"Yare yare!"
The chocolate that Riko had thrown landed precisely in Tendou's hand. With a prompt from the short-tailed cat, he decisively turned on the bullet comments and saw Riko's entire series of conflicting thoughts and actions.
From initial determination, to self-doubt, to eventual discouragement—Tendou had witnessed the whole thing.
Then, he silently went downstairs and leaned against the wall, gently catching the weight of that heartfelt chocolate.
At that moment, the comment section exploded in joy.
『Woof woof woof, delicious, love this, more please!』
『Tendou is so sweet, I want a boyfriend like him too!』
『This is sweet enough to rot my teeth, but I still want more!』
『Just get married already! I'll chip in double for the wedding gift!』
『Tendou x Riko locked in forever!』
『Ahh, are they finally going to confess?!』
『He finally said the ultimate line!』
Romantic scenes like this are rare in sports stories. Experienced viewers know: if you want romance, go watch the Monogatari series.
But precisely because it's rare, it raises expectations.
Just like now—when Tendou caught Riko's chocolate—it was like dropping a depth charge in a koi pond.
BOOM.
"Even though we all wanted Sakuragi and Haruko to get together back in the day, isn't your reaction a bit much?"
Tendou unwrapped the box and noticed the chocolate was vaguely heart-shaped.
Either she messed up making it, or she was full of inner turmoil while preparing it.
Soon after, morning exercises ended.
Riko returned to the classroom, looking listless and visibly downcast.
Then Tendou walked in holding the exact chocolate she had prepared with such care.
Her heart skipped like a deer in panic.
As soon as he looked her way, she turned her head quickly, not daring to meet his eyes.
How did he even end up with it?
Could this really be fate?
Just like in that movie Tendou once recommended to her—the ultimate divine arrangement?
But... how did he know it was handmade by her?
She started spiraling with anxiety, tracing little circles with her fingers.
Tendou sat down with a sigh and said, "Next time, don't throw things away so casually."
He knew!
And he kept it!
Her heart pounded even faster.
After all, Tendou had casually tossed aside all the other chocolates like trash—except hers, which he held onto.
"Take the week off from your part-time job," he added.
"Huh?"
Riko finally worked up the courage to turn toward him, confused.
"Let's go out."
A date already?
『Next episode! Hurry up, next episode! I want to see the wedding!』
『Where's the fast-forward button? I want to skip straight to the proposal!』
『Writers, be human! Why does this feel like a cliffhanger?』
Tendou turned off the comment section with a swipe—then saw Riko bashfully nod her head.
For such a holiday, accepting someone's honmei choco—chocolate from a crush—marks the beginning of a three-stage romance.
...
Later that day at the Teikō gym
Aomine and the others were practicing.
He didn't mind practicing on holidays; even if the coach didn't ask, he'd go to the street courts and find people to challenge.
But something was bugging him today—Tendou wasn't there.
Usually, the one who trained the hardest was Tendou. Aomine had been driven to push himself harder, just to keep up.
Seeing Tendou missing felt like he had lost his rival, his source of motivation.
"You don't know? Tendou went on a date with Riko."
"Huh? A date? Since when are they together?"
"You should be asking when they weren't," someone replied dryly.
Sometimes, even Nijimura Shūzō felt Aomine could be adorably dense.
He pulled up their class group chat for Aomine to see.
"Hey Nijimura, is it true that the guy from the basketball team, Tendou, is dating someone?"
"Dating? Weren't those two together from day one? Riko literally declared him as her boyfriend when school started and turned down every other guy."
"Seriously? Then what about all that drama they had a while back?"
"I heard they got married."
"WHAT?! They're just middle schoolers!"
"Apparently she got pregnant, and they had to do it for honor."
"NANI?!"
That last shout came from Aomine himself—loud enough to shake the gym.
"Riko's pregnant?!" he gasped, stepping back in shock.
"You're not seriously buying that rumor, are you?" someone sighed.
"Clearly it's just a joke."
"Aomine, you really are the densest of us all."
"I take offense to that!"
Aomine clutched his chest, breathing a sigh of relief. He had almost believed it.
"So… they're really dating?"
"Bound to happen eventually. What's with the shocked face?"
Of course he was shocked.
He always thought he and Tendou were kindred spirits.
And now that guy gave up this ball… for that one?
I, Aomine Daiki, officially declare—I can't vibe with Tendou anymore.
Momoi rolled her eyes.
They were both girls, but why was Riko so damn lucky?
Around her, the rest of the Teikō boys, having digested all the gossip, doubled down on practice with renewed energy.
...
Meanwhile, at the amusement park
Tendou and Riko were strolling around.
Tendou had some dating experience, but not much. He figured rather than the usual "dinner + movie" combo, amusement parks or zoos were more fun.
Thankfully, Riko liked this kind of date.
In the past, because she was a Star Plasma Vessel, she had been targeted for assassination—there were so many places she couldn't go.
Her first time at an aquarium had been thanks to Gojou Satoru and the others, and that was when she first felt truly free.
Today at the amusement park, what she felt was happiness.
Looking at Tendou already exhausted after just a short while, she suddenly had the urge to act spoiled.
"Tendou."
"What?"
"I'm thirsty."
"There's water here."
"I want juice."
"You're so annoying."
"Go buy it for me!"
Tendou sighed and went off to get it. Watching his back as he walked away, Riko smiled dreamily.
"So this… is what it feels like to be an ordinary girl acting cute with her boyfriend."
Right now, her heart felt completely full.