AN: Hope you guys enjoy this short and sweet non-canon Valentine's Day Omake between Alise and Rhein! I'm in the middle of writing the next chapter as well and with luck it should be posted by the end of this week at the latest.

"Oh?"

I looked down at the girl who was holding out a box of Valentine's Day chocolate out to me with a blush on her face when I had opened the door to see who was knocking this morning. Well this is new. Normally we buy each other chocolates on Valentine's Day and exchange them on that day, but obviously something is different about this year.

On another note, I swear, seeing that expression is always just the most adorable thing.

"Happy Valentine's Day Rhein." Alise said to me as she smiled up at me. "I um…I hope that you like them."

It went without saying that I took the box without hesitation and opened it up.

It was clear to me that it was homemade and that there were some mistakes made when making the chocolate, presentation wise.

Was Alise really embarrassed that I wouldn't like her chocolates just because it didn't look pretty?

When I later confirmed that this was indeed the case, I will not admit to feeling my heart skip a beat at how caring the girl can be when it's just the two of us.

I picked out one of the chocolates, much to her further embarrassment as she locked her hands behind her back, trying not to watch me eat what probably seemed to her like an ugly creation once I popped it into my mouth.

In spite of how messed up her chocolates were physically, in terms of taste they were pretty excellent. Whether it was because I've not had chocolate in a very long time or because it was Alise who made it, I found eating these very enjoyable. They're certainly better than anything I could ever make. For some reason, I just don't have a good affinity towards baking sweets.

And judging by her expression, Alise seems relieved that I seemed to be enjoying them after I popped another one in my mouth with a satisfied hum, chewing it quickly before swallowing it.

"Thank you Alise. Your chocolates were amazing."

"T-Thank you. I know they didn't turn out the prettiest, and this is actually my first time making chocolate so I wasn't sure how you'd feel about them and-"

The first thing that came to mind was that she was talking too much so I pretty much shut her up the only way I knew how.

I leaned down to cover her lips with my own, eliciting a small moan of surprise from Alise before she wrapped her arms around my neck while my own arms went around her waist, taking care to not spill her chocolates, our eyes closed in favor of enjoying our kiss.

Sometimes, it's hard to forget how this girl has such a hidden side to her that hides her insecurities when she's so used to putting up a cheerful and energetic side so that no one worries about her.

And I hate it so much that this magnificent girl is capable of such self-doubt.

I pulled away, breaking the kiss as Alise allowed a deep breath to escape her lips and opened her eyes, her cheeks flaring a dark red, but I'm glad to see that she's now smiling.

"Are you done, you troublesome girl?" I asked her with a small smile, causing her to chuckle.

"I am. Thank you Rhein."

"Good."

And then a small sigh escaped my mouth.

"Rhein? Is something wrong?" Alise asked me, a note of concern heard in her voice.

How should I answer this..?

"No, it's nothing. It's just that I was actually trying to make you chocolates as well for Valentine's Day, but well…just come inside and look."

I gently took Alise's hand and pulled her inside, placing her box of chocolate on the coffee table out in the living room before bringing her into the kitchen.

Let's just say that it wasn't the prettiest sight.

Aside from the beautiful arrangement of flowers that were sitting on the kitchen counter, having been bought to give to Alise today, there were ingredients across the whole kitchen, a to-go box filled with failed chocolates that Fou was currently eating from, bless his ability to help clean up leftovers, a trash can filled with the products that had been burned or otherwise messed up badly that even I wouldn't want to subject the Beast of Gaia too, and on the other end of the counter was the most recent batch of chocolates that I made and have yet to taste.

"This is…"

"I know." I said to her with a small sigh.

This is honestly embarrassing. I'm actually a pretty good cook when it comes to just normal foods, but when it comes to desserts, I can never get it right. It's either undercooked, burnt, overcook, or just something else.

"How long have you been making these chocolates, Rhein?" Alise asked as she walked up to the last batch and stared down at it.

"I've stayed up all night trying to get them right to be honest. I was going to try again this morning but then you came and- wait hold on. Alise, you don't really have to eat that if you don't want to, you know. I know that they're not really the best-"

I was interrupted by the sound of chocolate being snapped and watched as Alice slowly popped a piece in her mouth and started to chew slowly before I could stop her.

Oh dear…I went to get a glass of water so that she could wash the taste down in a moment. Only to see that she was still slowly chewing. And once she swallowed it, there was a brief silence.

"..."

"..."

"This is really not that great, is it?" She asked with a small teasing tone when she turned to face me and I just smiled. What a silly girl.

"No, it isn't. I guess I'm just hopeless when it comes to desserts." I said and handed her the water so that she could clear her palette a bit, but much to my surprise, she took another piece of chocolate and ate it. And then another piece. It was after that third piece when she actually drank the water. Once she finished the drink, she set it on the table.

"Maybe you are… but you still spent all this time trying to make them for me. So I love them. Thank you." Alise continued and then stepped forward to give me a hug that I returned.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Alise. Even if it didn't start as well as I planned on my part."

My heart definitely did not melt when I heard her giggle.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Rhein. Don't worry, it was perfect."

"Fou fou fou."

The two of us broke from our hug to look at the Beast in disguise as he looked at us with narrow eyes.

What do you want? I already gave you chocolate even if it wasn't great! Don't try to extort my girlfriend into making you-

"Oh, Happy Valentine's Day to you too Fou! Don't worry, I didn't forget about you at all!" Alise cooed and pulled out from her pocket a small bag of homemade pet treats that she opened up and placed in front of the small creature.

And once Fou stepped up to the bag and sniffed the contents, I could swear that his eyes had stars before he began digging into the bag.

"Fou! Fou fou! Fooouuuuuu!"

"Yeah yeah, stop rubbing it in Cath Palug! I know that Alise is better than me!"

Tch. What blatant favoritism.

My small glare at the Beast of Gaia was interrupted by a peck to my cheek courtesy of Alise.

"Don't be jealous, you!" She teased and started poking me on the cheek.

"Remember that you're still the one who gets me and my chocolate to yourself, hehe~"

Well, I guess she's got me there.

"By the way…do I want to know where the others are?" I asked, wondering what the other girls from the Astraea Familia are up to.

"Oh, I'm sure they're all helping Ryuu make chocolates for that rabbit boy she likes."

Huh…so even in a world filled with changes, I guess some things apparently don't change either.

"I see…"

And Eina likes that little bastard too. Oh, how I want to wring that little harem protagonist by the neck once I realized that I couldn't prevent my little half-elf sister from being captured by his rabbit wiles.

Maybe I should ask Fou if he's craving human meat…

"Well enough about my lovely girls, today it's just you and this pure and perfect beauty, Mister Hero!"

Of course, that's for another time. Today is when I plan on spending the whole day with my beloved other half.

"Never change, Alise…" I said with a small laugh, bringing my arms around her waist to pull her close to me, with the Scarlet Harnel looking up at me with a bright and beautiful smile, her hands on my chest.

"I love you."

"And I love you."

Those three simple words were all that we really needed to cement how we feel about the other as she moved her hands up to cup my face and slowly bring my head down for our lips to lock again for the second time this morning, in the privacy of my home where I can show her every bit of my affection on this Valentine's Day, the bouquet of roses, orchids, and other flowers that symbolize the love I have for her left untouched.

Fou, being witness to this, would silently grab the bag of goodies Alise brought him and make a dash elsewhere to eat since he didn't want to be subject to 'our disgusting human mating rituals' as he calls it.

Never change, Cath Palug. Never change.