"Kusuo... he deleted those posts?" Honami froze at Hiyori's words.
"Why would he do that? And how?" Honami was baffled.
"Kusuo may seem cold, but he truly values his friends," Hiyori smiled.
"He helped me a lot in the past too." Honami recalled when Kusuo helped her with a confession from a classmate.
Though Kusuo hadn't intended to help at the time.
"Kusuo is incredibly capable. His abilities are beyond what I imagined. I believe only he could've helped Honami. No one else could've done it," Hiyori said.
"I'm not sure how he did it, but I think Kusuo took action himself. That's why Sakayanagi's plan failed."
Hiyori wasn't certain, but she deduced Kusuo's involvement.
*If I were Sakayanagi, I'd have pushed further after yesterday's success. But she didn't. Why? Did she give up? Unlikely. She must've tried something—but it failed. The teachers' intervention stopped her.*
*Only someone with great ability and knowledge of Honami and Sakayanagi could've stopped her. In my mind, only Kusuo fits that description. I'm sure he acted.*
"I see," Honami nodded, realizing something.
"I'll meet Kusuo tomorrow... Maybe he already knows my past... But like you said, Hiyori, I need to tell him in person..."
Her expression turned serious.
"Tomorrow? Honami, do you remember what day it is?" Hiyori asked meaningfully.
"Tomorrow?" Honami checked her phone.
"It's Valentine's Day!"
Honami and Hiyori had grown close after discussing romance in their group.
"Sorry for bothering you today. Get some rest! I should go!"
"Thanks for visiting, Hiyori! And... just call me Honami!"
That evening, Honami sat on her bed, checking the time.
"School's been over for a while... If I wait longer, the shops will close!"
She rushed out of her dorm to the school supermarket.
Her cold symptoms seemed better, perhaps due to her improved mood.
At the supermarket, it was nearly closing time, so few people were around.
"Hmm... Which one is popular?"
Honami hurried to the chocolate section, filled with Valentine's Day displays.
But she'd never bought a gift before, especially for Valentine's Day. She had no idea what to choose.
"Are you looking for Valentine's chocolate?" A staff member approached.
"Ah! Yes..." Honami was surprised.
"It's written all over your face. You want to give something to a boy you like."
"No! I owe him a lot. He saved me... I want to give him chocolate as thanks."
*This is my first gift ever. I can't believe it's Valentine's chocolate...*
"Wait, do I know you?" Honami asked the staff member.
The girl looked her age, with nice features and tanned skin.
It was Aiura Mikoto, working a part-time job.
Her fortune-telling shop was popular during Valentine's Day, as couples sought quirky gifts.
Mikoto had worked hard all day, but she'd predicted Kusuo would come to the supermarket. She'd come early to meet him by chance.
But as closing time neared, Kusuo hadn't appeared. Mikoto doubted her prediction.
"Maybe. I work at the fortune-telling shop during the day!" Mikoto smiled.
"Oh, right. Which chocolate do you recommend?"
"You should pick what you like. Trust your instincts."
After some thought, Honami chose a box of chocolate.
"Want me to add a card? Like 'I love you'?"
"No! No!" Honami blushed, refusing.
Another girl approached—pink hair, glasses. Honami felt a strange familiarity but was too shy to linger. She quickly paid and left.
The pink-haired girl grabbed some chocolates and left too.
*My prediction was wrong. Kusuo never showed up. My skills are off lately...*
Outside the supermarket, the pink-haired girl went to a secluded corner.
"Fortune-telling is a scary ability," she said.
It was Kusuo, using his transformation ability to disguise himself.
*I came near closing time, thinking it'd be empty. But Mikoto was here. Good thing I sensed her with telepathy.*
If Mikoto had seen him buying chocolate, it would've been awkward.
*I only bought chocolate to prevent accidents. It doesn't mean I'll give it to anyone.*
He turned and noticed Honami.
*Was that Honami? Buying chocolate too? Normal, I guess. She's popular, so she probably has many friends to give gifts to. Time to go.*
Kusuo teleported back to his dorm.
The next morning, Kusuo entered the classroom, hearing the excited chatter.
"It's Valentine's Day!"
"I wonder how many chocolates I'll get!"
"So excited!"
Kusuo saw Hirata's desk piled with chocolates—obligatory, friendship, and more. Hirata's popularity was undeniable.
Handsome, smart, and always helping others—he was nearly perfect.
"Will I get any chocolates?" Kanji entered, hoping for gifts.
He rushed to his desk and opened the drawer—finding an empty gift box with a note.
"You didn't think a girl would give you chocolate, did you?" Haruki read the note, his prank.
"Hahaha! Your reaction, Kanji! You were hoping, weren't you?"
Kanji's face fell.
"That's not funny, Haruki."
*True. Pranks on Valentine's Day are cruel.*
Kusuo glanced at Haruki, understanding his poor reputation.
Kanji felt disappointed, but then a girl approached him.
"Here," Satsuki handed him a box of chocolate.
During the island exam, they'd argued, but after Kanji apologized, they grew closer.
The class noticed, but Kusuo had known first. He kept it to himself.
Satsuki left without a word, but Kanji stopped her.
"Wait... Thanks... I have something for you too..."
Kanji, usually carefree, stammered, blushing. He gave her a box of chocolate.
"What the heck?"
Seeing Ike and Shinohara together, Yamauchi Haruki's face twisted in annoyance. He hadn't expected Ike to receive chocolate from a girl.
*How is this possible?! Why would anyone give Ike chocolate?! Seriously?! The guy's short, his grades suck, and that girl's not exactly impressive either!*
Haruki thought to himself.
*'Geez, you were friends earlier, and now you're trashing him in your head? And Ike's grades might still be better than yours, buddy.'*
Even Saiki Kusuo couldn't be bothered to comment.
"Is Yamauchi here?"
Just then, a familiar voice called from the doorway.
It was Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Here, here!"
Haruki replied loudly enough for the whole class to hear, then quickly left through the back door to meet Arisu.
"It's a special day, so I brought you a special gift!"
Arisu smiled, handing Haruki a box of chocolates.
*This is a one-way ticket to hell for Yamauchi,* Saiki heard Arisu's thoughts clearly.
He turned his head slightly, his gaze meeting Arisu's.
"Looking forward to working with you in the future."
Arisu smiled, her words directed not just at Haruki, but at Saiki as well.