I let out a satisfied sigh as I descended the last step of my home's staircase, a sense of peace washing over me after a revitalizing bath. As I entered the living room, my gaze fell on Komachi, who was sprawled comfortably on the plush sofa.
Beside her, Kamakura was nestled against her. She was engrossed in the flickering light of the television, which showed a news anchor standing solemnly before a heavily guarded area. The backdrop featured a shopping center in Nagoya, hinting at something significant unfolding, capturing their undivided attention as they absorbed the events.
"In other news, the recent surge of violent attacks in the region has plunged the community into a state of fear and unrest. Authorities attribute this alarming trend to a ruthless, seemingly organized terror groups hell-bent on shattering the peace in Nagoya, Okazaki, Ichinomiya, Toyohashi, and several more cities. Their motives remain shrouded in mystery, but it's clear they seek to unleash terror and chaos upon the local population." The reporter said. "Fortunately, the police have acted with remarkable speed and resolve, intervening just in time to thwart one of these groups' sinister plans here in the city of Nagoya. Their decisive action averted what could have been widespread destruction and potentially grave injuries to innocent civilians. However, their success didn't come without consequence; several officers sustained injuries, suffering bite wounds in the heat of confrontation. They were promptly rushed to Nagoya University Hospital, where medical teams worked quickly to provide them with urgent care."
"Komachi, what are you watching?" I asked as I stepped over the corner of the couch, casting a glance at my sister.
"Me? The news, I guess? I wanted to watch something else, but I couldn't reach the TV remote." Komachi said as she made a show of being unable to reach the remote. "What are you doing, Onii-chan?"
"Just grabbing a cup of coffee," I walked into the kitchen to prepare a cup.
"Ah! I want one, too!"
Nodding, I quickly made two fresh cups of coffee, mine with lots of sugar, and headed back to the couch. I grabbed the remote and paused as the news anchor announced that the Prime Minister would release an important announcement to the nation tomorrow.
The Prime Minister? I wonder what he has to say. I'll watch a recording of it after the Valentine's event.
"-the following list of hospitals have now been declared over occupancy. If you have a medical emergency, we have provided a list of the closest medical facilities in your area. Please refer to-"
I changed the channel and found a rerun of an old anime that I had watched a few years ago. Komachi, holding a cup of coffee, sat up and joined me in watching the show.
As the night went on, we made jokes and comments about the ridiculous plot. Eventually, I noticed my eyes growing heavy and glanced at the clock, realizing it was already past 10:30. Deciding it was time to call it a night, Komachi and I headed to our rooms to sleep.
"Goodnight, Onii-chan!"
"Yeah, goodnight,"
Hopefully, this Valentine's event won't last too long tomorrow.
x x x
Chiba City Mihama Ward Takasu Community Center
"Slice up the chocolate and heat it with water. Once it's melted, pour it into the mold," Yukino instructed, standing beside Yumiko and Yui. They were all wearing colorful aprons and headscarves, and Yumiko was busy chopping a bar of milk chocolate.
"Is that it? It seems kind of... simple," Yumiko replied, looking confused. Yui suddenly jumped up and got in close to Yumiko's face.
"You're being too naive, Yumiko! Heating it with water isn't just about dumping the chocolate in! You have to do it with some flair! Like, 'Gwah!' or something!" Yui exclaimed, waving her hands around animatedly.
I sighed and glanced around the spacious home economics room. Several students from Kaihin Sogo High School had joined our school, including some members of their student council from the Christmas event. Among them was Kaori Orimoto and her friends, but I chose to ignore her and instead focused on Yoshiteru Zaimokuza—wait, why is he here?—as he posed over a boiling pot of water.
I looked away from him and saw Hayato and the rest of his clique working away at their stations. Haruno Yukinoshita, Yukino's older sister, walked into my line of sight and waved at me. I sighed and nodded back at the special lecturer Iroha had called in. From the corner of my eye, I saw Saika Totsuka walk into the room. A sports bag over his shoulder. He offered me a friendly wave and smile before walking over to talk to Yui. Overall, it was a packed chocolate workshop.
Hiratsuka-Sensei is supposed to show up at some point, too. I guess she's running late.
With nothing to occupy my time, I walked over to a large cabinet filled with plates and cutlery and leaned against it. From that vantage point, I watched everyone work, the smell of chocolate and sugar wafting through the room. My eyes wandered and landed on Saki showing her little sister, Keita, how to prepare the chocolate with careful directions. My eyes darted away and fell on our school's former Student Council President, Meguri Shiromeguri. She was talking with Haruno about who knows what. Noticing that I was enjoying my solitude a little too much, Hayato walked over and leaned against the same cabinet beside me.
This is my cabinet. Get your own.
"Well done," Hayato said as he looked around as well. "This way, everyone is at ease. Even Tobe's happy, thanks to this."
I looked at Tobe and saw him eating some of the chocolates Hina had made. She smiled at him as he ate away at the plate of chocolates in her hands with gusto. "I don't care about chocolate or Tobe. Especially Tobe."
Hayato chuckled awkwardly and looked over at me with a small smile. "Haha, that's mean."
"Hayato!" Yumiko called out, grabbing Hayato's attention. Without a word, he left to go over to her side.
Feeling that my once peaceful spot was now filled with Riajuu energy, I walked over to Iroha, who was stirring a pot of chocolate with a plastic spatula. She was humming a tune that sounded vaguely familiar.
"You really can cook, can't you?" I said once close enough.
"What's that? You hitting on me? You think you'll get these sweets just 'cause you said something nice? You're too naive. You'd better do things over and come back later. So sorry." Iroha said quickly. I had lost count of how many times this girl had rejected me. I sighed with my eyes closed, but was jolted when something solid and sweet was shoved into my mouth.
"Here! Senpai, do you dislike sweet things like this?" Iroha smiled as she took the spoon out of my mouth. I felt my cheeks blush at the cute look she was giving me.
"…I don't hate it," I uttered. Suddenly, I felt a low, ominous energy from behind me.
"By the way, Hikigaya-kun. You're the taste tester, aren't you? You've been completely useless up until now. So I totally forgot about you." Yukino said, eyes closed and with a sickeningly sweet smile. She stirred her pot of an extremely dark chocolate mixture and held her spatula up at me. "Go on. Try my chocolate as well and tell me what you think."
That mix is definitely over ninety percent cocoa. It'll be bitter as hell. I squinted at the slowly approaching spoon and swallowed the lump in my throat.
x x x
After several more minutes of focused work, it became evident that everyone was beginning to settle into the rhythm of the chocolate-making process. The warm, rich aroma of melted chocolate filled the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter and conversation. Yui sat at her workstation, meticulously reviewing her notes, ensuring every step of the process was followed carefully.
She carefully measured out her ingredients, her brow furrowed in concentration as she aimed for precision. This was necessary due to her past track record when it came to making food. Could one even call what Yui makes food? I still remember the stomachache I got after eating her cookies.
Meanwhile, Yukino moved around the room, her keen eyes surveying everyone's creations. She stopped briefly at each station, offering encouragement to those who seemed uncertain and providing tips on techniques that could enhance their results.
"Speaking of Valentine's Day," Tamanawa, the president of the Kaihins student council and a master of useless banter, remarked to his group of friends gathered nearby, "it's interesting to note that in many countries overseas, it's traditionally the man who gives gifts to his partner! Imagine if someone here in Japan were aware of this aspect of globalization; that would really broaden our perspectives!" He smiled, a glint in his eye. "Such a person might even be labeled a 'so-called Influencer' in our society!" His friends nodded in agreement, seemingly engaged by his lively take on cultural differences.
Like always, I have no idea what that guy is saying. Or should I say, not saying.
"Hikigaya. You got any spare chocolate molds?" Kaori asked with a smile as she approached me. I frowned, grabbed one of the star molds next to me, and handed it to her. "Thanks… by the way. Have I ever given you chocolate before, Hikigaya?"
I stared at Kaori and frowned. From behind me, Yui, Yukino, Saki, Tamanawa, and Iroha sharply spun their heads in our direction. Is she making fun of me?
"No, you didn't,"
"Really? Then I'll give you some this year!" Kaori said with a smile, pumping her star mold.
"Eh, no… fine, I guess," I said, unsure of what to say. I shifted around uncomfortably and looked off to the side. I saw Haruno grinning at me mischievously from her spot on the cabinets. As it happened, Hayato was beside her.
"Speaking of which, Hayato-kun has also received chocolate from Yukino-" Haruno was interrupted when a loud thunderclap resounded from outside.
Everyone flinched as the building trembled violently, cutlery rattling ominously on the tables. Once the rumble subsided, we instinctively turned our gaze to the window. Without thinking, I crossed the room and gasped at the horrific scene unfolding before me. A colossal plume of thick, dark smoke spiraled into the sky from just beyond the community center, painting the orange hues of the sky in black.
A bus, mangled and broken, was lodged halfway inside the crumbling structure, its engine engulfed in a furious blaze that devoured the metal with an insatiable hunger. The flames flickered and danced, gradually creeping toward the back of the bus.
Inside, the trapped passengers erupted into a cacophony of screams, their panic palpable in the thickening smoke. I watched, frozen in horror, as several desperate souls, driven by desperation, hurled themselves through the shattered windows. Their bodies hit the unforgiving asphalt with brutal thuds.
"Oh my god!" I heard several voices scream behind me. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Yui, Yukino, Saika, Haruno, and Hayato run over beside me. We watched in horror as several of the trapped passengers jumped out of the windows. Their entire bodies were enveloped in flames. Even from behind the bus's windows, we could all watch as those who failed to escape were now burning alive.
"What the..." I muttered, horrified.
"Don't look! Everyone, get to the back of the room right now!" Haruno yelled and began pulling Yukino and Yui back from the windows. Hayato shook his head to snap out of his stupor and grabbed my shoulder.
"Come on, Hikigaya-kun. Away from the window!" Hayato said quickly and guided me back. He began urging everyone away from the window with his body.
I numbly walked back until my back hit the wall. From beside me, Saki was hugging her sister close to her chest. "Sa-Chan! Sa-Chan! What was that noise?"
"N-nothing! It was nothing, Kei-chan!" Saki said, her eyes trembling as she squeezed Keika into her chest.
"Nobody leaves this room! And stay away from the windows!" Haruno said with authority. But despite that, I saw the look of anxiety and fright in her eyes. She then turned to me and waved me over. "Hikigaya-kun! Keep an eye on Yukino-chan! I'm going to go out there and try to help!"
I numbly nodded and walked over to Yukino and Yui. Haruno gave a shaky smile and began walking towards the sliding door. She then looked over to Hayato, who was consoling a panicked Yumiko. "Hayato-kun. Don't let anyone leave or enter this room until the authorities arrive." Haruno said.
"Y-yeah." Hayato nodded. His neck bobbed as he swallowed the lump in his throat. Haruno nodded and left the room. Her heels echoed through the hall as she ran.
Several of the room's occupants took out their cellphones and began calling the police. Yumiko's face scrunched up, and she looked back at everyone. "I'm not getting a response! There's a machine saying all the lines are full!"
Everyone else began to receive the same message as their phones repeated the same line.
What the hell is going on?!