories before lol. I always skip over it on accident.
I thought it would be cute to travel back to there first Valentine's Day and then glimpse into a future one.
I hope you all enjoyed! Love you guys!!
I'll see you soon for chapter 20!
