Episode 146: Valentine’s Day

“You’ve been staring at it way too long.”
“Yeah.”
“Not yeah — let’s just make it.”
“Haaah.”

I let out a spectacular sigh in front of Ranka, who hadn’t done anything wrong.

Ranka was watching me with a grin as though she found this all very amusing.

And here I was struggling so much…

With Valentine’s Day approaching, I’d been practising making sweets at Ranka’s place for the past few days. I was learning for the first time that making sweets required considerably more precision than cooking.

I’d always given Mai something store-bought, so making something to give someone was a first for me.

Knowing how many people must be going through this struggle for Valentine’s Day — and realising I’d finally become one of them — made my chest feel somehow ticklish.

I’d decided on gateau chocolat as my menu.

I could make it without an oven, and the process was straightforward enough that I thought even I could manage it.

I’d tried it a few times successfully, so today was the real thing.

Measuring ingredients, melting chocolate, beating eggs — I couldn’t afford to lose focus for a moment.

The good thing about making sweets — like studying — was that as long as you followed the process, you wouldn’t fail unless something went badly wrong.

Ranka was skilled enough to chat while making hers, but I was completely occupied with what was in front of me.

The finished sweet gave off a wonderful fragrant chocolate smell. I cut a small piece to taste, swallowed, and brought it to my mouth.

The richness of the cacao spread through my mouth, and a lingering sweetness settled in. Thanks to the practice, I thought it had come out quite well.

“Did it turn out well?”
“Better than I expected. Do you want some?”
“I’ll pass.”
“Why?”
“Because if I eat it before her, she’ll probably bite my head off.”
“…Bite?”

I blinked several times and stared at Ranka.
I had no idea what she was talking about — but she’d helped me so much, so I forcibly handed her a piece of gateau chocolat anyway.

I wrapped the rest in the simple packaging I’d bought, and all that was left was to give it to Endo-san.

“Ranka, thank you so much.”

Without her, I probably wouldn’t have been able to make something for Endo-san like this.

“You’re welcome. Now take it while it’s fresh.”
“Yeah. Thank you.”

I quickly cleared up the equipment I’d used and headed home.

Would Endo-san be happy…?
What kind of face would she make…?

The desire to get back to her quickly grew and grew, and my feet carried me forward, forward.

Opening the front door, the living room lights were on — I took one deep breath and stepped inside.

Endo-san was leaning against the sofa.

She usually came running when I got home — I was worried something was wrong, and walked quickly toward her without even putting my bag down.

She’d apparently fallen asleep.

If she slept in a place like this without covering herself, she might catch a cold.

I quietly put a blanket over her, and found myself drawn irresistibly close to her sleeping face.

Endo-san was enviably beautiful, I thought.

And looking at her, my chest lifted in an unbelievable way.

Just a little…

Thinking that, I leaned toward her lips to touch them softly — when her eyes snapped open, and I froze completely.

Before I could flee, I was pulled, and ended up landing on top of her with considerable force.

“Sorry. I’m heavy — I’ll get off.”
“What were you trying to do?”

I wanted to get off but her arms wrapped around me tight and she wouldn’t let go.
Endo-san’s face was grinning uncontrollably.

“I was watching you sleep.”
“That’s all?”
“Yeah.”
“Really?”
“…Y-yeah.”

That was definitely a suspicious answer — and I looked away from her. I couldn’t hold out for more than a few seconds before I opened my mouth.

“Sorry. I was about to, without asking…”

Before I could finish saying I’d been trying to kiss her, something soft floated against my lips. My heart gave a thump, and my body tensed.

“Sorry. I just wanted to.”

Endo-san looked at me with a bashful smile. My heart beat steadily at that smile, and warmth spread through my whole body.

“Takisawa, have you had chocolate? I can smell cacao.”

At those words I startled and quickly took the sweet I’d made from my bag.

Not knowing quite what to say, I held it out to her.

“What’s this…?”
“I made it.”
“You did? When?”
“Today.”
“Where did you make it?”

Endo-san’s expression was a mixture of surprise and mild dissatisfaction. That stirred my chest in a different kind of way.

“Ranka helped me.”
“Did Yamamoto-san eat any?”
“No. She said she didn’t want any. I gave her a little since she’d helped, but I don’t know if she actually ate it.”
“Hmm.”
“I wanted you to eat it so I came home quickly.”

At that, Endo-san’s expression broke into a full beaming smile — she sat on the sofa and photographed the gateau chocolat I’d given her.

“What are you doing?”
“Commemorating receiving Valentine’s chocolate from Takisawa.”
“You’re silly.”
“I’m just so happy!”

She leaned her left side toward me. It shouldn’t be possible — but from where she was touching me, I could almost feel her joy.

Endo-san said oh! and ran to the kitchen, coming back quickly with a plate and fork, laying out what I’d made.

And taking more photos.

“You’re taking too many.”
“It’s mine now so I can do whatever I like, right?”
“I mean, yes…”

Having something I’d given her be treated with such care was embarrassing.

But Endo-san was always like that.

Whatever I gave her, she smiled and beamed over it the whole time.

Because she was smiling, I felt glad I’d tried hard this time too.
Because she was easy to read, I was helped enormously by her.

If only I could be as honest as Endo-san——.

“It’s delicious… this is amazing!”

Her cheeks flushed, chewing contentedly like a little squirrel. Looking at her, my heart overflowed with joy.

‘But…’

Her voice suddenly turned sombre from the cheerful tone of a moment ago, making the atmosphere feel heavy, and I found myself tensing up.

‘But?’
‘Shall we make it together next time?’
‘Together?’
“It doesn’t have to be Yamamoto-san. I can teach you.”
“Then there’s no point, is there?”

I wanted to make her happy with something I’d worked hard on and made with my own hands. Not that I could honestly say such a thing, though…

“I want to watch you make it too, Takisawa.”
“I don’t want Endo-san to see.”

I didn’t want her to see my shortcomings. I was afraid she’d be disappointed in me. I’d come to feel that way at some point.

“You’re being mean. Oh, I made something for Takisawa too.”

She scampered off to the kitchen and brought back a cute little parcel, inside which was a fluffy, cream-coloured cake.

“What’s this…”
“A chiffon cake. I think it turned out delicious.”
“When did you make it?”
“That’s a secret.”

She peeked over at me, her voice full of delight. I ignored her and decided to eat it straight away.

　I unwrapped the packaging, so lovely I almost felt it was a shame to open it, and took a bite of the fluffy chiffon cake inside.

As soon as it touched my tongue, a gentle sweetness spread, melting away as if it were air.

I had wanted to savour it slowly, but my hand just wouldn’t stop, and it was gone in the blink of an eye.

“It’s all gone…”
“Was it nice?”
“Yeah. It was really nice.”

My cheeks relaxed at the sheer deliciousness, and I found myself staring at her.

And then Endo-san’s expression did something.

It looked like she was seeing something frightening — so, a little puzzled, I pinched her cheek.
Her cheek was as soft as the chiffon cake from a moment ago.

“Why are you making such a strange face.”
“I was just dazzled by Takisawa’s smile.”

Smile…?
Had I actually been smiling just now?

I wasn’t very good at showing my feelings on the surface like Endo-san, so I sometimes worried that what I was feeling wasn’t getting through.

But Endo-san always managed to read my feelings properly. I had nothing but gratitude to her for that.

And I wanted to do more to help her feel at ease. At the very least — I wanted to be honest about what I was thinking.

“It was delicious. Thank you.”
“Not at all.”
“Is there anything I can do for you?”

I didn’t want it to always be me on the receiving end.

“Just getting a Valentine’s gift from you is enough.”
“Is there really nothing?”
“Oh — then please introduce me to Takisawa’s mom and dad.”
“That again? Why do you want to meet them so badly?”

I didn’t understand why she’d want to meet my parents that much. Endo-san had been on about this since last time.

“I want to greet Takisawa’s parents. Just like Takisawa did for my mum and dad——”

At those words, my chest tightened. What she was saying was probably right. But I didn’t want anything to happen.

“But…”
“Is it because I’m me that you can’t introduce me to them?”
“It’s not that!”

That was unusually loud for me.

Someone like Endo-san was someone I’d actually want to introduce. But I had this groundless fear that my parents might hurt this wonderful person.
Maybe I was overthinking it — but their past behaviour toward me made me feel that way.

“My parents might say something awful to Endo-san.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“What?”
“No matter what awful things are said — I have no intention of ever leaving you, Takisawa.”

I was suddenly pulled close, my chest tightened, and the chiffon cake I’d eaten a moment ago seemed to turn slowly inside me.

What rose inside me was a soft, floating feeling——

I didn’t want her to get hurt — but I also wanted to honour her feelings.

More than anything…

“If you promise not to leave me, then alright.”

What was I saying…

This was my selfishness — pushing it onto her wasn’t right. And yet, in this moment, I found myself hoping that what Endo-san had just said was true.

Without a word, Endo-san linked her little finger with mine. She squeezed with just enough force to be slightly painful.

“Promise——”

After that, for some reason I was pushed down onto the sofa, and her lips touched my cheeks and forehead and ears again and again.

I’d just let her do as she pleased — and a warm, glowing feeling welled up, and I found myself wanting more.