And here is the next chapter! I'm busy af, so it's just luck that I managed to write this before studies completely took over my life. XD
So, part two of Valentine's Day. Hope you enjoy!
"Woah, Isogai-kun, just how many people gave you chocolate?!"
Yuuma laughs nervously. "Well, this is definitely way more than I expected, but I appreciate every single one of them. I'll have to make sure to return the favor in White Day…"
"Words spoken like a true Ikemen," Akabane comments lightly, making everyone standing around them laugh.
"Indeed," Sugino grins widely.
"You got a lot of chocolate too, Megu," Okano smirks, nudging Kataoka with her elbow in a friendly way.
Kataoka sighs. "Yes, I did. I don't know why though…"
"Because you're Ikemegu!" Maeda Aiko—a girl Yuuma doesn't really know that well, but is in the same class and is friends with Kataoka and Okano—laughs as she nudges Kataoka as well.
"It's only natural that both Ikemen get that huge amount of chocolate," Oshiro Takumi, a friend of Yuuma's from the tennis club lets out a laugh. "Not like you can compete with Asano though. Do you have any idea just how much chocolate that dude got?!"
"Mountains!" Okajima screeches. "Half the girls gave chocolate to him! And meanwhile, I didn't get any…"
"No sane girl would give chocolates to you," Kataoka snaps.
"Kataoka… why so cruel…"
"Uh, guys?" Shiota sweatdrops, smiling a little. She's always been a peacemaker.
"Well, if it helps, I didn't get much chocolate either," Oshiro sighs. "The only reason I even had any chocolate is that Kurahashi-san and Yada-san are nice enough to give chocolates to all the boys in my class."
"As expected from Hinano-chan and Touka-chan," Maeda notes, nodding.
"Anyway, did you get any chocolate, Akabane?" Sugino questions, turning to look at the redhead.
"Well, yeah, a couple," the redhead shrugs.
"But if you did… then… Shiota-chan!" Hiroto quickly turns his head to look at the blue-haired girl. "Who did you give chocolate to?!"
"M-Me?" Shiota seems surprised that Hiroto asked that question randomly. "I gave it to Karma-kun—"
"I knew it!" Hiroto cheers loudly, making some heads turn to see why the handsome boy seems so excited. "So does that mean you're—"
"Hiroto!" Yuuma scolds, covering his best friend's mouth. "Sorry about him," he apologizes to Shiota and Akabane. He thinks Shiota probably gave Akabane chocolate as a formality, but he can't be sure. However, he doesn't think it's his place (or Hiroto's, for that matter) to question them. But the truth is, Hiroto kind of ships them, so of course he would assume there are feelings involved. Yuuma's just glad he shut Hiroto's mouth before he could embarrass Shiota and annoy Akabane.
"As expected, Asano-kun completely obliterated the competition on who got more chocolate!"
"There was never a competition," Asano rolls his eyes, giving him a no-nonsense look. Ren can tell that Asano knew he'd win, though. Well, to be fair, everyone knew he would.
"Well, if there had been one, you would've obliterated us all," Ren insists, grinning widely. Okay, so he didn't get nearly as much chocolate as Asano did, but he did get a lot, too. He's pretty sure he's in second place. "Even Isogai-kun didn't get as much chocolate as you did," he tells the blond, and it's actually pretty surprising to the taller boy. Ren can't say he knows Isogai well—he can't think of a time they've actually talked—but he does know that the guy is known to be the school's Number One Ikemen. Literally everyone Ren knows that has talked to Isogai have told him he's an Ikemen.
Every. Single. One.
But it seems not even the school's Number One Ikemen can compete with the school's Number One Student, Asano Gakushuu.
But since it's a school where grades are everything, it's kind of expected, really.
Asano shrugs, but Ren's sure that he's savoring his victory. He always has to be number one. Asano doesn't seem to be particularly thrilled about any of the chocolate he's received, though. After all, the blond keeps insisting he's not interested in a relationship yet. But still...
"Hey, so did Shiota-san give chocolate to you?" he asks, lowering his voice so that none of their classmates can hear their conversation. He hasn't asked Asano about Shiota for a while now, so it's time to start asking again. Maybe, just maybe, Asano will open up a little bit.
The Chairman's son lets out an annoyed sigh. "Again with her?"
"So did she?" Ren insists, grinning widely.
Asano sighs again. "No, Ren, she didn't." Is it him, or is that a bit of disappointment in Asano's voice...?
"And does it bother you...?"
"No. I don't care. As I said, I'm not interested in her. I don't even know her. I don't understand why you keep asking about my nonexistent feelings for her."
"Well, she's like the only girl who has had your interest for at least a little while without any conversation between you or something you can gain from her," Ren shrugs, but continues talking before Asano can comment. "I think she probably gave chocolate to Akabane-kun. That's the safest bet since she seems to be so close to him."
Maybe mentioning Akabane will make Asano open up a little? After all, Akabane is a rival. He feels like he's playing with fire here, but he knows Asano has more patience for him. Is he had been anyone else, they wouldn't even be having this conversation. All he wants is for Asano to talk about his feelings, at least a little. Even if he doesn't have any romantic feelings for Shiota in particular, as he keeps insisting, he has to at least feel something; he's not numb.
"Well, good for her."
Ren can hear the finality in Asano's voice, and he sighs in disappointment. Well, guess he will have to try again another time. As he changes topics and they begin to talk about politics, Ren can't help but hope that someday Asano will open up to him; even if it's just a little.
"I am convinced that Shiota-chan and Akabane will end up together before Junior High ends. Just watch it happen," Hiroto insists. He and his best friend are walking back home from school, both holding the chocolates they were given. And while Hiroto's mind has been swirling with so many potential dates he could get, he can't kick the idea of Akabane and Shiota liking each other out of his head. He always kind of suspected it, but Shiota giving chocolate to Akabane confirms it, at least to him.
"Don't jump into conclusions, Hiroto. Shiota-san might've given Akabane chocolate simply out of formality. It doesn't mean there are any feelings there," Yuuma says, sighing.
Hiroto's convinced though. He's seen them together, and he has experience; he knows a potential couple when he sees one. "Oh, come on! You just have to look at them to know! Maybe they won't get together now, but as I said, I am convinced they will before we graduate. I'm sure of it!"
"Who would've thought you'd be such a shipper, Hiroto," Yuuma shakes his head, laughing, and Hiroto turns a bit red.
"I'm not a shipper! I just know a couple when I see one!" he insists, a bit indignantly. Yuuma continues laughing though. "We'll see who gets the last laugh when Akabane and Shiota-chan end up dating!"
Yuuma just keeps laughing. "You never change," he comments, shaking his head.
Yes, Hiroto is a shipper. And yes, Ren kind of is, too. He's also a good friend.
Also, we're gonna start with second year soon, if everything goes according to plan. Guess who will finally meet~
Remember, if you have a suggestion whatsoever, lemme know! :)
Until next time!