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The big day is coming up. The day you've been dreading. The [[biggest day]] of the entire year.
<<widget "daycycle">><<set $days = 4>><span id="day-cycle"><<four>></span><</widget>><<widget "four">><<click "four days">><<set $days = 3>><<replace "#day-cycle">><<three>><</replace>><</click>><</widget>><<widget "three">><<click "three days">><<set $days = 2>><<replace "#day-cycle">><<two>><</replace>><</click>><</widget>><<widget "two">><<click "two days">><<set $days = 1>><<replace "#day-cycle">><<one>><</replace>><</click>><</widget>><<widget "one">><<click "one day">><<set $days = 4>><<replace "#day-cycle">><<four>><</replace>><</click>><</widget>>
<<widget "choco">><<set $choco = "dark">><span id="choc"><<dark>></span><</widget>><<widget "dark">><<click "dark">><<set $choco = "milk">><<replace "#choc">><<milk>><</replace>><<replace "#choco">>[img[round_milk.png]]<</replace>><</click>><</widget>><<widget "milk">><<click "milk">><<set $choco = "white">><<replace "#choc">><<white>><</replace>><<replace "#choco">>[img[round_white.png]]<</replace>><</click>><</widget>><<widget "white">><<click "white">><<set $choco = "dark">>`<<replace "#choc">><<dark>><</replace>><<replace "#choco">>[img[round_dark.png]]<</replace>><</click>><</widget>>
<<widget "genre">><<set $genre = "drama">><span id="genre"><<drama>></span><</widget>><<widget "drama">><<click "drama">><<set $genre = "horror">><<replace "#genre">><<horror>><</replace>><</click>><</widget>><<widget "horror">><<click "horror">><<set $genre = "drama">>`<<replace "#genre">><<drama>><</replace>><</click>><</widget>>
<<widget "breakup">><span id="breakup"><<no>></span><</widget>><<widget "no">><<click "No!">><<replace "#breakup">><<yes>><</replace>><</click>><</widget>><<widget "yes">><<click "Actually...">><<replace "#breakup">><<no>><</replace>><</click>><</widget>>
<<widget "okay">><span id="ok"><<not>></span><</widget>><<widget "not">><<click "No.">><<replace "#ok">><<notok>><</replace>><</click>><</widget>><<widget "notok">><<click "I'm not.">><<replace "#ok">><<secret>><</replace>><</click>><</widget>><<widget "secret">><<click "Are we going to be a secret forever?">><<replace "#ok">><<not>><</replace>><</click>><</widget>>The Inter-High?
Ha ha.
You wouldn't be nearly as [[stressed out]] if all that was happening today was a race.It's Valentine's Day. What’s more, it’s your first Valentine’s Day as a couple and because of that you’ve got a little bit of a [[problem]].It would be one thing if you had a nice, cute girlfriend that would shyly hand you chocolates while everyone slaps you on the back, hootin’ and hollering at how Terufumi finally is an experienced boyfriend, but no. Your boyfriend is one Imaizumi Shunsuke, resident [[pretty boy]] and object of half the female student body's affections.Last year, before you had found the courage to ask him out, you asked him why he hated it so much. You were putting the obligation chocolates you had received in your bag while he glared at the monstrous pile of garishly red and pink boxes on his desk.
He blinked at you and scowled. "It's [[fake]]," he said simply, before turning around and walking out the door without a single box of chocolate.You think that it might be a good idea to try to [[talk to him|talk]] about it, but this is a line of questioning that you're not sure how to start. You're not particularly experienced with this whole boyfriend thing after all.
Maybe, you think, since he just thinks it's fake, it wouldn't be fake if //you// were the one giving him [[chocolates]]. He //does// already know that you genuinely like and care about him.
But what if he took it as a meaningless gesture? Oh, dear. You can’t embarrass yourself like that, can you?
You still have <<daycycle>> left before Valentine's Day to make your decision.You gotta talk to him. You’re worried that he might think that you want to break up with him if you ask to talk about [[your relationship]], but you feel like that’s the most straightforward way to ask him what he wants. It might be safer to ask about [[something else]] and gently steer the conversation towards Valentine’s Day.
Either way, you’re not entirely sure how he’ll react, but you figure that talking to him about Valentine’s Day makes more sense than springing something on him unawares. You might not have been dating for very long, but you’ve gotten <span id="exp"><<click "experienced">><<replace "#exp">>✩experienced✩<</replace>><</click>></span> at dealing with Imaizumi over the past two years.<<if $days >= 2>>You decide to go with the classics. The fundamentals //are// important after all, from cycling to love. But you've never actually seen Imaizumi eat chocolate before. Neither have Onoda or Naruko or Miki. In the end, after sampling different mixes, you decide to make him simple round <<choco>> chocolates.
<center><span id="choco">[img[round_dark.png]]</span>
[[Perfect.|present]]</center>
<<else>>You’re usually an [[excellent]] planner.<</if>>It’s finally here. Valentine’s day. You slip your <<if $days > 1>>carefully<<else>>hastily<</if>> made chocolates into your bag and make your way to school.
Your heart is hammering in your chest.
To be frank, you’re extremely nervous about all of this. Normally, you have little issue talking with Imaizumi. But just the thought of giving him your chocolates directly makes you more nervous than you were before you confessed to him.
You remember every time you’ve not held hands, every time you’ve stayed an arms length apart, every time you make excuses for each other’s behavior. Maybe this was a bad idea.
You end up [[hiding]] the box in the slowly growing pile of chocolates on his desk when he escapes to the bathroom to hide from the girls thronging about him.
Imaizumi doesn’t return until one minute before the bell rings to signal the start of classes. The gaggle of girls that crowded him before have since dispersed, some watching him eagerly and trying to stifle their giggles, whispering to one another. Suddenly, your ears feel very hot.
You can’t focus on them, though, with all of your attention honed in on your <<if $days > 1>>delicately<<else>>carelessly<</if>> wrapped chocolates. You’re only considering all the things you could’ve done differently to make a bigger impact and impress him more, but the thought is brushed aside as he brushes every last chocolate
Straight
Into
the [[trash|bad]].<center>[img[splash.jpg]]
<span style="color:#f6c543;">Yellow</span> links will take you to a new section in the story.
<span style="color:#f58ea8;">Pink</span> links will change aspects of the story.
[[START GAME|start]]</center>“We need to talk.”
Imaizumi abruptly brakes. “About what?” he asks.
You brake more slowly and turn around to face him. It’s a bit poetic, you think, that you’re riding on the same route as the first year race—the first place you realized that maybe you really did have feelings for him, and maybe he really cared about you. “About our relationship.”
His eyes widen, and that expression makes your chest tighten. “You want to [[break up]]?”
"<<breakup>>"Imaizumi is still on the rollers when you sidle up to him after practice, after everyone else has gone home. “Hey,” you say, “Can I ask you something?” He nods without looking at you.
“I was thinking that we could watch a movie <<if $days > 1>>on Wednesday<<else>>tomorrow<</if>> after class? I wanted to know [[what you think]] about watching that <<genre>> movie that came out last weekend.”Imaizumi stops pedaling and frowns as he turns to you. "<<if $days > 1>>Wednesday<<else>>Tomorrow<</if>>? Isn’t that… Valentine’s Day?"
You nod nervously. "Yep! I know that you don’t really like Valentine’s Day, but I really wanted to do something for you since we haven’t really had any big milestones since we started dating.and, well,"
Oops. You opened the floodgates.
You can’t stop the words from pouring out of your mouth. "I figured that we could watch a movie since I know how much you like soundtracks <span id="speech"><<link "and—">><<replace "#speech">>and this movie’s OST charted worldwide when it was released <<link "and—">><<replace "#speech">>and I figured that since there’s no romantic subplot not very many other couples would be watching it so we’d be able to enjoy it quietly <<link "and—">><<replace "#speech">>and I know you don’t like it when I talk through movies so I’d be quiet this time I just really wanted to do something for y—<</replace>><</link>><</replace>><</link>><</replace>><</link>></span>"
Imaizumi puts his [[hand]] on your shoulder and your words dwindle away into silence.<style>body{width:100%;height:100%;background:#1d0f0e;color:white;}</style><center>[img[ennui.png]]</center>
You end up going to a movie about a chemist’s descent into madness as he pursues his quest for human perfection. During a particularly brutal scene where he forces his victims to consume his concoctions, you feel something cold and clammy suddenly brush against your arm. You almost scream, but Imaizumi moves his hand onto yours and grips it tightly.
You feel grateful, though the movie isn’t that scary, and thread your fingers between his. The movie reaches a lull wherein it attempts to establish a plot and you feel Imaizumi squeeze your hand despite the fact that nothing is happening. You chance a [[look]] at him.<style>body{width:100%;height:100%;background:#1d0f0e;color:white;}</style><center>[img[crows_court.png]]</center>
You flinch as the king on screen throws his crown to the ground with a resounding thud. He walks through his castle, through his abandoned court, and stares out an enormous window, watching as crows fly across the bleak landscape.
The king sighs dramatically and begins to mumble his way through an excessively dramatic monologue about betrayal. You sigh a little less dramatically than he, then carefully move your hand over to the armrest to your right and cover Imaizumi’s hand in your own.He flinches in surprise and you’re about to move your hand away when he carefully flips his hand over and laces your fingers together. You [[look]] at him shyly and he glances away from you quickly, blushing.<style>body{width:100%;height:100%;background:#1d0f0e;color:white;}</style><center>[img[movie.jpg]]</center>
Imaizumi glances around you, making sure that everyone’s attention is focused on the movie. He quickly ducks towards you, as if he’s [[about to kiss you]].“It’s okay,” he says. “You meant well.”
You stammer slightly, apologetically, but can’t bring yourself to look him in the eye, not wanting to see the disappointed expression surely on his face. He clears his throat.
“We could. Watch that movie.”
!!
You whip your head around in shock and he quirks his lips upward in a rare smile. “Even if it’s //that// day, I don’t mind doing things with you.”
He coughs and looks away, the tips of his ears reddening. You smile back at him. “I’ll go ahead and buy the <<if $genre == "drama">>[[tickets|drama]]<<else>>[[tickets|horror]]<</if>> then.”<center>[img[bad.jpg]]</center>
The rest of the school day is just a daze to you.
<span id="1"><<click "1st period:">><<replace "#1">>1st period: You’re too shocked to say anything. He's visibly annoyed.<</replace>><</click>></span>
<span id="2"><<click "2nd period:">><<replace "#2">>2nd period: Your stomach hurts. You mess up conjugating your English worksheet.<</replace>><</click>></span>
<span id="3"><<click "3rd period:">><<replace "#3">>3rd period: You consider rummaging through the trash to salvage your chocolates. You know you can't.<</replace>><</click>></span>
<span id="4"><<click "4th period:">><<replace "#4">>4th period: He looks at you expectantly, and you don’t know what to do.<</replace>><</click>></span>
<span id="5"><<click "5th period:">><<replace "#5">>5th period: You feel like crying. Why did you think that was a good idea?<</replace>><</click>></span>
<span id="6"><<click "6th period:">><<replace "#6">>6th period: You do not cry, you just stand in the bathroom. The wetness on your face is sink water, that’s all.<</replace>><</click>></span>
<span id="7"><<click "7th period:">><<replace "#7">>7th period: The bell rings, he leaves. And you? You just feel stupid.<</replace>><</click>></span>
You fall off your bike and scrape up your knees during practice. Imaizumi asks if you’re [[okay]].
"<<okay>>"<style>body{width:100%;height:100%;background:#1d0f0e;color:white;}</style>When you leave the theater, the sun has already set, and the world is dark. You almost put your hand in your pocket, when you feel something warm wrap itself around it. You look over and Imaizumi’s smiling shyly, and he doesn’t let go even when you step under the light.
He walks you home after the movie. You grip his hand a little tighter as you shiver in the chilly February breeze, but your heart is warm. It was worth it, taking the step to ask him.
You think that maybe, someday soon, you won’t have to hide anymore, and you’ll be ready to tell the world. But for now, if he wants a private space, you’re more than willing to give it to him. You’re satisfied.
The fact that you were able to make him smile and enjoy himself on Valentine’s Day is worth more than any White Day gift he could give you.
<center>[img[good.png]]
[[PLAY AGAIN|start]]</center>He squints. “The opposite?”
“Yeah. I was kind of hoping that we could tell others that we’re together?” You cough. “I think that they just think we spend so much time together because we’re captain and vice-captain now... I can only pretend we are just that for so long, and, and I know you don’t want to change your image as the sort of guy that doesn’t dabble in such frivolous things.”
Imaizumi frowns and tilts his head in consideration, and you can't stop talking.
“Of course, I would understand if you wanted to stay safe, but I was thinking, maybe—”
He interrupts you.
“Are you sure?”
You nod repeatedly. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while and figured that honesty is the best policy!”
“Why, though?” he asks. “We’ve been doing fine so far without telling anyone.”
"Right. Right, yes." You stick up your finger. "Well, I mean, is there really any sort of problem?"
"I don't want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable."
"Make //ME// uncomfortable?"
"[[Wait, wait wait, Imaizumi, what about all those times...|times]]"
...
Well.
Now or never!
“I know that you don’t like Valentine’s Day, but would it be okay for me to make you chocolates? I have lots of experience with making desserts so I’m sure you’ll like them!”
Imaizumi smiles softly at you, and you can tell he’s stifling a laugh. It’s so rare to see that smile, and you can feel your chest swell. God, you’re in deep. “Yeah. It’s okay if it’s you.” He pauses. “Maybe you could wait until practice to give them to me though.” He coughs, shrugging. “In front of everyone, I mean.”
You laugh, flushing out of relief. "We are going to be //that// couple, huh?"
He holds a hand out to you and you hold it [[finally]], pulling him into a hug.
He strokes your head a few times, running his fingers through your hair. He cups your chin with his hand and brings you to look up at him. He’s blushing furiously, but his expression is fond. He <span id="care"><<link "carefully">></span><<replace "#care">>carefully, <span id="gent"><<link "gently">></span><<replace "#gent">>gently <span id="bring"><<link "brings his head down">></span><<replace "#bring">>brings his head down and touches your foreheads together before bringing your lips together.
It’s not your first kiss together, but it’s the first one that’s felt like this. You don’t feel like you’re on edge, terrified of getting caught. You don’t feel any hesitation, all you feel is //him//, right here, with you. His lips are slightly chapped from the winter wind, but you don’t particularly mind, sucking his lower lip between yours. His fingers grip your hair more tightly and he moves to deepen the kiss [[but—]]<</replace>><</link>><</replace>><</link>><</replace>><</link>></span>You’re interrupted by a gasp that comes from neither you nor him.
<center>[img[kiss.jpg]]</center>
You spring away from each other and whip around to see Onoda and Naruko pulling to a stop behind where you’ve set your bikes down. Onoda’s turned almost as red as Naruko’s hair while Naruko cackles, slapping his knees.
“I can’t believe it! Took you long enough, eh, hotshot?”
Imaizumi frowns. “Su— Teru and I have been [[together]] since we got back from summer break.” His voice cracks indignantly.
You know that you’d just agreed to tell the team but hearing Imaizumi say it so frankly, hearing him say your name, makes you turn as red as Onoda.
“Y-yeah!” You manage to stammer out. “Don't laugh! Ima— Shunsuke and I were planning on telling you guys, but—”
Naruko laughs so hard that tears start leaking from his eyes. “No, no! It’s okay, man! We’ve actually been [[placing bets]] about when you guys would get together for the past month, but nobody guessed that you guys were already together!” His smile falters for a moment. "Wait, shit, that means I owe Sadatoki 1000 yen."
Onoda continues to steadfastly not make eye contact with anybody.
“Anyways,” Onoda starts, “shouldn’t we get going?”
You’re surprised at how quickly and easily that went over as Naruko nods and they kick off further up the road. You jump when Shunsuke snakes his hand into yours. He smiles at you, real and genuine, and leans in for another [[kiss]].Today is the big day. The day you’ve been looking forward to. The [[biggest day|true]] of the entire year.And what’s more, it’s your first Valentine’s Day as part of a couple, and because of that, you’ve brought your [[boyfriend]] a box of homemade chocolates.
Shunsuke ducks down to give you a quick kiss as he accepts your chocolates, opening his locker and popping one into his mouth in complete ignorance of Naruko’s incessant whooping and the sputtering of the first years who saw.
You glance around nervously, heart beating in your ears, expecting the worst, but Naruko winks at you and stage-whispers: “Your secret is safe with us.” Shunsuke turns around and smiles at you genuinely and you can’t help but think, that maybe everything else will work out in the end.
The road isn’t always easy, but Shunsuke found his way to your heart as you’ve found your way to his.
<center>[img[true.png]]
[[PLAY AGAIN|start]]</center>
Oh. You’d forgotten about that. Your family already knows that you, uh, aren't quite as straight as you could be.
But does Imaizumi's family know?
Mm, probably not.
You two [[don't need|know]] to tell anyone.
Still, shouldn't the team [[know]]?
You're pretty sure that he hates all forms of physical displays of affection.
<span id="hand"><<link "Hand holding?">></span><<replace "#hand">>You touched his hand walking to the club room, and you had held it for a second. You looked up into his face, and the way he looked back at you... well, you had taken your hand back to your side, brushing it on your pants, making some sort of excuse.
<span id="lean"><<link "Just leaning on his shoulder?">></span><<replace "#lean">>You had leaned against him during lunch once, in a quiet shady spot, and his heart rate had spiked so high you pulled away before he fainted.
<span id="kiss"><<link "Kissing!?">></span><<replace "#kiss">>So of course, when you had kissed behind the club room, the second you heard a footstep you pushed him away, brushing your hair back in place as he straightened himself out as well.
You two were a secret, you knew that. It still kind of sucked.<</replace>><</link>><</replace>><</link>><</replace>><</link>></span>
None of that stopped the fact that Valentine’s Day is [[coming up]] way too fast.You flail your hands frantically. “No! Nonononono! Not that.” Imaizumi’s shoulders relax as he sighs in relief and you scratch the back of your neck sheepishly.
“I was actually thinking more the [[opposite]].”<span id="hand"><<link "When we tried holding hands?">></span><<replace "#hand">>"You let go the second I looked at you."
<span id="lean"><<link "When I tried laying on your shoulder?">></span><<replace "#lean">>"”I was blushing so hard, you scooted away so we wouldn’t look suspicious, right?"
<span id="kiss"><<link "What about when we… ki...kissed?">></span><<replace "#kiss">>Imaizumi turns red when you ask him. "I didn't want.. to make anyone uncomfortable by being one of //those// couples. I thought we were on the same page...<</replace>><</link>><</replace>><</link>><</replace>><</link>></span>
Imaizumi shakes his head. "I would be okay with the team knowing, but what if it [[got out]] to our families?""It's fine if only the team knows. We'd probably be able to trust them with that much."
You nod in agreement. "We can just [[keep it a secret]] from the adults."You //are// a very experienced cyclist after all. No, it's much [[worse]] than that.And he //hates// Valentine's Day.
[[Actually...|actually]]You can’t bring yourself to say it. You lie and say yes. You’re still on the ground, staring at his outstretched hand.
As Imaizumi helps you up in complete silence, you can’t help but think that there are some boundaries that need to be crossed.
<center>[img[bad.png]]
[[PLAY AGAIN|start]]</center><style>body{width:100%;height:100%;background:#1d0f0e;color:white;}</style>...But he pulls back abruptly. You stare at him in confusion as he steadfastly gazes at the screen, despite the fact that this movie isn’t very [[good]]. You think you’re okay, though, as you feel him squeeze your hand again.You’re usually [[always]] prepared.But not this time, this time you’ve left everything up to the last minute. You’re regretting fretting over what to do for so long, as you run through the grocery store, hastily selecting chocolates to melt down. No matter what kind of chocolate it is, it goes in your cart, and before long you have every flavor, from Dark to White to even Chili? Chocolate comes in chili Flavor?
You rush home and melt all of the chocolates in the same pan (oh geez, is it burning?), watching as the different shades swirl around each other and harden into a marbled pattern. Honestly. you’re surprised that it doesn’t look like a complete disaster.
<center>[[Good enough.|present]]</center>