Chapter Text
Music was something that tied most together. Some liked pop, others, rock. It was almost like a law of life. If you were human, you liked some type of rhythm.
The members of SEES were no exception. You could hear Junpei listening to video game music a tad too loudly, or Yukari beaming over a new CD she managed to get from a band she likes. Even Fuuka enjoys something quieter, but electronic. It’s just… a given, for everyone.
Kotone was no exception, really. Though, her taste always seemed to be at odds with her looks. One look at her and you’d figure she likes something pop, or anything cheerful like that. But, no. She’s always preferred bands like Linkin Park or like My Chemical Romance. It’s almost embarrassing to admit, sometimes!
Recently, she noticed that if Shinjiro chose the radio station, he always chose the one with more mainstream songs. The pop ones that break the charts. It was amusing to say the least. Shinjiro of all people… liking pop? Not that she can judge based on appearance, but still!
Still! Valentine’s day is coming soon, so she has to make a gift for Shinjiro. Not like they’re together, yet, but there’s no better time than now! Plus, she knows damn well that if she doesn’t do it now, she might never! She has a tendency to overthink…
The smell of old wood hit her as she pushed open the door to the music store. It was so familiar it hurt, even when the clerk lifted their head and offered her a little wave. …What was their name again? They only really say hi to each other, so it’s not really like there was a point to remembering their name.
Kotone quickly surveys the store. She won’t check the rock section just now, trying to recall what songs were playing on the radio that Shinjiro really seemed to enjoy. God, what were they…?
She finally spots the pop section, heading over there on sure steps. She starts skimming through it. The Black Eyed Peas? Ehh… it was too electronic, wasn’t it? She isn’t too sure, it’s not like she’s a huge fan of pop music. And then– aha! Lady Gaga. She quickly snatches an album she’s sure she’s seen before.
The Fame. A pang of amusement goes through her, especially since it’ll be Shinjiro getting this gift. Still, she can’t help but feel nervous, too. Hmmmm… what if he doesn’t like it??
But she forces herself to shake off the thought, heading towards the check out. She places the jewel case down, the ceiling lights glinting off of it. She’s already grabbing some yen bills from her skirt pockets before the total is even said, and she hands it over with a smile.
She stares at the CD case, turning it over and reading the track list as she walks home.
***
Shinjiro never cared about Valentine's day. Why would he? It’s basically just an excuse to be lovey-dovey in public, which mind you, might just be one of the worst things to witness. Has nobody heard the concept of doing it in private?
Still, he’ll just grit his teeth and bare it. What else can he do?
Strangely enough… Kotone has been really riled up. Shinjiro just woke up, beanie doing little to tame his bedhead. He was cooking, his usual scowl softened just a little. Though, it was because he was being left alone and he was doing what he liked more than most things, cooking.
The smell of pancakes wafts up, and Kotone peeks her head into the kitchen, her hair already pulled into a ponytail. She springs into the room, an easy grin on her face. Her hands are hidden behind her, though she’s too nervous to hand him the gift now, obviously. Her hands are just fidgeting, and she’s aware of how painfully jittery she seems.
“Woaahhhh… pancakes?” She hops up to his side, tilting her head curiously. He hardly glances over, but he doesn’t tell her to fuck off, which is enough evidence in itself. “Surprised Aki hasn’t started bugging you.” A light giggle leaves her, melodic even with how devious it sounds.
At the mention of Akihiko, Shinjiro doesn’t outwardly change, but he sighs internally. He can just picture that dumb, well meaning face. So punchable sometimes… he already knows what Kotone’s going to ask for, so he motions to the pan with his spatula. “If you’re here to ask for some, just spit it out already.”
“Oh! Uhm.” Kotone can feel her words failing her, and she cringes inwardly. Is it impossible to talk to him like a normal human being now?! But she takes a breath. Then, hastily realizes that it’s certainly not helping. Having to loiter around him is a death sentence for how nervous she already is.
“…Aha! Um! I’ll just eat at school!” She manages as a backdoor to this whole situation. “Don’t run off after school.” She calls out.
“…I don’t even—“
She immediately turned tail and practically fled, an annoying red creeping up her neck. Shinjiro watches her leave with a mild look, blinking. Why did she…? He shakes his head. Maybe she forgot about a test, or to study for it. Yeah, that’s it!
Junpei shoots Kotone a surprised look as she practically skits out of the dorms, grabbing her bag hastily and bolting. He doesn’t get a word in with how focused she seems. Even Kotone doesn't even know why she’s so focused.
The air is cold and bitter, a reminder that it is, in fact, February. She only slows down to catch her breath after she’s a good few paces away, her chest heaving with the effort. At least, the short run had brought some warmth to her body, even if she was running from embarrassment and who knows what else.
The train station is a welcome sight. While still cold, at least it’ll provide some shelter. Plus, the train itself will be better than just sitting out in the cold. She puffs out a breath. Okay, I’m a little earlier today. No wonder.
Today’s Valentine’s day. Surely, surely, she can be normal. Oh, god. How am I even gonna give it to him?? He definitely won’t be at school today, he never is. It’ll save her some embarrassment of running into him in the halls after that disastrous dismissal. If it could even be called that, she just ran like a startled rabbit!
The robotic voice calling over the speakers for the incoming train startles her, and she approaches the yellow line to wait. She flexes her fingers, hopefully wrangling out the cold in them, as the noise of the train grows closer and closer.
The lights are as blinding as always, and it stops with a shriek of the brakes. The doors hiss open, and Kotone enters with a practiced ease. She manages to secure a seat, thank god, a sigh of relief leaving her as she sinks into the seat. Maybe not the plushest seat in the world, but it’s astronomically better than having to stand.
The train ride is the only relaxing thing, as she watches the window with a mild look, the passing scenery mind numbing in a good way. She fumbles for her MP3 player, turning it on and clipping on her earphones. The familiar thrum of music starts up when she presses the player again.
When she recognizes the scenery closer to her stop, she straightens up, lowering the volume of her music. She watches attentively until the train screeches into a stop, and she gets up with a yawn as she begins her journey towards the school.
…Which, this school day can’t possibly be any slower!
The teacher's voice feels like a meaningless drum that goes through one ear and out the other. It’s so difficult to focus, and she’s spotted a few girls bashfully handing their crushes or partners or whatever-the-hells chocolates, which is only making her more nervous.
Junpei doesn’t seem to care too much, and he seems to know that Kotone’s been losing her mind, but he hasn’t said anything. Yukari gave her a questioning look mid-class when she dropped her pencil while daydreaming and it obnoxiously fell off of her desk with quite possibly the loudest clatter known to mankind. She nearly passed away on the spot.
When the final bell finally rings, it might as well be a blessing, and she snaps upright so fast the chair squeaks. She makes herself sparse, her bright eyes filled with a certain determination as she heads back home in a hurry. Even the music doesn’t help ease her nerves! Her mind is a traitorous thing, and keeps on wandering back to Shinjiro like a broken record.
Finally, the dorm comes into view as she walks towards it, and it’s both a blessing and a death sentence. She sucks in a breath. Just… stay calm. He’s not gonna maul you for walking in. Plus, he probably isn’t even in the lounge!
She pushes open the door, the working heat inside the dorms hit her first. Junpei is playing a game on the TV at an obnoxiously loud volume, Mitsuru is sitting and in a tensely casual conversation with Yukari, and Fuuka’s walking in the general direction of the kitchen like she’s about to make something horrendous.
Kotone doesn’t stop her, immediately heading for her room, the staircase feeling neverending. She heads into her room, and drops her bag at the corner of her bed. She swipes the CD from her desk, and still chuckles a little bit at the sheer absurdity of Shinjiro Aragaki liking Lady Gaga of all artists.
She heads to the second floor, and her eyes find Shinjiro’s room with a practiced ease. She pauses in front of it, arm raised up. Worst case, he’ll um… actually, a lot of things could go wrong! Before she can chicken out, she knocks, a quick and nearly frantic thing.
“Door's unlocked,” Shinjiro calls out, his gruff voice muffled.
She pushes open the door, and he blinks in mild surprise at seeing Kotone. He just clicks his tongue and goes back to sorting through his gear, since he has nothing better to do. Especially since Akihiko will drag him into training, and he’d rather choke.
“What do you want?” It’s not a mean question, it’s just… Shinjiro’s way of doing everything.
What do I want? Dude, you have no idea! Her hands were growing clammy from how she was gripping the CD case, before she approached him. It’ll be like ripping off a bandaid, just do it now.
Kotone hands the CD towards him, and she can feel the terrible heat in her cheeks. It’s so painfully obvious, or at least, it has to be, with how warm she feels. “I know you don’t really care about this kind of stuff, and that maybe this is a terrible gift, but…!” She looks down at the floor, as if that could possibly help with the embarrassment.
“Will you be my valentine?”
Shinjiro’s jaw might as well have been on the floor, and he blinks at her like a deer in a headlight. He doesn’t say anything for a long moment, but a pink tint dusts his cheeks, whether from surprise or from being flustered, it’s impossible to tell.
“…Me?” He manages, unable to wrap his head around the fact that she could want him. I mean, sure, they were awfully close, but he hadn’t entertained the thought of it being something more. He was also just purposely ignorant to a lot of hints, if there were any. I mean, surely, nobody would be into him? “You can’t just… say that.”
It’s a weak protest, and they both know it. Hell, the bed probably knows it, too. He runs a hand through his hair, catching in his beanie and just being held there awkwardly.
Gingerly, he grabs the CD, checking the track list. He doesn’t seem displeased, though the jewel case sticks out like a sore thumb in his spartan room. Kotone lifts her head up, rubbing her hands nervously on her skirt. “Yeah… Yes, you!” She points out, trying to make her voice come out steady.
Hearing the silence, she flounders. “I mean, of course, if you don’t want to…” She lets the words hang in the air, unable to articulate them. “Of course, I won’t mind! I’ll always respect you and, uh, stuff.” God, stuff? How lame am I? He looks cute, all flustered like that, though.
“We’re… valentines now? God, this sounds so stupid…”
The relief Kotone feels is so palpable she almost falls to her knees. Ahh!!! That’s a total confirmation, right? And he didn’t even scowl at the CD. Surely, she did something right? It’s the type of relief that nearly makes you cry.
“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you everything!”