42. Agitation
Okay, okay, calm down. You've got this. This will go just fine.
Psyching herself up, Rin wanders down the hall, ignoring the looks she- no, the box in her hands, gets from the other students.
Valentine's Day. A day of both great excitement and horrible fear for girls, in which they make homemade chocolate treats and give them to the boy they care for. It can end one of two ways; he'll either accept it gratefully, meaning he likes you, or reject you flat out, meaning you're nothing to him. One can make a girl's day, and the other can crush her.
Rin inhales deeply, places her hands behind her back, and walks up to an oblivious blonde talking to his bluenette best friend.
"L-Len." She addresses him stiffly, nervousness setting in.
The ponytail-wearing boy turns away from his conversation upon hearing her voice, and his bright blue eyes widen. "Ah? Rin?" He takes in her standoffishness, and frowns. "What's up?"
"I- b-because you're family, and 'cause I can't think of anyone else to give it to, here! Obligatory chocolate!" Rin thrusts her hands out, revealing a small red heart-shaped box wrapped in dark orange ribbon.
Her brother blinks. "Really? Thanks." He says, taking it from the slightly red-faced girl.
Waiting with bated breath, Rin watches Len undo the bow and peel the lid from the box. "Oh, hey! Chocolate covered bananas!" He says, a grin spreading across his face. "Seriously? Awesome!" He bites into one in front of her. "And they taste great! Thanks, Rin!"
Rin's mouth opens and closes, her cheeks darkening. "W-w-I-" She stutters, happy, but also embarrassed. "J-Just remember, you owe me three times as good a present on White Day!"
Before her startled (blushing?!) brother can form a reply, she turns and runs off, her heart hammering in her chest. She went through with it. All the fretting, failed creations, hours spent in the kitchen, and the internal panicking she did- it all paid off.
Thinking of White Day and what she said, Rin turns a brighter shade.
I wonder… if he'll get me something?