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Chapter 21: Valentine's Day

Great, I'm running late, I've got to stop pressing the sleep button on my alarm!  After I get ready, I run downstairs, and notice that both of my parents have gone already. I run to the station, and see Asahina signaling me to hurry up, so I run faster, not wanting to miss the train.   Fortunately, I make it on just as the doors are closing.

"Kamina-kun, did you sleep in again?"

"Uh, yeah," I answer, embarrassed.

"Hiroko, where's my chocolate?"

Chocolate?  What is Mamoru talking about?

"Tsk, tsk, aren't we impatient!" Asahina says as she waves her finger at him.

"What's the confused look for, Ayato, you certainly weren't expecting Hiroko to give you chocolate?"  Mamoru says, and I get the strange feeling he was only half joking.

At last, I make the connection, how stupid of me, it's Valentine's Day! 

Realizing Mamoru is probably waiting for an answer, I say, "No, no of course not, I just didn't remember that it was Valentine's Day, so I didn't know why you were expecting Asahina to have chocolate for you."

"Ah, this important day for girls, and you've completely forgotten!"  Asahina says.

"I wonder if Ayato will be getting chocolates from anyone this year."

"I wonder how many chocolates you'll be getting, Torigai." Asahina says with an angry look.

Initially surprised, I then remember that last year, not that long after Asahina and Mamoru started dating, they walked to his locker together on Valentine's Day, and when Mamoru opened it, there were at least 3 or 4 chocolates in there, Asahina was furious.  I hope for Mamoru's sake that doesn't happen again.

I remember last Valentine's Day I had a few, too.  I wasn't really sure what exactly to do about it.  One of them didn't have a name, so I wasn't worried about it.  The other two did, however.  I decided in the end it would be the polite thing to do to thank them, but also let them know I wasn't interested, and that's what I did.  The first girl was rather stoic about it, but the second ran off crying, making me wonder if I'd done the right thing.  I decide that I'll think about that later if the situation comes up.  I suddenly wonder, is it possible that Mishima might give me chocolate today? 

"Good morning, Reika!" Asahina shouts. I look up, realizing I'd been lost in my thoughts.  Mishima says hello and I return the greeting.  She makes no mention of the fact that it is Valentine's Day, and Asahina never brings it up, either.

When we get to school, I open my locker, and notice that there are a few chocolates inside.  As I inspect them, I decide that I won't approach the girls because of what happened last year, and I don't want any misunderstandings in case anyone sees, but isn't listening, when I'm talking with the girls. I think I hear a noise, and see Mishima there near me, so I quickly stuff the chocolates back in my locker.

"Uh, Mishima, hi." I say, embarrassed.  I look at her face more closely, and realize she doesn't look well, I wonder if she's sick.

"Mishima, is something wrong?"  She continues to stare at me, making me worried.

"Mishima?"  She turns her face away, but then looks at me and smiles.

"Oh, nothing, Kamina-kun, I was just, just wondering if you know when the next English exam is, you see, I, I forgot." 

It's unusual for Mishima to ask a question like this, I wonder if she really doesn't know.

"It's next Tuesday."

"Ok, thanks, Kamina-kun," she says, and then suddenly walks off, leaving me alone and confused.

I enter the classroom, and hear Asahina as I walk to my seat.

"FIVE chocolates, five!  I can't believe this!"

"Hiroko, calm down, it's not like I asked for them!"

"Hmph, maybe you don't need mine after all, since you're so popular!"

"Now Hiroko, you know that's not true, yours are the only ones I care about."

Asahina starts to cry, but then hugs Mamoru, who returns the hug.

She looks up at him as she wipes away her tears, "I'm sorry Torigai, I shouldn't have gotten so angry."

Mamoru smiles at her and says, "It's all right, Hiroko."

Soon after, they sit down, and I appreciate the newly regained calm.

As the day continues and Mishima doesn't even bring up chocolate or Valentine's Day, I begin to wonder if she has given chocolate to someone else, making me feel ill.  The day finally ends, and I wait out in the hallway for Mishima, I wonder what's keeping her?  She finally comes out and smiles.

"Kamina-kun?"

"Yes, Mishima?"

"I, I have something for you."

She opens up her briefcase and takes out a box and hands it to me.
Could this be?

I open it and see what I'd hoped to find.  I can't believe it, Mishima gave me chocolate, does she like me then? 

"Wow, thank you so much Mishima!"

She looks at me and smiles, "You're welcome, Kamina-kun."

I resolve immediately to tell her my feelings, and ask about hers.

"Mishima, I…"

"Reika, thanks for the chocolate!"

"Yeah, Mishima, thanks."

I look up in shock, did I just hear what I think I did? Mamoru and Asahina are definitely there and were thanking Mishima for chocolate, which means, which means, I was terribly wrong…

As Mishima continues to talk with Mamoru and Asahina, I look at the box once again, still in shock over its true meaning.

"Kamina-kun?"

I look up and notice Mishima waiting for me, and Mamoru and Asahina already gone.

"Kamina-kun, is something wrong?  You look ill."  Mishima asks with a worried look.

I force a smile and respond, "Oh, no, I'm fine, I'm just a little tired, that's all."

"I see…"

We walk silently to club, I can't bring myself to say anything. 

As I walk out of the clubroom after the activity period, I see Mishima and Narita, but I don't have the energy to call out to them, even though I'm within hearing distance.  Instead, I decide to walk by myself.

"So?  What happened, tell me!" Narita shouts.

"I couldn't do it after all, at least, not the way I planned," Mishima answers.

I look up and wonder what they're talking about, could it possibly be about something that happened today?

"How many times have I told you, Haruka?!"

"I don't know, I'm just so unsure."

"Ah, Haruka, what am I going to do with you!"

Mishima's head droops.   Narita pats Mishima on the back, and Mishima lifts her head to look at Narita.

"Well, we can talk more about this more later, ok?" Narita says.

"Ok, Arimi.  Bye."

"Bye!"

Narita runs ahead, leaving Mishima standing in the hallway.  I slow my pace in the hope that she won't figure out that I was listening to their conversation.  I think about what I just heard. 'Not the way I planned.'  What could that mean?  Is it possible? 

I slowly approach Mishima, still wondering and hoping.

"Hello, Mishima." 

She looks towards me and says, "Hello, Kamina-kun."

"Thanks again for the chocolate, Mishima, I appreciate it."

"You're welcome, Kamina-kun," she says as she looks away from me, and unless I'm mistaken, I think she's blushing.  Maybe there is hope after all…

Next Chapter

White Day