Valentine's competition
Maya scans the list resting on top of her desk attentively to then cross out one of the items on it with her pen, before she proceeds to do the same with the next item written.
She nods satisfied and puts the list back inside her desk's drawer to then pull a small card out of it.
She exchanges her ballpoint pen for a fountain pen, placing her hand on her chin briefly to gather her thoughts correctly before she begins to write in an elegant and neat handwriting a message inside the card.
Then, she lets the ink dry and folds the card carefully to put it away in her pocket, taking it with her as she leaves the dorms, humming while she walks through the streets towards her destination.
Soon enough, she arrives to the destined place, stopping only to take a look at the beautifully decorated shop in front of her.
"Lily white" the shop's sign says, bringing a soft smile to her face at its accurate name before she pushes the door open, hearing the bell ringing and announcing the arrival of a new customer.
- Good morning, how can I help you?
A beautiful purple haired woman greets her amicably and Maya can't help but be fascinated by her mesmerizing yet intriguing emerald eyes gazing right at her.
- I... huh, I'd like to deliver a floral arrangement – she says a bit timidly, hearing the florist giggling lightly.
- For your Valentine's lover, I assume.
The woman, Nozomi, as written on her shirt's tag, says fondly.
- Ah yes, Claudine is my, huh, lover – Maya says blushing lightly, admitting aloud for the first time that Claudine is her lover.
She has to admit that there's something about this mysterious Nozomi woman that makes her feel a bit nervous and exposed with just a single gaze.
- Do you have any idea of what type of floral arrangement would you like?
Maya blinks clueless, not really knowing anything about floral arrangements while internally cursing herself for hadn't research it sooner. She was so busy thinking about writing the perfect message that could convey her feelings in the card she has in her pocket and that will go with the flowers that she totally forgot about it.
Nozomi upon noticing her obliviousness just gives her a fond smile.
- What kind of message would you like to convey with the flowers? – she asks Maya hoping her question could help her, and Maya can't help but smile in relief as she slips the card over the counter.
- I'd like this card to be attached in a magenta lace to a bouquet of three flowers – Maya says feeling more confident.
- Just three flowers? – Nozomi asks her a bit surprised. Normally people buy a bouquet with many more flowers.
- Yes, three. One per each year we have known each other – Maya declares proudly.
Nozomi smiles fondly at this before she asks Maya again.
- Can I know what these three flowers mean to you, or if you have any kind of flowers you would specifically want in the bouquet?
Maya gathers her thoughts for a moment while Nozomi awaits patiently for the brunette to talk again.
- I'm afraid I don't know much about which type of flowers would be the right ones for the bouquet but if it is of any help, I want one that expresses my admiration for Claudine, another one to express my gratitude and another one to express my utter love for her.
Nozomi nods with a fond smile present on her face while she writes down what Maya wants before she gazes up back at her.
- I have the perfect flowers to convey your feelings and message for Claudine. So if you're okay with it, I'll have your order ready for Valentine.
Nozomi says and even though Maya likes to have everything under control, she strangely trusts this kind woman with her order.
- Thank you, then I'll be counting on you.
And with that said and after paying, she leaves the florist, going for a small walk before she returns to the dorms, intercepting Nana on her way to her bedroom.
- Nana, may I ask you for a favor?
Nana simply smiles and nods, listening attentively to Maya's petition before she gladly accepts to help her with it, keeping it as a secret from a certain ash-blonde.
- Of course I'll help you! This will be our little secret – Nana says giddily, eliciting a smile from Maya.
So once night falls, Maya finds herself with Nana in the kitchen, trying to not make any sound that could arouse any suspicion as they bake some macarons for Claudine's Valentine.
- All done! – Nana exclaims quietly and happily as they place the macarons on an airtight container – Now you only have to wait 24 hours for them to "bloom" and you can give them to Claudine.
Nana ends up saying, winking at Maya playfully.
- Thank you, Nana.
Maya says gratefully as she takes container with her.
- You're more than welcome. Now we better go to sleep or Junna-chan will come to scold us for being baking this late at night.
Nana giggles, causing Maya to do the same, before the blonde pushes her playfully towards their bedrooms, waving one another goodbye to enter their respective rooms.
As soon as Maya closes her bedroom's door, she goes to hide the container in her desk's drawer and takes her infamous Saint Valentine's list out of it to cross another item on it.
She hums contentedly before she goes to sleep with a smile on her face knowing this year, she'll be surprising Claudine again in a great way and will win their particular Valentine's competition.
Valentine's Day comes sooner than expected and with it, Maya's giddiness and the nervousness of wanting nothing more than her plan working perfectly.
So as soon as the brunette wakes up and gets dressed in her uniform, she quickly takes and puts the macarons in a small purple bag to put it inside her school bag and checks her phone to read Nozomi's text confirming her that she'll be receiving the floral arrangement throughout the morning just as she asked for.
Maya sighs in relief and gets out of her room to walk towards Claudine's one with a smile on her face. As she's arriving to the ash-blonde's door, she sees Claudine coincidentally getting out of her room.
- Good morning, ma Claudine – she says softly, leaving a kiss on the ash-blonde's cheek.
- Méchante va, Il est trop tôt pour ça (it's too early for this) – Claudine grumbles, eliciting a giggle from Maya.
Claudine then sighs and smiles softly, kissing Maya's cheek back before taking the brunette's hand in hers to walk with their hands intertwined.
- Bonjour, ma Maya.
Maya smiles even wider as they walk happily hand in hand to classes.
The day goes by calmly between classes and practice, before lunch period comes.
- Maya – Claudine whispers her girlfriend's name softly, moving her head to indicate her to stay behind to talk.
- Yes, ma Claudine?
- Can we skip practice this afternoon?
Maya's eyes widen slightly before a flash of concern glints in them.
- Are you not feeling well? – Maya asks her worriedly, her hand coming to rest on Claudine's cheek, caressing it with her thumb and Claudine can't help but lean on her touch, a tender smile spreading across her face before she takes Maya's hand to leave a kiss on her palm.
- I'm okay, don't worry. I just need to take care of some matters – Claudine says flashing her a reassuring smile that immediately calms down the brunette's worries.
- If that's the case, then don't worry, we can do some extra practice tomorrow.
Upon saying this, Claudine can't help but snort. Of course Maya wouldn't let pass the opportunity to practice longer.
- Can I be of any help though? – Maya offers kindly before she sees Claudine shaking her head.
- No, but thank you for your offer.
With a last chaste kiss on Maya's lips, Claudine takes the brunette's hand and pulls her with the rest of the group to have lunch all together.
- Let's hurry up, we don't want Kaoruko to be pestering us and ruining our lunch, do we?
- Of course not, ma chérie.
Maya lets out a brief laugh and follows Claudine happily.
The final bell rings, indicating the end of classes and Maya can't help but walk back to the dorms dejectedly with the rest of the girls, all her plans and surprises for the day ruined.
- Oh dear God, stop pouting. You look like a lost puppy – Kaoruko says with a wicked grin after hearing Maya sigh for the nth time on their way back.
- Kaoruko-chan! – Mahiru quickly scolds her.
- It's okay, Mahiru – Maya says giving her a soft smile.
- Don't worry Maya, I'm sure Kuroko comes back sooner than expected – Futaba chimes in with her arms behind her head, giving Maya a reassuring smile and Maya can only smile back at her and nod hoping she's right. She already misses the ash-blonde.
They keep walking calmly towards the dorms and once they arrive, Maya can't help but stop briefly to look at Claudine's door. She sighs heavily, shaking her head before heading to her own bedroom, opening her door to let out a surprised gasp.
- Claudine? – she asks aloud surprised, not expecting to find the ash-blonde sat on her bed.
Claudine giggles and stands up to pull a still stunned Maya inside her own bedroom, closing the door behind her. Then, she kisses her sweetly, feeling Maya sigh contentedly into it before she drops her school bag and surrounds Claudine's waist to kiss her back happily.
- Silly, did you really think I didn't prepare anything for today? – Claudine says amusedly, stepping to the side so Maya can notice the small table with two mugs of streaming tea resting on it.
Maya opens her eyes slightly before a smile appears on her face. She then lets Claudine take her by the hand towards the small table and sits across from her.
- Now let's accompany this delicious tea with something sweet, shall we? – Claudine says winking at Maya while pulling a small box out of her school bag – Unwrap it.
She says bashfully, sliding the box towards Maya who furrows her brows confused to then do what Claudine just told her to, finding several baumkuchens inside of it.
She can't help but gasp and giggle to then look back at her girlfriend with a big smile on her face.
- I hope they taste well, Mahiru helped me to bake them.
Maya can't help but giggle more, taking the fork next to her on the table to take a bite of one of them, humming in delight.
- Mmh, it tastes delicious ma Claudine. Now whenever I want to eat baumkuchen, I'll ask you to bake them.
Claudine snorts and rolls her eyes playfully.
- You're such a sweet-talker sometimes.
Maya can only grin widely before she sees Claudine pulling a small crystal box out of her school bag.
- Here.
Claudine whispers with a coy smile on her face as she hands it to the brunette and Maya can't help but gasp audibly, seeing a beautiful red rose and a lavender flower weaved together inside the box.
- I want you to always preserve them so they never wilt, so I came out with this idea – Claudine blushes lightly before continuing – The lavender flower is because it reminds me of you, your mesmerizing eyes and heady and soothing scent. The red rose symbolizes my love for you.
Maya smiles teary at the ash-blonde, seeing her crawling towards her to wipe away her tears with her thumb and end cupping and caressing her cheek in a tender way.
- Joyeuse Saint-Valentin, mon amour – Claudine says softly before she leans to kiss Maya sweetly, and Maya can only pull her into a deeper kiss, wrapping her arms around Claudine's waist to pull her and sit her on her lap, hearing Claudine squealing.
- Silly!
Maya laughs, embracing her tighter.
- Sorry, I couldn't help it – she says without letting Claudine go – Mind if I give you my Valentine's gifts now?
- I have actually been expecting them since this morning.
Claudine says playfully, hearing Maya gasp audibly again but for a different reason this time. The ash-blonde lets out a brief laugh before wriggling on Maya's lap to be able to leave another kiss on her lips and then sit beside her instead of across from her as she was previously.
Maya smiles sheepishly and pulls a small purple bag out of her school bag, handing it to Claudine.
- I also hope they taste well, Nana helped me to bake them.
They can't help but giggle together at the fact they both got help baking their sweets, before Claudine opens the bag and smiles widely, quickly pulling a macaron out to take a bite of it.
- It's delicious Maya, thank you.
Maya smiles proudly and turns to search in her school bag for another gift, carefully pulling out of it the bouquet with three flowers she asked for and that Nozomi arranged so beautifully.
Claudine gasps in astonishment and smiles upon seeing them, quickly smelling them.
It looks like they had ended up having the same idea.
- The light red carnation flower symbolizes my admiration for you. The yellow globeflower my gratitude, and the red rose, my utter love for you.
After saying that, Maya can't help but furrow her brows and pout adorably, making Claudine blink.
- What's wrong? – she asks her, bewildered at her girlfriend's sudden change, seeing Maya shaking her head.
- Ah, it's nothing. I was just thinking how they will eventually wilt... – Maya trails off sadly and Claudine can't help but smile tenderly at her and kiss her cheek.
- Don't worry about that, I know how to dry them to always preserve them.
- You do!?
- Of course I do!
Maya smiles widely and happily, just like a small kid and Claudine can only giggle, resting her head on Maya's shoulder.
- Thank you – Claudine whispers softly.
- Read the card, ma chérie – Maya whispers back, seeing her girlfriend noticing the card attached to the bouquet and reaching for it to open it and carefully read it. Then, she hears her gasping before Claudine looks at her with teary eyes.
- Happy Valentine, ma chérie. Je t'aime – Maya whispers, wiping away Claudine's tears before they melt into a deep and sweet kiss.
- Je t'aime aussi – Claudine whispers before they kiss again.
Maya doesn't know if she has won their particular Valentine's competition, but she sure enjoys being able to make Claudine feel loved and witness the wide and happy smile she sports on her face before they take a sip of their tea and keep eating the sweets they baked for one another together, pausing from time to time to giggle and kiss.
