The class returns to normal class work and the rest of the day goes by as normal. Ryuji and Hikigaya wave goodbye and begin to head home while the others stick around and wave back. Before they leave however, Haru runs up to Hikigaya and stops him for a moment. They are a bit away from the others and he talks quietly so they can’t hear them.

Haru “Hey Hiki, I wanted to talk to you real quick about Chizuru..”

Hikigaya looks confused for a moment but he looks at Haru’s face and sees him blushing and nervous. He realizes what he means and laughs a bit.

Hikigaya “Don’t worry Haru. I think I don’t…”

He looks past Haru a bit to see Shiori getting spooked by a lizard that randomly crawled up her leg. She jumps back and cries a bit to Chizuru who is laughing as Sugawara picks it up. He smiles warmly.

Hikigaya “Yeah… I don’t like her anymore. Go ahead.”

Haru’s face lights up and he hugs him.

Haru “Thank you! You’re so awesome for this, you have no idea!”

He nods as Haru rejoins the group and Hikigaya continues on his way.

They decided to go to Chizuru’s house since she has the space and supplies for all of them. They all gather in the kitchen, aprons on and sleeves rolled up.

Chizuru “Okay! How many of you have made chocolate before?”

No one raises their hands. Chizuru sweats a bit.

Chizuru “Heh… Well that’s okay. I guess we’ll start from the ground up! It should be simple enough! Let’s get started!”

They begin working and Shiori’s first batch didn’t come out very well. She looks quite depressed about it. Sugawara struggles with the mixer causing a little mess. As he cleans up the cream and goes back to mixing by hand he looks over to see Haru’s already cooled. He puts them down and begins cutting them into little heart shapes.

Sugawara ‘So cute!’

He notices Haru really focusing and putting lots of effort into his.

Sugawara “Who are you making yours for, Haru?”

Haru is surprised for a moment and turns to Sugawara. He smiles and places his finger to his lips.

Haru “It’s a secret.”

He smiles at him and goes back to his hearts as Sugawara looks at his bowl and keeps mixing. He blushes a bit and smiles.

Sugawara ‘Maybe it could be for me…’

After Shiori finishes mixing her and rolling it out, she places it in the fridge to cool. She wipes her forehead with her wrist and looks over to see Lucy sitting in a chair with her arms behind her, happily watching.

Shiori “You’re not gonna make any, Lucy?”

Lucy “Nah.”

Shiori “So why did you agree to come?”

Lucy “I like to watch you guys struggle.”

She smiles at her while Shiori sweat drops a bit. 

Shiori “You don’t have anyone you want to make chocolates for?”

Lucy “Well, not really. Besides, I don’t do chocolate making.”

Shiori looks interested.

Lucy “Ryuji and I have always had this thing since we were little where he’d make the chocolate and I’d take it since he doesn’t give it to anyone else. Although I never understood why he chose me. He’s always been popular with the girls and the boys and usually gets quite a bit of chocolate each year. He could give them to literally anyone and they’d thank him for it.”

Lucy looks down a bit.

Lucy “I guess it’s just our tradition. If I made chocolate, it’d just ruin the whole thing! Besides, he really likes making them so who am I to say no?”

She smiles and places her hand on her chest sarcastically. Shiori laughs a bit and looks away. She pulls out her chocolate and places it on the cutting board. She looks at it for a moment.

Shiori ‘I guess getting chocolate from me wouldn’t be that special… I don’t know why I thought he wouldn’t get any. He’s cute, tall, smart, and way more popular than the rest of us. Unlike me… And I don’t want to ruin their tradition.’

She thinks about him giving Lucy chocolate in a much more romantic fashion than she described. She strains her face a bit before stopping and thinking about Hikigaya. “Oh yeah? Gonna make me some chocolate as thanks for being such an awesome friend?” 

Shiori ‘I guess I could give it to Hikigaya…’

She continues making her chocolate . She looks over to see Chizuru making a slightly more advanced chocolate and much faster than Shiori is.

Shiori “Who are you making chocolate for?”

Chizuru “Me? Nobody. I just like to eat the chocolate.”

She answers while eating some of the chocolate leaving some on her cheeks.

Shiori “Ah.. I see.”

After they finish up, all of them end with cute little bags decorated and filled with chocolate they are proud of. After cleaning up, they each head home.