He set the bag down and pulled out the unfinished "Long Night’s Journey."
Kiyono Lin focused intently on the hardcover book in the thirty-two mo format;
Jiutiao Meiji lay playing a video game, her long legs in pantyhose resting on the arm of the sofa, idly swinging back and forth, the most potent hypnotic device in the world.
Dubian Che’s heart settled, and then he realized a fact that had changed without him noticing:
The world outside the Human Observation Department was no longer the daily life he was used to and desired.
In this club room, nobody gave him chocolates, no one cared whether he chose arts or sciences, and appearances made no difference.
Only here were they all "the same."
Even the voice acting circle, or even the more prestigious entertainment circle, meant nothing to them three.
Perhaps, even without Ochazuke, he would gradually drift away from the everyday.
Dubian Che closed the book, stood up, and walked to the sofa,
Dubian Che remembered last Friday night,
Jiutiao Meiji had drawn out a bar from a box of chocolates on the low table in front of the sofa.
"For me to eat? Or is it Valentine’s Day chocolate?"
"Valentine’s Day chocolate for you to eat," Jiutiao Meiji waved away Dubian Che’s meddling hand.
Dubian Che took the bar of chocolate and walked back to the zelkova wood table.
’Saito, the brand is called ’Meiji,’ he answered Saito Keisuke’s query from the morning in his mind.
"Jiutiao," said Kiyono Lin, who had been reading, suddenly, "The chocolate you gave away last time wasn’t so casual—I remember, it was handmade."
"What?" Dubian Che’s volume was slightly louder than usual.
Handmade chocolates? Jiutiao Meiji? These two terms were unlikely to be connected.
Even if it was just a casual purchase or a single bar from a box, Dubian Che was happy to receive her chocolate.
"Meiji, what’s the deal?" Dubian Che’s tone carried an uncontrollable hint of accusation.
"That’s in the past, there’s nothing worth mentioning."
Jiutiao Meiji sat up, leaning on the back of the sofa, her pale fingers pinching a piece of black Meiji chocolate.
"Mr. Kiyono, your chocolate for Dubian—aren’t you going to take it out?"
Dubian Che looked back at Kiyono Lin.
Her gaze on the hardcover book, her clear, beautiful face showed a touch of distress.
Dubian Che’s heart, like an overturned jar of vinegar one moment, then like a thumping drum the next.
For half a minute, the club room was silent, save for the sound of Jiutiao Meiji chewing her chocolate.
"Looking at you, are you planning to give away true-love chocolates?" Jiutiao Meiji teased, looking at ’holding a book, but not reading’ Kiyono Lin.
"What’s it to you?" retorted Kiyono Lin coldly.
"If you’re going to give it, do it quickly. After all, this isn’t your first time giving someone chocolate," Jiutiao Meiji placed the chocolate on her tongue, then rolled it into her mouth.
"Mr. Kiyono also does the thing of giving people chocolates, huh," Dubian Che said with a forced smile.
"What’s with that look?" Jiutiao Meiji’s smiley face suddenly turned cold.
Kiyono Lin’s originally icy face suddenly broke into a smile, like beautiful sunlight spilling over a beautiful rose.
"What, what’s wrong?" Dubian Che couldn’t keep up for a moment.
"Mr. Dubian," Kiyono Lin said with a smile, "your face looks even worse."
"Worried about the return gifts for White Day? Dozens of gifts—do you have any objections?"
"That’s enough lying." Kiyono Lin closed her book, picked up her backpack, and took out a bag of chocolate.
She glanced at Dubian Che: "For you."
Dubian Che felt both happy and somewhat off-put.
Kind of wanted to murder someone.
"Forget about murdering," Kiyono Lin picked up the book and calmly exposed Dubian Che’s inner thoughts, "I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to do it."
"Besides, your girlfriend only gave to me."
"Again, I come second..." Dubian Che looked pained, "You two are the true love; I’m the superfluous one."
To that, Kiyono Lin smiled and said, "Mr. Dubian, we rarely see your true emotions."
Jiutiao Meiji gave Dubian Che a cold sideways glance: "Come to my place tonight; finish what you didn’t do last time."
"Meiji, I’m really contemplating how to give a return gift..."
Before he could finish, Jiutiao Meiji had already lied back down on the sofa.
’Dubian Che is an idiot, an incorrigible chicken with a terrible memory!’ Dubian Che furiously scolded himself.
Ikeda Kazumi had indeed mentioned that morning that girls could also give each other chocolates!
Only blame his sixteen years of life in Misezawa Village, where there was no such thing as Valentine’s Day.
But, why does it feel so joyful inside?