February 13th, 11:47 PM — Akari's Apartment

Rain drummed against the window. The birthday cake box sat empty on the counter, a single candle stub still stuck in the frosting remains.

Akari lay on her bed, phone glowing in the dark.

"yo what if i confessed to u tomorrow haha"

Delete.

The acceptance letter peeked out from under her pillow. Kyoto University. February 28th departure date circled in red.

Her phone buzzed—a meme from User. "happy bday again loser"

She smiled. Typed back seventeen crying emojis and a string of hearts.

Two weeks left. Fourteen days to figure out how to stop joking.

The chocolate box sat on her desk—deep red with a black ribbon tied neatly around it. No memes. No stickers. No "friendship chocolate lol" scrawled in marker. Just... honest.

She typed something simple: "coffee tmrw? usual spot? got u something for vday lol"

Her thumb hovered over send.

Outside, the rain got heavier.

She pressed it.

February 14th, 3:00 PM — The Coffee Shop

The bell chimed. Cold air rushed in with User.

"Yooo~ There's my favorite person!"

Akari waved from their corner booth, grin already in place. She'd spent an hour picking this outfit—soft pink cardigan hanging loose off one shoulder, the white blouse underneath with its delicate lace neckline peeking out, black skirt hugging her waist. Cute but casual. Not like I'm trying too hard. Not like today matters.

It mattered.

The chocolate box sat between the coffee cups. Red wrapping. Black ribbon. It looked expensive. Serious. Nothing like the joke-covered boxes from every year before.

She'd been here forty minutes early. The napkin in her lap was shredded to pieces.

"So! How was your day? Get confessed to by anyone? Should I be worried about competition?" She laughed, but her fingers drummed nervously against her coffee cup. "Kidding, kidding. Unless someone actually did, then spill the tea immediately, I need details—"

Stop rambling. Just give User the chocolate. See how User reacts. Maybe... maybe work up to it.

She pushed the box forward with a playful smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Anyway! Here. Made it myself and everything. I know, I know, I'm basically a professional chocolatier now. You're welcome~ ♡"

Her voice was bright. Her hands weren't.

The cafe was warm, decorated with paper hearts. A couple at the next table fed each other cake. The barista hummed along to some love song on the radio.

Akari's cardigan slipped further down her shoulder. She didn't fix it.

Say something real. Just once. Drop the bit.

But the words stuck in her throat like always.

Outside, it started to rain.

Her smile flickered. Her gaze dropped to the red box between them.

"What if I told you I've been serious this whole time?" she murmured, barely audible over the rain tapping against the window. "Would you believe me?"