Tsuki then takes a seat next to Shiori on the ground. He doesn't look at her as Kitaro and Haru prepare the video game. She looks at him for a moment before speaking.
Shiori "Hey Tsuki. That was pretty cool of you, offering to not come and all just for us."
He looks at her confused for a moment then understands.
Tsuki "It was nothing. As long as you have a good time, that's all I care about."
He smiles at her as she smiles back. Hikigaya turns around from the counter being satisfied with the amount of food on his plate and sees Shiori and Tsuki smiling at each other. His face drops a bit before coming back to his spot on the couch. The group then continues to hangout late into the night.
Back at school, the group is on their way out of school and right before they all go their separate ways, a tall girl with short brown hair and loud makeup walks past the hallway. She stops and turns when she sees the group and focuses on Hikigaya. Her face lights up as she rushes in his direction. Shiori looks over and sees her coming their way.
Shiori "Who is that?"
The others look at her confused too before Lucy speaks.
Lucy "Is that..?"
Haru "Oh this'll be good."
Hikigaya then slowly turns to see the girl coming his way. Before he can really react, she pushes Shiori to the side and jumps on him, landing a kiss on his lips. Shiori falls back with a shocked look on her as the others are shocked too. Hikigaya's eyes are wide with shock as she pulls back a little, leaving her arms around his neck.
Girl "Hikigaya! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Hikigaya is too stunned to respond and she gets a playful look.
Girl "Oh, I'm sorry. I know it's a lot, me taking your first kiss and all…"
Hikigaya shakes his head a bit before pulling her arms off of him.
Hikigaya "Don't worry about it… You didn't."
The girl pouts a bit.
Girl "Aw no fair! Who did then?"
Lucy "What are you doing here, Milo?"
Milo "Hello to you too, Lucy. I was just so excited to see Hiki again, I couldn't help myself!"
Sugawara leans over to Haru and whispers.
Sugawara "Who's that?.."
Haru "That's Milo. She's a girl from our old middle school that had a huge crush on Hikigaya and asked him out constantly. He always turned her down though because he was obsessed with cloud girl, especially back then…"
Milo "That's right. And I've been looking for you ever since! You refused to tell me what high school you were going to."
Hikigaya "I wonder why…"
Milo "But when I saw you at the Sports Festival, I knew I had to get into Iris High no matter what! It took some time but I finally was able to make it."
Sugawara "But isn't that a first year uniform..?"
Milo "Yes sir! I'm only a year below Hiki and friends! Speaking of which, I've never seen you before… Who are you?"
Hikigaya "Look, I'd love to stay and chat but we gotta get home."
Milo "Oh that's great! I'll walk you home!"
Milo reaches for his hand but before she can grab it, Shiori jumps in the way.
Shiori "No thank you. That's my job."
She says aggressively. Milo looks down on her with an offended look.
Milo "And who are you, shorty?"
They glare at each other before Hikigaya grabs Shiori's hand and pulls her along with Alice following them. Milo is shocked and calls to him.
Milo "Oh okay Hiki! I'll just meet you at home! You still live in the apartments right?"
She says as they rush off. The others all laugh amongst themselves as they part ways. As they walk, Shiori asks Hikigaya about her.
Shiori "So, what was all that about?"
Hikigaya droops a bit and sweats.
Hikigaya "I'd really rather not talk about it.."
Alice giggles as they walk off.
At school, Ms. Samuel calls for the attention of all the students.
Samuel "Okay class, today, I have an announcement. I have been informed that our class has been assigned the annual school play."
The class seems confused and whispers amongst themselves.
Samuel 'Okay… Not the reaction I thought I'd get…' "That means, we will be in charge of deciding the play, practicing, building and performing the play to a public audience, you all understand that, right?"
Suddenly, everyone begins to perk up and get loud.
Student "What?? No way!"
Sugawara "You mean we have to act?!"
Hikigaya "This doesn't sound like a good idea…"
The group and others begin to get worried and upset with the decision. She covers her ears from the class loudly getting upset.
Samuel 'There it is…' "I know, I know. It's a big task to carry out but you should be excited! You get to create something amazing and show off to a whole crowd of people!"
The class still isn't convinced.
Samuel "Or… you get a month off of school work if you do it."
Suddenly, the class starts calming down and understanding.
Haru "That sounds like a fair deal to me."
Lucy "As long as I don't have to study, I'm down."
Samuel sighs in disappointment that the class is so happy about not doing school work.
Samuel "Yes, while we prepare and perform the play, you will not be required to do any normal school work. However, that doesn't mean this will be easy. We will be meeting with a play director who I'm sure will be hard on you just like I will be. This still counts as credits to your graduation. Here is the packet of information on the event."
She begins walking around and handing out packers to the students. Some of them seem excited while others seem to dread it.
Samuel "With proper parent permission, you may be excused from the play with a minimum passing grade. Those with already low scores in the class, I don't recommend you skip this."
She heads back to the front of the class behind her podium desk.
Samuel "We are scheduled for a Spring release so starting soon we will be spending most of our days in the theater or here prepping. Any questions?"
The class begins discussing as outside of the class, Tsuki spies through the door.
Tsuki 'A play huh..? But what if…?'
He thinks about the play for a moment and imagines Hikigaya as a knight with a sword and Shiori as a damsel in distress as he leans in to kiss her on stage.
Tsuki 'No way! I have to get in that play!'
Later that day, the group walks out of the class and down the hall as the day comes to an end.
Chizuru "Man, I can't believe it's already almost Valentine's again!"
Hikigaya "Time does fly by, doesn't it?"
Lucy "Hey Ryuji, you gonna make me some more of those killer sweets like always?"
She says while throwing her arm around his neck and pulling him in close. He blushes a bit.
Ryuji "Maybe…"
Lucy "Oh come on! You always make me some! Let's not stop this tradition!"
She says as she jumps on his back a bit. Sugawara then looks at Haru and blushes a bit as they hold hands. Chizuru then turns and looks at Shiori.
Chizuru "What should we do this year? Last year we made chocolates and stuff, maybe we should do it again!"
Lucy "Oh yeah. Who did you give yours to, Shiori?"
She looks surprised for a moment as she thinks. She thinks back to when she gave Hikigaya chocolate and him eating them. She begins to get red and covers her face.
Lucy "Shiori?"
Shiori "Huh? Oh, yeah, I don't remember, sorry."
Hikigaya "I do. Didn't you give them to-"
Shiori "Shut up you dumbass!"
She covers his mouth as he flails about while she blushes. Chizuru then gets an idea.
Chizuru "Let's make cookies this time! Everyone always makes chocolates or candies but no one ever makes cookies!"
Lucy "Well yeah. That kinda misses the point of giving candy.."
Touma "D-do you like cookies, Chizuru..?"
They're all surprised by him speaking so he blushes and looks away as Chizuru smiles.
Chizuru "Of course I do! Everyone loves some yummy sweets."
Hisana "I know I do!"
She says while licking her lips.
Hisana "Maybe this time I'll give some to Kitaro."
She says while rubbing against his shoulder in a playfully seductive way.
Kitaro "Don't bother, you'll probably just forget and give it to the first cute boy you see."
Hisana "Aw you're so mean to me! I'm not that dumb!"
She playfully hits him while Haru and Sugawara talk.
Haru "We should make a cake together for Valentine's!"
Sugawara "That sounds fun! Can we… make it in the shape of a heart?"
He asks timidly. Haru smiles and lifts him up in a hug.
Haru "You're so cute!"
Sugawara blushes and steams as he hugs him tightly.
Shiori "That's not fair. You guys are dating this time."
Haru "Well if you want this then maybe hurry up and find a partner."
He says with a smile. Shiori pouts as she gets off of Hikigaya who catches his breath.
Hikigaya "You know, you don't have to kill me to ask me to stop talking."
Shiori 'Hmph's as him as she walks ahead of him. Touma talks to Chizuru about cookies as they walk while Suiyoubi talks to Alice.
Suiyoubi "Are you going to make cookies for anyone this year?"
Alice "Ha ha ha! As if a hero like me would even need to make anything! I'm sure I'll receive lots of sweet treats come Valentine's!"
She says confidently. Suiyoubi sweats a bit as Mormo pops out of her bag and looks at the viewer.
Mormo "Man, and I thought my confidence was bad."
Lucy "Well I guess it's settled. We're gonna make cookies this year!"
The group gets excited as they leave school for the day.
With Valentine's Day approaching soon, the group gets together for a baking day. Shiori, Hisana, Chizuru, Touma, Ryuji, Tsuki and Lucy all meet up at Chizuru's house. They are in the kitchen with an array of cookie ingredients around.
Chizuru "Okay! I hope everyone knows who they're making cookies for because we're gonna jump right in!"
Lucy "Don't mind me, I'll be the certified cookie tester."
She says as she takes a seat in the front room attached to the kitchen.
Chizuru "Oh come on, you're not gonna make any cookies with us?"
Lucy "Nope. I don't have anyone to give them to."
Chizuru pouts then sighs and moves on.
Chizuru "Forget her. Let's just have fun!"
She says happily as the others nod.