-Ten-Faced Paladin
Love Hina Redux
By Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 14: I Hate Valentine's Day!
The sun was setting again as the tram from the main city stopped at Hinata Hot Springs. Naru and Keitaro both stepped off and began heading back home.
"Well," Keitaro sighed. "I suppose today could have been worse. That math lesson was murder."
"I guess it was a little harder than usual," Naru shrugged. "Then again, you're anti-math aren't you?"
"I'm better with words or physical work," Keitaro grinned sheepishly. "Like history or something."
"It's your only hope," Naru replied. "Still, tomorrow's February 14th. It's no time to ease up now.
Keitaro's eye twitched, "February 14th is tomorrow?"
"Yeah," Naru answered. "Why?"
"Nevermind," Keitaro sighed. "It's nothing."
Even if Keitaro did say that it was nothing, he did pick up the pace to get back inside. Naru's eyebrow was raised in confusion as she watched him enter Hinata House.
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Keitaro leaned against his table with a sigh. February 14th was none other than Valentine's day.
"Just perfect," he sighed. "Who thought of the tradition of giving guys chocolate anyway?"
It wasn't that Keitaro hated Valentine's day. It was just that he found it somewhat annoying. He enjoyed the chocolate like any other boy did. He was also very flattered when he got it. The most he ever got was ten. What bugged him was that none of it was actually given to him directly by a girl. It was always in his locker or on his desk when he got to school. He realised it took some girls plenty of courage to even do that, but he also felt that it was kind of missing the point if a girl didn't give the chocolate to him directly. It was a day of confessing love after all. Not making a mystery out of it.
"Shirai and Haitani say I'm a perfectionist," Keitaro smirked. "They're the ones who grade whoever gave them chocolate every year."
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The next day, while everyone was getting ready for their morning, Shinobu was trying to gather the courage to undergo a task for herself. She was currently mixing ingredients together with a determined look on her face.
Naru walked by the kitchen in her pajamas as she saw the young chef working away.
"Hey Shinobu,"Naru greeted. "What are you doing?"
"Kyaaaa!" Shinobu cried in shock.
Sice she didn't see Naru coming in, Shinobu was rather shocked to hear her. When Naru scared her, she had jumped. Unfortunately, she was holding a mixing bowl while she was at it. The little scare sent the bowl flying into the air.
"Ah!" Shinobu gasped.
"Look out!" Naru cried as she dove to catch the bowl.
She managed to grab it without any of the contents spilling. She looked into the bowl and saw a dark brown substance inside.
"What's this?" she asked. "Chcolate?"
She looked over to Shinobu for an answer. The younger girl promptly broke into full crimson blush.
"well..um..i-it's Valentine's day," Shinobu mumbled. "A-and the testing is close too...I-I thought I'd cheer Sempai on."
Naru smiled as the younger girl looked down as her blush grew bigger.
"Shinobu, you're so sweet," Naru smiled. "I really can't say how much Keitaro's going to get, but knowing him, I'm sure he'll really appreciate something from you. He's never had a girlfriend from what Haruka told me so how much can he really get?"
"But.." Shinobu began timidly. "Aren't you going to give Sempai your honmei-choco today?"
Naru facefaulted and smacked her head on the table on the way down. The bowl of chocolate almost came crashing down again.
"What are you talking about Shinobu!" Naru shrieked. "Why would I give honmei-choco to that guy?"
"Well... you two are always together," Shinobu replied. "And Sempai's so friendly with you."
Naru watched as the younger girls face continued to change crimson. She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose in agitation.
"Shinobu, Keitaro and I are always together because we're studying together," Naru explained. "In case you haven't noticed, Keitaro is just as friendly to you as he is to me. I'm not getting any special treatment."
"Oh," Shinobu smiled. "Okay. I'm glad about that. You see...you're just so pretty Naru. There's no way I could compete against you."
Shinobu gasped as she realsied what she said. She started flailing her arms as she tried to say something to cover up what she meant.
"Not that umm.. I care about S-Sempai that way or anything!" she spoke rapidly.
"Well," Naru smiled. "You might not have to worry about me, but I'd be more worried about Kitsune at this point."
"K-Kitsune?" Shinobu squeaked.
"Just kidding," Naru continued with a smile. "I might not be able to help you make this thing, but I'll cheer you on."
"R-really?" Shinobu gasped, a smile appearing on her face. "Oh thank you so much Naru!"
Naru smiled as she grabbed a cup of coffee. Her thoughts began turning to the day in question. She hadn't given much thought to things like Valentine's day before. When she really thought about it, Naru remembered not doing anything but study for the last two years.
'What am I thinking?' Naru sighed inwardly as she shook her head. 'I've got to get ready. The exams are coming up.'
After gulping down the rest of her coffee, she left Shinobu to her cooking and headed back to her room. She had to get dressed still. She also wanted to get some revision on her notes.
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The day had come and gone for everyone at the cram school. It was mostly a flurry of girls passing their chocolate to boys and the boys in question feeling pretty smug about it. Keitaro was sitting near Shirai and Haitani in their class. The teacher had decided to give up teaching anything for the end of the day when he saw how distracted his students were. Even Naru wasn't paying attention as she scribbled in her notebook. She was actually writing math formulas, but everyone else was too busy to notice.
"Hey Keitaro!" Haitani grinned. "I got eight chocolates! I even got one from the hottie Eri down the hall!"
"That beats me," Shirai laughed. "I only got three. At least one came from Yuka. How much you get Keitaro?"
Keitaro sighed and opened his book bag. He riffled through it for a moment before procucing five small boxes of chocloate.
"About five," keitaro replied, his voice sounding disinterested.
"Shoot Keitaro!" Shirai frowned. "You're more popular than me!"
"That's how it goes sometimes Shirai," keitaro shrugged. "You'll probably get more than me next year though."
Haitani then moved his chair and looked at Keitaro with that dramatic look he had when he went girl hunting.
"So Keitaro," Haitani spoke. "Which one are you going to go after?"
"None," Keitaro rplied simply.
"What!" both Shirai and Haitani gasped.
"Why not?" Shirai asked. "I know some of these girls that gave you chocolate. They're really cute."
"I'm just not looking for a relationship right now," Keitaro replied while rubbing the back of his neck. "It's no big conspiracy or anything."
"Oh I get it," Haitani smirked. "You're waiting for chocolate from the super nerd."
"How many times have I told you not to call her that?" Keitaro sighed. "I'm honestly not looking for a relationship right now. Really."
"Me doth thinks the man protest too much," Shirai smirked.
"Guh," Keitaro groaned as he put the chocolatesback into his bag. "You guys never believe a word I say, do you?"
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After finally getting off the tram, Keitaro was walking up the stairs back to Hinata House. He still had the chocolates from school in his bag. He was going to share them with the girls. It was just chocolate to him anyway.
'I just wish I would get a Valentine chocolate from a girl face-to-face,' Keitaro thought to himself. 'That's the point of today, isn't it?'
As he came closer to the entrance of Hinata House, Shinobu spied him coming. She felt her heartbeat speed up and her face turn red as she prepared herself. She could just imagine herself giving her 'sempai' the chocolate she had made. He would thank her and maybe give her a hug. The thought of her semapi holding her like that made her red face turn to a deeper shade.
'Okay,' she thought to herself. 'I can do this. I'll have him eat this and do well on his exams!'
Naru, who was behind the younger girl, rooted her on.
"Just stay calm Shinobu," Naru whispered in her ear.
"I...I'm trying," Shinobu mumbled quietly.
Keitaro walked through the door and slipped off his shoes while putting his bag by his slippers. Shinobu took a deep breath and gripped her wrapped present for security. When Keitaro stepped into his slippers and onto the wooden floor, she stepped out into view with her gift.
"Um...Sem-" she began.
"Hey stud!" Kitsune's voice greeted.
When the foxy-eyed girl stepped into view, Shinobu seemed to quickly lose her nerve. She then tured to the wall and began wiping it, commenting about a spot she had missed. Naru facefaulted for the second time that day.
"Hey Kitsune," Keitaro smiled. "What's up?"
"Nothing much," Kitsune replied. "I wanted to give something to you."
Kitsune then pulled a box out from behind her back and pressed it into Keitaro's hands. He took a look at it and realised that it was a box of chocolates. His eyes widened when he saw it.
"Wow Kitsune!" he gasped. "Thanks. This means a lot to me."
"No problem stud. Just remember me on White day," Kitsune replied before walking away. 'That chocolate was a way better choice than the ten Yen stuff I usually get.'
Shinobu watched the exchange and stuggled to keep in a sob.
'That could have been me,' she thought sadly. 'Okay, this time for sure.'
Shinobu stepped timidly out from her hiding place again and walked closer to Keitaro. She shivered a little before looking up to Keitaro.
"Ummm, Sempai?" she asked.
Keitaro looked from his chocolate he got from Kitsune and looked to her. Shinobu felt her resolve weakon slightly, but she remembered why she was doing this.
"Hey Shinobu," Keitaro greeted. "You need something?"
"I..I.." Shinobu began, a blush storming onto her face.
"Heyas Keitaro!" Su called.
Keitaro suddenly found himself tackled from the front by Su as she latched her legs around his torso. She was holding a square of chocolate which seemed to have been made from a machine. It had her usual signature symbol on it.
"Su!" Keitaro gasped. "What are you doing!"
"I gots the choco of course," she giggled. "Eat up! It's yummy!"
She then promptly began to ram the block into Keitaro's mouth. He stuggled and tried to get the hyperactive girl off of him. At the same time he was also trying to chew up the chocolate in his mouth lest he suffocate. It was an odd spectacle for everyone to see. Keitaro managed to swallow the chocolate and Su leaped off him with a giggle. Keitaro was left panting as he held his hands to his mouth.
"Ack!" he cried desperately. "Su! What kind of chocolate is this? It's so spicy!"
"It's my special honmei-choco silly," Su giggled. "Special curry flavour just for you Keitaro."
As Keitaro panted with the spicy valentine he just got, Shinobu clutched her gift closer with another sob trying to get out.
'He even got a honmei-choco,' Shinobu thought sadly. 'I have to do this. I just have to!'
Shinobu straightened herself and prepared to try again. Unfortuneately, while she was readying herself, Motoko had already walked past her.
"Urashima," Motoko spoke clearly, getting the man's attention.
Keitaro looked to the kendo girl and saw that she had a healthy flush on her face.She also seemed a little nervous from the way she was fidgeting with the handle of her sword.
"Yes Motoko?" Keitaro asked politely.
"I...I usually do not participate in more...mordern holidays like this," Motoko nervously explained. "But..since it is your first year with us, I..I decided that there was no harm in taking part in today's festivities."
Motoko looked down as she presented her gift. It was a package of cooking chocolate. Keitaro sweatdropped at it. He had to admit that it was original. He hadn't been given cooking chocolate before.
"Uh, thanks Motoko," Keitaro smiled. "Thanks for thinking of me."
Motoko's face turned a little brighter. She nodded shyly.
"Th-think nothing of it Urashima," Motoko stuttered.
By now, Shinobu's resolve was gone. After seeing Keitaro so happy about the other chocolates he'd gotten, she thought hers would be horrible compared to them.
Motoko swiftly turned away and walked away. The blush still refused to leave her face. Keitaro watched her go for a moment before he turned his attention back to Shinobu.
"Did you want something Shinobu?" he asked with a smile.
"Urm," Shinobu squeaked in syness mixed with sadness. "Nothing Sempai!"
With that, she bolted to the stairs. Keitaro watched her go with some curiosity. Naru watched with a sad heart. Shinobu wanted to do this so badly but she couldn't get the courage.
'Oh Shinobu," Naru sighed sadly.
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Naru found Shinobu sulking in the hot springs. Naru held her towel as she slipped into the water near her. As she got closer she could hear Shinobu sniffling. She had been crying again.
"Hey now Shinobu," Naru spoke softly. "It's not so bad."
"Oooh," Shinobu sighed. "I should just give up on giving my chocolate to Sempai. He looked so happy after getting all that. Kitsune and Motoko are prettier than me too. Why would he want chocolate from me?"
"Now don't say that Shinobu," Naru scolded gently. "It was just bad timing, okay? There's still time to give him your chocolate."
"I guess," Shinobu mumbled. "I just can't help but feel like I'm going to give it to him at some wierd time."
Naru frowned sadly at how sad Shinobu was. She then smiled when she got an idea. She placed a hand on the younger girl's shoulder to get her attention.
"Tell you what Shinobu," Naru spoke. "I'll help you give it to him, okay?"
Shinobu's face brightened, "Really?"
Naru nodded as she stood straight again, "Of course I will."
Shinobu broke into a smile that hadn't been seen since her birthday. It warmed Naru's heart.
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Keitaro sat in his room with the chocolat ehe had been given. He was studying while eating it. He was only eating the chocolate that the residents had given him. The rest was still in his bag. He was standing by his decision thathe was going to share it with the others later.
"Now this is Valentines chocolate," Keitaro smiled as he ate a piece of the chocolate Motoko had given him.
He really liked the chocolate he had just gotten. It made him smile knowing that Motoko, Kitsune, and Su had given it to him directly. It let him know that whatever kind of connection the girls of Hinata House was real. Not kind of schoolgirl thing.
"Okay, I'm being kind of optimistic about that," Keitaro laughed. "Even if it really may be true."
Keitaro finished the last bite and looked to the school chocolates he had gotten. He shrugged and picked up all five chocolates.
"Might as well see if anyone wants them," he reasoned.
He walked over to the door to his room and opened the door. He was met with the blushing face of Shinobu, and Naru who was holder her steady with her hands on her shoulders.
"Ah!" Shinbou gasped. "Uh...Sempai..I..umm...I,"
Keitaro waited patiently for her to speak. He could tell that whatever she needed top say was taking a lot of courage. He couldn't help but wonder if it had anything to do with thee package she was holding in her hands. Naru was silently urging the younger girl to keep going with what she was saying.
Shinobu closed her eyes and held out the gift, "Please accept my feelings for you!"
Keitaro felt slightly stunned at the younger girls announcement. Naru smiled as Shinobu spoke. She finally managed to say the words she wanted to say. Shinobu herself looked up hopefully to Keitaro, hoping that he would accept her chocolate. Her eyes then fell on the five boxes in his hands. She thought she could feel her heart drop like a rock.
'Oh...my...god!' Shinobu gasped inwardly. 'He got so many! Why would he even notice the one I gave him. Those all probably came from girls way prettier than me!'
Tears came to Shinobus eyes, "E-excuse me!"
She then bolted away from Keitaro. The tears in her eyes trailing as she went.
"What the-?" Keitaro commented offhandedly.
Naru clenched her fist as she began to growl. She turned to face Keitaro with an angry fire in her eyes.
"Dammit!" she shouted at Keitaro. "Shinobu was trying to give you a Valentine's chocolate you jerk! She worked really hard on making it too!"
"Really!" Keitaro gasped.
"Yes!" Naru shrieked as she got into Keitaro's face. "The least you could have done was say something nice or even give her a hug! But do you? No! You have to go and show off all the chocolate you got! That's just disgusting! What kind of insensitive jerk are you?"
"Showing it off?" Keitaro shouted. "I was going to share these! Oh never mind. We gotta find Shinobu!"
Keitaro then ran off after the younger girl, not noticing that he was still holding the five boxes of chocolate. Naru growled again at Keitaro before following him. After they calmed Shinobu down, she would really give Keitaro a piece of her mind.
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Shinobu stood alone on the roof of Hinata House. She was still crying and her heart still felt like it was broken into a million pieces.
"I'll..I'll never give chocolate to anyone again," she sobbed. "I should have known that I didn't stand a chance."
"Shinobu!" someone shouted, snapping her back to reality.
Shinobu quickly turned around and saw Naru and Keitaro running onto the celing with her.
"Shinobu!" Keitaro shouted again. "Don't jump!"
"What are you doing Shinobu!" Naru cried in panic.
Shinobu opened her mouth to reply, but she found herself cut off. Motoko, Kitsune, and Su came walking onto the celing. They had heard the noise and had come to investigate.
"What's all the racket?" Kitsune asked curiously.
Keitaro sighed before he turned back to Shinobu. Just what he needed. An audience.
"Shinobu, would you just please calm down?" Keitaro caled to the younger girl.
Kitsune and the others really weren't helping things when they started examining the chocolates in Keitaro's hands.
"Wow," Kitsune smiled. "Someone's a popular guy."
"I'm sure all of them are very cute," Motoko remarked casually.
Shinobu felt another sob clawing it's way up. Her heart also seemed to break into smaller pieces.
Keitaro looked at the chocolates in his hand and he frowned, "Forget these chocolates okay? These girls whio gave them to me didn't have to guts to give them to me face to face. You all did. That makes the chocolate you gave me special okay?"
Shinobu thought her heart stopped. Her face started heating up again. Not in sadness, but in shyness.
'He...he thinks my chocolate is special?' Shinobu thought to herself, forgetting she had yet to actually give him the gift in question.
"Do you mean that Semapi?" Shinobu called to Keitaro.
"Of course I do!" Keitaro replied. "I was going to share these with everyone. Please come down Shinobu."
"O-okay," she nodded.
She began stepping twards the flat ground, but the wind started blowing. She felt her skirt beginning to lift and with a cry, she tried to push it down. Unfortunately, she lost her balabce at the same time. As she fell backwardss, Keitaro and the others raced forward to try and catch her. keitaro managed to grasp her hand while Motoko got a grip on his shirt. Su had caught the Valentine while Kitsune and Naru tired to catch Su. Everyone then crashed onto the celing in a large dogpile.
Shinobu looked up and blushed furiously to see that Keitaro was leaning over her. The other girls found themselves in various positions in the dogpile. It was enough incentive for them to all seperate quickly. Su handed Shinobu's chocolate back with a giggle and Shinobu looked to Keitaro with a blush still on her face.
"Um...I-I made this chocolate for you to help pass the exam," Shinobu spoke quietly. "I hope you do your best."
She held out the present and Keitaro took it with a smile. He slowly unwrapped it and smiled at his gift. It was a chocolate heart that was very well-made.
"Thank you Shinobu," Keitaro smiled. "Thsi really does mean a lot to me."
"Y-you're welcome Sempai," Shinobu spoke through a fierce blush. "The exams are still ten days away, but...good luck."
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After everything had calmed down, Keitaro and Naru were studying in her room. Keitaro had given out his school chocolates to the other girls. Motoko tried to deny hers, but Keitaro had insisted. Su had inhaled hers in the blink of an eye.
"Never a dull moment around here is there?" Keitaro smiled.
"Not since you got here," Naru replied. "Though I'm not sure if that's a bad thing."
Keitaro shrugged before returning to his studies. Naru glanced at him for a moment, considering her next action. After shrugging, she reached into her pocket.
"Before I forget," she spoke before producing a small packet of chocolates. "Here."
Keitaro glanced at it in surprise before accepting it with a smile, "Thanks Naru. I appreciate it."
"Sure," Naru shrugged, even if there was a small flush on her face. "Now come on. We have to study."
Keitaro nodded and returned to his studies. The only difference was that a smile was still on his face. All things considered, it was an awesome Valentine's for him.
To Be Continued
A/N: Here ya go. This one turned out pretty long so I had to take longer to write it. I hope you guys enjoy it. I am so close to finishing the second book and moving onto the trip of healing both Keitaro and Naru took. Expect a few changes that I hope you won't expect. Till next time guys, keep reviewing! I like hearing from you guys. Oh yeah. Honmei-choco is the kind one gives to lovers or people they like. Giri-choco is the kind one gives to friends or people they work with.