(no subject)

[aisususu]

[this isn't the first time she's made chocolate.

her first year, she hadn't been old enough yet to fully understand what was going on. she had heard "Valentine's day," and felt a jumble of things that had eventually solidified into "give the people you love chocolate," and while she had known what "love" was she hadn't yet learned that there were different kinds. that misunderstanding had ended in a large mess in the kitchen and nearly everyone who worked in the lab receiving chocolate that by some miracle was at least edible, if a bit squishy and far too sweet.

she hadn't made chocolate at all her second year or third year; somewhere after her first she'd learned the difference between giri-choco and honmei-choco, and when Valentine's rolled around again, she'd been too embarrassed by that first mistake to try and make either.

by the time she'd turned four, though, it had occurred to her that maybe, someday, there might be someone she'd want to make honmei-choco for, and that if she wanted to have any hope of her gift (or feelings) being returned she'd better not mess it up. so that year the entire staff got chocolate again, and if the people she loved best noticed that what she had given them was of somewhat higher quality than the rest, nobody said anything.

and now she's assembling all her ingredients again, the day before her fifth Valentine's day, and all she can think is I am so, so glad I practiced, because I was right.]

Comments

[miraculousfuture]

Hehe, thanks! You too!

Is that my chocolate~?

[aisususu]

—aaah, Mikuo's greedy! You've probably been getting chocolate all day.

[miraculousfuture]

Well, what'm I supposed to think when a pretty girl runs up to me on Valentine's holding a package?

[aisususu]

[...how can I stay tsun when you flatter me like that ./\\\. shoving it at him, blushing a little]

W-well, you could at least be a little less grabby...

[miraculousfuture]

Aaah, my bad. Thanks, Kaiko.

[opening it :3]

[aisususu]

...you're welcome.

[t-trying not to be too obvious about how gooey she just went inside and failing miserably

—wow, that is some classy chocolate. it's a neat little arrangement of chocolate-dipped strawberries and what look like truffles, all of them drizzled in stripes of white and pink]

[miraculousfuture]

[I just want to squish you all the time

... whoa, that is some classy chocolate. Mikuo makes no attempt whatsoever to keep the awed look off his face.]

Uwaaah, it's so nice... Did you make this yourself, Kaiko?

[aisususu]

[SO PLEASED]

M-mmm! I like doing things like this, and, well, there's not much point in making things for- for other people if you're not gonna do your best with it.

[miraculousfuture]

[the way she says that almost sounds like... nah, this isn't giri-choco. he chides himself inwardly for the nanosecond of doubt. it's way too classy, and she's not acting like a girl giving giri-choco.

though if it were giri-choco, he'd love to see what her honmei-choco looks like.]

D'you make stuff this nice for all the boys?

[... but he can't help teasing her :'D even if it's a little mean]

[aisususu]

[...HUFF. that hits just a little too close to home; her memory is such that her first year's mistake is still fresh enough to smart]

You don't see me bringing chocolate to Suiga-san, do you?

[of course, she wouldn't even bring him giri-choco. she still hasn't forgiven him yet.]

[miraculousfuture]

[... note to self: stop being mean to the girl you like. REIN IN THOSE TROLLISH TENDENCIES, MIKUO]

Eheh, no, I guess I don't.

[kisses her on the cheek] Thanks, Kaiko. It looks really good! I'll get you something really nice for White Day~

[aisususu]

[fdjk

akjshfghs

kgdaldgjhaskjdh bringing one hand up to the spot he kissed, stunned speechless for a good few seconds]

—a-aah! Um, y-y-you don't have to do anything like that, i-it's fine, really...

[miraculousfuture]

[is he forgiven? :D?

winks]

But that's what boys do on White Day! They give presents back to the girls they like~

so many overdramatic teenage feelings, oh no

[aisususu]

[she doesn't say what she's thinking: that the kiss was enough of a present, because she feels strongly enough about it and about him that she'll likely be able to remember it clearly for however long she'll live.

(because it was more than she'd ever expected to have, sometimes, when she let herself think about it too much.)

instead, she... doesn't quite flinch at the word "like." she does, however, go suddenly quiet.]

A— aah.

[miraculousfuture]

[aw not even flirty teasing? okay, fine. serious Mikuo mode is on. reaching up to touch her face gently]

... I mean it, y'know. I like you.

[aisususu]

[blinking at him, expression still torn and uncertain, before what he said sinks in

in a small voice] ...really...?

[miraculousfuture]

Yeah. You're cute, and fun to talk to. It makes me happy when you're around. I like you.

[aisususu]

[ ...is that a confession?

... i-it's nowhere near as dramatic or romantic as she had sometimes dreamed about... but it's genuine, and, well... it's him, in a way she doesn't think something more flowery would have been.

...it's also painful. she swallows, suddenly dry mouthed, and drops her gaze as she fumbles with the lace on one of her wrists]

I... me, too. B-but... I'm not- I'm not normal, s-so... It wouldn't work well, and that— that isn't fair. T-to you.

[miraculousfuture]

... hey.

[strokes her cheek lightly with his knuckles]

I don't care if you're "normal" or not. I just like you. It's not like I don't know where you came from, y'know?

I mean... if you really think it wouldn't work, then okay, but... if you're just scared I won't like you anymore 'cause you're weird, then you're wrong. Okay?

[aisususu]

[making a soft noise stuck somewhere between distress and pleasure and scrunching her nose up, half-shutting her eyes before catching herself]

It's not... um. ...I j-just... I want you to be happy, a-and... I don't know if you'd stay happy with- with me. The- the things that make me different... i-it might get tiring, after a while, to try to- to work around them.

I-I like you, so... I don't want to be a burden, like that.

[miraculousfuture]

An' what if I don't mind? What if I think it'd be worth it?

It's not really like anyone's totally normal. Everyone's got some problems, some things that are kinda weird, that you've gotta work around. That's just what it is, bein' in a relationship with another person.

[aisususu]

[...worth it? he really thinks...?

...

tentatively reaching out to catch at the hem of his shirt]

Then... i-if Mikuo-san is willing to try... um, I-I want to, also.

[miraculousfuture]

[his face lights up]

Then, I can be your boyfriend?

[aisususu]

[things she was not expecting: that much enthusiasm. n-nodding mutely]

[miraculousfuture]

[KISSES HER]