The school trip finally ended.

Although the next day was destined to be difficult and tiring for Kaguya, she would still have a few days to enjoy time out with Shirogane.

Overall, the school trip was satisfactory.

Kaguya set aside all worries to enjoy her time with Shirogane.

She was genuinely happy. Now that she was officially Shirogane's girlfriend, the Shinomiya family could no longer interfere.

It seemed a bright future awaited her.

After the trip, the second-year students returned to Shuchiin, and the student council resumed its routine.

A very important day for many students was coming: Valentine's Day.

In Japan, it is customary for girls to give chocolates to boys they like on Valentine's Day. There are "real-name chocolates" (for someone they like) and "obligatory chocolates" (for friends).

'I want chocolate!'

This was the thought of many boys on Valentine's Day.

Among them were two boys in the student council.

Shirogane naturally wanted chocolates from Kaguya. Unlike other boys, he had been very popular at Shuchiin since becoming student council president. Last Valentine's, he received five boxes of chocolates.

One box, however, had a strange surprise inside, probably from a girl with unusual tastes.

This Valentine's, he most looked forward to receiving chocolates from his girlfriend, Kaguya.

As for Ishigami…

Of course, he hoped Tsubame would give him chocolates, but he'd be happy with chocolates from any girl. He had never experienced such attention on Valentine's before.

"Ishigami."

Ishigami, sitting at his classroom desk, looked up when someone called. In front of him stood his blonde classmate, Onodera.

"Ah, what is it?"

"This."

Onodera held out a beautifully wrapped gift box from behind her back.

Chocolate, obviously.

Ishigami was slightly stunned upon seeing it.

'Huh? For me? From Onodera?'

They didn't usually interact, and yet she gave him chocolate on Valentine's Day?

Even if obligatory, it was a pleasant surprise.

"Th… thank you…"

"Could you give this to Rinji?"

"…"

"You and Rinji are good friends, right? Please give it to him," Ishigami said expressionlessly. "It's obligatory."

"…Oh."

So it wasn't for him.

Still, Ishigami accepted the chocolate.

---

After the previous Valentine's mishap, Shirogane carefully checked the chocolates he received this year, hoping no strange items were included.

At that moment, the student council office door opened, and Ishigami walked in carrying over ten boxes of chocolates, each differently wrapped.

"President, still so many chocolates this year?"

"Not really, usually I get around five," Shirogane said with a smile. "You're not bad either. Getting so many means you're entering your bloom period."

"No… most of these are for Rinji."

"Ah?"

"Since Rinji isn't here and seems hard to approach, they asked me to deliver them," Ishigami sighed. "I only have about three boxes myself."

One from Kobachi, one from Fujiwara (she bought too many, so she gave the extras), and one from Tsubame.

Receiving Tsubame's chocolate instantly filled Ishigami with hope.

"Not bad. By the way, you went on a date with Koyasu during the school trip, right?" Shirogane asked. "How did it go?"

"The date was fun, but…"

Ishigami hesitated. "Whether it can become a relationship is uncertain."

"I see."

"Rinji is probably at his hometown now," Ishigami said suddenly. "I wonder if he celebrated Valentine's there."

"Even if he did, he might not get any chocolates."

---

Somewhere, a large farm.

Near the cornfields, a small shed was set up. Rinji and his father sat in wooden rocking chairs, leisurely smoking.

"Dad."

"Hm?"

"Can you explain what's going on?"

"Nothing."

"Sure."

Rinji looked at his father, then at the small mountain of chocolates on his father's table.

"Why did you get more chocolates this year than last?"

Every year, Rinji's visits home coincided with Valentine's. As a child, he saw a pile of chocolates on his father's desk each year.

At the time, he didn't know about the Valentine's chocolate tradition until he went to Shuchiin in Japan.

"Is receiving chocolate so unusual?" his father said calmly. "Exchanging gifts during holidays is normal."

"But it's chocolate."

"Why shouldn't others give me snacks?" his father said. "Besides, you've always eaten the chocolates I got in previous years."

"Don't tell me you don't know what Valentine's chocolate means."

"Of course I do," his father said earnestly. "A bunch of fools tricked by consumerism boost chocolate sales."

"I'm not talking about that… never mind."

Rinji leaned back in his chair, watching the blue sky.

"If I were at Shuchiin now, I'd probably get chocolates from Ai too… Speaking of which, where's Karura? Haven't seen her since this morning, and Mom isn't around either."

"Oh, them," his father said, recalling something. "Your mother and Karura went to the kitchen early with a bag of cocoa. Your girlfriend probably wanted to ask your mother about making sweets. Honestly, my skills are better."

"…It's a miracle Mom married you."