"Even I get one?"
Chihiro picked up the chocolate Mio had prepared for her, her eyes filled with quiet contentment. She never thought she'd receive chocolate on Valentine's Day. Even if it was only giri chocolate, that was more than enough to satisfy her. She was even a little touched.
"Yep. You probably didn't prepare any chocolate yourself, Chihiro-sensei, so give this to someone you like—or just eat it yourself. It should taste pretty good."
"I feel like there's a jab hidden in that, but seeing as you gave me chocolate, I'll let it slide." Chihiro held the chocolate Mio had given her, looking rather pleased.
Just then, Mashiro emerged from the bathroom, freshly washed up. When she saw the chocolate in the other two's hands, she quietly turned her gaze to Mio, as if to ask why she didn't have one.
Mio laughed softly. "Don't worry, I won't leave you out."
With Mio's assurance, Mashiro relaxed and went to the dining table to start on breakfast.
Hearing Mio, Rita put on a curious act. "Why not take it out now? The chocolate you're giving Mashiro—it's not different from ours, is it?"
"More or less the same."
Of course Mio caught Rita's meaning—she was fishing to find out whether the chocolate Mio was giving Mashiro was honmei chocolate. Mio could tell Rita with complete confidence that it was exactly what she imagined.
But what Rita would never guess was that Mio had prepared more than one honmei chocolate.
Just as Mio was grumbling to herself, the System's voice suddenly reached her ear: "Since today is Valentine's Day, most mobile games run events for the holiday. So naturally, as your System, I can't let a chance like this slip by."
"For today only, whenever Host's conquest rating increases, the amount gained will be doubled. And whenever you complete a mission, you'll get one extra chance to choose a reward. Today only~"
"If it weren't for the extra conquest rating boost, I might actually be interested," Mio grumbled quietly.
As if it had long anticipated its Host would say that, the System replied lazily, "The event only lasts a day anyway. Host can do whatever you like."
With that, the System went back into lurk mode.
Ending her exchange with the System, Mio picked up Haruno's breakfast and bento and carried them to Haruno's door. Not long after she rang the bell, Haruno opened it.
Haruno looked like she'd only just woken up. Her nightdress had slipped, the right strap sliding all the way down to her elbow, giving her a languid, alluring air. Even Mio couldn't help stealing a few extra glances.
"Senpai, isn't it a bit much to answer the door dressed like that? What if someone saw you?"
Haruno tapped the peephole on the door, then pointed at the camera on the smart lock. "I only opened the door after making sure the person outside was you. But I'm happy you care about me."
"Then go ahead and enjoy that. Here's your breakfast—and the chocolate on top is yours too."
"Is this the honmei chocolate my kouhai's giving me?"
"Take a guess~" Mio watched Haruno with a grin, though she didn't get the reaction she was hoping for.
"Whether it is or not, I'll just assume it is. Thank you."
"It's nothing. I'll be heading back now."
Back home, Mio finished breakfast, got Mashiro into her school uniform, and then the three of them set off from the apartment toward school.
On the way, Mio gave Mashiro the chocolate she'd prepared in advance.
"Mio, thank you." Having finally received her chocolate, Mashiro pressed two fingers to the corners of her mouth and gave Mio an adorable smile.
When Mio arrived at school and walked into the classroom, she felt most of the boys' eyes on her. In Japan, Valentine's Day is when girls give chocolate to the boys they like, and a month later the boys give chocolate back. So plenty of the boys were wondering who Mio would give chocolate to—even if only giri chocolate.
Already used to being stared at, Mio paid their gazes no mind and walked straight to her seat. Then she discovered her desk drawer was stuffed full of chocolates, most of them with little cards attached.
Looking at the delicate handwriting on the cards, Mio didn't need to think hard to know these chocolates were all from her female classmates.
Who knew she was this popular with the girls at school~
Before she crossed over, this might have made her happy. But now? There were already more than enough pretty girls on the System Roster—any more and she wouldn't be able to handle them.
Just then, Yumiko leaned over from beside her. "Feels like the chocolate you got could rival Hayato's."
"N-no way it's that much."
"Looks about the same to me. And I prepared some chocolate for you too." Yumiko took out the chocolate she'd readied ahead of time.
"Thanks. I'll take it without holding back~" As Mio accepted the chocolate, she pulled out the chocolate she'd prepared for Yumiko.
Looking at it, Yumiko asked curiously, "Is this honmei or giri?"
"Take a guess~"
"Want to guess whether I'll guess?"
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Right up until the bell rang, the two childish fools finally ended their endless back-and-forth.
While the teacher hadn't come in yet, Yumiko carefully examined the chocolate Mio had given her. She was still agonizing over whether it was giri chocolate or honmei chocolate. After puzzling over it for ages and coming up with nothing, she decided she'd just treat it as honmei and be done with it.
The class period passed quickly.
The instant the bell rang and the teacher announced the end of class, Yui was already on her feet. She strode briskly over to Mio's side. "Mio, this is for you—and it's my honmei chocolate."
"Thank you." Even though the chocolate Yui gave her didn't weigh much, it felt heavy in Mio's hands.
Setting aside her wandering thoughts, Mio handed over the chocolate she'd prepared for Yui.
Yumiko, who'd been watching Mio the whole time, saw the exchange between the two, and a knowing look flashed in her eyes. She'd suspected before that there was something complicated going on between Yui and Mio, and now it seemed that was indeed the case.
But even against Yui, she wasn't about to give up on Mio.
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