Miyu and Matsuri's Short Story
From Pasocom Paradise, April 2012
TL: Mezase, Yuritopia
March 14th.
White Day. A holiday meant for returning the favor for any gifts you’ve received on Valentine’s Day. It’s said that this holiday was originally created as a ploy by the candy industry to sell more candy, and that the holiday is really only practiced in Japan, but given how it’s already made its way into Japanese culture and that plenty of people enjoy it, I think it’s fine.
But well, for me, Inamoto Miyu, I can’t say that this holiday isn’t a bit of a headache to deal with.
“Heya~”
And here comes the cause of that headache.
“Whoa, Miyu, you made cookies?!”
Amishima Matsuri. That’s the name of the girl who just raised her voice after keenly spotting what I had spread out over the clubroom table. She’s my girlfriend, who I’ve been together with for some years now.
“That makes me so happy~ Hey, can I have some?”
“Sure, but not all of them. They’re meant for everyone, after all.”
“Hm? Everyone?”
“Yeah. I got chocolates from everyone on the team, remember? I made these to return the favor for those.”
Last month, on the 14th, I ended up receiving chocolates from everyone on the team. I guess you could call them friendship chocolates—or maybe senpai chocolates? Team member chocolates?
Since I’m the vice captain of the track team and go to an all-girls school, I was expecting to get at least some chocolates, but with all the gifts I received from friends and underclassmen, I ended up with way more than I expected. It would be rude not to return the favor, so, like I do every year, I baked some cookies to hand out in return.
I wonder if Matsuri brought something for White Day too? She ended up with even more chocolates than I did, after all.
“Agh, but White Day really is a pain, huh? Buying all this stuff really cuts into my allowance.”
I guess I didn’t have to worry. Matsuri’s really prudent when it comes to things like this. So much so that it’s kind of annoying.
“I’m still happy that they’re giving me chocolates, though. But I never ended up getting any from you this year, huh? And when I ask for permission to give you some, you just refuse, so...”
“Of course I would.”
Matsuri sits there, dissatisfied, but I brush her aside on purpose.
We have to keep the fact that we’re dating a secret, after all. It’s not that I’m worried about our relationship because we’re both girls—rather, it’s more about our parents. I’m afraid that if they find out we’re dating, we’ll end up in all sorts of trouble. So, while we’re both students, I want to keep things under wraps. Until we can get to a place where no one will bother us anymore.
“I don’t want to do anything that might cause someone to find out we’re dating. That's our promise, remember?”
“I get that, but gifting chocolates between girls is a pretty normal thing to do at an all-girls school, don’t you think? You worry too much, Miyu.”
That’s why I’m especially cautious on days like Valentine’s Day or White Day. I’ve been trying to get Matsuri to be careful about these things too, but she just doesn’t seem to be satisfied with our arrangement.
“I guess I have no choice...”
Matsuri continues to grumble while carefully tossing cookies up into her mouth. I stick my hand into my pocket and reach toward the gift that I had specially prepared for her.
“Here, Matsuri, open your mouth.”
“Hm?”
I take it out of my pocket, remove it from its wrapper... And then, holding it between my fingers, I toss it into Matsuri’s mouth.
“Mmm?!”
Matsuri bites down on the object that just entered her mouth, out of reflex. I can tell she’s surprised just from looking from her face.
“It’s so sweet!”
Right? I think it’s the one that turned out the best, after all. A white chocolate-covered cookie. I might be skimping out here, but I hope that’s enough to make up for all our past Valentine’s Days and White Days.
“Whoa, it’s so good! Thanks, Miyu! I love you!”
“I got it, so don’t say that so loudly.”
What am I supposed to do if someone overheard that? I’m happy that she’s so honest with her feelings, though.
“Hey, is that it?”
We’re still the only ones in the clubroom. And I don’t hear any footsteps coming from the hallway, either.
“......Fine.”
I guess I’ll allow this, just for today. I might be being too sweet on her. But acting like this might be nice, once in a while. But really, it's just for today, okay? I want to do things like this to you too, Matsuri, you know? I still love you. I want to make sure she knows that.
I lean over, slightly.
And meet Matsuri’s lips with mine.