CHAPTER 11 - Forever February (2)

[VALENTINE BITS]

It was Valentine's Day tomorrow.

Since Hayami was occupied with her entrance exam, she did not have the time to think about what to give to her sniping partner. And so for the day before the event, she has been spending twenty-five minutes roaming around the grocery store for suitable chocolate.

She picked up a box of chocolates tied with a red ribbon and embellished with lace and hearts. She quickly set it back. There was no way that she would give a honmei chocolate. Although what she felt for him was 'special', it was not to the extent that what she wanted to convey was romantic.

She wandered around further until she stumbled upon the candy section. Her eyes were scouring every item on display when one caught her attention.

It somehow reminded her of the pellets they used in the assassination. It was not grandiose but not thoughtless either. All she needed was a simple one that would much or less show how much she admired and respected the recipient for what they have been through together in the assassination.

This compact chocolate, fused with an idea, satisfied all of her conditions. Clutching it in her hand, she knew exactly that this was it.

When the next day had arrived, she went towards him after class and told him that she has something to give to him on the shooting grounds. Upon going there, Chiba remained standing on the ground as he kept his eyes on her, waiting for her.

While flaunting the chocolate bits in her hand, she said, "Let's make a bet. If you're able to hit the targets using these bits, I'll give you the rest."

She, then, slotted in several chocolates into the magazine before handing it to him. "So what do you say?" she challenged with a small smirk.

Thrusting the magazine into the pistol, Chiba replied, "I'm in."

***

After dropping his bag onto the floor, he lurched himself to his bed and lifted the chocolate bits to the ceiling. The words she told him when she had flung the chocolate at him rung inside his head:

["I really respect you. Let's continue to get along from here on out."]

He was happy to receive something from her and that she, too, wanted to be with him longer. But for some reason, he still felt lacking in her pragmatic phrase.

'What am I expecting? A confession from her?'

He ran his thumb across the container and opened it as he brought it low towards him. Then he munched on a few bits and closed the lid before letting his arms fall to his sides.

He now knew what to do after their graduation. On White Day.