Valentine's Day... It's both a joyous and sorrowful event for both men and women in many ways. It's also the time when many couples are born, and for those who are already together, it's an event where they reaffirm their love for each other.
At the same time, however, there is also a negative side to this event, which creates a clear disparity between the winners and the losers.
Meanwhile, it has been observed that those who have fallen prey to the negative side of the event would often scream out loud about how beings called riajuus should explode.
Until a few years ago, I was also one of them until a few years ago... It was a time where my thoughts were filled with throwing eggs at those people flirting outside.
However, as of the moment, rather than those on the negative side... I had now become one of those riajuus I had been wishing to explode, and was able to receive a lot of chocolates for Valentine's Day.
Of course, I'm happy and feel fortunate about such a thing... However, with Valentine's Day coming up tomorrow, I am currently having a big problem.
If one slaps me for having such a luxurious problem, I guess I can only accept it but... That doesn't change the fact that this is a very difficult problem.
[U- Unnn. I see... I guess boys also have their fair share of difficulties huh.]
[Ahh, I'm sorry, Funf-san. Even though you had invited me to tea, I ended up just complaining about things.]
[No. It's no problem at all... So, what is it that's bothering you? It would be great if it's something I can help you with...]
Chuckling with a slightly troubled smile on her lips was Funf-san, a member of Kuro's family, telling me that she might be able to help me if I consult with her.
She is a kind and caring person who fits the role of being the elder sister of Kuro's family, and I sometimes ask her for advice.
Today just so happened that Funf-san invited me to hang out with her, and thus, we should be enjoying our tea today... but after Funf-san said "Speaking of which, tomorrow is Valentine's Day, isn't it~~", we started talking to which led to the present situation.
[No, well, actually... I still haven't finished eating them.]
[U- Unnn?]
[..."Last year's Valentine's Day chocolates"... I still haven't finished eating them. Also, there are lots of people that I'm worried about...]
Yes, the problem that I'm currently facing... is that my chocolate consumption can't keep up to the amount I received.
No, I'm really happy to receive chocolates from various people, and I think that being troubled about something like this is truly quite extravagant of me... but the problem is that there are "people whose love is too much".
For example, Ein-san sent me 100 chocolates of 100 different kinds last year... Which makes it 10,000 chocolates.
Just Ein-san gives me chocolate that can't be consumed by one person in a year, but the problem is that there are people who have given more than her.
Problem Child Number 1: Pandora-san... She sent the rights to the Trading Company that manufactures chocolates... along with its chairman, tied up with chains.
Just when I thought Alice had dealt with her after I asked her to do something about her, the next thing I know, I found Pandora-san almost naked, her body wrapped in straw ropes instead of ribbons, and waiting for me on the bed in my room.
Problem Child Number 2: Catastro-san... She gave me a gift that was heavy in both two senses of the word: Expensive chocolates that she had purchased after fasting for a month.
Problem Child Number 3: Phenex-san... She just walked up towards me wrapped in some silver-colored wrapping, holding a note saying "Valentine's Day Chicken Skewers". I thought it was just a high spec gag, but her eyes looked so serious that it scared me.
Problem Child Number 4: Gluttony-san... She's apparently a very picky eater, so the gift she brought me is a monster that looked like a deep-sea fish. It had a rubbery texture that was soft, but hard to chew through.
Problem Child Number 5: Moloch-san... She sent me a pile of skewered animals that looked like they could be used in some sort of demonic ritual.
Problem Child Number 6: Megiddo-san... She gave me a horribly-colored chocolate... something that looked like chocolate, which would obviously kill any sane person from spiciness if they ate it.
Problem Child Number 7: Life-san... For some reason, she sent me a chocolate-coated God of Fertility, neatly boxed up. Of course, I politely returned the gift.
Problem Child Number 8: Shiro-san... She created a tree that grows chocolate, and grew it in my yard without permission.
Problem Child Number 9: Zwei-san... She sent me a life-sized statue of me made of chocolate. It looked so realistic... that to be honest, I don't want to eat it.
Then, the biggest and most abnormal Problem Child, Eden-san... She gave me "a planet made of chocolate", which already made no sense from the word itself. What the heck am I supposed to do with that?
Rather, come to think of it, aren't most of the troublemakers Alice's subordinates!?
[...U- Unnn. That really sounds troubling... Not only is it something that I can't do anything about, and even my family is involved in it. No, ummm, sorry. I don't think Sister Ein and Sister Zwei mean any harm but... the both of them are uncompromising in many ways.]
[No, well, I'm just happy that you think so much for me... I feel a little better now that Funf-san listened to me.]
[Really? I'm really just listening, so I don't feel like I've helped you... I thought I could at least give you some advice on how to deal with this, but hmmm, I can only think of orthodox things.]
[Eh? Did you have something in mind?]
[No, it's really not big of a deal. It's just that everyone loves Kaito, so everyone is quite eager to express it... I was just thinking that if Kaito told them "I want to eat them with you, so please make sure it's enough for both of us" or something like that, I think they might adjust the amount to some extent...]
[!?]
I- I see... That really is a great idea. I can't use that method against people like Gluttony-san or Megiddo-san who have strange taste buds to begin with, but perhaps, some of them will restrain themselves.
[Thank you, Funf-san! If I do that, I think it might actually turn the situation better.]
[I'd be glad if I could be of help, Kaito.]
[...I'm glad I consulted Funf-san.]
[A- Ahaha... I- If you say it like that, I'm going to feel a bit troubled.]
[Unnn?]
I thanked Funf-san for the good advice, but for some reason, Funf-san had an awkward smile on her face.
As I tilted her head, not understanding what she meant, Funf-san took out her magic box, from which she took out a small box.
[No, you see, I'm not as nice as Kaito thinks I am. After all, even after hearing Kaito's problem of not being able to consume your chocolates... I'm still thinking of adding more chocolates to your stack.]
[...E- Errr... Does that mean...]
[Just kidding, ahaha... Well, I don't think you'll be too happy to receive one from a dull girl like me, but we've got along so well before. But well, would you be happy to receive mine?]
[T- Thank you.]
She's kind, caring, good at housework, knows a lot of things, has an amazingly beautiful face, and has great proportions... even her family is saying that "they admire her as a woman", so putting aside whether she thinks she's dull or not... Receiving her Valentine's day chocolate is a surprise, but a pleasant one.
I've heard that Funf-san has been making and distributing chocolates to her family every year for Valentine's Day, so she probably prepared some for me while she was at it.
After thanking her, I received the small box and opened it to find six small chocolates inside, which looked delicious just by looking at it.
[...I'm really happy.]
[I- If you look that happy receiving it, that would make me a little embarrassed... Ah, sorry. I'm going back to guarding the gates now.]
[Ah, yes. Thank you for your advice.]
[Don't worry about it. I'm always here to help... Ahh, one more thing.]
After giving me a gentle smile, Funf-san got up from her chair and walked towards me.
[Kaito probably thinks that I prepared some for you while I'm making chocolate for my family... so here's some extra———— Chuuu.]
[...….Eh?]
[See you later then.]
[.......Eh?]
After smoothly kissing me lightly on my cheek, Funf-san left, giggling as if she had just made a successful prank.
Unable to keep up with the situation, I only touched my cheek, where I could still feel the faint touch of her lips, and stared blankly in the direction Funf-san had left.
After she left Kaito and reached her post at the castle gate, she lightly leaned against the gate and sat down.
Funf's face was as red as an apple, as she brought her hand on her chest to hold onto her racing heart.
(I- I did it... I- I'm screwed. Are situations like this what they called being carried away by the mood? I wonder what kind of face should I make the next time I see Kaito-san...?)
In front of Kaito, Funf looked relaxed, but in reality, she was feeling really troubled within her mind.
(Even if he was to be loved by a troublesome woman like me who has already lived for thousands of years before experiencing first love... Kaito would probably just feel troubled.)
For Funf, Kaito was an important member of her family, but at the same time, he was her very late first love.
[...Even though... I thought of just keeping this feeling to myself...]
With a mixture of confusion and regret on her face, Funf leaned her weight against the castle gate and blankly stared at the sky.
Yes... Right now, she still feels regret.
...The time where her thoughts of that time changes to "I'm glad I took action" is still a little far into the future.