February 13th, Chiyo was watching a cooking video in her phone when she clicked on a yummy looking chocolate bark. She watched with interest, almost drooling at her phone. Her mom arrived from getting their letters at the mailbox outside. She followed her mom, curious. "Mom, do you know how to make this?" She showed Yumi the video. She never cooked before in her past life. She only started to learn because Yumi insisted that she needs to learn to cook. Her mom watch the video, puzzled. "Who do you want to give chocolates to?" Her mom asked, Chiyo is puzzled by this question then she look at the date in her phone. Tomorrow is Valentine's day. But Chiyo never went to school and knows very few people. "Can't I just eat it myself afterwards?" Chiyo asked. Yumi smiled thinking of an idea. "I know... It has been a long time since I last made your dad a 'honmei' chocolate. How about you give him one, too. We can also make some for Ryu and Aki, is that okay?" Yumi suggested. Chiyo thought about it then asked, "But the rest are mine, right?" Yumi limits Chiyo's intake of sweets and junk foods just like any mother and Chiyo never complained. But today, she really craves that chocolate she saw in the video.
Again, Yumi is happy to see her child act her own age. But she can't let her have too much sweets. "Yes, the rest is yours but you can only eat little by little, okay? You can't eat it in one go." Yumi said sternly. Chiyo nodded right away, ' I'm not a glutton. Of course, I'll only eat little by little...'
"How about we buy the ingredients now. Then we'll make it tomorrow morning..." Yumi said indulgently, She hurriedly sorted the letters and bills. Then, Off to the Supermarket they went.
In the Supermarket, Chiyo saw a lot of chocolates and chocolate-making ingredients beautifully arranged in the aisles in front of the supermarket. A lot of women are there to shop for gifts for valentine's day. My mother expertly took the chocolates and ingredients she knows that taste good. Then, her mom took 3 chocolate egss with toys inside for me to eat tonight but I stopped her, "Mom, I'm ten years old already. I don't like that." I put Mars chocolate in the basket, instead. After getting what we need, mom got sidetracked after seeing a few discounted items. In the end, Yumi and Chiyo went home with a huge bag of groceries. When night time arrived, Yumi hides the ingredients for the 'honmei' chocolate in the cupboard. The kitchen is her domain so dad rarely meddles with stuff in the cupboard.
The next morning, Yumi woke up Chiyo before the sun rises. Chiyo woke up right away, yawning and stretching her limbs. it's been a long time since she woke up this early. Being homeschooled, she got more time to sleep and less pressure in studying. She follows her own schedule and can alter it if she wanted to.
Yumi has prepared everything in advance and quietly instructed Chiyo what to do. Yumi is in-charge of melting the chocolates, while Chiyo mix the other ingredients in and whisked it. They try to not wake Yoshikazu but when it's time to decorate the chocolates, Yoshikazu groggily enters the kitchen and pour himself a glass of cold water. When he turns around, he saw his wife and daughter froze next to a large tray of chocolates. "Chocolates!!!" Yoshikazu yelled in surprised. Completely waking up in that moment.
"Is that all mine?" Yoshi asked, grinning. "No... Some of these are for Aki and Ryu. These ones are yours." Yumi answered. She pointed at the already decorated chocolates they set aside to cool. One heart small and the other heart is slightly bigger. Yoshikazu could already guess which one is from who and happily read what's written in the decorations. Yumi's got a simple 'I love you' and Chiyo got a 'Happy Valentine's, Dad!'. The designs were cute and adorable, Yoshikazu can't help tearing up a little. He remembered when Yumi first gave him a 'honmei' Chocolate. Yoshikazu hugged his wife and daughter in pure Bliss, but Chiyo stopped him by saying, "Wait, dad! We're not done yet."
Yoshikazu eyed the other chocolate and saw it was just a bar of randomly decorated chocolates with dried strawberries, sprinkles and other stuff. Looking down on the chocolate, Yoshikazu smugly said, "You could've just bought pre-made chocolates for those two."
"Ehh, but some of these are mine." Chiyo said, then continues putting stuff in the chocolate bar. She mostly put what she likes. Strawberries, crushed almond and chocolate chips. Then she put sprinkles in the spaces with nothing in it. Yoshikazu guarded his chocolates dearly as he makes some coffee. He's wide awake now, so might as well make his own coffee.
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Chiyo has never been to Aki-nii and Ryu-nii's place before. But since school is still ongoing. Chiyo has no choice but to deliver the chocolates to them. Yumi accompanied her as she never lets her out of her sight since that time that she got taken by a bunch of perverts. Just in time when they're about to enter Akihiko's house, Chiyo saw the two young man and called out to them immediately. Akihiko's eyes instantly sparkled at the sight of Chiyo. When Chiyo stopped in front of them, Akihiko blushed a little with how thrilled and excited he is. "Happy Valentine's, Chi!" Ryu-nii quickly greeted. "Happy Valentine's, Mrs. Ryugasaki!" He said to Yumi. Akihiko, however, fell Into a daze and caught on late. "Happy Valentine's day, Hime~... Mrs. Ryugasaki, Happy Valentine's day. It's so nice for you to visit...-"
"Happy Valentine's day, Aki-nii... Ryu-nii." Chiyo brought out her chocolates for them that made Akihiko gasped in delight. He hugged his Chocolate and reluctantly gave Ryu the other one. Since the packaging is a clear plastic with ribbons to tie it close, Akihiko and Ryu quickly saw that it's a 'Honmei' Chocolate. Akihiko wanted to tease Chiyo but Yumi is present so he held it back. In the end, Akihiko thanked them wholeheartedly.
Akihiko invited them in but Chiyo and Yumi refused. They got a taxi waiting for them so they can't stay long. Yumi is scared to ride a train ever since that one incident with Ryu and Aki. And she doesn't want Chiyo to experience anymore tragic accidents.
Akihiko stared at the chocolate the whole night. He can't seems to bring himself to eat such a beautiful thing. He wanted to keep it forever, to remember the nice feeling that comes with it. He stared at it until he feel asleep... In his sleep, A beautiful dream with Chiyo played in his mind.