March 13th, the eve of White Day.
Izumi Chihiro thought about it and still decided to give return gifts to everyone.
Of course, it was merely a return gift.
He learned the steps for making them online and prepared to replicate them.
While he was busy in the kitchen, Mashiro happened to come out of her room, heard the noise, and walked in.
"Chihiro, are you making chocolate?"
She looked at the ingredients in the kitchen, which were quite familiar.
"Yes, it's a return gift for last month."
He nodded slightly, continuing to focus on his task.
Believing he had some cooking skills, making chocolate wasn't too difficult for him.
"I want to join too."
Mashiro's eyes showed a hint of interest.
"You just want to eat chocolate, don't you!"
Izumi Chihiro's gaze seemed to see through her thoughts.
However, he didn't refuse, letting Mashiro be his assistant; when he added flavor to the chocolate, Mashiro would wipe her finger and taste it.
"How does it taste this time?"
He asked.
"Um, how should I describe it? Very delicious?"
Mashiro entered thinking mode.
"Let me try it."
Izumi Chihiro thought for a moment, preparing to taste it himself.
"Chihiro."
Mashiro suddenly spoke. He turned his head, only for Mashiro to put her chocolate-stained finger into his mouth.
"How should this be described?"
The girl, with an earnest expression, asked.
"Too rich... Ah, no!"
He answered subconsciously, then reacted, "Why did you just put your finger in my mouth?"
"Why, you ask? Because Chihiro, you wanted to taste it."
Mashiro said with a serious expression.
"I wasn't trying to taste your finger."
Izumi Chihiro looked up.
"Then what does a finger taste like?"
Mashiro thought for a moment, then lowered her head and put her finger into her mouth.
"It tastes like chocolate!"
She looked shocked.
"If it weren't Mashiro, I would definitely think you were teasing me."
Chihiro's expression was speechless.
Although there were some minor hiccups, he still managed to prepare everything he needed, and on that day, he delivered the prepared gifts.
"This is the proof of your love for me, Chihiro!"
Upon receiving the gift, Yamada Elf immediately became carried away with herself.
Chihiro simply said, "I'm still busy delivering gifts, so I won't keep you company."
"What!? So I'm not your only one!"
Yamada Elf looked utterly shocked, collapsing onto the sofa.
"Does that even need to be asked, Elf?"
Sagiri scoffed softly, looking down at the chocolate she had received, a sweet warmth spreading in her heart.
"Mashiro, this is yours."
He entered Mashiro's room and delivered the item.
Mashiro silently accepted the item, and seeing the door close again, she unconsciously placed her right hand over her chest.
There was an indescribable feeling there.
"As for Nayuta and Muramasa, I'll personally deliver theirs on Saturday. Next up..."
Chihiro walked out of the Izumi and arrived at the intersection, looking up at Detective Slope.
...
"Coming over at this hour, could it be to freeload a meal? But you're too late... If you call me Aunt Sayuri, Chihiro-chan, it's not impossible for me to let you taste my cooking."
Sawamura Sayuri held a paper fan, lightly covering her face, a playful look on her face.
"Aunt Sayuri, you're still so fixated on that!"
Chihiro just complained, then changed the subject.
"I'm here to see Eriri."
"Oh?"
Sawamura Sayuri let out a soft exclamation.
It wasn't seeing Eriri that surprised her, but the item in the boy's hand.
"This packaging, could it be chocolate?"
Her expression was now like a comical smiley face.
"It seems today is White Day, Chihiro-chan. Are you here to return a gift? What's wrong, have you decided who your 'true love' is? Don't worry, it certainly won't be a problem here."
Sawamura Sayuri looked like she wanted to tease him.
"This is a giri chocolate."
He, of course, wouldn't give her the chance, stating coldly.
"Eh, why is it a giri chocolate?"
Sawamura Sayuri was a bit confused.
That packaging looked like...
"Because Eriri gave me a giri chocolate."
He explained.
"Is that so?"
Sawamura Sayuri turned her head away, her eyes full of disdain.
I gave you a chance, and you didn't take it! I went to all this trouble to teach you!
What era is this, and you're still a traditional tsundere?
Aren't you even looking at market trends? Idiot Eriri!
After a moment of internal scorn towards her daughter, she regained her composure and turned back.
"Then go on up, Chihiro-chan."
He walked up the stairs.
"Eriri."
Arriving at the door, Chihiro called out.
"Hm?"
Eriri's hand twitched, and her manuscript became crooked.
However, this wasn't on paper; she could simply click undo to revert it, so she didn't fly into a rage. She was just curious why her childhood friend had suddenly visited.
"This is a return gift."
When her childhood friend handed her the exquisitely packaged chocolate, her mind was still a bit muddled.
She suddenly remembered that today was March 14th, White Day, which was when the male returns gifts.
Seeing the appearance of this true love chocolate, her heart instantly sped up.
Could it be that Chihiro was about to...?
The next sentence quickly shattered her illusion.
"I have other things to do, so I'm heading back first."
Huh? Why are you going back already!
Eriri snapped out of her daze and grabbed the corner of his clothes.
"Eriri?"
His tone was puzzled.
"You, didn't you forget something?"
Eriri whispered,
"Forgot what? I didn't forget anything."
"For something like this, shouldn't you say some lines...?"
"Oh, oh, thank you, Eriri, for the chocolate you sent last time. It was delicious."
"That's it!?"
Eriri's expression was very awkward.
"What else?"
He retorted, "Eriri, what exactly do you want me to say? Stop speaking in riddles."
"No, nothing."
Eriri's gaze darted around as she said softly.
"Since that's the case, I'll head back."
Izumi Chihiro no longer lingered and left the room.
In the room.
"Just you wait! Sooner or later, I'll make you confess to me first!"
Eriri muttered to herself, looking unwilling.
She finally confronted her feelings.
There was some progress, but not much.
"Goodbye, Aunt Sayuri."
"Come visit whenever you have time, Chihiro-chan~"
After bidding farewell to Sawamura, Izumi Chihiro walked down the street, his expression suddenly changing.
"Heh, Eriri, you think you can make me confess first with your methods? You're a thousand years too early! Let's see who can't stand it first..."
The corners of his mouth slowly curved upward.
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💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter