Valentine's Event: Expert

Who will be your Valentine? - Expert.

After Tougou and Yuuna finally returned to the Hero Club's room and everyone was let go, Akihara Sekka was walking through the hallway of the Sanshuu Middle School, thinking back on the day.

(The Sonokos sure came up with something crazy today. I had my head full just trying to keep track of everything. Yuukicchi and Nogii were as popular as ever, but Fuu didn't slack off either! Itsuki-chan aside, both Karin and Natsume, huh? Maybe I should drop by Karin's place and tease her a little about Fuu today.)

Sekka touched the spare key in her pocket and let out a mischievous grin.

(Hmm, now that I think about it, did Sonoko get any from anyone else than Sumi-chan? I guess not. So she only got one, then. I suppose that only leaves...)

Suddenly, her movement came to a halt. Sekka stood immobile for a few seconds.

"...Ahahaha..."

Now that she's finished counting everyone up, the elephant in the room became blindingly visible to her. She resumed walking, now at a much more brisk pace.

(Well, not that I can say I never expected this...)

It was a matter of course. Valentine's day is, in its essence, a day where one gives presents to someone special to them. And in a situation like this, where the amount of presents was limited, the extent to which someone was special to a person became even more apparent. Which meant one very simple, yet very cruel thing: Sekka was special to no one.

Her pocket began to feel heavier, as if there was a padlock attached to the key lying there.

Sekka herself couldn't quite understand the reason behind her sense of discomfort. As far as she remembered herself, she's never been particularly concerned with the idea of being special to someone. But even so...

At that moment, Sekka's thoughts were interrupted by a loud sound of indoor shoes hitting the floor and a voice calling out to her from behind.

"Akki! Wait a bit!"

Sonoko ran up to her, with a hurried expression on her face.

"Oh, Sonoko? What's with you? Should you really be running like that? Don't your legs hurt from being made to sit on your knees for so long?"

"They actually sting a whole lot! Ancestor didn't have to be so cruel... Wait, that's not what I'm here for!"

Sonoko took a neatly wrapped package from her school bag.

"Here you go, Akki! Happy Valentine!"

"Huh? Thanks, Sonoko. But why me?"

"Well, you know, Akkii, you like interesting things just like me, don't you? We're comrades!"

"Comrades, huh. Thanks."

Sekka extended her hand towards the bundle, but then her hand froze in midair.

"...Sonoko. Be honest with me now."

"Hmm?"

"This is just out of pity for me since I didn't receive any chocolates, isn't it?"

"Akki, how could you say something that terrible to your comrade!? I told you, didn't I?"

"Sonoko. You didn't really think I was the kind of person a lie like that would work on, did you? And besides, my vision might be bad, but that doesn't mean I can't see the traces of the word "Wasshi" on the wrapping you so desperately tried to erase. Look, the wrapping paper is even worn out in that place."

Sonoko stood silent for a few moments, then with a worried expression began:

"...Akki, I'm sorry, but I couldn't-"

"But you know."

Sekka interrupted Sonoko's words... And took the chocolate out of her hands, with her expression lightened up.

"I don't mind it. Even if it's just out of pity, I don't mind that at all. I mean, that just means there's someone around who's willing to pity me, right? I'm happy enough with just that."

That's right. With how blessed Sekka was with her current surroundings, she forgot how precious that very simple fact itself was. There were people who cared about her. They thought of her as an important friend and part of the team. Being thought of as someone special? Luxury. The fact she could even assume someone would think of her as special to them was enough proof of how happy she really was around these people.

"Akki..."

"So I'm not giving this one back!"

Sekka waved the package around.

"Sonoko, thanks a lot. Today was hectic, but really fun. I'm counting on you to keep letting me see more and more of fun things like that, okay?"

Sekka closed her eyes and smiled at Sonoko.

"Comrade?"

And with that, she left the school building.

After returning to her room at the dorm, Sekka decided to unwrap the package.

Underneath the wrapping paper were three large square chocolates, decorated with blue, purple and red glaze. Sekka let out a sigh.

(She spent this much time on personalised chocolate just to give it to a different person entirely... That Sonoko sure can be a massive softie.)

She took a bite out of one the chocolates and savoured the taste.

"...Ahahaha, yeah. This was definitely made by Sonoko. I mean..."

Sekka let out a wry smile.

"...Why else would it be so salty?"