A/N: Kasheer had it coming from the very beginning, by that I mean from the start of his Faunus-hating-rivalry. It just goes to show nothing good will come with grudges. Patrick is just lucky the headmaster knows the secret of Beacon that involves the young Shadow Hunter.
Chapter 34: Love in the Air
February 14th. The school is decorated for today, Valentines' Day. It's early morning, and Selena is doing her usual morning routine of getting into the showers before dawn. On this day, she's feeling more nervous. And she was talking about it last night.
"Valentines'?" Marlene asks.
Selena shyly nods. "Yea. Every year on Valentines' Day, my mother and I get tons of Valentines' from her fans and a ton of boys back at home."
"I don't see anything wrong with that. Everyone admires you." Akira says.
"I know that, but it just feels empty. Valentines' Day is a day when you should be with someone you love. But when receiving flowers and chocolates and heartfelt letters from hundreds of strange boys, it just feels like I'm breaking hearts."
"I get what you mean, but it's not like you can help it." Marlene says.
"True, being famous has its tolls." Selena says. "This year I'm just hoping I don't get any Valentines'. I'm afraid someone might get too close and recognize me."
"I'd say you're overthinking it a bit." Patrick says.
Selena's been thinking about it all morning. She still worries about risking her identity.
The bells ring for the classes to start. Students make their way to their classes. Patrick arrives at Marina's class, and most students are seated. Marina's desk has a few Valentine's gifts, of which she sits at her desk reading the cards that came with them as the class fills up. Once the bell rings, Marina drops her gifts and class begins.
Marina appears to be doing better with her Professor Job, much less nervous than she was weeks ago. During the lessons, Patrick has taken notice some of the male students are staring at Marina, in a hopelessly-in-love way.
After the bell rings, the students make their leave. Patrick is one of the last ones to leave, but he comes to a halt when he overhears Marina's conversation with one of her students.
"Pro-professor Marina. Your lessons are beautiful as always." The male student says.
"That's kind of you to say." Marina says.
"So, I was wondering if maybe after class you would like to go out with me." The male student says.
Patrick rolls his eyes but is astonished to hear Marina's answer. "Sure, I'd like that." The male student is excited and he leaves the room happily. Patrick doesn't make his leave, instead, he approaches Marina. "Can I help you, Mr. Aki?"
"Do you realize what you just did?" Patrick asks.
Marina looks confused. "Did I do something wrong? I only agreed to go out with him. I don't think there's anything serious about going outside with a guy for a talk to a little sightseeing."
Patrick can't believe what he's hearing, he even facepalms. "You really are a hopeless romantic, woman. He was asking you to go out on a date with him."
Hearing that surprises Marina with a realized expression. "Oh..."
"Yeah. 'Oh'!" Patrick says.
Marina chuckles nervously while rubbing the back of her head. "I guess that explains why all the customers who asked me to go out felt disappointed."
"You know, I'm starting to see how you became an easy target for the agency to prey on you. Honestly, the fact that today's Valentines' Day should have tipped yea." On that note, Patrick makes his leave.
Patrick gets through the day. Much to his comfort, nobody is bothering him. But Patrick doesn't seem to have a pleasant day being surrounded by several couples and love-stroke students. He pretty much dry heaves most of the time, and his teammates and Team CPER try their best to ease the young Shadow Hunter.
It's time for the final period and Patrick walks right into Mashika's class. When he walks in he finds the area where Mashika's desk is pilled with a mountain of Valentines. "Why am I not surprised?" He says with a sigh. "This is going to be a long final period." Patrick takes his seat. "Just hope it doesn't get any worse." Patrick looks at Peter sitting next to him to find him helplessly staring at Mashika with his mouth wide open. His desk was covered in a puddle of drool. "Me and my big mouth." Patrick says.
Mashika doesn't seem to care that her students are lacking attention as she goes on with today's lesson. Patrick doesn't pay much attention to her lesson but for a different reason. Patrick tries snapping Peter out of it, and the ear pulling isn't even working. Patrick tries a combo of ear pulling and foot stepping or face-smashing, but still nothing. Peter is really out of it when it comes to facing a gorgeous teacher on Valentines' Day. Patrick starts to wonder if even Clawdia can break Peter out of this spell.
When the final bell rings, Mashika dismisses her class, and all the male students are either disappointed are just remain in their seats in frozen love. Patrick doesn't hesitate to make his leave until... "Mr. Aki?" Patrick slightly flinches hearing his name being called and prays that it isn't what he thinks it is. "I would like to speak with you." And it is.
All the boys are glaring daggers at him. "What!?" "Why him!?" "He didn't give her a Valentine's Gift!" "He is unworthy!" And immediately and violently, they all dog-piled on Patrick and started beating him up, each of them barking that Mashika is their lover. Mashika sighs and rolls her eyes as she watches this poor scenery, then turns on the charm. As she activates her Semblance.
"Oh boys." Like a flip of a switch, the brawl scene immediately freezes as they all stare at her. "Oh don't be so rough on him, I only want to have a little chat with him. Would you please let him go?" Then Mashika blows them a kiss.
All the boys went crazy as they shrieked and bolted out of the room in Mach-20 speed. Leaving behind the knocked-down and beaten Patrick. Mashika helps Patrick up. "You all right, love?"
Patrick stands, straightening his back resulting in his joints popping. "I wish you would stop calling me out like that after class. Your 'fan club' is gonna kill me."
"Oh, don't be so dramatic. They'd never do that to you." Mashika says with a cheerful smile.
"Try telling that to them." Patrick says. "Now what do you want?"
"I just thought we could talk about today." Mashika grabs one of the boxes of chocolates and holds it out to Patrick. "Care for some chocolate?" Patrick doesn't say anything, just offers a look that reads he rejects her offer. But after a moment, he takes a piece of chocolate and eats it. "I was wondering if you have any plans today."
"If you're trying to take me out on another 'date night', the answer's no. Not after what happened on THAT day." Patrick says.
"Aw, you still hung up on that Drinking Incident?" Mashika asks. "I told you it was the waitress's fault for giving you a beverage underaged." Patrick sneers at Mashika. "Relax, I'm not going to take you out anywhere. But I do think you shouldn't spend the day alone."
"What are you saying?" Patrick asks, suspiciously.
"I'm just saying, you should at least spend the night with someone. Don't you have a special little love in your life?" Mashika asks.
Patrick crosses his arms as he glares at her. "If you believe that, I'd say the booze is finally getting to you."
"Fair comment." Mashika says. "But still, you should try spending the day with someone like your team, or my niece Rin. Or even Marina. She has been a little tense lately. I'm sure she can use some company."
Patrick softens upon hearing of Marina's condition, as he imagines what it could be. From what they've heard, she is physically healthy. Her mental health is still challenged. And above all, she hasn't shown any relapse signs of the poison she was drugged. Mashika and Patrick are silent after that, and then Patrick sighs. "I'll think about it, but I'm not making any promises."
Patrick leaves the classroom. As he walks down the hallway, he observes all the other students around him. Each of them confesses their love to each other and offers gifts. The sight of this just makes him sick. Still, he does think about what Mashika has said. Ever since the Kasheer incident, he felt the distance he's been putting on other people shortening. He actually feels comfort in human/Faunus Interaction. Something he hasn't felt ever since Amber disappeared from his life.
As Patrick approaches his locker and shakes his head, snapping himself back into reality. "Get a hold of yourself, Patrick. There's no way I'll ever get close to anyone." Patrick opens his locker. He's about to take out his weapon set when suddenly an envelope falls out. Patrick is surprised to see this. He picks it up, opens it, and then reads the letter inside:
'I have been watching you for a long time, but I've been too shy to tell you. I wish to speak with you in person. Meet me under the Cherry Tree in the courtyard. Your Secret Admirer.'
"Secret Admirer? Oh, brother." Patrick says.
After receiving his letter, Patrick returns to the dorm. There, he finds Marlene and Akira alone in the room, sitting on their beds facing each other. Akira is holding a box of chocolate. "You got a Valentine?" Marlene asks.
"Apparently. By some boy in our Kendo Class." Akira says. "He said he admired the strength and spirit I demonstrated when I was dueling Kasheer."
Marlene squeals. "What about you? Is he your boyfriend now?"
"I'm not sure, to be honest. For most of my life, I have spent in the ways of the sword. I have never thought of being involved in relationships." Akira says.
Patrick groans as he rolls his eyes and makes his leave, saying: "Girls."
Patrick makes his way to the meeting point where the letter has told him. And he waited for his 'Secret Admirer' to arrive. As he waits, he spots Marina with the boy who asked her out and uses his Scope Vision to get a closer look. He sees Marina speaking to him. He can't hear due to distance but can read her lips. 'Look, you're a nice guy, but I just don't feel the same way. I'm sorry.' there's a moment of not speaking and Marina seems a bit worried as the boy appears to lower his head covering his face with his hands. 'Don't cry, I'm sure you'll meet a nice girl one day. Have faith.'
Patrick ends his Semblance. "She may be a hopeless romantic but she sure does know how to let them down gently. I'll give her that."
"Um...E-Excuse me." Patrick turns to find a redheaded shy girl approaching him. But he recognizes her.
"Hey, aren't you in the Student Council?" Patrick asks her.
The girl nods. "I-If it's not too much trouble. Would you mind leaving?" Patrick is surprised to hear that. The girl pokes her index fingers together as she shyly looks down. "You see...I-I uh, am expecting...something here, and..."
"Hold on. You're the one who put that letter in my locker?" Patrick asks.
The girl is shocked to hear that. "Excuse me?" Patrick shows her the letter. Seeing it, the girl's face brightens in deep red. "Oh dear. This is so embarrassing." Patrick is confused. "The letter wasn't meant for you. I-I thought...That locker was...Ms. Zai-Jin's."
"Your crush is the Student Council President?" Patrick asks. The girl shyly nods.
The girl falls on her knees. "I've been too shy to tell her how I feel. I just thought that, well...today being Valentines', I could build enough courage to tell her how I feel. But I blew it."
Patrick sees how miserable she is feeling. Patrick let out a sigh. "Look, it's none of my business and frankly I don't care, but you shouldn't beat yourself up like this. So you screwed up, big deal. You'll find another time and place to express your feelings to her." The girl looks at Patrick surprised, speechless too. "Just something I heard my sister say once."
The girl manages a smile and nods. "Yeah, you're right." She stands up. "Thanks for the advice. If I keep trying, I just know I'll express my feelings to Miss President." And happily leaves.
Patrick stays behind watching the girl leave. Then Marina shows up. "That's a sweet thing for you to say to her."
"Don't get use to it." Patrick tells her.
"Sure thing, Mr. Grumpy Pants." Marina says with a laugh. "I was gonna order takeout for dinner tonight, but since we're both alone on Valentines', perhaps you can join me?"
"What about Instructor Kirei?" Patrick then realizes something. That it's pretty obvious Mashika would be occupied on Valentines' Day. Not with a boy, but with hundreds maybe thousands of male students. "On second thought, don't answer that. Uh, why not? I'll even pick it up if you like." He speaks the last sentence sarcastically.
Marina claps her hands together with a smile. "That would be thoughtful of you, thank you Patrick."
Marina walks away leaving Patrick behind, who makes a disappointing expression. "Apparently, you are also clueless when it comes to sarcasm."
Patrick makes his leave from Beacon to walk to the restaurant. When he arrives, he takes notice of how packed it is, and it's just the cars out in the parking lot. He begins to see why Marina is doing takeout instead. Patrick walks inside to find its pack crowded. He approaches the register lady and tells her the name of the order, which he assumes it's under Marina's name. The lady tells him to wait as she goes to check.
As he waits, Patrick looks around at the packed tables. All are filled with couples being lovely-dovey. Eventually, he found something that caught his eye. He has doubts at first then uses his Scope Vision to get a better look. "Selena?" Selena, her identity mostly exposed, is sharing a table with some unattractive boy. And judging by the expression on her face she's feeling pretty uncomfortable. "What's going on?"
Patrick reaches for a packet in his pocket, and opens it to take out a small microphone. He flings it and it sticks to the side of the table, then Patrick puts the earpiece into his ear and listens.
"I'm having a fun time, aren't you my sweet?" The boy asks.
Selena nervously laughs. "You're a nice guy, Herald, but I'm feeling a little uncomfortable about all of this." Selena lowers her head. "I mean, do we have to have this date at a public restaurant? What if people recognize me?"
"Don't complain, you made a deal with my grandfather." Herald says.
Hearing that surprises Patrick. "Deal?" Patrick thinks back and remembers what Selena had said on Christmas Morning: ''Sherry Farron' told him that she happens to know 'Selena Akmura' and so the Owner asked me to set his grandson on a date with Selena.' "This is the kid she has to date?"
"What do you say we seal this date with a kiss?" Herald asks.
Hearing that alerts both Selena and Patrick. "Uh, d-don't you think we're going a little fast with this?"
"Don't pretend you don't love it. Pucker up, dream girl." Herald puts on breath spray.
"Oh, I don't think so, lover boy." Patrick whispers as he searches in his pocket.
Herald leans over the table closing in on Selena's face as he puckers his lips. Selena backs away nervously. Then suddenly, Herald gets hit by a dart. "Gah!" He reacts to it with a flinch and then falls face flat onto the table. This sudden turn of events confuses Selena, yet at the same time she's thankful.
"Oh hey there, Sherry." Startled, Selena looks up to see Patrick approaching her. "Surprise to see you here." He turns his eyes to the unconscious Herald. "Oh dear, it seems your little friend here was shot by a moderate tranquilizer dart." At the end of that sentence, Patrick winks at her.
Selena catches on that this was his doing, and silently thanks him. The waiter arrives to find the unconscious boy. Patrick and Selena explain that he just fell unconscious due to overdrinking, even though he's underage. "Giving booze to an underdrinker, it must have been the newbie waitress again."
"Yep. It was her." Selena takes the waiter's Scroll and types on it. She speaks quickly. "Here's his address, just dump him off on the porch and he'll be fine. Gotta go, bye." Then Selena dashes off.
The waiter gives Patrick a lot. "Don't look at me, I'm just here to pick up an order. Speaking of which, I think it's ready and I better go before it gets cold." Patrick says, dashing off as well.
Patrick and Selena walk back to Beacon. During the time they walked, they were both silent. Selena didn't even bother to ask why Patrick is carrying a meal for two, maybe three. Once they have arrived at the courtyard, Selena speaks. "Again, thanks for saving me back there."
"If you ask me, he's got some nerve making a move like that on you." Patrick says. "It's no wonder his grandfather made this the deal for that artifact: A desperate situation."
"Y-Yeah. Seems that way." Selena says. "I'm just gonna head back to the dorm. I'll leave you to do your, uh...business."
Patrick is confused as Selena leaves, but realizing what he was creating and what day it is he catches on to what it could be. "Oh wait! This isn't-" Too late, Selena is already gone. "Great." Patrick sighs and then walks off in another direction. "Well, hopefully, she'll realize soon enough it isn't what she thinks."
Patrick arrives at the apartment where Mashika and Marina live. Much to his expectations, Mashika isn't anywhere to be found. Rin, however, is still present. Marina thanks Patrick for bringing the food as the three of them sit down and dine.
For the whole day, Patrick felt annoyed about how there was love in the air, not to mention the situation he got into with the girl who he thought was crushing on him more than Selena got into. But as he sits and dines with his teacher and the student council president, for once, he's glad his day turns out this way.