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Valentine's Day had never really been important to Sakura. Before, he'd watch the people around him wait for the day with anticipation and excitement; seeing couples and friends hanging out was annoying. Back then, he couldn't understand the excitement of wanting to share time with others. It was something far beyond his reach.
Now, at Furin, he didn't know what to do. Should he bring something for his friends, right? But what could he bring? He didn't have that much money.
In the end, embarrassed, he asked Kotoha for help. She looked at him mockingly at first, but then she gave him a few options, until Sakura thought the simplest one was for him to make the chocolates himself. Kotoha agreed to supervise a few practice attempts before he made the ones he would give out, "so they'd be edible," as she joked.
Sakura snuck away from his friends with difficulty after patrols. Making excuses and lying to them wasn't easy; his friends caught on quickly, but in the end they let it slide when Sakura got nervous. Nirei was the one who supported him, and Suo would usually tease him, but he also encouraged him to leave before the other guys in the class could really drag him off.
All week, Sakura was melting chocolate, trying, after filling some with seeds as Kotoha had suggested, to keep them from turning out misshapen. He also tried not to let them stick to the mold and end up broken when he got impatient. Kotoha laughed at him the whole time, but with her help, he finally managed to make some decent chocolates, some filled with walnuts or almonds.
When Kotoha asked him who the lucky person receiving Sakura's feelings was, he thought about it for a moment before turning red and stammering that they were for his friends. Kotoha seemed surprised before shaking her head. She explained that on Valentine's Day, homemade chocolates are commonly given only to your romantic interest, exclusively, as a way to express your feelings for that person. And to friends, on the other hand, you give store-bought chocolates.
Sakura thought about it for a while. If he gave those chocolates to his friends, would it confuse the meaning? Ah, Sakura cursed himself internally. He didn't want misunderstandings with them.
But then, he remembered Suo's playful laugh. The light movements of his earrings when Suo would lean down slightly to his height just to laugh at his blushing cheeks and mention how the colors of his cheeks were different shades. That one time Suo had whispered his first name to get his attention, and Sakura gave it to him instantly, surprised and embarrassed, only for Suo to pretend he'd never said it.
Sakura knew that, sometimes, he felt different when he was with his friend. Unconsciously, he would fix his gaze on Suo's profile. His right eye, covered by the black leather eyepatch, drew his attention. Deep down, Sakura wondered what accident had taken his friend's eye. Once, he wanted to reach out and touch it with his hand. Only when Suo noticed and looked at him strangely did Sakura quickly pull his hand back. He stammered an excuse, but Suo didn't reply or really try to move his hand away. Sakura wondered why Suo had even allowed him to get that close. Suo, who usually kept others at a distance, had he let Sakura touch him?
Sakura heard Kotoha laugh and felt embarrassed when she declared that Sakura did have someone "special." Sakura opened and closed his mouth to say no, but in the end, he didn't deny it. Kotoha looked at him more gently then and didn't tease him again that night. She helped him put the chocolates in a small, clear rectangular plastic container, a pre-made chocolate box that she provided without a word. In the end, she also helped him tie a red ribbon on it. They really did look like decent chocolates like that; Sakura was surprised at the result with Kotoha's help.
Giving those chocolates to Suo, for Sakura, meant accepting that the new, light feelings he had for him were clear and certain enough not to back down. The fact that Kotoha didn't ask him any more questions gave him a little more confidence to do it. None of his friends would judge him. In the end, his friends always seemed to want to support him so Sakura could feel comfortable.
When Sakura said goodbye to Kotoha near midnight, after walking her home, he turned back towards his apartment. He felt a bit anxious about giving the chocolates to Suo. Suo had never eaten anything in front of them, but Sakura hoped he would actually try them, even if it was in the privacy that Suo maintained. Before heading to Furin, he would also make sure to buy some chocolates at the store for his friends. God, how embarrassing. He needed a lot of strength to endure not turning red and backing out.
Sakura woke up late. He thought nerves wouldn't let him sleep at first, but in the end he overslept, at least. Way more than he should have if he wanted to stop and buy them. Sakura ran a little, just a little, when he remembered he was already carrying some round chocolates in a bag that he didn't want to ruin. In total, Sakura bought three decorated chocolates for his friends and some candies for the rest of the class. Well, in the end Sakura spent more than he should have, but technically, cutting back on some sweets for a few weeks wouldn't be too hard.
The classroom was buzzing with laughter and loud exclamations when Sakura stopped in front of the door. He started to get nervous. He had to do it as quickly as he could so he wouldn't regret it. He entered and was greeted by everyone. Sakura groaned inwardly. Damn, the nerves were starting to bother him.
He approached the teacher's desk and left the supermarket bag containing the different types of candies, and quietly muttered, —Here you go—.
Everyone seemed confused, some surprised, maybe the ones who heard. Sakura vanished towards his friends' circle, who seemed happy and proud of him. Before they could say anything, Sakura took out the three chocolates. Nirei was the first to receive his. Nirei seemed to shine. Sakura felt a little better about it. Kiryu looked at him happily and affectionately, and Tsugeura started trying to hug him for having the best "philosophy of love." Sakura quickly pulled away from him.
Then, Sakura was drawn to Suo's voice, saying why didn't he get a chocolate, pretending to be sad with one hand on his chest and the other near his mouth. Sakura wondered if Suo would actually be sad when even Kiryu didn't join in the joke. Nirei started making excuses for Sakura, nervously. Sakura was a little amused, but just a little, because he was still nervous. Before Nirei could continue waving his nervous hands in front of Suo and giving possible explanations, Sakura took out the clear package of homemade chocolates that were in a separate bag, just for them.
Kiryu was the first to see them; his eyes widened noticeably, along with a new smile. Only when they were in front of Suo did Nirei step aside, letting out a squeal too loud that drew the group's and Suo's attention. Sakura placed the chocolates in front of Suo gently, embarrassed. His gaze dropped to the chocolates when Suo's gaze became too much for him. Suo seemed surprised and quickly happy, but he didn't say anything as Sakura, with everyone's attention on them, turned around to sit in his own seat and hide his face in his arms on the desk.
He didn't hear anything for a few minutes, before everyone started shouting excitedly and talking about it. Suo was sitting next to Sakura, so for the moment he didn't want to look up, embarrassed. He only stopped hiding when someone mentioned if Suo would try them right then. Would Suo really eat in front of them?
Sakura fixed his attention on Suo. Sakura, who was red down to his neck, saw that, in fact, Suo had already removed the ribbon from the box and was looking at the chocolates in too much detail. Sakura swallowed nervously. He watched Suo take a chocolate from the far right, an almond one, if Sakura still remembered correctly. Suo placed it elegantly in his mouth, in one bite, something he had never allowed himself to reveal to them. Everyone seemed just as surprised as him. Only Sakura also had the extra pressure of whether Suo would like them.
Suo seemed to enjoy it, slowly, then put the lid back on the chocolates along with the ribbon. Then he turned to Sakura, who hadn't been able to go back to his hiding place.
—They're delicious, Haruka-kun. Thank you— Suo said with a small smile, his gaze focused on Sakura, too sincere and gentle.
Sakura felt relieved, happy, embarrassed, shy, and reciprocated, that he had to return to his hiding place between his arms and the desk.
He heard his friends teasing a little, excited about the imminent confession. Kiryu teasing Suo about treating him right or that he'd really hit him. Nirei asking him excitedly if Sakura had made them entirely by himself. Sakura only affirmed with a nod of his head. He heard Nirei get more excited and Suo laugh.
Oh. Sakura wanted to lift his head again to see Suo laugh.
P.S. In the end, Sakura returned home that night with more chocolates than he could have ever imagined in a day. (Suo gave him some too, but not homemade)