Boruto sighed. "Valentines day, huh..."

"Why are you complaining," retorted Sarada from across the table. "You'll get chocolate from tons of girls. Your popularity skyrocketed after your TV interview..."

Raising an eyebrow as he slurped soda through his straw, he plunked his cheek down onto his fist. "That's not the point. I mean, it's great that girls think I'm handsome and all, but I've never gotten an actual confession before, ya know? Like from someone who knows me and actually cares."

"Is there someone you want a confession from, Boruto?" Mitsuki smiled, his tray empty in front of him.

"Not exactly..."

"Then what do you want? Girls pour their feelings into making those chocolates for you. It's not like they're just giving them to you just because," retorted Sarada, about to pick up her tray.

But Boruto's words paused her before she could leave. "I know I get it. It just doesn't feel... Special. I guess. Don't you feel special when your friends give you gifts on your birthday?"

Sarada frowned. "I guess... But that's not really what Valentines day is about."

"Then what is it? Give chocolates to handsome guys and hope they start paying attention to you day?"

She put down her tray, marched over to him, and put her hands on her hips. "You know, you should be more grateful. I'd love to have that much chocolate on any given day."

"You're not denying my point, Sarada," he teased, a smirk forming on his face. "Besides, you don't even give me obligatory chocolates. I think as your teammate and childhood friend, I at least deserve that much."

Fingers curling into her palms, Sarada threw her arms straight down at her sides. "Which one is it? Do you want them or not? Sheesh, all of your complaining is giving me a headache..."

"If I said I wanted them, would you even give me some?" Boruto crumpled the tin foil that had wrapped his burger up into a ball and stood up to follow Sarada to the trashcan.

"Hm. Learn how to accept chocolate from a normal girl first and then I'll think about it... Mitsuki, which one do you prefer? Cake or candy?"

"I personally like caramel filled chocolates."

"Oi! That's not fair! You're getting them for Mitsuki?"

She smirked. "Jealous?"

"Why does he get some and I don't?"

"He's my teammate, and a rather reliable one at that. You're getting on my nerves. So I don't see why I should go out of my way to be nice to you."

. . .

"Or so I said, but what am I supposed to do with this?" Sarada looked at the chocolate making supplies on her countertop and heaved a sigh. "I don't even know what that idiot would want anyways. And wait, why am I even thinking about making him chocolate in the first place?!"

She breathed in a deep sigh. "I'll just give him the leftovers... Mitsuki, The Seventh, Papa, Konohamaru Sensei, Shino Sensei..." All the men she was thankful for in her life at least got obligatory chocolate for helping her in some way or another.

Sarada set to work, melting the chocolates in a double boiler, checking the temperature, dying the white chocolate different colors for decoration, and preparing the molds. Mitsuki's were filled with handmade caramel, as were Shino's and Konohamaru's. Sasuke's were filled with dark chocolate ganache, and Naruto's with white chocolate strawberry crème.

The last four remaining empty chocolates seemed to stare back at her. And suddenly, a brilliant idea popped into her head.

Running back out to the store, she bought some dried chilies, ground them up into powder, and mixed them into the leftover dark chocolate ganache. Chocolate he wanted, chocolate he was getting.

When they were all decorated, dried, and wrapped in nice plastic bags with pink ribbons for packaging, she put them away and started on dinner.

. . .

The next day, Sarada followed her mother out the door. She was in an usually good mood, and the chocolates that had been labeled for her father were missing. Sasuke probably only came back for a mere hour, but to Sakura, that hour was the most precious thing in the world.

After wising her mother well, she made her way to the seventh's office. He had a neat box of chocolates on his desk, likely from Hinata and Himawari. "Seventh," she said, getting his attention.

"Oh, hi Sarada. What can I do for you?"

"I made you chocolates." The plastic crinkled in her hands as she held out the package to him.

"Oh! These are decorated so well. Thanks, Sarada-chan!"

"You're welcome," she said with a smile. "Thank you for all you do for the village."

To her surprise, Naruto sat up straighter and blushed a little bit, likely not expecting a girl of Sarada's age to even give him chocolates, nonetheless thank him for his patronage.

"Hehe... I don't do that much..."

"I hope you get more as the day goes on," she said with a wave, heading towards Konohamaru's house. She had been there a few times with Boruto for various purposes, some of them training, some of them stopping him from playing pranks.

When she showed up on his doorstep, she heard him moping around and complaining about how he still didn't have a girlfriend.

With a slight chuckle, she tapped her knuckles against the door. "Konohamaru sensei."

"Ah! Sarada. What can I do for you?"

"I'm just here to bring you some chocolates," she said, a smile on her face. "Here. Thank you for training us."

Konohamaru admired the bag. "Wow! Are these handmade?"

"Yup!" She folded her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly, tilting her head to the side. "Hopefully a girl your age brings you some before the end of the day."

Konohamaru's cheeks flared red. "O-Oi!"

But Sarada was already on her way to the academy, jumping from roof to roof.

Shino Sensei was rather awkward, but he had been Sarada's homeroom teacher during her academy days. After putting up with all of the trouble her class caused, he deserved chocolates several times over.

She smiled to herself as she recalled the fights her and Boruto had gotten into over various things. The yakisoba bread incident almost brought an end to the school. Wait. Why am I smiling? Shouldn't I be angry?

Her bangs untucked from her ear as she shook her head from side to side. And then she saw Shino Sensei on his way to the teacher's office.

Fixing her hair, she ran up to him. "Sensei!"

"Ah, Sarada. What is it? Did you have a philosophical question for me to answer?"

"Not today," she laughed, handing him the package. "I made these for you. Thank you for putting up with our class."

Shino sensei was frozen.

"Sensei?"

He sniffled. "To think... The day would come... When a student would come back just to give me chocolates..."

"Don't cry," she laughed, putting the chocolates in his hands. "Happy Valentines Day."

"I will humbly accept these delicately made sweets."

She furrowed her eyebrows and laughed nervously, slowly backing away. "Right... Have a nice day, Shino Sensei."

With that, she set out to find Mitsuki. During this time of day, he was usually taking a walk. If she walked around long enough, she would probably run into him.

Sure enough, he was sitting on a bench outside of Thunder Burger, looking out on the town.

"Hey Mitsuki."

"Oh, Sarada." He turned towards her and smiled.

"I made you caramel ones, just like you asked." She held out the package of neatly decorated chocolates to him.

"Thanks." Still wearing the same smile, he placed the bag of chocolates on his lap and held it there. "Hey Sarada."

"Hm?"

"Did you make any for Boruto? Despite his attitude yesterday, I think he might have actually wanted some from you."

"Huh? Why would he want any from me?" She raised an eyebrow and put a hand on her hip. "I made some, but only because I had extras leftover." With that, she turned on her heel and walked away. "See you later, Mitsuki."

All that was left was to find Boruto. If it was this time of day, he was either hiding in his room, on top of Hokage Rock, or...

Or getting chocolates from a girl. She sighed. Across the way was Boruto, standing casually, a girl in front of him with her head ducked, hands behind her back. But something about the girl looked familiar... As she squinted her eyes, she realized that the girl was none other than Kakei Sumire, the class president. No way... Is she... confessing?!

Blush crept onto Sarada's cheeks, the sudden desire to hide consuming her. She knew Sumire had a crush on Boruto. In fact, Sumire made it a point to confront her personally about it and asked her about the girls loitering around him... If Boruto wanted a genuine confession, he was about to get it.

She awkwardly hid herself on top of a roof, barely in earshot of their conversation. It felt wrong to spy on them... But at the same time... It was like she couldn't help herself. Her stomach was tying itself in knots. Her chest felt heavy.

"Boruto-kun..."

"Yo class prez. What's up?"

"Well... I made something for you," she said, and held out a heart shaped box.

"Ah, thanks!"

There was something Sarada didn't know about that had happened between them during their days at the academy. She never asked, but after Sumire took a leave of absence, she would sometimes find her staring at Boruto from afar.

It didn't used to bother her... But now, for some reason, it made Sarada feel as though she wouldn't be able to hand over her chocolates... And they weren't even heartfelt.

"Um... Boruto-kun?"

"It's alright," he said, taking them. "You don't have to say anything. These are as a thanks for that time, right?"

"Ah..." Sumire sounded disappointed. "Yeah..."

That idiot. She didn't know the circumstances, but it seemed like Boruto had just shot her down before she had the chance to speak.

"I'll eat 'em later. Thanks prez!"

Sumire only smiled and nodded her head. And thanks to that little gesture, Sarada felt the sinking feeling dissipate.

It was replaced by the familiar feeling of adrenaline. The same feeling she got when she was about to fight a strong opponent. She bit her lip.

If Sumire was walking away, that meant she could hand Boruto her chocolates. But something about the whole situation seemed off. She wanted to scold him, but her legs felt weak. She wanted to see the look of horror on his face when he realized they were spicy, but some part of her was screaming in protest to go remake them.

And while she was having inner turmoil about confronting Boruto, another girl walked up to him.

"Um... Boruto-kun..."

"What is it?"

"Will you accept these? I made them for you..."

"Ah, thank you!" He offered the girl a smile and took her chocolates. "Wow, you worked hard on these, didn't you?"

She nodded and ducked her head. "Well... See you around!"

Typical of Boruto, he grinned and waved her off. And then he sighed. When he lifted up the flap of his tool pouch, it was filled to the brim with chocolate. "I guess I'll just have to carry these..."

Just how much chocolate does he get?! It's only afternoon and he has enough to make himself sick...

Suddenly, Sarada was beginning to understand why Boruto didn't particularly like Valentines Day.

"I guess I'll just stay home for the rest of the day," he muttered to himself. "She's not gonna show up anyways."

She? Who the heck is she? Is he waiting for someone after all? The thoughts seemed to consume Sarada's brain like a flood, bringing back the sinking feeling and doubling it. All of her will to hand him chocolates suddenly left. But when he vanished out of sight, she couldn't help herself from following him back to his house. The curiosity to know who she was prickled at her skin.

But why do I even want to know? Why do I care?!

Inside the window, Boruto plopped his tool pouch on the kitchen table. Himawari's eyes seemed to sparkle as Kawaki's bulged.

"Did you really get all of that?" She could hear Kawaki's voice through the cracked veranda door.

"Can we eat some?"

Boruto smiled and headed upstairs. "Have at it."

"Boruto," called his mother. "I hope you were polite to all the girls that made those for you. It takes a lot of hard work to make chocolate..."

"Don't worry mom," he said, waving his hand. "I made sure to say thank you and smile."

She lost sight of him for a moment, only to see him again through the window of his room. A dim glow illuminated the dark area, signaling her to the fact that he was likely playing video games. What a downer. Playing videogames instead of eating all that chocolate. Does he even like chocolate in the first place?

She continued watching, waiting for the mysterious girl to show up. But no one ever did. When the sun started to set, Sarada decided it was now or never. She couldn't give the chocolates to someone else. No one deserved to get their mouth set on fire by spice but the idiot playing video games in his room to hide from girls.

And if he didn't want them, so be it.

She hopped out of her hiding place and tapped on his window. Going through the front door on a day like this would be much too embarrassing, especially since she wasn't trying to give him real chocolates anyways.

Boruto put down his game and turned around with a frown, but at the sight of her face, his depression lit up into a smile. When he opened his window, the words he spoke made her freeze.

"You came after all."

After all. Was he... waiting for me?

Suddenly losing her will to coordinate her limbs, she practically fell, catching herself just in time. "Yo, idiot Boruto."

"Did you actually make me chocolates?" He grinned a teasing grin, but she could see the childish excitement in his eyes.

Why are you so happy?! Her heart rate was slowly accelerating. She had to remind herself that the chocolates she was about to give him were filled with spice.

"Here." She tossed the package to him. "I just made them with the leftovers from making everyone else's."

At that, his enthusiasm dampened. "Everyone else's?"

"You know. The Seventh, Mitsuki, Konohamaru Sensei, Shino Sensei, Papa..."

"Why'd you give some to Shino Sensei?" He crinkled his nose. "He was probably so moved that he cried."

Sarada laughed, some of the awkward tension easing away from her joints. "He did. Are you going to eat those or give them to your family like you did with all the rest of your chocolate?"

"H-How did you know I gave it to them?"

She rolled her eyes. "I saw them eating it through the window on the way here." A narrow miss. But these things could be avoided with practice making excuses. Her heartrate started to pick back up again.

"Chocolates from Sarada aren't to be underestimated," he said, admiring the packaging. "After all the trouble you went through making them for me, I guess I'll eat them now."

Heh, she tried to hide her smirk. Prepare to eat the spiciest chocolate you've ever tasted...

And as he popped one into his mouth and chewed, his face turned red, tears dripping from his eyes. "Spicy!"

"That's what you get for giving the rest of your chocolates to your-"

"But so good!"

Sarada blinked. Good? Did he just say good? Oh. Right... Boruto loves spicy food... Why did I forget, shannaro.

"Sarada, these are delicious! What did you put in here?" He immediately popped another one into his mouth.

Red dusted her cheeks. "Umm... Chili peppers."

"Will you make these for me every year?"

Something akin to a balloon popping spread from her core to the tips of her fingers and toes. "I-I don't know!"

"Hm? What's wrong?" He smirked. "Do you have anything else to say?"

"S-Shut up, idiot."

"That's not fair," he said, eating a third. "You can't just give me chocolates for no reason. After that whole speech about learning to accept chocolates from girls."

"I made them to prank you, ok?"

"Prank me?" He laughed. "The honors student Sarada Uchiha played a prank on Valentines Day. Sarada are you trying to make me like you? Because it's working."

At that, she suddenly felt dizzy, and she was almost certain every inch of her skin was red. She couldn't collapse. Not in his room. So she reached for the window. But she tripped over the rug.

"Oi!" Boruto caught her, a smirk on his face upon seeing her as flustered as she was. "Be honest. You planned to make these for me, didn't you?"

"I..." Words failed to come out of her mouth. His face was too close. Her brain was malfunctioning.

With a sigh, Boruto gently set her against his bed. Her heartbeat pulsed in her ears. She couldn't move. But instead of teasing her further, he picked up his game and returned to it, a smile lifting the edges of his mouth.

Sarada watched over his shoulder as he casually cleared a level, the light of the digital screen and Boruto's carefree attitude taking away the clouds in her head. He ate the last chocolate with a whimper of spice and sigh of satisfaction. And when her vitals returned to normal levels, she stood to her feet.

"I'm going."

"Aww, already?" He paused the game and turned to her, the corners of his eyes still crinkled from happiness. "Here I was thinking you'd stay and watch me play video games for a few hours."

Blush started creeping back into her face. "That sounds incredibly boring." She smiled and prepared to climb out the window, but before she could, words left her mouth involuntarily. "Thanks. For supporting my dream to become the hokage."

She put her foot on the bookshelf and prepared to climb back out the open window, but a warm hand on her wrist stopped her. A soft kiss was placed on her cheek. "Thank you," he said gently, "for making me realize what I really wanted for Valentines Day."

. . .

The next day, Sarada was a mess of stiffness as Boruto walked into Thunder Burger with Shikadai and Mitsuki.

"Y-Yo," she barely managed to stammer out.

"Hm? Sarada, what's wrong?"

"I-I just- Hehe, don't mind me... I'm going to go home. Home sounds nice."

Boruto slid in next to her and blocked her from getting up. And she sat right back down.

Shikadai raised and eyebrow, the corner of his mouth lifting up. "Did something happen between you two yesterday?"

Looking back at his best friend with a grin, Boruto unwrapped his burger. "Sarada makes awesome chocolates!"

"Mm!" Mitsuki sat down opposite them along with Shikadai. "I agree."

"Oi, how come I didn't get any?" Shikadai laughed.

All three of them proceeded to eat while Sarada suffered in a ball of awkward in the corner.