Chocolate is a core item to seek for your Valentine.

February 14th, 2045

Tachibana Ibiki acknowledges herself to be a decent cook, 4 years of living alone and buying pre-cooked meal to survive can go so far before the curiosity to cook on your own arise.

And now, looking at herself, she was proud of her own skills in the matter, skills she was adamant surpassed those of her counterpart.

At least she believed so until being faced with her current situation.

A messy kitchen, reminding memories of a distant past when she started the whole 'cooking for yourself' thing.

"It was not supposed to be that hard, or take that long," she grumbled at the sight of ruined, charred cookies.

Today was the 14th of February, this very day meant the holiday known as Valentine's Day, a day for couples.

If someone told her in the past that she would go from lone wolf rogue Symphogear wielder, to wearer of the Elekleid and in a quite particular, romantic relationship with someone, she wouldn't have believed it. She may have as well as laughed herself to her own grave at the absurdity.

And yet here she was, attempting to make homemade chocolates snack for her lover. And failing horribly at it, it would seem cooking and baking are indeed different things.

Ibiki sighs in dejection at what was supposed to be her gift to her girlfriend, she tantalizingly reaches for one of the better-looking burnt ones, scrapping the burnt part with the edge of a knife before taking a bite, hoping that she mostly nailed the taste at least, thus laying the blame on the oven instead of herself.

"Ewww..." She instantly regrets taste-testing something that wasn't meant to be, it tastes horrible, and now she has physical suffering to add to today's experimentation alongside the tangible evidence of her failure on the kitchen counter.

After rinsing her mouth thoroughly to chase off most of the bitter charcoal aftertaste feasting in her mouth, Ibiki checks the time, 10 AM, ample time to make a round trip to buy ingredients to bake, this time a successful batch of cookies, and then joining her lover later.

She should probably kick herself some more for thinking her cooking skill will make her unable to mess up with something as simple as baking cookies, but tasting her foul product was punishment already.

"You can't cook cookies or bake bacon."

She was ready in a flash, her outfit composed of her trademark black shorts minus the suspenders trailing on her sides, a white plunge blouse with a black buckle strap top underneath. And of course, her orange jacket with black lines the length of the sleeves.

She was in the middle of putting her black shoes on when her doorbell rang.

She looks at the door for a moment, pondering as to what, or who it could be, she didn't purchase anything online recently, her neighbors are very unlikely to be paying her a visit, and her little circle of friends is more likely to call her first rather than promptly paying her a visit.

Another ring from the doorbell pulls her out of her dragging thoughts, "Whoever it is, I have no plan on entertaining them," she mumbles before unlocking and pulling the door open.

Well, needless to say, her earlier words as well as plans regarding the 'ample time' at her disposition were reduced to nothing.

In front of her apartment was standing Tachibana Hibiki, her other self from a parallel world, her counterpart who lived a happier life than her, her girlfriend, lover, the version of herself she fell completely in love with.

Ibiki was stunned to silence for a fair moment, her brain attempting to work a reason for her lover to be present in front of her at this moment.

"Hi, other me!" Hibiki greets her with a smile, her cheeks taint with a faint red.

Hearing the voice of her double was sufficient to blow away the myriad of thoughts in Ibiki's mind, laying her focus back on her girlfriend instead.

She smiles in return, her body relaxing from the small tension that occurred from the initial moment of surprise and shock after opening the door.

"Hi yourself, I believe you are here early… awfully early," Ibiki says.

Hibiki's face flushed a deeper shade of red at the mention of the time, her gaze shifting away from her counterpart's eyes to look down.

The sight warms Ibiki's heart, swelling with its growing love for this version of herself, butterflies fluttering in her belly as she checks out Hibiki's full appearance.

It was nothing new, the same yellow knee-length skirt with suspenders, the long-sleeved denim-blue and white sweater, black boots, and bicolored red and black socks.

Something new was what she was holding in her hands, a small transparent plastic bag tied with a golden ribbon. There was no doubt in Ibiki's mind that the item was homemade chocolate, the same item that she attempted, and failed, to create earlier this morning.

"Come in," Ibiki invites, taking a step back and gesturing with her hand for her lover to enter her place.

Hibiki didn't waste an extra moment to answer the invitation, stepping inside and working her feet out of her footwear.

"I know we were supposed to see each other much later, but I couldn't wait. Were you planning to head out or something?" She asks, her back still turned at her girlfriend.

The answer came first in the form of a hug from behind, Ibiki's arms snaking around her body in a slowly tightening embrace, resting her chin on one of Hibiki's shoulders.

"It doesn't matter anymore now that you are here," the tomboy of the two whispers close to the other's ear before delivering a peck on Hibiki's cheek.

Hibiki's body has gone through a mayhem of emotion in a too short span of time. Tensing at the reception of the hug, then melting into the embrace once the other party was confirmed, before heating up in desire and arousal from having her lover tickle her ear with her hot breath and sweet words, even if they were devoid of any sexual connotation.

Ibiki was not unaware of the effect she was having on her other self; she and her lover have been dating for the past three months, after all. Hibiki's red face was not missed, and her body nestled against her own was arousing her as well, the upcoming rise tenting her shorts attesting to it.

She has to reluctantly let go of her partner, lest she jumps on her and relieves the two of their clothing in favor of spending some intimate quality time with each other.

"Are these chocolates?" Instead, she decides to direct their mind toward tamer territory, changing the subject to the item in Hibiki's hands.

Hibiki welcomes the change of attention with open arms, spinning around to face her other self, and thrusting her hands forward with the small bag in her hands. "Those are the chocolates I made this morning as Valentine's gift!"

She has closed her eyes as she hands over her homemade chocolate, a mixture of embarrassment and anticipation in doing something so out of character, or rather new.

Even if Ibiki was aware of it, it still caught her a bit by surprise when the item was so confidently presented to her. With the bag right before her, she could now distinguish the shape of the chocolate pieces, each was in the shape of a heart, a classic, yet sweet gesture that warmed her heart some more.

"You truly shine brighter than me at the most peculiar things," Ibiki voices, taking the bag while closing in Hibiki's space.

Hibiki lifts her face upon feeling the weight in her hands withdrawing, but unable to comment on her counterpart's words as she was pulled in against her, her ability to speak sealed away by soft lips touching hers.

It was their first kiss for this day, a chaste one lasting maybe around 10 seconds or so, but long enough for her to melt into it, her eyes fluttering close while enjoying the butterflies in her stomach, her legs wobbling a little as raw, undiluted happiness poured into her heart and spreading to her whole body.

When the kiss ended, the two were still in close proximity, Ibiki's free hand resting on Hibiki's lower back to keep her steady. Their eyes were partially clouded with desire, longing for more. A longing Ibiki has to force down so as to not fall back deeper into her own mayhem of horniness. Thankfully the perfect distraction was in her hand, threatened to melt if they kept increasing the temperature between them.

"Thank for the gift, can I open it?"

A still dazed from the kiss Hibiki could merely nod, not trusting her voice to work properly at the moment.

Ibiki made herself comfortable on her purple sofa and untied the ribbon of the package to take out one of the well-made heart-shaped chocos. With an appraisal look and rolling it briefly between her fingers, she pops the confection in her mouth, closing her eyes to relish in the sweetness melting and spreading on her tongue.

Hibiki watches the whole scene with trepidation, waiting for the verdict regarding her efforts. Despite Shirabe's help and approval that her trial ones were a success; nothing would warrant more than hearing the same praising words from her girlfriend's mouth with the official batch.

Their eyes met for a long moment after Ibiki swallows the sweet, a silence gradually choking Hibiki.

Until the verdict was given.

"Yep, they are good."

The weight and tension that Hibiki failed to notice were suddenly lifted from her shoulders as the praising words were carried in her direction. Her lips held together in a tight line until now finally curving upwards to form a smile.

"Really?" She couldn't help but ask for confirmation.

"Do you have so little faith in yourself or my words?" Ibiki teases.

"No… It's just… that's the first time I was making 'Honmei-Chocos', so…" Hibiki trails off at the end of her sentence.

With a sigh, Ibiki gently taps at her side on the couch, "Come here."

Hibiki follows her request by walking the necessary distance to the couch, smoothing the back of her skirt before sitting next to her girlfriend.

Once her lover is by her side, Ibiki fishes out another piece of chocolate, bringing it close to Hibiki's lips, "Open up," she instructs.

Hibiki complies once more, parting her lips as the piece of candy slid in, her tongue brushing Ibiki's fingertips as the chocolate was left behind to melt on her warm organ and spread inside her mouth.

"So, still doubting yourself?" The tomboy questions with a knowing smile.

Hibiki doesn't bestow a response right away, breaking and chewing on the sweet to speed up the consumption process.

Even after finishing it, she remains silent aside from a little hum of delight. Still, tasting the fruit of her labor fills her with confidence.

A boosted confidence poured into taking one choco from the bag in turn, yet going further, shifting from her seat on the couch to sit astride her girlfriend's lap.

The air between them changes significantly with their new position. Both girls' cheeks dusted a faint pink, but no words were pronounced.

Ibiki was the one getting fed this time. With no escape as well as the absence of will to do, she accepts the Valentine's treat.

Feeling playful with hints of mischief, she closes her lips around Hibiki's fingers, gently sucking on them while making eye contact.

The result was instantaneous, her lover's face combusting red, prompting her to withdraw her fingers from their weak imprisonment.

Ibiki smirks at her partner's reaction, happily munching on the sweets while letting her recover. Not for long though as she was feeling pretty daring herself now, motivated by Hibiki's first initiative.

"Your turn," Ibiki expresses as she shows the next piece of chocolate, then sticks it between her lips, in wait for her girlfriend to do her part.

Hibiki knew what to do, but she also knew that if she abided by this, that if she indulges her other self, it will not stop as just kissing and making out. That it is highly guaranteed that both would end up entangled in a mesh of limbs, sweaty and dirty, exhausted yet thoroughly satisfied with pleasure from their upcoming debauchery.

And she was more than fine with this outcome. Hence why there was no hesitation in her leaning forward to start all of this.