The cold March wind drifted gently across the school courtyard.
It still wasn't truly spring yet.
But winter already seemed tired of staying.
The air had changed.
The trees swayed slowly beneath the pale morning light, and the sky carried that calm blue color typical of late winter.
And that day...
The entire school felt different.
Maybe it was the small gift bags in the boys' hands.
Maybe it was the subtle glances from the girls.
Maybe it was the nervous smiles hidden throughout the hallways.
Or maybe it was simply because an entire month had passed since Valentine's Day.
Inside Class 2-B, Aoi rested her chin on her hand while watching the wind move the curtains near the window.
Her hair swayed softly with the breeze.
Then she quietly murmured:
— Today feels strange...
Mio answered immediately without even looking up from her phone:
— Strange? Not at all. Today's their revenge day.
Hina adjusted her glasses delicately.
— It's not revenge...
She smiled faintly.
— It's an answer.
Misaki spun a pen between her fingers while leaning back in her chair.
— I still can't believe Matsuda stole our chocolates, Mio!
Mio let out a small tired sigh.
— I'm not worried about that.
She rested her cheek against her hand.
— They weren't even obligatory chocolates. Matsuda practically took them by force.
Hanae sighed dramatically.
— You guys talk way too much about Matsuda...
Aoi ended up laughing quietly.
Mio immediately pointed at Misaki.
— Not me. She's the one always talking about him.
Misaki instantly turned toward her.
— Hey! But you were too— ah, forget it...
Then Hanae asked more quietly:
— Do you think they got as nervous as we did?
For a moment, nobody answered.
Because all of them remembered.
Their trembling hands while giving chocolates.
The fear of rejection.
The anticipation.
The small feelings hidden inside a simple package.
Mio slowly crossed her arms.
— If they didn't...
She glanced toward the window.
— Then they should have.
And for some reason...
Everyone silently agreed.
Lunch Break
Souma walked calmly through the hallway while adjusting the sleeve of his uniform.
The distant noise of students echoed throughout the school.
When he entered the boys' restroom, he found Yamada Riku standing near the corner urinal, looking far more thoughtful than usual.
Souma stepped to the middle urinal and smiled lightly.
— Hey, Yamada.
Riku looked oddly relieved to see him.
— Ah... Souma-kun. Perfect timing.
He hesitated for a moment before continuing.
— I wanted to ask you something.
— What is it?
Riku looked away for a few seconds.
He seemed genuinely nervous.
— You brought something for Aoi, right? Since today's White Day...
Souma let out a shy little laugh.
— Yeah... I did.
He lowered his eyes briefly.
— But I'm not sure if she'll like it.
Riku sighed softly.
— Ah... Valentine's Day is easier.
The sound of water echoed gently in the quiet restroom.
— Chocolate always works.
He smiled awkwardly.
— But now... giving something different... I keep wondering if she'll actually like it.
Souma stayed quiet for a few moments.
Then calmly replied:
— I think what matters most is the feeling you want to convey to her.
He smiled faintly.
— At least... that's what I was told.
At that moment—
A presence suddenly appeared BETWEEN them.
Matsuda casually occupied the urinal between the two of them as if this were perfectly normal.
— Don't worry, guys.
He flashed a confident grin.
— They're definitely gonna like your gifts!
Riku immediately looked disgusted.
— Get away from here. The corner urinal is empty.
Souma struggled not to laugh.
— It's kinda weird having you this close, Matsuda-kun...
Matsuda dramatically placed a hand over his chest.
— What's wrong with that? We're friends, aren't we?
The sound of water splashing echoed absurdly loudly in the background.
An awkward silence settled over the restroom.
Then Souma quickly finished.
— See you later.
Riku turned toward him.
— Ah, but what about the presents?
Souma walked toward the sink and began washing his hands.
Then he smiled through the mirror's reflection.
— You just have to give it to her, Yamada-kun.
Small pause.
— Hehe.
And shortly after, he left the restroom.
Riku stared at the door in silence.
Then quietly muttered:
— "Just give it to her," he says...
Matsuda threw an arm over his shoulder.
— Wow... you're seriously in love, huh?
— Shut up.
Hallway Outside Class 2-B
Souma appeared at the classroom door shortly afterward.
His eyes automatically searched for Aoi.
And the moment he found her—
He smiled without even realizing it.
— Aoi... can you come out for a second?
Mio immediately nudged Hina with her elbow.
— There she goes.
Hina held back a laugh.
— She's been trying to act calm since this morning. Well, I'm gonna go look for darling. See you later.
Aoi stood from her seat while trying to maintain a neutral expression.
But her friends were already smiling at her knowingly.
She walked out of the classroom pretending to completely ignore them.
In the hallway, Souma carefully held a small white box.
He looked calm like always.
But the way his fingers tightened around the package betrayed his nervousness.
Aoi noticed immediately.
And somehow...
That only made her heart beat even faster.
Souma took a deep breath.
Then smiled gently.
— Happy White Day.
Aoi blinked in surprise.
Her eyes slowly lowered toward the little box.
— You... brought me something?
— Of course I did.
He carefully handed it to her.
— Thank you for the chocolate that day.
Aoi slowly accepted the package.
As if she were afraid of squeezing it too tightly.
Then she opened it.
Inside were elegant chocolates arranged perfectly.
And beside them...
A small theater keychain.
Her eyes remained fixed on it for several seconds.
Silence.
Then she quietly asked:
— You picked this out?
Souma scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
— I asked my cousin for help over Line.
Aoi let out a soft laugh.
Small.
Natural.
— Traitor.
Souma started laughing too.
— But I picked the keychain myself.
She delicately held it between her fingers.
Her eyes sparkled beneath the sunlight from the window.
And there was something incredibly sincere in that gaze.
Something warm.
She slowly closed the box.
— I like it.
Souma instantly relaxed his shoulders.
As if he'd been holding his breath since morning.
— Aaah...
He laughed nervously.
— I thought maybe you wouldn't.
Aoi held the little box against her chest.
Then looked away, trying to hide her smile.
Second Floor Hallway
Yamada Riku waited while leaning against the wall near the windows.
His hands were in his pockets.
But he clearly couldn't stay still.
When Hina appeared in the hallway...
He immediately became even more serious.
His heart started racing instantly.
— Hina.
She stopped.
— Yes?
Riku pulled out the small simple gift bag he had been hiding behind his back.
Then carefully handed it to her.
— Happy White Day.
Hina blinked in surprise.
She slowly opened it.
Inside were homemade cookies.
And a delicate necklace.
Her eyes widened immediately.
The cookies clearly weren't perfect.
Some were crooked.
Others slightly burnt.
But because of that...
They felt unbelievably sincere.
Hina ended up laughing softly.
But her eyes were shining.
— You made these cookies?
She slowly raised her gaze toward him.
— And this necklace too... I-I mean, I didn't mean you made the necklace but... ah, you know what I mean...
Riku instantly looked away.
His ears turned bright red.
— I tried.
Hina picked up one of the cookies.
She took a small bite.
Then stayed silent for several seconds.
Riku looked like he might actually die waiting for her answer.
Then—
She smiled.
A smile so gentle it nearly stopped his heart.
— They're really good.
Riku finally released the breath trapped in his lungs.
His shoulders relaxed immediately.
Then Hina slowly turned her back toward him.
Her hair slid softly over her shoulders while she held the necklace.
— Can you put it on me?
Riku widened his eyes for a second.
— A-ah... yeah.
His hands trembled slightly while fastening the necklace around her neck.
Hina held the pendant gently against her chest.
Then smiled shyly.
— There's no way you could ruin everything, darling...
She turned her face slightly toward him.
Their eyes met.
— Not you.
Riku turned completely red.
Then Hina slowly faced him again.
— Do you like it?
And in that moment...
The soft morning light streamed through the window behind her.
The necklace glimmered faintly.
And Riku completely lost his words.
His eyes wandered across Hina as though he were looking at something far too precious.
— Y-you're so beautiful...
Hina immediately felt her face heat up.
Her fingers lightly tightened around her sleeve.
— D-darling...
And for the first time that morning...
Riku completely forgot what he was about to say.
Student Council Room
Takumi carefully placed a small box on the desk.
Hanae tilted her head suspiciously.
— What's this?
— White Day.
She slowly picked up the box.
— It looks expensive.
— It wasn't.
— Liar.
Takumi sighed in defeat.
— I just wanted to return the favor.
Hanae opened the lid.
Elegant chocolates were perfectly arranged inside.
She stared at them silently for several seconds.
Then her expression softened.
— Takumi-kun...
She smiled gently.
But sincerely.
— Thank you very much. I'm really happy.
Takumi answered with a small restrained smile.
— Obviously, I chose them very carefully.
He discreetly looked away.
— I'm glad you liked them.
Outside the room—
Several girls were peeking through the door crack.
— Aaaawwwn...
— That's so cute...
Hanae started laughing softly.
Takumi immediately covered his face with one hand.
— Am I ever going to get rid of them?
Class 2-B
The door suddenly slammed open.
— MISAKI!
She didn't even lift her head.
— What do you want, Matsuda?
He placed a huge bag on her desk.
— White Day.
Misaki opened it suspiciously.
Then froze.
Inside was a necklace.
— WHAT IS THIS?!
— White Day.
— BUT—
She lifted the box indignantly.
— You stole the chocolates right out of my hands! I never even gave you anything!
Matsuda crossed his arms.
But this time...
His smile looked more shy than teasing.
— Then think of it as an apology.
He looked away.
— Or payback.
Small pause.
— However you want to see it.
Misaki stared at him silently.
Then she suddenly started laughing softly.
A genuine laugh.
— Why did you go this far?
She carefully held the necklace.
— You really didn't have to, Matsuda-kun.
Matsuda awkwardly scratched his head.
— But you accepted it.
Misaki sighed in defeat.
— Idiot.
But she was smiling.
And this time...
She didn't even try to hide it.
After School
The sky had already begun turning orange.
The soft evening light poured gently through the school hallways.
The group walked together toward the front gates.
Small gift bags swayed in their hands.
Quiet laughter echoed through the cold March air.
Mio walked slightly behind the others.
Aoi noticed first.
She slowed her pace.
— Did you get anything?
Mio shrugged.
— No.
Misaki tilted her head.
— What about that guy from the other class?
— I didn't even give him chocolate.
Hina smiled softly.
— Then what were you expecting?
Mio stayed silent for a few seconds.
The wind passed gently through her hair.
Then she quietly answered:
— Nothing.
But when the cold March breeze crossed the courtyard once more...
She murmured almost inaudibly:
— Maybe next year.
The girls immediately burst into laughter.
Matsuda looked around at everyone.
— So are we even now?
Misaki answered without hesitation:
— Not even close.
Everyone started laughing together.
Aoi now walked slightly behind the group.
Watching them.
The laughter.
The small bags in their hands.
The flushed faces.
The feelings hidden inside chocolates, necklaces, and poorly spoken words.
Simple moments.
Small moments.
But precious ones.
Then she smiled quietly to herself.
And silently thought:
"Maybe...
this is what we'll remember when everything ends."
Spring was slowly beginning to arrive.
And for now...
There was still time.