CHAPTER 16

"Hey what did you get?" Yohei poked Noma on the shoulder as the Sakuragi Gundan sat together at the school back lot.

"I got a small pack of peanut-filled chocolates." Noma sighed.

"That again?" Takamiya adjusted his glasses as he inspected the small bag.

Noma sighed deeply. This was not going well at all. Every year in his school life he had hoped that someone was going to give him something more than this and different and more meaningful. But so far it has never failed and most of the time it had always been peanut-filled chocolates bearing the same brand in a small pack even. He felt really pathetic since the only person who bothered to give him his annual gift had been his cousin who happened to be enrolled in the same school as he was. It was easy to tell even because his cousin's dad works in the same factory where the blasted things were manufactured. His cousin only gave him that since they had an overstock of the items at home. No big deal. Worse, his cousin doesn't even like him. Her mother made sure he got it every year...it felt like a curse.

"How about you what did you get this time, huh?" Noma raised an eyebrow as he snatched the bag of chocolates from Takamiya.

"A box of Chocolate Pocky." Takamiya opened the box and began to shove three sticks in his mouth.

"No way someone gave you that. You bought that for yourself, man!" Yohei laughed.

"OH YEAH? YOU THINK I'M SUCH A LOSER THAT NO ONE WOULD BOTHER GIVING ME CHOCOLATE! IF YOU MUST KNOW, I HAPPEN TO HAVE A SECRET ADMIRER IN THIS DAMN SCHOOL!" Takamiya yelled but coughed immediately after.

"Which is going to be a secret forever!" Yohei laughed even more.

"Well if you're so great, then what the hell did YOU get?" Takamiya huffed.

"I got a box of M&M chocolate candies." Yohei proudly showed the box to Takamiya and Noma who both sweatdropped. Takamiya resumed shoving more Pocky sticks into his mouth and gave up arguing with Yohei. Noma sighed again and shoved his bag of chocolate peanuts into his backpack. Man, they suck. Valentine's day sucks. Yohei was grinning as he opened the M&Ms and started sorting the candies according to color. Noma watched his friend sort the candies before popping each color in his mouth. This is no gift. There was no effort given there. It's like swiping a bag of candies from the convenience store. Heck, he could do that. It's too easy and lame at the same time.

"By the way, where the hell is Hanamichi? He should have been here 20 minutes ago. This is boring!" Takamiya announced as he threw the empty box of Pocky to the nearby trash bin.

"No need to wonder, here he comes. Is that bastard smiling or what?" Yohei frowned.

"Yeah...he is smiling! Heck! He looks really happy. This is not good." Noma shook his head.

The towering readhead was indeed smiling. He felt like flying. What better surprise in the world after basketball practice is to find a red checkered gift wrapped mini- basket on top of his binder notebook. The little package contained 10 pieces of assorted chocolate-filled kisses. He thought he was going to have a heart attack. He totally did not expect someone would put up a lot of effort in this and even knew his favorite color. Ten chocolate kisses even! Ten being his jersey number. This was great! Life is great! Life is beautiful. There is hope for him yet. He cannot give up. Someone must have it really bad for him. He just knew it. He will find out soon and when he does....GET READY! TENSAI BASKETBORU MAN WILL MAKE YOU THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD! WOOHOOO!!!

He yelled happily but his happiness was short-lived as he spotted three heads sprouting from the bench eyeing him intently. Oh shit. They are not going to let him go until they find out why he's so happy. No way was he going to share the chocolates either. No way. No way. No way. This is mine and mine alone. I am going to enjoy it alone. Argh! He felt a vein pop on his head already.

"Yo!" Sakuragi grinned at his suspicious-looking friends as he took a seat with them on the bench.

"So what did you get, Hanamichi?" Takamiya's eye twitched beneath his glasses.

"Oh...nothing special as usual." Sakuragi whistled.

"You got something....and it's different from last year, did you?" Noma peered closer to his face.

"Ahahahaha! I said it's nothing special. Come on, guys...you think I would expect anything more after going through several Valentine's Days with a bag of chocolate crackers here or a tiny jar of chocolate spread there." Sakuragi chuckled.

"Then why are you so happy?" Noma frowned.

"What's wrong with being happy? Haruko-chan greeted me Happy Valentine's Day personally after basketball practice. Now if that does not make my day, I don't know what else would!" Sakuragi smiled. Well okay it was true, Haruko-chan did greet him which was mighty sweet of her. He looked at his companions who nodded in agreement. They seemed convinced enough. That should keep them busy, he thought. Besides they always knew how he felt for the girl and they knew whatever little sweetness she afforded to throw at him that he was grateful enough. Still...that was enough to keep them off his back from prying anything more of the TRUE REASON for his happiness this day.

"Alright, let's go home now." Yohei shrugged. They rode on their bikes and headed for home.

In the meantime, somewhere in the boy's locker room, a sleepy-eyed fox-faced basketball player is trying to figure out who in the world was Noriko that is etched with his name on the the chocolate egg.