Chapter 13: Exams and Chocolate

Keitaro smiled as he and Motoko watched the sunset together. Naru was very determinedly not talking to him, so he had more time to spend with the kendo girl.

"I like the sun," said Motoko solidly. "It provides warmth and hope. People who see the sun see it as an assurance. Besides, people do more during the day. Not like when the moon is out. The moon seems cold, and hard. Night is dark and many creatures of evil wander about."

"I don't think of it like that," said Keitaro. "Sure, the sun is brighter, but it's also… plain I think. The moon is different. It's mysterious and exotic. The moon is nothing like anything else we've got. It reflects the sun's rays to show us the world in a different light. A lot of people don't like the moon, but I think that's because they don't understand it. I've always liked night more."

"Why is that?"

"The stars. You can't see them during the day, because the sun blocks them out. But the moon shows us that stars are beautiful and makes promises for the future… The sun can't do that."

Motoko laughed slightly at him.

"You are so strange, Keitaro," she said, before asking, "Have you spoken to Narusegawa recently?"

"Not really," he said. "She's been mad at me, and I get why. However, I don't think I was wrong to break things off. I'm happier now, and I have the chance to enter a real romance if it comes along."

"I hope you do get to be in a relationship you actually like. You deserve it. You have to leave for the exam tomorrow right?"

"Yeah," he said.

He'd been studying like crazy for the entrance exam and felt he knew the material pretty well. Of course, if he didn't get in, then he didn't. He decided he wasn't going to freak out about this one.

The next morning, after having been dragged to the station by Naru, Keitaro sat at the desk, prepared to do what he could.

"Ok students! Start!"

Keitaro put the pen to the paper… and froze. It was a simple history question.

Who was the victim from 'the shot heard around the world' in WWI?

He couldn't remember the answer. It was duke or duchess something… Maybe admiral? Why couldn't he recall any of this? He knew he'd studied it. Keitaro's memory slowly just blanked out until he couldn't recall anything he'd studied up on.

He knew his luck was out and began answering questions as best he could guess. There wasn't much else for it. He would fail again and would once again be mocked by Naru. He shrugged to himself. So he wasn't getting into Tokyo U. It wasn't like he needed it. He already had a couple solid jobs managing the apartments and working for Seta.

Who said he had to go to this college?

It did cause him a moment of pain though, thinking about how he'd failed his promise girl. He closed his eyes slowly, and took a deep breath, letting it go. Whatever happened would happen and he couldn't do anything more to change that right now. He sat down on his floor, considering getting an early night when he heard something crunch under his weight.

He pulled out a slip of paper from his back pocket and unfolded it. It was Motoko's fortune.

Love Fortune:

You might fall for someone very close to you. The person you're concerned about may approach you soon!

Keitaro almost fell over laughing. It was no wonder that Motoko had thrown it outside. What with her uncertainty about love, and there couldn't be anyone she was romantically interested in. He decided he couldn't approach her about the note and trashed it. If Motoko didn't want to talk about that kind of stuff, then he wouldn't breech it.

He lay there quietly until he fell asleep.

Keitaro didn't know how many hours he actually slept, but the sun was already high in sky when Shinobu shook him awake.

"Sempai, they're announcing the scores," she said gently.

He groaned, sitting up.

"Thanks Shinobu. I'll be down in a minute."

He changed into a suitable set of clothes and walked downstairs, taking a seat on the couch next to Motoko, who handed him a cup of tea.

"Thanks Motoko," he said, sipping the drink. "You didn't have to make me this."

"You slept a long time, so I figured you would need something to wake you up. I don't take coffee either, so I just made some extra tea."

"Glad to see the two lovers are getting along so well!" snapped Naru.

Keitaro almost retorted, but then held himself in check. Naru could be a very angry and bitter person, but it was better he just let her throw her fit. She'd calm down eventually.

They all watched the screen intently and it came out that not only Mutsumi, but both Keitaro and Naru had all passed the central exams. Keitaro was actually shocked. He would've been sure he failed it horribly.

I either got way too lucky or I retained it after all.

"Congratulations you two!" said the group as some confetti bombs Su and Sarah had left over from new years exploded.

Keitaro smiled, and cheered with the others. It was cool that he'd finally gotten this far! It had never happened before. Maybe this was a sign something good in his life was actually on it's way. He decided if he'd made it this far he would buckle down and actually try to beat these exams.

Keitaro went upstairs, cracking open the calculus books and going over the questions. He was so intent on the book he didn't even notice when Naru entered, her dreaded coffee poured into two cups.

"Hey there, Keitaro. I figured we could study together, like old times."

"Huh? Oh… sure I guess."

Keitaro all but ignored her and went back to the book. He was actually starting to get this. He absent-mindedly reached for his pencil and knocked over the cream Naru had brought up, spilling it all over her.

"Keitaro you per…"

"Sorry," he said simply, staring at the book.

Naru didn't say anything for a moment, then seemed to get some idea into her head.

"Keitaro, isn't it hot in here?"

"If you say so, I was fine."

"Yeah, In fact," she said, hands on her skirt. "I think I'll just slip out of this."

"Oh, ok. Well I'm going to get some rest before training in the morning then," he said simply, showing her out.

Naru left, muttering angrily. Keitaro shrugged. Whatever it was Naru was trying to do, he didn't really have time to consider it. There was another knock as his door slid open to reveal Mutsumi.

"There was a time people actually waited for permission to enter someone else's room," he muttered.

"Keitaro," she whispered. "I came here to talk to you about Narusegawa."

"I don't want to talk about her," he said, irritated. "I want to sleep."

"But she's distressed. She misses you."

"She misses having someone she can claim. Let her get a mutt if that's what she's after. Look, Mutsumi, I know you're trying to help Naru and I. Thanks for that, honestly. However, Naru and I aren't good together. I don't like being hit and she likes to be in control. It's not a good mix."

"But…"

"Please, just drop it Mutsumi… I'll see you later, ok?"

Mutsumi nodded softly and left, closing his door behind her.

The days passed in a flash and before anyone really knew it, it was valentines day! Keitaro was in the tradition of make himself chocolates, expecting none from anyone else when his door (that must've had a public access sign on it) opened to reveal Narusegawa.

"Oh hey Naru. What's up?"

Naru and he weren't closer by much, but she was finally talking to him again, if only to make fun of him.

"Are you studying all night again? But we don't have exams in the morning."

"I'm making myself a gorgeous chocolate woman I can release my perverted desires on," he said sarcastically.

"Wow," said Naru, rolling her eyes. "I can't believe I thought you were doing something important."

Keitaro ignored the jab and went through his night, making chocolates. It was early morning before his all-access door opened yet again. Keitaro expected it would be Motoko, but instead it was little Shinobu, holding out a bag of chocolates she'd no doubt made herself.

"Sempai! Please accept these!"

Keitaro graciously accepted the gift and hugged her.

"Thanks Shinobu. This was nice of you. Honestly, I wasn't expecting anything."

"You're welcome Sempai. It's for good luck on your exams!"

"Chocolate for good luck can't be beat!" he said, smiling at her.

Shinobu brightened and walked away, singing lightly to herself. Keitaro grinned, biting into Shinobu's chocolate, and found it was just as heavenly as he'd expected. Whoever she married in the future would be set in the way of great food. Just as he was considering that, he heard the doom of his door opening, yet again.

"Keitaro!" yelled Su happily. "I have brought you curry chocolate!"

"Curry chocolate? That doesn't even… I don't… Thank you Su…"

Su handed him a wrapped chocolate bar, causing Keitaro to wonder if she was lying about it being curry chocolate, if some store actually marketed the stuff or if Su had made a personalized wrapper for this chocolate. Fearing for his sanity, Keitaro popped a small piece of the curry chocolate into his mouth, and immediately regretted it, running for the bathroom faucet.

"Hey there Keitaro!" called Kitsune.

"Why do I even have a room if you all just keep invading it?"

"This is from her and I!" said Sarah, handing him a box that said obligation chocolate on it.

"I am both flattered and insulted you actually managed to find a box that says this on it," he said, eating a piece of the cheap chocolate.

Keitaro was honestly a bit blindsided. He hadn't expected to get anything this year, let alone gifts from all the girls… well at least most of them. Of course, he hadn't expected Motoko to participate in the holiday, and Naru was still too mad to even consider making him some. Still, all in all, it was a great holiday.

Keitaro didn't fancy the idea of having to get them all return gifts on white day, but he'd cross that bridge next month. He decided to go outside and enjoy the fresh air, and of course the variety of chocolates. As he sat on the steps of the Hina apartments, Motoko sat down next to him.

"Hey there," he said, smiling.

"Hey Keitaro. You know I don't like this holiday, right?"

"I know."

"It's just a misogynistic time to sell chocolates throughout Japan!"

"Motoko, it's fine. I didn't expect you to take part in something silly like this. I know you, remember?"

She held out a package to him. It was a box of chocolates wrapped so neatly he thought a factory might have done it.

"Huh? But this is…"

"If you tell anyone about this, I will deny it."

Keitaro unwrapped the chocolates and saw a box of personalized chocolates. He searched for a label or some sort of meaning, but there was none. She had made them herself.

She might just be very good with her hands. She made my medallion, and now these… Motoko would be a better wife than she would ever admit.

"Thank you Motoko," he said, smiling.

He took up one of the pieces and tasted it, experimentally. For a moment he was actually stunned into silence. Motoko's chocolate was delicious! At least on par with Shinobu's…

"Happy Valentine's day," she said softly. "I expect you at the training grounds early tomorrow."

"See you Motoko."

He sat there, watching the mysterious kendo girl go through her sword training. She really was something incredible. She was sort of like the moon to him: mysterious and comforting at the same time. If Naru was anything like Motoko maybe their relationship wouldn't have blown up like that… It may have even been a happy one.

Of course, logically he could've just dated Motoko.

"What the hell was that thought?!" he said aloud.

Motoko didn't like love, and definitely didn't date. Besides, he was way too busy with his personal studies to even begin to consider a romance, and if he wasn't it definitely wouldn't be with Motoko. He was just thinking of her like that because he was lonely and they were close friends.

"She'd kill me if she knew I'd ever thought of that."

And so he convinced himself.