Someone Who Cherishes You

"Since Mom bought too many ingredients, and I'm sure you're going to fail anyway... Why don't you go ahead and make a lot too, Azu-nyan?"

The reason Azusa hasn't started making chocolate yet was because she's holding back - Shiho seemed to interpret Azusa's hesitation as politeness.

(I wasn't planning on making chocolate in the first place... Can I say that?)

Why Shiho assumed Azusa was making chocolate, Azusa couldn't figure out.

(Come to think of it... Who is Azusa making this for?)

It was only now that Azusa realized the true essence of the problem she was grappling with. The reason she didn't know what kind of chocolate to make was that she hadn't thought about who she was going to give it to.

(Huh? What should I do...!)

The first face that came to her mind was — Ryoma Ryusaki, whom she had once loved.

He seemed to be going through a tough time now... So, giving him chocolate might make him feel a little better.

Thinking about it, it didn't seem like a bad idea to give chocolate to Ryoma.

However — somehow, her hands wouldn't move.　

It felt as if someone was holding her hands down.

Azusa felt a mysterious pressure, making her unable to move.

"Why..."

Unconsciously, the words slipped out.

Why couldn't she move... she wondered, addressing herself.

"Huh? Are you wondering why I want to give chocolate to Kotaro-kun? Oh my, if you want to know, I can tell you! Hehe, why I want to give chocolate to Kotaro-kun is because…"

Shiho misunderstood, thinking Azusa was talking to her.

Moreover, she added words to make it sound like Azusa was asking her about it.

"Eh, it's inevitable to be curious, isn't it? I've never given chocolate to a boy since I was born. I haven't even given any to Dad. I couldn't because Mom would get jealous... Well, that's not important! In other words, I've never given chocolate to a boy, so for the first time, I thought of giving it to Kotaro-kun, and the reason for that is…"

Even though Azusa didn't ask, she continued.

“Because... because Kotaro-kun treats me so preciously."

However, despite her nonsensical chatter, Shiho's words held a profound truth.

"When someone is important to you, you naturally want to do something for them. So, in a way, Valentine's is just an excuse. I just want to express my gratitude to him a little — that's all. And, I also want to see him happy."

Hearing those words, Azusa lifted her face with a start.

"He treats you preciously...?"

Azusa repeated Shiho's words.

After carefully pondering their meaning, Azusa finally understood.

(Ryoma-kun...Ryoma Onii-chan didn't treat me well.)

Azusa had cherished her feelings for him.

But Ryoma, it seemed, had not reciprocated those feelings.

(If Azusa gives him chocolates... would he really be happy?)

She tried to imagine Ryoma's delighted face.

However..., strangely, only his wry smile surfaced in her mind.

(So, that's why Azusa couldn't make them...!)

Finally, she understood.

Even if she thought of giving him chocolates, her body wouldn't move because deep down, she knew he wouldn't truly be happy.

At the same time, she understood who had been holding her back.

(Onii-chan... Onii-chan was trying to protect Azusa...!)

In the moment when Azusa was about to take the wrong path, he had thwarted her. He had grabbed her hand and held her back.

Of course, it was an illusion, a hallucination. There was no supernatural force at play.

Even so, Azusa felt grateful to Kotaro.

(He saved me from getting hurt again, didn't he...?)

The pain and suffering weren't hers alone.

There were people who cherished her.

Subconsciously, Azusa didn't want to make those people sad.

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