CH 81

Today is February 14th. The weather is getting colder, and going to school is becoming a chore. As usual, I headed to school together with Aoi after eating breakfast made by her.

But when I passed through the school gate, things were somehow different, unlike usual.

I may be a loner, but it doesn’t mean I am a thickheaded person who can’t read the mood. As such, I can feel that the atmosphere around me is somehow different.

What is it? I have a feeling that both boys and girls are strangely restless for some reason.

“Aoi, do you know what is happening today? It feels like the atmosphere is different from usual.”

“Rin-kun, today is……”

While Aoi and I were walking and chatting, Honda greeted me as he passed by.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

I got used to greeting Honda, but even his voice gave me the impression that he was restless.

As we got near to my classroom, I parted with Aoi and headed to my seat.

When I looked around the classroom after sitting down, both boys and girls looked strange, especially more so for the boys.

I noticed that more than half of the boys in the class were glancing at the girls.

Sure enough, it is strange.

“Hey, Yamaoki, you should be all set, right?”

“Eh? About what?”

“Sigh~ you really have it easy. That’s why I…… No, nevermind. I will definitely get one too~.”

Just when I thought it was rare that Honda came to talk to me, he left after saying a line with hidden meanings.

Although I was curious, the class started. So, I will focus on the lesson first.

The fourth period was over in a blink of an eye, welcoming the lunch break. Aoi didn’t show up for some reason, although it was way past the usual time to have lunch with her.

I tried contacting her because she was late, but there was no reply.

Did something happen to Aoi?

Since I can’t eat without her, I waited for her while spacing out in my seat. And when it was almost halfway through the lunch break, Aoi finally showed up.

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“Rin-kun, I am really sorry to keep you waiting. Since we don’t have much time left, let’s have lunch right away.”

“Ahh, let’s do so.”

If we take our time, the lunch break will be over. Therefore, I started eating lunch as Aoi urged me to do so.

“What happened to you today? Is something the matter?”

“Etto…… it is a confession.”

“Confession?…… Ahh, that confession.”

This kind of exchange has happened before. Was it around Christmas time?

Since then, I haven’t heard about her being confessed to. So, I almost forgot, but it seems Aoi continues to be popular as always.

“Rin-kun, this…, please eat it if you like.”

Aoi handed me a cutely wrapped package.

“This is……”

“It is handmade chocolate. Because today is Valentine’s Day.”

“Ahh…… Thank you.”

Aoi’s words revealed the mystery behind today’s strange atmosphere. All along, it was because today, February 14th, was Valentine’s Day.

Until now, similar to Christmas, it was just an ordinary day that had nothing to do with me. So, it had never come across my mind, but it was an occasion where boys received chocolate from girls.

Honda and the others in the class were acting strange because they wanted to get chocolate from the girls?

In any case, I didn’t expect that I would receive chocolate from Aoi. Considering that we were together almost all the time every day, I do wonder when she made it.

When I was little, there was a time I got Valentine’s chocolate from my mother. Since then, Aoi’s handmade chocolate was the only Valentine’s chocolate I’d ever received.

Although I was embarrassed to receive chocolate from Aoi in the classroom, the happiness I felt at the time was far greater than my embarrassment.