“–Thus, today, I will distribute the obligatory-gift chocolate. Stand by for it”.
“…Chocolate?”
Buzz ran down the file of troops, but a single cold glare from Awashima was enough to quiet it down.
In the middle of February, after the end of the all personnel sword-armed mobile division training session, the Scepter 4 Lieutenant, Awashima Seri, went along the lines of the troops members, distributing small boxes gift-wrapped in soft Japanese paper. Her movements were highly efficient as always, but the procedure still took quite some time due to her handing the boxes to each of over a hundred members personally.
“It’s perishable, so I advice you to consume it at the nearest time. Dismissed!”
“No…” Benzai Yuujirou, a squadsmate of Akiyama, replied, undoing the seal on his box. “It looks like a Japanese confection. A small rice ball with anko filling, perhaps…? Ah, no, a small anko coated ball, most likely”.
“You mean chocolate is the filling inside anko coating?”
“Huh?”
Doumyouji, however, broke into a carefree grin and said, “Well, and I hate anko”.
Behind them, Enomoto, Fuse, Gotou and Hidaka were whispering about something, gathered in a circle.
“She seems to be surprisingly attentive to things like this”, Enomoto noted.
“Um, but I’m… I’m still happy to get some chocolate… I think”, Hidaka disagreed.
“For real?” The other three turned to Hidaka. “Despite the chocolate you received being simply obligatory?”
“And despite the fact that the one you got it from was Lieutenant Awashima?”
“…And here I thought you disliked Lieutenant”.
When Enomoto said that, Hidaka turned solemn, “Actually, I’m not very fond of her personality”.
“Then why? Is it her body? Are you one of those guys who’re only interested in huge boobs, not giving a damn about everything else?”
“Huh…?”
“Yeah, pure to a sickening degree”. Enomoto and Fuse exchanged glances.
“Whoa… So lame”.
“Yes, what is it, Doumyouji-san?”
Doumyouji had already put two more identical boxes - his own and Kamo’s - onto Hidaka’s open palm. “Here, eat this too, so you could be three times happier. I just thought that it’s only appropriate to let someone who’s happy to receive this chocolate have it”.
“But this combination of chocolate and anko, it leaves a long lasting saccharine aftertaste on your tongue…”
“You’re being rude! Stop complaining and eat”, Hidaka lectured the other three so openly expressing their opinions as he stuffed another anko ball - a third one so far - into his mouth.
Watching him, Doumyouji’s lips curved into a mischievous grin. “…Hidaka, once you’re done eating, go thank Awashima-san”.
“A simple 'Thank you for the treat’ will suffice. I’m sure even Awashima-san will be invigorated to see some kind of feedback on her efforts. Our guys are all pretty insensitive when it comes to things like this, you see, so…”
“What I suggest is you be our representative. Besides, doing this will earn you good points in Awashima-san’s book, and maybe next year you’ll get chocolate that won’t be purely 'obligatory’”.
“Yeah, that one. This is your chance, and a perfectly good chance, I might add”.
“Mhehe… He can deny it all he wants, but Hidaka actually likes Awashima-san”.
“Nope, I just goaded him into it for the fun of it”, Doumyouji replied with an innocent smile.
Some time later, when the three friends migrated to the dining hall and started their meal, Hidaka returned, carrying a rectangular bundle in one hand. “Ah, guys, you started without me?”
Upon Hidaka’s accusation, Fuse’s hand pulling udon paused, and he answered, “Yeah, we did. What’s in the bundle?”
“Huh?”
“Wow”.
“That my wish will be taken into account”.
“Hnn… You didn’t do very well. That’s disappointing”.
“Um, well, once I said what I wanted, I was about to leave, but Lieutenant was carrying a rather heavy bundle, so I offered to help and ended up carrying it all the way to Captain’s office”, Hidaka explained.
“Mhehe, still managed to earn some points, eh?”
“Ah, well, this”. Hidaka put the bundle on the table with a heavy thud and unwrapped the cloth.
“Figures that Captain’s share would be special… this certainly has a kick to it, huh”.
“Yup, tiers apart”.
“He’s got worse”.
“Yeah. Besides, that amount - that’s way too much for dessert. One ball can easily count for a whole meal”.
“You guys, you’re still saying things like 'deal with them’, 'get rid of them’… Fine, forget it. Those who can’t appreciate this treat won’t get it. I’ll eat all of them myself”. Holding the bento box, he started eating the chocolate filled anko balls (big version).
He, then, raised his head and murmured, “I probably should return the favor on White Day…”
“Hmm, what are typical gifts on White Day, I wonder?”
“Whoa, I seriously can’t imagine Lieutenant Awashima being happy over getting some candy”.
“Oh, right. That makes perfect sense”.
“I see…”
“Ah, wait a second. I want to write it down. Hey, Eno! Gimme something to write with!” Hidaka took out a notebook and bent over it.
His three friends exchanged looks. Ah, again… Hidaka’s getting manipulated by Doumyouji-san again…
***
A tiered bento box full of marshmallows made out of white anko which Awashima Seri would eventually receive one month later on White Day from squadsman Hidaka Akira, the representative of all the members of the sword-armed division, and which would leave her greatly perplexed, makes for another anecdotical account