Later, after school, Himiko, Tenko, Angie, and Tsumugi were walking together back home. Himiko was quiet as her friends chatted away happily. Angie suddenly turned to Himiko.
"Himiko! You've been very quiet! Is something the matter?" she asked.
"Yeah! After all, tomorrow is Valentine's Day," Tsumugi said with a teasing smile. "Aren't you planning something for you-know-who?"
"No..." Himiko answered quietly. The other three stopped dead in their tracks.
"Himiko, what's wrong?" Tenko asked. "Did that degenerate male say something mean and awful to you?!"
"It doesn't matter," Himiko mumbled. "I just wanna..." She paused as she suddenly realized something. She looked at Angie. "Nyeh?! Angie! I thought you weren't coming home with us after school today!" Angie tilted her head in confusion.
"Huh? Who told you that?" she asked.
"Ko-" Himiko began, then stopped. Did Kokichi lie to her about Angie not being able to walk home from school with her and Tenko? If so, why? Himiko shook her head. She decided not to think about it anymore. "Nobody. Never mind," she muttered. Angie, Tenko, and Tsumugi exchanged confused and concerned glances, but they said nothing more to Himiko on the way home.
***
The dreaded Valentine's Day had arrived. Himiko trudged to school, surrounded by other students who were already in relationships, like Kaede and Shuichi, and Kaito and Maki. The hallways were decorated with pink and red paper hearts dangling from the ceiling. Himiko sighed in frustration. She felt as if the hearts were reminding her that she was single as a Pringle. Ibuki was handing out heart-shaped lollipops to everyone. Himiko refused a lollipop, too miserable to enjoy something sweet. When she opened her locker, something flew out of it. She saw that it was an envelope with a red heart sticker keeping the flap sealed. She turned the envelope around and gasped at what she saw. Her name was written on the front in fancy handwriting. Her heart pounded in her chest as she opened up the envelope to reveal a folded piece of paper. She unfolded the paper, which emitted a slight scent of cologne. Definitely a boy. Himiko smiled to herself with excitement. She then began reading a poem in the same fancy handwriting her name on the front of the envelope was written in:
My dear, beloved Himiko,
Nothing could prepare me for this longing that I feel
To tell you how much my love for you is real.
The day I met you, I was met with a sweet surprise
When I first gazed into your caramel brown eyes.
The day I'll be happy is when I have you in my arms
And to be forever enamored by your bewitching charm.
Forever bound by your enchanting spell
You lifted me up from the moment I fell.
I love you, my darling, and that's no trick.
Every moment I spend with you is like magic.
I'll never, ever forget you for the rest of my life
You have stolen my heart...I sincerely hope you're satisfied.
Love,
Your Secret Admirer
Tears welled up in Himiko's eyes. It was the sweetest, most wonderful poem she had ever read. She hugged it close to her chest.
"Himiko!" came Tenko's voice. Himiko turned to see Tenko, Angie, and Tsumugi walking over to her. "Himiko! You look like you've been crying! What's wrong?!" Himiko wiped her tears and showed them the poem from her secret admirer.
"A secret admirer?!" Tsumugi breathed. "That is just plain romantic!"
"Yes! Yes! It truly is!" Angie agreed. "It might be from Kokichi!" As much as Himiko wanted that to be true, she dared not hope it. Then again, Kokichi did lie, for whatever reason, about Angie not being able to walk home after school yesterday, so it's possible that he was also lying about not liking anyone at school. She was afraid, but she had to admit that his lie gave her a bit of hope. Hope that maybe Kokichi did like her, and was her secret admirer after all. She smiled to herself as she clung to that hope.
***
It was after school. Himiko had spent the whole day lost in her thoughts, wondering who her secret admirer could possibly be. As much as she kept telling herself it wasn't Kokichi, a small part of her believed it was. After all, none of the other boys made much effort to talk to her like Kokichi did. Or, it's possible that one of the boys didn't talk to her because he was too shy, unlike Kokichi. Himiko sighed. She went up to her and Tenko's room and immediately removed the note from her backpack. She sat down on her desk, reading the note over and over again, dreamily tracing the letters with her finger. She sighed longingly, wishing her secret admirer would just show up and take her away.
"Himikoooo!" came Kokichi's voice. Himiko gasped in surprise as she looked up and saw him standing in her doorway. He waltzed right into the room and stood next to her chair, looking down at her secret admirer's note. "What'cha got there?"
"Oh, um...it's nothing," Himiko answered with a small shrug. "Just something I got in my locker today."
"Ooooo! Is it a loooove letter?" Kokichi teased.
"See for yourself," Himiko replied, showing him the note. Kokichi took the note and read it.
"Huh...wow. Whoever wrote this must be a real mush lord!" he said. "This guy must have it real bad for you."
"Yeah..." Himiko said softly as Kokichi handed the note back to her. She sighed as she continued gazing dreamily at it. Kokichi stared at her, surprised at how intense her gaze was.
"You really like that letter, huh?" he said. Himiko looked up at him.
"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever read," she said. She rested her arms on her desk, and then her chin on her arms, sighing. "Nobody's ever said anything like that to me before."
"Ah..." Kokichi said. "Well, um...I'll leave you alone, then." He turned to leave the room. He hid behind the wall next to her doorway and silently peeked inside. Himiko kept staring at the note, not lifting her eyes from it for one second. Kokichi let out a small breath of surprise and smiled to himself. He was happy to have made her feel as if there was someone out there for her. But, he wanted to do something else for her. Something small, just enough to make her Valentine's Day more special. He thought of something and rushed down to his room. He grabbed a heart-shaped lollipop that Ibuki had given him. He went back upstairs, taking a deep breath before entering her room. With one hand, he hid the lollipop behind his back, and with the other, he knocked on the door. Himiko looked up.
"Yes?" she asked. Kokichi lifted his hand from behind his back to reveal the lollipop to her. Himiko blinked in surprise. "F-For me?"
"Yeah," Kokichi replied. Himiko raised her brow in suspicion.
"Is this a joke?" she asked cautiously.
"Nope! Just thought I'd show you a better Valentine's Day gift than that mushy, old love letter," Kokichi replied with a small shrug.
"Nyeh...you think a lollipop is better than this letter?!" Himiko asked incredulously.
"Well...last time I checked, love letters don't taste like strawberry...duuuhhh..." Kokichi replied, waving his lollipop up and down.
"That's true, but this love letter is definitely sweeter," Himiko said. "And you don't have to worry about getting diabetes from it, or having your teeth rot."
"True, but is that guy brave enough to give you a lollipop to your face?" Kokichi asked. Himiko gave him a small smile.
"I guess not," she answered.
"Mm-hmmm...soooo, what are you waiting for?" Kokichi said. "My arm is getting tiiiired." Himiko took the lollipop from him.
"Nyeh...thank you," she said.
"Yup!" Kokichi replied with a cheeky grin. "Happy Valentine's Day...sucker! Nee-heehee...get it?"
"I get it," Himiko replied with a smile. Kokichi smiled back at her. Their eyes locked for a brief moment before Kokichi waved goodbye to her and left the room. He exhaled deeply as he hid behind the wall next to the doorway and peeked into her room again. Himiko was now smiling happily as she twirled the lollipop in her hand. She sighed dreamily as she stared at it. Kokichi smiled at her.
Happy Valentine's Day...my beloved Himiko, he thought to himself.