Chapter 112: Valentine's Day After School
After finishing a hectic day of classes, I got ready and headed to club activities.
Actually, I received a few chocolates...
...It wasn't directly, but they were left on my desk or snuck into my locker.
Three of them, besides Airi-senpai and Nagase-san.
...With a letter enclosed, sorry but I don't really know those girls. I want to handle it politely, keeping the current distance.
I don't have time to get distracted right now.
...By the way, I absolutely can't stand girls who put chocolates in shoe boxes.
Since entering high school, club activities have been the most relaxing and fun for me.
The practices are tough, but moving my body and feeling myself getting stronger is what calms me most.
Today, after another grueling practice, the managers gave us a treat!
Airi: "All the managers made these together!"
Apparently, Airi-senpai and the five basketball club managers each split up and made them individually for us.
Koji: "Oh! My second one! Kousuke! This is my second one!"
"...Good for you, Koji."
Koji: "Kousuke, didn't you get any?"
"...I just got one from Airi-senpai earlier."
Airi: "That's right, we ran into each other on the way to school, right? I already gave it to you, didn't I?"
Was that playful wink a secret sign because my chocolate was clearly bigger than the ones Koji and the other members got?
Airi: "This one is a chocolate I made, packed with all sorts of things that are good for your body! ...But if you eat too much, it'll hit you later, so everyone only gets one, okay?"
...It was super sweet and smelled really strong, but my fatigue vanished instantly... I wonder what she put in it?
Recently, Airi-senpai keeps saying,
Airi: "Your big sister will take care of you!"
"It's hard to watch you as your sister, you know?"
"Can't you listen to what your big sister says?"
...She's started insisting on being our big sister.
Of course, that's just toward us first-years.
"...Big sis...!"
"I'm about to awaken to some dangerous preferences...!"
"Is this some kind of eroge?"
Koji: "Big sis! Big sis!"
Everyone's getting more and more twisted, but feeling Airi-senpai's affection, the first-year members are getting way too attached and acting weird.
But there's a jerk who keeps targeting our big sister...!
Sahori: "...Why are you blocking my calls, Airi!"
Not again.
Sahori: "These guys don't need any chocolates, right? ...So? Where's mine?"
Airi-senpai bristled (cute) and glared at Sahori.
Airi: "...I have no intention of giving you chocolates anymore, senpai. We're in club activities, please leave."
It looks tough for our kind senpai to speak harshly to someone.
But Airi-senpai rejects Sahori!
The basketball club members who adore Airi-senpai boo at Sahori!
Airi-senpai! Say it! Everyone cheers her on!
With her face bright red, Airi-senpai
Airi: "Get out!"
Muttering curses, Sahori went next door to the girls' basketball club, tried talking to Nagase-san, and then quickly left, looking dejected.
We first-years felt Airi-senpai's love, and honestly hope Sahori just graduates and leaves already. With that feeling,
"Airi is our big sister! Sahori, get lost!"
became our motto.
After club activities, Airi-senpai came running over,
Airi: "Kousuke-kun! ...Your chocolate is a little more special and fancier than the others, okay? So don't show anyone. And don't tell, either, okay? ...It's our secret, just between us!"
"Ufufu!" She pressed her trembling lips with a finger and smiled mischievously.
Is that really okay?
Airi: "Kousuke-kun, among all my troublesome little brothers, you're the most special! And you're the one working the hardest, so this is a reward from your big sister♪"
"See you!" She waved and headed home.
When I returned to the clubroom to change,
Captain: "Airi-manager's chocolate... so precious!"
Koji: "...I got two chocolates this year..."
Club member: "If you feel sorry for me, give me chocolate!"
Club member: "I love the female managers!"
Led by the Captain and Koji, the members were so moved by the chocolates that they started a weird gathering.
(...Sure enough, just as senpai said, I can't show or tell anyone.)
Feeling uneasy at this suspicious gathering that looked like a black mass, I headed home alone.
And so, Valentine's Day came to an end.
☆ ☆ ☆
Today's Ai-san.
Osada: "I don't believe in obligatory chocolates, you know?"
A few days ago, Osada Ai instantly shot down a boy in class who jokingly asked for obligatory chocolates.
She's a reliable big-sister type, so even the boys who tried asking with a glimmer of hope just gave up with a resigned face...
Osada: "Obligatory chocolates are just a conspiracy by the chocolate companies, right?"
Osada Ai, a slightly scary girl with a bit of a yankee-gal vibe, shrugged her shoulders.
Gal: "There's no way Ai-chan would give out obligatory chocolates, right?"
Gal 2: "Totally true (lol)"
Valentine's Day, lunchtime.
Ai: "Ryo-kun! Here! It's Valentine's chocolate and chocolate-flavored protein!"
*At this school, there were two girls who gave chocolate-flavored protein on Valentine's Day.
Ryo accepted it with a fresh smile, looking happy.
Ryo: "Oh! Thanks again this year, Ren?"
Ai: "...I like doing it, so it's fine!"
She turned bright red, looking every bit the cute girl.
Ryo: "Ren's chocolates are always tasty!"
Ai: "Geez! You're teasing me! ...Even if you praise me, all you'll get is, um, k-k-kisses!"
Squeezing her eyes shut, Osada Ai (16), in full-on girlish mode, makes her boldest move yet—even though she hasn't actually kissed him!
If the boys saw this expression on Osada-san, her popularity would skyrocket, but she only shows this side to Ryo.
Ryo took Ai's hand and, examining it closely, asked if she burned herself, making Ai blush and look away.
Ryo: "Well, thanks for the chocolate!"
Ai: "Yeah! Good luck at club, Ryo-kun!"
Osada Ai doesn't even consider obligatory chocolates.
She's single-minded for Ryo-kun! She'd never do anything to cause a misunderstanding.
With a beaming smile, Ai headed back to her classroom.
In front of the classroom.
Glares
As she approached the classroom, Osada Ai's eyes turned sharp (lol).
Everyone has a role to play in a group.