Love isn't measured with gifts
The sound of pieces being moved and placed on the board fills the quietness in the room, before a soft voice disturbs it.
- Tell me general, have you thought about what will you give Lady Guuji?
A pale white-blue haired woman with light blue-grey eyes asks softly as she moves one of her pieces, breaking the concentration of her companion and rival in the board game, who can't help but raise her gaze from the board in between them to look at her confused.
- I'm sure you're aware that Valentine's Day is next week.
Ayaka clarifies, only to see the woman sat across from her frowning deeper, even more confused by her words than she already was.
- I apologize, Ayaka-san, but I'm afraid I'm not aware of what Valentine's Day is.
Sara says, making Ayaka blink a couple of times upon this revelation, before a soft smile takes over her features.
Typical of the general, I should have known better about it.
The white-haired woman thinks to herself before she answers her friend.
- Valentine's Day is a holiday in which lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. It's usually celebrated on the 14th of February of every year.
Ayaka explains to the other woman, seeing a look of realization drawing on her features as they continue with their game.
- I see… I didn't know about such an important date, thank you for telling me – Sara says as she moves one of her pieces – So do you think that since Yae and I are a couple, it'd be wise to give her gifts for such a special day?
Sara asks uncertainly, and Ayaka can't help but find her friend's hesitation cute.
- Well, I certainly don't know Lady Guuji as well as you do, Sara – Ayaka says, giggling quietly as she notices the stubborn general blushing at her implication – but I'm sure she'll be delighted with such a romantic gesture on such a special day.
Ayaka ends as she moves another one of her pieces to then look at her friend and see the focused look taking over her features once again.
- What could I gift her though?
Sara asks aloud, a hand on her chin deep in thought that elicits another giggle from the white-blue haired woman sat across from her.
- I read once that couples usually give their significant ones flowers, chocolates or jewels. Sometimes they also go to fancy restaurants on dates…
Ayaka trails off enumerating the typical things couples do on such a romantic day, seeing Sara furrowing her brow deeper upon said clichés yet inhaling deeply.
- I guess I'll have to do that – the general exhales grudgingly, before she makes her move, putting an end to their game – I'm afraid I've won, Ayaka-san.
Sara proclaims with a soft smile on her face causing Ayaka to sigh upon having lost once again against the general, before the dark purple haired woman talks again.
- Thank you again for telling me about Valentine's Day and the typical things couples do in such a special day. I… I'll do my best to try and find a suitable gift for Yae for that day.
She ends up saying while blushing coyly, eliciting another giggle from the other woman upon how cute the stoic general can be when it comes to Guuji Yae.
- I'm sure Lady Guuji will enjoy it, general – Ayaka encourages the other woman as she takes a sip of her tea, seeing the general nodding while mimicking her – If you find any trouble or need any help and ideas for a gift, please don't hesitate to tell me about it. I'm sure I have some romantic novels that could be of help.
Ayaka ends up saying, causing the general to blush more yet smile bashfully, before she hides it taking a sip of her own tea.
The white-blue haired woman can't help but find this adorable, taking another sip of her tea while staring at the horizon in silence, seeing the sun setting before the general has to head back to the headquarters.
Truth to her word, Ayaka lends the general some of her most romantic novels in the hope they could be of help for her, seeing her blushing deeply as she bows and thanks her for them, quickly taking them to then leave, eliciting another giggle from the white-blue haired woman.
As soon as Sara gets into her chambers, she begins to read said novels eagerly, noting down the most romantic gestures as well as the different ideas shown in them in the hope that Yae could be fond of them, quickly making the pertinent preparations for the marked date.
One morning, as the sun is slowly and timidly getting out of its hiding place, a soft chirping awakes Yae.
The pink haired priestess can't help but smile at the gentle sound, lazying around for a bit longer in the comfort of her bed, when a light tapping on her window makes her frown and slowly open her eyes as she hears it growing in intensity.
Yae grumbles, gazing at the window to see a black crow tapping it once again with one of its legs, making her frown deeper at this. She then notices the couple of flowers the crow is holding in its beak.
A soft sigh escapes her lips as she gets out of her warm bed and walks towards her window to open it.
- What is it, little one?
She asks the crow softly, noticing then a note attached to its other leg, before the crow drops the flowers it was holding in her hand.
The bird waits patiently for Yae to untie the note on its leg to then quickly fly away, making the pink haired woman click her tongue as she takes the flowers and the note in her hand and closes the window, observing the flowers completely fascinated by its red and white colors yet frowning deep at it, an uneasy feeling taking over her upon their meaning.
She carefully places them on her vanity for a brief moment to open the note accompanying them.
"Dear Yae,
I've been informed that Valentine's Day it's an important day for couples, so I hope you like this gift and the following surprises that will come within the day.
Your little bird."
A tender smile spreads across her lips as she reads her girlfriend's careful handwriting, before she leaves the note on her vanity and takes back the red and white carnations given, clicking her tongue as she looks at them and carefully touches their delicate petals.
- Oh Sara… don't you know these flowers are most commonly given in funerals.
She exhales deeply as she inhales their scent and takes the carnations with her to put them in a vase with water, finding amusing how even though the flowers themselves are quite beautiful due to their colors and her girlfriend was trying to be romantic, Sara just gave her a couple of flowers typical for dead people.
Yae can only shake her head trying to downplay it, rather choosing to focus on Sara's sweet gesture, before she gets changed into her shrine maiden uniform ready to start her day at the shrine, doing her best to give guidance to those who feel lonely and discouraged upon not having anybody to share their love with and that start to doubt they'll ever find somebody to spend their life with, as well as couples who think about spending the rest of their lives together, or people who simply don't have any idea of what to give their respective lovers.
Yae can only chuckle and shake her head as she watches each one of them leaving the shrine grounds feeling in higher spirits than when they get in, before she takes a walk to the Yae Publishing House to bury herself in correcting the draft of a new book.
She spends several hours immersed in her reading and pertinent corrections, before a knock on the door pulls her out of it.
- Come in.
Yae says, raising her gaze from the draft she's currently reading to see a brunette woman entering with a box in her hands.
- I'm sorry to bother you, Lady Yae. A soldier just came to deliver this package to you.
Murata says as she walks closer to hand Yae the wrapped box the soldier just gave her, eliciting a smile from the pink haired woman upon noticing the Sakura petals of the wrapping used.
- Thank you, Murata. If it's not an inconvenience, could you please bring me some tea?
- Of course, Lady Yae.
Murata can only nod with a soft smile, before she leaves her chief's office.
As soon as the door is closed, Yae can't help but admire the beauty of the wrapping, touching it ever so lightly, before she unties the dark purple ribbon tying it to see a note attached to the box.
"My dear little fox,
I hope you don't mind their appearance as it's the first time I make them, but are fond of their taste instead. They have your favorite flavor in them.
Your little bird"
Yae can only giggle giddily at this new surprise, before she opens the box and sees several long yet small chocolates inside it. She can only giggle more at their unusual form, taking one in her hand to examine it, before she takes a bite of it.
The pink haired woman chews it slowly, savoring its flavor, before a look of pure disgust appears on her face, quickly taking a handkerchief to spit the rest of the chocolate she was eating in it. She then dares to look at it only to discover that the inside of the chocolate is fried tofu.
- What the h…
She begins to curse with a horrified expression now on her face at such sacrilege to her beloved fried tofu, not being able to let pass such an atrocity from her girlfriend, when somebody knocks on her door.
- What!?
She spits, seeing a scared Onodera peeking in.
- Ah, I apologize if this isn't the right time, Lady Yae. I have the draft you asked me for yesterday, and huh, I've also brought with me the tea you requested. Murata told me to bring it to you on my way.
The man says almost frightened of the editor-in-chief, before Yae almost happy to have more work to focus on and something sweet to take the bad taste that Sara's chocolates left in her mouth, sighs and motions him to enter.
- Come in, please. And thank you for bringing both.
She says softer now, seeing Onodera sighing out of relief and leaving both the draft and the tea on her desk to turn around to leave. Yae can't help but take a look at the chocolates next to the draft on the desk, feeling bad for wasting her girlfriend's gift, before looking back at the man.
- Onodera – she calls him, seeing him turning around confused and almost frightened once again thinking he did something wrong – Here, take these with you. I'm afraid I'm not very fond of their taste.
She says slowly as she watches the expression on Onodera's face brightening at the mention of getting chocolates.
- I… thank you, Lady Yae. If you excuse me.
He says, bowing as he quickly takes the box in his hands to go and savour such a weird flavor.
Yae, of course, can't help but feel bad for giving away something her girlfriend put so much effort into making, but there's no way she can eat them without feeling nauseous, or of her favorite food being ruined forever.
She lets out a heavy sigh, taking a sip of her tea to forget about it, before she focuses back on the draft she was reading and correcting until another knock on her door pulls her out of her reading several hours later.
- Come in.
She exhales while rubbing her tired eyes, before she sees the door opening slowly and a head of dark purple hair peeks through the small interstice.
She then sees Sara appearing as she opens the door completely with a coy smile adorning her face, hiding something behind her back.
Please, don't let it be more flowers.
Yae deadpans as she thinks about it, hoping her disastrous girlfriend hasn't brought more flowers with her, before she shows her a small red wrapped box, causing Yae to let out a sigh of relief.
- I… I've brought you something.
Sara says embarrassed after clearing her throat, and Yae can't help but find the stoic general endearing cute as she fidgets and blushes hard, not having the heart to reprimand her for her previous gift.
- What is it? – she asks curious, seeing Sara smiling brightly, before she gives her the small box.
- I… huh, just open it. I-I hope you like it – Sara answers as she blushes more, making Yae chuckle at this as she unwraps the box to see a really thin black collar inside it.
The pink haired woman can't help but stare at it in disbelief, then at Sara, seeing her blushing harder with a timid smile on her lips, before she looks back at the collar in her hand with a small pink paw hanging on it trying to find any logic to it, anger bubbling inside her at it.
- What do you think I am!? A dog!?
She exclaims completely outraged as she shows the dog collar to her oblivious girlfriend, seeing her blinking horrified at her implication.
- What!? No! I-I just thought the little paw was cute. It reminds me of your fox form – Sara explains while blushing once again, and Yae can only sigh heavily.
- My sweet little bird, this is a collar for dogs.
She says calmly, waiting several seconds until realization draws on Sara who can only gasp loudly in horror as she opens her eyes widely and mortified, before she bows.
- Oh Archons... I... it wasn't my intention, Yae. I truly and deeply apologize for it – she apologizes completely flustered, making Yae chuckle.
- It's okay, my little bird.
Yae reassures her as she approaches Sara, lifting her chin to give her a soft smile that Sara quickly returns completely ashamed, before she, once again, blushes.
- I… I have another surprise for you… a reservation in one of your favorite restaurants. T-that's if you still want to have dinner with me, of course.
She stammers nervously, eliciting a giggle from the other woman at how hard her cute girlfriend is trying, before she leaves a kiss on her cheek.
- Then what are we waiting for?
Yae says tenderly as she winks at Sara, seeing her smiling beamingly, before she, ever so chivalrous, offers her arm to Yae who quickly intertwines it with hers as they begin to walk towards the restaurant.
Neither of them talk on their way to the restaurant, enjoying the calm reigning over the usual busy and crowded streets while the cold air blows, obliging them to walk closer to one another in an attempt to keep being warm.
The pink haired woman can't help but gaze at the tall woman beside her, noticing the way the streetlights illuminate her features. The way her eyes sparkle intensely as a nervous smile plays on her lips and she can't help but smile fondly, stepping closer to her as she interlaces their fingers.
Sara's mesmerizing golden eyes soon find hers, a feeling of calm washing over the general that becomes visible on her face and smile, and Yae decides that even if her gifts were rather unfortunate, this is worthy of all of it.
She can only smile back at her, pecking her lips ever so lightly, before they finally arrive to the restaurant and Sara opens the door for her, inviting her to get in first.
- General Kujou, Lady Guuji, it's a pleasure to see you again.
The waiter of the restaurant soon meets them, smiling at them kindly, before Sara clears her throat to talk.
- We have a reservation for today.
She says, seeing the waiter taking a quick look at the list of reservations in his hands, before frowning.
- I'm sorry, general Kujou, but I don't see your name on the list – he says, gazing up at the general with confusion, before he talks again – If you're so kind as to wait here for a brief moment, I'll go to ask my superior about it.
The young man says, scurrying away as soon as he sees the general nodding. Yae can only squeeze Sara's hand, giving her a soft smile as Sara turns to look at her.
- Don't worry – she whispers upon noticing Sara's nervousness, feeling her squeezing her hand back, before the young waiter comes back looking rather sorrowful.
- I apologize, general Kujou, but there must have been an error. Your reservation is due for tomorrow's night.
He says while Sara is the one frowning confused this time.
- Are you sure? I'm certain that I made my reservation for today – Sara stands firmly.
- I-I'm completely sure, general. Your name is listed on tomorrow's list of reservations – he stammers rather intimidated by Inazuma's general.
- Is there any possibility to change it to today?
- I-I'm afraid that can't be possible, general. As you can observe the restaurant is full today.
He explains with regret, people filling the inside of the restaurant behind him as they celebrate such a romantic day with their beloveds.
Sara is about to talk to him and persevere about it, when a squeeze on her hand pulls her to a halt, allowing Yae to be the one talking now.
- Thank you, young man. We'll be returning tomorrow night then.
The young waiter can only nod with a nervous smile on his face, sighing in relief as he sees Yae pulling the stoic and intimidating general towards the door of the restaurant to leave.
- Yae… what….
- We will come back tomorrow, don't worry my love – Yae says softly, seeing Sara exhaling heavily while looking crestfallen.
- I'm sorry. I was certain that I made the reservation for today.
Sara apologizes afflicted as they resume their walk through Inazuma's cold streets hand in hand, setting off towards one of the best street food stalls in them to buy some food.
- It's okay, my little bird. We'll enjoy our date there tomorrow, but for now, let's enjoy this.
Yae says softly, seeing a timid smile taking over Sara's sad features.
- It feels as if my surprises didn't go well – Sara exhales heavily as they walk to sit on a nearby bench far away from the noise filling now the streets to eat their impromptu dinner in peace – The collar, this…
She says, and Yae doesn't have the heart to add the flowers and chocolates to that enumeration of failed surprises and gifts, biting the inside of her cheek, before she leaves a caress on her girlfriend's cheek.
- Don't worry about that, my sweet bird. I really appreciate the gestures – she says reassuringly, seeing Sara giving her a soft smile a bit more cheerful now – But why did you do it? Don't get me wrong, my little bird, I cherish and love this romantic side of you, but it's not something I witness every day.
Upon pointing this out, Sara can't help but blush and pout sadly at the lack of romantic gestures towards her girlfriend from her part.
- I… Ayaka-san told me that today was Valentine's Day, which is a holiday in which lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts, and she suggested that maybe you'll enjoy if I showed my love like this. So I thought that I could try and surprise you with some of the tips mentioned in a couple of novels she lent me.
Yae can only chuckle at her girlfriend's explanation, noting mentally to talk to Ayaka about it when she has the opportunity, before she stares at Sara's furious yet endearing cute blush adorning her cheeks, touching her.
Then, she notices her looking away out of embarrassment trying to hide it, eliciting a giggle from her, before she leaves a kiss on her cheek and cups it, obliging the blushing general to look back at her.
- You didn't need to go through so many troubles to show me how much you love me, my sweet bird – she says softly, looking at her with nothing but love while caressing her cheek – you really make me feel loved every day.
She ends up saying, seeing Sara biting her lip while looking unsure.
- But I don't give you flowers, or chocolates or fancy jewelry – Sara says, furrowing her brow and Yae can only click her tongue.
- Love isn't measured only by giving gifts, my sweet bird, but with every day's small gestures. You make me feel loved whenever you come to accompany me back to the shrine after an exhausting day at the publishing house. Or when you wrap me tightly in your wings so I don't get cold or soaked in the rain. Or when you pet me in my fox form or cook for me...
Yae explains affectionately as she keeps caressing Sara's cheek.
- Which reminds me to ask you to never make choco fried tofu, like ever again if you don't want me to hate it – she says while grimacing – I prefer your normal fried tofu.
- I will remember it.
Sara says as she giggles, making Yae's heart flutter at such a carefree and sweet sound.
- Sara, I could keep enumerating all the things you do that show me how much you love me and make me feel loved all night and I still wouldn't finish.
Yae ends up saying, reassuring her sweet girlfriend as she slowly shortens their distance, seeing Sara smiling beamingly, before they look into one another's eyes and close their negligible distance to lock their lips in a sweet and deep kiss.
- You truly make me feel loved in a lot of different ways, my love.
Yae whispers against Sara's lips as they rest their foreheads together, before Sara captures her lips in another tender kiss.
- Now, why don't you take me home so I can show you how much I love you too.
Yae purrs, seeing Sara smiling tenderly as an adorable blush dusts her cheeks, before she takes her girlfriend in her arms, hearing Yae giggling to her great delight. Sara can only smile wider at this, before she unfurls her wings to fly through the sky to the pink haired woman's private chambers to spend a night full of passion showing one another how much they love the other.