Chapter 15: Ani;Zero, Valentine's day!

Scene 1 Action!: The Ultimate Anime Guessing Game Begins!

Kaoru sat at the kotatsu, sipping his hot tea, while Kaede, Aya, and Takeshi all gathered around. It was the calm before the storm the moment before chaos erupted.

"Alright!" Takeshi smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Since we're all connoisseurs of anime, let's test our true otaku knowledge. Guess the anime. but only from quotes and descriptions."

Kaede crossed her arms. "I better win. Otherwise.. I'll make big Brother kaoru treat me to strawberry parfaits for a week!"

Aya, who was mostly here to observe, sighed. "Fine. But keep it civil."

Kaoru grinned. "Fools! You dare challenge the Abyssal Lord of Arcane Knowledge? I shall eviscerate you all with my-"

Aya shoved a cushion into his face. "Shut up and start."

Kaoru pulled out his phone and began. "First quote: 'I am mad scientist! Sonvuab****!'"

Takeshi immediately slammed the table. "******;GATE!"

Kaede frowned. "Wait, that's the time-travel anime where everything goes horribly wrong, right?"

Aya nodded. "Yes. And the protagonist wears a lab coat and never sleeps."

Takeshi smirked. "My man the goat himself! Oka** ***tarou. What a legend."

Kaoru cleared his throat. "Alrighty.. next one: 'I will save you. Again, and again, and again. No matter how many times it takes.'"

Kaede blinked. "Wait… isn't that?"

Aya leaned forward. "That's **;Zero. barusu confession."

Kaoru nodded. "Correct! barusu really went through beyond hell just to save one girl."

Takeshi shrugged. "I still think he should've chosen the knight."

Kaede smirked. "That's because you like tsunderes."

Takeshi pointed dramatically. "AND WHAT ABOUT IT?!"

Kaoru laughed before moving to the next one. "Okay.. this should be easy. 'No matter where you are, I will find you. And I will always love you.' or.. 'its over.' "

Aya raised an eyebrow. "That sounds… overly romantic and sad."

Kaede gasped. "Wait! That's from The Quintessential ***********!"

Kaoru grinned. "Bingo! That's from one of the sisters' confessions!"

Aya sighed. "Honestly, I don't get how he took so long to choose one girl."

Kaoru coughed. "Uh… moving on! Next quote: 'Ahh! HEALTH ME HEALTH ME!'"

Takeshi and Kaoru shouted at the same time. "GIN**MA!"

Kaede blinked. "That's way too obvious."

Kaoru chuckled. "Yeah. but I had to include it."

Aya crossed her arms. "Honestly.. ***toki is just Kaoru if he was actually cool."

Kaoru gasped. "Betrayal!"

Takeshi laughed. "Next one next one!"

Kaoru grinned. "Alrighty. Final one: 'If you win, you live. If you lose, you die. If you don't fight, you can't win.'"

Kaede immediately jumped up. "ATTACK ** *****!"

Aya sighed. "That one was too easy."

Kaoru nodded. "Yeah. but I had to end on a classic."

Kaede smirked. "Alright, who lost?"

Takeshi crossed his arms. "Aya only got one right."

Aya blinked. "I wasn't even trying."

Kaoru grinned. "Doesn't matter. That means you get the penalty game."

Aya's expression darkened. "I refuse."

Kaede grinned mischievously. "You have to say something embarrassing."

Aya's eye twitched. "Like what?"

Takeshi smirked. "How about confessing something to Kaoru?"

Aya and Kaoru froze.

Kaede gasped. "Ooooooh! Good one!"

Aya quickly turned to Kaoru, her expression cold as ever. "I hate you."

Kaoru held his chest. "omagawd.. My heart…"

Kaede and Takeshi burst into laughter.

In reality Aya couldn't confess at all and instinctively insulted him.

---

Scene 2 Action!!: An Unexpected Invitation!

After the chaotic game, everyone finally calmed down.

Kaoru stretched. "Man.. I really needed that break. But now it's back to work."

Aya looked at him. "How's your romance manga coming along?"

Kaoru scratched his cheek. "Well… it's weird."

Kaede frowned. "Weird?"

Kaoru sighed. "I mean, I'm writing romance. but… it kinda feels familiar."

Aya raised an eyebrow. "Familiar how?"

Kaoru shrugged. "Like… I don't know. It's just too easy to write. Almost like…"

Kaede's eyes widened. "Wait. WAIT."

Kaoru blinked. "Huh?"

Kaede pointed at him. "Big bro. don't tell me… is your manga just you and Aya in disguise?!"

Kaoru and Aya immediately stiffened.

Takeshi smirked. "Oh damn.. She's got a point."

Aya shook her head. "That's absurd."

Kaoru laughed nervously. "Y-Yeah! No way!"

Kaede squinted. "Hmmm…"

Before she could press further, a notification popped up on Kaoru's phone. He clicked it. Then froze.

Aya noticed. "What is it?"

Kaoru turned the screen to her. "It's an invitation… to a Valentine's Day manga event."

Kaede gasped. "WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. HOLD ON. VALENTINE'S?!"

Takeshi smirked. "Oh~~ this is gonna be good."

Aya frowned. "So? You just go. sign some autographs. and leave."

Kaoru swallowed. "No. it says… 'Bring a partner for the Couple Manga Challenge.'"

Kaede immediately burst out laughing. "BUAHAHA! Brother Kaoru has to find a partner?!"

Kaoru's face paled. "I-I don't have a partner!"

Takeshi smirked. "sheeshh.. Sounds like you're in trouble buddy."

Aya crossed her arms. "Just don't go."

Kaede smirked, pointing at Aya. "Or… he could just bring you."

Aya immediately stiffened. "What?"

Kaoru panicked. "I mean-"

Kaede grinned. "It makes perfect sense! Aya. you're his editor! You already work together.. and you totally don't have feelings for each other, riiiiight~~?"

Aya's expression remained unreadable. "…Shut up."

Kaoru looked at the invitation again. "Crap. It says I need to RSVP by tonight."

Kaede gasped dramatically. "THE DEADLINE IS NOW, BIG BRO! WHAT WILL YOU DO?!"

Kaoru groaned. "I don't know!"

Takeshi laughed. "Dude, just ask Aya already. It's not like you're proposing."

Kaoru turned to Aya nervously. "…Aya?"

Aya sighed. "This is stupid.."

Kaede smirked. "So you're saying no?"

Aya glared at her. "…I didn't say that."

Kaoru's eyes widened. "So… you'll go?"

Aya groaned. "I don't care. Just send the RSVP before you miss it."

Kaoru quickly sent his response. exhaling in relief. "Okay. Done."

Kaede giggled. "Aya's gonna be Kaoru's Valentine~~"

Aya shot her a deadly glare. "Say that again.. and I'm throwing you out the window."

Kaede burst out laughing.

Takeshi clapped Kaoru on the shoulder. "Well.. buddy. looks like you technically have a Valentine."

Kaoru groaned. "Why does it feel like I just got tricked into this?"

Kaede smirked. "Because you did."

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Scene 3 Action!: The Narrator Finally Wakes Up!

As the chaos settled. a deep voice finally spoke tiredly:

"And sooo... our dear protagonist unknowingly sets himself up for the most awkward Valentine's event of his life. What cringe worthy moments will unfold? Will Aya kill Kaede before the event even starts?!"

Kaoru blinked. "Wait.. where the hell have you been?"

The Narrator yawned. "Sleeping. You guys were ****ing too loud."

Kaede smirked. "Too bad. You missed all the fun. wait a minute.. We aren't suppose to cuss in this chapter right?!" even though the words are censored..

Kaoru sighed. "I have a bad feeling about this…"

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End of Chapter Fifteen!

(All Credits of References I've did are to the authors who made these amazing animes, mangas, light novels, these animes I've referenced are very obvious.)