(Third person POV)
When it came to February 14th, it was Valentine’s Day. That was something everyone knew: a day to give chocolates to your crush and express your feelings. There was also the concept of “friend chocolates”, but the focus was still on giving chocolates to your special someone.
A week before February 14th, Chifuyu Hitsuji, Chiaki Hitsuji, Chinatsu Hitsuji, and Chiharu Hitsuji were all busy preparing to give chocolates to their friends in the class and to Kaito.
“Oooh, I’m thinking of giving handmade chocolates made from cocoa,” Chiaki said.
“No way, that’s impossible for you,” Chinatsu responded.
Chiaki mentioned making chocolates from cocoa, but Chinatsu gave her a skeptical look, implying it was impossible for Chiaki.
“No, I could start by growing cocoa beans.”
“Still, it seems impossible. You don’t have the knowledge.”
“If there’s love… maybe there’s a chance.”
“No, there isn’t. Even with love, you can’t grow cocoa in just a week. It won’t even sprout from the seeds.”
“Indeed, Kuku, but with my true power…”
“I can’t deal with this anymore. What about you, Fuyu?” Chinatsu asked.
“Ah, it’s a bit lonely talking like this all by myself…” Chiaki grumbled.
Chinatsu began to talk to Chifuyu, completely ignoring Chiaki. Watching this, Chiaki felt a pang of loneliness as she indulged in her own little Chuunibyou role-play.
“Chifuyu is thinking of making homemade chocolates by melting store-bought chocolate. I mean, making them from cocoa is just impossible,” Chifuyu said.
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s impossible to make them from cocoa,” Chinatsu agreed.
“No, with my true power―”
“What about Haru?”
“Come on, doing this alone is lonely, so won’t you join me….” Chiaki appealed.
Mercilessly Ignoring Chiaki, Chinatsu called out to Chiharu. The latter smiled warmly and took out a certain book.
“I’ve decided to make raw chocolates for the three of you.”
“Haru, are you sure you can even crack an egg?”
“I’ll have Onii-san help me, so I think it’ll be okay.”
“Eeeh? Making the one you’re giving chocolate to help you? What’s the point?”
Chiharu decided to give her beloved sisters homemade chocolates. However, it seemed that Chinatsu had thought it would be best to give them to Kaito first.
“I’ll make them myself… Well, I’ll have Kaito buy the ingredients for me. I’m just a kid after all,” Chinatsu said.
“Same for Chifuyu.”
“As for me! I will grow cocoa—”
“—I think it’s the same for me too,” Chiharu added.
While Chiaki’s goal seemed a bit too high, they each began to contemplate their plans for giving chocolates. Meanwhile, Kaito also pondered whether it might be a good idea to make something for the girls in his own way.
◆◆
Kaito, Chiharu, and Chiaki were heading to the nearby supermarket for some shopping. Meanwhile, Chinatsu and Chifuyu had decided to stay home.
“Kaito, Kaito! I will be giving you chocolate!” Chiaki exclaimed.
“Thanks a lot.”
“That’s why we should buy the ingredients together! You can get chocolate cheaper at the nearby supermarket! I really wanted to make it from cocoa, but Chinatsu told me to stop, so I held myself back! Aren’t I great!?”
“You’re really great.”
“That’s right, isn’t it!?”
Chiaki crossed her arms, praising herself, as they entered the supermarket.
“Chiharu, I’ll hold your hand so you don’t get lost!” Chiaki said.
“Thanks… but I’m more worried about Chiaki, to be honest,” Chiharu added.
Chiharu and Chiaki held hands as Kaito walked in front of them, pushing a shopping cart with a basket inside.
“Ah, we need to buy ingredients for dinner too,” Kaito remarked.
“I want to have hamburgers,” Chiaki said.
“I want stuffed bell peppers,” Chiharu added.
“…Alright, then let’s go with stuffed bell peppers,” Kaito decided.
“Eeeeh?! Are you prioritizing Chiharu over me?” Chiaki protested.
“I’ll make some meatball burger with the leftover mix,” Kaito said.
“Very well, then.”
Kaito placed vegetables, tofu, meat, and various other items in their shopping cart.
“Kaito, we should get this yogurt too. It’s been quite popular lately,” Chiaki suggested.
“I might want to start paying attention to my gut health at my age. Even though I’m still in my early twenties…” Kaito replied.
“I want Onii-san to live a long life, so you should eat it.”
“I agree with Chiharu.”
“…Well, I want Chifuyu, Chinatsu, Chiaki, and Chiharu to live long lives too, so I’ll buy it for all of you.”
“Ooh, Onii-san, you’re so generous.”
“Ooh, I’ll live until I’m two hundred years old,” Chiaki declared.
Observing how similar the two of them were with their enthusiastic Oohs, Kaito continued walking with a smile on his face.
“I’ll melt this chocolate bar and make something delicious for Kaito! Then, we’ll exchange friend chocolates at school, and I’ll exchange mine with Mary.” Chiaki said.
“I’m looking forward to it. I’m also making chocolates for Chiaki.” Kaito said.
“I can’t wait either! White Day is going to be so much fun!”
“Ah, I see. So, it’s confirmed that I’ll be giving double the chocolates. What about you, Chiharu?”
“I’m planning to melt chocolate bars too and make it relatively easily.”
“I see… just please don’t destroy the kitchen.”
“…I won’t.”
When Kaito jokingly mentioned Chiharu’s lack of cooking skills, she gave him a sharp look. Feeling like he might have teased her a bit too much, he decided to play it off as if he didn’t notice.
They continued placing chocolate bars and chocolate spray into their shopping basket.
“Oh, this is the candy Chinatsu mentioned she wanted.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, well, I have no choice but to buy it for her.”
“…She really did say she wanted it, right?”
“Yes!”
Kaito decided to go ahead and purchase some crispy chocolate cookies. After finishing the checkout, they carried their purchases back to the car.
Then,
“Ah, by the way, didn’t Chinatsu mention she’s on a diet? I guess I’ll have to eat the cookies on her behalf!” Chiaki said.
“Well, I guess it can’t be helped,” Kaito replied.
“Yeah, can’t be helped.”
With a munching sound, Chiaki opened the cookie pack and began eating. Chiharu and Kaito both knew that she intended to eat them herself from the beginning.
They couldn’t help but feel sorry for Chinatsu, who had been used as a sacrificial lamb.
◆◆
On the night before February 14th, Chiharu and Kaito were secretly working in the kitchen making chocolates.
“Onii-san, if it gets out that I’m terrible at cooking, it might ruin my dignity as the older sister. So let’s keep this between us, okay…”
“Y-yes.”
Chiharu mentioned this to Kaito as she melted and mixed the chocolate. However, because she was clumsy, the chocolate scattered as she mixed it in circles.
“You’re a bit clumsy.”
“Well, you know… Do you dislike clumsy girls?” Chiharu asked.
“I neither like nor dislike them.”
“Maybe you should try to see the appeal in it,” Chiharu suggested.
“Heeh… Well, even the clumsy Chiharu is cute.”
“It doesn’t make me too happy if it doesn’t come from the heart.”
What do you want me to do, then? I really don’t understand women’s hearts. Time passed, and the homemade chocolate was finally completed. The recipe was simple, but Chiharu kept flipping the chocolate and remaking it, so it took a while.
However, thanks to the extra time spent, it turned out quite well.
“Wow, this looks great,” Kaito said.
“Well, I managed to maintain some dignity this year with this,” Chiharu replied.
She began wrapping the chocolates to present them as Chinatsu, Chiaki, and Chifuyu. It took a bit of time, but she managed to finish the wrapping without any issues.
“…. Well then.”
She said she would give the chocolates to her younger sisters, but there were four wrapped pieces. Out of those, she handed one to Kaito.
“Because you’ve been helping me… Is it considered ‘friend chocolate’? But we’re not friends, so let’s call it ‘Onii-san chocolate’.”
“Thank you. I know you went through quite a bit of trouble to make it. I’ll gladly enjoy it,” Kaito replied.
“In return, I’ll expect you to give me in return four times as much.”
“Forty times it is, then.”
“Alright, if you insist… Well, if I can get that much, I’ll accept it. So, I’ll be expecting that forty-fold return.”
As they shared a quiet laugh together, the clock ticked past midnight, and it was now officially February 14th.
**************
TN: In white day the man who received the chocolate in valentine is supposed to pay back double.
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