Episode 22 - Shota’s White Day Gift

[Shota’s Determined White Day Operation]

(*Note: In Japan, it’s tradition for boys to give a return gift to girls who gave them chocolates on Valentine’s Day.)

Sometime in March—

After enduring the “Chocolate Abstinence Hell” and being hit with the “Curse of the Chocolate Special” on Valentine’s Day, Shota had, in a way, achieved enlightenment.

(…There’s no defeating Ryoko-senpai… But still…)

—That’s exactly why he wanted to properly return the favor.

“She gave me so much love on Valentine’s Day. I want to give back with everything I’ve got…!”

Shota made up his mind.

“I’ll draw a portrait—of the woman I love most in the world.”

He’d never drawn anything seriously in his life, but with ten days left until White Day, he began secretly practicing every night.

(She absolutely must not find out…!)

[Shota Gazes at Ryoko]

(First step: Observe Ryoko-senpai…)

From that day on, Shota couldn’t stop staring at her.

“Staaaare...”

“Hm? What’s wrong, Shota-kun?”

“I’m just trying to burn your smile into my memory so I can always picture it.”

“My, aren’t you sweet ♡ Then maybe you should take an even closer look?”

With that, Ryoko pulled Shota into a tight hug.

(Too close! I can’t see anything like this!! LOL)

[Detection: Shota-kun… Are You Up to Something?]

A few days after Shota began his secret project...

“Hm?”

While sipping tea on the couch, Ryoko’s expression suddenly turned thoughtful.

(There’s something... scheming about Shota-kun’s emotions…)

Her hormonal sense picked up a mix of excitement and nervousness.

(But it’s not romantic... definitely not another woman.)

“Well, I’ll keep an eye on him for now ♡”

Ryoko smiled—

But as the days passed, Shota’s “scheming aura” kept growing stronger.

[The Day Before White Day]

—Shota’s actual thoughts:

“Crap, tomorrow’s the DEADLINE! I’m freaking out... Will Ryoko-senpai really be happy with my terrible drawing...? Ughh, I wanna run away... 😣”

—Ryoko’s profiling:

Shota’s emotional state included “secret scheme,” “deadline,” “panic,” “Ryoko’s face,” and most suspiciously... “escape.”

“…Wait a second... Shota-kun... is he trying to run away from me tomorrow!?” (Massive misunderstanding)

“I won’t allow that!”

Ryoko began to panic too.

—And then, White Day arrived.

[White Day: Shota’s Cornered]

“I’m home...”

As Shota opened the door, he felt it immediately.

(…The air... feels heavy…?!)

The living room lights were dimmed, lit only by candlelight.

“Welcome home, Shota-kun ♡”

Ryoko sat on the sofa, her voice sweet... but with a tone as off-key as a badly tuned piano.

(This is bad. She knows something…!!)

“U-Um, the atmosphere’s kinda different today… Haha… So, uh, what’s for dinner maybe…?”

“Fufu, Shota-kun. You’ve been hiding something from me lately, haven’t you?”

Ryoko slowly stood up.

“W-Wait wait wait! I haven’t hidden anything! I swear I’m innocent!”

“Hey, Shota-kun… you’re not trying to run away from me tomorrow, are you?”

Her smile stayed, but her eyes were stone-cold.

(Wha—what are you even talking about!?)

—— Rumble rumble...

Suddenly, Shota’s feet lifted off the floor.

“Wha—! N-Not this again!!”

“Fufu, better brace yourself ♡ I’m in full serious mode tonight.”

Spinning her finger, Ryoko used telekinesis to float Shota slowly backward—pushing him all the way to the wall.

“Shota-kun... what exactly are you scheming, hmm~? Should I cast the ‘Truth Confession Curse’ that makes you want to blurt it all out? ♡”

“N-Nooooo!! Not today!! Any day but todaaaay!!”

“Then, may I take a little peek in your pocket?”

She smiled sweetly and reached her finger telekinetically toward his inner jacket pocket.

(It’s over...)

But then—

Plop.

A single sheet of paper fluttered to the floor from Shota’s chest pocket.

Ryoko bent down, picked it up, and slowly unfolded it.

—Inside was a carefully drawn, if clumsy, portrait of herself.

“…What is this…?”

Face beet red, Shota whispered,

“Happy White Day, Ryoko-senpai…”

——Silence.

After a long pause, tears welled up in Ryoko’s eyes.

“Uwaaahhh... I’m so happy... 😭”

(Due to her supernatual power, Ryoko had absolutely no immunity to surprises.)

“Gosh... this kind of sneak attack is so unfair... ♡”

She hugged the drawing to her chest and sobbed joyfully.

“Shota-kun… I’m so happy… I think I’ll cast a new curse: ‘The Curse of Clinging to You for Three Days Straight’ ♡”

She then clung to him with terrifying strength.

[Epilogue]

Starting the next day, Ryoko really did go to work with her arms clinging to Shota.

...and thus, another bizarre rumor joined the ranks of the office’s unofficial legends:

“Lately, Ryoko-senpai’s been stuck to Shota-kun all day...”

“Did he, like, propose on White Day!?”

“Nope—apparently it was a portrait?”

—But the truth was known only to the two of them.