The afternoon sun drifts softly through the second-year classroom windows. Kaede Miyazaki sits by the window, chin resting on her palm, while her pen hovers above a half-finished form. The other students chatter about Valentine's plans—bright laughter, teasing voices, and hopeful sighs filling the room like the hum of spring itself.
But Kaede's mind isn't here.
It's with him.
Jousuke Daikuhara.
His voice, his awkward smiles, the way he says her name now—"Kaede."
Every time he calls her that, her heart skips, and she feels like the whole room fades out for a moment.
She lets out a quiet sigh, brushing a strand of her hair back behind her ear. Her reflection in the window looks both determined and nervous.
"Valentine's, huh..." she whispers, tapping her pen lightly. "Why is it so hard to just... give him chocolate?"
From her seat, she can see the school courtyard. First-year students cross in pairs, laughing, holding small gift boxes, practicing their courage ahead of the big day. Kaede smiles faintly.
She remembers the last time she and Jousuke talked—in the corridor, after class. How he smiled, shyly dodging her question about what he liked for Valentine's. He didn't reject her feelings… but he didn't accept them either. And somehow, that uncertainty made her fall even deeper.
The door slides open.
"Kaede?"
It's Aria Poku, the student council president.
Kaede quickly straightens up. "Ah, Poku. Good afternoon."
"You look spaced out." Poku says, setting down a stack of files. "Still thinking about that certain first-year, huh?"
Kaede nearly chokes. "W–What?! N-No! I'm just—filling the student budget sheet!"
Poku smirks, leaning against the window. "Sure you are. You've been erasing the same number for the past ten minutes."
Kaede looks down—and true enough, she's been rubbing out the same digit until the paper's nearly worn through. Her face flushes deep red. "Tch... you're cruel sometimes, President."
"Cruel? No, no. I'm just observing my hardworking vice president." Poku's tone softens. "You like him a lot, don't you?"
Kaede lowers her eyes. "...Yeah."
There's a silence between them. The kind that holds warmth rather than awkwardness.
"Then give him something." Poku says gently. "Chocolate, or even just a letter. If you keep waiting, someone else will step in."
Kaede's pen stills. "I know. But it's not that simple."
She thinks of Leah and Rika. The quiet glances, the way they hover around Jousuke. She isn't blind—she can feel their feelings too.
And though she wants to be selfish, Kaede isn't cruel enough to ignore their hearts.
"He's kind." she murmurs. "And that's exactly why it's so hard. I know he doesn't want to hurt anyone."
Poku nods thoughtfully. "Then maybe... you should make it easier for him."
Kaede looks up. "What do you mean?"
"Tell him how you feel properly. Not half-joking, not shyly. Be honest. If you're really the one meant for him, it'll show."
Kaede smiles faintly. "You make it sound simple."
"It is," Poku replies. "You just have to be brave."
-STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICE-
-AFTER SCHOOL-
Kaede stays behind, pretending to organize documents, though she's really just delaying her walk home.
The campus is quiet now—sunlight dimming, painting the hallway gold. She's alone in the student council office, save for the ticking clock and the faint sound of basketballs bouncing outside.
On the table beside her is a small box—white, neatly tied with a pink ribbon.
Homemade chocolate. Not perfect, but made with care.
She opens the lid, revealing heart-shaped pieces, uneven but sweet. She bites her lip nervously, thinking of how she'd hand it to him.
Would he smile? Would he blush?
Or would he politely accept it, unsure what to say?
She exhales, setting the box down. "Maybe I should wait. Just one more day."
The door creaks open.
"Kaede?"
She freezes. That voice—
It's him.
Jousuke stands there, school bag slung over his shoulder, wearing his usual soft expression. "Poku-senpai said you might still be here."
Kaede quickly stands up, trying to hide the chocolate box behind a folder. "Ah! Jousuke—uh, Daikuh—no, Jousuke! What are you doing here?"
He scratches the back of his neck sheepishly. "I forgot my phone charger earlier… and uh, she said you were staying late. So I thought I'd walk you home."
Her heart jumps. "Walk me... home?"
He nods. "Yeah. It's getting dark."
Kaede laughs nervously, avoiding eye contact. "You're too nice, Jousuke. You know that?"
"Maybe," he says, smiling faintly. "But I like walking with you."
Her heart pounds.
She tries to speak, but her voice catches. "J-Jousuke, can I... ask something?"
"Sure."
She grips the folder tighter. "Back then... when I said I liked you. You didn't really answer."
He hesitates. "Yeah..."
Kaede looks down, her bangs shadowing her eyes. "I'm not forcing you to, I just—wanted to know if... there's even a chance."
Jousuke's expression softens. "Kaede, I—"
He pauses, searching for the right words. "You mean a lot to me. But... I don't want to say something I don't mean just because it's Valentine's soon."
She blinks up at him. "You're... being careful."
He smiles awkwardly. "I just don't want to hurt anyone."
"Even if it hurts you?" she asks quietly.
He looks at her for a long moment, then exhales. "Maybe."
Kaede smiles faintly, stepping closer. "That's unfair, you know. You make everyone fall for you, and then you apologize for being kind."
Jousuke laughs softly. "You're exaggerating."
"Am I?" she teases, her tone gentle but full of emotion. "You're really bad at noticing things sometimes."
He meets her eyes—really meets them.
There's warmth there, and something else.
Something that could be love, if given time.
The silence stretches between them, filled only by the beating of Kaede's heart.
"Hey, Jousuke." she says softly.
"Yeah?"
"Do you like chocolates?"
He tilts his head, confused. "Uhm, yeah? I guess?"
Her lips curve into a small, knowing smile. "Good. That's all I needed to know."
Before he can ask why, Kaede grabs her bag, hiding the box deeper inside. "Let's go home. It's cold."
"Sure." he says, following her out the door.
The streetlights flicker on one by one as they walk side by side. The winter air bites at their fingers, and Kaede occasionally glances at him from the corner of her eye.
They talk about small things—schoolwork, teachers, the manga Sakamoto lent him. But beneath her calm exterior, Kaede's mind races with thoughts.
I'll tell him soon.
On Valentine's Day... I'll tell him properly.
Jousuke suddenly looks at her. "You're smiling."
She blinks. "Eh?"
"You were smiling just now." he says, grinning a little. "Thinking about something?"
Kaede laughs lightly. "Maybe. Maybe someone."
"Should I be jealous?" he jokes.
She stops walking for a second, her eyes locking on his. "Maybe you should."
The words hang in the air—teasing, yet sincere.
And for a moment, Jousuke doesn't know how to respond.
They continue walking, their hands brushing once, twice—almost intertwining but never fully.
The night sky above them is clear, stars glittering faintly.
Kaede looks up and whispers, half to herself, "Valentine's Day... hurry up already."