"You want to do what?" Sasuke asked perplexed. "Danna, are you sure this is a good idea?" he asked, looking at the home-ec classroom that was about to be, without a single doubt, obliterated.
"It is just as you said Sasuke, Valentine's Day is a day I cannot take lightly, it may be a romantic holiday, however, it is also to show your friends your appreciation for them and I, Sanada Genjiro Yukimura must show my full appreciation." He said, his fists balled up in determination.
"Well yes, but… Danna, is this because of what I said?" The previous day Sasuke had made a joking remark about his bond with Masamune being as close as that of a couple like him and Kojuurou (shh), and how he should give him chocolates for Valentine's Day.
"I asked Oyakata-sama about it, and he said you were right. I cannot just treat my rival as any other person in my life. I must show Masamune-dono the depths of my appreciation for him. Neglecting such a strong and inspiring rival would be nothing short of disrespectful." Yukimura was making Sasuke regret ever making a joke about giving Masamune chocolates. "I told this to Tsuruhime-dono and she agreed with me."
Tsuruhime waved at Sasuke and walked up to him.
"Hey Sasuke, are Sanada and Date dating or something?"
"Not really, it's just your run of the mill rivalry that happens in these parts. Although, this might push it there." He said, his annoyance with the situation evident. "You shouldn't be here anyway; I just know that he is going to blow something up, and I wouldn't want you to get hurt in any way."
"Sasuke, Tsuruhime-dono has my word that I will follow any and all of her instructions as if they were sacred writing"
Sasuke looked at the girl.
"It's true, I gave him a recipe this morning and he's already memorized all of the steps."
The problem isn't that he memorizes them, the problem is that he doesn't go overboard. He thought.
"We were just going through the ingredients list, weighing them and making sure they're all ready." She chirped.
"And they are!"
"…Alright then." Sasuke resigned himself. "Do you mind if I stay here and watch? Maybe I'll make some for Kasuga once you are done."
"Kasuga-dono? But I thought you had something with Ka—" Sasuke rushed to cover his mouth, looking carefully at Tsuruhime who was weirded out by his actions.
"Alright then, Danna-sama, don't you have chocolates to make?"
Things started pretty smoothly. Tsuruhime would start explaining how to do things, such as chop the block of dark chocolate without breaking the counter and Yukimura would follow suit. Following her instructions religiously with a serious and determined expression.
"You're being very patient about this, Danna." Sasuke noted.
"Kenshin-dono said that delicate things take time, so I'm doing my best to be patient."
"And it's coming along great. You're doing very well." Tsuruhime praised him as she turned on the stove to heat it up. "I'm sure Masamune will love them."
"I appreciate your kind words!"
Sasuke smiled at him
Meanwhile, outside.
"Mori is not answering my calls..." Chosakabe lamented as he cleaned up his bike, "He won't even talk to me in school lately!"
"Did you do something to make him mad?" Masamune asked, casually leaning on a tree with his arms crossed.
"Nothing! He's just being moody again. I don't get him."
"I keep telling you, he's Bad News. You deserve someone better than him." He consoled his friend for what felt the millionth time this month.
"Maybe it's because it's going to be Valentine's."
"Could be." Just as Chosakabe was about to let out a groan from grieving his situation, one of the nearby classrooms exploded.
"Huh, that was nearby." Chosakabe noted.
"It was, want to check it out?" Masamune smiled mischievously.
"Yeah, sure." And got up. "Might cheer me up."
"Tsuruhime-dono, are you alright?" Yukimura asked in the middle of the smoke.
"I am, Sasuke protected me from the explosion, thankfully."
"Well, at least no one is hurt. Except maybe the school budget." Sasuke joked, getting up from Tsuruhime and waving away the smoke from his face. But hey, with the wall gone he didn't have to do that too much.
"Wait! We blew up the wall?" Sasuke cried.
"Sanada" Masamune smiled at the scene when he arrived with Motochika behind him, "I didn't think it would've been your doing, but leave it to my rival to throw one hell of a party. Wish you'd invited me though."
Just then a hellish guttural scream came from Yukimura. "THE MIXTURE IS RUINEEEEEEEeeeD! forGIVE ME MASAMUNE-DONO! OYaKATA-SAMAAaaAAAAaaa!"
"Mixture?" Masamune asked.
"Danna, there are much more important things to worry about right now. Like, a missing wall?"
"We can make more," Tsuruhime tried to console him. "we still have more ingredients…" but these two were covered in smoke.
"What were you doing in here?" Masamune asked.
"I think they were doing chocolates." Chosakabe pointed at the ingredients on the counter table, leaving his friend speechless.
"Sanada, is this true?"
"Please, Masamune-dono. Forgive me, I tried to make Valentine's Day chocolates to give to you, as gratitude for being such a formidable rival to one such as myself, but they seemed to have exploded on my face." Yukimura said with what looked like tears in his eyes.
"Lucky bastard." Motochika muttered under his breath.
Masamune walked up to where his rival rested on the floor and looked at the mixing bowl. "Hey, it's not that bad, you just need to add some cool chocolate." Yukimura seemed to perk up. "Chocolate is quite salvageable."
"Masamune-sama, you know how to fix chocolate?" Tsuruhime asked.
"My my~ I didn't expect you to know about something like this." Sasuke noted with a mischievous smile on his face.
At that, Masasmune's only eye opened wide and looked away, guilty as if he'd said something he shouldn't. Avoiding the implicit accusation, he carefully grabbed a piece of the muddied mixture and ate it, then smiled.
Yukimura, who'd been frozen in place since Masamune told him his chocolates were salvageable jumped. "MASAMUNE-DONO!"
"They're perfect as they are Sanada." And gave him back the mixing bowl. "Every inch of these chocolates tastes like your soul. That burning soul of yours that keeps me going. I wouldn't change a thing about the way these chocolates are now."
Motochika continued to grumble under his breath.
"M-Masamune-dono… do you really mean it?" He asked with wide eyes full of hope.
"Of course. You're my rival after all, in order for me to surpass you I have to be honest with you."
"Hmm, Masamune-danna, did you burn your chocolates too?"
"I will kick your ass, Sasuke."