January passed by with a lot of things happening, for the first time in a while I layed on my bed watching random videos about cat tricks
"do you think you can do that Nagisa?"
it looked me and gave me an expression easy to read, it was a clear "No"
"I think it's already impressive enough that you can communicate so well with me"
I held Nagisa with both my hands and raised it to check something out
"are you a male or a female? how should I even know?"
when I was searching for something to indicate my cat's gender I heard the door of my room opening quietly
"what are you even doing...?"
the one who asked me is no other than my little sister Airi, she looked quite disgusted if I may say myself
"I'm just checking this little guy, there should be something to indicate it somewhere"
"she's a female, you brought her here and you still don't know her gender?"
I used my finger to scratch under Nagisa's chin making her make weird sounds, I didn't expect that having a cat would be this good I should have gotten a one earlier
"anyway...Onii-chan..."
my little sister is playing with her hair without looking directly at me, a slightly red face that shows her embarrassment and lastly she said Onii-chan instead of her usual Nii-chan، it all lead me to one Conclusion
"No"
"I didn't even ask you yet!"
"it's something bothersome right?"
she's acting all cute of course she want me to do something for her, I won't fall for such a cheap trap!
"do you mean you won't help your little sister when she's asking you?"
crocodile tears or something like that , when did her image of me drop so low that she thinks something like this would have an effect on me?
"so? what do you want?"
I'm just asking! I don't even consider doing anything that requires even a little bit of effort
"you know...mid February is coming soon and all..."
"so?"
today's the 12th, pretty much sure that this is not her birthday, will she even be this shameless to ask me for a gift?
"there's only one thing someone our age would think about in this time of the year!"
I see,it completely slipped my mind, but now I understand. she wants some of her big brother's experience
"you came to the right place Airi!"
"as expected of my big brother you're fast to understand!"
"it's only natural for a brother to help his sister, now let's start!"
"the kitchen is ready I just need your help wi-"
"the kitchen?"
"what"
"what"
we looked at each other for some time trying to figure it out, I think there's a huge misunderstanding here
"why would you go study in the kitchen?"
"who asked you about studying?!"
it's the time where people start thinking about the entrance exam no? I really thought she wanted help studying
"why would I even ask someone who barely managed to make it last time? more like aren't you the one who needs help?"
"I don't need any help! last time was just warming up, now I got the hang of it I can literally do anything!"
"yeah I to~ta~lly believe it"
she rolled her eyes over and sighed slightly, her attitude really changed a lot!
"who would even think about exams in this time of the year"
"I don't know,anyone who cares about his future?"
"there's something more important though!"
I started thinking as fast as I could but still failed to see her point
"what do we even do in the kitchen"
if she's hungry she should just say it, why make a fuss about it
"it's for chocolate! I want you to help me make some chocolate!"
"sure I guess?"
I still don't understand the reason but I'm just tired of this conversation, let's just make the best chocolate humanity ever witnessed and go to sleep
***
I tried to do all the job but Airi was so stubborn, she wanted to do it all by herself and I should just guide her, I stopped caring about it until after a whole day has passed
"do you like chocolate?"
the one who asked me was Naru, I met her on the way to school which is rare considering she's never two meters away from Makoto
"chocolate huh? If I had to choose I'd say I Like them yeah, but why are you even asking?"
is chocolate a trend now? or is it just some kind of coincidence
"why? obviously because I'm going to give you some, it'd be a waste if I made some and you didn't like them"
"that still doesn't answer my question"
"oh right, you have problems with your memory, you don't remember valentines day right?"
"what's that"
I remember hearing it before, honestly I heard it quite a lot lately but never bothered to ask about it
"I'll summarize it, girls give chocolate to boys normally in this day something like a thank you? that's obligatory at least, there's also yhe special one you give to someone you want to date"
it's a good way to confess huh? it's straight up dump and I don't see the appeal of it, but eating chocolate isn't a bad thing
"so, you are going to make some for Makoto too right?"
"obviously! I've been practicing all this time to make him addicted to it!"
"don't put too much drugs on it okay?"
"It didn't go well last time so I'm not doing it ever again"
I was joking at first but now I'm genuinely concerned about Makoto
"dang it must be cool getting a homemade chocolate, I kinda feel jealous"
"you know I'm making some for you too right?"
"really? I thought homemade were for special people"
"not really, it depends on the person"
thinking about it Airi too made one at home, so it doesn't necessarily mean it has feelings
"but..."
Naru talked with a low voice that doesn't suit her
"the one I'm giving you is kinda special...so you should be more thankful"
"Eh?"
I didn't expect her to say something embarrassing like this, it's a critical hit
"thank...you?"
I didn't even get the chocolate yet and it's already this embarrassing!
"don't misunderstand! it's true that you're a special person to me but...Agh WAAAAAAAAAAAH"
she was trying to cover her embarrassment by acting as a tsundere, that didn't go well did it? Naru is running away from me now
"you're such a sinful man Arucchi"
I turned to the voice instantly, I saw Chi-senpai with an awkward smile on her face waving to me, next to her was Emma, I never saw her come to school without a car though...more importantly
"why are you crying?"
"I-..."
she tried to fake strength for a moment but quickly started running away forcing the bodyguards to panic
"that's the second girl to run crying because of you today, and we just started too!"
"..."
even though Chi-senpai is teasing me I can't understand what's happening, did I become a dense bastard? the thought alone is scary
"Ah, I wish I could get some chocolate too"
Chi-senpai sighed as she walked next to me, since I don't have many chances to talk to her alone like this I decided to ask her the question I wanted to ask for a while
"are you perhaps into girls?"
"No? why would you think that!"
"you said it that you're not into boys before and you're harassing Suzuki and Hiragi-senpai as if it a good morning greeting"
"that's...I just don't like humans that much so seeing other races make me a little excited l"
"wait, isn't Suzuki human?"
I know about Hiragi-senpai's case but Suzuki too?
Chi-senpai laughed as she answered me with a scary smile
"Makoto is the only human in our club"
"No....I'm human too"
I tried to defend myself but she laughed harder every time I opened my mouth so I just gave up and accepted that I can't be considered human too
"I think it's ironic how's Makoto the only normal person I know, though he's the weirdest too"
"I mean it's hard to consider him normal since he's sister is half human"
even Shiori huh? is there's no one who's actually normal? maybe Naru could be considered normal or...
"wait what about Hoshino-san?"
"Hmm? don't worry about her, she's the most normal thing in this world"
that's good, it would be weird if she turned out to be a weird existence
"I'm just asking to make sure but, you're not human are you?"
we reached the gate already so I can't ask for details, she probably won't even answer if I ask something important, she stopped walking and looked at me, wind moved her hair around but she didn't move at all, her eyes still fixated on me
"I wonder~"
she walked away with a smile on her face, it's scary how many questions I want to ask her, yet every time I just end up with more questions...
the day just started but I already want to go home...
***
another day passed and Valentines day arrived, I didn't expect much at first but maybe I'll get a lot? I think I'm actually popular if I say so myself
"you spent two hours looking at the mirror! if you don't go now you'll be late!"
well, I have to make sure my appearance is as great as possible, I walked out of the bathroom confidentially, today I'm going to be a whole new person watch me!
"where are you going like that? you're still wearingyour pajamas"
***
I didn't get the best start possible, but it doesn't count does it?
I arrived at school late so I didn't getvthe chance to get any chocolate but that doesn't matter too, I'll still get some during the break
"can you tell us why are you smiling Sawano-san? I think everyone want to laugh too"
damn I was too obvious, I need to hide my feelings better or I'll be treated as a weirdo
I successfully killed my smile and looked at the teacher directly in the eye
"I'm not smiling"
"you know that crying isn't any better right?"
maybe I killed my smile too much...
***
after classes ended and everyone started going home I sat alone counting the amount of gifts I got today, thank goodness I was ready to carry a lot of things
"you didn't get anything...?"
Makoto asked me with a sad tone, I don't understand what he's trying to say, I obviously got a lot more than him....
"fuck it"
"you finally broke huh"
that's weird! there should be a mistake somewhere! I mean didn't Naru say she's giving me something today? I didn't see her the whole day!
I tried to calm myself, it's not worth it I know that, I didn't even know this thing existed so it's okay...it gotta be okay
"how much did you get?"
I asked Makoto with the calmest voice possible
"I got five, a lot more than last year"
Naru, Chi-senpai, Hiragi-senpai, Suzuki and the last one....Emma? I thought she hated the guy! more like didn't she completely avoid me today? she did that!
"I don't mind sharing it with you..."
"I don't need your sympathy!"
I walked to the window and jumped down smoothly, I heard Makoto panicking but that doesn't matter now, I just want to go home and play with Nagisa, yeah Nagisa's everything I need!
"Aru!"
in front of the school gate, a girl with a different uniform stood close to me, she was holding a bag so I couldn't help but to hope...no, only disappointment wait for those who hope
"what's up Shiori?"
she's probably waiting for Makoto to go shopping or something, even though her school isn't close to here, so walking all the way here for her brother...damn my sister should learn a thing or two from her
"umm, you know...it's valentines day and..."
she continued talking about something but I couldn't hear a thing, my eyes were locked on the bag she's holding, even if only pain is waiting..I want to believe in hope!"
"here's your chocolate"
"WAAAAAAAAAAAH"
I accidentally broke the mirror of the car of some teacher, I'm sorry but I couldn't help but shout
"I love you Shiori! you're the best! like, the best in the world!"
"so it was worth destroying every other chocolate that you were gonna get"
"what"
"what"
she smiled innocently, I can't believe I'm starting to hear things like this, it doesn't matter though because there's no reason for her to go this far
"I'm going to make it a family treasure don't worry"
"I'd prefer if you eat it honestly..."
I looked at the bag with a smile on my face, I know that something like this shouldn't be important, I'm obviously overreacting but still....I think simple things is what brings me the biggest joy
"if you're this happy it'll be hard for me to take the last one..."
"the last what?"
"don't worry about it, just remember that I'm the one who gave you the first one okay?"
"of course!"
it's not like I'm getting anything else today, just one is everything I need
***
"Nagisa come here! I bought you the most expensive cat food I could find!"
since I was was in a good mood it decided to spoil my cat the moment I got home but I don't see her anywhere, did she run away?
"hey Airi didn't you see Nagisa?"
"nope~ she wasn't here when I got home"
Airi seems to be in a great mood today too, did something good happen? maybe her friends liked the chocolate I helped her with so much? I feel kinda happy too
anyway, I probably should start searching for Nagisa, I have a link to her so I'll know if she's in danger but...
when I was considering my options the cat in question entred my room through the window
"how did you even climb this high..."
well,since I decided to spoil her today I'm not going to make a fuss about her running from home like this, but I'd like it if she didn't do it again
the cat moved to sit on my lap quickly, she really knows that I can't get angry because of her huh?
"wait what are you..."
there's a black box on her back, it's hard to notice since it has the same color as Nagisa's fur
"oh did you get some chocolate for valentines? what a good cat!"
I'm obviously joking, there's no way a cat would be able to go buy a chocolate, I should start looking for it's owner to return it before it's too late, thankfully there's a note on the box
"from Hoshino Rei"
wait what? my eyes widened as I continued reading
"I feel bad for entrusting it to a cat T-T"
"but Nagisa is quite the smart one, she even came all the way to my house!"
"I'll treat to something later!"
I looked at Nagisa for a moment trying to process what I read, she remembered the way to senpai's house and went their to hang out with senpai? that's amazing honestly this cat is a genius, I've never felt so proud in my life
I think Senpai wanted to give the chocolate to me directly but chickened because she didn't know how to face me after the confession which I actually understand, I wasn't expecting anything so getting anything is good
I jumped to my bed hugging Nagisa while I rolled over my bed happily, I feel like I completed a wish on my past self bucket list, I wonder what else did I want to do?
"I'm glad that I came back to this world"