*FEBRUARY 13TH*
*SHIZUKU'S ROOM - OSAKA RESIDENCE - KAMAKURA - KANAGAWA PREFECTURE*
*P.O.V - SHIZUKU*
Hmm...
SHIZUKU: "How should I best display this 'flair'? How do I make it unique to me but also like something from a school idol?"
HONOKA: "You have to deliver your Valentine's chocolates with love, huh? Okay, I'll give it a go!"
AYUMU: "Do you think you can do it, Honoka?"
HONOKA: "Yeah! I put a lot of effort into preparing for this chocolate exchange party, so I don't want to be sloppy about handing it over.
I'll try doing it how Nico suggested!"
NICO: "I'm expecting great things from you, Honoka!"
HONOKA: "I talked with Ayumu about how when someone gives you chocolate, it's the sentiment that really makes you happy."
The sentiment?
HONOKA: "So we wrote letters to make sure we could express those emotions properly."
MARI: "Ooh, a love letter from Honoka! I wanna hear it!"
HONOKA: "It's n-not as serious as a love letter! *Ahem*
Thank you for everything! I made these chocolates and filled them with my gratitude.
I hope we'll stay together for a long time in the future, even when I'm an old granny... Though maybe it's a bit early to worry about that!
These are for you. I love you so much... Here you go!"
Whoa...
RUBY: "Wow, that was incredible! A real love letter!"
HONOKA: "I guess it kinda was one, huh?" *Giggle*
RUBY: "I made a really big heart-shaped chocolate with Shizuku."
SHIZUKU: "It's to show you all how much we love you! Please enjoy it!"
AYUMU: "Thank you! I'm happy to he getting a heart-shaped chocolate!"
NICO: "See, you guys can do it! We worked super hard to make this an incredible party. Didn't we, Mari?"
MARI: "Yes! We went with a chocolate fondue. Pick whatever ingredients you like, douse them in chocolate, and enjoy!"
HONOKA: "You set up a chocolate fondue fountain in here?!"
I was curious as to why Mari arrived here by helicopter with some men in black suits.
But when they brought the table spread and fountain out, it all started to make sense.
NICO: *Giggle* "Please, go find the perfect chocolate to suit your own palate!"
MARI: "We brought lots of fruit and nuts too. The combinations are limitless!
I feel like the bonds between us have the same infinite possibility as the chocolate fondue...or something like that. Don't you agree?
Let's all cook up the happiest, loveliest time we can together, each and every day!"
SHIZUKU: "There really are infinite combinations!"
RUBY: "Hmm, what fruit should I pick?"
HONOKA: "It looks so pretty with all the different colors! This is a really cute and stylish way to have chocolate."
MARI: "Right? We had a lot of discussions about what kind of chocolate best represented us."
AYUMU: "It's really interesting to see how different we are, both in how we prepared and presented our chocolate."
SHIZUKU: "It's incredibly important to express your own true feelings, isn't it? I learned a lot from you, Nico. Thank you very much!"
NICO: *Giggle* "You're welcome! We all got to exchange our chocolates with lots of love."
*Chuckle*
I'm feeling more confident about the big day tomorrow.
All of these feelings I have will finally be known.
I just hope...
I just hope he says yes.
...
*MEANWHILE*
*SHIORIKO'S ROOM - MIFUNE MANOR - AOYAMA - TOKYO*
*P.O.V SWITCH - SHIORIKO*
Please... Pick up the phone...
SATSUKI: "President Mifune!"
SHIORIKO: "Hello, Satsuki."
SATSUKI: "How have you been? Did you get the flowers we sent?"
SHIORIKO: "I did, thank you. My condition is improving. However, I wanted to check in to see how the Student Council is doing.
Akihiko is currently running things as Vice-President, correct?"
SATSUKI: "Yes, but... It's not easy to say..."
SHIORIKO: "Hm?"
SATSUKI: "Ever since he was put in temporary charge, he hasn't said a word."
SHIORIKO: "What?!"
SATSUKI: "He hasn't asked me or Uzuki for help at all. Every day he comes in and works through a large stack of papers. Then he leaves, all without saying anything."
SHIORIKO: "I see..."
SATSUKI: "He hasn't spent any time with the School Idol Club either. Please get well soon, President Mifune, your school needs you."
SHIORIKO: "Thank you, Satsuki."
*HANG UP*
He's not saying anything, and he's pushing his work limits without asking for help...
Perhaps I was wrong.
I don't think that Akihiko is focused on PROTECTING himself.
But rather...